National

France, United Kingdom
Petr Aven and Mikhail Fridman lead the charge against sanctions

The two businessmen are each trying as much to distance themselves from the Russian government as to take on sanctions imposed on them by the UK and the European Union - and they are using the same circles of French and British lawyers to do so.

France, Saudi Arabia, United States
Riyadh looks for US support for its Al-Ula tourism project

The Royal Commission for Al-Ula has again called in public relations firm Wagstaff to help it break into the US market - discounting current tensions between Riyadh and Washington and the role played in the project by France.

United States
Congress and US intelligence community see two sides of advertising cookies

The US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has called for a report into the threat that cookies and other forms of online data collection pose to the US, despite their growing popularity with the US intelligence community.

Luxembourg, United States
Bowed by OneCoin fraud case, Sandstone shuts down

A co-founder of Luxembourg investigation firm Sandstone is to be extradited to the United States, where the FBI is convinced that he was involved in the giant OneCoin fraud case, one of the biggest cryptocurrency scams.

France, Iraq
TotalEnergies optimistic about its $27bn contract after the arrival of new prime minister Sudani

TotalEnergies, which is determined to proceed with its big contract in Iraq, can count on the support of the French presidency, which sent its Middle East adviser to Baghdad to meet new PM Mohammed Shia Al Sudani.

The Tech Telegraph
NCSCC trains Ukrainians in OSINT, Dataflow poaches Margaritelli, Owlint joins GICAT

Whether in SIGINT, GEOINT, OSINT or cyber, we report each week on developments great and small in the world of the technical intelligence providers.

Kyiv NCSCC takes over OSINT training for Ukrainian officials

Bassano del Grappa and New York Dataflow poaches Margaritelli

Paris Owlint joins GICAT

Armenia
Armenia plans security apparatus overhaul under watchful eyes of neighbours

Armenia's 2023 budget discussions bring back into the public debate the creation of an external intelligence service, at a time of instability in the political and security environment in the region.

United States
As midterms loom, Washington tackles political tensions around intelligence community

With political violence mounting in the US in the lead-up to the midterm elections, the US intelligence community has also been affected by the growing polarisation of US society. The government is working to eradicate a phenomenon that has harmed the efficiency and credibility of the intelligence services.

Russia
Rostec emerges top dog as Moscow elite jostle for positions

Through skilled lobbying on several fronts, the state-owned defence conglomerate has won a round in the fight for resources and political visibility in a country fixated with the war on Ukraine.

Pakistan
Credence Security expands foothold in forensics tech-hungry Pakistan

The Dubai cyber and forensic equipment distributor has been building its base in Pakistan, where the federal police is developing a network of laboratories in need of these technologies, driven by its Western partners wanting to push ahead in the fight against terrorism.

Spotlight | Middle East, United States
Washington takes steps to encourage lasting security cooperation in Middle East

The White House, the Pentagon, CENTCOM and the Senate are all working to promote the establishment of a security cooperation framework in the Middle East, centred on anti-missile defence.

France
Here, there and everywhere: National Strategic Review wants intelligence services on all fronts

As the government puts the final touches on the National Strategic Review relating to defence and national security, Intelligence Online has been able to consult the report's latest draft, which gives pride of place to intelligence.

The Agencies' Gazette
CIA's HR woes, Hamas and Taliban in Istanbul, Tbilisi's oligarchs, France's DPR, China worries Russia, repatriated Afghans

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week we hone in on Istanbul, Washington, Paris, Moscow, Kabul and Tbilisi.

United States CIA experimenting to solve HR crisis

Turkey/Palestine/Afghanistan Istanbul hosts Hamas-Taliban rapprochement

Georgia Tbilisi looks into its oligarchs

France DPR still not entitled to know about operations in progress

Russia Moscow's foreign affairs ministry reassesses view of China

Afghanistan/Europe Europe's greater numbers of repatriated Afghans

Ukraine
Kyiv tries to stop Moscow benefiting from indirect IT support from the GAFAM

Although there are wide-ranging restrictions on the sale of military equipment and IT systems to Russia, some software and services are not covered by the sanctions. A group of experts is looking to remedy the situation.

United States
Afghan debacle turns into financial difficulties for US armed security giants

The financial repercussions of the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan have caught up with security giant Constellis and other groups active in the country before the Taliban resumed control.