National

Azerbaijan, France
Paris and Baku maintain communication despite tensions

In the current diplomatic stand-off between France and Azerbaijan, both countries have a trick up their sleeves. Each holds a national of the other, supposedly linked to the other's intelligence services, who could be used for a prisoner exchange.

United States, Venezuela
Venezuelan national oil company enlists Cormac Group for ongoing litigation

The ad-hoc board of Venezuela's PDVSA is looking to meet with members of Congress as the possible sale of the company's assets looms.

Saudi Arabia
Foreign arms suppliers keep close eye on merger of Saudi air defence with air force

The merger of Saudi's air force and air defence, a project dear to Mohammed bin Salman, is taking longer than expected. But the prospect of simplified procurement is keeping Riyadh's suppliers on tenterhooks.

Spotlight | New Zealand
New Zealand's Five Eyes goals hampered by signals intelligence shortcomings

An internal inquiry by the Government Communications Security Bureau spy agency has further damaged its reputation, just as the country is striving to develop regional ties to boost its standing within the Five Eyes alliance.

United States
Trump operatives form Christian Orthodox non-profit

Members of the new Christian Orthodox Coalition organisation have close ties to the Trump campaign, but also to countries like Russia, Serbia and Romania.

Taiwan, United States
TSMC finds problems galore as it builds mega plant in US

Amid a technology war between United States and China, the Taiwanese semiconductor giant is due to open its mega-plant in Arizona next year. But internal reports do not bode well for TSMC's US plans.

Spotlight | China, France, Niger, United States
Niger's uranium mines prompt spy satellite frenzy

As Niger comes under Russian influence, Washington and Paris are keeping a close eye on the country's uranium deposits. More discreetly, Beijing is also getting in on the same act.

France
French intelligence and drug trafficking: a patchwork of blurred powers

A French Senate report into drug trafficking points to intelligence weaknesses, including a "conspicuously absent" DGSI and police, gendarme and customs officials who disagree about the role of intelligence.

France, Japan, Philippines, United States
Race is on to provide space-based signal intelligence services in Indo-Pacific

France's Unseenlabs and US giant HawkEye 360 are prospecting Indo-Pacific states interested in keeping track of China's ghost ships under the guise of the need to combat illegal fishing.

The Intelligence Gazette
Priority on foreign interference, Malaysia-China secret maritime deal, new adviser to France's CNCTR

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

AustraliaGovernment increases spending on fight against foreign interference and financial intelligence

China/MalaysiaKuala Lumpur and Beijing's discreet South China Sea agreement

FranceEx-adviser to Macron's Renaissance party joins CNCTR commission

Bulgaria, Europe
Greek businessman with ties to secretive investment firm considers buying Lukoil refinery in Bulgaria

Dimitrios Dotsios, formerly of Barton's Family Capital, has been in talks with Russian group Lukoil about its refinery in Bulgaria. Sofia is trying to force a change of ownership in amid the European Union's crackdown on Russian oil.