Security

Ukraine, United States
Mozart Group's internal strife tarnishes reputation of American volunteers in Ukraine

No ITAR licence, murky legal status and finances...The two key officials at this US paramilitary organisation are making open accusations against each other left and right.

Spotlight | Bangladesh, Israel
Like Intellexa, Merlinx collaborates with Bangladeshi intelligence

Israeli spyware firm Merlinx, acquired in 2021 by Israeli-US cloud data company OwnBackup, has been supplying its tools to Bangladesh's intelligence service via Israeli-PC integrator Prelysis. Its rival Intellexa was exposed this month for doing business with the same service.

The Tech Times
Capgemini safeguards EU trade secrets, Recorded Future lobbyists, Altus at Frontex

From SIGINT to GEOINT and OSINT and a dose of cyber, each week we report on events both big and small that matter in the community of technical intelligence providers.

BrusselsCapgemini and VVA, guardians of European firms' innovations against China

WashingtonRecorded Future gets busy in the halls of Congress

WarsawGreece's Altus to supply Frontex with maritime surveillance tech

Turkey
Turkey's MIT maps out intelligence academy plans

Following the lead of a number of Western intelligence communities, Turkey is planning to open an intelligence academy, under the aegis of the MIT, headed by spymaster Hakan Fidan.

The Corporate Intelligence Village Voice
Mitmark investigates crypto, Adrian Stones goes solo, and TRAG quits Hong Kong

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: each week, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community. This week, we go to London and Hong Kong.

LondonMitmark called in to investigate NFTs

LondonAdrian Stones goes solo

Hong KongTRAG joins exodus

China
A new faction forms around Xi Jingping: the Tsinghua clique

The group of senior officials gradually emerging as the new clique around Xi Jingping have one thing in common, they all attended the president's alma mater, Tsinghua, in Beijing.

Belarus, Ukraine
Parallel private diplomacy efforts between Kyiv and Minsk secretly thriving

Kyiv has been backing Minsk in Brussels despite Belarus's involvement with Russia. Thanks largely to the actions of well-connected middlemen in the business community, the war has not frayed the diplomatic ties between the two Eastern European capitals.

Belarus, Russia
Russia accelerates use of Belarus as rear training base

The recent troop movements on Ukraine's northern border illustrate Russia's use of Belarus as a training ground for its new recruits, and its aims to influence how the Belarusian command trains its own personnel.

China
Xi Jinping invites foreign experts into closed-door meetings on China's challenges

The Chinese Communist Party is increasingly relying on small meetings with foreign participants to tackle the country's problems. It has launched a new LinkedIn recruitment campaign with the aim of building a database of foreign experts who can be called upon at short notice when needed.

Vietnam
Ministry of Public Security's latest drive for power lies behind political crisis

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's forced resignation on 17 January following a secret meeting of the Communist Party of Vietnam's politburo comes amid a Covid-19 test kit scandal. The Ministry of Public Security, which prompted his departure, has been pushing for influence at every level of government.

Israel
Former NSO cyber experts reunite in new startup Bold, backed by Israeli businessman Shlomi Fogel

In the wake of NSO Group's Pegasus woes, a number of the firm's cyberintelligence veterans have been snapped up by Bold, a startup supported by Israeli real estate magnate Shlomi Fogel, the CEO of Ampa Group.

France, Ukraine
French domestic intelligence service keeps Ukrainian community in France under surveillance

France's domestic intelligence service, the DGSI, is taking a close interest in the Ukrainian community in Paris. Tips provided by some members of the community are providing it with knowledge on Ukraine as well as counter-intelligence data.

The Intelligence Gazette
UK tight with US space force, Uzbek state probe, Abbas succession reboot, Russian separatists summit, China's reservists

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we hone in on London and Tashkent via Ramallah, Brussels and Beijing.

United Kingdom/United States Britain buddies up with US Space Force

Uzbekistan Senior officials investigated by State Security Service

Palestinian territories Abbas's presumed successor falls from grace

Brussels Kremlin opponents and separatist leaders gather at European Parliament

China Xi changes reservist conscription system

China, Vietnam
Hanoi corruption affair linked to Chinese power struggles

The arrest of Chinese-Vietmanese businesswoman Truong My Lan for alleged corruption, against a backdrop of activity by the Chinese intelligence services, has fanned tensions in Chinese-Vietnamese business circles.

Russia, United Kingdom
From Russian mines to London networks, heir Ildar Uzbekov embroiled in legal battles

A London legal battle involving Londongrad mining industry players has put the spotlight on the British and Russian passport-holding Ildar Uzbekov, despite his best efforts to distance himself from the Kremlin.

UAE, United States
Israel's Rakia Group hires Rayzone founder to tap into US market

To bring his group's OSINT platforms to the international market, Omri Raiter has brought in several sales experts to join its Dubai head office, including Rayzone co-founder Ron Zilka.

Belarus, Ukraine
War in Ukraine: Kalinovsky Regiment aims to expand

The militia group opposed to Alexander Lukashenko, and which is backed by the Ukrainian military intelligence service, is attracting more and more members. Led by its two clandestine commanders, however, it is still locked in dispute with the other exiled Belarusian opposition factions.