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Spotlight | Russia, Sri Lanka, UAE
Colombo held talks to buy armoured vehicles from sanctioned Streit Group

Sri Lankan defence officials recently discussed a detailed proposal for the acquisition of armoured SUVs from UAE-based manufacturer Streit, Intelligence Online has learned. The company was sanctioned by the EU last October.

Subscribers only Defence, Contractors 10.09.2026

A Cobra 4 armoured police vehicle manufactured by UAE-based Streit Group on display at the Milipol trade fair in Villepinte, France, on 14 November 2023.

Saudi Arabia, United States
The Shehail clan central to US-Saudi defence contracts

Long-standing partners for US defence in Saudi Arabia, the new generation of the Shehail clan is strengthening its position within the kingdom's key institutions.

Subscribers only Defence, Contractors 08.09.2026

North Korea, Russia
Russian firms sanctioned over trade with Pyongyang

Trading with Pyongyang is proving problematic for Russian firms, including within their own country, documents reviewed by Intelligence Online have revealed.

Subscribers only Contractors 04.09.2026

Spotlight | Middle East, Yemen
Houthi alliance with Somalia's Al-Shabaab further disrupts sea traffic

The recent capture of an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen attests to unprecedented cooperation between the country's Houthi rebels and Somalia's Al-Shabaab. Sources indicate the two movements are actively coordinating their maritime operations.

Subscribers only Operations, Defence 17.08.2026

China, Syria
Beijing and Damascus in gentle tug-of-war over Syria's Uighurs

Behind the rapid warming of ties between China and Syria lies a sensitive issue: the fate of 20,000 Uighurs who have settled in the country. While Beijing makes its investments conditional on limiting the community's rights, Damascus maintains a deliberate ambiguity.

Subscribers only Defence, Back-Door Diplomacy 29.07.2026

Fu Cong, China's ambassador to the United Nations, in New York, 2 July 2026.

Afghanistan, France
Afghan Taliban delegation's strange Paris stopover

Afghanistan's ruling Taliban are struggling to rekindle ties with Western capitals. During a trip to Brussels in June, a delegation made a short stopover in Paris where it was mostly given the cold shoulder.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 16.07.2026

A sticker picturing Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada being sold at a market in Kabul, on 26 December 2021.

Europe, Iraq
European prosecutors secure access to Iraq's Islamic State database

The EU's judicial cooperation agency Eurojust has reaffirmed its key role in connecting Iraq and European judiciaries in cases relating to the Islamic State group. European prosecutors had lost direct access to Baghdad's vast trove of evidence after the UN ended its investigation in September 2024.

Subscribers only Agencies 14.07.2026

The headquarters of the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) in The Hague.

Spotlight | Australia, China
Beijing slams 'hyped falsehoods' as Australia weighs intelligence priorities

Australia's ASIO domestic security service is under fire from Beijing after a report mentioned Chinese espionage. The diplomatic pressure is weighing heavily on the debate over Canberra's intelligence priorities in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.

Subscribers only Agencies, Information Wars 09.07.2026

Mike Burgess, Director of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

Bangladesh, Myanmar
Sittwe siege sparks diplomatic manoeuvring around rebel Arakan Army

Bangladesh, China, India and the Burmese opposition are all courting ethnic militia chief Twan Mrat Naing, whose army is fighting the ruling junta in Arakan State. These parties each have a stake in this region in western Myanmar and are seeking to cover their backs as the fate of state's city of Sittwe, under attack from the Arakan Army, remains uncertain.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 02.07.2026

Arakan Army chief Twan Mrat Naing in Panghsang, Myanmar, on 17 April 2019.

Spotlight | China, Japan, North Korea
Xi lets prospect of Japan's nuclearisation hover over Pyonyang talks

The Chinese president's silence over the nuclear issue during the summit in the North Korean capital sent a clear signal to Kim Jong-un that a return to the negotiating table with Washington is now the only way to avert a far more destabilising prospect: that of the the official nuclearisation of Japan.

Subscribers only Defence, Back-Door Diplomacy 11.06.2026

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Pyongyang, on 8 June 2026.

Spotlight | Europe, Middle East, Russia, Ukraine
Gulf emirs, warring presidents and discreet envoys: a G7 summit guest list fraught with tension

Several Gulf leaders as well as officials involved in the Russia-Ukraine war are set to attend the G7 summit, which opens on 15 June in France against a backdrop of heightened international tensions.

Subscribers only Defence, Back-Door Diplomacy 09.06.2026

France's President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, on 19 May 2026.

China, North Korea, South Korea
Xi-Kim summit: Seoul backs down on denuclearisation

While the Chinese president's visit to Pyongyang aims to cement his role as front-line mediator, Seoul has taken a risky gamble to avoid being sidelined from negotiations by abandoning its demands for North Korea's denuclearisation.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 08.06.2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, on 8 June 2026.

France, Iran, United States
After Macron's angry outburst, French UN mission in president's crosshairs over Iran

A recent outburst by the French president over France's waning influence on diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iran conflict has resulted in the possible nomination of a new French ambassador to the UN. The foreign ministry is playing for time.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 02.06.2026

French President Emmanuel Macron and France’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Jérôme Bonnafont (right), arrive at the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in New York, on 22 September 2025.

France
French leader in private intelligence ADIT looks to foreign acquisitions

A year after restructuring its shareholder base and promising strong growth, ADIT is looking to acquire companies in France and abroad. Government agency Business France could even be among its targets.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel, Contractors 27.05.2026

Argentina, France
French court upholds security clearance refusal for wife of Argentine junta torturer

A French court has upheld a foreign ministry decision not to grant security clearance to a diplomat whose husband is junta era Argentine police officer Mario Sandoval. He was arrested in France and extradited to Buenos Aires in 2019 where he was convicted of kidnapping and torture.

Subscribers only Agencies 25.05.2026

Mario Sandoval, a former Argentine police officer accused of crimes against humanity committed in Argentina, is escorted by police officers at Ministro Pistarini International Airport after being extradited from France, in Buenos Aires, on 16 December 2019.

France
Paris moves to improve combat command structure

In order to prepare for a "confrontation" with Russia by 2028 or 2029, French chief of the defence staff Fabien Mandon is taking action to improve operational command and reduce fragmentation within the armed forces.

Subscribers only Defence 19.05.2026

France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks with French chief of the defence staff Fabien Mandon during a ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, in Paris, on 8 May 2026.

Saudi Arabia
Saying no to MbS: top consultants take on new role reining in gigaproject excesses

Construction industry players are agonising over how to curb over-ambitious infrastructure plans personally approved by the Saudi crown prince. Specialised consultancies, some headed by influential local families, are helping to break the bad news.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 19.05.2026

A view of the stadium models on display as part of the exhibition showcasing Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, in Riyadh, on 30 October 2024.

The Corporate Intelligence Gazette
UN security contract in Afghanistan, More turmoil at K2, Vantage Intel gets a new neighbour

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

UN

Spotlight | Russia, Sri Lanka, UAE
Colombo held talks to buy armoured vehicles from sanctioned Streit Group

Saudi Arabia, United States
The Shehail clan central to US-Saudi defence contracts

North Korea, Russia
Russian firms sanctioned over trade with Pyongyang

Spotlight | Middle East, Yemen
Houthi alliance with Somalia's Al-Shabaab further disrupts sea traffic

China, Syria
Beijing and Damascus in gentle tug-of-war over Syria's Uighurs

Afghanistan, France
Afghan Taliban delegation's strange Paris stopover

Europe, Iraq
European prosecutors secure access to Iraq's Islamic State database

Spotlight | Australia, China
Beijing slams 'hyped falsehoods' as Australia weighs intelligence priorities

Bangladesh, Myanmar
Sittwe siege sparks diplomatic manoeuvring around rebel Arakan Army

Spotlight | China, Japan, North Korea
Xi lets prospect of Japan's nuclearisation hover over Pyonyang talks

Spotlight | Europe, Middle East, Russia, Ukraine
Gulf emirs, warring presidents and discreet envoys: a G7 summit guest list fraught with tension

China, North Korea, South Korea
Xi-Kim summit: Seoul backs down on denuclearisation

France, Iran, United States
After Macron's angry outburst, French UN mission in president's crosshairs over Iran

France
French leader in private intelligence ADIT looks to foreign acquisitions

Argentina, France
French court upholds security clearance refusal for wife of Argentine junta torturer

France
Paris moves to improve combat command structure

Saudi Arabia
Saying no to MbS: top consultants take on new role reining in gigaproject excesses

The Corporate Intelligence Gazette
UN security contract in Afghanistan, More turmoil at K2, Vantage Intel gets a new neighbour

AfghanistanUN poised to renegotiate long-standing security contract

IllinoisK2 loses senior Chicago investigators

LondonVantage Intelligence and Blenheim Martlet become neighbours

Spotlight | Russia, Turkey
Russia rejigs covert military shipping via Turkey

Spotlight | Yemen
US, Israel mum after strikes on two strategic Houthi military sites

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Spotlight | Russia, Sri Lanka, UAE Colombo held talks to buy armoured vehicles from sanctioned Streit Group

Saudi Arabia, United States The Shehail clan central to US-Saudi defence contracts

North Korea, Russia Russian firms sanctioned over trade with Pyongyang

Spotlight | Middle East, Yemen Houthi alliance with Somalia's Al-Shabaab further disrupts sea traffic

China, Syria Beijing and Damascus in gentle tug-of-war over Syria's Uighurs

Afghanistan, France Afghan Taliban delegation's strange Paris stopover

Europe, Iraq European prosecutors secure access to Iraq's Islamic State database

Spotlight | Australia, China Beijing slams 'hyped falsehoods' as Australia weighs intelligence priorities

Bangladesh, Myanmar Sittwe siege sparks diplomatic manoeuvring around rebel Arakan Army

Spotlight | China, Japan, North Korea Xi lets prospect of Japan's nuclearisation hover over Pyonyang talks

Spotlight | Europe, Middle East, Russia, Ukraine Gulf emirs, warring presidents and discreet envoys: a G7 summit guest list fraught with tension

China, North Korea, South Korea Xi-Kim summit: Seoul backs down on denuclearisation

France, Iran, United States After Macron's angry outburst, French UN mission in president's crosshairs over Iran

France French leader in private intelligence ADIT looks to foreign acquisitions

Argentina, France French court upholds security clearance refusal for wife of Argentine junta torturer

France Paris moves to improve combat command structure

Saudi Arabia Saying no to MbS: top consultants take on new role reining in gigaproject excesses

The Corporate Intelligence Gazette UN security contract in Afghanistan, More turmoil at K2, Vantage Intel gets a new neighbour

AfghanistanUN poised to renegotiate long-standing security contract

IllinoisK2 loses senior Chicago investigators

LondonVantage Intelligence and Blenheim Martlet become neighbours

Spotlight | Russia, Turkey Russia rejigs covert military shipping via Turkey

Spotlight | Yemen US, Israel mum after strikes on two strategic Houthi military sites

Recommended keywords

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spotlight | Russia, Sri Lanka, UAE
Colombo held talks to buy armoured vehicles from sanctioned Streit Group

Saudi Arabia, United States
The Shehail clan central to US-Saudi defence contracts

North Korea, Russia
Russian firms sanctioned over trade with Pyongyang

Spotlight | Middle East, Yemen
Houthi alliance with Somalia's Al-Shabaab further disrupts sea traffic

China, Syria
Beijing and Damascus in gentle tug-of-war over Syria's Uighurs

Afghanistan, France
Afghan Taliban delegation's strange Paris stopover

Europe, Iraq
European prosecutors secure access to Iraq's Islamic State database

Spotlight | Australia, China
Beijing slams 'hyped falsehoods' as Australia weighs intelligence priorities

Bangladesh, Myanmar
Sittwe siege sparks diplomatic manoeuvring around rebel Arakan Army

Spotlight | China, Japan, North Korea
Xi lets prospect of Japan's nuclearisation hover over Pyonyang talks

Spotlight | Europe, Middle East, Russia, Ukraine
Gulf emirs, warring presidents and discreet envoys: a G7 summit guest list fraught with tension

China, North Korea, South Korea
Xi-Kim summit: Seoul backs down on denuclearisation

France, Iran, United States
After Macron's angry outburst, French UN mission in president's crosshairs over Iran

France
French leader in private intelligence ADIT looks to foreign acquisitions

Argentina, France
French court upholds security clearance refusal for wife of Argentine junta torturer

France
Paris moves to improve combat command structure

Saudi Arabia
Saying no to MbS: top consultants take on new role reining in gigaproject excesses

The Corporate Intelligence Gazette
UN security contract in Afghanistan, More turmoil at K2, Vantage Intel gets a new neighbour

Spotlight | Russia, Turkey
Russia rejigs covert military shipping via Turkey

Spotlight | Yemen
US, Israel mum after strikes on two strategic Houthi military sites