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UAE
Emirati ex-serviceman expands private intelligence business in Dubai

A former Emirati soldier hopes through his corporate intelligence firm to carve out a place for himself in a Dubai ecosystem dominated by large foreign firms. He has a strong selling point: he is the only Emirati operating independently within the local corporate intelligence community.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 23.01.2026

China, South Korea
Behind the scenes of secret Seoul-Beijing talks

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's recent visit to China, notable for his talks with Xi Jinping, went beyond protocol to become a key part of geopolitical manoeuvring in the region. Their meeting revealed the two countries' complex web of interests.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 12.01.2026

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (left) takes a selfie with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, 5 January 2026.

France
The strange case of the French mathematicians suspected of spying for Beijing

No charges have been brought against three French researchers arrested by the DGSI in February, raising the possibility of a blunder by the intelligence services. The French CGT trade union has condemned the arrest, which has become central to the debate on how to protect French universities from espionage.

Subscribers only Operations, Defence 08.01.2026

Three French researchers have been arrested on suspicions of spying for Beijing.

South Korea
Geospatial intelligence: Seoul surges while Pyongyang stalls

Having emerged from a difficult period, South Korea has seen a successful year in geospatial intelligence. In contrast, North Korea's space programme has stagnated, despite enjoying backing from Russia.

Subscribers only Space 22.12.2025

Launch of the South Korean satellite Kompsat-7 by a Vega-C rocket in Kourou, French Guiana, on 1 December 2025.

Spy Way of Life | Switzerland
Geneva's InterContinental Hotel, the setting for tense US-European talks on Ukraine

Across the globe, spies gather in inconspicuous dens to meet contacts and hold discreet conversations. This week, Intelligence Online reveals behind-the-scenes details of the secret negotiations between US, Ukrainian and European delegations which took place at the InterContinental in Geneva on 23 November.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 12.12.2025

A diplomatic security officer secures the entrance of the InterContinental hotel as US and Ukrainian officials prepare for closed-door talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

Germany, South Korea
Berlin's intelligence alliance with Seoul in the balance

Still reeling from Seoul's missteps, Germany's BND is closely monitoring the major shake-up underway within South Korea's National Intelligence Service and its new approach in the face of Pyongyang.

Subscribers only Agencies 08.12.2025

The headquarters of the Federal Intelligence Service BND, in Berlin, Germany.

North Korea, Russia
The troubles of Russian ships trading with Pyongyang

Intelligence Online has unearthed documents identifying Russian companies doing business with North Korea. But these maritime transit operations are not without their pitfalls.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy, Contractors 08.12.2025

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre left) accompanied by Russian Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov in Vladivostok, on 17 September 2023.

France
Tracfin in crisis mode after damaging media reports

The French financy ministry's anti-money laundering unit, which introduced tighter security measures earlier this year, is struggling to contain the fallout from news articles published in October questioning its integrity and links with the United Arab Emirates.

Subscribers only Agencies 04.12.2025

Antoine Magnant, the head of France's anti-money laundering service Tracfin.

Spotlight | North Korea, Russia
Russian oil trade with North Korea soars in 2025

The already alarming figures for Moscow's oil deliveries to Pyongyang in 2024 are expected to be exceeded by a large amount this year. Such is the conclusion reached by the UN sanctions monitoring mission.

Subscribers only Operations, Defence 01.12.2025

Russia's President Vladimir Putin with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, 3 September 2025 in Beijing.

The Agencies' Gazette
DGSE photos, US farmland, Frontex stress test results, China's London envoy

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: every Wednesday, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community.

FranceDGSE photo album raises eyebrows at trial of service's ex-boss

United StatesIntelligence to help stop China buying farmland

BelgiumFrontex tougher on Brussels than Paris

China/UKAmbassador's return highlights Taiwan urgency

Subscribers only 17.11.2025

France, Russia
French pro-Moscow group plans lavish networking trip to Russia

A French pro-Moscow association co-chaired by far-right MEP Thierry Mariani is planning its second trip to Russia this year, with the help of a travel agency linked to the Moscovite elite.

Subscribers only Information wars, Back-door diplomacy 13.11.2025

The cover of the brochure for the trip to Russia organised FOR December by the Franco-Russian Dialogue group.

The Agencies' Gazette
Corsica and counterterrorism, Lavrov interview funds, no job at the DGSE, South Korean subs

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

FranceCorsica police commisionner wanted

France/RussiaFranco-Russian group seeks members' funding for Sergey Lavrov talk

FranceTop court upholds refusal to grant special security clearance to successful DGSE candidate

South KoreaKey step made towards submarines and nuclear autonomy

Subscribers only 10.11.2025

Spotlight | Saudi Arabia
Riyadh's strategic deadlock in Yemen

The Houthis are stepping up pressure to force Saudi Arabia to renegotiate their truce. Meanwhile, Riyadh's Yemeni allies are no longer receiving support from their partner, as Intelligence Online observed on the front line.

Subscribers only Defence 04.11.2025

Houthi soldiers stand guard during a demonstration in Sana'a marking the eighth anniversary of Saudi Arabia's military campaign in Yemen, on 26 March 2023.

South Korea, United States
Seoul intel weighs options as Trump seeks summit with Kim Jong-un

US President Donald Trump's request for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the sidelines of this week's APEC summit in South Korea has stirred up a frenzy among Seoul's intelligence services, which have scrambled to explore the implications.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 28.10.2025

China, Europe
Germany's UNESCO ambassador irritates Beijing

UNESCO ambassadors were asked not to broach certain sensitive topics during an internal meeting on China. Berlin's representative did not follow this instruction.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 22.10.2025

China, United States
Beijing's spies and diplomats split on how to handle Trump

Ahead of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, where Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to shake hands, China's foreign ministry is calling for compromise, contrasting with the Ministry of State Security's hard line approach.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 21.10.2025

President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders' summit in Osaka, Japan, on 29 June 2019.

Spotlight | Israel, Netherlands
ICC shake-up looms in aftermath of Gaza ceasefire

Ahead of the International Criminal Court's annual assembly in December, speculation is rife in its headquarters in The Hague about the court's future and that of its chief prosecutor, who has come under the wrath of Tel Aviv and Washington.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 20.10.2025

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan.

Bangladesh, Turkey
Ankara and Beijing woo Bangladesh Air Force

The visit in early October of Bangladesh's top air force officer, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, to Ankara, put an official stamp on ongoing negotiations. But in Dhaka, budgetary details have yet to be ironed out.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 15.10.2025

Bangladesh's top air force officer Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan.

The Agencies' Gazette
ICE seeks OSINT, French intel journal, Chinese PM in Pyongyang, UK and Baltic get-together, French spy novel prize

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

United StatesICE looking to boost open source analysis capabilities

FranceVeteran counter-espionage agents contribute to intelligence research journal

China/North KoreaTrump's shadow looms over Li Qiang's Pyongyang trip

UKBaltic states are guests of honour at Westminster mission on national security strategy

FranceAnti-money laundering specialist lands French spy novel prize

Subscribers only 13.10.2025

Spymaster | South Korea
Lee Jong-seok, the academic driving South Korea's new security shift

The new spy chief's appointment signals more than a mere change of leadership. The former unification minister is the embodiment of President Lee Jae-myung's new foreign policy goals to keep channels open with China and North Korea while maintaining a balance with the United States.

Subscribers only Agencies, Operations 10.10.2025

The director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service, Lee Jong-seok.

Donald Trump

FBI

Pasdaran

Keir Starmer

SVR

UN

UAE Emirati ex-serviceman expands private intelligence business in Dubai

China, South Korea Behind the scenes of secret Seoul-Beijing talks

France The strange case of the French mathematicians suspected of spying for Beijing

South Korea Geospatial intelligence: Seoul surges while Pyongyang stalls

Spy Way of Life | Switzerland Geneva's InterContinental Hotel, the setting for tense US-European talks on Ukraine

Germany, South Korea Berlin's intelligence alliance with Seoul in the balance

North Korea, Russia The troubles of Russian ships trading with Pyongyang

France Tracfin in crisis mode after damaging media reports

Spotlight | North Korea, Russia Russian oil trade with North Korea soars in 2025

The Agencies' Gazette DGSE photos, US farmland, Frontex stress test results, China's London envoy

FranceDGSE photo album raises eyebrows at trial of service's ex-boss

United StatesIntelligence to help stop China buying farmland

BelgiumFrontex tougher on Brussels than Paris

China/UKAmbassador's return highlights Taiwan urgency

France, Russia French pro-Moscow group plans lavish networking trip to Russia

The Agencies' Gazette Corsica and counterterrorism, Lavrov interview funds, no job at the DGSE, South Korean subs

FranceCorsica police commisionner wanted

France/RussiaFranco-Russian group seeks members' funding for Sergey Lavrov talk

FranceTop court upholds refusal to grant special security clearance to successful DGSE candidate

South KoreaKey step made towards submarines and nuclear autonomy

Spotlight | Saudi Arabia Riyadh's strategic deadlock in Yemen

South Korea, United States Seoul intel weighs options as Trump seeks summit with Kim Jong-un

China, Europe Germany's UNESCO ambassador irritates Beijing

China, United States Beijing's spies and diplomats split on how to handle Trump

Spotlight | Israel, Netherlands ICC shake-up looms in aftermath of Gaza ceasefire

Bangladesh, Turkey Ankara and Beijing woo Bangladesh Air Force

The Agencies' Gazette ICE seeks OSINT, French intel journal, Chinese PM in Pyongyang, UK and Baltic get-together, French spy novel prize