France, Syria
DGSE memo on Syrian chemical programme upholds justification for French sanctions against Beirut-based firm

China, France
Court highlights glaring errors in French intelligence service note on Chinese company

Legal action by the head of a Chinese company who has been refused a French visa has shown up deficiencies of the DGSI in the financial investigation sphere. The note the French domestic intelligence service prepared for a court hearing was torn to pieces by the man's defence team.

France, Saudi Arabia
French court files against Muslim association which sacked its imam for being in pay of Saudi Arabia

In 2020, an association which manages the Lumière et Piété Mosque in the southern French city of Nimes dismissed its recently appointed imam on the grounds that he had kept up financial links with Saudi Arabia.

Algeria, France
French court overturns Algerian's nationality ruling over vague intelligence memo

A French administrative court has reversed an interior ministry decision to deny an Algerian's naturalisation that was based on a memo from the DGSI domestic intelligence agency claiming he worked with Algerian intelligence.

Spotlight | China, Colombia, France, Vietnam
French domestic spy agency's role in citizenship applications under judicial scrutiny

French courts are dealing with a growing number of counter-espionage cases involving applications for citizenship. On the basis of notes from the DGSI domestic intelligence service, which are sometimes approximate, the courts have to assess the proximity of the applicant or his or her spouse to foreign intelligence services.

France, Kurdistan, Syria
Anti-ISIS fighter contests DGSI surveillance that led to his trial for terrorism

The defence team of a former French soldier of the Kurdish YPG, who fought against the Islamic State in Syria alongside the French special forces, has filed suit against the DGSI, France's domestic intelligence agency, over its surveillance of him that led to his trial for terrorism.

Syria, Ukraine, United States
Private diplomacy: anti-Assad lobbyists change focus to battle for Kyiv

A network of former British diplomats and consultants that has been long opposed to Russian influence in Syria, and is coordinated by the firm Independent Diplomat, is now facilitating Kyiv's access to the United Nations, as well as American officiels.

France, Middle East
French investment fund Latour Capital prepares to prospect in Gulf countries

A number of French private investment funds are shifting their attention to the Gulf countries, some are even moving to the region. Meanwhile, Latour Capital is preparing its Gulf offensive with the help of newly hired former public servants.

The Agencies' Gazette
Syrian chemical programme, UK's Economic Crime Committee, Swedish StratCom at NATO, Pakistani ambassador in Kabul, Skopje and NATO, PLA in Taiwan

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from London to Stockholm, via Kabul and Skopje.

France/SyriaFrench company Smart Pegasus remains under sanctions for participating in Syrian chemical weapons program.

United KingdomOpposition MP's push parliamentary Economic Crime Committee project.

Sweden/LatviaSwedish anti-fake news agency shines at NATO's StratCom.

Pakistan/AfghanistanISI investigates attempted assassination of Pakistani ambassador in Kabul.

North MacedoniaSkopje intelligence chief learns the rope at NATO.

ChinaPeople's Liberation Army tests modern urban warfare techniques to hone Taiwan strategy.

France, Syria
DGSE helps court pinpoint Syria's chemicals programme

By allowing the use of an intelligence memo to uphold a freeze on the assets of companies linked to Syria's chemical programme, a French court is venturing into new territory. It also highlights how much France's intelligence agents were involved in this politically-charged issue.