International Intrigue

International Intrigue The only daily global news and analysis briefing created by former diplomats.

👇🏼 Join 130,000+ leaders and subscribe for free:
www.internationalintrigue.io

“No evidence” of a major cyberattack last week, said French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. So… what about a minor one?...
12/17/2025

“No evidence” of a major cyberattack last week, said French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. So… what about a minor one?

Speaking to Franceinfo today (Wed), he later conceded that the intrusion lasted “several days” and was, in fact, “serious.”

Nuñez explicitly blamed the breach on staff “carelessness,” acknowledging that hackers accessed highly sensitive databases — including the Criminal Records Processing System (TAJ) and the Wanted Persons File (FPR).

He insists, however, that the damage is limited to just a “few dozen” extracted files. We suppose that’s comforting? After all, fewer than a dozen jewels were stolen from the Louvre back in October.

The is watering down its ban on petrol and diesel cars from 2035, instead proposing the auto industry cut tailpipe emi...
12/17/2025

The is watering down its ban on petrol and diesel cars from 2035, instead proposing the auto industry cut tailpipe emissions by 90%.

It’s further confirmation that even in Europe, the economic increasingly ✨ trumps✨ the environmental.

Ukraine’s formal aspiration to join has been one of Kyiv’s central security goals since before the 2022 invasion. Pres...
12/16/2025

Ukraine’s formal aspiration to join has been one of Kyiv’s central security goals since before the 2022 invasion. President has now publicly signaled a willingness to forgo NATO accession as part of a broader security guarantee deal.

Western leaders are now negotiating “NATO-lite” security guarantees: legally binding collective defense without formal admission.

Ukraine’s territorial status, however, remains a core dispute. Perhaps leaders can agree on something sovereign-adjacent? keeps Donbas, but gets weekends and major holidays?

A report published yesterday (Mon) by suggests has a high tolerance for ad fraud. The company allegedly earns up to ...
12/16/2025

A report published yesterday (Mon) by suggests has a high tolerance for ad fraud.

The company allegedly earns up to $7bn a year from ads linked to scams, illegal gambling, po*******hy, and other prohibited activities — with internal decision-makers reportedly allowing the practices to continue over fears of the “high revenue impact” of shutting down those accounts.

Really puts that Bill Gates quote about hiring lazy people into perspective.

Planning a trip? Don’t forget your passport, SPF, .... and a five-year social media audit.A new Department of Homeland...
12/15/2025

Planning a trip? Don’t forget your passport, SPF, .... and a five-year social media audit.

A new Department of Homeland Security proposal would require tourists from ~40 visa-waiver countries, including the UK, to submit five years of history, plus decade-old emails, family details, IP addresses, photo metadata, and more. US Customs and Border Protection says the requirement supports ’s January executive order on terrorism and national security, while critics warn of civil liberties and privacy risks.

America, now doing vibe checks at the border. Scroll responsibly.

The Jewish community’s Hanukkah flyer invited locals to “fill Bondi with joy and light.” Instead, father-son duo Sajid (...
12/15/2025

The Jewish community’s Hanukkah flyer invited locals to “fill Bondi with joy and light.” Instead, father-son duo Sajid (50) and Naveed (24) Akram opened fire in an attack that’s left at least 16 dead (including Sajid) and ~50 more in hospital.

In today's Intrigue, we explored how one of Australia's most iconic beaches became a global flashpoint for antisemitism, jihadism, and geopolitical blame-shifting: https://bit.ly/4p77DU4

Diddy-ou subscribe? 👀
12/13/2025

Diddy-ou subscribe? 👀

The White House is reportedly preparing to intercept additional ships transporting Venezuelan oil following the seizure ...
12/12/2025

The White House is reportedly preparing to intercept additional ships transporting Venezuelan oil following the seizure of a tanker on Wednesday, which Caracas condemned as “an act of piracy.”

Satellite imagery suggests, however, that the tanker deliberately manipulated its location data to conceal its whereabouts.

Any further seizures would mark a swift escalation in President ’s pressure campaign against Nicolás ’s government.

Edvard Munch — the Norwegian painter of angst and atmosphere — was born on December 12, 1863. Most famous for The Scream...
12/12/2025

Edvard Munch — the Norwegian painter of angst and atmosphere — was born on December 12, 1863. Most famous for The Scream, his work captured the shadows beneath Europe’s surface: death, trauma, and the unspoken dread of an uncertain future.

On his birthday, global attention turns to the possibility of joining the by 2027, under the latest peace plan sent to Washington this week.

Between corruption scandals and peace proposals favouring Moscow's side, we think might be feeling something along these lines today.

On December 12, 2015, the world collectively locked in on climate change.So where are we now, exactly ten years later? W...
12/12/2025

On December 12, 2015, the world collectively locked in on climate change.

So where are we now, exactly ten years later? Well — it depends on who you’re asking.

At least two important things came out of the Paris Agreement: a universal climate framework and a 1.5–2°C temperature target as the global reference point.

Even if unmet, universal targets shape expectations and normalize the idea of collective responsibility. So let’s take this opportunity to offer a lukewarm round of applause to… the world, I guess?

12/11/2025

Don't even get me started on the times my jokes land with a bang.

🐥 Secretary General Mark Rutte really wants to pay attention. (Was our strategy more successful?👀)In a speech today ...
12/11/2025

🐥 Secretary General Mark Rutte really wants to pay attention. (Was our strategy more successful?👀)

In a speech today (Thu) in Berlin, he warned that could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years, urging member states to rapidly increase defense spending.

“The time to act is now,” he said, in a last call for quack mobilization.

Address

Washington D.C., DC

Telephone

+16176851903

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when International Intrigue posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to International Intrigue:

Shortcuts

Share

Category