We answer your OpenAI-spy questions

We're guilty of loving many things here at Intrigue HQ: bad puns, youth lingo used just slightly incorrectly, and, of course, a good spy story.
Read this story
We're guilty of loving many things here at Intrigue HQ: bad puns, youth lingo used just slightly incorrectly, and, of course, a good spy story.
Read this story14 October

13 October

12 October

8 October

7 October

UKRAINE
Starlink services are now reportedly operational again after a sudden 160 kmh (100mph) speed cap briefly disrupted Ukraine’s interceptor drone missions, potentially costing civilian lives. Elon Musk says the relevant Starshield variant is ultimately controlled by DC, not SpaceX. (Kyiv Independent) Comment: It seems President Trump has (again) hobbled Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, whether to i) force Ukraine (rather than its attacker) to the negotiating table, ii) punish Zelensky for not doing as he’s told, or iii) play to Trump’s midterms strategy of blaming Ukraine (rather than Russia or Iran) for today’s record fuel prices. Whatever the reason, Kyiv should take it as yet another wake-up call for how heavily dependent its air defence still remains on the shifting whims of the US and its tech titans.
UNITED STATES
The latest CPI print shows US consumer prices accelerating by 3.7% (yoy) in September, with price pressures also broadening. It’s driven in part by spiking gasoline costs amid the Iran war. (Reuters)
BURUNDI
Burundi has, along with 14 other nations (🇬🇭🇳🇬🇿🇲🇯🇵🇯🇴🇰🇼🇳🇵🇲🇩🇺🇦🇧🇷🇩🇴🇺🇾🇩🇪🇮🇪), won a seat on the UN’s Human Rights Council, unopposed. (AP)
IRAN
A court has handed a death sentence to 23-year-old accounting student Najmeh Amini for “blasphemy” over a social media post. (Guardian)
COLOMBIA
In a scoop partly denied by the US embassy in Panama, The New York Times says the US is sending 600 troops to Panama, Colombia, and Honduras, purportedly to train and conduct exercises with local forces. (NYT $)
ARGENTINA
London has urged Interpol to reject Argentina’s “politically motivated” arrest warrants targeting executives tied to oil projects near the Falklands. (MercoPress)
SINGAPORE
The city-state is weighing action under its own transboundary haze laws as Indonesian forest fires tank regional air quality. (Free Malaysia Today)
Unlock the most original and engaging geopolitical analysis on the web, plus full access to a community of globally curious people. We’ll even throw in the sense of satisfaction that comes with supporting independent media, for free!
Daily audio newsletter.
Unlock our unvarnished analysis in every newsletter.
Connect with Intriguers around the world.
Our weekly rundown of the week ahead.
Hang out with the Intrigue team.
No interruptions, no clutter.
Also included
Early access to everything we’re building — a job board, relaunched merch, IRL meet-ups, and more.
7 days free · $149/yr · Cancel anytime
Still in school? Get full access for $39/yr. Or let us help you expense it.
14 October

13 October

12 October

8 October

7 October

Editor's picks
How global diplomatic pay stacks up — the numbers, the gaps, and what they signal about state priorities.
Read moreQuiet Signals: What online life inside China shows about how citizens read their own state.
Read moreReading the company's worldview through its public-facing argument — and what it implies for US tech policy.
Read more