France, Syria
Pro-Damascus Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce makes Paris comeback

The Intelligence Gazette
Taiwanese in Milan, Damascus and the Arab League, Russian customs chief

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

Italy/TaiwanTaipei uses business to renew political dialogue in Milan

SyriaArab League invitation but not reintegration on the cards for Damascus

RussiaCustoms chief succession causes headache

Lebanon
Byblos Groups new branch B-Guard ME opens in Beirut

French security firm Byblos Group is going to do business in Beirut, in owner Simon Hoayek's native country. He is counting on Sami el-Hoyek, a former Lebanese Armed Forces general, to get the new branch off the ground.

France
Macron set to revamp top diplomatic and security team

The French president is likely to reshuffle his top diplomatic and security team in the coming weeks, a move that will have to juggle major strategic issues with the career ambitions of his loyal lieutenants.

Iran, Syria
Tehran pulls its militias from Syria to beef up domestic fronts

Now in difficulty on their home turf, the Revolutionary Guards are reviewing their militia system in order to adapt it to the evolving situation. Fighters in Syria, Iraq and even Lebanon are being redeployed to the most tense Iranian zones.

Syria, Turkey
Turkish and Syrian spy chiefs Hakan Fidan and Ali Mamlouk talk again at Russia's initiative

Keen to play the role of mediator between Turkey and Syria, Russia sponsored a new meeting between the spy chiefs of the two countries, which have been at daggers drawn since 2011. The results were not convincing but the meeting at least allowed Ankara and Damascus to set out their demands.

Syria
CMA CGM eyes Latakia, pushing its interests in the Mediterranean port industry

Russian and Iranian differences and China's caution have opened a breach for CMA CGM, which has spotted an opportunity in Latakia to pick up in Syria where it left off in 2011.