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Syria
Overloaded Syrian intelligence service beefs up its leadership

Overwhelmed by both the demands of managing new international partnerships and handling strategic domestic issues, Syrian spymaster Hussein al-Salama has appointed long-standing loyalist Shaher Jabr Omran to work alongside him.

Azerbaijan, France
'State hostages': Paris shifts focus on Baku after Tehran prisoner breakthrough

The conditional release on 4 November of two French professors detained in Iran provided much needed relief for French diplomacy and the intelligence services, which are now turning their focus on Baku to secure the return of other French nationals held there.

France, Iran
Intelligence chief Nicolas Lerner key architect of French prisoners' release

The head of France's DGSE foreign intelligence service played a key role in the conditional release on 4 November of French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris held prisoner in Iran on charges of spying for the French state.

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

Deep Dive | Ukraine
Ukraine's wartime strongmen

4 parts

Malyuk, Budanov, Madyar and Biletsky: four faces and four facets of Ukraine at war. As department heads, behind-the-scenes strategists or elite commanders, they are shaping a new Ukrainian army and, for many, already preparing for the post-war period, when the country's destiny will then be decided at the ballot box.

France
Ex-intel chief Patrick Pailloux tipped to head French defence procurement agency

The announced departure of the head of France's DGA procurement agency Emmanuel Chiva has triggered a game of musical chairs that is likely to lead to a diplomat being appointed chief of staff to the French defence minister.

France
At trial of French ex-spy chief Bernard Bajolet, DGSE management called into question

At the trial of the former head of the French foreign intelligence service for the alleged intimidation of financier Alain Duménil suspected by the agency of extorting some of its funds, the court questioned Bajolet's chain of command.