Spotlight | Iraq
Intelligence apparatus at centre of Talabanis' internecine struggle

The Agencies' Gazette
Russia's mobilisation, PUK ends internal feud, EU's foresight hub, France's cyber security plan at UN, defence attachés' battles in Indo-Pacific region

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online reports on developments great and small in the global intelligence community. This week, we bring news from Moscow, Erbil, New York, Helsinki and Brussels.

RussiaMobilisation a pretext for settling scores between siloviki and opponents.

IraqThe Patriotic Union of Kurdistan puts end to internal feud.

European UnionEEAS seeks private sector contractor for future strategic foresight hub.

France/Germany/United StatesMacron tries to revive cyber action programme at UN.

United States/ChinaBattle of defence attachés in Indo-Pacific region.

Iraq
Talabani family feud hinders presidential negotiations

The yearlong rift within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is hampering talks between Iraqi Kurdistan's political parties as they tackle the very urgent task of appointing a president. It has also prompted Baghdad to take direct action.

The Agencies' Gazette
Pentagon and Ukrainian titanium, Mukhabarat, PUK

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake. Every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets great and small from the global intelligence community from London to Paris via Nur-Sultan.

United States Pentagon preps to join titanium war

Egypt The Mukhabarat al-Amma gets authority to extend its business interests

Iraq Bafel Talabani sacks his intelligence chief by way of conciliation

Iraq
Pentagon concerned about Peshmerga's slow unification

Washington is keen for the Peshmerga forces to speed up their unification so they can share strategic intelligence against Islamic State. But local alliances continue to hold sway over the need to put up a common front.

Iraq
Dynasty case unravels Kurdish clan dispute over oil

The rivalry between Barzani and Talabani clans is at the centre of a legal battle between oil junior Dynasty and former oil minister of Iraqi Kurdistan's Ashti Hawrami.

Iraq, Lebanon
Qaiwan, the Iraqi oil firm behind Lebanon swap solution

So that it can fulfil its commitment to supply Beirut with oil to help ease the country's energy crisis, Irak has called in trader Qaiwan to set up a swap system as Kudistan crude is too high in sulphur to be used in Lebanon's power plants.

Iraq
UPK still dreams of Kirkuk

According to our sources, the status of the oil city [...]

Iraq, Syria
Kurds hot on Al Baghdadi's trail

Sought by the intelligence services of every country fighting Islamic State, the organisation's elusive leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi is being actively hunted by the Kurdish forces.