Iraq
Militias aim for top intelligence seat after Sudani approved as PM

The Intelligence Gazette
Vietnam's MPS, Qassem Al Araji in Tehran, France's new South East Asia diplomat, FSB

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every week, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from Hanoi to Paris, via Tehran and Moscow.

VietnamTo Lam wants to further condense public security hierarchy

Iraq/IranQassem Al Araji defuses Sulaymaniyah security issues before return to Tehran

France/Vietnam/RomaniaOlivier Brochet tipped to succeed ambassador Warnery in Hanoi

RussiaFSB's new technical director settles in

The Intelligence Gazette
Iraqi PM still heading INIS, France's Intelligence Review Commission beefs up controls, Germany's secret clearances scrutinised

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from Baghdad to Paris and Berlin.

IraqMohammed Shia al-Sudani still helming INIS

FranceIntelligence control commission beefs up retrospective controls outside Paris

GermanySecrecy clearances under fire in parliament

Iraq, Turkey
Baghdad called upon to mediate between the MIT and the PUK

Hugely concerned about the origin of the intelligence that allowed the MIT to attack the Sulaymanyah airport on 7 April, the PUK has called on Baghdad to lead the investigation. It is also hoping to calm down the increasingly tense relations between the Talabani clan and Ankara.

The Intelligence Gazette
Kovalchuk clan in Kremlin, INIS fights corruption, Washington in Riyadh, Beijing and its reservists, China's model ambassador in Paris

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

RussiaKovalchuk clan adds another link to Kremlin spymasters

IraqINIS helps with Sudani's crackdown on corruption

United States/Saudi ArabiaWashington calls for greater intelligence sharing with Gulf Cooperation Council

ChinaBeijing relies on reserves to expand PLA

ChinaLu Shaye, ambassador in Paris, in Beijing's good graces

The Intelligence Gazette
Sudani rallies his troops, counter-espionage in Tbilisi, the Intelligence College in Europe, investigation into Kazakh services

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we bring news from Baghdad, Tbilisi, Paris and Astana.

IraqMohammed Shia al-Sudani rallies his troops after sackings.

GeorgiaIntelligence service hopes to boost counter-espionage.

FranceNews from the Intelligence College in Europe.

KazakhstanFormer KNB leaders targeted in parliament.

Canada, Iraq
New Baghdad Airport security contractor Biznis Intel comes under fire from Iraqi MPs

Canadian security company Biznis Intel, which was previously unknown in Iraq, has replaced Britain's G4S as the company in charge of security at the capital's airport. This change has raised questions in the Green Zone, however, as the Shiite militias opposed to G4S regain influence.

The Intelligence Gazette
Georgian protection service promoted, Rosfinmonitoring active in the Donbass, post-Kadhimi clean-out continues in Iraq, DGSI right to consult medical records confirmed

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we bring news from Baghdad, Paris, Tblissi, Donetsk and Luhansk.

Georgiastate protection service moves up a rung.

Russia/UkrainePromsvyazbank moves into the Donbass under the eye of Russian financial intelligence.

IraqMohammed Shia Al Sudani's purge of the security services continues.

FranceIntelligence services' right to consult medical records from the public health system confirmed.

France, Iraq
Dassault lets CMN and Couach test the water in Baghdad before pushing Rafales

With Iraq known to be still interested in buying Rafale fighter aircraft, France is trying to identify the country's key decision-makers following the recent change of government. In the meantime, it is counting on the sale of patrol boats to the Iraqi navy to test the country's capacity to buy defence equipment.

France, Iraq
TotalEnergies optimistic about its $27bn contract after the arrival of new prime minister Sudani

TotalEnergies, which is determined to proceed with its big contract in Iraq, can count on the support of the French presidency, which sent its Middle East adviser to Baghdad to meet new PM Mohammed Shia Al Sudani.

Iraq
Qassem Al Araji treads carefully with results of probe into PM Kadhimi's attempted assassination

After a drone attack on the home of the Iraqi prime minister last month, the country's national security adviser Qassem Al Araji fell short of naming potential perpetrators when unveiling his findings on 29 November to avoid stirring the Shi'ite militia hornet's nest.

Iran
Pasdaran's political-military aura under threat in Tehran

Iran's Supreme Leader is looking to review the prerogatives of the Revolutionary Guard after recent setbacks.