Yemen

French foreign ministry puts Afghanistan on hold 

The French foreign ministry's team responsible for Afghanistan has been dismantled. For the moment no one has been appointed to replace outgoing ambassador David Martinon.

Army chief Qamer Javed Bajwa wants more time to improve relations with Saudi Arabia 

A key figure in the Pakistani state hierarchy, chief of the army staff Qamer Javad Bajwa wants his tenure extended so that he can continue to work on improving Pakistan's relations with Saudi Arabia and deal with pressing security issues, like the growing influence of the Pakistani Taliban movement.

Moldova's new spy chief takes up duties in a climate of high tension 

The new head of Moldova's Security and Intelligence Service already has a lot on his plate. He will have to deal with interference by Russian agents and potential unrest in Transnistria, as well as coordinating aid from the country's allies and leading negotiations with the EU.

Al Naamani, still at Oman's security helm, tries to save Yemen ceasefire 

Despite the political rivalries in Oman, Mohammed Al Naamani remains firmly in place as Sultan Haitham bin Tariq's security chief. He has recently been instructed to continue with his mediation with Saudi Arabia on Yemen.

• UKRAINE/GERMANY - Macron-Scholtz trip to Kyiv puts BND in a cold sweat

• RUSSIA - Patrushev secures southern crossing points with Tatar president

• UKRAINE - Intelligence services to negotiate POW exchange

• YEMEN - Presidential Council already beset by tensions

• YEMEN - Ansarullah still vindictive despite truce

• RUSSIA - Temporary lease of life for top security officers

• MOLDAVIA - Transnistria, on the lookout, barricades itself

• RUSSIA - Financial intel service keeps its staff happy

Together with Abu Dhabi, Riyadh sets up a new Yemeni Presidential Council 

While still trying to find a way out of the Yemeni conflict, Riyadh - in close cooperation with its Gulf allies - has just set up a new council made up of the highest ranking senior loyalists.

Saudi strategists sceptical of Yemen truce 

While the month of Ramadan is meant to deliver an unprecedented halt to hostilities in Yemen, regional intelligence services remain on alert, fearful of future actions by Houthi militiamen.

Britain's MASS Consultants builds Saudi Arabia's electronic warfare capacities 

The British electronic warfare IT firm MASS Consultants, a longstanding contractor to Britain's Ministry of Defence, has started a new phase of a major programme to upgrade Saudi Arabia's air warfare.

Riyadh and Muscat lock horns over Iranian weapon deliveries 

Oman's intelligence services, which are meant to be cracking down on the smuggling of Iranian weapons between the sultanate and Yemen, have yet again been caught out after the discovery of a missile shipment. Riyadh is alarmed by potential flaws in the Omani security apparatus.

Pro-UAE Yemenis enlist services of adviser in Washington 

The Southern Transitional Council, which readily asserts its position among Yemen's anti-Houthi forces, has sent an envoy to the US capital to advocate on its behalf and report back to both Aden and Abu Dhabi.

Pasdaran tries to engage Popular Mobilization Forces in Houthi rebellion 

With Yemen's Houthi forces feeling the strain of heavy losses, Iran is struggling to find new recruits for the conflict locally and is now hoping to send in Iraqi fighters.