France, Iraq
TotalEnergies, Rafale, and Baghdad metro project set to keep Iraq's al-Sudani busy in Paris

Iraq
Oil firms DNO, Forza and HKN nervous about resuming Kurdish operations despite Erbil-Baghdad deal

Recent turmoil with Baghdad over the Kurdistan Regional Government's pursuit of economically vital oil sales has undermined the confidence of foreign oil companies in the region, raising fears some will not resume their activities.

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

Germany, Iraq
British, UAE intel firms help Iraq money-laundering fight with German funding

German development agency GIZ is funding a programme to help Iraq in its fight against money-laundering and with its asset recovery probes. Two firms have been chosen for this financial investigation job: Britain's Adam Smith International and Emirati company IntelliSys.

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.

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.

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

Just weeks into the job, new Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is already having to deal with militia rivalries. To keep these in check, the Coordination Framework candidate has also named himself head of the national intelligence service.

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
Groupe ADP picks ex-Baghdad mayor Habbobi to handle its only project in Iraq

Though it lost out on a contract in Mosul, the French airports operator still has a project on the go in the south of Iraq, in Kerbala. It has picked local bigwig Manhal Al Habbobi to see it through.