Bahrain Rugby Club, a hub of British beer and influence in the Gulf

French paratrooper and boxing enthusiast punches weight for Bahraini princes' business 

A former French special forces member turned security and business consultant, Richard Fabre is a close adviser to the two favourite sons of Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as well as a boxing trainer.

Jean-Christophe Durand, the royal family and sovereign fund's French adviser 

As the Bahraini Crown Prince conducts his overhaul of the sovereign fund Mumtalakat, he is bidding farewell to key figures of the Bahraini economy after their years of loyal service. They include Frenchman Jean-Christophe Durand, long-time financial adviser to the Al Khalifa family and former director at BNP Paribas.

• ISRAEL/BAHRAIN - First class of Manama spies complete course with Israeli intelligence.

• FRANCE - Muriel Domenach tipped to become new anti-terrorism intelligence boss. 

• ROMANIA - Bucharest urgently looking for recruits for new cybersecurity directorate. 

• CHINA - Xi Jinping's PM choices both from security world
  

• UNITED KINGDOM - MoD staffs new Defence Cyber Academy
  

• FRANCE - DGSI to oversee inter-service intelligence training

• ISRAEL/BAHRAIN - Tel Aviv seals security deal with Manama

• FRANCE - Pro digital sovereignty lobby headed by former Huawei consultant

UK cyber specialists lose ground as Bahrain strengthens its links with the UAE 

The close friendship between Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyan ("MBZ") and Bahrain's Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa has brought a number of leading Israeli cyber firms to Manama, just as the leading British cyber advisers are leaving.

Qatar and Bahrain still squabbling despite end to blockade 

Territorial disputes, dynastic tensions and property seizures are clear signs that Doha and Manama's relations are still far from harmonious despite the lifting of the regional blockade on Qatar. The latter, which has not reconciled with Israel, is also vexed that Bahrain's alliance with the Jewish state appears to be growing ever stronger.

Bahrain reorganises intelligence services to work closer with Israel 

Bahrain is determined to beef up the technological capacities of its intelligence services and strengthen its cooperation with Israel, its Strategic Security Bureau now dealing directly with Israeli intelligence.

Nareva and Suez soon united for Casablanca desalination plant bid 

An alliance between Mohammed VI's Nareva and French water specialist the "new Suez" could help the Moroccan electricity producer add 'national water and irrigation leader' to its name.