International

The business council helping American weapons manufacturers boost arms sales to Taipei 

A delegation of US weapons manufacturers led by the US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) is expected in Taipei in early May to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen to discuss potential new deals.

Vladimir Kazadaev opens doors to Russian firms for defence contracts with Naypyidaw 

Documents obtained by Intelligence Online reveal the extent of Moscow's efforts to build trade with Myanmar, where delegations of Russian executives and engineers have flocked of late. Vladimir Kazadaev's recent appointment as Russia's trade representative there is the latest example of Moscow's trade push.

Liu Chang, the officer strengthening ties for Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires  Free

The defence attaché at the Chinese embassy in Argentina, Liu Chang, is working hard to ensure that Buenos Aires, despite strong US pressure, continues to develop its bilateral defence relations. In recognition of his importance to Beijing, he is expected to have his term extended.

Ryan Evans' Bedrock Learning hires ex-CIA officer David Priess 

Bedrock Learning is counting on media-savvy former intelligence official Priess to help boost its own visibility.

Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison, civil defence champion in the Middle East 

The Club de l'Export de la Sécurité Civile, a club aimed at exporting French civil defence, is planning a trip to Jordan and Saudi Arabia in May to lay the groundwork for an official visit and line up contracts in September.

Russian and Chinese coast guards draw closer in North Pacific 

Moscow and Beijing are coordinating their North Pacific border security efforts, and in doing so are stoking the flames of Russia and Japan's unresolved dispute over the four Kuril Islands.

French military diplomacy treads carefully in South Caucasus 

By planning to appoint a new French defence attaché in Yerevan, France aims to bring Armenia closer to the West. But in a region torn between multiple antagonistic forces, this new role would have to be carried out with care.

Japan's system of military surveillance for Chinese students draws interest in the West 

The pioneering strategy Japan has put in place to fight Chinese interference in the academic sphere is earning attention from an increasing number of foreign powers, including France, the United States and Australia. Intelligence Online investigates the secret system of military surveillance of Chinese students.

French OSINT touts GDPR compliance to rival growing US competition 

As foreign open source intelligence providers for governments take hold in the European market, French specialists in the field are flagging concerns about those companies not being bound by EU data protection laws, even as French operators turn to Israeli providers.

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.

Legal clash between a UK investigative firm, a disgruntled ex-executive, an angry client and her lover has movie-calibre twists 

London-based Conflict International filed a lawsuit in New York in late March asking the court to dismiss complaints against the firm from a former executive and a wealthy client. Meanwhile, the client's former paramour - whom she allegedly hired CI to smear - is suing the trio for $1.

• MOSCOW - NtechLab founders' distance from firm not so clean cut

• DUBAI/ROME - Italy's Secom opens door to Europe for Rakia Group 

• WASHINGTON - Israeli anti-drone specialist Convexum after voice in Congress 

• LYON - Interpol seeks to monitor the seas 

Free

State veteran Zelimkhan Haydarov still holds sway in Tashkent power games 

The senior official has held critical roles in Uzbekistan's successive administrations. Now, members of Haydarov's first circle are being appointed to key infrastructure positions, where they are gradually replacing former heavyweights under investigation from the SGB.