Japanese investigation market shakeup

JS Held prepares for further acquisitions in 2023 

After an already busy 2022, American corporate intelligence firm JS Held plans to snap up more companies next year as part of its consolidation ambitions.

Nick Panes leaves Charles River, prepares next moves 

After announcing his departure from Charles River Associates, veteran investigator Nicholas Panes recently became an adviser to a new regulatory consulting firm but is preparing other moves in the longer term.

• LONDON - Irwin leaves Nardello

• PARIS - Banque de France recruits new security chief
  

• LONDON - GPW nabs investigator Waters from Schillings
  

• NEW YORK - Exiger exodus
  

• LONDON - Opus Pear Tree assists gold giant Petropavlovsk 
  

US State Department gets budget for Chinese counter-influence in Indo-Pacific 

To stem China's rise in the region, US diplomacy plans to implement economic security measures and develop counter-influence programmes, notably in Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

Audere ups its game with new Asia-focused consultants 

Oliver Blackmore earlier this year completed taking over Audere International, a corporate intelligence firm founded by his father Charles Blackmore. He is now stepping up recruitment of consultants internationally, particularly in Asia, to strengthen his company's presence there.

France, UK, muscle into Seoul's Indo-Pacific plans 

Since South Korea began openly discussing its position in the debate over the Indo-Pacific region's political and strategic architecture, delegations of French and British officials have been pouring into the country in an attempt to wield influence.

Fresh debate over remains of former Soviet spy reignites Kuril Islands dispute 

The shadow of the unresolved conflict between Tokyo and Moscow over four islands in the Pacific has become a recurring theme in Russian-Japanese relations. This has led to a series of extremely high-profile public relations exercises by Moscow, which Washington is gradually becoming embroiled in.

Ex-Kroll bureau chief Richard Dailly still believes in Hong Kong's private investigation market 

Despite the pressure from Beijing, Hong Kong continues to attract private investigation firms.