Why the second half of 2025 could be quitting season
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Daily Mail
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
King of K-pop G-Dragon cuts a trendy figure as he arrives in Sydney flanked by heavy security fending off fans ahead of Australian leg of World Tour
G-Dragon - real name Kwon Ji-yong - has been spotted attempting to go incognito as he touched down in the land Down Under. The King of K-pop, who is about to embark on the Australian leg of his eponymous world tour, was seen making a low-key entrance through a Sydney Airport loading dock on Tuesday. The BigBang frontman flaunted his trendsetting street style while wearing brown cargo pants, chunky black boots and a pink long-sleeve tee with embroidered roses on the sleeves. He accessorised the laid-back ensemble with an R-emblazoned baseball cap, dark shades and a face mask, attempting to go under the radar. The Too Bad hitmaker was flanked by a strict security team as he made his way through the airport, with one shielding the star with an umbrella over his head. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. One of the security guards wasn't leaving anything to chance as he shone a light at waiting fans who were hoping to get a picture of the megastar. G-Dragon could be seen chatting on the phone as he briskly walked to his car, using his other hand to pull up his baggy pants so they didn't drag on the floor. The K-pop star is set to play two shows in Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on July 2 and July 3, before heading to Melbourne for a slew of shows at Rod Laver Arena. He will then move on to the Asian leg of his tour, performing shows in Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Hong Kong. Before coming to Australia, G-Dragon made an appearance at Psy's annual Summer Swag 2025 concert in South Korea. He took to the stage at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on Saturday, performing his hit songs Power, Home Sweet Home, and Crayon. 'It's really been a long time,' he told the crowd of nearly 30,000 people. 'I'm currently on a world tour after 88 months, but I came here to celebrate with my big brother Psy,' he said. G-Dragon has been romantically linked to a number of high-flying A-listers, including American-Japanese model Kiko Mizuhara and Drowning Love actress Nana Komatsu. He even dated BLACKPINK's Jennie Kim, who recently starred in 2023 flick The Idol alongside Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd aka Abel Tesfaye. However, the Drama hitmaker is said to be currently single as he takes to the Australian stage this month. In September 2024, G-Dragon made headlines after he led a lavish art auction alongside Pharrell Williams in Seoul. The glamorous occasion, which was attended by Princess Eugenie, marked the Nothing but a 'G' Thang: The Art and Archive of G-Dragon exhibition. King Charles' niece, who was likely invited to the event in her role as an Associate Director for gallery Hauser & Wirth, put on a stunning display in a metallic-themed midi dress from London-based designer Peter Pilotto. The beaming royal was keen to capture special moments, with footage showing the mother-of-two filming the hosts on her phone as they were speaking.
Daily Mail
35 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Southern Water handed £1.2bn liquidity boost by 'vampire kangaroo'
Australian investment giant Macquarie has agreed to plough as much as £1.2billion of capital into struggling utility firm Southern Water. The so-called 'vampire kangaroo' will initially inject £655million into the group followed by a minimum £245million by December, which could grow to £545million. Southern Water, which serves 4.7 million people across southern England, said on Tuesday the added equity will help fund planned infrastructure upgrades over the coming five years. Over the 2025 to 2030 regulatory period, the business intends to spend £8.5billion on improving services, including £3.3billion towards environmental projects. Like the rest of the UK water industry, Southern Water has come under considerable criticism for its environmental record. It was fined a record £90million four years ago for deliberately dumping raw sewage into the sea across sites in Kent, Hampshire, and West Sussex between 2010 and 2015. In October last year, water regulator Ofwat ordered the group to refund £31.9million to customers for missing targets on leaks and sewage spills. By 2030, Southern Water aims to reduce its leakage rate from 17 per cent to 13 per cent, halve the overall number of pollution incidents, and cut the amount of water it takes from the environment by 50 million litres per day. Lawrence Gosden, its chief executive, said: 'Every penny of this equity raise will go directly towards delivering the largest growth investment programme in the sector relative to its size. 'Taken together with the reduction in debt, and no forecast dividends for the 2025-30 regulatory period, the new investment will directly support Southern Water's financial resilience and improving performance.' Macquarie - nicknamed the 'Vampire Kangaroo' by critics - has faced significant condemnation for its previous part-ownership of Thames Water. Thames Water's debts more than tripled from £3.4billion in 2006, when Macquarie first acquired the company, to £10.8billion in 2017, when it sold its final stake in the firm. Macquarie has claimed that during the 11-year period, it invested over £11billion in Thames Water's network, the most of any English or Welsh water company on a per-customer basis. As part of the Southern Water deal, Macquarie has agreed to slash debts in the Worthing-based group's holding companies from about £865million to £415million. 'With the help of our investors' capital, Southern Water will have the financial resources to maintain its positive momentum,' said Martin Bradley, senior managing director at Macquarie Asset Management. 'While it's been a difficult time to raise private sector capital for a UK water company, we are aligned with the Government's ambition to reform the sector and are encouraged by the desire to achieve the reset required to effect real long-term change.'
Business Wire
35 minutes ago
- Business Wire
Escala Partners Joins Focus Partners Australia
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Focus Financial Partners Inc., an interdependent organization of wealth management, business management, and related financial services firms, today announced that its Melbourne, Australia-based network firm Escala Partners has joined Focus Partners Australia. Escala will operate alongside Focus' other businesses in Australia, which will together represent Focus Partners Australia. With offices in Sydney and Melbourne, Escala has been providing high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, not-for-profit organizations, and institutional investors with customized investment solutions and other wealth and advisory services through a collaborative, highly customized approach since 2013. 'As part of the evolution of Focus' presence in the Australian market, we are excited by the opportunity to bring Escala together with our other businesses in Australia to build a scaled, premier wealth management organization capable of delivering comprehensive services, deep expertise, and a personalized experience,' said Travis Danysh, Chief Corporate Development Officer at Focus Financial Partners. 'The addition of Escala to Focus Partners Australia is an important step towards solidifying our strong position within the Australian market through a leading operating and growth platform, capable of delivering holistic solutions to clients and their advisers.' As part of this transition, Escala has also enhanced its leadership team to include: Ben James, who has been appointed CEO at Escala. Mr. James, who is a founding partner of the firm, previously served as its Head of Advisory. Torty Howard, who has been appointed COO. Simon Dawkins, who will continue as Escala's Head of Capital Markets and Fixed Income division. In addition, Travis Danysh is expected to be named as Executive Chairman of Focus' Australian businesses, in addition to his role at Focus Financial Partners. 'Our goal at Escala has always been to redefine the meaning of excellence in wealth management,' said Mr. James. 'Joining Focus Partners Australia allows us to set the foundation for our continued growth and evolution, through which we will deliver expansive solutions and a differentiated client experience through a unified and integrated global organization.' 'The Australian market is important for us, and as we continue to align our company across the markets and clients we serve, we see great opportunity in facilitating the convergence of our Australian operations into a cohesive business that can operate with all the capabilities and resources of a scaled organization,' said Michael Nathanson, CEO of Focus Financial Partners. 'Escala joining Focus Partners Australia is an important next step in its evolution as well as the evolution of our broader company.' About Focus Financial Partners Inc. Focus is an interdependent partnership of wealth management, business management, and related financial services firms, rooted in a client-first approach and powered by the collective energy and capabilities of its many advisors and professionals. The Focus partnership includes firms operated under the Focus Partners brand that reflect the company's key business lines. Through a blend of innovative solutions, strong capital backing, and deep business expertise, Focus empowers its firms to achieve their business objectives by helping them better serve their clients and advisors. Discover more about how Focus is evolving the wealth and business management landscape by visiting or by following the company on LinkedIn. About Focus Partners Australia Focus Partners Australia, the Australian business unit of Focus Partners, offers integrated capabilities in accounting, lending, insurance and related services from its offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Guided by a client-first ethos, Focus Partners Australia leverages the global expertise, platforms and capital strength of Focus Financial Partners to deliver holistic, fiduciary guidance across strategic planning, portfolio management, insurance, credit and tax. By fusing local insight with world-class resources, Focus Partners Australia helps its clients protect, grow and transition their wealth at every life stage. About Escala Partners Founded in 2013, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne, Escala Partners is a premier private wealth investment and advisory group dedicated to delivering personalized, sophisticated, high-quality investment solutions to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices and institutional clients. The firm is committed to providing objective and tailored investment strategies, leveraging deep expertise and innovative technology to create long-term wealth solutions for its clients. Discover more about Escala at or on LinkedIn. © 2025 Focus Financial Partners. All rights reserved.
