Latest news with #Ma
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Will Best reveals huge Big Brother shake-up ahead of 25th anniversary as he opens up new series twists
WILL Best has revealed that Big Brother fans are in for a huge treat for the show's 25th anniversary later this year. The much-loved TV presenter, 40, said bosses won't disappoint when it comes to celebrating the special series this autumn . Advertisement 8 Will Best has revealed there's big twists in store for the Big Brother 25th anniversary Credit: Rex 8 Will praised his on-screen partnership with AJ Odudu Credit: Rex 8 The TV presenter revealed which famous pals he has the best night out with Credit: Getty 8 Will and AJ Odudu have teamed up with Holiday Inn Express for a new campaign Credit: Holiday Inn Express Speaking exclusively to The Sun about the milestone series, Will said: "Some of the great moments have always been when Big Brother shows straight away that he means business . "Like night one, things are being toyed with, people are being wrong footed, unexpected things are happening and I would be very surprised if that isn't dialled up for the 25th anniversary." Will, who began co-hosting the ITV revival of Big Brother alongside AJ Odudu in 2023, opened up about his future on the show after becoming one of UK's most in demand presenters. Advertisement READ MORE ON WILL BEST He told us: "I hope I'll be on the show for quite a while, definitely. "I think the main thing is the show itself is going down well. I think ITV have done an amazing job, purely speaking as a Big Brother fan, who has been following the show for 25 years. "Seeing how ITV have taken it, made it fresh, it feels kind of level upped in a way. I think as long as ITV keep making it the way they are, it will run and run in it's current form." Will shared his excitement about presenting the 25th anniversary after growing up watching Davina McCall and Emma Willis present the show. Advertisement Most read in News TV He said: "I can't believe it, I kind of didn't really click, me and AJ are getting to work on the series during that anniversary, it feels big. "I sort of pinch myself every time I think I work on Big Brother, so to be doing it on the 25th anniversary, I'll have to pinch myself extra hard." Moment Danny Beard shocks Celeb Big Brother hosts by making a play for their JOB live on TV Will opened up about the show's incredible success and the secret behind why it's still on our screens all these years later. He said: "The thing with Big Brother is, you just trust the format, because no matter what happens, every series is unique. Every series has stuff in it that you could never in a million years could script or predict, it just works. Advertisement "There's a reason it's been going for 25 years, it's in like 100 countries around the world and has been since it started. "It is one of the biggest longest running shows in the history of television because when you put 16 or however many people in a house, lock them up for 24 hours a day for six or seven weeks and film the whole thing, it will be chaos and funny and emotional and dramatic." It was also revealed in May that Will hinted that the extra week will bring plenty more chaos. Advertisement He said: "I'm delighted, the last civilian series, that could have carried on. There was unfinished business . The relationships were still forming, forging, unfolding, falling apart. There were so many layers, I was watching it and thinking 'this could carry on'." The last celebrity series saw plenty of drama unfold, with bosses putting the contestants through their paces. But during the madness, a surprise pair found love. Will shared his joy for relationships just weeks after leaving the famous house. Advertisement "I'm delighted for Chris and Jojo! I have to confess, I was surprised when their relationship did turn from platonic to romantic, but they seem so happy together, and so perfect for each other, I just wish them all the best," Will said. "And it would be fun to see the first Celeb BB couples wedding. Maybe I'll even get an invite…' Despite being the consummate professional, Will said he still gets nervous when presenting live TV, but insisted his partnership with AJ is the key to help calming his nerves and visa versa. He shared: "I get nervous about everything, at the end of the day I'm with my best mate. You have to remember we're just having a laugh. Advertisement "The thing about Big Brother, if me and AJ weren't working on it, we'd be watching it and we'd be discussing it. That's just a default. We'd be doing this anyway, we're just lucky enough to be doing it in front of a couple of million people." Speaking about their incredible partnership, Will said: "AJ is one of my best mates and I've known her forever and it does make a massive difference, you're just lucky to work with friends to have it that way round. "Often you become good mates with your colleagues but to be really good friends with somebody and to get the opportunity to work on a show like that is pretty special." WORK HARD, PLAY HARD And when Will and AJ are not being absolute pros on screen, they know how to let their hair down and have a good time. Advertisement Will has teamed up with Holiday Inn Express for their Fresh or Fried campaign, as he opened up about some of his wild party days. The host, who has a been in the industry for nearly three decades, having landed his first his first presenting gig in 2010 on Viva. During that time, he's enjoyed his own fair share of festivals and gigs as he recalled a hilarious moment an A-lister told him off. Will said: "I once got told off for being too drunk by Ellie Goulding, she just said 'oh my god, are you drunk?' and I was like 'yes, I'm at a Katy Perry concert. Advertisement "I don't think I was doing anything bad, it was at the iTunes concert." With the host being on the scene for a while now, he's attended a number of glitzy star-studded events. But Will said there are two famous faces that are the life and soul of any party. He said: "It's AJ Odudu [the best person to go on a night out with], she is the life and soul of every party. I've had some fun nights with AJ and Advertisement "I ended up after the Brits when Maya hosted it, me and AJ, my job when I go out with AJ is like 'we're going home, we're not going to be out all night because usually the Brits is just before Big Brother start and we're usually in Big Brother getting ready mode. "I start worrying about tomorrow Will towards the end of the evening but AJ seems to hate tomorrow AJ because she doesn't care about her. She ploughs on. I'm always the voice of reason." Will recalled one of his best nights out with his fellow presenters at the Brit Awards in March. "When me and AJ went to the Brits together, my job was to make sure we went home. There are lots of afterparties, we're in the build up of Big Brother, we're both like 'we need to get our game faces on. Advertisement "She was like 'Will we're making sure we go home'. AJ likes to chat to lots of people after the show and I could tell she was going to get dragged into an afterparty and I was like 'AJ, we're leaving', I found an exit and took us out the back exit but unfortunately collided with Maya Jama who was getting onto her party bus to go to an afterparty, we got scooped up and didn't get to bed as early as we would have. "I still left though because I was like 'AJ, now it's time to go at 2 in the morning', she was like 'see you'." CAREER HIGHS AND LOWS The telly star has made his become a firm favourite with fans thanks to his charm and charisma and has cemented himself as one of the most in demand presenters. But Will opened up about his life and how it wasn't always this easy and said landing some of his TV jobs was purely down to "luck". Advertisement He said: "I was really lucky when my career first started, I set myself this target that I wanted to get on T4, because that was the sort of show I wanted to work on - I wanted to work in music and comedy and I felt like T4 was the perfect vehicle for that and through a series of lucky events and having the right haircut at the right time, I got MTV and I got T4 and it all just fell into place. It was luck, luck just played a huge part in it. "I thought 'oh, it's quite easy getting telly gigs', the reality it's not." The star admitted times were hard and he struggled to pay his bills - especially when Covid hit in 2020. "There has been definite ups and downs throughout my career, early on all those youth music shows I was working on, they all came to an end because youth music TV stopped being a thing," he said. Advertisement "There were definitely periods where I thought I wasn't going to get work ever again in front of the camera. "I've got a business outside of TV which has always kept me busy and I've done stuff behind the camera. "When I got the call for Big Brother, at that point the day I got the call, I was producing another shoot for someone else, I've always done stuff behind the camera." Discussing how he deals with the knockbacks, Will shared: "I'm never that surprised, so if a knockback comes I'm like 'fair enough', you have to move on quite quickly, but it wasn't even knockbacks to be honest, it was more like not much happening. Advertisement "But obviously Covid played a big part in that." He continued: "When Covid hit a lot of my work got cancelled because I was doing a lot of stuff that was international music festivals. "There was a period after that where I was just relying on income from this small business that I started which was less than my mortgage outgoings. "It was definitely times which where I was like 'I'm going to have to completely rethink things, give up completely'. Advertisement "That's why I was getting into producing and directing, the reality for lots of people in TV across the board, it's just harder and harder for everyone to keep going." Will kicked off his presenting career on MTV. Teaming up with Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh, he presented a series called Suck My Pop on VIVA, as well voicing the MTV Top 20 chart. He went on to join the Advertisement A familiar face at music festivals, in 2012 and 2013, Will hosted Channel 4 's coverage of the iTunes Festival alongside Despite having a hugely successful career, Will admitted that he still has feelings of imposter syndrome. He said: "I have imposter syndrome pretty much 100 per cent of the time, but I think the job that we do is so surreal, it would be odd if you didn't." NEXT BIG MOVE With his hands full with Hits Radio and Big Brother, the star said he'd still be up for signing up to some of the big reality TV shows if he was approached. Advertisement He said: "I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever turned down a TV job. Mainly because I've always been so surprised to actually be offered anything, it would seem rude to refuse. "I'd love to do Strictly, I would love to do I'm A Celeb, I would love to do Celebrity Traitors. I will do anything if they pay me to do it." Will also teased that he'd be up for a permanent role on This Morning after a few appearances on the ITV show - but on one condition. He said: "I wouldn't dream of pushing Dermot [O'Leary] or Ben [Shephard] off the This Morning sofa, but if they were on holiday and they needed me to step into the role, I would do that. Advertisement "If there was a ceremony where Dermot and Ben said 'Will I'd like to bequeath my spot on the sofa to you, I think you're a top chap, you can have it', but until that day, those guys have got it." Will said the new Holiday Inn Express Fresh and Fried packs are perfect for helping with wellness. "This summer of pop that we're all experiencing so many gigs, festivals, it happens every year, it feels like this summer there is more than ever going on," he said. "It's the perfect time to take advantage of these amazing care boxes. Advertisement "There are two different kinds that can reflect how you get ready for a big night and prepare after a gig or to recover the next day. You can either get a fresh box or a fried box. "The fried box is about recovery, things like hydration sachets, eye masks. "For me personally, now that I do breakfast radio , it's all about preparation the night before." Holiday Inn Express' Fresh or Fried campaign is running from 24th July - 24th September 2025, with boxes available at select properties across the UK and Ireland and . Advertisement 8 Will revealed that pop star Ellie Goulding once told him off at a gig Credit: Getty 8 The CBB host said he was surprised by JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes' relationship Credit: Chris Hughes / Instagram 8 Will opened up about some of his highs and lows of his career Credit: Channel 4 8 Will said the new Holiday Inn Express Fresh and Fried packs are perfect for helping with wellness Advertisement
CNBC
a day ago
- Business
- CNBC
This AI-powered software stock could jump another 25%, Guggenheim says
AI-powered Dynatrace is a turnaround story that's building on a strong start to the current fiscal year that ends next March, according to Guggenheim Securities. Analysts led by Howard Ma upgraded shares to buy from neutral and introduced a $66 price target. That implies the stock — down this year but ahead nearly 20% in the past three months — could gain another 25.5% over the next 12 months. Dynatrace, a Boston-based developer of software intelligence platforms, is scheduled to report fiscal first-quarter results on July 30, according to FactSet data. Ma's upgrade is "based on increased confidence that key catalysts for Dynatrace's business are gaining momentum, coupled with a favorable model setup," he said in a Wednesday note to clients. "We believe DT can grow at least mid-teens over the next several years making for a sustainable Rule of 45+ company that stands to benefit from secular tailwinds," Ma said, adding that he expects the company to modestly raise its fiscal year 2026 guidance when it reports results. Dynatrace offers AI-enhanced analytics and automation to help clients monitor and optimize app performance, software development, cyber security practices and other systems infrastructure. DT 1Y mountain Dynatrace performance over the past year. According to Ma, Dynatrace's log management business should power earnings growth well into next year. Improved seasonal trends that began in April could also help drive additional upside, Guggenheim argued, adding that the company is seeing large enterprise customers begin to consolidate more tools on its platform, contributing to subscriptions growth. "Dynatrace's core APM products have been benefiting from continued application modernization, including new app development," Ma said, referring to Application Performance Management. "With a significant percentage of customers now on [Dynatrace Platform Subscription], the collective usage expansion is driving overages and early renewals, which partners say is driving significant deal size uplifts, with some in the 30-50% range (after rate card discounts), and in some cases even doubling."
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Watch: Jack Ma is trending again, and this time it's for riding a bicycle
A short video clip has reignited global curiosity about Jack Ma . The Alibaba co-founder, once among the most prominent business figures in China, was filmed riding a bicycle through the quiet streets of Hangzhou. The video, shared on 17 July by X user Dott. Orikron, shows Ma dressed in sportswear, pedalling without any security around him. 'Jack Ma was spotted riding his bicycle in Hangzhou,' Orikron wrote. 'Although he has retained his position as CEO, his story reminds me of China's Last Emperor, who was pardoned after the revolution (despite collaborating with the Japanese) and became a simple gardener.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence others Data Science MCA Technology Finance Management Leadership Degree Others Operations Management healthcare CXO MBA Public Policy Cybersecurity Product Management Digital Marketing Data Science Design Thinking Data Analytics Healthcare Project Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details The comparison to Emperor Puyi struck a chord online. One user wrote, 'Simplicity at its peak,' while another said, 'Alas, look how happy and free he is.' A third remarked, 'A simple gardener with billions in the bank – is China so safe that billionaires like him don't need bodyguards?' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Morocco: Unsold Sofas May Be at Bargain Prices (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo — orikron (@orikron) Reactions from the street and the screen According to Hype Malaysia, the original video was posted by a user on XiaoHongShu who claimed to have run into Ma at West Lake. She wrote, 'I came to West Lake with my friends and ran into Jack Ma! He was wearing sportswear!' She also noted that Ma confirmed his identity when asked. Live Events The relaxed scene drew a range of responses. Some admired his laid-back approach. Others raised concerns. One user on X questioned, 'Dangerous to be biking at night.' Another said, 'Unless he can give an interview and have people vouch he is alive, have to assume bad things happened to him.' The buzz reflects not just curiosity but also deep public memory of Ma's long silence. What happened to Jack Ma? Jack Ma has been mostly out of sight since October 2020. That was when he made a public speech criticising China's financial regulators. He compared state-owned banks to pawn shops and questioned the country's financial systems. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, his comments did not sit well with President Xi Jinping. The response was swift and severe. Chinese authorities suspended Ant Group 's $37 billion IPO, a move that shocked markets globally. An investigation into Alibaba followed, wiping more than $100 billion off its market valuation. Ma, once omnipresent in business forums and media, simply vanished. His sudden withdrawal triggered months of speculation, conspiracy theories and international headlines. Public sightings were rare, often unconfirmed. Many assumed he was under house arrest or had been forced into silence. Earlier this year, Ma was seen at a high-level meeting with President Xi and other business leaders. It was the first clear sign that relations between China's tech sector and the government might be warming. His recent cycling trip, while personal and informal, could be part of that same slow re-entry into public life. As of July 2025, Ma's net worth stands at $26.5 billion, according to Forbes. Though he stepped down as Alibaba's executive chairman in 2019, he remains one of the company's largest shareholders. From rejection to riches Jack Ma's story isn't typical of China's business elite. Before founding Alibaba, he faced rejection after rejection. He applied for dozens of jobs, including one at KFC. Of 24 applicants, he was the only one not hired. Eventually, he became an English teacher. He taught himself English by offering free city tours to tourists in Hangzhou. For nine years, he cycled 70 miles every morning to the Shangri-La Hotel just to practise the language. His first ventures failed. Haibo Translation Agency didn't last. China Pages didn't succeed either. But in 1999, he gathered 17 friends in his apartment and pitched a new idea: Alibaba. With no funding and no tech background, Ma focused on customer experience. His motto was simple: customers first, employees second, investors last. The idea was mocked. But by 2000, he secured a $20 million investment from SoftBank, led by Masayoshi Son. That changed everything. Alibaba went on to reshape China's e-commerce and digital payment landscape. By 2022, the company became Asia's first to cross a $500 billion market valuation. Ma, once written off as unqualified and unworthy, became one of the richest people in the world.
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Is this Jack Ma? Billionaire and Alibaba co-founder seen riding bicycle in China's Hangzhou — Viral video
In a viral video that has captivated millions across X(formerly twitter), billionaire co-founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma was recently spotted enjoying a bicycle ride on the empty streets of Hangzhou. The footage recorded by a woman and posted by an X user named Dott Orikon, shows Ma, known globally for his entrepreneurial prowess, pedaling casually without any visible security around him. Posted the video, an X user said, 'Although he has retained his position as CEO, his story reminds me of China's Last Emperor, who was pardoned after the revolution (despite collaborating with the Japanese) and became a simple gardener.' This statement compares Jack Ma to Puyi, China's last emperor. Puyi after losing his imperial power and even collaborating with the Japanese, was eventually pardoned and lived his remaining life humbly by being a gardener. The video garnered attention from several X users. Some people raised concerns about his safety as he was seen riding on the roads alone at night. The road also appeared quite empty in the posted video. A user also questioned China's safety, by stating, 'A simple gardener with billions in the bank, is China so safe that billionaires like him don't need body guards?' X user comment on the post While another user mirrored this concern and said, 'Dangerous to be biking at night.' Some users also questioned his sudden disappearance, adding in their theories. A user fueled this thought by stating, 'Unless he can give an interview and have people vouch he is alive, have to assume bad things happened to him.' Another person said, 'I thought he has disappeared. When did he reappear in public and why did he go missing for a while?' All the questions about Jack Ma's disappearance emerged after he started maintaining extremely low public life in late 2020 following regulatory crackdowns in China. His reduced visibility was also fueled by his critical comments on China's financial system. Ma lost more than half of his fortune after the incident, which also caused the suspension of Ant Group's IPO where he had 9.9% stake, according to CNN.
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Is this Jack Ma? Billionaire and Alibaba co-founder seen riding bicycle in China's Hangzhou — Viral video
In a viral video that has captivated millions across X(formerly twitter), billionaire co-founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma was recently spotted enjoying a bicycle ride on the empty streets of Hangzhou. The footage recorded by a woman and posted by an X user named Dott Orikon, shows Ma, known globally for his entrepreneurial prowess, pedaling casually without any visible security around him. Posted the video, an X user said, 'Although he has retained his position as CEO, his story reminds me of China's Last Emperor, who was pardoned after the revolution (despite collaborating with the Japanese) and became a simple gardener.' This statement compares Jack Ma to Puyi, China's last emperor. Puyi after losing his imperial power and even collaborating with the Japanese, was eventually pardoned and lived his remaining life humbly by being a gardener. The video garnered attention from several X users. Some people raised concerns about his safety as he was seen riding on the roads alone at night. The road also appeared quite empty in the posted video. A user also questioned China's safety, by stating, 'A simple gardener with billions in the bank, is China so safe that billionaires like him don't need body guards?' X user comment on the post While another user mirrored this concern and said, 'Dangerous to be biking at night.' Some users also questioned his sudden disappearance, adding in their theories. A user fueled this thought by stating, 'Unless he can give an interview and have people vouch he is alive, have to assume bad things happened to him.' Another person said, 'I thought he has disappeared. When did he reappear in public and why did he go missing for a while?' All the questions about Jack Ma's disappearance emerged after he started maintaining extremely low public life in late 2020 following regulatory crackdowns in China. His reduced visibility was also fueled by his critical comments on China's financial system. Ma lost more than half of his fortune after the incident, which also caused the suspension of Ant Group's IPO where he had 9.9% stake, according to CNN. He resigned as the CEO of Alibaba in 2013 and executive chairman in 2019 as he continued to be the largest shareholder of the company.
