Lucy Peng
Lucy Peng has been dubbed Alibaba Group Holding’s most influential woman.
The co-founder of the e-commerce giant rarely speaks in public and is little known outside of China, but over the past two decades, she’s played a key role guiding Jack Ma’s empire. Ms Peng, 47, helped set up Alibaba’s human resources department, was Ant Group’s chief executive and is now executive chairwoman of Lazada Group, the South-East Asian e-commerce platform.
The former finance teacher is also emerging as one of the wealthiest people within the Alibaba ecosystem and one of the richest women on the planet. Ms Peng holds a 1.7 per cent stake in Ant, the FinTech firm that’s set to raise $34.5 billion in a dual listing in Shanghai and Hong Kong that could take its valuation to $320bn. She’ll be worth about $5bn, based on the pricing of the initial public offering, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
"Jack famously considers women a key asset in his success; Lucy is the embodiment of that," said Duncan Clark, author of Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built and chairman of investment consulting firm BDA China. "That's why she's been deployed on new ventures at critical moments of the company's development. She's been very focused on the key behind-the-scenes work, especially on human resources and, as such, has earned and retained the trust of Jack."
Women represent almost 40 per cent of Alibaba Partnership members, the elite group that has the power to determine the management’s annual cash bonuses. Along with Ms Peng, six other female leaders are heading for billionaire status thanks to Ant’s record IPO, with a combined stake value of $14.5bn.
China has been the main engine for self-made female billionaires in recent years. Among the world’s 500 richest people, two-thirds of the 15 women who created their own fortunes are Chinese entrepreneurs, according to Bloomberg’s wealth index.
Ms Peng met Mr Ma through her husband when they worked together at China Pages, a Yellow Pages-like online directory Mr Ma set up before Alibaba.
Ms Peng served as chief people officer for most of her time at the e-commerce giant before taking the role of Alipay’s chief executive in 2010 to enhance the app’s payment process and user experience. The platform, owned by Ant, started in 2004 as an escrow service for buyers and sellers on Mr Ma’s shopping site Taobao.com as it competed with EBay for market share in China.
Now Ant is about to sell shares in the world’s largest IPO. Ms Peng, who owns the biggest individual Ant stake after Mr Ma, and Mr Ma himself aren’t the only ones winning big. At least 17 other people are becoming billionaires from the listing.
Paul Sciarra, Evan Sharp and Ben Silbermann
Pinterest co-founders Paul Sciarra, Evan Sharp and Ben Silbermann added $750 million to their collective fortunes last week after the company reported quarterly sales that beat analysts’ expectations.
Strong advertiser demand and a growing user base helped boost the scrapbooking company’s revenue by 58 per cent from a year earlier.
The share price jump means the three men are now worth a combined $5.8bn, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, more than double what it was three months ago.
San Francisco-based Pinterest is among the companies benefiting as consumers increasingly turn online for social engagement, entertainment and communication. The world’s wealthiest tech billionaires have become $409bn richer year-to-date, a bigger gain than those in any other industry, according to the Bloomberg index.
Founded in 2009, the image-sharing site now has more than 400 million monthly active users.
Chief executive Mr Silbermann has pocketed $115m this year selling Pinterest stock through a prearranged trading plan, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. He currently holds 51 million shares valued at $3.2bn and received $46m in pay and stock awards in 2019, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Hasso Plattner
Hasso Plattner, chairman and co-founder of SAP, bought shares worth nearly $300m in the German software company after a once-in-a-generation price slide triggered when management dumped its profit targets.
The 76-year-old billionaire bought shares worth €248.5m ($294 million) at an average price of €101, according to a regulatory filing.
SAP shares slumped by 20 per cent after chief executive Christian Klein ditched his “ambition” for profit margins to expand steadily through 2023 and lowered the outlook for this year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The share slide erased $35bn from SAP’s market value and knocked the company off its perch as Europe’s most valuable technology company, where it was ousted by Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML.
Mr Plattner previously owned a 5.89 per cent stake in SAP, making him the company’s largest individual shareholder, according to Refinitiv data.
Elon Musk
Tesla’s Elon Musk collected the fourth tranche of his moonshot award last month, bringing his aggregate haul to $11.8bn.
The company recently surpassed the performance thresholds for market value and adjusted earnings before adjusted interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, according to a regulatory filing, unlocking yet another 8.44 million options for the billionaire chief executive.
Following a surge in Tesla’s stock, Mr Musk in May collected the first tranche of the massive options award he was granted in 2018. He received the second and third tranches in July and September, respectively.
Mr Musk’s complete compensation package – the largest corporate pay deal ever struck between a chief executive and a board of directors – includes about 101 million options, split into 12 tranches, that could yield Mr Musk more than $50bn if all goals are met, according to the electric car maker’s estimates. He’s allowed to exercise the options as they’re unlocked, but can’t sell any of the shares for five years.
Mr Musk’s fortune has more than quadrupled this year to exceed $100bn, the largest gain of anyone on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making him the world’s fourth-richest person.
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was first created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
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Violence%20
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
MORE ON IRAN'S PROXY WARS
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Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Golden Shoe top five (as of March 1):
Harry Kane, Tottenham, Premier League, 24 goals, 48 points
Edinson Cavani, PSG, Ligue 1, 24 goals, 48 points
Ciro Immobile, Lazio, Serie A, 23 goals, 46 points
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Premier League, 23 goals, 46 points
Lionel Messi, Barcelona, La Liga, 22 goals, 44 points
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%20Profile
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'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
SHAITTAN
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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Read more about the coronavirus
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Hurricanes 31-31 Lions
Wellington Hurricanes:
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita tries, Barrett
Conversions: Barrett (4)
Penalties: Barrett
British & Irish Lions:
Tries: Seymour (2), North
Conversions: Biggar (2)
Penalties: Biggar (4)
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Pickford (Everton), Pope (Burnley), Henderson (Manchester United)
Defenders Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Chilwell (Chelsea), Coady (Wolves), Dier (Tottenham), Gomez (Liverpool), James (Chelsea), Keane (Everton), Maguire (Manchester United), Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Mings (Aston Villa), Saka (Arsenal), Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Foden (Manchester City), Henderson (Liverpool), Grealish (Aston Villa), Mount (Chelsea), Rice (West Ham), Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Winks (Tottenham)
Forwards: Abraham (Chelsea), Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Kane (Tottenham), Rashford (Manchester United), Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Sterling (Manchester City)
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
