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By Gianluca Lo Nostro and Elisa Anzolin (Reuters) -Shares in Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica rose 14% to hit an all-time high on Friday, adding nearly $20 billion in market value as investor enthusiasm for its AI-powered Ray-Ban Meta glasses gathered momentum. The Paris-listed group, founded by late Italian entrepreneur Leonardo Del Vecchio and a possible contender in the race to buy fashion group Armani, reported on Thursday third-quarter sales growth of 11.7% from a year ago to 6.9 billion euros ($8.1 billion). The results beat expectations and marked the company's best quarterly performance ever amid strong demand for wearable products such as the smart glasses it has been developing with Meta since before the pandemic. Even though the smart glasses business has until now accounted for only a fraction of EssilorLuxottica's total revenue, it has become a focal point for analysts and investors, as well as a catalyst for the company's investments. Barclays analysts have predicted smart glasses could become the most disruptive innovation since mobile phones, forecasting 60 million units sold globally by 2035. The AI-powered glasses contributed over four percentage points to sales growth, said Chief Financial Officer Stefano Grassi, with demand prompting EssilorLuxottica to accelerate production capacity plans for the glasses ahead of schedule. "The exponential growth of wearables provided an extra-boost to the top line performance," the company said in a statement on Thursday. SHARES POST BIGGEST DAILY RISE SINCE 2008 EssilorLuxottica's shares were up 13.8% by 1400GMT,  the biggest daily gain since 2008, lifting the company's market capitalisation to 126.5 billion euros. The move drove the European luxury benchmark Stoxx Europe Luxury 10 up over 7% on the week, the index's biggest weekly gain since January. The latest Ray-Ban Meta models, priced from $379 to $799 for a new flagship version with built-in display, are currently sold in limited physical stores with expansion to Canada, France, Italy and Britain planned for early 2026. The emerging success of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses has reignited a long dead category of eyewear computers as Google and Microsoft had previously abandoned the market. By marrying upgraded cameras and generative AI features with Ray-Ban's designs, Meta has lured big tech rivals back into the market. Google and Samsung are working on glasses based on the Android XR platform. Apple is reportedly working on smart glasses. J.P. Morgan analysts said in a note to investors the smart glasses were now a "material growth driver" while the company's core business remained resilient. Equita analysts upgraded their annual revenue forecast for wearables, and now expect an impact on the group's sales of about one billion euro this year, according to a research note. "The acceleration in third-quarter revenues and the level of confidence expressed on fourth-quarter and mid-term prospects are an important indicator of the success of the group's strategic drivers," they said. ($1 = 0.8540 euros) (Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro, additional reporting by Laura Contemori and Elisa Anzolin; Editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak, Lisa Jucca and Matt Scuffham)

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By Gianluca Lo Nostro and Elisa Anzolin (Reuters) -Shares in Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica rose 14% to hit an all-time high on Friday, adding nearly $20 billion in market value as investor enthusiasm for its AI-powered Ray-Ban Meta glasses gathered momentum. The Paris-listed group, founded by late Italian entrepreneur Leonardo Del Vecchio and a possible contender in the race to buy fashion group Armani, reported on Thursday third-quarter sales growth of 11.7% from a year ago to 6.9 billion euros ($8.1 billion). The results beat expectations and marked the company's best quarterly performance ever amid strong demand for wearable products such as the smart glasses it has been developing with Meta since before the pandemic. Even though the smart glasses business has until now accounted for only a fraction of EssilorLuxottica's total revenue, it has become a focal point for analysts and investors, as well as a catalyst for the company's investments. Barclays analysts have predicted smart glasses could become the most disruptive innovation since mobile phones, forecasting 60 million units sold globally by 2035. The AI-powered glasses contributed over four percentage points to sales growth, said Chief Financial Officer Stefano Grassi, with demand prompting EssilorLuxottica to accelerate production capacity plans for the glasses ahead of schedule. "The exponential growth of wearables provided an extra-boost to the top line performance," the company said in a statement on Thursday. SHARES POST BIGGEST DAILY RISE SINCE 2008 EssilorLuxottica's shares were up 13.8% by 1400GMT,  the biggest daily gain since 2008, lifting the company's market capitalisation to 126.5 billion euros. The move drove the European luxury benchmark Stoxx Europe Luxury 10 up over 7% on the week, the index's biggest weekly gain since January. The latest Ray-Ban Meta models, priced from $379 to $799 for a new flagship version with built-in display, are currently sold in limited physical stores with expansion to Canada, France, Italy and Britain planned for early 2026. The emerging success of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses has reignited a long dead category of eyewear computers as Google and Microsoft had previously abandoned the market. By marrying upgraded cameras and generative AI features with Ray-Ban's designs, Meta has lured big tech rivals back into the market. Google and Samsung are working on glasses based on the Android XR platform. Apple is reportedly working on smart glasses. J.P. Morgan analysts said in a note to investors the smart glasses were now a "material growth driver" while the company's core business remained resilient. Equita analysts upgraded their annual revenue forecast for wearables, and now expect an impact on the group's sales of about one billion euro this year, according to a research note. "The acceleration in third-quarter revenues and the level of confidence expressed on fourth-quarter and mid-term prospects are an important indicator of the success of the group's strategic drivers," they said. ($1 = 0.8540 euros) (Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro, additional reporting by Laura Contemori and Elisa Anzolin; Editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak, Lisa Jucca and Matt Scuffham)

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(Reuters) -Indian engineering firm Tata Technologies reported a 5% rise in second-quarter profit on Friday, as growth in its non-automotive business cushioned weakness in its key auto-focused segment. The firm, which provides engineering, product design and manufacturing digitalisation services to automotive clients, as well as to aerospace and industrial machinery firms, warned about near-term demand being tepid. Engineering research and development firms like Tata Technologies, which depend heavily on outsourcing work from U.S. and European clients, have been under pressure as automotive clients cut back on investments and R&D spending reeling from the impact of U.S. tariffs, according to analysts. Revenue from its bigger services segment, which makes up 77% of overall revenue, remained flat. Revenue in its smaller technology solutions segment — which provides digital engineering, upskilling solutions, and enterprise IT services — rose 6.6% during the quarter. Their overall revenue rose 2% to 13.23 billion rupees ($150.3 million) in the three months to September end. The company, which counts Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors among its largest clients, said its consolidated net profit rose to 1.66 billion rupees from 1.57 billion rupees a year earlier. "While we may see some short-term, tactical challenges in Q3, we remain confident in a solid rebound in Q4, supported by a robust pipeline, improving demand trends, and continued operational excellence," CEO Warren Harris said in a statement. ($1 = 88.0120 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Aleef Jahan; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Mrigank Dhaniwala)

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(Reuters) -Meta said on Friday it will let parents disable their teens' private chats with AI characters, adding another measure to make its social media platforms safe for minors after fierce criticism over the behavior of its flirty chatbots. Earlier this week, the company said its AI experiences for teens will be guided by the PG-13 movie rating system, as it looks to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content. U.S. regulators have stepped up scrutiny of AI companies over the potential negative impacts of chatbots. In August, Reuters reported how Meta's AI rules allowed provocative conversations with minors. The new tools, detailed by Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang, will debut on Instagram early next year, in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, according to a blog post. Meta said parents will also be able to block specific AI characters and see broad topics their teens discuss with chatbots and Meta's AI assistant, without turning off AI access entirely. Its AI assistant will remain available with age-appropriate defaults even if parents disable teens' one‑on‑one chats with AI characters, Meta said. The supervision features are built on protections already applied to teen accounts, the company said, adding that it uses AI signals to place suspected teens into protection even if they say they are adults. A report in September showed that many safety features Meta has implemented on Instagram over the years do not work well or exist. Meta said its AI characters are designed not to engage in age-inappropriate discussions about self-harm, suicide or disordered eating with teens. Last month, OpenAI rolled out parental controls for ChatGPT on the web and mobile, following a lawsuit by the parents of a teen who died by suicide after the startup's chatbot allegedly coached him on methods of self-harm. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)

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(Reuters) -Apple has landed U.S. broadcast rights to Formula 1 in a five-year deal that would help the tech giant bolster its streaming service with one of the country's fastest-growing sports, following the success of its Brad Pitt-starrer "F1: The Movie". The two sides did not disclose the financial details of the deal on Friday. CNBC reported it was for $140 million a year, much higher than the $90 million Walt Disney-owned ESPN was paying per season for F1, which it has broadcast since 2018. Apple's deal begins next year. The iPhone maker will stream F1 on Apple TV, its critically acclaimed streaming service that won 22 Emmy Awards this year but lacks the scale to compete with industry leaders such as Netflix and Disney+ despite billions of dollars in investment. F1 joins Apple's growing sports lineup, which includes Major League Soccer and "Friday Night Baseball." Live sports have become a key battleground in the streaming industry as platforms compete for costly rights that attract loyal fans, reduce churn, and increase ad revenue. "We're thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. front row access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports on the planet," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services. As part of the agreement, Apple TV will host all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix. Select races and all practice sessions throughout the season will also be available to watch for free in the Apple TV app. The deal follows the box office success of the Apple-produced F1 film, which has grossed more than $628 million worldwide, according to IMDb's Box Office Mojo. The movie will make its global streaming debut on Apple TV on December 12. Formula 1 added nearly 90 million new fans last year, with China showing the biggest percentage rise following the sport's post-COVID return to Shanghai, according to Nielsen Sports data. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru and Alan Baldwin in London; Additional reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Leroy Leo)

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(Reuters) -Apple has landed U.S. broadcast rights to Formula 1 in a five-year deal that would help the tech giant bolster its streaming service with one of the country's fastest-growing sports, following the success of its Brad Pitt-starrer "F1: The Movie". The two sides did not disclose the financial details of the deal on Friday. CNBC reported it was for $140 million a year, much higher than the $90 million Walt Disney-owned ESPN was paying per season for F1, which it has broadcast since 2018. Apple's deal begins next year. The iPhone maker will stream F1 on Apple TV, its critically acclaimed streaming service that won 22 Emmy Awards this year but lacks the scale to compete with industry leaders such as Netflix and Disney+ despite billions of dollars in investment. F1 joins Apple's growing sports lineup, which includes Major League Soccer and "Friday Night Baseball." Live sports have become a key battleground in the streaming industry as platforms compete for costly rights that attract loyal fans, reduce churn, and increase ad revenue. "We're thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. front row access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports on the planet," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services. As part of the agreement, Apple TV will host all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix. Select races and all practice sessions throughout the season will also be available to watch for free in the Apple TV app. The deal follows the box office success of the Apple-produced F1 film, which has grossed more than $628 million worldwide, according to IMDb's Box Office Mojo. The movie will make its global streaming debut on Apple TV on December 12. Formula 1 added nearly 90 million new fans last year, with China showing the biggest percentage rise following the sport's post-COVID return to Shanghai, according to Nielsen Sports data. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru and Alan Baldwin in London; Additional reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Leroy Leo)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(Reuters) -Apple has landed U.S. broadcast rights to Formula 1 in a five-year deal that would help the tech giant bolster its streaming service with one of the country's fastest-growing sports, following the success of its Brad Pitt-starrer "F1: The Movie". The two sides did not disclose the financial details of the deal on Friday. CNBC reported it was for $140 million a year, much higher than the $90 million Walt Disney-owned ESPN was paying per season for F1, which it has broadcast since 2018. Apple's deal begins next year. The iPhone maker will stream F1 on Apple TV, its critically acclaimed streaming service that won 22 Emmy Awards this year but lacks the scale to compete with industry leaders such as Netflix and Disney+ despite billions of dollars in investment. F1 joins Apple's growing sports lineup, which includes Major League Soccer and "Friday Night Baseball." Live sports have become a key battleground in the streaming industry as platforms compete for costly rights that attract loyal fans, reduce churn, and increase ad revenue. "We're thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. front row access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports on the planet," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services. As part of the agreement, Apple TV will host all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix. Select races and all practice sessions throughout the season will also be available to watch for free in the Apple TV app. The deal follows the box office success of the Apple-produced F1 film, which has grossed more than $628 million worldwide, according to IMDb's Box Office Mojo. The movie will make its global streaming debut on Apple TV on December 12. Formula 1 added nearly 90 million new fans last year, with China showing the biggest percentage rise following the sport's post-COVID return to Shanghai, according to Nielsen Sports data. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru and Alan Baldwin in London; Additional reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Leroy Leo)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(Reuters) -Meta said on Friday it will let parents disable their teens' private chats with AI characters, adding another measure to make its social media platforms safe for minors after fierce criticism over the behavior of its flirty chatbots. Earlier this week, the company said its AI experiences for teens will be guided by the PG-13 movie rating system, as it looks to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content. U.S. regulators have stepped up scrutiny of AI companies over the potential negative impacts of chatbots. In August, Reuters reported how Meta's AI rules allowed provocative conversations with minors. The new tools, detailed by Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang, will debut on Instagram early next year, in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, according to a blog post. Meta said parents will also be able to block specific AI characters and see broad topics their teens discuss with chatbots and Meta's AI assistant, without turning off AI access entirely. Its AI assistant will remain available with age-appropriate defaults even if parents disable teens' one‑on‑one chats with AI characters, Meta said. The supervision features are built on protections already applied to teen accounts, the company said, adding that it uses AI signals to place suspected teens into protection even if they say they are adults. A report in September showed that many safety features Meta has implemented on Instagram over the years do not work well or exist. Meta said its AI characters are designed not to engage in age-inappropriate discussions about self-harm, suicide or disordered eating with teens. Last month, OpenAI rolled out parental controls for ChatGPT on the web and mobile, following a lawsuit by the parents of a teen who died by suicide after the startup's chatbot allegedly coached him on methods of self-harm. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)

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If you are feeling under the weather, here is some expert advice to help you figure out whether you have Covid or a seasonal cold. London (PA Media/dpa) – Coughs and sneezes seem to be inescapable at the moment – whether you’re at work, commuting or relaxing at home, it’s hard to avoid them. With headlines buzzing about new Covid variants and social media filled with speculation, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell whether that scratchy throat or runny nose is a sign of Covid or just a typical seasonal cold. To help clear up the confusion, we spoke to the experts. Here’s what they had to say… What causes a cold and what causes Covid? “Colds are caused by a bunch of different viruses, but the most common culprit is the rhinovirus, a tiny troublemaker that loves to set up camp in your nose and throat,” explains Dr Chun Tang, GP at Pall Mall Medical in the UK. “Covid, on the other hand, is caused by a single virus, SARS-CoV-2, which is a type of coronavirus. “Both attack your respiratory system, but Covid tends to go deeper, sometimes affecting the lungs and even other organs.” What is the new strain of Covid and how is it different? Stratus (XFG) and Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) are some of the newest strains of Covid that have been dominating headlines recently. “Stratus is linked to hoarseness and fatigue, whereas Nimbus is associated with a ‘razor-blade’ sore throat and digestive symptoms like nausea and bloating,” explains Dr Bruno Silvester Lopes, lecturer in microbiology at Britain's Teesside University. “Both are highly transmissible but not more severe than previous variants.” How do Covid and colds tend to spread? “Both spread mainly through droplets when someone coughs, sneezes, or even talks near you,” says Tang. “Covid, however, can also spread more easily through the air in tiny particles that linger, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. “So, while a cold might need a bit of close contact to catch, Covid can sometimes sneak across the room if you’re unlucky.” Are the symptoms of a cold and Covid different or do some overlap? Colds and Covid can be tricky to distinguish as many of their symptoms overlap. “Both can give you a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and coughing,” says Tang. “However, Covid can also cause fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and that telltale loss of taste or smell – although that’s less common with newer variants. “Covid is also more likely to make you feel wiped out, like you’ve been hit by a truck, whereas a cold tends to stay in your head and chest.” Do the symptoms of a cold and Covid tend to last for a similar amount of time? “Cold symptoms normally last approximately for a week to 10 days,” says Lopes. “Whereas Covid symptoms typically last for up to two weeks, but some may experience them for longer, even persisting for months. “Covid can also cause serious complications, such as pneumonia or long Covid, which affect multiple body systems, not just the respiratory tract.” Are the treatments for colds and Covid different? “Colds can be managed with rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol and decongestants.” says Lopes. “Mild cases of Covid are treated similarly, but high-risk individuals may be prescribed antivirals.” Should I still test for Covid? “Yes, especially if you’re feeling unwell and work around vulnerable people like in healthcare or care homes, or if you want to avoid spreading it to family members who might be at risk,” says Tang. “You can still buy rapid lateral flow tests from pharmacies or order them online. Some workplaces and community settings also provide them for free. Testing helps you make informed choices, like staying at home if you’re positive.” When should you go to a GP about a cold or Covid? “You should see a GP if you have a high fever that won’t go away, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or if your symptoms drag on beyond 10–14 days without improvement,” advises Tang. “For Covid specifically, seek help quickly if you feel short of breath or your oxygen levels drop. Always trust your gut, if you’re worried, get checked out.” How can you prevent yourself from getting a cold or Covid at this time of year? “Wash your hands often, keep rooms well ventilated, and try not to touch your face too much,” advises Tang. “Avoid close contact with people who are clearly under the weather, and if you’re feeling sick, be kind, stay home and rest. “For Covid, staying up to date with vaccines gives great protection – and don’t underestimate the power of good sleep, a balanced diet, and regular exercise.” The following information is not intended for publication pa dpa coh

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By Hyunjoo Jin and Brenda Goh SEOUL/SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Micron plans to stop supplying server chips to data centres in China after the business failed to recover from a 2023 government ban on its products in critical Chinese infrastructure, two people briefed on the decision said. Micron was the first U.S. chipmaker to be targeted by Beijing – a move that was seen as retaliatory for a series of curbs by Washington aimed at impeding tech progress by China's semiconductor industry. Shares of the chipmaker fell 1.4% in premarket trading. Since then, both Nvidia and Intel chips have similarly fielded accusations from Chinese authorities and an industry group of posing security risks, though there has not been any regulatory action. LENOVO TO REMAIN A CUSTOMER Micron will continue to sell to two Chinese customers that have significant data centre operations outside China, one of which is laptop maker Lenovo, the people said. The U.S. company, which made $3.4 billion or 12% of its total revenue from mainland China in its last business year, will also continue to sell chips to auto and mobile phone sector customers in the world's second-largest economy, one person said. Asked about the exit from its China data centre business, Micron said in a statement to Reuters that the division had been impacted by the ban, and it abides by applicable regulations where it does business. Lenovo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S.-Sino trade tensions and tech rivalry have only escalated since 2018, when U.S. President Donald Trump began imposing tariffs on Chinese goods during his first term. That same year, Washington ramped up accusations against Chinese tech giant Huawei, accusing it of representing a national security risk, imposing sanctions a year later. Huawei has denied those charges. Nvidia and Intel have also denied charges that their products pose risks to Chinese national security. Micron also said in 2023, before the conclusion of China's probe, that it stood by the security of its products. Currently, the U.S. has sanctioned hundreds of Chinese entities. China, which is more reliant on imported tech, has taken far fewer regulatory actions. LOSING OUT ON CHINA'S AI BOOM The ban on Micron products in critical infrastructure by China – the world's second-largest market for server memory – has meant the company has missed out on the country's data centre expansion boom. That's benefited rivals Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, as well as Chinese companies YMTC and CXMT, which have been aggressively expanding with the support of the Chinese government. Investment by data centres used in computing in China surged ninefold to 24.7 billion yuan ($3.4 billion) last year, according to a Reuters review of government procurement documents. That said, Micron's challenges in China have been offset by huge demand for data centres and related tools elsewhere, thanks to the global adoption of artificial intelligence. That's helped the company report record quarterly revenue. According to a third source, Micron's data centre team in China employs over 300 people. Reuters was not able to immediately establish how many jobs may be affected. Micron has been downsizing in other areas in China. In August, it laid off a few hundred people in its universal flash storage programme after deciding to cease development of future mobile NAND products globally, according to the South China Morning Post. Areas where it has continued to expand in China include its chip packaging facility in the city of Xian. "We have a strong operating and customer presence in China, and China remains an important market for Micron and the semiconductor industry in general," Micron said in its statement to Reuters. ($1 = 7.1224 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in Seoul, Brenda Goh in Shanghai and Liam Mo in Beijing; Additional reporting by Kritika Lamba; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Edwina Gibbs)

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