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q slot ‘I’m not a quitter’: Mettam responds to ‘catastrophic’ polling that suggests Zempilas should be Liberal leader

A look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaulReliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea — continued to suffer customer losses for the third month in a row in September, as per the latest TRAI data . The fall comes following the mobile data tariffs hikes announced by the three telcos in early July. As per data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) for the month of September, Jio lost 7.9 million wireless customers, followed by Vodafone Idea which saw a decline of 1.5 million wireless customers and Bharti Airtel lost 1.4 million wireless users. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom IPL 2025 Auction: Updated Full Team Squads This fall in Reliance Jio's 4G and 5G user base triggered a sharp fall in India's mobile broadband user base in September -- the first decline after two years of steady growth since the launch of 5G services in October 2022. India's 4G-cum-5G user base plunged by a record 5.6 million in September, shrinking the nation's mobile broadband user base to 901 million. This user base had earlier risen from 790 million in October 2022 to around 906 million in August 2024. Notably, state-owned BSNL, which did not implement price hikes, gained 1.5 million users. What's behind the fall in Reliance Jio customer base According to a report in Economic Times, analysts at Jefferies attribute this sharp decline to the price sensitivity of Jio's customer base. The telecom giant, along with Airtel and Vi, had increased their tariffs by 11-25% in July, primarily to boost their average revenue per user (ARPU). As a result of the tariff hike, Jio's market share in the data subscriber segment dipped by 60 basis points, while Airtel, BSNL/MTNL, and Vi gained market share. However, Jio remains the dominant player in the combined 4G/5G user segment, holding a 51% market share. The 3 biggest players in India's broadband market According to the latest data as of September 30, 2024, India's broadband market continues to be dominated by five major players who collectively command 98.42% of the total wired and wireless broadband market share. Reliance Jio Infocomm leads the pack with 477.94 million subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel with 285.17 million subscribers. Meanwhile, Vodafone Idea maintained its third position with 126.36 million subscribers, while the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) holds 37.73 million subscribers. Atria Convergence Technologies rounds out the top five with 2.27 million subscribers.

The world is now controlled by artificial intelligence . AI is being adopted in multiple sectors for applications that enable superior productivity, better customer experience, and new solutions for business. It is a dream come true for AI engineers to develop a new concept at its embryonic stage and be part of a futuristic technology. Here's a look at the best companies hiring AI engineers and what makes them top destinations for AI talent. With innovative applications and breakthrough research, Google remains on top of the AI space. The company heavily invests in AI through its products, including Google Search and Assistant, as well as self-driving technology. Its AI engineers are involved in natural language processing, computer vision, and deep learning projects. The company’s culture of innovation, competitive compensation packages, and access to cutting-edge technology make it a top choice for AI engineers. Google also offers a wealth of resources for professional development, allowing employees to stay at the forefront of AI advancements. Microsoft has been one of the companies on the frontlines of AI innovation with its Azure AI services and OpenAI collaborations. Contributions of Microsoft's AI engineers can be seen in various projects such as GPT-4 integrations, Azure Cognitive Services, and AI tools for productivity, such as Copilot in Microsoft 365, among others. This focus of Microsoft on responsible AI development and the versatility of applications within both enterprise and consumer markets also attract top talent. Its working environment fosters collaboration and creativity, thus becoming a rewarding place for AI engineers to grow their careers. Meta is investing a lot in AI to power its vision of the metaverse. The company's AI engineers work on very complex challenges, such as developing lifelike virtual avatars, enhancing augmented reality experiences, and optimizing content delivery through AI algorithms. Meta is committed to open-source AI tools, like PyTorch, and its compensation packages are generous, which makes it an excellent company to work with. This AI research is at the leading edge, so the work engineers do is on some of the most exciting problems. Amazon is leveraging AI across all its e-commerce, cloud computing, and logistics operations. From Alexa's ability to recognize voices to supply chain optimization and personalization of product recommendations, Amazon AI engineers work on such projects. Amazon offers great opportunities for AI engineers to come up with impactful solutions since it has a reputation for innovation and a wide variety of applications in AI. In addition, the company's AWS is a hub of AI and machine learning, so it would be an exciting place for AI talent. Apple is different from other tech majors with its user-centric approach towards AI. The company smoothly integrates AI in the form of Siri, Face ID, and on-device machine learning for privacy-preserving features. Apple AI engineers focus on cutting-edge technologies while maintaining a focus on both the user experience and security. With innovation at the heart, sleek product design, and a commitment to privacy, Apple offers a unique and fulfilling setting for AI professionals. NVIDIA is the leader in GPU technology and plays a crucial role in AI development . The company's AI engineers work on state-of-the-art technologies that power AI research, autonomous vehicles, and high-performance computing. NVIDIA's innovative culture and contribution to AI infrastructure make it a dream workplace for engineers passionate about pushing technological boundaries. The company's focus on AI hardware and software integration provides a unique niche for AI experts. As one of the most well-known AI research organizations, OpenAI is a magnet for engineers who want to make a significant impact. OpenAI’s projects, such as ChatGPT and DALL-E, have revolutionized natural language understanding and generative AI. The organization’s collaborative research environment, access to cutting-edge tools, and mission to ensure AI benefits all of humanity make it a compelling choice for AI engineers seeking meaningful work. Tesla's AI initiatives extend beyond electric vehicles, including autonomous driving technology and robotics. Their AI engineers work on full self-driving capabilities and innovation in AI-powered manufacturing. The company's fast-paced and mission-driven culture is exactly what attracts engineers who enjoy fast-paced environments. Working with transformative technologies that will rewire transportation makes Tesla an ideal employer for AI talent. Unparalleled opportunities have emerged for AI engineers as AI adoption surges across industries. From the likes of Google and Microsoft to the new innovative players, OpenAI and Tesla, the best companies hiring AI engineers this year offer competitive benefits, access to cutting-edge technologies, and the chance to work on projects shaping the future. These organizations continue to be at the forefront of the evolution of the AI field, driving innovation and attracting the brightest minds in the industry.

NoneTyson Foods Inc. Cl A stock outperforms competitors despite losses on the dayAustralia's proposal to ban under-16s from social media platforms is "rushed", social media companies claimed Tuesday, expressing "serious concerns" about potential unintended consequences. The landmark legislation would force social media firms to prevent young teens from accessing their platforms or face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million). Platforms such as X, Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta have criticised the 24-hour time frame given for stakeholder comments, claiming a lack of consultation and inadequate details about how the legislation would work. X said in its submission that it had "serious concerns" the ban would have "a negative impact" on children, adding it breached their "rights to freedom of expression and access to information". The company added that the proposed law was "vague" and "highly problematic" and that there was "no evidence" that it would work. Australia is among the vanguard of nations trying to clean up social media, and the proposed age limit would be among the world's strictest measures aimed at children. The proposed laws, which were presented to parliament last week, would also include robust privacy provisions that require tech platforms to delete any age-verification information collected. The government is trying to approve the law this week, before parliament breaks for the rest of the year. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said in its submission the ban would "fail" in its current form because there was not enough consultation with stakeholders. "More time should be taken to get this bill right," it said. TikTok raised concerns over the privacy provisions -- including that they overlapped and contradicted other legislation -- and the limited time to consult stakeholders. "Its rushed passage poses a serious risk of further unintended consequences," the company's submission said. Key details about how social media companies are expected to enforce the ban remain unclear. Some companies will be granted exemptions from the ban, such as YouTube, which teenagers may need to use for school work or other reasons. Once celebrated as a means of staying connected and informed, social media platforms have been tarnished by cyberbullying, the spread of illegal content, and election-meddling claims. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted Tuesday that "social media is causing social harm". "It can be a weapon for bullies, a platform for peer pressure, a driver of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators," he wrote in an opinion piece. "And because it is young Australians who are most engaged with this technology -- it is young Australians who are most at risk." The laws would give families "peace of mind" that their children's well-being and mental health were being prioritised, he said. If the proposed law passes, tech platforms would be given a one-year grace period to figure out how to implement and enforce the ban. The proposal comes just months before Australians go to the polls in a general election that must be held in the first half of 2025. lec/arb/foxSome kids see their parents as monsters — making them eat their vegetables, insisting homework be done before dinner, begging them to clean their room, etc. You know, the worst. In the case of Ellian, a princess from the land of Lumbria, her parents literally are monsters — unsightly, rambunctious and uncommunicative creatures — thanks to an encounter with some dark magic. That’s the state of royal play in “Spellbound,” a semi-enchanting film from Skydance Animation on Netflix. The movie had a chance to be a gem thanks to some of the folks who brought it to life. The list starts with director Vicky Jenson, who, most notably, helmed 2001’s beloved romp “Shrek.” Then there’s composer Alan Menken — working herewith lyricist Glenn Slater — who has contributed to animated Disney classics including “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast.” And singing the original songs of Menken and Slater is Rachel Zegler, who delighted us in director Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of “West Side Story” and last year impressed in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.” These talented people and others — John Lithgow, Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem contribute voice work — help make “Spellbound” a relative winner even if it falls short of the quality of the aforementioned animated films. As we meet Ellian (Zegler) — on her birthday, flying through mountains, above water and eventually back to the kingdom with her friends riding giant birds — she and a few others, such as Lithgow’s Minister Bolinar, have been keeping the truth about her parents a secret from the citizens and even some important types. Ministers Bolinar and Nazara (Jenifer Lewis) think it is time for Princess Ellian to become the ruler of Lumbria, but she hasn’t given up on the idea of finding a way to break her parents’ curse, which they encountered in the Dark Forest of Eternal Darkness — where it’s, like, seriously dark. She summons to the castle the Oracle of the Moon (Tituss Burgess) and the Oracle of the Sun (Nathan Lane), a pair of little guys who arrive by Uber-like frog. Before they can reveal how the curse can be broken, her mom tries to eat one of them, causing them to bolt. Ellian chases them down, of course, and, with Mom and Dad in tow, sets about her quest to return them to normalcy. As the three spend time together, Ellian is able to communicate, increasingly effectively, with Queen Ellsmere (Kidman) and King Solon (Bardem). It is then that we see the darkness that surrounded them was not just figurative; the more intelligently they can speak, the more they argue with one another. Despite this friction, Ellian continues a search for a source of lightness — again, both literal and metaphorical — to restore things as they should be. Penned by Lauren Hynek, Elizabeth Martin and Julia Miranda, “Spellbound” offers some valuable lessons to young viewers — for whom this film is mainly targeted — including the importance of handling negative feelings in a positive way. There’s also a lesson for parents, however. If nothing else, the not-so-neat-and-tidy resolution of the story isn’t exactly what you’d predict. You just wish the journey were a little more entertaining. The jokes are OK, not hilarious, and the songs are merely fine — certainly below Menken’s best work. Nevertheless, Zegler’s lovely singing voice elevates those songs, and the actress gives a strong performance overall. And Lithgow — who voiced the villainous Lord Farquaad in “Shrek” — is fun, especially after Bolinar runs afoul of some magic himself. With its bright-and-colorful palette (but only so-so design work), “Spellbound” should keep the little ones busy for nearly two hours as you prepare for Thanksgiving. And that’s a real magic trick, isn’t it? Get local news delivered to your inbox!

President-elect Donald Trump , once an outspoken critic of TikTok in the conservative movement, has softened his stance toward the Chinese-owned social media app, sparking backlash from Republican allies. After previously attempting to ban the platform over national security concerns , Trump now describes having a “warm spot” for TikTok, citing its role in mobilizing young voters during his successful 2024 presidential campaign. This comes as the Supreme Court is preparing to hear expedited oral arguments on Jan. 10, nine days before the company must sell off to U.S. buyers or face bans on mainstream app stores. PROGRESSIVE DEMS DEMAND MAJOR DNC REFORMS TO REEL WORKING CLASS BACK FROM TRUMP GOP pushback on Trump's TikTok leniency Many outspoken figures in the Republican Party see TikTok’s connections to the Chinese Communist Party as a threat to U.S. national security, with opposition to Trump’s leniency gaining momentum ahead of his January 20 inauguration. Conservative leaders have intensified efforts to ban the platform, while other critics frame Trump’s openness to save TikTok as a betrayal of MAGA values. Twenty-two state attorneys general filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold a federal law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations. Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares took to social media to emphasize the platform’s risks. “SCOTUS should affirm Congress’s authority to safeguard Americans’ privacy and security from foreign threats," Miyares wrote on X. Former Vice President Mike Pence and his advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, echoed these sentiments in an amicus brief exclusively reported by the Washington Examiner last week. BIDEN’S ‘TRUMP-PROOFING’ FOREIGN POLICY REVOLVES AROUND UKRAINE AND NATO Now is not the time to pause a ban/divestment of Tik Tok. Tik Tok is funneling intelligence and leverage to the CCP. AAF is proud to file an amicus brief urging the SCOTUS to uphold the law. Read the brief below. https://t.co/8yD9HFt01L — Tim Chapman (@TimChapman) AAF President Tim Chapman contends that leniency toward TikTok undermines U.S. security. “Now is not the time to pause a ban/divestment of Tik Tok. TikTok is funneling intelligence and leverage to the CCP," Chapman posted to X. Supreme Court showdown The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Jan. 10, just days before Trump’s inauguration. The case centers in part on a looming Jan. 19 deadline requiring TikTok’s divestiture, but the question at issue is whether the recently passed law infringes on the First Amendment rights of the roughly 170 million users on the platform. THE GREAT REALIGNMENT: WHAT TRUMP’S VICTORY MEANS FOR THE GOP COALITION On Friday, Trump requested a stay on the deadline, signaling his desire to resolve the dispute politically after he assumes office. If TikTok somehow survived the bipartisan ban from Congress, signed by Trump's former political adversary President Joe Biden, some critics warn that the move could embolden the CCP’s influence in the U.S., both through national security weaknesses and by spreading propaganda through its messaging to millions of users on the app. Broader implications for Trump's relationships with Big 'Tech Bros' The TikTok dispute mirrors another more recent rift over H-1B visas that began during Christmas on Elon Musk’s platform, X. Trump, who previously criticized the visa program as harmful to American workers, recently sided with the Tesla CEO's more pro-H-1B stance, which some day-one MAGA supporters decried as Trump picking "Tech Bros" over his dedicated base. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Critics argue the reversal reflects a broader trend of Trump favoring tech industry interests over traditional conservative priorities. Trump’s leniency toward TikTok has left some Republicans questioning whether his priorities align with national security concerns. For now, the debate underscores deepening tensions over the future of tech policy within the GOP — and whether Trump’s evolving positions will alienate his most ardent supporters.NEW YORK (Reuters) - Facebook owner Meta Platforms will face trial in April over the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's allegations that the social media platform bought Instagram and WhatsApp to crush emerging competition, a judge in Washington said on Monday. The FTC sued in 2020, during the Trump administration, alleging the company acted illegally to maintain a monopoly on personal social networks. Meta, then known as Facebook, overpaid for Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 to eliminate nascent threats instead of competing on its own in the mobile ecosystem, the FTC claims. Judge James Boasberg set trial in the case for April 14. Boasberg earlier this month rejected Meta's argument that the case should be dismissed as it depends on an overly narrow view of social media markets. The lawsuit does not account for competition from ByteDance's TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube, X, and Microsoft's LinkedIn, Meta had argued. Boasberg said that while the case should go forward to trial, "time and technological change pose serious challenges" to the FTC's market definition. "The Commission faces hard questions about whether its claims can hold up in the crucible of trial. Indeed, its positions at times strain this country's creaking antitrust precedents to their limits," the judge said in the Nov. 13 ruling. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot)Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Camila Cabello to perform at College Football National Championship

If you've been following the currents of online culture over the past couple of weeks, there's a good chance you've heard about Bluesky with increasing frequency. The microblogging site, which was founded by a former Twitter CEO, has been skyrocketing in popularity since the presidential election earlier this month, in which Donald Trump won his second term in the White House. Some users of X (formerly known as Twitter), many of whom were already growing frustrated with the many changes made by its owner, Trump mega-donor Elon Musk, are finally jumping ship to Bluesky. Aside from being less politically fraught, Bluesky is fundamentally different from X/Twitter in a few key ways. Its decentralized structure means users have more freedom with their data, and it has several features that make it easier to find the kind of content you're looking for — or avoid the content you're not. But can this brash new upstart really unseat X as the de-facto microblogging site? To find out, we took Bluesky through its paces and spoke to experts. Bluesky was founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey , along with a number of people interested in decentralized technology — tech designed so that it isn't subject to the whims of a single company or its owner. The idea was that anyone could host their own instance of Bluesky, leaving the company responsible only for its own app and not for the platform as a whole. It may seem strange for the head of a company to work on a potential competitor, but Dorsey has a reputation as an iconoclast within Silicon Valley. In fact, further Twitter alumni got in on the ground floor of Bluesky, including Parag Agrawal, the CEO whose tenure stretched from Dorsey's exit to Elon Musk's arrival at the company. But when it came time to launch as its own company, Dorsey and Agrawal tapped Lantian "Jay" Graber, a promising young developer, as Bluesky's CEO. The decision to keep Bluesky independent of Twitter proved prophetic. When Elon Musk took over the latter company in late 2022, he promptly nullified a prior agreement that would have seen Twitter folded into the decentralized web of platforms using Bluesky's technology and fired the people working to incorporate that tech. However, as Twitter changed under its new owner and was eventually rebranded as X, Bluesky continued to develop in the background. After a beta period during which sign-ups were available via invite only, Bluesky opened its doors to the general public in early 2024. Since then, it has grown slowly, but the platform began to explode in mid-November 2024. On the surface, Bluesky may look like just another Twitter clone, but under the hood, it's a very different platform. Just as on Twitter, you can post, repost, quote, and like posts. The difference is that Bluesky is decentralized, meaning anyone can host their own data and take their account with them to another instance of the platform. By default, a new user will appear as @username.bsky.social, but if you don't like that, you can use your own domain. For example, SlashGear could theoretically rehost an account on its own domain, giving it a username like @username.slashgear.com. (At the time of this writing, SlashGear does not have a Bluesky account.) Another unique aspect of Bluesky is algorithmic choice. On Twitter, Threads, and many other social media sites, users are shown content based on a secretive algorithm closely guarded by the platform. On Twitter and Threads, you can choose between letting a proprietary algorithm decide what you see or sorting your timeline into pure chronological order. Bluesky, by contrast, lets you select between multiple open-source algorithms, giving users far more control over how their content gets sorted. This algorithmic control manifests most clearly in the Feeds feature, which lets users create and subscribe to custom timelines based on particular topics, sets of users, or other criteria. When creating a Feed, you can choose which algorithm you want to rank the posts and even select how much weight the algorithm will give to the recency of any given post. This feature helped Bluesky to take on a life of its own, with a community-curated DIY culture that feels both fresh and distinct from other Twitter-like competitors. Buzz around Bluesky spread quickly through tech and media circles at its initial launch, hitting a million app installs last year . Now, it's taken on new life since the 2024 presidential election. With X owner Elon Musk having thrown his weight behind President-elect Donald Trump, many X users who don't align with Musk's politics now see the platform as politically hostile. That feeling was egged on by the explosion of hate speech that coincided with Musk's loosened moderation on the site, some of which Musk himself has engaged with. SlashGear reached out to journalist and Internet culture expert Taylor Lorenz, who says of X, "It's a very intense political environment on the app, and Elon has removed user controls that used to protect people." The result has been a mass exodus of users, which has been Bluesky's gain. At the time of this writing, Bluesky is the number one app on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, where it has remained for several days. Bluesky is not the only alternative to X. Meta's Threads platform integrates seamlessly with Instagram and has already scored 175 million users as of July 2024. However, given that the point of leaving X was to escape from under the thumb of a tech billionaire, it's understandable that Threads, which is ultimately tied to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, would prove nearly as unpalatable for a large portion of expatriated X users. "Threads ended up going crazy with the content moderation," Lorenz said, "and now I think people are realizing that Bluesky is the best alternative. Bluesky offers a very comparable experience to kind of the original Twitter." While Bluesky is benefitting from the X exodus, whether the current spike in growth can continue as a long-term trend remains to be seen. Lorenz suggested that, due to Elon Musk's entrenchment in the incoming Trump administration, X will remain an important part of the media landscape. "I think political people are so incredibly addicted to Twitter," Lorenz says. "And now with Trump in office, Twitter is going to remain a politically relevant platform that keeps journalists on there because they're going to want to see what Elon says." Lorenz points out that X also remains the de-facto platform for Congresspeople and other public figures. However, she's not willing to write Bluesky off in that regard just yet. "If lawmakers and pundits and journalists all do go to Bluesky, then I think it could replicate what Twitter had," Lorenz says. Some public figures have already decamped to Bluesky from X, including journalists like New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie and celebrities like "Star Wars" star Mark Hamill. According to award-winning author Charlie Jane Anders, who referred SlashGear to a public statement on the subject, her final straw was a reported proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on X. "I feel the need to make a clean break from Twitter at this point," she wrote. "After all of the proliferation of hate speech, and the random shutdowns of progressive accounts that challenge the owner's rigid orthodoxy, I was already wanting to make a break for it. But after the latest scandals involving CSAM, I really feel as though I have no choice." Whether or not Bluesky becomes the new Twitter, it's clearly promising what many people crave: a fresh start.What are some reasons why elderly people may choose to stay in their homes instead of moving into assisted living facilities? originally appeared on Quora : the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Lawrence Kosick, President and Co-Founder of GetSetUp, on Quora : As older adults contemplate their living arrangements, many opt to stay in their homes rather than move into assisted living facilities. This decision is often driven by several key factors that may vary depending on each person and their personal circumstances. It is a good idea when looking to make major life decisions, like where you want to live as you age, to bring in physicians, financial advisors, and loved ones to have a holistic impression of what is feasible, necessary, and best for everyone involved. Some of the key reasons people choose to stay living in their own homes include: When older adults stay in their homes with the right adaptations and support, the entire community benefits. Plus, most importantly, it is often an enhanced experience both mentally and socially for the aging person’s well-being. According to research, maintaining social and mental health are key aspects of helping to delay and prevent dementia. When older people remain in their communities, they continue to feel an integrated part of the community instead of set aside. Older adults contribute to the diversity and vibrancy of their communities by sharing their experiences and knowledge. They are also able to learn from younger people and remain up to date with the latest innovations, helping to foster social engagement. Plus, there are also a number of economic benefits. Home-based care often involves local services and businesses, thus boosting the local economy. Older people are often a key resource for unpaid volunteer hours, which many faith-based communities and non-profits rely on to keep their social programs running. Older adults' decisions to stay in their homes are influenced by a combination of personal, social, and financial factors. With the help of adaptive technologies, virtual communities, and supportive services, aging in place is not only possible but also beneficial for both the individual and the broader community. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.Offering patients an injection is more effective than the current care of steroid tablets and cuts the need for further treatment by 30%, according to a study. Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets specific white blood cells, called eosinophils, to reduce lung inflammation. It is currently used as a repeat treatment for severe asthma at a low dose, but a new clinical trial has found that a higher single dose can be very effective if injected at the time of a flare-up. The findings, published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, included 158 people who needed medical attention in A&E for their asthma or COPD attack (COPD is a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties). Patients were given a quick blood test to see what type of attack they were having, with those suffering an “eosinophilic exacerbation” involving eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) being suitable for treatment. Around 50% of asthma attacks are eosinophilic exacerbations, as are 30% of COPD ones, according to the scientists. The clinical trial, led by King’s College London and carried out at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, saw patients randomly split into three groups. One group received the benralizumab injection and dummy tablets, another received standard care (prednisolone steroids 30mg daily for five days) and a dummy injection, and the third group received both the benralizumab injection and steroids. After 28 days, respiratory symptoms of cough, wheeze, breathlessness and sputum were found to be better in people on benralizumab. And after 90 days, there were four times fewer people in the benralizumab group who failed treatment compared with those receiving steroids. Treatment with the benralizumab injection also took longer to fail, meaning fewer visits to a GP or hospital for patients, researchers said. Furthermore, people also reported a better quality of life on the new regime. Scientists at King’s said steroids can have severe side-effects such as increasing the risk of diabetes and osteoporosis, meaning switching to benralizumab could provide huge benefits. Lead investigator Professor Mona Bafadhel, from King’s, said: “This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD. “Treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations have not changed in 50 years, despite causing 3.8 million deaths worldwide a year combined. “Benralizumab is a safe and effective drug already used to manage severe asthma. “We’ve used the drug in a different way – at the point of an exacerbation – to show that it’s more effective than steroid tablets, which is the only treatment currently available.” Researchers said benralizumab could also potentially be administered safely at home or in a GP practice, as well as in A&E. First author Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan, clinical senior lecturer at the University of Western Australia, said: “Our study shows massive promise for asthma and COPD treatment. “COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide but treatment for the condition is stuck in the 20th century. “We need to provide these patients with life-saving options before their time runs out.” Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, welcomed the findings but said: “It’s appalling that this is the first new treatment for those suffering from asthma and COPD attacks in 50 years, indicating how desperately underfunded lung health research is.” AstraZeneca provided the drug for the study and funded the research, but had no input into trial design, delivery, analysis or interpretation.

Morgan Rogers looked to have given Emery’s side another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home in stoppage time, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano ruled Diego Carlos to have fouled Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the goal was chalked off. Contact seemed minimal but VAR did not intervene and Villa had to settle for a point in a 0-0 draw. “With the last action, it is the interpretation of the referee,” the Spaniard said. “In England, 80 per cent of those is given a goal and it’s not a foul. It’s very soft. “But in Europe, it could be a foul. We have to accept. “Everybody will know, in England the interpretation is different. The England referees, when actions like that the interpretation is a clear no foul but in Europe that interpretation is different. “They have to be working to get the same decision when some action like that is coming. I don’t know exactly why but we knew before in the Premier League that it is different. “In Europe for example we are not doing a block like in England and we are not doing in front of the goalkeeper in offensive corners the same situations like in England. “When the action happened, I was thinking here in Europe it’s a foul. In England not, but in Europe I have to accept it. “At first, I thought the referee gave us a goal. In cases like that, it’s confusing because he has to wait for VAR. I don’t know what happened but I think so (the referee changed his mind with VAR).” It was a disappointment for Villa, who remain unbeaten at home in their debut Champions League campaign and are still in contention to qualify automatically for the last 16. “We were playing a favourite to be in the top eight and usually a contender to win this competition,” Emery added. “We are a team who for a long time didn’t play in Europe and the Champions League and this year is very important. “We wanted to play competitive and we are in the right way. Today to get one point is very good, we wanted to win but wanted to avoid some mistakes we made in previous games. “We have 10 points and we’re happy.” Before the game Emery called Juventus one of the “best teams in the world, historically and now”, but this was an Italian side down to the bare bones. Only 14 outfield players made the trip from Turin, with striker Dusan Vlahovic among those who stayed behind. Juve boss Thiago Motta, whose side are 19th but still in contention to reach the top eight, said: “There’s just three games left to qualify. The next home against Man City, then Brugge, then Benfica. “One at a time, as we always did with the goal to qualify for the next round. “In the end we will try and reach our goal which is to go to the next round.”India To Host 'World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit' For First Time: PM Modi

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Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left leg

Richmond sideshow, speeding issues to be discussed TuesdayCIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its stake in shares of Stifel Financial Corp. ( NYSE:SF – Free Report ) by 3.5% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 3,019 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc’s holdings in Stifel Financial were worth $283,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of SF. Earnest Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Stifel Financial by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 2,954,099 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $248,587,000 after acquiring an additional 22,040 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 0.4% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,007,738 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $168,932,000 after purchasing an additional 7,113 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Stifel Financial by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,189,048 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $100,058,000 after purchasing an additional 7,348 shares during the last quarter. Fiera Capital Corp boosted its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 678,575 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $57,102,000 after purchasing an additional 8,048 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Stifel Financial by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 514,413 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $43,288,000 after buying an additional 8,810 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.01% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have commented on SF shares. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Stifel Financial from $85.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 26th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Stifel Financial from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. JMP Securities upped their price target on shares of Stifel Financial from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Stifel Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Stifel Financial from $113.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $103.17. Stifel Financial Stock Up 1.0 % SF stock opened at $116.18 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.78. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $101.55 and its 200-day simple moving average is $89.34. Stifel Financial Corp. has a 12 month low of $60.17 and a 12 month high of $118.12. The company has a market capitalization of $11.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.01 and a beta of 1.08. Stifel Financial ( NYSE:SF – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The financial services provider reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.60 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $1.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.20 billion. Stifel Financial had a return on equity of 14.92% and a net margin of 12.98%. Stifel Financial’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.60 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Stifel Financial Corp. will post 6.44 earnings per share for the current year. Stifel Financial Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd will be issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. Stifel Financial’s payout ratio is presently 30.38%. Insider Buying and Selling at Stifel Financial In other news, COO David D. Sliney sold 25,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.18, for a total transaction of $2,904,500.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 159,619 shares in the company, valued at $18,544,535.42. This trade represents a 13.54 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . 4.57% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Stifel Financial Company Profile ( Free Report ) Stifel Financial Corp., a financial services and bank holding company, provides retail and institutional wealth management, and investment banking services to individual investors, corporations, municipalities, and institutions in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Global Wealth Management, Institutional Group, and Other. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Stifel Financial Corp. ( NYSE:SF – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Stifel Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stifel Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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