Business
Russia bans Roblox over concerns about safety and extremist content
Russia has blocked access to popular gaming platform Roblox due to concerns over child safety and extremism, including the spread of LGBT-related content.
The country’s media regulator said Roblox had become rife with “inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children”, according to local news outlets.
The multiplayer online platform ranks among the world’s most popular, but has been heavily criticised over its lack of features to protect children.
A spokesperson from Roblox said the company respects the laws where it operates, adding that the platform provides a “positive space” for learning.
“We have a deep commitment to safety and we have a robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures designed to catch and prevent harmful content on our platform,” the spokesperson said in response to the BBC.
Russian media reported that Roskomnadzor, the country’s media regulator, blocked the US platform over concerns about terrorism-related content and information on LGBT issues, which are classified as extremist and banned in Russia.
Such activity is often found in Roblox’s servers, where scenarios simulating terrorist attacks, as well as gambling, have surfaced, the agency is quoted as saying.
Roblox, which ranks among Russia’s most downloaded mobile games in recent years, allows players to create and share their own games – a model that has made regulation challenging.
The Roskomnadzor also flagged reports of sexual harassment of children and the sharing of intimate images on the platform. Other countries have raised similar issues, and the platform is already banned in certain countries, including Turkey, over concerns about child safety.
Roblox also came under scrutiny in Singapore in 2023 after the government there said a self-radicalised teenager had joined ISIS-themed servers on the platform.
Last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the platform over “flagrantly ignoring” safety laws and “deceiving parents” about the dangers it posed to young people.
This month, Roblox announced it would stop allowing children to chat with adult strangers, after longstanding criticism over the platform’s networking feature.
Business
Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for December 5, 2025 – check list – The Times of India
Stock market recommendations: According to Bajaj Broking Research, the top stock picks for December 5, 2025 are Max Healthcare, and Tata Power. Here’s its view on Nifty and Bank Nifty:Index View: NIFTYBenchmark indices spent the previous week oscillating within a defined consolidation band, digesting their recent up move. The Nifty registered a fresh lifetime peak of 26,325 during Monday’s trade. However, lost momentum at elevated levels amid bouts of profit-taking, triggered in part by renewed pressure on the Indian rupee, which depreciated to a record low against the US dollar. Persistent foreign portfolio outflows (FPI selling) further exacerbated currency weakness, injecting a note of caution into risk sentiment.In the near term, market trajectory is likely to be dictated by currency stabilization dynamics, especially whether the rupee can find a durable floor. Additionally, investors will be closely tracking the RBI’s upcoming monetary policy statement for cues on the central bank’s stance regarding inflation management, liquidity calibration, and potential interventions to support the rupee. On the global front, the US FOMC policy outcome will remain a critical macro catalyst, shaping expectations around global rate differentials and capital flows. Moreover, clarity on evolving India–US trade negotiations could influence sector-specific outlooks, particularly in export-linked and tariff-sensitive industries. A key observation on the Nifty daily chart is that the entire up-move over the past two months has remained well within a rising channel, indicating sustained buying interest at higher levels and reinforcing an overall positive bias.We believe the current 3-4 sessions breather should be used to accumulate quality stocks in a staggered manner for the next leg of up move towards 26,500 and then towards 26,800 in the coming weeks being the measuring implication of the recent range breakout and the upper band of the last two months rising channel.Nifty has key support in the range of 25700-25900 being the confluence of the 50-day EMA, the bullish gap from November 12 and the lower band of the rising channel of the last two months. Holding above the support area will keep the overall bias positive and only a breakdown below the support area will signal a pause in the current positive trend. NIFTY BANKBank Nifty traded in a range, digesting its last four weeks strong gains. Earlier during the week, it formed a fresh all-time high of 26114. However, profit booking at higher levels saw the index traded in a range ahead of the RBI monetary policy outcome.We expect the index to consolidate and form a base in the range of 58500-60100 in the coming sessions. A follow through strength above Monday’s high (60114) will open further upside towards 60,400 and then towards 61,000 levels in the coming weeks.The entire up move of the last 2 months is well channelled signaling sustained demand at elevated levels. Key support is placed at 58,300-58,600 levels being the confluence of the last two weeks lows and recent breakout area. Holding above the support area will keep the short-term bias positive.
Stock Recommendations:
Max HealthcareBuy in the range of ₹ 1070-1090
The stock is forming base at the 52 week EMA and the 61.8% retracement of the previous major up move (940-1314).We believe the current decline is approaching price and time wise maturity and the stock is likely to resume up move and head towards 1190 levels being the confluence of the high of November and key retracement area. The daily stochastic has approached extreme oversold territory and we expect the stock to resume its positive momentum in the coming weeks.Tata PowerBuy in the range of 381-386
Tata Power continues to trade sideways on the daily timeframe, oscillating within a well-defined range of ₹380–₹420. The stock is currently forming a rectangle pattern, with consistent buying support emerging near the ₹380 zone.Historically, the counter has shown a tendency to rebound from these lower levels and head towards the upper end of the range, which lies near ₹420.Given the prevailing price structure and renewed momentum, the stock appears poised to extend its upward trajectory, first towards the upper band of ₹420, and potentially up to ₹430, which aligns with the 127.2% Fibonacci extension of the previous swing.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
Felicity Hannah,Big Boss Interviewand
Michael Sheils McNamee,Business reporter
PAWaterstones would stock books created using artificial intelligence, the company’s boss has said, as long as they were clearly labelled, and if customers wanted them.
However, James Daunt, a veteran of the bookselling industry, said he personally did not expect that to happen.
“There’s a huge proliferation of AI generated content and most of it are not books that we should be selling,” he said.
But it would be “up to the reader”.
An explosion in the use of artificial intelligence, or AI, has prompted heated debate in the publishing industry, with writers concerned about the impact on their livelihoods.
In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC’s Big Boss podcast, Daunt said while Waterstones uses AI for logistics they currently try to keep AI generated content out of the shops.
“As a bookseller, we sell what publishers publish, but I can say that instinctively that is something that we would recoil [from],” he said.
Daunt, who is heading into his 36th Christmas season in the book trade, said Waterstones’ success had been built on handing more control to individual store managers to serve their own communities.
“Head office is there to make life easier,” he said.
“Make sure the books that they order turn up on time, but do not tell [managers] where to put them.”
Daunt also said he was a bit of an outlier in welcoming last week’s Budget and he raised the prospect of a stock market flotation of the book chain.
‘Disdain for AI’
A report published last month by the University of Cambridge found that more than half of published authors feared being replaced by artificial intelligence.
Two-thirds also said their work had been used without permission or payment to train the large language models which lie behind generative AI tools.
But some writers use AI themselves, especially for research, and AI tools are being used to edit novels, and even produce full-length works.
“Do I think that our booksellers are likely to put those kind of books front and centre? I would be surprised,” Daunt says.
“Who’s to know? [Technology firms] are spending trillions and trillions on AI and maybe it’s going to produce the next War and Peace.
“And if people want to read that book, AI-generated or not, we will be selling it – as long as it doesn’t pretend to [be] something that it isn’t.
“We as booksellers would certainly naturally and instinctively disdain it,” Daunt said.
Readers value a connection with the author “that does require a real person” he added. Any AI-generated book would always be clearly labelled as such.
The softly spoken former banker has overturned convention before.
When he took over at Waterstones in 2011, he took the bold decision to end the practice of publishers paying to have their books displayed prominently in stores. It cost him £27m in lost revenue and prompted a “nervous breakdown” among publishers, he said, but it paid off and in 2016 the company returned to profit.
Now Waterstones staff write their own book recommendations, choose books of the month, and the manager selects what goes on the display tables.
As well as books, the chain stocks pens, reading lights, games, wrapping paper and other stationery.
The strategy has helped it defy the decline on the High Street, with around ten new stores opening a year, and profits in 2024 of £33m against sales of £528m.
Waterstones is part of a wider stable, including Foyles and Blackwell’s, owned by hedge fund Elliott Advisers.
Daunt has also been appointed chief executive of Barnes and Noble, the large US bookstore chain also owned by Elliot Advisers.
Share sale
Success on both sides of the Atlantic has led to speculation that shares in Waterstones and Barnes and Noble could be jointly floated in either New York or London.
“It feels like an inevitability and probably better than being flipped to the next private equity person,” says Daunt.
Private owners naturally aim to sell businesses on, he points out. “It’s what they do.”
But it is not clear that London, which he says has been “suffering” as a location for initial public offerings lately, would be considered suitable.
“We’re based out of London but we have a huge American business; Barnes and Noble is much larger than Waterstones.”
Helpful rate change
As for last week’s Budget, Daunt says it sometimes feels like he might be “the only person who is sympathetic” to the situation the chancellor is in.
The government has drawn the ire of the business community for raising employer National Insurance and the minimum wage and not coming up with more growth-boosting measures.
But the Budget included changes that were “very helpful” to companies like his, said Daunt.
Getty ImagesBusiness rates will be lower for retailers operating out of small sites, while larger business properties, like warehouses will pay more.
Daunt said that although Waterstones does have larger premises, levelling the playing field between High Street and online retailers was something he has been calling for for a long time.
With the days of advent now ticking past, the company is well into the se portion of the year when Waterstones makes about 70% of its annual profit.
He says the post-pandemic rebound, with people returning to bookshops, does not seem to have gone away.
Personally he has also retained his love of reading, even after 36 years in the industry. But he does have one bad book habit, he said.
“Because I read professionally, I do a rather awful thing which is start a lot of books and then not finish them.
“I love the excitement of opening up a first novel and not knowing what’s going to come of it. But if it isn’t quite that good, I’ll just move on.”
Business
Ulta shares pop as beauty retailer hikes sales and earnings outlook for second straight quarter
Ulta Beauty on Thursday raised its full-year sales outlook after topping Wall Street’s fiscal third-quarter expectations and seeing shoppers splurge on perfumes, skincare items and more.
The beauty retailer said it now expects net sales for the year to be approximately $12.3 billion, higher than its previous expectations of $12 billion to $12.1 billion. That would would represent an increase from last fiscal year’s net sales of $11.3 billion. It expects earnings per share of $25.20 to $25.50, up from its prior expectations of $23.85 to $24.30.
It anticipates comparable sales, a metric that includes sales at stores open at least 14 months and e-commerce sales, to rise by 4.4% to 4.7%, up from its prior outlook of 2.5% to 3.5%.
Ulta has raised its sales and profit outlook for two consecutive quarters. The company’s stock rose more than 6% in extended trading.
In a news release, CEO Kecia Steelman said “exciting assortment newness, improved in-store and digital experiences, and bold marketing efforts are resonating with our guests and drove strong sales results.”
On the company’s earnings call, she said that Ulta is “pleased with our Black Friday and Cyber Monday performance” and ready for the shopping season — even one when consumers may be more selective about spending.
“Our insights suggest beauty consumers’ budgets are tight and they are focused on value,” she said. “Despite this, beauty enthusiasts tell us that they spend intend to spend on beauty for seasonal needs, affordable splurges and gifts for loved ones. They are focused on replenishing their essentials and strategically making smart purchases around strong value.”
Here’s what the retailer reported for the fiscal third quarter compared with what Wall Street expected, according to LSEG:
- Earnings per share: $5.14 vs. $4.64 expected
- Revenue: $2.86 billion vs. $2.72 billion expected
Ulta has benefitted from shoppers who have kept spending on beauty, even as they trim the budget or seek out lower-priced options in other discretionary categories. Yet the company faces stiffer competition from a wide range of rivals, including big-box retailers like Walmart, online players like Amazon and upstarts like TikTok Shop.
Beauty sales have been strong overall this year in the U.S., according to data from market research firm Circana. In the first nine months of 2025, prestige beauty sales in terms of dollars rose 4% and mass beauty sales rose 5% year over year.
According to Circana, beauty is poised to be a popular category during the holidays, with the market researcher’s surveys indicating that more consumers plan to gift beauty products than a year ago, particularly those in households with higher-incomes and those with children.
Revenue rose from $2.53 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Comparable sales jumped by 6.3% year over year. Shoppers visited Ulta’s stores and websites more and spent more during visits. Average ticket rose 3.8% and transactions increased by 2.4% year over year.
In the three-month period that ended Nov. 1, Ulta reported net income of $230.9 million, or $5.14 per share, compared with $242.2 million, or $5.14 per share, in the year-ago quarter.
Though consumer confidence is weak, Steelman said on Ulta’s earnings call that “beauty engagement remained healthy.” She said sales of both mass and prestige beauty items grew by mid single-digits year over year.
Fragrance was its strongest category in the quarter, with double-digit sales growth year over year, as shoppers bought luxury scents from Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana and also lower-priced scents like Squishmallows perfumes.
Steelman said that in October, Ulta added more shelf space for fragrance in more than 60% of its U.S. stores to try to get ready for higher demand during the holidays and beyond.
In skincare, the retailer’s second-fastest growing category, sales grew by high single digits year over year, she said. Shoppers bought items they discovered on social media, including Korean or K-beauty brands and purchased merchandise from Rihanna’s Fenty Skin Body collection, which launched in the fall.
To drive growth, Ulta has also been expanding internationally and launched a third-party marketplace in October. In July, it announced it had acquired Space NK, a British beauty retailer, from Manzanita Capital. The deal allows Ulta to enter a new international market, since Space NK has 83 stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
During the third quarter, Ulta opened seven stores in Mexico through its joint venture partnership with Grupo Bakso. It opened its first Ulta store in the Middle East in Kuwait last month through a franchise partnership with Al-Shabaab.
Through its marketplace, Ulta has added more than 120 brands and over 3,500 unique items to its online assortment, Steelman said. She said the company is “pleased with the initial performance and optimistic about how this new capability can help us strengthen our existing category, attract new guests, and capitalize on incremental growth opportunities in new subcategories,” such as wellness.
Higher tariffs have influenced some of the prices of items carried by Ulta, too. The company saw more brand-driven price increases in the third quarter than the second quarter, interim Chief Financial Officer Chris Lialios said.
Sales in the haircare category grew by mid single-digits, despite a sales decline in personal styling tools that have felt pressure from tariff-related price increases, Steelman said.
Ulta announced in October that Christopher DelOrefice, the chief financial officer of medical technology company Becton Dickinson & Company, will become its new CFO. He will start in the role on Dec. 5.
As of Thursday’s close, Ulta’s shares have risen about 23% so far this year. That surpasses the S&P 500’s nearly 17% gains during the same period.
Cotton prices in Brazil hit 16-year low amid weak demand, ample supply
Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for December 5, 2025 – check list – The Times of India
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