Internet exchange provider Extreme Infocom has suggested doing away with the minimum net worth requirement of ₹100 crore for IPTV and moving to fibre-based delivery. The company wrote to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), stating that fibre-over-satellite can solve latency and cost issues, provide benefits like bundled services for consumers and work in favour of broadband expansion. The minimum net worth requirement was a criterion issued by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry within the ‘IPTV Service Guidelines.’ The rule was based on the scope of licence for ‘Internet Service’ as defined in the ‘Licence Agreement for Provision of Internet Services.’ However, the Department of Telecommunications in 2013 notified the Unified License regime that remove the requirement to simplify entry of new players and promote fair competition. Currently, there are 33 registered IPTV operators in India, with a subscriber base of 5.74 lakh. However, stakeholders like the Broadband India Forum (BIF) and Bharti Airtel continue to bat in favour of the minimum net worth requirement. Airtel called it “a filter to ensure that only those with the financial capability to meet [the technology and network infrastructure investment] demands can provide services at the required standard.” The telco argued that lower net worth requirement could reduce service quality whereas the current threshold ensures that only serious operators enter the IPTV market. However, Extreme Infocom called the criterion a financial barrier that disproportionately affects smaller and emerging service providers. It said that the requirement focused market power in the hands of a few large players, impacting service offering diversity, price competition and innovation. It listed fibre-based delivery as one such innovative solution. “By leveraging dedicated fibre connections, IPTV providers can receive broadcaster content directly without the satellite link step. The fibre pathway offers high data capacity, faster speeds, and lower latency compared to satellite transmission. To address potential challenges, including high deployment costs and regional disparities in fibre infrastructure availability, the government could consider introducing incentives such as subsidies or public-private partnership models to accelerate fiber deployment in underserved areas,” said Extreme Infocom in its submission, adding that fibre connections also help with convergence-driven telecommunications solutions. Aside from the internet exchange provider, other entities like the All India Digital Cable Foundation (AIDCF) and AA Plus Consultants also supported the decision to review the minimum net worth requirement. Mahesh Uppal, Director of Com First (India), also favoured the idea of using optical fibre to improve capacity and efficiency. “This would keep India’s IPTV rules in line with technology developments and global best practices,” he said. CommentsAmerica’s president-elect is set to introduce a series of new energy-focused policies, rolling back regulatory red tape introduced by the Biden administration. Energy stocks, including a handful of drilling and exploration companies, rallied on the stock market following Trump's victory on November 5. Trump's plans will mean rolling back climate-focused efforts , including those under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), removing exportation restrictions for liquefied natural gas (LNG), bolstering exploration on federal land, and increasing off-shore production. The new policy package would form part of Trump's "drill baby drill" campaign while emphasizing domestic production and exportation of non-renewables. By aligning key promises made during his campaign, Trump's fossil fuel agenda could help ignite the energy sector following years of conservative performance. The last couple of years have seen investors turning cold on the energy sector and instead focus more on high-yielding tech stocks. Regulatory pressures, geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, and a series of energy price crunches have sent energy and oil stocks tumbling. However, despite the more modest performance, the S&P 500 Energy (Sector) is up 12.74% year-to-date, compared to the S&P Global Clean Energy Index which is down -21.28% since the turn of the year. Investors wanting to diversify their portfolios could see promising results, as next year is looking to present plenty of new opportunities. With the energy, oil, and gas sectors seeing a revival under Trump, a handful of household names could benefit from his policies in the next four years. Enterprise Products Partners Enterprise Products Partners EDP operates four primary business segments, which include natural gas liquids, crude oil, petrochemical products, and natural gas. The company has roughly 29 natural gas processing plants in North America and operates several key crude oil pipeline systems throughout Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. Enterprise operates as an integrated midstream energy company, providing transportation, storage, and distribution services to major exploration companies. By playing the middleman, Enterprise has largely been shielded from volatile energy price fluctuations experienced over the last few years. By the numbers, Enterprise delivered modest but impressive results for the third quarter , ending September 30. Overall, the company reported $13.7 billion in revenue, up approximately 14.81% year over year. Net income rose 8% to $1.4 billion, or $0.64 per unit on a fully adjusted basis, compared to $1.3 billion in Q3 2023. Following the U.S. election, EPD shares rose more than 15% further adding to its ongoing robust performance. Since the turn of the year, share prices have climbed more than 26%. Enterprise shows relative strength and long-term developments could play in the company's favor. Global Partners Global Partners GLP holds a mixed portfolio of energy-focused businesses, providing transportation and distribution solutions to a line of wholesale, commercial, and retail customers across the United States. With a vertically integrated distribution network, Global Partners creates energy and fossil fuel supply chain dependency for millions of customers across the Northeast. In total, the company has roughly 1,700 retail stations and helps to fill more than one million automobile gas tanks every day. Third-quarter results were modest, in most aspects, with revenue up 4.77% to $4.4 billion for the period ending September 30. Elsewhere, the company reported a 315.87% year-over-year improvement in net cash flow of $305 million for the quarterly period. This year, the company has aligned its strategy to meet growing volume demand across its key business segments, including Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations. In the last 11 months, the company has integrated 29 new terminals, and capitalized on more favorable conditions in the Wholesale and Commercial segments. More than this, at the beginning of November, the company announced the acquisition of the ExxonMobil terminal in East Providence, Rhode Island. This transaction will help increase its existing terminal network, adding more than 959,730 barrels of storage and a deep-water dock. Share prices remain elevated, and have climbed more than 32% this year. GLP is up 9.37% from its peak in June, and post-election performance added more than 17% to its value. Texas Pacific Land Trading since 1888, Texas Pacific Land TPL is one of the most established land and resource management companies in the U.S. and holds operations across 19 different counties. Its revenue stream is divided into several segments, including oil and gas royalties, commercial leases, material and land sales, and easements. In addition to this, Texas Pacific operates key water and operation services, including water sourcing, infrastructure development, water tracking, well tracking, and data analytics. It's like they say, "Everything is bigger and better in Texas" and with TLP the sky seems to be the limit. During the third quarter earnings report, the company announced several key highlights, including the acquisition of mineral interest across more than 4,106 net royalty acres, and acquired approximately 4,120 surface acres and other surface-related acres. Royalty production currently stands at 28.3 thousand barrels of oil per day. The company now holds a royalty acreage of 6.9 net well permits, 11.8 net drilled and uncompleted wells, and 79.2 net producing wells. By the numbers, revenue rose 9.87% year over year to $173.56 million. Consolidated net income of $106.6 million, equated to $4.63 per diluted share. Elsewhere on their balance sheet, the company announced a special cash dividend of $10.00 per share and a quarterly dividend of $1.17 per share paid in September. Perhaps the most attractive part of buying TPL is how much share performance has surged this year. Since the beginning of the year, TPL has climbed by more than 206% and is already up more than 79% since the start of the fourth quarter through November 28. Beyond its share performance, TPL holds plenty of growing momentum. For dividend-focused investors, this could be an option that delivers results, and perhaps benefit from more petroleum-focused policies in the coming years. Energy Stocks: Conclusion The energy sector could see a new light once Trump takes office. Increased regulatory support and higher exploration opportunities could present the energy sector with much-needed revival. Investors looking to benefit from this increased activity should look for energy and oil companies that present upside potential, but are shielded from volatile price changes. The next four years could bring big changes for the sector and could see investors turning from tech to energy as a more lucrative and reliable source of income. Disclosure: No positions and no conflicts of interest. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Let’s get the good news in Philadelphia out of the way first. The Eagles are riding a nine-game winning streak, Saquon Barkley is making a serious run at the NFL season rushing record and a playoff berth was clinched for the fourth straight year under coach Nick Sirianni. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Let’s get the good news in Philadelphia out of the way first. The Eagles are riding a nine-game winning streak, Saquon Barkley is making a serious run at the NFL season rushing record and a playoff berth was clinched for the fourth straight year under coach Nick Sirianni. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Let’s get the good news in Philadelphia out of the way first. The Eagles are riding a nine-game winning streak, Saquon Barkley is making a serious run at the NFL season rushing record and a playoff berth was clinched for the fourth straight year under coach Nick Sirianni. Now, about all that grumbling ... . Yes, Philly sports fans, media and social media doomsayers are usually the ones with a complaint even in the best of times for the pro teams. Perhaps it’s a bit unsettling around Philadelphia, then, that the grousing after a win over Carolina this weekend came from inside the locker room. Wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, and even Jalen Hurts, made public their complaints about the state of the (diminishing) passing game, putting the coaching staff on notice that enough was enough and it was time to rev up the engine on a pair of 1,000-yard receivers and get the offense humming headed into the postseason. Even Sirianni conceded that yes, it was fair to raise questions about an offense that allowed Smith and Brown to combine for only eight catches and 80 yards. The problem this week? “Being on the same page,” Smith said. Smith is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has yet to break 100 in a game this season. Brown has four 100-yard games, well off last season’s run when he topped 100 yards in six straight games and seven times overall. Hurts threw for just 108 yards with two TDs passing and one rushing score. Should an offense getting on the same page develop into this much of a concern for the Eagles (11-2) after 13 games? “No. I just say no,” Hurts said. There are reasons the numbers are down. The easy one, of course, is that the traditionally pass-happy Eagles have leaned on Barkley and his team-record 1,623 yards to steer the offense in his first season. Hurts also shoulders his share of the blame given his propensity for holding on to the ball. He was sacked four times and missed Smith and Brown the few times he did chuck the ball deep to open receivers on long routes. Hurts didn’t throw Brown the ball a couple of times when he was open, including on a TD pass to Smith. “Have to find a way to come together and come and sync as a unit and play complementary ball,” Hurts said. Hurts has topped 300 yards passing only once this season and his last three games are at 179-118-108. He does have only five interceptions and has thrown just one during the winning streak. What needs help The offensive woes start at the beginning. The Eagles have yet to score a touchdown on their opening possession through the first 13 games and average only 10.7 points in the first half. They had only 46 total yards in the first quarter. The slow starts are one reason why teams with losing records such as Carolina, Jacksonville and Cleveland are able to keep games close at the Linc and make last-gasp drives at an upset victory. What’s working The running game. That really only means one name: Barkley. Barkley rushed for 124 yards to break the Eagles’ season record, and Eric Dickerson’s NFL mark is in his sights. Barkley needed just 13 games to pass McCoy, who rushed for 1,607 yards in 2013. Barkley also maintained his pace to break Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley is averaging 124.8 yards per game. At that pace and with one more game to play than Dickerson, he would become the top single-season rusher in NFL history. He needs 483 yards over the final four games to top Dickerson’s 40-year-old record. Barkley is one pace for 2,122 yards, just 17 yards beyond Dickerson’s 2,105 total. Stock up Linebackers Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean. Dean led the Eagles with 12 tackles while Baun had 11 tackles and a sack. They both had strong games in shutting down Carolina’s — albeit banged-up — running game. Stock down Jake Elliott. Elliott was wide right on a 52-yard attempt in the third quarter and has missed all five attempts of 50-plus yards this season. Injuries Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was evaluated for a concussion and treated for an additional injury in the fourth quarter but had a game-changing interception. Key number Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 9 — The Eagles won nine straight games only three other times, in the 2017, 2003 and 1960 seasons. Next steps The Eagles host cross-state rival Pittsburgh in a potential all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl preview. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Advertisement AdvertisementCause For Concern In Cannabis With A Few Rays Of LightSoccer-Kompany sees promise in Bayern's performance despite Cup exit
Asteroid nearly hits Earth in Siberia, with a 2nd massive asteroid passing this weekLibra - (23rd September to 22nd October) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, You are an icon of discipline Value the relationship with sincerity and honesty. Do not compromise on duties at the workplace. Financially you are good and your health is also fine today. Confirm a happy love life where you meet the demands of the lover and spend time together. Accomplish all assigned tasks at the workplace. Financial prosperity exists in the life. No major illness will trouble you. Libra Love Horoscope Today You need to realize that no relationship is permanent and many twists and unexpected events can make your day chaotic. Some unjustifiable comments can seriously impact the flow of love. You may go back to the old relationship after resolving all old issues with the ex-lover. Today is also good to have a romantic dinner where you may also surprise the lover with gifts. Female Libras will find fun in teasing the lover but ensure it does not personally impact him. Single Libras will be happy to fall in love today. Libra Career Horoscope Today Your commitment will work out at the office. Some media persons will also face challenges professionally. Stay away from office politics and ensure you stay in the good book of the management. Salespersons will travel for job reasons while businessmen will succeed in raising funds through promoters. Some Aries IT professionals will get opportunities to relocate abroad. Students will also be fortunate to clear competitive examinations. Entrepreneurs need to be confident while making crucial business decisions. Libra Money Horoscope Today Keep the financial status under control. Do not let expenditure shoot up in the way that it disturbs the income. Some Libras will be successful in the stock market but there can also be setbacks in the form of legal expenditure. Traders and businessmen may receive good funds but there will issues with funds from abroad. Take the help of a good financial planner to understand how to safely invest and enhance your wealth in the long run. Libra Health Horoscope Today Minor health issues may be there but your normal life will go on. Avoid stress-related issues by staying in a positive atmosphere. Maintain a balanced office and personal life and also stay in the company of people with positive attitudes. Some females will have skin infections while viral fever, sore throat, and allergies will also be common today. Libra Sign Attributes Strength: Idealist, Socially presentable, Aesthetic, Charming, Artsy, Generous Weakness: Uncertain, Lazy, Non-interventionist Symbol: Scales Element: Air Body Part: Kidneys & Bladder Sign Ruler: Venus Lucky Day: Friday Lucky Color: Brown Lucky Number: 3 Lucky Stone: Diamond Libra Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius Good compatibility: Aries, Libra Fair compatibility: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces Less compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)
It’s December 4, and that means it’s the officially unofficial “Dragon Age Day.” Get it? D4. DA. Dragon Age . Anyway, this year, BioWare released some statistics about players’ choices in Dragon Age: The Veilguard . The RPG has been out for a little over a month now, so that means more players have gotten further into the game than the last time BioWare released detailed info about players’ various choices. So let’s jump into it and break down the choices people made from the start to the end of their journey. It’s not terribly surprising to me that Neve, the Tevinter mage detective, ended up at the top. But I am devastated to see my man Davrin so low. Y’all don’t know what you’re missing. More for me, fuck y’all. Anyway, Emmrich, the older gentleman of the group is on the very bottom, which isn’t surprising given some cowards would likely view him as “too old” for protagonist Rook. But worry not, he is no doubt getting love from his loyal fans. The romance rankings are as follows: Neve Lucanis Taash Harding Bellara Davrin Emmrich BioWare is pretty thorough in this breakdown, documenting every major choice in the game. This includes the companion’s personal quests. First up is Bellara, who, at the end of her missions, must choose whether or not to preserve an archive spirit that includes some pretty dark moments in elven history. Most players chose to keep it, with 56 percent of players telling her to make that call. 44 chose to free the spirit in the end. Jail. Jail for all of you. Okay, just 54 percent of you. Emmrich, the necromancer of the team, must choose at the end of his questline to either become a Lich, an immortal necromancer that Emmrich has been studying his whole life to become, or revive Manfred, his skeleton assistant who is killed in a scrap. 54 percent of Veilguard players chose to let Manfred stay dead so Emmrich could keep pursuing his dream of becoming an immortal mage, and that means Manfred didn’t come back to be Emmrich’s protege mage son. Shame on y’all. Shame! Okay, I’m calming down now. Davrin, the Grey Warden teammate, spends his quests saving the last known griffons from a fate worse than death. In the end, he asks Rook if they should be returned to the Wardens to help fight darkspawn as they did in the past, or if they should be taken to Arlathan Forest to protect nature. 67 percent of players sent them to Arlathan. Good job, team. Lucanis, the Antivan Crow assassin of the team, spends much of his time in The Veilguard dealing with family politics. This includes a betrayal at the hands of his cousin Illario. Lucanis is able to either forgive him for his transgressions or lock him up. An overwhelming 78 percent chose the latter, with 22 percent opting for a more peaceful approach. Taash spends most of The Veilguard pulled between two worlds. Their whole deal through their personal quest is finding out who they are, whether that be in their identity as a non-binary person, or as someone who is split between their Qunari heritage and Rivani present. Rook can nudge them in one direction or the other, but 79 percent of players chose to encourage them to lean into Rivani culture. Neve is basically Dragon Age Batman by the end of her quests. Tevinter’s greatest detective can either become a “protector” of the people, opting for more of a shadowy approach, or an “inspiration” to the people by operating as a private investigator. Most people went the protector route, with 61 percent of players going this route. Harding’s quest dives into some deep dwarven lore and answers big questions about the history of her people. By the end, she must choose whether or not to take on the lingering anger of her people or soothe it. Given how kindhearted Harding is, I’m not surprised that 84 percent of players saw her embrace her nature. One of the earliest choices you get in the game’s opening hours is whether or not you save a Mayor who sold out his village to the elven gods. 42 percent of players chose to leave him to the elements (which can result in a boss fight against him later), 36 saved him, then 22 percent of players banished him to the Grey Wardens. The last of those is only available if your Rook is from the Grey Wardens. The choice between saving either Minrathous or Treviso is one of the earliest decisions that has ramifications throughout all of The Veilguard . Choosing one or the other means the city you don’t protect will be blighted and altogether fucked up for the rest of the game. It was a slim difference, with Treviso coming out ahead with 51 percent. To that, I say “as a Shadow Dragon, fuck y’all.” The First Warden is a colossal pain in the butt during The Veilguard ’s first act. When it finally comes to handling him during the assault on the Warden base in Weisshaupt, Rook can either knock him out and take control of the stronghold or reason with him. 64 percent of players rightfully punched his lights out. There are two choices at the beginning of The Veilguard ’s final missions that require you to sacrifice two of your party members. One choice has you assign Harding or Davrin to lead a second team during an assault on the elven god’s base, the other makes you assign either Bellara or Neve to handle a magical barrier. Whoever you choose will be sacrificed (one presumed dead, the other abducted by the enemy), and the split was surprisingly bigger than I expected. Most players chose Harding, with 54 percent of players putting the dwarven rogue in charge, leaving Davrin presumed dead in only 46 percent of playthroughs. Bellara, meanwhile, was kidnapped in most playthroughs, with 58 percent of players choosing her over the 42 percent who chose Neve. After all that heartbreak and loss, The Veilguard asks players to once again put their companions in the line of fire with a final assault on Minrathous. This includes multiple assignments that have a good or bad outcome depending on who you choose, if they have achieved “Hero of the Veilguard” status, and if your faction strength has reached a certain threshold. From the looks of it, most people are making the right choices for these, but here’s the breakdown: Top three choices to accompany the Veil Jumpers and unravel the Venatori Wards: Emmrich Neve Bellara Top three companions chosen to join the Antivan Crows in hunting the Venatori commander: Lucanis Taash Emmrich Top three chosen to join forces with the Wardens and Mourn Watch to fight the Juggernaut: Taash Davrin Emmrich Top three companions chosen to stay behind for the counter-attack: Taash Davrin Harding After all that carnage, Solas, the ex-party member turned antagonist, still wants to tear down The Veil and unleash a horde of demons on Thedas. If you sought out Solas’ memories in the Crossroads and obtained the essence of Mythal, you’re able to talk him down, which most people did. Over 72 percent of players made this choice. However, if you either didn’t do those quests or just feel like fucking him up, you can either fight him or trick him with a decoy lyrium dagger into binding himself to The Veil. 17 percent of players chose to trick him, while only eight percent chose to take him on in a fight. The remaining three percent got the “sacrifice” ending, which ends in Rook sacrificing themself to ensure Solas is bound to The Veil. This is only possible if you lose too many people in the assault on Minrathous. Within those 72 percent of players who redeemed Solas, 43 percent of players had an Inquisitor who romanced Solas and joined him in The Fade. 57 percent of players had an Inquisitor who either romanced someone else (or no one) or didn’t convince the Inquisitor to forgive him. The last statistics BioWare included in its roundup were the interactions players had with Assan, Davrin’s griffon son, and Manfred. Only 50 percent of players pet Assan and a criminal 31 percent of people played Rock Paper Scissors with Manfred. Y’all need to go hang out with the Lighthouse pets. Jail to all of you. While pouring over the results of all of these decisions is exciting, it remains to be seen how any of these outcomes might factor into a future game. Personally, I’m holding out hope that Rook will return as a protagonist in the next Dragon Age , which could allow for more of these characters and choices to show up in meaningful ways. But whatever’s coming is still years away as BioWare is now shifting focus to the next Mass Effect game and isn’t making any DLC for The Veilguard .
2025 Kia Sorento reviewNew Repeat Orders for QUADRA High-Throughput Metrology System from Leading Semiconductor Manufacturer fills up Nearfield Instruments' 2025 Order Book
Coming EV models include small hatchbacks, pickups, sports cars, and minivans. They come from brands like Audi, Cadillac, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, Tesla, and Volkswagen. This article is part of " Getting Ready for Electric ," a series of guides and practical advice for buying your next EV. Advertisement A large number of exciting EVs are headed to market soon. Several automakers have modified their electrification strategies in recent months, replacing some of their prior electric-vehicle concepts with a focus on internal-combustion-engine and hybrid models. Advertisement Even with this strategic change, you can expect to see a lot of EV options in the coming years. Here's a collection of cool EVs — including small hatchbacks, pickups, sports cars, and minivans — that we can't wait to drive.Chinese Industry Associations Say US Chips ‘No Longer Safe’ to Buy
Bitcoin's Meteoric Rise: A New Era for Digital Assets?
Happy holidays to all those who celebrate, and if you don't, we still have a gift for you. Our latest R&B Season playlist update rounded up all the best genre-adjacent releases from this week for your convenience, and we have a massive one to start off with. SZA finally released her SOS Deluxe: LANA after months of teases and multiple delays, and fans loved the wealth of new material that's worth a whole new LP. It's got plenty of compelling highlights, such as a melancholy and ethereal electric guitar ballad on " Drive " and the more sensual, dreamy, and gentle " Diamond Boy (DTM) ." On the topic of sultry R&B, Jeremih decided to give this sound some unique, albeit seasonally corny changes on his new single, "Secret Santa." Other than singing about taking stockings off and all the gifts that he's going to give his partner, he fits the theme with light pianos, wintery chimes and bells, and even a slight drill swing to this record that surprised us on impact. All in all, it makes for a pretty unique Christmas song, even if it leans into its focus in a somewhat silly way. Read More: Top 10 Hottest R&B Albums Of 2024 Elsewhere on R&B Season , we have more classic approaches to highlight outside of this holiday time, such as Chase Shakur's snap-driven "FOCUS ON ME." In contrast to other vocal treatments on this playlist update, this cut's performance is more airy, breathy, and atmospheric, which pairs well with the synth pads and occasionally popping percussion. All of this makes for a hypnotizing song that prompts its own title, as some calming strings and electronic embellishments towards the end ascend this record into a higher plane. Finally on R&B Season , we'd be remiss not to mention this new Nao single, "All Of Me." Thanks to steady but trill trap drums, languid synthesizers, and more hushed and high-pitched vocal soars, this is the wooziest cut on this update. The East London musician doesn't take up too much space on the track, but when she does pop in, she's a perfect match. It's perfect to snuggle up for cold nights ahead of 2024's end. Read More: Biggest Hip-Hop Moments Of 2024
