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Liturgy of the Word — 1 Sm. 1:20-22, 24-28; Ps. 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10; 1 Jn. 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk. 2:41-52. 1 . The Feast falls on the first Sunday after Christmas. It was formally instituted in 1921 by Pope Benedict XV, and was originally celebrated after Epiphany. In 1969, it was moved to the Sunday after Christmas, bringing it within the Christmas season. Although there are major feast days dedicated to each member of the Holy Family — Jesus, Mary, and Joseph — the Feast of the Holy Family commemorates their life together. The celebration focuses on religious family life. In eastern Christianity, the Coptic Church has celebrated the feast for the Holy Family from early times, because of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. But in the West, the feast of the Holy Family as a group did not arise until the 17th century, with St. François de Laval, the 1st Bishop of New France (Canada). 2. The Gospels speak little of the Holy Family in the years before Jesus’ public ministry. Matthew and Luke narrate the episodes of this period of Christ’s life, namely, his circumcision and later Presentation, the flight to Egypt, the return to Nazareth, and the Finding in the Temple. Luke narrates that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus with them on the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The Holy Family was apparently observant of Jewish religious laws and practices. 3. The primary purpose of the feast is to present the Holy Family of Nazareth as a model for Christian families. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The hidden life at Nazareth allows everyone to enter into fellowship with Jesus by the most ordinary events of daily life” (CCC, 533). Pope Paul VI said that Nazareth teaches us “the meaning of family life, its harmony of love, its simplicity and austere beauty, its sacred and inviolable character.” Today, these lessons are more than necessary, when family values and structures around the world are crumbling under the influence of the sexual revolution. Parents juggle careers, children navigate the distractions of digital technology, and family conversation is disappearing. Hence, Pope Francis reminds us that families, even if imperfect, “should always be places where love, forgiveness, and joy thrive.” Families are, and will always be, sacred spaces where God’s grace can turn hardship into hope. They are sanctuaries of life and love, and reflect God’s love for mothers, fathers, and children. 4. 1st Reading, 1 Sm. 1:20-22, 24-28 — The birth of Samuel. Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Penninah. Unlike Penninah, Hannah had no children. Penninah scorned her for being barren. The family would regularly go to the sacred shrine of Shiloh and offer sacrifices to the Lord. Hannah would cry her heart to the Lord for a child. She vowed to offer a male-child to the Lord. The priest, Eli, overheard her prayer and told her, “May the Lord grant your request.” And the Lord, indeed, granted her request. She gave birth to her son, Samuel. When Samuel was weaned, she fulfilled her vow and offered Samuel to the Lord. 5. Resp. Ps. 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10 — “How lovely your dwelling, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and flesh cry out for the living God” (vv. 2-3). “Blessed are those who dwell in your house! They never cease to praise you. Blessed the man who finds refuge in you, in their hearts are pilgrim roads” (vv. 5-6). “Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer.... look upon the face of your anointed” (vv. 9-10). The last two verses could well be Hannah’s plea for a son; the blessed and “lovely” dwelling place of God could allude to the dwelling place of the Holy Family in Nazareth. 6. 2nd Reading, 1 Jn. 3:1-2, 21-24 — “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.... Beloved, we are God’s children now” (vv. 1-2). “We have confidence” in him, “and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us” (vv. 21-24). The greatest gift of God’s love for us is the gift of his Son — the Christmas theme. Jesus has made us true children of God. It is imperative then to live virtuous lives in imitation of Jesus. 7. Gospel, Lk. 2:41-52 — The Boy Jesus in the Temple. At 12 years old, Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph, go up to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. But on their return, Jesus remains in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph, look around for a day among their relatives and acquaintances to find him. Not finding him, they return to Jerusalem. After three days, they find him in the temple listening to the teachers and asking them questions (vv. 41-46) “And all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers” (v. 47). His parents are astonished and tell him that they had been looking for him “with great anxiety” (v. 48). He replies, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (v. 49). But they do not understand what he said to them. He returns to Nazareth with them, “and was obedient to them.” Mary “kept all these things in her heart” (vv. 50-51). “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man” (v. 52). 8. Here we see the home of the Holy Family as a sanctuary of love, where Mary and Joseph teach Jesus the virtues of love and obedience, They teach him by example to follow the religious devotions and practices of the Old Law. He intimates to Mary and Joseph that the God who dwells in the Temple is his own Father and he is God’s own Son. 9. Prayer — O God, you give us the shining example of the Holy Family. Graciously grant that we may imitate Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in practicing the virtues of family life and the bonds of charity, so that we may delight one day in the rewards of eternal life. This we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Collect of today’s Mass). Prayers, best wishes, God bless!Stock market risks, Bitcoin breaks through, and Trump Media's crypto play: Markets news roundup
Last year, we challenged 10 of our journalists from across our broadcast region to peer into the future and Gluttons for punishment, they're back again -- reflecting on 2024 and sharing their insights on what 2025 might have in store. A few recurring themes emerge from their predictions: For all this and more, read on. At the end of 2023, I argued that even if one side achieved a military victory in Ukraine in 2024, it would not necessarily bring us closer to a political resolution. This was true then and is true now, largely because Russian President Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine is part of a broader agenda, an attempt to restore, if not the Soviet empire itself, then at least its sphere of influence. What could push the war in Ukraine is the upcoming change at the White House. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump continues to assert his readiness to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The question, though, is whether Trump's intentions and determination will be enough. After all, change would require not only the incoming U.S. president's commitment to ending the war but also agreement in Kyiv and Moscow to cease hostilities. If Putin were to agree to end the conflict -- despite continued Russian offensives on the battlefield and relentless strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure -- it would likely hinge on two key factors. The first is the Russian president's recognition that his country's economic situation cannot sustain a prolonged war. The second is Putin's readiness to shift from military pressure on Ukraine to political influence and destabilization. Under such a peace, Ukraine's future would depend on the security guarantees provided by its Western partners and the resilience of Ukrainian society in resisting Russian attempts at destabilization, for example, a barrage of disinformation during a future presidential election. If Putin concludes, however, that he has sufficient resources to continue the war, hostilities will persist -- certainly into 2025 and even beyond. Following the sudden death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May, a more moderate politician, , was elected as president. Some Iranians saw Pezeshkian's election as a potential sign that the country's clerical rulers might soften their hard-line approach. However, by the end of 2024, Pezeshkian has yet to deliver on promises to ease restrictions on Iranian life. There will be plenty for Pezeshkian to deal with: currency depreciation, environmental crises, an aging population, and worsening brain drain. Looming fuel price hikes, critical to addressing budget deficits, risk igniting protests like those in 2019 that left hundreds dead. Internationally, Iran might have an even harder time. With Tehran's allies -- Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and the ousted Syrian leadership -- facing significant setbacks in 2024 and Israel launching attacks on Iran during the same year, Iranian politicians are for the first time in a while openly discussing developing nuclear weapons as the ultimate deterrent. Tehran's relationship with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is in a precarious state. As a result, European powers censured Tehran twice in 2024 -- and if Western concerns are not resolved, then the process of reimposing UN sanctions on Iran could begin in the spring of 2025. International pressure on Iran is only likely to ramp up with the in the White House. In his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal and argued for strict economic sanctions to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions and regional influence. There weren't any pundits who predicted the rapid rise of Peter Magyar. Less than a year ago, Magyar was a loyalist of right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban; now, he is the popular and dynamic leader of the Hungarian opposition. Magyar's Tisza Party in June, winning a third of Hungary's 21 seats in the European Parliament elections and performing well in local polls. His rapid rise has created a headache for the ruling Fidesz party, which under Orban's guidance has been widely criticized for democratic backsliding and authoritarian tendencies. The party resorted to attacks in the press and is even said to be contemplating early elections. Orban, who has been widely criticized for leading Hungary, didn't let the Magyar party spoil his time in the limelight, as of the Council of the European Union during the second half of the year. Orban began the presidency in spectacular and controversial fashion: In early July, he traveled to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing, and Mar-a-Lago, trips he framed as efforts to end the war in Ukraine and for which European officials heavily criticized him for. In December Orban, who endorsed Donald Trump as early as 2016, again visited the president-elect at his Florida residence. To put it mildly, European officials weren't happy, criticizing Orban for his unauthorized and uncoordinated visits. The idea of "fortress Europe" ruled the roost in 2024, with member states increasingly tough on migration and looking for creative ways to outsource the issue to third countries. (Italy, for example, has set up migrant-processing centers in Albania.) But even though there were gains for far-right and populist parties in national and European Parliament elections in 2024, the center still held -- and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen won her coveted second term. In 2025, . Populist parties will continue to shape policies and politics within EU member states. In the Czech Republic, Andrej Babis, a populist billionaire and former prime minister, is likely to return to power in the fall, forming a neat Eurosceptic triangle with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. In France, the populist left and right will continue to cause headaches for President Emmanuel Macron after his failed parliamentary elections gamble this summer. New elections will likely be held in the summer and Macron could suffer even a bigger defeat, with either the hard-left or hard-right securing a majority. Germany is also heading to the polls, with parliamentary elections in February. And while the far-right Alternative For Germany party should get their best ever result -- potentially 20 percent of the vote -- you can expect a grand coalition of the center-left Social Democrats and the center-right Christian Democrats, with the latter's leader, Friedrich Merz, set to become chancellor. Donald Trump will be shaping Europe's politics as much as any European during the year ahead. The U.S. president-elect could well push his European allies to at the NATO summit in the Netherlands in June. And transatlantic trade frictions are also a distinct possibility, especially if Brussels hits Elon Musk, the tech tycoon and key Trump ally, and his X social media platform with billion-euro fines for not respecting social media rules in the bloc. In 2024, the authoritarian regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka continued its rapid evolution into a totalitarian state. Political repression intensified further, legitimized by two electoral campaigns that only outwardly resembled democratic elections. Early in the year, a puppet parliament and local councils were elected. By the end of the year, a had begun, set to conclude in January 2025. The alliance between Belarus and Russia strengthened and deepened, particularly in the military sphere, where Lukashenka is trying to bolster Belarus's strategic position by hosting modern Russia weapons. The culmination of this process was the decision, announced in December, to deploy Russia's advanced in the second half of 2025. The main challenge for the Lukashenka regime in the next year will be navigating the new geopolitical reality shaped by potential peace talks on Ukraine. Minsk fears that its interests will be overlooked in the construction of a new security architecture for Eastern and Central Europe, which could emerge from these negotiations. This is why he has brought forward by six months the presidential election. His goal is to secure renewed legitimacy as leverage for participation in such negotiations. If the conflict in Ukraine remains frozen, however, Belarus could also remain frozen for years. The Lukashenka regime would consolidate and strengthen while all aspects of Belarusian life -- from the economy to culture -- would slowly degrade. The year 2024 was yet another desperate time for , culminating in December when the Taliban expanded its to prohibit private institutions from teaching women , nursing, and laboratory sciences. The latest restrictions build on measures from recent years that keep Afghan girls out of secondary schools and university educations "This doesn't just mean destroying the dreams of those girls who wanted to study and contribute to their communities," said Heather Barr, associate director of the women's rights division at the New York-based Human Rights Watch. "It also means this will cause deaths for women who won't be able to access medical care." Unprecedented worldwide legal momentum against these limitations has also been building over the past year. Shukria Barakzai, the former Afghan ambassador to Norway, highlighted progress in 2024, pointing to international efforts to hold the Taliban accountable. A major breakthrough came in November 2024 when a key UN General Assembly committee approved negotiations for the first-ever treaty specifically targeting crimes against humanity. This development could potentially address gender apartheid under international law, a crucial step long advocated by Afghan women's rights activists. Looking ahead to 2025, Barakzai sees some cause for optimism. "2025 could become the year of justice for Afghans, particularly Afghan women, as countries begin to mobilize against what is happening inside Afghanistan," she said. However, Barr also emphasized that meaningful change requires sustained international pressure and advocacy. Relations between Kosovo and Serbia remain at a historic low, at least since the start of EU-mediated negotiations in 2011. Efforts to normalize relations have stalled, still damaged by the 2022 withdrawal of Serb representatives from Kosovo's state institutions, violent clashes in northern Kosovo the following year, and the killing of a Kosovar policeman in September 2023. Despite the impasse, Serbia has maintained its signature balancing act in foreign policy: for example, refusing to sanction Russia while supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity. Belgrade has also deepened ties with Beijing. In regional politics, Serbian President remains a key player, and is particularly influential in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He is known to hold sway over pro-Russian populist leader Milorad Dodik from Republika Srpska, one of the two entities that make up Bosnia. By appearing to pacify Dodik, Vucic regularly positions himself to the EU and the United States as a moderating force capable of tempering the destabilizing tendencies of Balkan extremists. However, his ambiguous stance often leaves observers questioning whether he contributes to stability, instability, or both. In terms of the EU accession progress, Serbia is actually lagging behind Montenegro, after Podgorica made rapid progress within the last year. Some EU diplomats have even said Montenegro could potentially join the bloc this decade. But it is the change at the White House that diplomats in the Balkans are now fixated on. Vucic, for one, is certainly hopeful. He and his allies have expressed optimism about Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency, hoping for a shift toward a more "Serbian-friendly" approach in U.S. policy. A year ago, it looked as if a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan was on the horizon. Azerbaijan had just regained control of all of Nagorno-Karabakh, the territory at the heart of the conflict between the two sides. Both sides spoke of being nearly ready to sign a deal, with most of the fundamental issues agreed on. Now, and we are more or less in the same place, with Armenia and Azerbaijan still debating the finer points of the , and sometimes it seems as if Azerbaijan may not actually want a deal at all. Meanwhile, the attention in the Caucasus has shifted to Georgia. Its parliamentary elections in October were always going to be pivotal, but the crisis that has emerged is as dangerous as anyone could have expected. The opposition and protesters have refused to accept the results of elections they say were illegitimate. The government crackdown is already the harshest in Georgia's post-Soviet history. President Salome Zurabishvili, whose term ends December 29, is refusing to step down, setting up a with the government. And relations with the United States and European powers, Georgia's traditional main partners, keep getting worse. At the time of writing, neither the government nor the opposition and protesters show any willingness to compromise. Making any predictions now would be foolhardy. Except that a year from now, Georgia's politics are going to look a lot different than they do now. The conditions looked ripe for a renaissance of Russian power in Central Asia in 2024 and so it proved -- although Moscow did not have everything its own way. The Kremlin's state-backed energy companies Gazprom and Rosatom enjoyed a banner year in Uzbekistan, with Russian gas exports roughly tripling and Moscow and Tashkent finally inking a deal for a small facility. Following a on nuclear power in October 2024, Kazakhstan is also set to build a larger nuclear plant, and it would be a shock if Rosatom was not somehow involved. At the same time, both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan resisted pressure to join blocs important for Moscow's prestige, while spats over the and Russia's colonial legacy in the region do the Kremlin's soft power prospects no good. China, meanwhile, will continue winning friends in Central Asia in the year ahead via quiet diplomacy and , especially in the region's emerging transport and renewable energy sectors. The region as a whole will also become even more authoritarian. In Tajikistan and Turkmenistan that would appear almost impossible, but expect both to make an effort. Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, journalists and regime critics are steadily running out of rope thanks to , , and an apparently shared sentiment across these governments that phasing out freedoms is all for the best. The war in Ukraine has reached truly global proportions. While it is fought in Ukraine, it involves dozens of countries, affecting populations as far away as Africa, South America, and East Asia. It has caused the biggest global military buildup since the height of the Cold War, challenging the credibility of international institutions from NATO and the European Union to the UN and the International Criminal Court. On one side, there is the Western alliance led by the United States and NATO supporting Ukraine. On the other, there is an emerging bloc of non-Western states who are challenging the current world order. China is the heavyweight in this informal group, , and it is supported by the likes of Iran and North Korea. These states represent an alternative kind of globalization, with their new mechanisms to circumvent Western sanctions, new financial systems based on cryptocurrencies, and their own international institutions such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The battle lines are in Ukraine, but the war is taking place everywhere: Russia is meddling in elections all over the world (with Romania perhaps the most recent example) and is thought to be carrying out acts of sabotage in many Western countries. Meanwhile, the Middle East is once again engulfed in war; Venezuela is making territorial claims against its neighbor Guyana; and China is carefully watching the Ukraine conflict as it contemplates its own operation against Taiwan. In 2025, that global war will gain momentum, and it is likely to expand irrespective of the situation on the ground in Ukraine. Even a possible cease-fire will likely not stop the global turmoil, let alone Russia's expansionist zeal or the Kremlin's desire to eliminate Ukrainian statehood and challenge NATO and the United States. War in Ukraine has set off an avalanche. The elites of anti-globalization -- from the Islamists to revanchists -- are sensing blood, and there will be new outbreaks of conflict in unexpected places across the globe. In this sense, Putin has succeeded in his long-term plan of turning this conflict into a global one and challenging the world order. Drawing an analogy with World War II, we are now somewhere in 1938, with a global challenger, an undecided West, and a new Munich Agreement looming. One can only hope to live to see a new 1945. By RFE/RLKraken pull off stunning rally to top Canucks 5-4 in overtimeMelania Praises Barron's Role: 'He Knows His Generation'
Klubnik's 3 TD passes, DT Page's pick-6 lead No. 17 Clemson to 51-14 win over The CitadelTrending News Today Live Updates: In today's fast-paced world, staying informed about the latest developments is more important than ever. Trending News Today brings you the most current and impactful stories from across the globe, covering a wide range of topics including politics, technology, entertainment, sports, and social issues. Whether it's a significant political event, a groundbreaking technological innovation, or the latest in pop culture, we provide you with up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis. Our goal is to ensure that you're always in the loop, aware of the trends that are shaping the world around us. Stay tuned for the latest news that matters. Trends News Today Live: Chicago Pizzeria delights dogs with walk-up 'Treat window' decorated for Christmas
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Jeremy Lorenz scored 20 points as Wofford beat Kentucky Christian 100-55 on Saturday. Lorenz shot 8 for 10 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Terriers (6-7). Dillon Bailey scored 16 points while going 5 of 13 from the floor, including 3 for 10 from 3-point range, and 3 for 3 from the line. Anthony Arrington, Jr. shot 4 of 10 from the field, including 2 for 7 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the line to finish with 12 points. D'Angelo Stoxstill led the Knights in scoring, finishing with 15 points and six rebounds. Kentucky Christian also got 12 points from Dejuan Johnson. LeMar Northington also had 12 points. Wofford hosts UNC Greensboro in its next matchup on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
On December 23, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission issued FAQs: One-to-One Consent Rule for TCPA Prior Express Written Consent . What is the FCC’s New One-to-One Consent Rule In December 2023, the FCC adopted new rules in the Second Report and Order to combat unwanted and illegal telemarketing calls and texts, including a rule that closed the lead generator loophole. The rule expressly prohibits lead generators, texters and callers from using a single consumer written consent to inundate consumers with unwanted telemarketing robocalls and robotexts from dozens of sellers when consumers visit comparison shopping websites. The FCC made it unequivocally clear that each caller and texter soliciting consumers’ business must obtain a consumer's prior express written consent prior to making such robocalls or robotexts. Under the Commission’s new one-to-one consent rule— which takes effect on January 27, 2025 —the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s prior express written consent requirement applies to a single seller at a time. In other words, robocallers and robotexters must obtain a consumer’s written consent for marketing messages for each seller. For example, on a comparison shopping website, the consumer could check a separate box for each seller they wish to receive a robocall or robotext from. In addition, such consent must be in response to a clear and conspicuous disclosure that the consumer will receive robocalls or robotexts from each selected sellers, and the content of ensuing robotexts and robocalls must be logically and topically related to the website where the consumer gave consent. When Was the TCPA Enacted, and What is its Purpose? In 1991, Congress enacted the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), codified in section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 USC § 227 , to address certain practices considered to be an invasion of consumer privacy and, in some instances, a risk to public safety. The TCPA generally prohibits making any nonemergency call using an artificial or prerecorded voice to any residential telephone line, wireless telephone number, or certain other telephone numbers (for example, a 911 line, other emergency telephone numbers, or a patient room at a hospital) without the prior express consent of the called party. The TCPA also prohibits making any nonemergency call using an automatic telephone dialing system (also referred to as an autodialer) to certain telephone numbers—including any wireless telephone number—without the prior express consent of the called party. The TCPA generally requires callers to get consumer consent before making certain calls to consumers using an autodialer or an artificial or prerecorded voice. FCC rules require prior express written consent for all telephone calls using an artificial or prerecorded voice to deliver an advertising or telemarketing message to wireless numbers and residential lines (such written consent is also required for calls to certain telephone numbers, including wireless numbers, using an autodialer). In addition, in a 2003 Order , the FCC explained that the TCPA applies to both voice calls and text messages. The FCC’s most recent actions have centered on a consumer’s right to revoke consent when they no longer want robocalls or robotexts and on the growing use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in calling and texting. In a 2024 Order the FCC took steps to protect consumers by strengthening consumers’ ability to revoke consent to receive robocalls and robotexts and also required that callers and texters implement such requests in a timely manner. More recently, the FCC released a 2024 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing steps to protect consumers from the abuse of AI in robocalls. Are There Written Consent Requirements to Protect Consumers Whose Telephone Numbers are Registered in the Do-Not-Call Registry? The FCC’s Do-Not-Call (“DNC”) rules also protect consumers from unwanted telephone solicitations or telemarketing calls when the consumer has added their number to the National DNC Registry . These additional protections apply to all telemarketing calls, regardless of the technology used to make the call or whether the call is to a wireline or a wireless number. However, even if a consumer’s telephone number is listed in the DNC Registry, the consumer can provide prior express written consent to receive telemarketing calls or texts from a particular seller. To obtain prior express invitation or permission for a telemarketing call to a DNC line, the caller must meet the requirements of section 64.1200(c)(2)(ii) of the FCC’s rules: “Such permission must be evidenced by a signed, written agreement between the consumer and seller which states that the consumer agrees to be contacted by this seller and includes the telephone number to which the calls may be placed.” Why Did the FCC Adopt the One-to-One Consent Rule? In short, the FCC believes that lead generated communications were a large percentage of unwanted robocalls and robotexts and “often rely on flimsy or nonexistent claims of consent.” The FCC also states its belief that while comparison shopping websites that involve lead generation can benefit consumers by enabling them to quickly compare goods and services and discover new sellers, “new protections were necessary to stop abuse of its established prior express written consent requirement.” The FCC also states that “this rule is consistent with the Federal Trade Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, which requires one-to-one consent as well.” Does the New FCC Requirement for One-to-One Prior Express Written Consent Apply When a Third Party is Added to an Ongoing Live Telemarketing Call? The FCC explained in its Second Report and Order that the new one-to-one consent rule would not affect the practice of connecting a third-party agent to a prospective customer on a telemarketing call that is not autodialed and does not include a prerecorded or artificial voice message. “Indeed, the new one-to-one consent rule has no bearing on such calls. It only applies to calls made using an autodialer or prerecorded or artificial voice.” However, if the third party seeks to reconnect with a consumer following this initial live call, the caller must obtain the necessary consumer consent if its future calls will be placed using an autodialed and/or prerecorded or artificial voice. Where Can I Find the Second Report and Order? The Second Report and Order is available, here , The Federal Register Summary of the Second Report and Order is available, here . Takeaway: Lead generators and telemarketers should consult with an experienced FTC defense lawyer ahead of the looming one-to-one consent rule effective date. Without limitation, failing to ensure lawful consent language and processes, utilizing regulated technologies (versus, for example, utilizing lawful human selection systems) with leads procured outside the constraints of the new rule, working with lead generators that do not comply with applicable legal regulations, and/or failing to adhere to the new “logically and topically” related requirement potentially expose corporate entities and individuals associated therewith to significant liability exposure.
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Tom Werner Inspire Medical Systems ( NYSE: INSP ) is a medical device company that focuses on treating obstructive sleep apnea with a neurostimulation technology by continuously monitoring a patient's breathing while they sleep and delivering nerve stimulation as needed in Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
( ) is a digital healthcare company focusing on developing technology and services that could aid healthcare professionals in delivering positive patient outcomes. The company has witnessed healthy buying this year, with its stock price rising by 84.4%. Its solid quarterly performances and continued acquisitions have boosted its financials. Let’s assess whether WELL Health offers buying opportunities at these levels by looking at its third-quarter earnings and growth prospects. WELL Health’s third-quarter performance Last month, WELL Health reported an impressive third-quarter performance, with its growing by 27% to $251.7 million. Organic growth of 23% and acquisitions over the last four quarters drove its sales, while the divestments offset some of the growth. It had around 1.48 million patient visits and 2.24 patient interactions during the quarter, representing a year-over-year growth of 41% across both metrics. Amid the topline growth, its gross profits grew by 19%. However, its adjusted gross margin contracted by 150 basis points to 44.6% amid increased contributions from lower-margin recruiting revenue from the acquisition of CarePlus. The digital healthcare company’s adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) grew 16% to $32.7 million. However, the adjusted EBITDA to WELL’s shareholders rose by 10% to $25.1 million. Its adjusted net income stood at $13 million, slightly improving from $12.9 million in the previous year’s quarter. The company generated $16.2 million of adjusted free cash flow during the quarter, supported by its comprehensive cost-cutting program, which it implemented earlier this year. Now, let’s look at its growth prospects. WELL Health’s growth prospects Given their accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and convenience, more people are adopting digital healthcare services. Technological advancements and improving internet penetration have also contributed to the rising popularity of virtual services, thus expanding the addressable market for WELL Health. Meanwhile, the company continues to invest in advancing AI (artificial intelligence)-powered tech enablement for care providers, which could strengthen its position in the digital healthcare sector. The company’s acquisition pipeline looks solid, with 17 signed LOIs (letters of intent) and definitive agreements. Also, the company’s cost-cutting program would continue to improve its . Moreover, WELL Health has rebranded its subsidiary WELL Provider Solutions Group as WELLSTAR Technologies. This pure-play software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology company offers high-quality technology and services to around 37,000 healthcare providers to improve patient care. The company is also working on spinning out WELLSTAR, thus providing investors with an attractive investment opportunity in healthcare technology SaaS. It expects to complete the spinoff by the end of next year. WELLSTAR recently acquired two healthcare-focused technology companies, which could contribute $15 million in annualized revenue, thus raising its 2025 pro forma revenue to $70 million. Also, its gross margins could remain above 80% while its EBITDA margin would be around 20%. Considering all these factors, I believe WELL Health’s growth prospects look healthy. Investors’ takeaway Despite the substantial increase in its stock price, WELL Health’s valuation looks attractive. Its next-12-month and NTM multiples stand at 1.6 and 24.2, respectively. Given its solid growth prospects, improving profitability, and attractive valuation, I expect WELL Health to deliver superior returns over the next three years.