sports trivia

sports trivia NoneThe Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is to ask the Ministry of Finance to exempt the retrospective tax for merger and acquisition (M&A) deals of listed companies, as part of its moves to boost the sluggish domestic exchange. It also aims to push the Thai stock market as a listing hub for flagship businesses in sectors with the potential to grow, such as healthcare, data centres, and food and beverage. The Jump+ project will be launched next year to boost market capitalisation. SET president Asadej Kongsiri said during an interview with the Bangkok Post that listed companies are considering acquiring businesses outside the stock market, but they are concerned over potential negative consequences. "In the process of business expansion, there may be a merger along the way and sometimes the companies on the SET want to acquire non-listed peers," he said. Consequently, the SET is preparing to ask for support from the Ministry of Finance by avoiding retrospective tax collection for those businesses pursuing M&As. "That would help companies expand and grow to their goals faster without being afraid of having their accounting audited retrospectively," said Mr Asadej. These companies would grow, and that will allow the government to collect more tax revenue in the future. In turn, it would let more companies enter the official tax system, he added. JUMP+ PROJECT Mr Asadej revealed that the SET aims to increase the value of stocks and the market capitalisation of the Thai bourse through the Jump+ project, which is similar to a successful initiative by South Korea's stock exchange. Currently, there are more than 800 companies listed on the Thai bourse, with a market cap of roughly 17 trillion baht. Several companies have a large amount of assets and cash, with only a small portion of debt. Nonetheless, they do not have a plan to expand their business. "These companies are classified as having a lazy balance sheet, but they have growth potential," Mr Asadej noted. If a listed company has developed a business expansion plan and future investment, they will be able to increase their stock value, whether they grow in their current business or a new business. The Jump+ initiative is a growth acceleration platform designed to enhance the value creation journey of high-potential listed firms across the Thai capital market. Through this voluntary programme, the SET will empower listed companies by driving operational excellence, advancement in ESG (environmental, social and governance), and adoption of analytical tools and artificial intelligence (AI). Participants will gain access to advisory services and communication channels to enhance market visibility, along with benefits and incentives from the SET, government agencies and partners. The SET will also introduce a new index tracking the performance of successful Jump+ companies and provide analysis reports in partnership with the Investment Analysts Association to support their investment decisions. A group index, possibly called the SET Jump Plus Index, would be set up if a large number of companies participated in the programme, noted Mr Asadej, adding that this initiative would be implemented from the first half of 2025. LISTING HUB According to the president, the SET aims to be a listing hub for flagship Thai businesses, or industries that have strengths and high growth potential, and that are in investment trends. Target businesses include healthcare, wellness, data and cloud centres, and electronic parts. "We are preparing to meet with relevant agencies, including the Board of Investment, the Finance Ministry, and foreign embassies to help attract companies from all over the world to invest in Thailand," Mr Asadej said. "This is a long-term plan that may not be completed in my term. But it must be started to put the Thai stock market in the spotlight and increase the bourse's potential in the long term." Additionally, information spreads through social media and various other channels very quickly nowadays. They contain both the truth and untruths. Therefore, proper and effective communication and warnings provided to investors must be carried out more quickly. He added that the SET is considering the use of AI to help analyse small stocks to provide investors with better information for their investment decisions. One of the pain points nowadays is that investors can only see analysis of large stocks. It is not worth it for brokers to analyse smaller stocks that investors do not trade often. "Now there is technology that can do it. It is a basic analysis that can be translated into many languages for investors to choose from. It helps them access investment information more comprehensively," Mr Asadej said. RISK FACTORS Mr Asadej said that US-China trade is an external factor that could have implications for the Thai stock market in terms of both opportunities and risks. During the first Donald Trump administration from 2017 to 2021, there were US$130 trillion worth of manufacturing relocations from China to the rest of Asia, of which only 10% was captured by Thailand. Vietnam attracted a significant portion due to various factors such as its natural resources and a young workforce whose skill sets were better than that of the Thai population. When Trump returns to the White House next month, Thailand should adjust itself to be capable of seizing the opportunities, including manufacturing relations that are better than during the first Trump administration, said Mr Asadej. Another risk factor is that Trump will increase import taxes on countries that have a trade surplus with the US. Among the members of Asean, Thailand ranks second in terms of its trade surplus with the US and 12th within Asia. "We must closely monitor the US tax policies under the Trump government on countries where China has production bases, including Thailand," Mr Asadej said. As for domestic factors, Mr Asadej believes the political situation is more stable now and the economy is bouncing back thanks to the recovery in tourism to pre-pandemic levels and the government's faster budget disbursement. However, the energy and petrochemical groups, which are heavyweight stocks on the SET, are being pressured by the global economic slowdown while the high level of supply in the market has affected the profits of many companies. Those factors have resulted in a decrease in the total profits of listed firms on the SET overall. In future, it will be necessary to increase contributions from other industries on the SET to balance that of the energy sector, Mr Asadej added.

DALLAS — The sweepstakes to land Japanese hard-throwing right-hander Roki Sasaki are underway. The posting process for Sasaki to make the move to Major League Baseball began Tuesday, and his agent, Joel Wolfe, estimated that three or four teams already had submitted initial presentations to pitch their organization to the phenom. Among them? The Chicago Cubs. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer confirmed Wednesday that the Cubs sent theirs to Sasaki’s agency as the organization looks to land another Japanese star alongside Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga, two of the franchise’s best and highest-paid players. “I know we’re very appealing to Japanese players,” Hoyer said Wednesday at the winter meetings. “Obviously Shota and Seiya have had really good experiences.” Wolfe is not sure yet what Sasaki will want to prioritize when picking his team. Money is one consideration that is not expected to factor heavily into his decision. Teams are limited in what they can financially offer Sasaki. Because he is an international amateur free agent, the money must come from an organization’s international bonus pool. The 2025 signing period begins Jan. 15; Sasaki’s posting window runs until 4 p.m. Jan. 23. “There were some accusations, allegations — all of them false — made about predetermined deals, things like that,” Wolfe said Tuesday. “However, MLB rightly wanted to make sure that this was going to be a fair and level playing field for everyone, so they did their due diligence and interviewed numerous parties ahead of time to make sure that that was the case. They wanted to make sure that Roki would most likely, while he would have the opportunity to sign in ’24, give himself the best opportunity to get the best deal for him and for Chiba, and that Chiba would also have that opportunity. So, it made sense to post at this time so that he could go into the ’25 pool when the teams have much more substantial international bonus money.” Teams’ pools range from $7.55 million — the Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners among them — to $5.14 million — the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. The Cubs have $6.26 million along with 11 other teams. Once the 2025 signing period opens, teams can trade for international pool money, in $250,000 increments, up to 60% of their initial total. Although Wolfe didn’t pinpoint many specifics of what Sasaki will value when weighing his options, he did note the pitcher has paid attention to teams’ success both this year and recent history and kept an eye on what his World Baseball Classic teammates have done. Sasaki, 23, has talked with a lot of players, including foreign players who have been on his Nippon Professional Baseball team, Chiba Lotte, and asks a lot of questions about weather, comfortability and pitching development. Wolfe plans to meet with Sasaki in person over the next couple of days and map out a schedule to meet with teams “hopefully” beginning next week. He does not know how many teams will get a meeting with Sasaki. The right-hander plans to return to Japan before Christmas and possibly stay one to two weeks. Before returning to the States, Wolfe expects they would discuss whether Sasaki at that point travels to see some cities or returns to have more in-person meetings. “We’re going to leave it open-ended depending on how the first round of meetings go, how many meetings he actually has, how many total meetings he plans to have,” Wolfe said. “But we didn’t give teams a hard deadline to submit (presentations) because we want them to be able to put the time in to do it right. Obviously some teams were already working on these things, some of them for months, I believe.” Joel Wolfe, agent for Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, speaks with reporters at the Major League Baseball winter meetings on Dec. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP) Signing Sasaki would be a coup for a Cubs organization that has invested time and resources to making inroads in Japan, evident by their signings of Suzuki and Imanaga. Sasaki who dealt with shoulder inflammation/soreness in 2024, posted a 2.35 ERA and 129 strikeouts over 111 innings (18 games) for Chiba Lotte. He could have set himself up for a massive payday like Yoshinobu Yamamoto got from the Dodgers last offseason if he waited two more years to be posted. Related Articles Chicago Cubs | 2025 MLB draft order is set: White Sox get the No. 10 pick and Cubs land at No. 17 Chicago Cubs | Column: Dizzying sports week includes Dick Allen’s journey, a CFP grievance and Melody Rogers on Abe Gibron Chicago Cubs | Seiya Suzuki would consider waiving his no-trade clause if the Chicago Cubs want to move the outfielder Chicago Cubs | Chicago Cubs great Ryne Sandberg, 65, says his cancer has relapsed and spread to other organs Chicago Cubs | Mike Tauchman goes from North Side to South Side after agreeing to contract with White Sox Wolfe called it a difficult question to answer as to why Sasaki wanted to be posted now. “Some of it is Japanese culture, some of it is just Roki Sasaki — there are no absolutes in baseball, and through Roki’s eyes, there are no absolutes in life,” Wolfe explained. “He does not take anything for granted. It is not an absolute lock, as some people in baseball have assumed that two years from now, he’s going to get a Yamamoto contract. Baseball just doesn’t work that way. If you look at the epidemic of injuries, it’s not just here. They have the same potential issues. He could have Tommy John surgery. He’s had two shoulder injuries; he’s had oblique injuries. Things may not go the way they want. “The other thing is, it’s always been his dream to come to the major leagues since he was in high school. He’s grown up idolizing players like Yu Darvish and (Masahiro) Tanaka and (Daisuke) Matsuzaka. This is something he has always wanted to do, and when he went to WBC and he was around some of these major-league players, it really rubbed off on him that he became sure that this is what I want to do as soon as possible.” Wolfe assumes the Padres will be a team Sasaki seriously considers because of Darvish’s presence. The Dodgers have long been speculated to be among the front-runners too. The restrictions of being signed within an international bonus pool help even the playing field, and Wolfe indicated Sasaki will “absolutely” consider all market sizes. “I think that there’s an argument to be made that a small- or mid-market team might be more beneficial for him as a soft landing coming from Japan,” Wolfe said. “Given what he’s been through and not having an enjoyable experience with media, it might be. It might be. I’m not saying it will be, but I don’t know how he’s going to view it.” Playing on the West Coast, closer to Japan, versus elsewhere hasn’t been brought up, Wolfe said, and seems unlikely to be a factor. He estimated at least half of major-league teams scouted Sasaki this year. Hoyer and the Cubs are among those who have gotten in-person looks. “The success of Seiya, the success of Shota, hopefully, has shown the other players around the NPB that Chicago is a destination that really thrives in that type of environment, and we’re excited to showcase that and use those guys to showcase that,” general manager Carter Hawkins said. Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga reacts after striking out the last batter of the seventh inning during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Sept. 4, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) The Cubs possess an advantage of understanding what goes into helping Japanese players make the transition on and off the field when coming to the majors. On the baseball side, there are adjustments to the strike zone and how to attack big-league hitters. Having access to more analytical information and data than in the NPB means knowing how to best convey and utilize that for Japanese players, something Imanaga appreciated during his rookie season in learning how to meld it with trusting the feel for his pitches. “What we’re most proud of, though, is the foundational things from an environment perspective,” Hawkins said. Adapting culturally sometimes can be tougher than getting used to a new league. Hawkins credited major-league video coordinator and Pacific Rim liaison Nao Masamoto and his wife for helping assimilate the families of Japanese players over the years. Shingo Murata, part of their research and development department, has been vital in helping interpret some of the intricacies of the language that the Cubs use on the baseball side with their coaching staff and directly to the player. Other infrastructure, including nutrition and strength and conditioning, have helped ensure Japanese players are getting what they need in every facet. The Cubs have developed a general blueprint for attracting Japanese players to their organization the previous three years with their successful pitches to Suzuki and Imanaga. That doesn’t mean they run it back the same each time they make a presentation. The Cubs have learned from each experience, and it is expected to help guide their approach with Sasaki. “At the end of the day, you realize that these guys are competitive baseball players that want to be better at baseball,” Hawkins said. “And so yes, I’m most proud of the things that we’ve done off the field because they’re just less obvious. But in terms of what’s most important, it’s how do we help these players be the best versions of themselves? That’s what we’ve learned, that’s where the focus has to be. “Making sure that we’re focusing on ways to enhance and optimize their game, that’s something that we’ve definitely learned, and then definitely made sure we don’t sell ourselves short that way.”

Old friends Conners and Henderson reunite at Grant Thornton InvitationalAP Business SummaryBrief at 5:57 p.m. EST

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The Onion's rejected purchase of Infowars in an auction bid supported by families of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting dealt them a new setback Wednesday and clouded the future of Alex Jones' conspiracy theory platform, which is now poised to remain in his control for at least the near future. What's next for Infowars and Sandy Hook families' long-sought efforts to hold Jones accountable over calling one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history a hoax was unclear, after a federal judge in Houston late Tuesday rejected The Onion's winning bid for the site . U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston said he did not want another auction but offered no roadmap over how to proceed. One possibility includes ultimately allowing Sandy Hook families — who comprise most of Jones' creditors — to return to state courts in Connecticut and Texas to collect on the nearly $1.5 billion in defamation and emotional distress lawsuit judgments that Jones was ordered to pay them. “Our hope is that when this process ends, and it will end, and it will end sooner rather than later, is that all assets that Alex Jones has available are paid to the families, and that includes Infowars, and that as a result of that process Alex Jones is deprived of the ownership and control of the platform that he’s used to hurt so many people,” Christopher Mattei, an attorney for the Sandy Hook families, said in a phone interview Wednesday. The families, meanwhile, were preparing the mark the 12th anniversary of the Dec. 14 shooting. The sale of Infowars is part of Jones’ personal bankruptcy case , which he filed in late 2022 after he was ordered to pay the $1.5 billion. Jones was sued for repeatedly saying on his show that the 2012 massacre of 20 first graders and six educators was staged by crisis actors to spur more gun control. Lopez said there was a lack of transparency in the bidding process and too much confusion about The Onion's bid. He also said the amount of money offered in the only two bids was too low and there needed to be more effort to try to raise as much money possible from the selling of Infowars' assets. The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, submitted a $1.75 million cash offer with plans to kick Jones out and relaunch Infowars in January as a parody . The bid also included a deal with many of the Sandy Hook families for them to forgo $750,000 of their auction proceeds and give it to other creditors. Lopez called it a complex arrangement that led to different interpretations of the bid's actual value as well as last-minute changes to a proposed sale order. The other bidder was First United American Companies, which runs a website in Jones’ name that sells nutritional supplements and planned to let Jones stay on the Infowars platforms. It offered $3.5 million in cash and later, with Jones, alleged fraud and collusion in the bidding process. Lopez rejected the allegations, saying that while mistakes were made there was no wrongdoing. Christopher Murray, the trustee who oversaw the auction, said he picked The Onion and its deal with the Sandy Hook families because it would have provided more money to Jones' other creditors. The next steps remained unclear Wednesday. The judge directed Murray to come up with a new plan to move forward. Murray and representatives of The Onion did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The judge said there was a possibility there could be a trial in 2025 to settle Jones' bankruptcy. He said Murray could try to sell the equity in Infowars' parent company. He also said Murray could abandon the efforts, which could allow the Sandy Hook families to return to the state courts where they won their lawsuits against Jones and begin collection proceedings against him. The judge said he wanted to hear back from Murray and others involved in the bankruptcy within 30 days on a plan to move forward. Mattei, who represented the Sandy Hook families in the Connecticut lawsuit, said everyone is waiting to see what plan the trustee comes up with. Jones, meanwhile, continued to allege fraud and collusion on his show Wednesday and threatened legal action over what he called an attempted “rigged auction.” On the social media platform X, he called the judge's ruling a “Major Victory For Freedom Of The Press & Due Process." “I don’t want to have to go after these people, lawsuit-wise, but we have to because if you don’t then you’re aiding and abetting and they do it to other people. They made some big mistakes," he said. It's a solemn and heartbreaking week for relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The 12th anniversary is Saturday, and some of the victims' relatives were traveling to Washington, D.C., to attend the annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence on Wednesday evening. The families usually mark the anniversary out of the public eye. Many of the families said their lawsuits against Jones bought back the unbearable pain of losing their loved ones, as well as the trauma of being harassed and threatened by believers of Jones' hoax conspiracy. Relatives said they have been confronted in public by hoax believers and received death and rape threats. Robbie Parker, whose 6-year-old daughter Emilie was killed, testified at the Connecticut lawsuit trial in 2022 that the decade of abuse his family suffered made them move across the country to Washington state, and even there he was accosted in person. The families have not received any money from Jones since winning the trials. Jones has been appealing the $1.5 billion in judgments, and has since conceded that the shooting did happen. Last week, a Connecticut appeals court upheld most of the judgment in that state but reduced it by $150 million. Associated Press writer Juan A. Lozano in Houston contributed to this report.Country singer Caleb Kennedy, who competed in American Idol Season 19, has been sentenced to eight years in prison following his involvement in a 2022 car crash that killed a man in Pacolet, South Carolina. Kennedy pled guilty last week to the felony charge of driving under the influence resulting in death, according to the Greenville News . He was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison and a $25,100 fine, but he had that sentence and fine reduced to eight years and $15,100, with three of those years served in home detention. He also received credit for the nearly three years he has already served. Additionally, the singer will serve five years of probation, and he is required to attend mental health and substance abuse counseling. The legal update comes nearly three years after Kennedy, then 17, struck and killed 54-year-old Larry Duane Parris while driving his Ford F-150 on February 8, 2022. Warrants alleged that Kennedy was under the influence of marijuana at the time, and he was arrested on the DUI charge on the day of the crash. Ryan Beasley, Kennedy’s attorney, told the News that the sentencing was fair. “He’s got no record, and he was a minor when this happened,” Beasley said. “This wasn’t such an egregious act that you see most of the time, where people were drinking and driving then they hit somebody at night or going the wrong way down the road. This was a weird reaction from his prescription medicine and possibly THC.” Beasley also said that Kennedy is “very remorseful” and that the sentencing “starts the healing process for everybody involved in this situation.” (The News notes that Parris’ family wanted the maximum 25-year sentence.) Kennedy made it to the Top 7 of American Idol Season 19 but withdrew from the competition after a video of him standing next to a person wearing a Ku Klux Klan-style hood resurfaced. “I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse,” Kennedy said, in part, on social media at the time. “I wanna say I’m sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down.” More Headlines: ‘Brilliant Minds’ Scoop on ‘Terrifying’ Cliffhanger, Plus What’s Next With Carol’s Patient? Are You a ‘Final Jeopardy’ Genius? Test Your Brainpower With This Week’s Clues ‘Blue Bloods’: Vanessa Ray Teases Eddie & Jamie as a Team Will Be ‘Put to the Test’ ‘Gold Rush’: Parker, Rick & Tony Hit Big Trouble – Can They Recover? (RECAP) ‘Cross’: Ryan Eggold Talks Ed Ramsey’s Fate & Working With Aldis Hodge (VIDEO)

AGNC Investment Corp. Declares Fourth Quarter Dividends on Preferred StockPrime Minister pays tribute 50 years on from Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day

Agilon Health director Wulf John William buys $98,145 in stock( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BricklayerDAO is setting a new standard in the intersection of blockchain technology and real estate. Frustrated by the limited returns and lack of control in traditional Real estate investment, Nick and Denis founded a platform that merges the flexibility of blockchain Technology with the stability of real estate investment trusts (REITs). Their extensive experience in commercial real estate, spanning a collective 30 years and encompassing billions in transactions, has paved the way for an innovative model. This model not only reduces barriers to entry for institutional-grade real estate but also empowers investors by providing unprecedented levels of participation. At its core, BricklayerDAO operates on two tokens that drive its ecosystem: MRTR , a utility token central to governance, and BRCK , a value token directly tied to real-world assets (RWAs). Nick explains this model,“Our dual-token system is designed to ensure robust engagement and transparency while empowering holders to influence investment strategies directly. MRTR tokens give stakeholders a voice in governance through staking and voting, with innovative quadratic voting mechanisms that balance power between large and small holders. At the same time, $BRCK tokens derive their value from tokenised real-world assets, such as industrial warehouses leased by Fortune 50 companies on long-term agreements, offering the community a cash flow-backed and tangible investment opportunity.” The DAO's governance system is designed with meticulous attention to community-driven decision-making. From idea formulation to final implementation, members contribute at every stage, with proposals rigorously vetted through forums, temperature checks, and voting. Further, BricklayerDAO's operations are underpinned by a commitment to efficient capital reserves. Fiat accounts, maintained in local jurisdictions for operational requirements, are transparently monitored through blockchain oracles, bridging the gap between traditional and digital economies. Virtual assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, are managed through the Quarry , the platform's digital mining network, contributing to the steady growth of reserves while offering stability in volatile markets. This dual-exposure strategy enables BricklayerDAO to balance growth and liquidity effectively. Denis highlights,“What truly sets BricklayerDAO apart is the seamless integration of PropTech innovations with decentralised finance. By tokenising real estate assets and utilising Chainlink oracles, we bridge the gap between off-chain value and blockchain technology, creating a transparent and efficient system that redefines how real estate investments are managed.” By acquiring and managing both traditional and tokenised real estate, BricklayerDAO opens institutional-grade opportunities to a global audience without compromising on diligence or asset quality. Its acquisition strategy prioritises industrial assets with high-credit tenants, maximising rental yields while supporting long-term value appreciation for BRCK holders. Central to the DAO's mission is its tenant-friendly approach, designed to reduce costs and nurture flexibility for occupiers. Partnerships with key stakeholders create an equitable real estate ecosystem that aligns the interests of investors and tenants. Through the Bricktop A.I real estate assistant tool, BricklayerDAO simplifies opportunity identification and asset management, integrating data-driven insights to optimise site selection, leasing, and market positioning. The Masonry (MSRY) NFTs add a unique dimension to the ecosystem, offering members benefits ranging from early access to services and fee discounts to boosted governance influence. Available in four rarity tiers: Clay, Granite, Marble, and Special , these NFTs reward active community participation while promoting loyalty. BricklayerDAO's Kiln mechanism further incentivises engagement by linking NFT distribution to $BRCK token purchases, ensuring alignment between token value and user benefits. BricklayerDAO's entry into the market also marks a significant step in preparing the real estate industry for a new era of blended assets. By advancing Web3 technologies, the DAO provides real estate vendors with tools for efficient, transparent, and globally accessible transactions. Its efforts are shaping the gig economy's role in property management and investment, allowing real estate professionals and on-chain enthusiasts to engage in every facet of RWA transactions. Nick shares his enthusiasm,“Launching BricklayerDAO is a monumental step for us, and we're genuinely thrilled to bring this vision to life. We've built this platform with a strong foundation of trust, transparency, and innovation, ensuring that it serves the best interests of the market and its participants. We are dedicated to building the world's most verifiable RWA value offering ecosystem on-chain.” Denis adds,“This isn't just about creating a platform; it's about setting a new standard for real estate and blockchain integration. We're committed to delivering value and opportunity in good faith to our investors, the community, and the broader industry, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.” BricklayerDAO invites investors and real estate professionals to join this transformative journey. As it continues to redefine property investment, the DAO offers not only a platform but a community, a space where collaboration and innovation pave the way to a more inclusive and efficient real estate ecosystem. Also, the MRTR presale is now live , and we'd love for you to participate! Don't miss out. Click here to buy your tokens today! You can stay up-to-date with BricklayerDAO by following them on social media platforms such as X , Discord , LinkedIn and Instagram ___________________________________ For media inquiries, please contact: Contact Person Name: Stuart Alldus Designation: Head of Investor Relations Email: ... About BricklayerDAO: BricklayerDAO is a groundbreaking platform that merges blockchain technology with real estate investment, offering a decentralised approach to property transactions. By tokenising real-world assets and empowering stakeholders through governance, BricklayerDAO creates a transparent, accessible, and community-driven ecosystem for the future of real estate and blockchain integration. ___________________________________ Disclaimer: This content is provided by BricklayerDAO. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at MENAFN24122024004107003653ID1109028855 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.The people that president-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All of them could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a new political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. And if Congress approves, at the helm of the team as Department of Health and Human Services secretary will be prominent environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. By and large, the nominees don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV . Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: CDC pick Dr. Dave Weldon represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 billion budget; employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials; and affect the lives of all Americans. The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC's guidelines on if and when kids should get vaccinated . Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon , the 71-year-old nominee to run the CDC who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products — as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear our “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk , psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic including the need for masking and giving young kids COVID vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they're not widely covered by either . Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked . Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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