fc188 casino app download Social media users are misrepresenting a Vermont Supreme Court ruling , claiming that it gives schools permission to vaccinate children even if their parents do not consent. The ruling addressed a lawsuit filed by Dario and Shujen Politella against Windham Southeast School District and state officials over the mistaken vaccination of their child against COVID-19 in 2021, when he was 6 years old. A lower court had dismissed the original complaint, as well as an amended version. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was filed on Nov. 19. But the ruling by Vermont's high court is not as far-reaching as some online have claimed. In reality, it concluded that anyone protected under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, or PREP, Act is immune to state lawsuits. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that schools can vaccinate children against their parents' wishes. THE FACTS: The claim stems from a July 26 ruling by the Vermont Supreme Court, which found that anyone protected by the PREP Act is immune to state lawsuits, including the officials named in the Politella's suit. The ruling does not authorize schools to vaccinate children at their discretion. According to the lawsuit, the Politella's son — referred to as L.P. — was given one dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic held at Academy School in Brattleboro even though his father, Dario, told the school's assistant principal a few days before that his son was not to receive a vaccination. In what officials described as a mistake, L.P. was removed from class and had a “handwritten label” put on his shirt with the name and date of birth of another student, L.K., who had already been vaccinated that day. L.P. was then vaccinated. Ultimately, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that officials involved in the case could not be sued. “We conclude that the PREP Act immunizes every defendant in this case and this fact alone is enough to dismiss the case,” the Vermont Supreme Court's ruling reads. “We conclude that when the federal PREP Act immunizes a defendant, the PREP Act bars all state-law claims against that defendant as a matter of law.” The PREP Act , enacted by Congress in 2005, authorizes the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a declaration in the event of a public health emergency providing immunity from liability for activities related to medical countermeasures, such as the administration of a vaccine, except in cases of “willful misconduct" that result in “death or serious physical injury.” A declaration against COVID-19 was issued on March 17, 2020. It is set to expire on Dec. 31. Federals suits claiming willful misconduct are filed in Washington. Social media users described the Vermont Supreme Court's ruling as having consequences beyond what it actually says. “The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that schools can force-vaccinate children for Covid against the wishes of their parents,” reads one X post that had been liked and shared approximately 16,600 times as of Tuesday. “The high court ruled on a case involving a 6-year-old boy who was forced to take a Covid mRNA injection by his school. However, his family had explicitly stated that they didn't want their child to receive the ‘vaccines.’” Other users alleged that the ruling gives schools permission to give students any vaccine without parental consent, not just ones for COVID-19. Rod Smolla, president of the Vermont Law and Graduate School and an expert on constitutional law, told The Associated Press that the ruling “merely holds that the federal statute at issue, the PREP Act, preempts state lawsuits in cases in which officials mistakenly administer a vaccination without consent.” “Nothing in the Vermont Supreme Court opinion states that school officials can vaccinate a child against the instructions of the parent,” he wrote in an email. Asked whether the claims spreading online have any merit, Ronald Ferrara, an attorney representing the Politellas, told the AP that although the ruling doesn't say schools can vaccinate students regardless of parental consent, officials could interpret it to mean that they could get away with doing so under the PREP Act, at least when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines. He explained that the U.S. Supreme Court appeal seeks to clarify whether the Vermont Supreme Court interpreted the PREP Act beyond what Congress intended. “The Politella’s fundamental liberty interest to decide whether their son should receive elective medical treatment was denied by agents of the State and School,” he wrote in an email to the AP. “The Vermont Court misconstrues the scope of PREP Act immunity (which is conditioned upon informed consent for medical treatments unapproved by FDA), to cover this denial of rights and its underlying battery.” Ferrara added that he was not aware of the claims spreading online, but that he “can understand how lay people may conflate the court's mistaken grant of immunity for misconduct as tantamount to blessing such misconduct.” John Klar, who also represents the Politellas, went a step further, telling the AP that the Vermont Supreme Court ruling means that “as a matter of law” schools can get away with vaccinating students without parental consent and that parents can only sue on the federal level if death or serious bodily injury results. — Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .Social media users are misrepresenting a Vermont Supreme Court ruling , claiming that it gives schools permission to vaccinate children even if their parents do not consent. The ruling addressed a lawsuit filed by Dario and Shujen Politella against Windham Southeast School District and state officials over the mistaken vaccination of their child against COVID-19 in 2021, when he was 6 years old. A lower court had dismissed the original complaint, as well as an amended version. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was filed on Nov. 19. But the ruling by Vermont's high court is not as far-reaching as some online have claimed. In reality, it concluded that anyone protected under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, or PREP, Act is immune to state lawsuits. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that schools can vaccinate children against their parents' wishes. THE FACTS: The claim stems from a July 26 ruling by the Vermont Supreme Court, which found that anyone protected by the PREP Act is immune to state lawsuits, including the officials named in the Politella's suit. The ruling does not authorize schools to vaccinate children at their discretion. According to the lawsuit, the Politella's son — referred to as L.P. — was given one dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic held at Academy School in Brattleboro even though his father, Dario, told the school's assistant principal a few days before that his son was not to receive a vaccination. In what officials described as a mistake, L.P. was removed from class and had a “handwritten label” put on his shirt with the name and date of birth of another student, L.K., who had already been vaccinated that day. L.P. was then vaccinated. Ultimately, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that officials involved in the case could not be sued. “We conclude that the PREP Act immunizes every defendant in this case and this fact alone is enough to dismiss the case,” the Vermont Supreme Court's ruling reads. “We conclude that when the federal PREP Act immunizes a defendant, the PREP Act bars all state-law claims against that defendant as a matter of law.” The PREP Act , enacted by Congress in 2005, authorizes the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a declaration in the event of a public health emergency providing immunity from liability for activities related to medical countermeasures, such as the administration of a vaccine, except in cases of “willful misconduct" that result in “death or serious physical injury.” A declaration against COVID-19 was issued on March 17, 2020. It is set to expire on Dec. 31. Federals suits claiming willful misconduct are filed in Washington. Social media users described the Vermont Supreme Court's ruling as having consequences beyond what it actually says. “The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that schools can force-vaccinate children for Covid against the wishes of their parents,” reads one X post that had been liked and shared approximately 16,600 times as of Tuesday. “The high court ruled on a case involving a 6-year-old boy who was forced to take a Covid mRNA injection by his school. However, his family had explicitly stated that they didn't want their child to receive the ‘vaccines.’” Other users alleged that the ruling gives schools permission to give students any vaccine without parental consent, not just ones for COVID-19. Rod Smolla, president of the Vermont Law and Graduate School and an expert on constitutional law, told The Associated Press that the ruling “merely holds that the federal statute at issue, the PREP Act, preempts state lawsuits in cases in which officials mistakenly administer a vaccination without consent.” “Nothing in the Vermont Supreme Court opinion states that school officials can vaccinate a child against the instructions of the parent,” he wrote in an email. Asked whether the claims spreading online have any merit, Ronald Ferrara, an attorney representing the Politellas, told the AP that although the ruling doesn't say schools can vaccinate students regardless of parental consent, officials could interpret it to mean that they could get away with doing so under the PREP Act, at least when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines. He explained that the U.S. Supreme Court appeal seeks to clarify whether the Vermont Supreme Court interpreted the PREP Act beyond what Congress intended. “The Politella’s fundamental liberty interest to decide whether their son should receive elective medical treatment was denied by agents of the State and School,” he wrote in an email to the AP. “The Vermont Court misconstrues the scope of PREP Act immunity (which is conditioned upon informed consent for medical treatments unapproved by FDA), to cover this denial of rights and its underlying battery.” Ferrara added that he was not aware of the claims spreading online, but that he “can understand how lay people may conflate the court's mistaken grant of immunity for misconduct as tantamount to blessing such misconduct.” John Klar, who also represents the Politellas, went a step further, telling the AP that the Vermont Supreme Court ruling means that “as a matter of law” schools can get away with vaccinating students without parental consent and that parents can only sue on the federal level if death or serious bodily injury results. — Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .

UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance

Citigroup Inc. boosted its stake in Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) ( NYSE:HOMB – Free Report ) by 12.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 289,079 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 31,493 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. owned 0.15% of Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) worth $7,831,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) by 8.1% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,550,418 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $156,946,000 after purchasing an additional 490,718 shares during the period. Copeland Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) by 0.9% during the third quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 3,240,644 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $87,789,000 after buying an additional 28,604 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) by 0.5% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,166,894 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $51,919,000 after buying an additional 11,499 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,046,153 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $55,430,000 after buying an additional 134,741 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) by 2,609.0% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 1,301,295 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $352,520,000 after buying an additional 1,253,259 shares during the period. 67.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts recently commented on HOMB shares. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. StockNews.com raised Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Stephens upped their price target on Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and set a $28.00 price objective on shares of Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $28.25. Insider Activity at Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) In other news, CAO Jennifer C. Floyd sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.18, for a total value of $60,360.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,468 shares in the company, valued at $104,664.24. This trade represents a 36.58 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . Also, Director James Pat Hickman sold 63,997 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.77, for a total value of $1,969,187.69. Following the sale, the director now owns 175,500 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,400,135. This trade represents a 26.72 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 90,997 shares of company stock valued at $2,782,548 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 7.66% of the company’s stock. Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) stock opened at $31.79 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $28.37 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.32 billion, a PE ratio of 16.38 and a beta of 1.05. Home Bancshares, Inc. has a 52-week low of $21.93 and a 52-week high of $32.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) ( NYSE:HOMB – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.53 by ($0.03). Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) had a return on equity of 10.33% and a net margin of 26.69%. The firm had revenue of $258.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $258.90 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.47 earnings per share. Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR)’s revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Home Bancshares, Inc. will post 2.04 EPS for the current fiscal year. Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.195 per share. This represents a $0.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 13th. Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR)’s payout ratio is currently 40.21%. About Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) ( Free Report ) Home Bancshares, Inc (Conway, AR) operates as the bank holding company for Centennial Bank that provides commercial and retail banking, and related financial services to businesses, real estate developers and investors, individuals, and municipalities. Its deposit products include checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HOMB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Home Bancshares, Inc. (Conway, AR) ( NYSE:HOMB – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Home Bancshares Inc. (Conway AR) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Home Bancshares Inc. (Conway AR) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Jestin Porter had 26 points in Middle Tennessee's 95-88 win over South Florida on Friday. Porter shot 9 for 12 (4 for 6 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Blue Raiders (5-1). Essam Mostafa scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds. Kamari Lands shot 6 for 12, including 4 for 8 from beyond the arc to finish with 17 points. The Bulls (3-3) were led in scoring by Jayden Reid, who finished with 18 points, four assists and three steals. Jamille Reynolds added 17 points and nine rebounds for South Florida. Kasen Jennings finished with 13 points. Middle Tennessee led 51-33 at halftime, with Porter racking up 14 points. Mostafa led the way with a team-high 14 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Please enable JavaScript to read this content. Concerns over escalating insecurity in Nyakach Constituency have sparked sharp criticism of local security agencies. This is after parliamentary hopeful Okoth Opande, popularly known as Mulla, accusing them of negligence and political meddling. Speaking during the burial of Archbishop Lukio Juma Ochola of the Roho Musanda Church of East Africa in Kajimbo, Opande expressed frustration with the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), alleging they are prioritizing politics over their mandate. “We are in this crisis because security officials refuse to cooperate with us to address the rampant insecurity,” Opande stated. He emphasized that chiefs and assistant chiefs with political ambitions should resign to participate in campaigns rather than compromise their roles. Opande further urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to conduct impartial investigations, asserting that suspects often roam freely in villages despite the community providing actionable intelligence. Taking a stand against politically motivated violence, Opande warned those attempting to use thuggery to gain political mileage in Nyakach. “To politicians hoping to use intimidation to win elections, it won’t work here,” he declared, highlighting the region’s history of peaceful campaigns. He recounted incidents of violence against his supporters, including recent attacks and fatalities, calling for justice and a commitment to peace as the 2027 election approaches. “Next weekend, I’ll be attending the burial of another supporter in Agoro,” he lamented. As a staunch ODM member, Opande lauded the party’s recent grassroots elections, describing them as a step toward strengthening its foundation. He called for the same spirit of peace and unity to prevail during upcoming ward-level elections. “Empowering our people should be the focus now, not creating unnecessary tension,” he concluded.

Colimerio has 15, Queens defeats VMI 81-78NoneSocial media users are misrepresenting a Vermont Supreme Court ruling , claiming that it gives schools permission to vaccinate children even if their parents do not consent. The ruling addressed a lawsuit filed by Dario and Shujen Politella against Windham Southeast School District and state officials over the mistaken vaccination of their child against COVID-19 in 2021, when he was 6 years old. A lower court had dismissed the original complaint, as well as an amended version. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was filed on Nov. 19. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.(The Center Square) – Billionaire and advisor to President-elect Donald Trump Elon Musk was denied by a judge this week a $56 billion compensation package for his work as CEO of Tesla, the successful electric automaker that pioneered EV technology in the U.S. The package had been approved by more than 70% of Tesla's board of directors. A Tesla shareholder who owned just nine shares of stock in the company sued to block the 2018 compensation agreement. In addition to blocking the package this week, the judge in the case, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick, awarded the plaintiff's attorneys $345 million, which Reuters reported is “one of the largest fee awards ever in securities litigation.” The Associated Press reported that “the fee award amounts to almost exactly half the current record $688 million in legal fees awarded in 2008 in litigation stemming from the collapse of Enron.” The ruling was widely criticized as government overreach into the private sector. Cathie Wood, founder and CEO of ARKinvest, called the ruling a "mockery." "Adding judicial insult to injury, Delaware Judge McCormick has ordered #Tesla shareholders to pay the plaintiff’s lawyers $345 million! The plaintiff owned 9 shares of $TSLA," Wood wrote on X. "McCormick is making a mockery of the sense of fairness essential to our American judicial system." Pershing Square CEO Bill Ackman wrote: "This decision and the payola for lawyers is absurd. We are going to see a migration of Corporate America from Delaware." The unique compensation package was high risk, high reward. If Musk hit all of his target goals to make the company hugely successful, as he did, then he would be awarded the compensation package. If he did not hit those marks, he would receive zero dollars. Musk and Tesla vowed to appeal. McCormick first voided the pay agreement in January, saying it was unfair and that the Tesla board did not negotiate well enough with Musk. In response, a supermajority of more than 70% of Tesla shareholders voted to approve the payment package for Musk earlier this year, but again McCormick sided this week against Musk and Tesla shareholders. Musk called the ruling a form of “lawfare.” “Shareholders should control company votes, not judges,” Musk wrote on X. Many other Tesla shareholders blasted the decision and the attorney fee decision. "The lawyers, judges, and attorneys did not create net-positive shareholder value from this clownery," Alex Guichet, who said he is a Tesla employee, wrote on X. "They do not deserve a single dollar. We employees did. We supported the shareholder vote with our own yes votes too. This is wrong on so many levels." Shareholder Jeremy Goldman wrote: "The majority of the owners of the company have made their desires known and it's just crazy that a single judge can basically say haha, no. I don't really care what you want. Also pay a few hundred million for the privilege of being ignored." The plaintiff's attorneys praised the ruling. “We are pleased with Chancellor McCormick’s ruling, which declined Tesla’s invitation to inject continued uncertainty into Court proceedings and thank the Chancellor and her staff for their extraordinary hard work in overseeing this complex case,” attorneys from Bernstein, Litowitz, Berger & Grossmann, the firm representing Musk’s opponents, said in a statement. A November 2024 study published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform found tort costs amounted to $529 billion in 2022, or 2.1 percent of U.S. GDP. The study found that excessive tort costs hurt the economy. "In addition to having a substantial aggregate cost on the economy, a large portion of the total tort-related expenditures go toward litigating and defending claims and lawsuits rather than compensating claimants,” authors of the study wrote.

A REPUTABLE construction industry drives economic growth, enhances infrastructure and improves the quality of life for the nation. The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) plays a vital role in regulating, developing and facilitating the construction industry to achieve global competitiveness, ensuring excellence by promoting standards, upskilling talent and advancing sustainable practices. Recognising industry players who prioritise quality, safety, health, productivity and sustainability in their operations, CIDB honoured these achievers and celebrated their projects through the prestigious Malaysian Construction Industry Excellence Awards (MCIEA) 2024. This year, CIDB acknowledged the remarkable achievements of 70 industry players at MCIEA 2024 for their dedication and innovative initiatives. In his welcome remarks, CIDB Malaysia chief executive Datuk Mohd Zaid Zakaria shared the revival of the MCIEA this year, inviting submissions for all projects completed with a Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) issued between April 1, 2019 and Dec 31, 2023. He highlighted that MCIEA 2024 features five award categories: the Prominent Player Award, Builder of the Year Award (G7), International Achievement Award, Best Project Award and Best Contractor Award. From these categories, 14 awards were presented to 70 deserving recipients, along with three special mentions to recognise exceptional accomplishments. “The MCIEA awards are not just about celebrating success: they represent the strength, spirit and relentless pursuit of excellence that defines our industry. “Every project submitted, every innovation implemented, is a step towards a better-built Malaysia for future generations,” he added. Speaking at a press conference, Mohd Zaid emphasised that innovation is a key focus of CIDB’s initiatives to elevate the construction industry and ensure its integration into the MCIEA evaluations. He explained that CIDB would support the adoption of 12 new technologies, including building information modelling and drones. He also shared that CIDB encourages contractors at all levels, including smaller entrepreneurs in classes G1 to G4, to embrace digitalisation in their operations. “For a start, there are many mobile applications that they can use to expedite and implement their projects more efficiently,” he said. Mohd Zaid recognised that the construction industry faced significant challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, but CIDB took responsibility by allowing companies that met enforcement requirements to resume work as restrictions eased. He highlighted that many companies not only recovered but also used the opportunity to innovate and strengthen their operations, with the industry now witnessing strong growth, especially in the private sector. Looking ahead, he pointed out that the government’s budget for 2025, with a focus on infrastructure, will further fuel the growth of the construction industry and CIDB has prepared various tools, such as the Score system, to help companies of all sizes improve efficiency and prepare for future opportunities. “They can reflect on where they are now and how to become better and more efficient in the future.” Exceptional contributions Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd chairman Tan Sri Lim Keng Cheng was honoured with the “Prominent Player Award” for his significant contributions to the development of the Malaysian construction industry over his 40-year journey. He credited his success to his late father, a 1966 JKR Class D contractor and his own aspiration to become the best and most successful contractor. “I didn’t have the chance to go to university, but I’ve built two universities and each time, I’m able to enter them. “That’s the beauty of being a contractor and a builder,” he shared. Lim emphasised the importance for the younger generation to have dreams, make proper plans, work hard and learn step by step to turn the impossible into reality. He also stressed the importance of time management, particularly for project contractors, saying, “Time is crucial for decision-making. “We must ensure projects are delivered on time, with proper planning and always allow time for the safety of workers.” Lim further explained that his goal in constructing highways was to alleviate traffic congestion, sharing a personal story of his late father enduring long traffic jams while travelling for kidney treatments. On inspiring young talent within his company, he said, “We always work together, and I share my journey with them. During meetings, I discuss the dos and don’ts,” he added. He also mentioned that he shares certain methods for construction projects that other builders can emulate for the safety and benefit of the communities they serve. Total facility solutions provider for specialised industries, ranging from semiconductors and petrochemical plants to pharmaceuticals, IAQ Solutions Sdn Bhd, took home the coveted “Builder of the Year Award.” Established for 30 years, IAQ earned this accolade as a Grade G7 contractor for demonstrating excellence in company performance and project implementation. One of the key projects that contributed to IAQ’s success was their Testing Manufacturing Plant for Robert Bosch. IAQ Solutions Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Tiew Soon Aik expressed his gratitude to CIDB for the recognition of his team’s efforts and the hard work of their engineers. He shared that the company regularly sends their engineers abroad to prove they can perform at the same level as European companies. “We aim to continue setting new standards in high-tech engineering and construction while pushing the boundaries of technologies, with a focus on safety, sustainability and excellence. “This award is both a proud achievement and a powerful reminder of the impact we can make together as we build the facilities that shape the future,” he said. WCT Bhd, the engineering and construction division of WCT Holdings Bhd, received the International Achievement Award for its outstanding contribution to the Lusail Development Project. The project was commissioned by the Lusail Real Estate Development Company in Doha, Qatar. WCT earned the award for its successful construction and completion of infrastructure and civil works for the 38sq km commercial boulevard within Lusail City. Lusail City is a master-planned urban area that includes residential, entertainment and commercial districts, as well as the Lusail Stadium, one of the iconic venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. WCT Bhd’s comprehensive scope of work included constructing roads, underground carparks, the installation of wet and dry utilities as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems for the carpark. The company also carried out structural works and earthing below the raft foundations of four Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations. Additionally, it managed the architectural, structural and MEP works for four substations, alongside installing network and street lighting cables, demonstrating its expertise in delivering integrated infrastructure solutions. Working alongside its joint venture partner, Al-Ali Projects Co, WCT Bhd overcame numerous challenges, including logistical and extreme climate constraints, the Covid-19 pandemic and a regional blockade on Qatar. Despite these obstacles, the project was delivered on time and met stringent international quality standards. WCT managing director (engineering and construction) Anthony Teoh Teik Thiam said, “We are incredibly honoured to be recognised for our work on the Lusail Development Project. This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of our entire team, demonstrating our ability to manage and deliver large-scale international projects that meet stringent quality and safety standards.” He added, “This award reinforces our commitment to excellence and innovation in the construction industry. We are proud to contribute to international infrastructure growth while upholding Malaysian engineering excellence.” Pushing the boundaries The Best Project Awards under the Major Building category were given to contractor IJM Construction Sdn Bhd for Menara Affin located in Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur and Government Office, Parcel F at Presint 1 in Putrajaya, which was designed based on the concept of sustainable development by contractor Sunway Construction Sdn Bhd. IJM Construction Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Wong Heng Wai said, “Awards like MCIEA are more than just recognition for individual projects – they shine a light on the construction industry’s role in driving economic progress, shaping our skylines and contributing to nation-building.” He added that the company remains committed to delivering projects that combine innovation, sustainability and value for the communities they serve. Sunway Construction group deputy managing director Richard Wong Kwan Song said, “This project was more than just brick and mortar; it embodied countless hours of planning, design and execution. “We faced numerous challenges but through perseverance and teamwork, we were able to overcome them all.” The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit: Sungai Buloh-Serdang- Putrajaya Line received the Best Project Award in Infrastructure (Major Project). MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP SSP) Sdn Bhd project director Adil Putra Ahmad expressed heartfelt gratitude to the 50,000 personnel who contributed to the completion of the project. He emphasised their role in introducing technical innovations that have since become the norm in the industry. Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim said the Putrajaya Line is a community project that has enjoyed significant success, enhancing connectivity across various locations with an average ridership of 150,000 passengers per day since its opening in March last year. The panel of judges was made up of six eminent construction industry leaders. For more information, visit www.cidb.gov.myNoneWorld leaders watch Notre-Dame reopen with a 'merci'

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Youth are the present and future of the nation: Sheikh Khaled