Latest news with #Abdul
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Penang begins major infrastructure push for Silicon Island
GEORGE TOWN: A 380-metre marine viaduct connecting the southern coast of Penang island to the emerging Silicon Island is expected to be opened to the public by December 2028. It will feature four lanes in each direction. The bridge will serve as a key component of the Pan Island Link 2A (PIL2A) – a strategic infrastructure initiative aimed at improving connectivity between Silicon Island and the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge, while supporting Penang's long-term urban growth. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the contract for the bridge has been awarded to a company. "Construction is scheduled to begin this month, with the first phase targeted for completion by mid-2027 to support the opening of Silicon Island's first operational factory. "Final construction and full commissioning are expected to be completed by the end of 2028," he told newsmen after leading a delegation for a site visit via a temporary steel bridge to inspect progress on the Silicon Island, which now spans 160 acres (64.75 ha) here today. The bridge is built next to the proposed marine viaduct. Construction for the 378-metre bridge, which began in August 2024 and was completed in March this year, is meant to provide temporary access for construction and infrastructure works on Silicon Island. "This temporary bridge is an important connection to expedite reclamation works at Silicon Island. With the temporary bridge, it will expedite the mobilisation of machinery and workers compared with using boats before this," he added. The visit included a preview of the designated areas for the future Mutiara Line light rail transit (LRT) depot and Green Tech Park, both of which are gradually taking shape as part of the state's innovation-driven development plans. Chow said full swing work for the depot would begin once the Notice to Proceed has been issued to SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd (SRS) in a matter of weeks. Preliminary works, which include soil testing and placement of infrastructure, are being carried out. Chow said that while the project had faced challenges, they have been addressed systematically. "Any issues raised will be addressed promptly. It is a model development where many people came to visit to see how we overcome issues like the environment, fishermen's concerns and such," he said. During a visit to Penang in May 2023, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the federal government would allocate additional funding to help expedite the state's proposed Mutiara Line light rail transit (LRT) project. At the time, he also requested that the state government scale down the scope of the reclamation project. The Penang Silicon Island initiative is projected to generate a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) impact of RM1.1 trillion, attract total investments amounting to RM74.7 billion, and create some 220,000 job opportunities.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Fluoridation fight marks new pain point for dentists
BOSTON (SHNS) – Dr. Derek Song took the day off from his dental clinic in Burlington on Wednesday to urge Beacon Hill to support dentistry amidst threats to fluoridation and dental care coverage. 'Water fluoridation has been around for a number of years at a safe level, which is seven parts per million, which has been proven by science to be safe and effective,' Song said at a State House advocacy event. Song and other dentists with the Massachusetts Dental Society oppose a bill presented by Rep. Justin Thurber (H 2548) that would ban Massachusetts from putting fluoride in municipal water systems through fluoridation water additives. 'This is going to lead to rampant cavities everywhere. And you know who this is going to hit the most? Those in underserved communities, unfortunately, especially children,' Song said. Voters at Town Meeting in Somerset in May passed an article to remove fluoride from the town's drinking water. The article instructs the Board of Selectmen to petition the state for a home rule exemption so the town can enact a fluoride ban. On a national scale, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in April he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water. Song said that federal messaging is causing his patients to doubt what he called 'scientific and factual' dental health tools like fluoride. He added that the underserved communities that would be most impacted by fluoride bans are also the ones having challenges accessing dental care, which would be exacerbated by proposed Congressional cuts to Medicaid funding. 'This is really alarming. This is a public health crisis, and as a dentist, I just cannot sit idly by and let this happen,' Song told the News Service. The 'chief complaint' among Massachusetts dentists over the last three months has surrounded Medicaid reimbursements, according to Dental Society President Abe Abdul. 'The new vendor that has been hired to handle Medicaid is failing, and doctors, dentists, practices are not being paid, essentially, for the work that's being done, simply because they transitioned vendors and there's an issue with the transition,' Abdul said. Dentists continue to face a shortage of dental hygienists, Abdul said, despite a 2024 law that allows foreign-trained hygienists to get a license in Massachusetts. 'It's law now, but it's still stuck in the regulatory phase. They need to create the regulations. I guarantee you, you ask any office, you go to any dental practice, people can't get in because they can't get a hygienist,' Abdul said, adding that he has not heard of a regulatory or implementation process timeline. Dentists say a different bill (H 1262) the Society opposes creates 'loopholes' in a 2022 voter law that created a dental loss ratio, mandating dental insurance companies spend 83% of their revenue on direct patient care. Dentists pointed to a Sen. John Cronin bill (S 704) as a way to form a more transparent relationship between practices and insurers by disclosing virtual credit card payment fees. 'We don't know about these fees until we type them into the computer through our Merchant Services and then find out, 'Oh, great, we're going to lose 5% of that income,'' Dr. Tej Shah said. 'We have to pay ridiculous fees just to get paid for the services that we did.' 'A check for $100 is $100. In a credit card, $100 — they get as much as maybe 3% cash back. So they only pay $97. And then, because of the overhead of using a virtual credit card, we might get as much as a 5% fee. So then it's only $95 to us,' Shah, who runs Zen Family Dental in Ashland, said. Every time that happens, Shah said, he has to make a phone call to get that switched. The overhead fees only add to 'skyrocketing' inflation for the price of dentistry materials. 'We don't know how much our composites are going to cost in the next couple months, because, tariffs, inflation, everything else. Patients are also feeling the pinch. So they're less likely to pay for things, because they're also uncertain… so maybe they won't even [get] certain treatments.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Joby Aviation Stock Jumps on Agreement to Explore $1B Saudi Arabia Launch
Joby Aviation shares rose Tuesday after announcing a partnership with Saudi Arabian conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel. The companies will "explore distribution and sales collaborations" and the potential launch of Joby's air taxi services in Saudi Arabia. Joby said it still expects to carry passengers in Dubai sometime in of Joby Aviation (JOBY) jumped on Tuesday after the electric air taxi maker announced a deal with Saudi Arabian investment conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel. The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to "explore opportunities to establish a distribution agreement in Saudi Arabia for Joby's electric aircraft," per a Tuesday press release. The sides laid out potential targets of 200 aircraft and other services valued at about $1 billion to be delivered in the coming years. They also said they see "potential revenue opportunities across the Middle East" in the long term. The partnerships will begin in Saudi Arabia to "work together to explore distribution and sales collaborations, the launch of local air taxi services, including the establishment of aftermarket services such as MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), and pilot training." Joby continues to expect its first passengers will be carried in Dubai in 2026. Abdul Latif Jameel has also participated in previous investing rounds for Joby, the company said. Shares of Joby were up 9% in Tuesday trading after recently pulling back from a rally sparked by the announcement of a $250 million investment from Toyota Motor (TM). Read the original article on Investopedia
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Police arrest man for alleged molestation in Bayan Lepas
GEORGE TOWN: Police have confirmed the arrest of a 24-year-old foreign man who allegedly molested a woman near an apartment in Bayan Lepas. A video of the suspect being confronted recently went viral online. George Town OCPD ACP Abdul Rozak Muhammad reported that the arrest followed a police report lodged by the 38-year-old victim at about 12.45am on Tuesday. According to Abdul, the woman claimed the suspect groped her breast during the incident at about 11.15pm on Monday (June 2). "We have arrested the suspect following the report, and he is currently being remanded to assist in investigations under Section 354 of the Penal Code for outraging a person's modesty. "The case will be referred to the deputy public prosecutor for further action once investigations are completed," he said on Thursday (June 5). Abdul also confirmed that police were acting on the viral video showing the suspect being questioned and expressed appreciation for the public's assistance in apprehending the suspect.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Joby Aviation Stock Jumps on Agreement to Explore $1B Saudi Arabia Launch
Joby Aviation shares rose Tuesday after announcing a partnership with Saudi Arabian conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel. The companies will "explore distribution and sales collaborations" and the potential launch of Joby's air taxi services in Saudi Arabia. Joby said it still expects to carry passengers in Dubai sometime in of Joby Aviation (JOBY) jumped on Tuesday after the electric air taxi maker announced a deal with Saudi Arabian investment conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel. The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to "explore opportunities to establish a distribution agreement in Saudi Arabia for Joby's electric aircraft," per a Tuesday press release. The sides laid out potential targets of 200 aircraft and other services valued at about $1 billion to be delivered in the coming years. They also said they see "potential revenue opportunities across the Middle East" in the long term. The partnerships will begin in Saudi Arabia to "work together to explore distribution and sales collaborations, the launch of local air taxi services, including the establishment of aftermarket services such as MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), and pilot training." Joby continues to expect its first passengers will be carried in Dubai in 2026. Abdul Latif Jameel has also participated in previous investing rounds for Joby, the company said. Shares of Joby were up 9% in Tuesday trading after recently pulling back from a rally sparked by the announcement of a $250 million investment from Toyota Motor (TM). Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
