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New Straits Times
a day ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Langat River tops pollution list, threatens water supply for 2 million
SHAH ALAM: The Langat River has become the most polluted river in Selangor over the past two years, with 16 pollution cases recorded as of last May. It reported more incidents than any other river in the state, followed by the Sembah River with 14 cases, the Selangor River with 13, and the Gong River with 4. Frequent pollution cases in the Langat River risk affecting around 2 million users who rely on treated water supply from four main water treatment plants (LRA), located at Batu 11 Cheras, Sungai Langat, Bukit Tampoi and Labohan Dagang. These four LRAs supply water to surrounding residences in Hulu Langat, Cheras, Sepang, Dengkil, Banting, Cyberjaya and some parts of Putrajaya. The Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) shared that there have been no simultaneous work stoppages involving all four LRAs so far. Luas said a total of 10 out of 164 river pollution cases were categorised as red code from 2023 until 14 May. The red code can affect and cause an LRA to cease functioning for more than four consecutive hours, leading to water supply interruptions. Luas has discovered 12 pollution sources, which include odour, turbidity, diesel and oil spills, accidents, foamy water, fire residue, discolouration, dead fish carcasses, livestock effluent, increased acidity or alkalinity (pH), elevated ammonia, and chemical substance levels. Based on daily monitoring and sampling conducted by the Luas Elite Water Squad (SKEAL), a total of 13 pollution hotspot locations have been identified, divided between two main river basins. As for the Langat River Basin, the Langat River recorded the highest number of cases with 16, followed by the Kabul River (eight cases) and the Semenyih River (six cases). Luas said that a total of 31 green-coded pollution cases were recorded, along with 123 yellow-coded cases and 10 red-coded cases during the same period. However, the trend of pollution occurrences in major rivers across Selangor has shown a decline, following strict monitoring carried out by LUAS to minimise shutdowns at LRAs. "In fact, there have been no LRA shutdowns at all in the first five months of this year," they added. Meanwhile, Luas also reported that the total cost incurred for clean-up and mitigation efforts related to pollution incidents in 2023 amounted to RM46,920, compared to RM91,700 for the previous year, while no expenditure has been recorded as of April 15 this year. The standard operating procedure (SOP) for pollution detection involves odour-based sampling at potential pollution sources such as sewage manholes, toilet outlets, and final effluent discharge points of premises. Detection is further supported by in-situ water quality sampling devices that measure parameters like turbidity (NTU), NH₄ for Ammoniacal Nitrogen (AN), and other water quality indicators. For pollution control, deodorisation is conducted using activated carbon powder, while oil booms and oil pads are deployed to mitigate oil contamination.
Irish Independent
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Billie Eilish at the 3Arena, Dublin: Everything you need to know
Today at 00:30 Grammy award-winning singer Billie Eilish brings her Hit Me Hard And Soft tour to Dublin's 3Arena this weekend, with gigs on July 26 and 27. The 23-year-old pop sensation, who initially made waves with her single, Ocean Eyes, aged just 15, has since become one of the biggest names in music. Here's everything you need to know ahead of her 3Arena gigs. When and where are the concerts? Billie Eilish will perform two gigs in Dublin's 3Arena on Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27. Are there any tickets left? Tickets sold out for the two gigs almost instantly, but if you're very lucky you might get a resale ticket on When do doors open? Doors open at 5.30pm, with the supporting acts set to begin around 7pm. Billie Eilish should take the stage at 8.30pm and her set should last roughly one hour and forty minutes, with the concert set to end at 10.15pm. Will there be an opening act? ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Yes, on both nights Billie Eilish is to be supported by Syd, an American R&B singer. Can under-16s go? Under-16s need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Standing is strictly over-14s. What songs will Billie perform? Based on her most recent setlist on July 20 in Manchester, here are the songs that Billie will likely perform this weekend. CHIHIRO LUNCH NDA Therefore I Am WILDFLOWER when the party's over THE DINER ilomilo bad guy THE GREATEST Your Power SKINNY Halley's Comet bury a friend Oxytocin Guess (Charli xcx cover) everything I wanted lovely / BLUE / ocean eyes L'AMOUR DE MA VIE What Was I Made For? Happier Than Ever BIRDS OF A FEATHER How do I get to the 3Arena? Travelling to 3Arena couldn't be easier. It is situated in the heart of Dublin's docklands which is very well served by public transport including bus, rail and Dart services. Irish Rail provides a great link to the city from all over the county, bringing you to Connolly or Heuston Station from where you can hop on the Luas, straight to 3Arena. You can travel to the doorstep of the venue via the Luas Red line. There are extra trams on show nights to cater for the large numbers travelling to and from 3Arena. A full schedule and live information is available on Dublin Bus offers a high frequency and accessible service from all over Dublin to within a 20-inute walk of 3Arena. The 151 route operates every 10 minutes during rush hour and will leave you on Castleforbes Road, the closest stop to the Venue, just a two-minute walk away. The last bus departs Castleforbes Road at 11.15pm, Monday to Saturday. There is limited car parking available in The Point Village car park, but this carpark is not operated by 3Arena. With large numbers gathering on show nights, traffic congestion can delay your arrival and departure so it's encouraged to use public transport where possible.
Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Flower beds to be installed around Molly Malone statue to prevent touching
The move comes after a recent trial of stewards stationed by the statue for one week in May, whose role was to discourage tourists and locals from rubbing the sculpture. According to the council, when approached by the stewards and asked not to touch Molly Malone, most people were cooperative. Tour guides also played a positive role by asking their groups to respect the statue and avoid contact. However, the council acknowledges that without stewards present, the problematic behaviour quickly returns and has become 'ingrained, apparently as part of your visit to Dublin'. This long-standing issue has made it difficult to change visitor habits, prompting the council to explore alternative protective measures such as using flower beds to create a physical barrier around the base of the statue. 'It is difficult to change this behaviour, so we are exploring other avenues of protection for the sculpture, including installing flower beds around the base,' a spokesperson for Dublin City Council said. The Molly Malone statue, which depicts the legendary fishmonger and singer immortalised in Dublin's folklore, has become a popular tourist attraction since its unveiling in 1988. Over the years, the statue's bronze surface has suffered damage caused by repeated touching and groping, especially of the statue's breasts. This practice arose as part of a misguided tradition believed by some visitors to bring good luck. A recent conservator's review found that the statue's patination – the protective coating on the bronze – has been worn and damaged by repeated touching and rubbing. The patination is damaged, and the council are currently organising its restoration to repair the sculpture and preserve it for future generations. The council's Arts Officer, Ray Yeates, previously said the treatment of the statue had caused 'disquiet and upset'. The decision to trial stewards and now install flower beds, follows a campaign led by singer-songwriter Tilly Cripwell called Leave Molly mAlone, which sought to highlight the need for greater respect and care for the statue. The campaign drew attention to how the statue has been subjected to inappropriate behaviour, urging Dubliners and visitors alike to treat the landmark with dignity. 'This is a wonderful victory for Dublin's heritage,' Ms Cripwell said. 'Molly Malone deserves to be admired and respected. I'm thrilled that Dublin City Council has taken action. 'I hope visitors will continue to appreciate her in a way that preserves her legacy and sets good social examples for future generations.' The statue originally stood on Grafton Street before being moved to Suffolk Street in 2014 during Luas construction works.
Irish Independent
18-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cork bus services will introduce 90-minute flat fare from August
The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed that flat fare and tag-on boarding will come to Cork bus services next month through a Freedom of Information request from Green Party spokesperson on transport, Feljin Jose. The change will allow commuters to change freely between buses in a 90-minute window once the initial fare is paid via a Leap card. It will be implemented on Cork city bus services in August, and later, in 2025, the fare will stretch to rail services between Kent, Little Island and Glounthane stations. From 2026, distance-based commuter bus fares will apply in a concentric commuter zone outside Cork extending to 30km from the city centre. Cork city bus services will provide a Leap card validator on each bus. The equipment will be separate from the driver's terminal and will allow commuters to board without the need to go to the driver. The new validators were intended to be available on buses from August. However, this has been delayed due to software and technical reasons. Green Party councillor for Cork City North East, Oliver Moran, said the changes will benefit commuters. "A flat 90-minute fare means people not being punished for changing services, even different kinds of services,' Cllr Moran said. 'Although it's been delayed, moving to a tag-on type system away from the driver means buses boarding faster. 'That's going to help with queuing times at busy stops like Patrick's Street, Kent Station, and Clontarf Street. It means in overall journey times a bus driver can travel faster too along a route.' The Green councillor believes public transport will provide the future of commuting in Cork. "In the next five to ten years, we need to draw more people onto public transport in preparation for high-frequency commuter rail, BusConnects, and eventually the Luas,' Cllr Moran said. 'Public transport has to be the go-to choice for commuting in the city in that time period.'
Irish Examiner
18-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Cork City buses to introduce 90-minute free transfer Leap fare from next month
A new 90-minute Leap card flat fare is being introduced on Cork's city bus network next month that will allow passengers free transfer between buses for multi-leg journeys. A new distance-based fare structure is also being introduced in a new commuter zone outside the city zone that will extend to some 30km from the city centre. However, plans to introduce a new 'tap-on tap-off' payment system on the bus fleet around the same time have been delayed due to technical and software issues, the Irish Examiner has learned. It follows the adoption of a new fares policy and two new fares zones for Cork by the board of the National Transport Authority (NTA). The fares will be introduced in three phases from next month, with the flat 90-minute Leap card fare introduced first, applying initially to Cork City bus services only. The second stage, scheduled for later this year, will see a flat 90-minute Leap card bus and rail fare, applying to city bus services and to rail services between Kent, Little Island and Glounthane stations. The fare will be set higher than the bus-only 90-minute fare in stage one, which will then be discontinued. And next year, stage three will see the introduction of distance-based commuter bus fares in the new Cork Commuter Zone, which is outside the city zone and extends 30km from the city centre to include the rest of the commuter train stations, including Midleton and Mallow, as well as commuter bus services operating in the area that extends to just south Fermoy, and takes in Bandon and Kinsale. However, plans to install a pole-mounted Leap card validator system on buses to allow passengers board and pay without having to go to the driver have been delayed over technical and software issues. The new fares structure, similar to the TFI 90-minute fare that operates in Dublin across the capital's bus and Luas network, is seen as a vital part of the BusConnects project. The fare changes will apply to the existing bus network before the Cork BusConnects network is introduced, from next April. Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran said they will have a real impact. 'They're the first stage of the overall BusConnects programme that people will actually experience. They'll make a real difference to passengers and services here and now, where people will really feel it,' he said. 'In the next five to 10 years, we need to draw more people onto public transport in preparation for high-frequency commuter rail, BusConnects and eventually the Luas. Public transport has to be the go-to choice for commuting in the city in that time period.' Despite the delay in the introduction of the tap-on, tap-off payment system, Mr Moran said once it's introduced, it will mean faster boarding. 'That's going to help with queuing times at busy stops like St Patrick's Street, Kent Station and Clontarf Street. It means in overall journey times, a bus driver can travel faster too along a route.' Read More Is more congestion in Cork City an inevitability?
