2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Major boost for thousands of Irish commuters as new 24/7 bus services including new airport service launch TODAY
IRISH commuters are set for a major boost as 13 new bus routes were launched today.
Two of the new routes are the new 24/7 bus services, which will provide a boost to the night-time economy, bringing up to 12 24/7 bus services available in the TFI bus network.
The new services will provide a major boost for commutersNTA
The National Transport Authority announced the new round-the-clock services in the capital and beyond – which includes the most desired E1 and E2.
The phase 6a, delivered in partnership with Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland, will serve communities between Dublin Airport, North Dublin, the city centre, South Dublin, Dun Laoghaire and North Wicklow.
With the introduction of the new services, the overall bus service levels in these areas are set to increase by over 7 per cent.
The new 24-hour bus services, E1 and E2, will operate from north of Ballymun through the city centre to Dun Laoghaire and Bray/Ballywaltrim to the south.
With the new 24-hour bus services, this will improve access to key services including third-level colleges, such as UCD, TCU, DCU and TUD.
Hospitals, including the Mater, the Rotunda, Temple Street and Loughlinstown, can now be easily accessed by the services.
The two 24-hour services are part of the recommendations of the Govnerment’s Night-Time Economy Taskforce to “improve the public realm and provide effective public transport solutions through the night”.
The new route 19 has launched today as well and it will run from Dublin Airport, through Ballymun, on to Wadelai, through Drumcondra and on to the centre of the capital.
The new service will run every 20 minutes for the majority of the day and every 10 minutes between Wadelai and the city centre during peak times.
It provides connectivity to the airport from areas including Glasnevin and Ballymun, making it the first direct connection to the areas.
The phase also introduces new local routes that are designed to provide links to local centres and to onward transport connections.
The new services L1, L2, L3, L12, L14, L15, L26 and L27 will provide new connectivity, especially in the south of Dublin and north Wicklow areas.
‘ACCESSIBLE AND RELIABLE’
Hugh Creegan, Interim CEO of the National Transport Authority said: “Today’s launch reflects our commitment to creating a more connected, accessible and reliable public transport system, ensuring our passengers have more choices and flexibility to their daily travel.
“Expanding our round- the- clock services and enhancing our connectivity is essential to support Ireland’s growing population with sustainable, efficient transport options.”
Billy Hann, CEO of Dublin Bus said: “We are excited to welcome the new year with the launch of services that will make a real difference for Dublin Bus customers across the city.
“The E1 and E2 routes, both operating 24 hours a day, will help support Dublin’s vibrant night-time economy.
“Along with the new Route 19, these services will further strengthen the city’s public transport network. Dublin is a city on the move, and this next phase of BusConnects allows us to continue playing a key role in connecting both commuters and visitors, day and night.”
Dervla McKay, Managing Director of Go-Ahead Ireland, said: “Go-Ahead Ireland is proud to take part in the launch of Phase 6A of BusConnects today alongside our transport partners.
“With every new service added to Dublin’s public transport network, passengers are continually encouraged to take up sustainable modes of transport in their daily lives.
“Go-Ahead Ireland is dedicated to its role in ensuring the reliability and accessibility of the public transport network in the greater Dublin area, and we look forward to the improved services that our passengers will receive as a result of Phase 6A.”
Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Connect launched two new 24/7 bus servicesNTA
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on The murky world of celeb sex tapes where A-listers’ MUMS ‘leak footage & stars ‘secretly cash in on wedding night romps’
HAVING your most intimate moments leaked on the internet is a nightmare for anyone but for celebrities, it is a horrifying reality.
This week Vicky Pattison, 37, made the controversial decision to put out a deepfake sex tape as part of a new documentary exploring the vile practice.
GettyVicky caused a storm with her ‘deepfake’ release[/caption]
Channel 4The star released the footage ahead of her documentary[/caption]
XIt was uploaded on Twitter but was slammed by campaigners[/caption]
The former Geordie Shore star said she “wrestled with the decision for a long time” before uploading the content ahead of Channel 4’s Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape.
She added: “Whilst I know this doesn’t compare to the distress and horror actual victims feel when they discover this content of themselves, I hope it will give some insight into what they go through.”
But the move was slammed by victims of deepfake porn, including one who calls herself Jodie, who said: “I feel deeply offended, let down, and disappointed”.
The campaigner, who works with survivors’ groups, said the “PR stunt fuels harmful narratives” which makes real victims less likely to be believed.”
Ever since the first celebrity sex tape – stolen from Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee in 1995 – numerous stars have seen their explicit content leaked online, causing huge scandals, while others have allegedly profited from the X-rated footage.
Here, The Sun looks at some of the most controversial celebrity sex tapes of all time.
Kim Kardashian
Reality queen Kim, 44, turned her leaked sex tape with ex-boyfriend Ray J into a launch pad to fame for her entire family.
The mum-of-four had the tape leaked in 2007, four years after she filmed it with her ex in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
There have been allegations that Momager Kris Jenner, 69, orchestrated the release to ensure her daughter was propelled to stardom, but the Kardashian family have always denied this.
Prior to the release, Kim was barely known in celebrity circles and has since built a huge empire from her reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
GettyKim was propelled to fame after a sex tape was released of her with an ex-boyfriend[/caption]
GettyThe reality star has since claimed she is embarrassed by the video and didn’t have any part in its release[/caption]
When asked if she had approved the release in an Oprah Winfrey interview, Kim replied: “Why would anyone put that humiliation on their family?”
She has since claimed she regrets the tape and was on ecstasy when the video was taken.
Pamela Anderson
GettyPamela was horrified that the tapes were released to the public[/caption]
News Group Newspapers LtdThe sex tape made by the couple when they were married was stolen[/caption]
Baywatch star Pamela, 57, was the first celebrity that made headlines when a sex tape of her and former husband Tommy Lee, 62, was leaked.
She was already regarded as a sex symbol thanks to her role on Baywatch and her racy shoots for Playboy.
The video, which had been filmed on their honeymoon, was stolen and sold on by Milton Ingley after a dispute over work he had done on their house.
Speaking about the release of the tape on CBS Sunday Morning in 2023, Pamela said: “Those tapes were not meant for anybody else to see.”
She added: “I’ve not seen it to this day. It was very hurtful.”
The story of the stolen tape was dramatised in Hulu’s Pam and Tommy, which Pamela said she was not consulted about it.
She told Variety: “The idea of the whole thing happening was just really crushing for me.”
Paris Hilton
GettyParis has claimed she rarely thinks about the leaked video anymore[/caption]
London Features InternationalParis has said she felt pressured to film the tape which was leaked on the internet[/caption]
Like former best friend Kim, Paris, 43, suffered a horrifying blow when her sex tape was sold as a pornography video in 2004.
The footage, which was taken in 2001, saw Paris having sex with then boyfriend Rick Salomon, 56.
It was released shortly after her reality series The Simple Life had premiered in the US.
Paris was mortified and claimed she was “out of it” when the tape was filmed and had never consented to it being released publicly.
Speaking to GQ Magazine in 2006, she said: “I never received a dime from the video. It’s just dirty money and (Salomon) should give it all to some charity for the sexually abused or something.
“To be honest, I don’t even think about it any more.”
In her autobiography, Paris: The Memoir, she revealed she felt pressured into making the tape.
“He told me if I wouldn’t do it, he could easily find someone who would, and that was the worst thing I could think of – to be dumped by this grown man because I was a stupid kid who didn’t know how to play grown-up games,” Hilton writes.
“The truth is, I wanted to be alive in a sensual way. I wanted to feel like a woman who’s comfortable in her own skin.”
Jermaine Pennant
Dan Charity - The SunJermaine has denied he is the man in the videos, claiming he’s ‘not a porn star’[/caption]
Alice had an OnlyFans page which viewers believe they saw Jermaine onGetty Images - Getty
Fans of the former Premier League star were shocked when they spotted a man believed to be him appearing in his then-wife’s Only Fans videos.
Jermaine, 42, was identified in Alice Goodwin‘s videos by his heavily tattooed body, despite his face never appearing in them.
Viewers were paying up to £6-per-minute for the X-rated videos which the former player allegedly appeared in.
One shocked punter said: “I knew it was his wife but I didn’t expect to see him get involved as well.
“This guy played in the Premier League and even the Champions League final. Not the sort of bloke you expect to see in a pay-per-minute sex show.
“It’s really shocking to see how far he’s fallen and that he’s resorting to this to make money.”
When told about the video in 2018, Jermaine claimed he was “unaware of the footage.”
He later said: “I am a lot of things, but not a porn star.”
Jennifer Lopez
The Mega AgencySinger Jennifer was able to block an attempt by her ex-husband to release their sex tape[/caption]
The couple were married for less than a year and he made the threat after they divorcedRex Features
Pop superstar Jennifer scored a major triumph when she managed to block a sex tape filmed by her ex before it got released.
The Jenny From The Block singer, 55, was horrified when ex-husband Ojani Noa threatened to release a sex tape they had made together on their honeymoon.
The vile threat was a horrific attempt to try to derail the fledgling star’s career.
In response, she filed a $10 million lawsuit which alleged he had violated a confidentiality agreement established after their divorce.
Jennifer won the legal dispute and the footage has never been released.
Tonya Harding
GettyFormer figure skater Tonya earned money selling a sex tape to Penthouse[/caption]
Getty - ContributorIt had been made with her ex-husband Jeff who also profited from the sale[/caption]
Controversial skater Tonya, 54, opted to release her own sex tape, filmed with then-husband Jeff Gillooly, after it had been copied and marketed by Penthouse.
Tonya was no stranger to controversy after being accused of arranging an attack on her skating rival Nancy Kerrigan.
The 35-minute-long tape saw her having intercourse with ex-husband Jeff.
It was alleged that Jeff sold the tape in 1994 without Tonya’s consent, but he claimed in an interview that she knew and profited from the tape.
A contract with Penthouse seemed to confirm that she had profited equally from the sale of the sex tape and used the same agent as her former husband.
It was marketed as a wedding night tape but the dress was actually a Halloween costume of Tonya’s.
She has never publicly commented on the tape, or it’s release.
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Some 330k ESB customers still without power as Storm Herminia hits with restoration time up to 2 weeks
SOME 330,000 homes, farms and businesses are still without electricity as Storm Herminia rampages – and restoration may take up to two weeks.
Historic Storm Eowyn brought gale force winds of 180kph and caused widespread power outages and business closures.
There are 330,000 homes, farms and businesses without power todayDavid Young/PA WireESB teams have restored 438,000 premises so farBrian Lawless/PA Wire
A total of 768,000 ESB customers lost supply on Friday as Storm Eowyn ripped through the country.
ESB teams have been working tirelessly to restore power for households and business.
While this storm hasn’t caused significant damage to the network, it is hampering power restoration efforts in places.
And crew have restored electricity in 438,000 premises as of noon today.
The ESB team have updated PowerCheck with Expected Restoration Times.
It shows that the vast majority of those impacted by Storm Eowyn will have had supply restored by Friday 31.
After this, officials expect that the remaining, approximately 100,000, customers will progressively have their supply restored over the course of the following week.
Crews warned that estimated restoration times will “continue to be updated” as the works progress – but weather conditions may impact on the restoration work.
ESB workers from the south of the country and Dublin are being deployed across worse impacted areas, while “skilled retirees” from ESB Networks are also being redrafted to help.
The company revealed that they were made aware of several instances of “potentially very dangerous incidents” where members of the public have “unknowingly approached fallen electricity infrastructure”.
They warned: “Stay safe, stay clear of any fallen lines and report any damage to 1800 372 999.”
A spokesperson for ESB networks said: “We have been made aware of several instances of potentially very dangerous incidents where members of the public have unknowingly approached fallen electricity infrastructure.
“Fallen debris after a storm can prevent people from seeing hidden risks such as wires entangled into trees and branches.
“If you come across fallen wires or damaged electricity network, never, ever touch or approach these as they are LIVE and extremely dangerous. Please report any damage to electricity infrastructure by calling 1800 372 999.
“It is important that any impacted customers who use electrically powered medical devices contact their healthcare professional to make alternative arrangements if necessary.
“We acknowledge the disruption to family and commercial life this causes and thank customers across the country who remain without power for their patience as our crews work to safely restore power. ”
Customers are advised to sign up for our “Keep me Notified” service for power outages. on www.PowerCheck.ie to receive status updates directly.
ESB crew from the south of the country and Dublin are working across worse impacted partsDavid Young/PA WireCustomers are advised to check the website for updatesGetty Images - Getty
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on When Does American Idol Come Back? All About the Show’s 2025 Season — Including Which Alum Is Returning as a Judge!
American idol He returns just in time for spring, and Season 23 will mark home for the latest Judge of ...
