Latest news with #Armco
Borneo Post
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Borneo Post
JKR director: Sarawak must strengthen stormwater systems due to unpredictable weather
Cassidy (right) speaks to reporters after delivering his keynote address at the Seminar on Improving Flood Control in Stormwater Systems for Sarawak: Current Status, Challenges and Capabilities 2025 at a hotel in Kuching today. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (July 8): With climate change causing increasingly unpredictable weather, Sarawak's stormwater management systems must keep improving to meet emerging challenges, said Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak director Dr Cassidy Morris. 'Rain can occur at any time, even during dry seasons. That's why we're constantly dealing with challenges, but we're doing our best to overcome them,' he told reporters after delivering his keynote address at the 'Seminar on Improving Flood Control in Stormwater Systems for Sarawak: Current Status, Challenges and Capabilities 2025' at a hotel here today. He noted that while stormwater management in the state has improved over the years, ongoing upgrades are still needed, particularly in flood-prone areas like Serian. 'At the moment, there are no major issues. However, during heavy rainfall, we do face some problems in the Serian area. We've already had discussions with the Works Ministry to address this,' he added. On culvert infrastructure, Cassidy said some rural roads still use older Armco culverts, though many have been replaced under JKR's phased upgrade approach. When asked to elaborate on the types of culverts being replaced and how the process is being carried out across Sarawak, he said the transition is being carried out progressively, depending on road upgrade needs. 'We still have some culverts known as Armco culverts. These are mostly found on access roads in rural areas. 'As we upgrade roads, we also assess whether those culverts need to be replaced,' he explained. Although detailed data is not yet available, he assured that replacement works are ongoing and will eventually be completed. 'The Armco culverts can be replaced with a variety of other culvert types, such as box culverts and other designs available on the market. We're very open to exploring various innovative solutions,' he said. He stressed that raising awareness and using appropriate methods, such as culverts and other water control systems, are key to reducing the risk of flooding and stagnant water in both roads and residential areas. 'Stormwater management is very important because we want to avoid issues such as flooding or stagnant water on roads and in residential areas. 'That's why, during my keynote earlier, I emphasised the importance of managing stormwater through the use of culverts and other available methods. 'The goal is to raise awareness about how crucial stormwater management is,' he added.
Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Familiar surface and surroundings just what I need to hit back in Portugal, says Josh McErlean
McErlean makes his fifth start in a M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 this week alongside Eoin Treacy, keen to bounce back from last month's disappointment on Rally Islas Canarias. The pair were forced to retire on the last day after an incorrect pace note meant McErlean carried too much speed into a tightening right-hander, hit an Armco barrier and bent the rear suspension. Afterwards, Team Principal Richard Millener offered a robust defence of his new-for-2025 signing, saying the 25-year-old fully deserved his opportunity to compete at the top level. At one of his favourite events, and on his preferred surface, McErlean is keen to repay that unanimous vote of public confidence with a solid finish on his fifth visit to Rally de Portugal. 'It feels incredible to be heading back to Rally Portugal,' he said. 'This rally means a lot to me. We had an amazing result here last year, and I have been itching to return event since. 'This time, doing it in a Rally1 Puma just makes it even more exciting. It also marks the beginning of the gravel season — and there is nowhere better to kick it off than in Portugal.' In readiness for the 24 stages and 215 miles that lie in store, McErlean completed a pre-event test last week with the British squad on a series of roads similar to the sandy, clay-based surface that is renowned for becoming more rocky and rutted on the second pass. 'Whilst I have done a few events over the years in Portugal, they are all in stark contrast to travelling over the stages in a Rally1 Puma,' he said. 'Our expectations remain realistic. 'We are still learning with every kilometre, but it is safe to say I have been looking forward to this one. The fans, the atmosphere, the roads — everything about Portugal is just mega.' M-Sport Ford will run a third car in Portugal, with McErlean's regular driving mate Gregoire Munster being joined by Latvian prospect Martins Sesks for the second of his six outings this year.
Irish Examiner
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: Josh McErlean crash puts end to top 10 finish on Rally Islas Canarias
Josh McErlean's bid for a top ten finish on Rally Islas Canarias, round four of the World Rally Championship ended on the first stage of the final leg when he crashed his Ford Puma Rally1 against an Armco barrier. The event belonged to Finland's Kalle Rovanpera and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1), who rediscovered their form and with fifteen stage wins (from eighteen stages) have moved from sixth in the series to second - behind their team mates and series leaders Welsh ace Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin. The Toyota Gazoo Racing Team locked out the top four places with Sebastien Ogier finishing 53.5s behind Rovanpera and Japan's Takamoto Katsuta and his Northern Ireland co-driver Aaron Johnson completing the top quartet. Saturday's leg saw Rovanpera tighten his grip on the rally with another masterful display as he continued to impose his authority that yielded six fastest times from the seven stages with a lead of 45.2s in a Toyota GR Yaris top four. Only series leader Elfyn Evans prevented Rovanpera from completing a clean sweep of top stage times over two days when he was best on the super special inside the Gran Canaria Arena. Sebastien Ogier consolidated second spot with Evans third. As the day concluded with Toyota holding the top five positions, Finland's Sami Pajari understeered into a wooden barrier on a left hander on the penultimate stage and damaged the front right wing of his Yaris. Katsuta subsequently inherited fourth to complete a Toyota top quartet. Rally leader Rovanpera said, "It's going really well, we made some really small changes to the car this afternoon and I felt even better than in the morning, so that was nice." Despite stalling on the final stage of the day, Adrien Fourmaux in fifth was best of the Hyundai outfit after both Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak continued to struggle with set-up issues. Gregoire Munster lost over three minutes when his Ford Puma Rally1 ran wide and beached itself and was eventually pushed back on the road by several spectators and combined with Pajari's retirement, saw McErlean/Treacy move into 10th. Following the morning opener McErlean said, "The surface was changing quite a lot there. Just tried to trust the grip and keep on learning. We had one surprise against an Armco." Later and with the car having difficulty turning-in, they disconnected the front anti-toll bar to improve the handling. But, it all went wrong after just 4.9km of the opening stage of the final leg when their Ford Puma Rally1 crashed into the Armco barrier. Apologising for his mistake, he said, "It's been difficult from the start, we began to make small progress over the three days with the whole package. It's a big shame what happened today, a little too-ambitious pacenote meant we carried too much speed and ran wide into an Armco. We have learnt a lot about the car and my own driving this weekend. I look forward to getting back on the gravel now and into more familiar territory, everything should come a little more naturally and we can push on from here.' Rovanpera took the maximum 35 points from the event. "It's quite amazing, it has not been the best start of the season, but we are definitely, at least in these kinds of conditions, we are back now. The cars were so fast. I enjoyed it - a super result for the whole team.' Evans' consistency gave him his fourth podium position in as many events. Hyundai struggled through the entire event with handling issues, apparently related to differential settings with Adrien Fourmaux their top finisher in fifth place - two minutes and 30s. behind Rovanpera. Tanak's car required an engine change on Saturday night. The Wexford/Waterford crew of Eamonn Boland/MJ Morrissey (Ford Fiesta Rally2) were 22nd in the RC2 category. Elsewhere. Wicklow's Max Hart (Hyundai Elantra N TCR) took a twelfth and seventh place finish in the two races of the TCR Europe Series with Italian outfit Target Competition at the opening round in Portimao. Rally Islas Canarias (Round 4, World Rally Championship) Gran Canaria: 1. K. Rovanpera/J. Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 2h 54m 39.9s; 2. S. Ogier/V. Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+53.5s; 3. E. Evans/S. Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+1m 17.1s; 4. T Katsuta/A. Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris RTally1)+1m 43.9s; 5. A. Fourmaux/A. Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)+2m 31.0s; 6. O. Tanak/M Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally)+3m. 11.4s; 7. T Neuville/M. Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)+3m. 40.7s; 8. Y. Rossel/A. Dunand (Citroen C3 Rally2)+7m. 10.7s; 9. A. Cachon/B. Rozada (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+7m. 40.2s; N. Gryazin/K. Aleksandrov (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+7m. 58.4s.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk's DOGE is coming for JD Vance's hometown
The Trump administration's planned cuts have hit close to home for Vice President JD Vance. A $500 million grant for steel giant Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) to help the company upgrade its aging blast furnaces in Middletown, Ohio will not go forward, CNN reports. Middletown is the hometown of the vice-president and featured prominently in his best-selling memoir, 'Hillbilly Elegy.' The new furnaces, which run on climate-friendly hydrogen, natural gas, and electricity instead of coal, would have helped revitalize the aging steel facility. The grant was awarded by the Biden administration. The Middletown Works was founded in 1899 as the American Rolling Mill Company and became AK Steel in the 1990s when a Japanese firm, Kawakasi Steel, bought it. USA steel maker Cleveland Cliffs purchased AK Steel in 2020. Steel companies Armco and AK Steel both played prominently in Vance's book. In it, he wrote: For my grandparents, Armco was an economic savior — the engine that brought them from the hills of Kentucky into America's middle class. My grandfather loved the company and knew every make and model of car built from Armco steel. The hulking and sprawling steel mill dominates the small city of 50,000 situated between Dayton and Cincinnati. It employs over 2000 workers. 'If they decide not to go through with it, that's 170 jobs we won't be getting in the next five years,' Shawn Coffey, president of the union representing workers at the mill, told CNN (WBD): 'Does it change the outlook of Middletown works? It depends on what the future holds. We'll regroup and continue to make steel in Middletown the best we can.' For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
