Latest news with #localdevelopment
CNA
04-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Singapore Premier League's move to raise foreign player quota sparks concerns in football fraternity
SINGAPORE: A move to increase the number of foreign players in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) has led to concerns that it will hamper the development of local players. Observers told CNA that it may also benefit richer clubs more than others, potentially widening the gulf between them. 'Just imagine the message that you're sending out to all the local boys who want to play, want to be a professional footballer, for example,' said SPL match commentator A Shasi Kumar, a former pro footballer and head coach. 'Would you let your son or daughter play when, at the end of the day, you only have these number of (local) players? So yeah, that's a problem.' The move was part of a slew of changes to the country's professional football league that were announced on Wednesday (Jul 2) by the Football Association of Singapore. Clubs will be able to field up to seven foreigners per match, up from six. This marks the greatest number of foreign players allowed in the SPL since the league was launched in 1996. The total prize money will also more than double to S$600,000 (US$470,000), while a new reserve league – SPL2 – to develop young players will be introduced. The SPL will also become an eight-team competition after Brunei DPMM FC withdrew from the league in May. The changes, which will take effect in the new season beginning Aug 16, are aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the league. FEWER KEY POSITIONS FOR LOCAL PLAYERS Pundits told CNA that while the move may get local players fighting harder for their spot in the first team and get selected for the national squad, it will also lower their opportunities to get quality game time. Football consultant Richard Harcus said that while SPL's move is meant to make the league better, it means fewer Singaporean homegrown players will have key positions in their teams. 'Historically, when you look at football tactics across any country, when you have (foreign) players that are coming into a team, they tend to play in key positions,' noted the former head of international operations at Balestier Khalsa FC. 'So your star striker tends to be a foreigner; your star central defender tends to be a foreigner; your star midfielder tends to be a foreigner.' Harcus said his concern in the long term would be how it affects the national team. 'Players will have less opportunities to play in teams with more foreigners, and less opportunities to play in those key positions,' added the CEO of Harcus Consultancy Group. 'But time will tell. Maybe it's time for one of the great Singaporean players to step up.' Shasi said that young footballers in Singapore have already been 'falling by the wayside', given the large gap between the under-21 and the senior teams. He stressed that the messaging to players must be right but is now 'iffy', referring to youths coming up in the National Development Centre as well as national project Unleash the Roar. Aimed at raising standards of local football across all levels, the project also hopes to create a structured development system that can fuel the dreams of young players. 'Seven foreign players – I don't think I get that. I rather have it kept at four, maybe, then we go from there, and then you see more local players coming up, because I don't think the message is right at the moment,' Shasi added. Ex-pro footballer and SPL match commentator Rhysh Roshan Rai said it will be good for the league if clubs can bring in good foreign players, but a concern is a lack of game time for local players. 'It's not just about minutes played. What's important is also the quality of minutes played, in that sense,' he pointed out. MONEY TALKS Observers also said the move to include more foreign players will more likely benefit clubs that have greater financial might in signing better players. For example, reigning champions Lion City Sailors are bankrolled by Forrest Li, the billionaire founder of tech giant Sea. He was also elected as FAS' new president in April. Rai said Lion City Sailors and Tampines Rovers are clubs that could benefit from the new ruling in continental competitions. 'But, locally, in the SPL, it's going to be interesting to see how many of the other clubs out there are actually going to be able to afford quality foreign signings that will actually lift the overall standard of the league,' he added. Shasi said he believes privatisation is the only way that other SPL teams can catch up with the Lion City Sailors. 'This is nothing against Lion City Sailors. I think, fair play if they have the money. Go ahead. Go spend it, go win it, because that's how it is supposed to be, because it's a professional league. So be it,' he added. 'But I think other clubs are just playing catch-up.' Given his long-time involvement in the league, Shasi said he hopes to see more players 'push a little further' and break into their club's first team. 'They've only got four places – or three outfield places – to fight for in their own club, so I want to see these players coming up as someone who can play for Singapore,' he added.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Changes to Stroud High Street property among plans lodged
A NUMBER of planning applications have been received by Stroud District Council. The following planning applications have been received. Copies can be viewed at Stroud District Council's offices at Ebley Mill, Ebley Wharf, Stroud, GL5 4UB during office hours. The following planning applications have been received. Copies can be viewed at Stroud District Council's offices at Ebley Mill, Ebley Wharf, Stroud, GL5 4UB during office hours. Applications can also be viewed on the Council's website at Key: 1 – Departure from Local Plan; 2 – Affect a Public Right of Way; 3 – Within 10m of relevant railway land; 4 – EIA development with ES; 5 – Listed Building; 6 – Vary or discharge conditions LBC (exterior works); 7 – Affect the setting of a Listed Building, affect the character or appearance of a Conservation Area; 8 – Major Development (Article 2, DMPO); S.25/0620/FUL, Mr Windsor, 49 High Street, Change of use office (Class E) to residential (Class C3) with the addition of rooflights (7). S.25/0614/LBC, Mr Calvert, The Chestnuts, Bisley Old Road, Alterations to fenestration, internal alterations, replacement of dilapidated roofs, rebuild chimney, replacement of greenhouse, replacement of render with lime mortar (5,7). Any representations in respect of the above applications should be made in writing to the above address, via or planning@ no later than 25.06.2025
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Northamptons residents worry about 'voting blind' in referendum
Residents have raised concerns about "voting blind" in an upcoming referendum that could shape the future of their area's local in Northampton's on the Semilong and Trinity area have got the chance to cast a vote in whether they want West Northamptonshire Council to use their neighbourhood plan when assessing planning John Atkinson said he was worried people would not vote on the plan as "they have no idea what they are voting on".Neighbourhood plans are documents which set out the blueprint and decide how land should be used in the future - be it for housing, business use or green space. The plan has been under development since 2017, when it was first designated by the now-defunct Northampton Borough Council, which has been replaced by the West Northants unitary council, which Reform UK won control of last on the neighbourhood plan took place initially in 2020 and the council said it received feedback from 118 plan document said that by 2038 Semilong and Trinity "will be a distinctive, vibrant neighbourhood which is making a significant contribution to the prosperity and diversity of Northampton".It also delves into the delivery of new housing and says it will support applications where residential buildings "do not jeopardise the function of the area as a place of work, leisure and shopping". Feedback from the community also demonstrated a preference for starter homes and private housing and low support for additional rented houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). Mr Atkinson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he thought the plan looked great "but I'm guessing most people who got the polling card think 'what on earth's that?What's this plan? Bin it'. "My view is that each resident should have received a copy of the plan, to help them decide how to vote."However, a West Northamptonshire Council spokesperson said: "The Semilong and Trinity Neighbourhood Plan has been developed by Northampton Town Council and local community leaders over several years with public consultation throughout."We understand some residents were unaware of the plan. "While poll cards don't include the full document, information has been shared via websites, public consultations, and local venues."Farzana Aldridge, a newly elected Labour councillor to the Kingsley and Semilong ward, said she would hold meetings with residents to talk through the added: "Residents did contact me regarding the Neighbourhood Plan and expressed their concerns about their insufficient information." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Over 6,000 projects completed in Upper Egypt with $642mln investment: minister
Egypt - Manal Awad, Egypt's Minister of Local Development, met with a World Bank delegation to assess progress in the Upper Egypt Local Development Programme and explore ways to strengthen the region's business environment and private sector engagement. The delegation included Elin Olafsen, Senior Private Sector Specialist, and Zeeshan Karim, Senior Urban Specialist, along with other World Bank representatives. Also in attendance were Hisham El-Helbawy, the Minister's Assistant for National Projects and Director of the Upper Egypt Programme, and members of the programme's coordination office. Awad highlighted the longstanding partnership with the World Bank since the programme's launch in 2018, expressing gratitude for the Bank's continued support, which has led to substantial achievements across key governorates. She described the initiative as a flagship model of development cooperation between Egypt and the World Bank. To date, the programme has implemented more than 6,000 projects with total investments exceeding EGP 32bn, directly improving infrastructure and public services for approximately 8.2 million citizens in Sohag, Qena, Minya, and Assiut. Key focus areas include roads, sanitation, and electricity, with 40% of investments directed toward economic development and institutional capacity-building at the local and technological levels. Awad noted that the programme provides a scalable model for development across other governorates. The initiative has also advanced Egypt's decentralisation agenda and significantly increased private sector participation, benefiting over 72,000 companies. Surveys show that around 85% of business owners reported satisfaction with the programme's support—an encouraging sign for the government's wider 2024–2027 national reform plan. El-Helbawy provided updates on the World Bank delegation's recent field activities, including site visits in the four governorates, consultations with governors, and meetings with ministry officials. Discussions focused on enhancing infrastructure in industrial zones and supporting economic clusters in Qena and Sohag. He also pointed to tangible improvements in industrial zone management, service delivery, private sector engagement, and local revenue generation. Elin Olafsen praised the programme's role in boosting regional competitiveness, highlighting her visits to the medicinal and aromatic plants cluster in Qena and the industrial zone in Qeft. She commended the strong coordination between the Ministry of Local Development and the Industrial Development Authority in fostering growth in Upper Egypt's industrial sector. Olafsen reaffirmed the World Bank's commitment to supporting Egypt's efforts to enhance the business climate, digitise local services, and replicate successful models—particularly the economic cluster approach—in other governorates. The Bank's representatives expressed strong support for the cluster-based strategy, noting that 12 economic clusters have already been implemented, with most nearing completion. Full rollout is anticipated by October 2025. Zeeshan Karim described the Upper Egypt programme as one of the World Bank's most impactful initiatives in Egypt. She highlighted its achievements in local governance, job creation, and economic development, and reiterated the Bank's dedication to supporting Egypt's broader goals of decentralisation and sustainable urban and economic growth. © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
