Latest news with #publicspaces
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
New EHRC guidance criticised by trans rights campaigners
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is set to publish new statutory guidance banning transgender women from single-sex public spaces. This guidance is a response to the UK Supreme Court 's ruling that trans women are not legally women under the Equality Act. The new rules will reportedly apply to a wide range of public service providers, including schools, hospitals, shops, and prisons. Trans rights campaigners have heavily criticised the EHRC 's approach, deeming it discriminatory and launching legal challenges against the guidance. The EHRC stated the code is not yet finalised but will remain consistent with the Supreme Court's ruling, noting they used AI to help analyse over 50,000 consultation responses.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Digested week: Allotment folly, the trolley problem and gen Z bedtimes
At last! Someone is doing something about the scourge of – *checks notes* – allotments. Wait, what? Oh. Angela Rayner has been criticised for rules allowing councils to sell off allotments to raise money to meet day-to-day expenditures. This – if you will forgive the lapse into technical jargon for a moment – is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I feel quite strongly about this because there were (and still at the time of writing are) allotments at the end of my parents' road and they were how my dad first introduced me, in his customarily gentle way, to politics at the age of four or five. Who owned all the little gardens, I asked. The council did, he said, but it let people – often those who didn't have gardens of their own – rent them pretty cheaply and they could grow whatever they wanted. Then when they got bored or moved away, another person had a turn. This seemed to me exemplary sharing, of exactly the kind preached at this new thing I was trying out called primary school. I approved. I still approve. Allotments are basically libraries for outdoor people. And, like libraries, if you sell them off, they won't come back. Do you know how far away we exist now from a time and culture that would re-establish such grace notes to national life? Further than we've ever been. So if I were the deputy leader of a party supposedly (I think I read this somewhere) on the side of ordinary people – people without gardens, you might loosely say – do you know what I would do? Almost anything but sell their land from under them. You know the trolley problem? Not the supermarket one, the philosophical one; a runaway train is heading for five people tied to a railway track, if you pull a lever you divert it to a track on which only one person will be killed – do you pull the lever? You do? OK. What if the single person was a brilliant surgeon and the five were murderers? Or, there are five people's lives who could be saved by killing another and distributing his organs among them. Do you do that? Why not? And so on. Now it's a video game. How? How? Ever since I first heard it, the trolley problem has been one of the things that can keep me up at night. It's horrible. It's genius. It's appalling. It gets under your brain skin and never leaves. How people can want to see it in 3D and play through it in near-infinite varieties I simply cannot imagine. Do they have nerves of steel? Were people right to condemn video games – are they cauterising emotions with every frame? And above all – should I play? Should I find out the answer to the question that has haunted me these 40 years and more – who would I choose to kill? One way or another, it's decision time. I really am beginning to warm to the young, you know. They have invented lots of useful words – 'ghosting', 'flex', 'simp' are just some of those I particularly enjoy, in the privacy of my own mind – they hardly go clubbing or drinking any more and they operate silent book clubs (you go and read together, don't discuss the book, then leave. Perfect). And now, it turns out, they go to bed at, on average, 9pm. The ideal time. Especially, I suppose, if you're no longer clubbing or drinking because the world is full of simps busy ghosting you or mindlessly flexing. You can get home from book club, have a small, doubtless well-balanced meal and be tucked up for nine hours – depending on how quickly you can dispense with the trolley problem – of the dreamless shortly thereafter. Where were you all when I needed you, 1994 to 2004ish? Not yet born? Ah, OK. OK. Victoria Wood once said of the proliferation of diet fads, and assertions that things like dark chocolate can be good for you, that she hoped that if she stuck around long enough someone would put in a good word for wine gums. Alas, she is no longer with us and we still wait in vain to hear about newly discovered antioxidants in Maynards' finest. But I can offer my own small equivalent: I have stuck around long enough to hear potatoes definitively declared healthy. Researchers from Harvard and Cambridge universities studied the development, or not, of diabetes in 205,000 people over four decades and have determined that spud ingestion does not cause it. Unless it's chips. They're still bad. You, literally, can't have everything. They are the wine gums of potatoes, apparently. But stick around long enough (by eating mash! Hurrah!) and who knows what might be around the corner. We are halfway through the school summer holidays. Are we? Aren't we? Tell me we are. I've lost all track of time, like a soldier lost in the jungle. This is, after all, parents' annual 'Nam. I thought it would get easier once the child no longer needed constant supervision and entertainment. Instead, it's worse. I know he's upstairs on his computer and phone any time I am not actively engaging with him, being exposed to all sorts. I'm told the trolley problem game is very much the least of it out there on the internetz. Leaving a child to his own devices is now a literal and very bad thing. I do my best. When I'm not working I drag him out on walks, I make him bake things, help with chores, all of that. I even offer to play board games with him. Board games! Occasionally he will agree to a round of poker or to give me his thoughts on what phone I should buy next, if I were ever to contemplate buying a phone again (he can sell this one at an antiques market when I die). But I can't do it all the time and the guilt is pervasive and stultifying. I can't bribe him to see friends because he has half my DNA and won't. I can't bribe him to read, because he has the wrong half of my DNA and won't. So on we go, me alternating working and begging, him serene in his fetid demimonde of online horrors. Roll on September, and salvation.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Johannesburg Property Company retreats amid backlash over parks cash grab
The Johannesburg Property Company's (JPC) attempts to 'alienate' historic properties, including public spaces for sale or lease, seem to be coming unstuck. Concern erupted among Johannesburg residents after a council agenda in late June suggested that several public open spaces – including Marks Park and surrounding greenbelt areas – could be up for sale or re-leasing agreements. Daily Maverick can also report that the Bryanston Sports Club has been on JPC's radar screen, but it is undermining its attempts to monetise such assets through its blundering approach. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
28-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tanmeyah leads the Development of El Zaharaa Square in Al Maadi as part of its ESG commitment
Cairo, Tanmeyah, a subsidiary of EFG Holding, and a leading provider of innovative and integrated financial solutions for small business owners and entrepreneurs has spearheaded the development of El Zaharaa Square, a major public space located at the intersection of Al Zahraa Street and El Khamseen Street in Al Maadi, in a move that underscores its steadfast commitment to community development and environmental sustainability. This initiative is a key milestone in Tanmeyah's broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, reflecting the company's long-term vision to enhance public spaces and improve quality of life for the communities it serves. The project was executed in close coordination with several key stakeholders, including the Cairo Governorate, the Office of the Deputy Governor for South Cairo, the Al Basateen and Al Maadi District Authorities, the National Organization for Urban Harmony and the Cleaning and Landscaping Authority. It was undertaken under the esteemed patronage of the Financial Regulatory Authority. This collaboration builds on Tanmeyah's ongoing partnerships with local authorities, having previously joined forces with the Al Basateen District and the National Organization for Urban Harmony in December 2024 to redevelop Palestine Square and Ahmed Abd El-Azeem Street in Al Maadi—further underscoring the company's sustained commitment to enhancing public spaces and fostering community development in the areas it operates. Spanning 8,600 square meters, El Zaharaa Square is one of the largest public squares in Greater Cairo. Its selection for this development project was a strategic one—its central location in Al Maadi, where Tanmeyah is headquartered, makes it a focal point for positive urban transformation. Jinu Johnson, CEO and Managing Director of Tanmeyah, commented: 'This initiative is a testament to our deep-rooted belief that businesses thrive when communities flourish. By enhancing El Zaharaa Square, we're not just improving infrastructure—we're helping create a more vibrant, inclusive, and livable urban space for everyone. It's a meaningful step in our ongoing journey toward sustainability and shared growth.' This development marks another chapter in Tanmeyah's ongoing efforts to integrate sustainability into its operations while giving back to the community through impactful, long-lasting initiatives. Abou t Tanmeyah Tanmeyah is one of Egypt's leading providers of innovative and integrated financial solutions for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Founded in 2009 and acquired by EFG Holding in 2016, Tanmeyah offers a comprehensive range of products and services specifically designed to empower entrepreneurs in underserved areas and communities across Egypt. These include financing solutions, insurance services, and digital payment tools, delivered through its extensive branch network and digital platforms, and in collaboration with strategic partners—enabling clients to grow and manage their businesses effectively. This is rooted in the company's role in supporting the local economy, combating poverty, raising financial literacy, and elevating the well-being of underserved communities. Through ongoing digital transformation and the promotion of cashless transactions, Tanmeyah also contributes to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing financial inclusion. Since its inception, Tanmeyah has issued nearly 3 million financing facilities for projects of various sizes and sectors. The company currently operates over 354 branches across 25 Egyptian governorates, serving more than 50,000 new clients each month, and supported by a near of 6,000 employees.
CNA
23-07-2025
- General
- CNA
From standalone sites to mall tenants: Is this the future of Singapore's libraries?
SINGAPORE: On a weekday morning at the Ang Mo Kio library, seats in the two-storey building are half-filled. Elderly patrons scroll on their phones, young adults work on laptops and others read quietly or nap in the cool air-conditioning. Despite the whir of nearby construction outside, calm prevails in the library. 'Here is very quiet, the ambience is very good,' said retiree Seak Teik Song, 72, who visits the library to borrow books, read e-newspapers or use the computer. 'When it goes to AMK Hub, it might not be so,' he added, comparing it to the Serangoon library at Nex shopping mall, which he also visits regularly. 'It becomes like a marketplace.' The Ang Mo Kio library will move to the nearby AMK Hub in 2026, the National Library Board (NLB) said on Jul 1. The current site the library stands on, along Avenue 6, is earmarked for a healthcare facility. The library is one of several standalone libraries that will be relocated to shopping malls or integrated complexes in the coming years. The Geylang East library will shift to Tanjong Katong Complex in 2030 and the Toa Payoh library will become part of a new integrated development expected to be completed the same year. Similarly, Jurong Regional Library is slated to move to an integrated transport hub in 2028. Currently, 13 of NLB's 28 public libraries are in malls, while a handful are housed in integrated complexes such as community centres. Once the relocations are complete, the conserved Queenstown library and the Bishan library will remain among the few standalone libraries in Singapore. IMPROVED ACCESS, HIGHER FOOTFALL In response to CNA's queries, NLB said library sites are selected in reference to the Urban Redevelopment Authority's land use plans, with easy access to MRT stations and bus interchanges. "By siting our libraries at convenient locations, at least 80 per cent of the resident population stays within 15 minutes (by public transport) of a public library. This allows Singapore residents to visit their favourite libraries 'at their doorstep'," an NLB spokesperson said. MP Tin Pei Ling, who appealed to NLB to reconsider its decision to relocate the Geylang East library, said the agency cited significantly higher visitorship for libraries located in malls. "This is because of the synergy with other activities in a shopping mall," said the Marine Parade-Braddell Heights MP in a Facebook post on Jul 2. "Therefore ... NLB's strategy is to move standalone libraries to shopping malls when the opportunities come about." Recently, it was announced that the Geylang East Public Library will be relocated to the Tanjong Katong Complex in 2030.... Posted by Tin Pei Ling 陈佩玲 on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 Experts generally agree that mall locations make libraries more accessible. Associate Professor of Sociology Daniel Goh from the National University of Singapore (NUS) said malls have become the go-to venue for families to do everything in one place. 'I see it as actually just keeping up with the times,' he said, adding that the function of a library – as a central space where people gather and read – has not changed. Instead, what has changed is our urban spaces, with the concept of a 'mall' shifting from traditional open-air town centres to the shopping centres we know today, he said. Associate Professor Loh Chin Ee, who researches literacy and equity at the National Institute of Education, said that while avid readers will still seek out libraries, mall locations can attract casual visitors who may develop reading habits. 'Maybe they are looking for a place to chill with their friends, but they might pick up books in the process,' she said. 'So in a sense, it is a strategy that will increase the number of library users.' Former president of the Library Association of Singapore Sadie-Jane Huff called the shift a "strategic pivot" to stay relevant amid rising digital consumption. In an era of e-books and shorter attention spans, having the convenience of a library in a mall reminds people that there are physical books to read. 'With each generation, you need to be relevant in different ways,' said Dr Huff. However, she acknowledged it is uncertain whether greater footfall will translate to higher borrowing rates. NLB said the Woodlands and Punggol libraries – both located in integrated hubs – were the most visited in 2024, drawing 1.38 million and 1.31 million visitors respectively. Libraries situated in shopping malls attract an average of over 700,000 visitors annually, the agency added. It did not provide data on changes in visitorship for standalone libraries that were relocated to malls. SYMBOLIC POWER OF LIBRARIES Beyond accessibility, practical considerations such as cost and land use are key factors. NLB said it evaluates several criteria before deciding whether to revamp a library in place or relocate it, such as the library's age and time since its last major renovation. For Geylang East library, Ms Tin said a revamp was considered but deemed cost-ineffective due to ageing infrastructure. Associate Professor Lee Kah-Wee from NUS' Department of Architecture described the relocations as part of the 'Singapore dilemma' – the ongoing need to optimise land use while preserving non-commercial institutions. 'It is fair to say that when a library moves into a mall, an economic calculation has taken place. (The) value released from vacating the original site exceeds the cost of renting a space in the mall,' he said. Still, concerns linger about what is lost in the shift. A standalone library has symbolic weight that a space in a mall cannot replicate, said Assoc Prof Lee. "It represents a commitment to certain values about public education and knowledge that trumps raw economic calculations.' Writer and literary critic Gwee Li Sui said libraries in integrated complexes feel 'less extreme' as they in relatively community-facing spaces, unlike malls, which are 'fundamentally commercial'. 'What such libraries gain in terms of footfall is easily offset by what they lose in terms of the values of a traditional library experience,' he said. Dr Gwee pointed out that mall libraries draw visitors whose primary interest may not be books. Even those who come specifically to read or study can become distracted or 'piggyback' their visit with errands, and consequently spend less time in the library. 'People are attached to standalone libraries because they feel distinctive, rooted and owned – whereas mall spaces are transient,' he said. Lawyer Shawn Ting, who frequents the Geylang East library with his three-year-old, said he is opposed to its relocation to Tanjong Katong Complex, about 1.3km away. 'To me, it is like a national treasure,' he said. 'You cannot find another library in Singapore that is like this.' FINDING A BALANCE Assistant Professor George Wong from Singapore Management University said standalone libraries evoke heritage and nostalgia for many. He linked current sentiment to memories of the former National Library at Stamford Road, which was demolished in 2004. 'Something that is very signature in the neighbourhood is being sort of disrupted, and people feel that disruption is something to be sad about,' said the sociology professor. The relocation of libraries to a mall may also feel like an 'over-commercialisation' of leisure, he added. Ultimately, the question is not whether standalone or mall libraries are superior, but how libraries can be designed to serve communities effectively, said Asst Prof Wong. NIE's Assoc Prof Loh agreed, emphasising the need for balance. 'It's a good strategy to have these different kinds of libraries, but I hope that there will be a balance between the different libraries, so that you can always find a space for yourself depending on what kind of user you are,' she said.
