Latest news with #SWF
Edinburgh Reporter
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
SWF Challenge for youth teams to recreate best moments from Euro 25
Girls across Scotland are being encouraged to post videos where they recreate their favourite moments from the European Championship, be that goal, celebration or incident. Participants have until Monday 28th to post their video on social media with the hashtag #SWFSummerChallenge and naming their club and age bracket, which will enable girls to recreate scenes from the final if they wish! SWF will then draw the winners, with a U16s or U18s team winning a bag of size 5 balls and an U14s teams winning a bag of size 4 balls. SWF CEO Aileen Cambell said: 'International tournaments always provide loads of drama and inspiration for girls across the country, even when Scotland haven't made it. SWF are delighted to offer up two bags of balls from our ball partners RJM Sports and uhlsport UK to encourage some of our young stars to share that excitement. All they need to do is recreate their favourite moments and share the video on social media with the #SWFSummerChallenge hashtag to enter the draw. I can't wait to see what creativity emerges from our talented teams!' The competition is being run as part of SWF's partnership with RJM Sports and uhlsport as official ball partners. Like this: Like Related
CTV News
09-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
New Sask. Wildlife Federation program aims to reduce high gopher population
WATCH: Saskatchewan farmers have been dealing with a number of conditions this growing season, including gophers. Mick Favel reports. The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) is now offering support to landowners dealing with a high number of gophers. Every year, gophers are a significant cause of crop loss and land degradation. Damage is happening at a heightened level in 2025. Darrell Crabbe is the executive director of the SWF. He said the foundation has received hundreds of calls from people being impacted, as well as from those looking to help. 'The amount of crop damaged due to gophers is in the millions of dollars every year,' said Crabbe. The SWF has 122 branches across the province and plans to work with landowners who contact the federation. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) will be playing a part by also offering practical assistance. Wade Probe is a landowner south of Regina. A section of his land is being overrun by gophers and is in need of a solution. 'They can cause destruction to property inside our buildings. They tear apart bags of seed. I'm scared to drive my vehicle over some of the property,' said Probe. The SWF hopes landowners call to notify where their property is in case gophers are spotted nearby. According to Crabbe, the new program will be free and will continue to be available for years to come. All moves to get the gophers under control are planned to be done in a responsible and ethical manner.
Edinburgh Reporter
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Grassroots women's game expands again as development leagues join four-division SWFL
In the 2024/25 season, the emergence of ten new teams saw 49 teams contest Scotland's fifth tier of women's football. Further growth for the new season has required further structural development. With more girls continuing to play football as they age out of the youth game and with increasing competition from ambitious clubs to develop and progress up the pyramid, the new season will see club development teams now compete in East and West divisions, allowing the Scottish Women's Football League to return to four regional North, South, East and West divisions of 11 or 12 teams. Affiliation for the reserve leagues closes on Friday, and the new development divisions will kick off league games in January, allowing girls who have just aged out of 18s to join. The new growth comes just two full seasons after the leagues were expanded from three to four and moved into the Scottish Women's Football pyramid, with nine teams already having been promoted to the national leagues since. Full promotion and relegation will continue this season between the Barclays Scottish Women's League One and the regional leagues via end-of-season play-offs. Commenting ahead of the new season, SWF operations and competitions manager Kirsty Fowler said: 'The growth in women's grassroots football is astonishing, as once again new teams have emerged to provide new opportunities for women and girls across Scotland to be involved in structured, competitive football. 'As these new teams emerge with new talent, new ambitions and new stories rooted in their communities, it's easy to forget that it has been only a few short years since the current SWFL was three leagues with no progression to national football. 'We've seen that with nine teams promoted to the national leagues in just three years, and with no team folding mid-season for the first time in ages, that SWF's development of the national pyramid is ensuring sustainable growth. 'And with more girls continuing to play as they age out of our youth game, it is also vital that we provide a platform for those clubs with development teams to ensure these girls have a place where they can continue to learn and progress.' New teams for 2025/26 in SWFL North include Buckie Ladies, who move into the pyramid from the ScottishPower Highlands and Islands League, Dundee West, who were relegated from Barclays League One, and Jeanfield Swifts, who have launched their own senior women's team. New teams for 2025/26 in SWFL East include Loanhead Miners, Thornton Hibs and HFC Community Club. The teams will begin the season playing ScottishPower Regional League Cup fixtures on 10 August. Based on feedback from clubs, each league is split into two sub-regional groups to minimise travel costs where possible. The top three in each group progress to the ScottishPower Regional League Cup knockout stage, with the remaining teams entering the ScottishPower Regional League Plate. League games will commence following the cup group stages on 28 September. At the season's conclusion, the four SWFL champions will meet in two play-offs for two spots in Barclays Scottish Women's League One. All fixtures will be published soon. League and league cup groups are in full below: SWFL 2025/26: SWFL North: Aberdeen City, Arbroath, Blairgowrie & Rattray, Buchan Ladies, Buckie Ladies, Dundee West, Dyce, Grampian, Huntly, Jeanfield Swifts, Ross County, Stonehaven SWFL East: Bayside, Danderhall Miners, Dunfermline Athletic, Edinburgh South, Edinburgh University, HFC Community, Loanhead Miners, Murieston United, Musselburgh Windsor, Penicuik Athletic, Thornton Hibs SWFL Central/West: Alloa Athletic, Bishopton, Carron Huskies, Central Girls, Cumbernauld Colts, Cumbernauld United, Drumchapel United, Dumbarton, Gleniffer Thistle, Linlithgow Rose, West Park United SWFL South: Annan Athletic, Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Benburb, Cumnock Juniors, Dalbeattie Star, Giffnock Soccer Centre, Gretna 2008, Harmony Row, Newton Stewart, St Anthony's, Stewarton United Like this: Like Related
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UAE now ranks third globally in sovereign wealth assets, behind only the US and China
The United Arab Emirates now holds the world's third-largest portfolio of sovereign wealth and public pension assets, according to the Global SWF 2025 mid-year report. With a combined total of $2.49 trillion (Dh9.17 trillion) in sovereign-owned investor (SOI) assets, the UAE stands just behind the United States ($12.12 trillion) and China ($3.36 trillion). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sovereign-owned investors include both sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and public pension funds, making this a key indicator of national investment capacity and global financial influence. Leading Entities and Sectors of Focus The UAE's ranking reflects the robust performance of a wide network of government-owned investment institutions. Major contributors include: Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) (ADIA) Mubadala Investment Company ADQ Investment Corporation of Dubai Other entities such as Emirates Investment Authority, Sharjah Asset Management, RAK Investment Authority, and Dubai World also play a role in growing the country's sovereign asset base. These institutions manage diversified portfolios across strategic global sectors, including: Energy and infrastructure Technology and logistics Clean energy, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology Sustainable and future-ready industries A Reflection of Long-Term Economic Planning The UAE's climb in the sovereign wealth rankings underscores the country's proactive fiscal planning and economic diversification efforts. As the nation continues its move toward a post-oil economy, sovereign wealth funds are playing a central role by: Increasing global capital market participation Securing strategic investment partnerships Expanding influence in emerging and sustainable sectors Other Global Leaders in Sovereign Assets Following the UAE, the report lists: Japan – $2.22 trillion Norway – $1.9 trillion Canada – $1.86 trillion Singapore – $1.59 trillion Australia – $1.53 trillion Saudi Arabia – $1.53 trillion South Korea – $1.17 trillion With its forward-looking investment strategy, the UAE is expected to remain a leading player in global investment trends and capital flow shaping for years to come.
Observer
25-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
OIA reinvents sovereign investing with home-grown impact and global reach
MUSCAT: The Oman Investment Authority (OIA) is emerging as one of the most strategically repositioned sovereign wealth funds in the Gulf, as it shifts from traditional asset accumulation toward a new mandate—creating tangible, long-term value both at home and abroad. While 2024 marked a record year in financial terms, OIA's most notable transformation lies not in profits, but in purpose. Global SWF analysis shows that Oman's sovereign wealth fund is now prioritising economic diversification, innovation, and private sector development over purely financial metrics. More than 61 per cent of OIA's assets are now invested inside the Sultanate of Oman—a rare statistic among global sovereign investors. This local-first strategy has turned OIA into a central engine of Oman's Vision 2040, a blueprint that aims to transition the economy away from hydrocarbons toward a more knowledge-based and inclusive model. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INVESTMENT The National Development Fund (NDF), OIA's domestic investment arm, deployed RO 2.1 billion ($5.5 billion) in 2024, exceeding its target. These funds are being channeled into infrastructure, industrial diversification, and energy transition—key priorities under Vision 2040. Among the most visible projects are the Duqm Refinery, which anchors the fast-growing SEZAD zone; solar energy plants in Manah, supporting renewable capacity; and new mining ventures in Lasil and Al Baydha, expected to tap into Oman's underdeveloped mineral wealth. OIA's domestic deployment strategy is not merely about state-building—it is also about crowding in private capital and raising governance standards. The authority has already divested from 19 assets since 2022, with three IPOs—Abraj Energy Services, OQ Gas Networks, and Pearl REIF—raising over $2.5 billion. A further 30 divestments are planned by 2029, in sectors such as logistics, aquaculture, and utilities. The October 2024 listing of 25 per cent of OQ Exploration & Production—Oman's largest IPO to date—signaled growing liquidity and maturity in the Muscat Stock Exchange. For OIA, this marked a turning point: moving from direct ownership toward enabling private sector participation and competition. FUTURE FUND OMAN: A DOMESTIC CATALYST Perhaps the most transformative initiative launched by OIA is Future Fund Oman, a RO 2 billion ($5.2 billion) platform launched in late 2023 to finance domestic transformation. The fund is focused on large-scale projects, SMEs, and startups—especially those with innovative or tech-forward business models. In its first year alone, the Future Fund approved over $2 billion in investments. Strikingly, around 75 per cent of the capital came from international partners, highlighting growing global interest in Oman's evolving economic model. The fund is expected to play a pivotal role in bridging the financing gap for non-oil sectors and accelerating the growth of locally embedded supply chains, industrial zones, and export-ready enterprises. GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT WITH LOCAL RETURNS While the fund's domestic focus is clear, its global engagements are increasingly shaped by the principle of strategic reciprocity. Every international deal must return value to Oman—whether through knowledge transfer, supply chain access, or sectoral expertise. Recent global ventures illustrate this approach. In the US, OIA took a stake in Tidal Vision, a startup developing biodegradable materials from seafood waste. In Singapore, it joined Golden Gate Ventures in a $100 million venture capital initiative, establishing a presence in Muscat to support deep-tech incubation. A high-profile move was OIA's participation in Elon Musk's xAI—alongside sovereign peers from Saudi Arabia and Qatar—connecting Oman's capital to frontier sectors such as generative AI and autonomous systems. BUILDING TALENT FOR A DIVERSIFIED FUTURE Human capital development is a cornerstone of OIA's updated strategy. The authority helped create nearly 1,400 new jobs in 2024, while Omanisation across its portfolio companies reached 77.7 per cent. Through programmes such as Jadarah, Nomou, and Eidaad, OIA is also integrating training and professional development directly into its investment framework. These initiatives are structured to align educational pathways with labor market demands, especially in emerging sectors like clean energy, logistics, and digital infrastructure.
