Latest news with #fluent
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Volunteers wanted for Speak2us mental health helpline initiative
MS Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation has called for volunteers for its Speak2us helpline initiative which was a dedicated mental health helpline. According to a press release, Speak2us mental health helpline Project Director S. Selvamani said that the trust was founded in 1992 by Senior Consultant Psychiatrist C. Ramasubramanian. As part of its mental health initiatives, the trust in a joint initiative with HCL Foundation established Speak2us to support people in distress and provide safe and supportive psychological first-aid services for people who were in distress. The helpline fully managed by dedicated and trained volunteers was in the process of identifying suitable dedicated volunteers to enhance the quality of the services. Interested persons could apply. The minimum qualification was a Bachelor's Degree. Those who are fluent in Tamil and have strong empathy skills for handling the phone calls can apply. The deadline for receiving the applications was May 31. For more information, interested persons can contact 73050 33372, the press release said.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Keep Tamil language vibrant for next 50 years: Singapore Minister Shanmugam
A Singapore Minister has called on the next generation to keep the Tamil language vibrant for the next 50 years. Calling on the cosmopolitan city's next generation to take charge, Law Minister K. Shanmugam said: 'To keep Tamil vibrant for the next 50 years, we need young pioneers like you to lead the way.' The Minister, who speaks fluent Tamil shared his views as the National University of Singapore Tamil Language (NUS TLS) Society celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 17, reflecting on five decades of language promotion, student leadership and cultural innovation. Mr. Shanmugam, who was guest-of-honour and NUS TLS alumnus, commended the society's contributions over the past five decades but also voiced concern about the future of Tamil in public life, a Singapore weekly reported on Friday (May 23, 2025). 'We have to ask ourselves if, in 20 or 30 years, we'll still have Ministers who can speak fluent Tamil on stage,' he said, noting a broader decline in Tamil usage, even beyond Parliament. Tamil is one of the four official languages in Singapore, the other being English, Chinese and Malay, and was spoken widely in the island state, with some of the Parliamentarians in the 1960s-70s debating in Tamil in the house. Mr. Shanmugam pointed out that many young people speak primarily English, a trend that affects not only Tamil but also other mother tongue languages such as Mandarin (Chinese) and Malay. Currently, there is one Tamil language newspaper, Tamil Murasu, that has been in circulation since it was launched in May 1936. 'We also need to ask ourselves whether Tamil can continue to be regarded as a respected language by those who do not speak it,' the Minister was quoted as saying by Friday weekly Tabla! He stressed the need to make Tamil accessible and engaging, even for non-speakers, and highlighted the importance of hearing the language in informal spaces beyond classrooms and community centres. Stalin congratulates Singapore PM on poll victory Held at the Serangoon Gardens Country Club in the suburb housing conclave, the celebration brought together past and present members of the society, many of whom reunited after years. The evening featured student performances and nostalgic recollections of landmark programmes that shaped Tamil cultural engagement on campus and beyond. Founded in 1975 with only a handful of members, the society has since grown significantly, with the current 46th executive committee continuing its tradition of combining language advocacy with student-led community initiatives. Multi-national Singapore's six million population has 75% Chinese, mostly speaking Mandarin, over 15% Malays, and more than 7% Indians as well as others.
Hospitality Net
14-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Ahmet Antepli has been appointed General Manager at Hilton Doha The Pearl
Hilton Doha The Pearl is pleased to introduce Ahmet Antepli as its newly appointed General Manager. With a career shaped by years of hands-on work in hotel operations across the Middle East and Europe, Antepli steps into the role with a focused mindset, aiming to ensure every guest journey reflects the high standards of the hotel, and lead a team that takes pride in personalized service. He will also lead on strategic initiatives set in motion to re-position the property's identity as a leisure-focused destination and a preferred resort in the heart of the city. Ahmet Antepli brings more than just professional experience, he brings personal connection. Born and raised in Doha, and fluent in Arabic, Turkish, and English, he has deep roots in the region and a clear understanding of what makes this city special. Over the years, he has held leadership roles at renowned properties such as Swissôtel The Bosphorus in Istanbul, Mövenpick in both Doha and Istanbul, Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, and Rocco Forte Hotels in the UAE. His previous General Manager roles, including the pre-opening of Address Istanbul Hotel, Kempinski Hotel The Dome in Antalya, the pre-opening of Dusit Hotel & Suites in Doha, and the conversion of DoubleTree by Hilton in Al Khobar, have collectively sharpened his strategic approach to hotel management, operational excellence, and the development of high-performing teams. Most recently, Antepli served as General Manager of The Plaza Doha, part of the LXR Hotels & Resorts collection by Hilton, before transitioning to his current role at Hilton Doha The Pearl. Now leading Hilton Doha The Pearl, he brings with him a steady, team-focused leadership style and a genuine passion for delivering quality, continuing his commitment to excellence in hospitality. Ahmet holds an MBA in service industry management from Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. Outside of work, he enjoys scuba diving and staying active through tennis and jump rope, hobbies that complement his dynamic approach to leadership. With its prime location, inviting atmosphere, and commitment to genuine service, Hilton Doha The Pearl continues to grow as a favourite leisure destination for both international visitors and the local community.
Qatar Tribune
07-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Hilton Doha The Pearl names Ahmet Antepli as new general manager
Tribune News Network Doha Hilton Doha The Pearl has named Ahmet Antepli as its newly appointed General Manager. Ahmet Antepli brings more than just professional experience, he brings personal connection. Born and raised in Doha, and fluent in Arabic, Turkish, and English, he has deep roots in the region and a clear understanding of what makes this city special. His previous general manager roles, including the pre-opening of Address Istanbul Hotel, Kempinski Hotel The Dome in Antalya, the pre-opening of Dusit Hotel & Suites in Doha, and the conversion of DoubleTree by Hilton in Al Khobar, have collectively sharpened his strategic approach to hotel management, operational excellence, and the development of high-performing teams. Most recently, Antepli served as general manager of The Plaza Doha, part of the LXR Hotels & Resorts collection by Hilton, before transitioning to his current role at Hilton Doha The Pearl. Speaking about the new chapter, Antepli said: 'Taking on this leadership role carries a deep personal significance for me. This city has shaped much of who I am, both professionally and personally. I am committed to building on the strong foundation already in place at Hilton Doha The Pearl and I look forward to working with the team to further establish Hilton Doha The Pearl as a destination that not only welcomes guests, but leaves a lasting mark through exceptional experiences and genuine hospitality.'
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Deported gang members get second chance at call centre
When Alberto Salagan was deported from the US in January it was the first time he'd stepped foot in Mexico since he was a in the coastal resort of Acapulco, his parents took him to the US when he was just up in California, he was seduced by the false glamour of gang his arrest in San Diego for gang activity, Alberto was sent back to Mexico just as President Trump was taking office, and found himself homeless and alone in the country of his birth."It was a shock. It still is," he admits. "When I got here to Mexico, I really felt lost. No family, no food, no clothes, no nothing." Alberto says he'd almost forgotten how to speak and read Spanish. "Good thing I didn't lose it completely because it's helped me [to be bilingual]," he fact, his language skills saved the 30-year-old from becoming destitute. Through a deportee support organisation, he heard that a local company – EZ Call Center – was looking for work, as telephone sales agents, isn't well paid, but employees can earn commissions, and the regular pay cheque gave Alberto the stability he craved."I had to do something to get back on my feet. Thanks to the call centre, now I have," he tells me during a break between every agent at EZ Call Center is a deportee, including the company's owner, Daniel was also born in Mexico and grew up in the US before being deported for low-level drug crime in his early 20s. Daniel says he can relate to his employees' initial sense of disorientation in Mexico."We are all dealing with culture shock," he says over a steady hum of telephone calls."We all have our life over there, went to school over there, were brought up on American culture, have family over there. We're from here but we're from over there too." In their booths, the agents work through long lists of US phone numbers, some making promotional calls or sales, others calling about debt collection and the agents speak fluent English, and the clients at the other end of the line are none the wiser that they're talking people in Mexico rather than the says that agents like Alberto – who fell into gangs and crime at a vulnerable age in the US, but are willing to turn over a new leaf in Mexico – are among his most trusted employees."They almost never have another mark on their criminal record, and they possess the right discipline to hold down their jobs," he Ruiz's own experiences after deportation have informed his business well as the telesales company, he also co-founded a humanitarian organisation – called the Borderline Crisis Center – which provides deportees with food, shelter and support on their arrival back in Mexico. After his inauguration, President Trump said he would carry out what he calls "the largest deportation in American history".He has spoken of the removal of millions of undocumented people from US soil, and in the early days of his presidency Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents made workplace raids from Chicago to humanitarian organisations, including the Borderline Crisis Center, braced themselves for a huge influx of far, though, one hasn't materialised. There are no major bottlenecks of migrants at the border, and the migrant shelters in Tijuana are not currently overflowing. The latest figures from the Mexican government actually show that the number of deportations from the US to Mexico were lower during the first three months of Trump's second administration than they were for the same period last year. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that Mexico received almost 39,000 deportees in February to April, of which 33,000 were Mexican. This compares with 52,000 for the same three months in the fall was in part due to a reduction in the number of people trying to get into the US in the first place. Migrant "encounters" on the US southern border by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents has dropped to their lowest level in threat of mass deportation combined with other factors – from military deployments at the border, to the high-profile deportations of migrants to El Salvador – may have acted as an effective Trump Administration is also pushing the idea of self-deportation hard to undocumented immigrants through blunt there are people being sent back to Tijuana on a near daily basis. Many face hostility as they try to resettle in the dusty and dangerous border few companies which offer deportees gainful employment have become even more important to avoid a slide into criminality. Beyond a smaller venture like EZ Call Center, a larger company called the American Survey Company or ASC also relies on a deportee workforce. With its sister company, Voxcentrix, ASC has some 550 call centre stations in Tijuana, where agents make calls on everything from election polling to customer satisfaction surveys."What happened in the US stays in the US," laughs Nora Diaz, ASC's chief happiness officer. "We don't really do background checks on that."Nora says her job is focussed on the employees' wellbeing, to help them reintegrate."We understand everyone has a past, and we don't judge based on that. We don't ask about it during our interview process. We just need people who speak good English and good Spanish and are willing to commit to a job," she explains. The "don't ask, don't tell" policy at ASC was invaluable to Luis Luna's new grew up in Orange Country in California having been taken to the US when he was just a few months old."Unfortunately, as a kid, I made some bad choices: joined a gang, ran around with the wrong crowd. Cost me a lot, cost me a life sentence. I was a lifer in California state prison," Luis in prison in California, he enrolled for every educational programme available and worked hard on his rehabilitation. On release, he was also sent back to Mexico in January, just as Trump was gearing up for his inaugural speech. Now 50-years-old and covered in gang-related tattoos, Luis knew he wouldn't get many more second chances in life."I got no family over here. My family is ASC, the people I met in my employment, they're my family and my friends."For Luis, the outwardly dull telephony work has provided the anchor he needs to stay out of crime, something he says ex-gang members he knows in the US struggle with."From the first day I didn't feel any judgement at all. I felt they just opened their arms and took me in. I think I'd be in the streets right now if it wasn't for ASC," he the Trump Administration's mass deportation programme isn't yet at a level many in Mexico expected, some believe it could pick up pace over the coming so, deportees with gang pasts like Alberto and Luis will need some help to start again, irrespective of their Tijuana, many of them will find it at the end of a telephone line.
