Kampong Glam Ignites With Passion

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Passion@KampongGlam is a lively series of fun weekend activities from 5 October 2018 – 17 March 2019

The historical precinct of Kampong Glam will soon be pulsating with an exciting series of fun and entertaining activities for both tourists and local residents from 5 October 2018 to 17 March 2019.

Deeply rooted in the colonial history of Singapore, Kampong Glam serves not only as a flourishing centre of Malay and Islamic culture but a thriving tourist hub filled with an incredible mix of inspiring personalities, interesting shops, vibrant cafes/restaurants and a buzzing ambience.

Passion@KampongGlam is a weekend series of experiences dedicated to bringing out the best of this enclave through a carefully curated programme of food, music and cultural activities designed to appeal to both international tourists and local residents in a six-month period.

Developed with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board’s Experience Step-Up Fund, the series reflects the historical and cultural aspects of Kampong Glam in an engaging manner. Riding on the STB’s new ‘Passion Made Possible’ brand, the series encourages visitors to immerse themselves in the experiences and integrate with the community.

“Passion@KampongGlam is more than an expression of the affection and respect for this heritage enclave. The series pays tribute to this heritage enclave with an enjoyable mix of activities to appeal to all ages,” explains Benedict Choa, Founder of Passion@KampongGlam. As the co-founder of Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel, Mr Choa heads the collaborative group of partners tasked with this mission.

He adds, “We are passionate about supporting the culture, businesses and attractions in this precinct. Working with the community leaders and stake holders ensures that the cultural legacy is carried on in a meaningful way.”

The activities will take place from a Friday to Sunday from 4-6pm in a six-month period in the following format with a total of 72 days of experiences on a specially erected stage in front of the Singapore Visitor Centre on

Bussorah Street:

• Friday – Cooking demonstrations with top chefs

• Saturday – live music performances

• Sunday – games and cultural activities

The cooking demonstrations will be hosted by prominent celebrity Chef Mel Dean and a halal food ambassador of Singapore. A recipient of the Honoree Entrepreneur Award from the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce (SMCCI) and the winner of the Halal Jampacked Food Bank with Jamiyah Singapore, he has cooked for VIPs and been featured on food programmes on television and radio. The founder of Kapowww specializing in halal food products, Chef Mel will share his culinary specialities through his innovative, interactive cooking workshops and live cooking demonstrations. Chef Mel will host the demonstration with Resident Chef Oktay Sahin of REIS Steak House and a different guest chef every Friday.

On Saturdays, various musical artistes will take to the stage including local indie musicians from the Sultangate Musicman featuring a repertoire of popular local folk songs, multi-cultural music reflecting the diverse heritage of Singapore and contemporary pop hits; angklung(bamboo tube instruments) performances by Ethnique Musique Connections and Dikir Barat.

Traditional games and cultural activities will be conducted for families to enjoy on Sundays.

Visitors will also be able to browse the kiosks stationed near the stage.

For more details on the activities, visit: www.passionATkampongglam.com.sg

For more information:

URL: www.passionATkampongglam.com.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Passionkampongglam/

Instagram: #passionkampongglam

Enquiries: info@passionATkampongglam.com.sg

ITUC Secretary-General: Qatar Among Leading Gulf Countries in Advancing Workers' Interests

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Secretary-General of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Sharan Burrow praised the efforts made by the State of Qatar in the field of labor care and the continuous progress in the development of legislation, aimed at achieving the objectives of this important group of society.

At a press conference held on Monday at the International Labor Organization (ILO) office in Doha, Sharan said that the ILO office, since its establishment in Qatar, has been monitoring the developments and reforms that have been implemented by the State of Qatar and the significant positive development witnessed in the areas related to workers. She stressed that the State of Qatar has become one of the leading countries in the Gulf to promote workers' interests and provide their needs, calling on other Gulf states to follow suit.

She added that the new laws enacted by the State of Qatar define the relationship between workers and employers, pointing out that it is positive move to provide a copy to the government bodies, a copy to the employer and a copy to the worker, to ensure that there are no differences on workers' rights and duties, and to resort to the law to resolve any differences.

Sharan Burrow praised the important step taken by the State of Qatar to open offices in the labor-exporting countries, describing it as an important initiative that would limit the illegal practices of some employment offices. She also noted the cancelation of exit permits, which will be implemented in the coming period.

She stressed the importance of the step taken by the Qatari government to set a minimum wage of QR 750 for any worker in Qatar, not including the housing and traveling allowances, noting that there is also an obligation to improve the conditions of domestic workers.

Sharan Burrow added that ITUC is very satisfied with the reforms that have been made and knows that their implementation will take time. She expressed support to the Ministry Of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs' decisions to respect labor contracts and impose fines in case of violation of laws and non-compliance. She pointed out that the Government is working to monitor the implementation of the procedures and mechanisms that it had developed and is cooperating in this regard with ILO.

She thanked the Government of the State of Qatar for its support to the workers and the relentless pursuit of continuous improvement of their lives, pointing out that there are many positive steps, including the law of permanent residence, which she described as a good decision and development. She called on other states to issue laws granting permanent residence to residents on their territory who met the conditions imposed. (QNA)

Be Fully Informed About Earthquakes

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It's a grim reality: tremors of magnitude no less than 2.0 happen each day all over the world. A considerable lot of these are not by any means recognizable. The core of our planet is indeed hyper-active.

Big scale quakes of magnitude 7.0 and more happen at least once a month.The number of big-scale earthquakes has been on a steady rise.

How do Earthquakes Occur?

It happens when there is movement in the earth’s crust. When the tectonic plates collide or diverge along a fault line, explosive energy is released causing tremors that reach the earth’s surface.

Can an Earthquake Be Predicted?

At the moment no scientific calculations or machine intelligence can pinpoint the time and date that an earthquake can strike. Scientists can only make theoretical predictions of ‘where’ and ‘how’ by analyzing past data.

What Makes Earthquakes Dangerous?

It is the fact that we are always caught unawares. But again, the damage and injuries from the fall of buildings and collapse of infrastructure add to the danger. Earthquakes cause gas leaks, fires, and landslides. Victims can also catch infectious diseases when sewers burst open and fresh water is contaminated.

Tips to Stay Safe during an Earthquake

Don’t expect an evacuation call before an earthquake strikes. If you live in a region where tremors occur frequently, you should always stay ready.

When the tremor hits, get down fast and get cover. Hold on to something sturdy as you stay under a table or bed. That will help to protect you from falling debris.

Don’t be tempted to run outside– it is much worse out there where buildings may fall on you. Don’t stand in the doorway either. You might get thrown out by the force of the tremor. Also, a preparation measure would be to bolster your doors and secure your beds and tables with fasteners. That is if you live in parts of the world that directly sit on fault lines. These include Tokyo, Los Angeles, Jakarta, and Manila among others.

Significant earthquakes in the last decade

The biggest shocks in the past decade include the 7.9 magnitude quake of Sichuan Province in China, 2008. 87,000 people perished. A 7.5 magnitude shake in 2008 also hit Sumatra in Indonesia. However, the Haiti quake of 2010, with a 7.0 magnitude was more disastrous, taking with it 300,000 lives.

Christchurch in New Zealand saw its share of peril when a magnitude 6.3 hit in 2011. In the same year, North Eastern Japan sustained a hit from 9.0 magnitude earthquake. 2013 was Pakistani where magnitude 7.7 shake claimed 828 lives in Baluchistan province.

700 people lost their life in China 2014 when a 6.2 magnitude struck Yunnan province. In 2015 the same disaster struck in Nepal, affecting 8 million lives. The tremor started an avalanche from Mt Everest that claimed at least a dozen lives.

In 2016, Ecuador got hit with a 7.8 magnitude quake. In the same year, a magnitude 6.3 claimed 300 lives in Rome. In 2017, Central Mexico suffered a magnitude 7.1 quake that claimed 300 lives.

How to get involved to help victims?

Work with UNICEF or Red Cross either as a donor or volunteer. This is an organization that helps in emergency responses. They provide water, food, sanitation and medical aid to victims of catastrophes.

You can also donate blood.

You never know where or when earthquakes happen. Today is them tomorrow if it could be us. Stay safe, and lend a hand when humanity calls upon you.