A start-up company incubated by ictQatar’s Digital Incubation Centre (DIC) will be launching an online ticketing service at Qitcom 2014.

Ticketfun, a social event discovery, ticket booking, and event recommendation engine, will be introducing its mobile ticketing application, an AI powered recommendation engine, advanced event promotion tools for organisers, an Arabic version of the website, as well as Cash on Delivery services by the end of 2014.

“Ticketfun was first formally presented at the Al Fikra National Business Plan Competition where it won recognition for the key role it played in the future of Qatar’s events, arts, and sports scene,” said Ticketfun founder and chief executive officer
Hamad al-Rewaily.

Al-Rewaily added that since then the idea was nurtured by ICTQatar and DIC officials, the first ticket sales would be for Innovation Theater at Qitcom 2014.

“The role of the DIC is to help empower ICT start-ups and support them to develop their dream projects so that they may be ready to cater to a global audience,” said DIC head Ahmad Laiali.

With the completion of the first phase of Ticketfun’s development, online users can now view information on all events in Qatar as well as buy tickets and select events through Ticketfun’s simple and interactive website.

The tickets to the three-day activities at Innovation Theater are available for free at www.ticketfun.me. Upon registering details, guests will receive the free ticket via e-mail.

 

 

Modi inauguration to be webcast

The webcast of the swearing-in ceremony of India’s prime minister-elect Narendra Modi and his council of ministers, being held today at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi will be made available on the website of the President of India (www.presidentofindia.nic.in) from 5.30pm onwards (Indian time), the Indian
embassy said yesterday.

The webcast can also be viewed at the link - http://www.presidentofindia.nic.in/swearingin.html. The live streaming of the swearing-in ceremony will also be available on YouTube channel of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA): http://www.youtube.com/user/MEAIndia and MEA website www.mea.gov.in

 

Consular section timings changed

The timings of the Consular Section at the Indian embassy have been revised from June 1 to September 15.

Applications can be submitted from 8am to 11.15am. The documents can be collected from 3pm to 4.15pm.

 

Zakat Fund gives over QR11.7mn

QNA/Doha

 

The Zakat Fund in the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) has given QR11,706,797 for urgent monthly assistance programmes.

In a report, the Zakat Fund pointed out that the amount does not include relief schemes such as the Student Sponsorship Programme, the Debtors’ Aid and assistance to the needy families.

The report said that the Fund received 812 assistance requests of which 137 were not approved due to lack of eligibility, and 61 were put on hold for discussion.

In this context, the head of the Zakat Fund Ahmed Sultan al-Meseifri explained that the Fund acts as agent for donors to deliver their Zakat to eligible beneficiaries through office and field research mechanisms.

He pointed out that the list of documents required from assistance seekers is available in all public and private institutions.

 

Training course for Awqaf Ministry staff

QNA/ Doha

 

A training course on creative thinking began yesterday at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs’ training centre with the participation of 32 employees from various departments and sections affiliated  to the ministry.

The training course, organised by Human Resources Department at the ministry, aims to develop skills and information relating to the characteristics and advantages of creative thinking so as to improve and achieve administrative excellence.

At the opening session, head of the section of training and administrative development at human resources department Abdurrahman Mohamed said the session comes as part of the training plan for this year and within the framework of the objectives and the ongoing efforts to provide training opportunities for the ministry’s staff .

 

BQFP brings out new book

QNA/Doha

 

Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing  (BQFP) has published  23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism by Ha-­Joon Chan and translated by Ahmed Abdel Wahab.

Sharp and witty, this book challenges free market economics as we know it. It is a book about money, equality, freedom and greed, and proves that the free market system is bad for people as well as an inefficient way of running state economies. 

Ha-Joon Chang has taught at the Faculty of Economics and Politics, University of Cambridge, since 1990. His books include the international bestseller Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism and Kicking Away the Ladder, winner of the 2003 Myrdal Prize.

 

National Day greetings

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to King Abdullah of Jordan on the kingdom’s Independence Day. 

The Emir and the Prime Minister also sent congratulatory  cables to the president of Argentina on her country’s National Day.

 

Health campaign targets employees at firms

The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has launched the third phase of its programme, “Health at workplaces,” after the successful completion of the two initial phases. During the first phase, a questionnaire was prepared to determine the health needs of employees at work. In the second phase, a comprehensive health campaign for employees was launched for the early detection of risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases. During the third phase, a series of health activities and functions will be organised based on the outcome of the first two phases. These will, in time, be applicable at all government entities in Qatar. The programme is being conducted in co-operation with Aspetar and Maersk Oil Qatar and it aims to encourage employees to develop healthy practices in their daily lives.