Romance in Old Cairo This corner of Old Cairo is the new retreat from everything frustrating the city is notorious for. The mysticism of Islamic heritage (Al-Nasser Mohamed bin Qalawun Mosque is seen in the background), soothing lighting system and the charming ambiance were all factors that attracted people to this recently renovated and redecorated area. Sherif Sonbol tiptoed to take this photograph. Thabo Khasipe, ambassador to Egypt of Lesotho (the "Kingdom in the Sky" -- the Southern African nation that is encircled by South Africa) held a reception party celebrating the 43rd anniversary of the kingdom's national day. The party was crowned by the presence of Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Mona Omar as well as a number of African ambassadors in Egypt. Tomorrow, "AmidEast Egypt" is organising the American College Fair 2009 at the Shephard Hotel, Cairo. The fair will play host to representatives from US universities. Information about US admission requirements and graduate and undergraduate programmes will be available. The same fair will be held in Alexandria on 17 October at the American Centre. Those interested in furthering their education outside of Egypt shouldn't miss the event. For more information call 19263 or e-mail [email protected]. Under the auspices of Director Abdel-Moneim Kamel, the Cairo Opera House celebrated last week its 21st anniversary at a festival that comprised around 500 artists. The highlight of the spectacular event was the powerful voice of Amal Maher who mesmerised the audience with a selection of Umm Kolthoum songs. The Cairo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Tarek Mahran and accompanied by world-renowned Syrian pianist Malek Gondali, who played compositions for piano and orchestra blending oriental and Western classical music, delighted all attending. A bevy of luminaries graced the celebration, including Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Moselhi, Minister of Manpower Aisha Abdel-Hadi, Minister of Justice Mamdouh Marei as well as the ambassadors of Mexico, Spain, Russia and Norway in addition to a number of Arab diplomats. The celebration was covered by around 20 television stations and satellite channels, and 150 Egyptian, Arab and foreign correspondents. The fourth international conference on tourism between 6 October University and the Hungarian Kodolanyi Janos University of Applied Science was held in Siofok, Hungary this month. The conference, entitled "Creativity and Innovation in Managing Uncertainty and Risk in Tourism", highlighted the challenges and risks facing the tourism industry in the Egyptian and Hungarian markets and the world as a whole. The risks discussed included global warming, terrorism and the global economic crisis. Participants also discussed ways to develop tourism, such as promoting medical tourism, renovating historical sites and using the Internet for promotion and marketing. The Egyptian delegation was headed by the dean of the Faculty of Tourism at the 6 October University, Professor Adel Hammam, ex-chairman of the Egyptian Tourist Development Authority Sayed Moussa, and 6 October University Faculty of Tourism staff Souad Omran, Noha Saadeddin, and Mona Taha Hussein, and Heidi Mahmoud from Mansoura University. On 17 October at 11.30am at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina small theatre, a seminar entitled "Space and Sound: Striving for Perfect Resonance" will be held by eminent Norwegian architect Kjetil Thorsen who won many prestigious international awards for designing the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The seminar falls within the framework of the Alexandria International Festival taking place from 16 to 31 October 2009. The seminar will focus on sound and space; the architect and the instrument maker, with one common goal -- perfect resonance. The seminar will be accompanied by a violin recital by Hans Johannsson from Iceland. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid On the occasion of celebrating Saudi National Day, a prestigious reception party took place at the Semiramis Hotel Cleopatra Hall, hosted by Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Hisham Al-Nazer. A plethora of ambassadors and high-profile figures attended the reception, including US Ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey, head of the People's Assembly Fathi Sorour, Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa, Minister of State for Local Development Abdel-Salam El-Mahgoub, presidential adviser Osama El-Baz, Al-Ahram Editor-in-Chief Osama Saraya, Nisf Al-Donia magazine Chief Editor Afkar El-Kharadli, Permanent Saudi Representative at the Arab League Ahmed Abdel-Aziz Al-Qattan, actors Hussein Fahmi and Ahmed Rateb and singer Mohamed Tharwat as well as members of the Saudi Embassy. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid Mövenpick Media Production City witnessed a lavish celebration to mark the signing of a contract between veteran comedian Adel Imam and the Lord Satellite Channel to air a new TV programme entitled Academyet Al-Zaem (The Leader's Academy). The programme is a contest in the art of acting and the winner will participate with Imam in his new film. The contest is reminiscent of Star Academy, a star-maker programme well known in the Arab world that takes contestants in the singing field through challenging levels to prove their talent. The lavish celebration was attended by a bevy of cinema and TV stars and media figures, such as veteran actresses Mervat Amin, Yossra, Raghda, Joumana Mourad, Somaya El-Khashab and Leqaa El-Khamisi, Imam 's son, actor Mohamed Imam, Lebanese singer-cum-actress Nicole Saba, comedian Ashraf Abdel-Baqi, belly dancer Dina, actors Hisham Selim, Talaat Zakaria, Ahmed Adam, Khaled Sarhan, popular singer Shaaban Abdel-Rehim, actress-cum-cinema producer Esaad Younis and Imam 's gifted scriptwriter Youssef Maati. Rotaract Nasr City Club and Rotaract Cairo Club hosted a lecture marking the 36th anniversary of the 6 October War. The lecture was given by former Egyptian ambassador to Israel and current member of the Shura Council Mohamed Bassiouni, entitled "The 6 October War and Israeli Culture". The lecture analysed the war from the aspect of its impact on the Israelis. photos: Ayman Barayez Cairo Lions Club held a seminar with Al-Ahram Chairman of the Board Abdel-Moneim Said discussing the role played by Al-Ahram in the enlightenment process on the media level. He also talked about renovations of the establishment in the days to come. The seminar was attended by the Editor-in-Chief of Nisf Al-Donia magazine Afkar El-Kharadli, writer Adel Hammouda, AUC professor Iman Mansour, Said 's spouse Amal Toukan, former minister of industry Ibrahim Fawzi as well as club members Bahiya Youssef, Omnia Imam and Tahani Zaher. Our dear colleague at Nisf Al-Donia magazine, Zeinab Abdel-Razzak, is participating in the Tokyo International Film Festival scheduled to start on 17 October with a documentary entitled Bitter Right. Written and directed by Abdel-Razzak, it is the only Egyptian documentary in this year's round, tackling the issue of divorced women in Egypt who fight in courts for their rights and those of their children. Other Egyptian films, such as Hassan wa Morcos, Khiana Mashroua (Legal Infidelity) and four films by late legendary filmmaker Youssef Chahine are also showing. A senior Egyptian delegation is taking part in the festival, including filmmakers Khaled Youssef, Rami Imam, head of the Cinema Sector Mamdouh El-Leithi, media figures Dorriya Sharafeddin and Amal Osman, along with actresses Laila Elwi and Elham Shahine. The Semiramis InterContinental hosted recently its first private Cultural Salon. The salon is a literary journey that provides guests with the opportunity to meet prominent writers and artists. The first guest was renowned author Galal Amin who was warmly welcomed by Semiramis InterContinental General Manager Jurgen Baumhoff. Amin is a professor of economics at the American University in Cairo. He is the author of Whatever Happened to the Egyptians? (AUC Press, 2000) and Whatever Else Happened to the Egyptians? (AUC Press, 2004). Based on both academic research and his own personal experiences and impressions, Amin discussed excerpts from his book examining the underlying causes of some of the more disturbing social, political, economic, and cultural phenomena that characterised Egyptian society in the 1990s, followed by a book signing session. The event was organised in cooperation with AUC Press. Canadian artist Roger Langevin dedicated to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina one of his polyester sculptures named "The Family" -- a simple yet detailed representation of the special family bonds with emphasis on their closeness. The special event was attended by the Bibliotheca counsultant, Ambassador Ali Maher, on behalf of Bibliotheca Director Ismail Serageddin, Canadian Ambassador to Egypt Ferry de Kerckhove as well as members of the Canadian community in Egypt.
