♣ The Bahraini Ambassador to Egypt Sheikh Rashed Al-Khalifa gave a prestigious reception at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel to celebrate the Bahraini National Day. Among the attendees were Secretary-General of the Arab League Nabil Al-Arabi, Minister of Information Salah Abdel-Maksoud, political thinker Mustafa Al-Feki, Moroccan Ambassador to Egypt Mohamed Farag Al-Dokali, Lebanese Ambassador to Egypt Khaled Ziyada, Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Ahmed Al-Qattan, Omani Ambassador to Egypt Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al-Harithi and his Algerian counterpart Nadhir Al-Arabawi, as well as head of Garden City Lions Club Awatef Serageddin. ♥ The Picasso Art gallery saw the inauguration of an exhibition showcasing female paintings by three pioneers of modern Egyptian art: Gazbia Serri, Ingy Aflaton and Tahia Halim. Present at the inauguration ceremony were artists Ahmed Nawwar, Ashraf Reda, gallery owners Ibrahim Picasso, Nahed Shakir, Sawsan Salem, Mushira Mahmoud, Nevine Guindi, Wafaa Al-Nashashibi and Maye Heshmat. (see Listings p.22) ♠ The launch of the Italian edition of Ajnihat Al-Farasha (The Butterfly's Wings), a novel by the head of the Egyptian Writers' Union Mohamed Salmawy, took place at the Mashrabia Gallery in Tahrir Square; the book, translated by Carmine Cartolano and published with Giunti, is available in Italian under the title Colazione al Cairo (Breakfast in Cairo). Salmawy, the former editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Hebdo, has had several of his books translated into other languages. Present at the launch were Director of the Italian Cultural Institute Arnaldo Dante Marianacci, artist Adel Al-Siwi, Director of the Cairo Opera House Ballet Company Ermenia Kamel and many Egyptian and Italian journalists. ♣Last week, hundreds of women organised a demonstration at Nahdet Masr Square chanting “no” to the constitution, led by — among others — political activist and media figure Bothaina Kamel, novelist Sahar Al-Mogui, journalist and lawyer Magda Abaza, screenwriter Azza Shalabi and media figure Fatma Al-Maadoul. ♣ Prince Talal bin Abdel-Aziz Al-Saud witnessed the graduation of the sixth class of students of the Arab Open University at the InterContinental Hotel. The ceremony was attended by a number of official delegations as well as university professors from Egypt and Arab countries. The ceremony featured a brief speech by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the university followed by the distribution of graduation certificates. ♥ The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC), in collaboration with the Embassy of India in Cairo, held a function on its downtown premises, Cairo, during which the Ambassador of India to Egypt Navdeep Suri handed certificates and diplomas to around 75 students who had successfully passed Hindi and Urdu courses conducted by the centre in the last year. During the function, Egyptian students of the centre recited poems and delivered speeches in Hindi and Urdu. ♠ Al-Wadi Al-Gadid Week was inaugurated by Governor of Al-Wadi Al-Gadid Tarek Al-Mahdi, Counsellor at the Italian Embassy Andrea Orizio, Director of the Technical Cooperation Unit at the embassy Ginevra Letizia and Director of the Italian Cultural Institute Arnaldo Dante Marianacci. Concluding its activities on 22 December, the week included a number of activities such as an exhibition showcasing traditional handicrafts of Al-Wadi Al-Gadid and aiming at promoting tourism in the area. In addition, a press conference was organised at which representatives of the Italian government were present, including the director of the CISS project for Touristic and Environmental Cooperation in Al-Wadi Al-Gadid Mario Michelini, followed by the screening of a documentary on the activities of the CISS. At the institute theatre, two folk dance shows were performed by Al-Wadi Al-Gadid Folk Arts troupe. ♣ Congratulations! Professor Amr Shaarawi, associate dean of graduate studies at the American University in Cairo (AUC), will be serving as provost, succeeding the late Medhat Haroun. During his term as provost, Shaarawi's main goal is to develop and build on the academic strategic plan established by his predecessor. “I have worked closely with provost Haroun since 2006, as associate dean in the School of Sciences and Engineering and later as dean of graduate studies,” said Shaarawi. “The kind of work he did to improve academic quality, recruit and retain high-quality faculty, and advance the research agenda at AUC was exemplary. I plan to continue in his path.” ♥ More news on the AUC! The School of Business at the American University in Cairo was granted the full ranking (five out of five palms) from Eduniversal, making it the first school in the Arab region to receive such a title and obtain the five palms recognition. Accordingly, the School of Business is listed as one of the 100 best business schools with major international influence and has been awarded the second ranking within Africa. “The Eduniversal five palm recognition marks an accomplishment for the School of Business, one which we capitalise on and take pride in,” said Sherif Kamel, dean of the School of Business. “As a leading academic institution, we always extend our maximum efforts to improve and maintain the quality of our education and provide hands-on experience to our students in their quest to become responsible agents of change.” ♣ Al-Amal Foundation for Society Development, in cooperation with Giza governorate, has planted 7,000 trees in a number of Giza districts within the framework of the initiative to plant 100,000 trees announced by Al-Amal Foundation and is scheduled to be implemented in four governorates — Giza, Cairo, Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh — according to the Chairman of the Board of the foundation Sami Al-Qurani. ♣ At El Sawy Culturewheel's Wisdom Hall, the two Egyptian singers Reem and Mohamed Khalaf who participated in the singing competition television show The Voice gave a highly successful concert. They performed their own songs, performed in The Voice, as well as a number of classical Arab songs by the likes of Abdel-Halim Hafez, Fayrouz, Umm Kulthoum and Mohamed Abdel-Wahab. Two weeks ago, the Dubai-based Middle Broadcasting Centre (MBC) named Morocco's Mourad Bouriki the winner of the Arabic version (Ahla Sawt) of the singing competition television show The Voice.
