The Cross Arabia Challenge is the next motorcycle rally series to be held in the Middle East. Its introductory season will take place from 13 to 20 June 2014, covering 2,300 km between Egypt and Jordan. The route of the 2014 season of the Cross Arabia Challenge will start from Egypt's capital and pass through the Sinai Peninsula before crossing the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan to ride past six of Jordan's top destinations: Aqaba, Petra, Karak, Amman, Jarash and the Dead Sea. After completing the Jordanian part of the route, the participants will head back down to Egypt to ride between Nuba and Sharm El-Sheikh en route to Cairo where the Cross Arabia Challenge will come to its end at the foot of the Giza Pyramids. The Cross Arabia Challenge brings together participants from five different countries including Egypt, the United Kingdom, Romania, Brunei and Germany. The participants are expected to arrive to Egypt in early June to prepare for the rally. The Cross Arabia Challenge is the second event of its kind, following the successful annual Cross Egypt Challenge, which caught media attention in its first three seasons and managed to secure an international reach of over 300 million people in less than 24 months. Ahmed Al-Zoghbi, the official spokesperson of the new challenge, said, “The Cross Arabia Challenge is a unique adventure for both athletes, and adventure travellers as it combines the best of the two worlds in a cross-country rally format. The route of this year's challenge, although shorter than some of the other rallies we have created, is very challenging and has been carefully planned to offer a diverse and complete riding experience for the participating riders.” Marking the 42nd anniversary of Cameroon's independence, a prestigious reception was held at the Marriott Hotel in Zamalek under the auspices of the Cameroonian Ambassador to Egypt Mohamadou Labarang. Present were the Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Abdel-Aziz Mahmoud, French Ambassador Nicolas Galey, Hungarian Ambassador Peter Kveck, Polish Ambassador Michal Murkociński, Moroccan Ambassador Mohamed Al-Alaami, Vatican Ambassador Jean-Paul Gobel, Algerian Ambassador Nadhir Al-Arabawi, South African Ambassador Noluthando Mayende and her Liberian counterpart Alexander Wallace. Moroccan singer Gannat rocked the stage at the theatre of the Russian University in Badr City, performing among many others her latest hit Hob Gamed (Strong Love). Norwegian Ambassador Tor Wennesland gave a reception at his residence in Zamalek celebrating Norwegian National Day. Present were Russian Ambassador Serge Kirpichenko, Georgian Ambassador Archil Dzuliashvili, Canadian Ambassador David Drake, Dutch Ambassador Gerard Steeghs, Greek Ambassador Chris Lazaris, Ecuador Ambassador Edwin Johnson, Slovenian Ambassador Robert Kokalj, Lithuanian Ambassador Dainius Junevicius, Australian Ambassador Ralph King, Swiss Ambassador Markus Leitner, Pakistani Ambassador Manzoor Ul-Haq, Armenian Ambassador Armen Melkonianwas and his Polish counterpart Michal Murkociński. Lebanese diva Magda Al-Roumi mesmerized her audience with a spectacular concert at Uptown Cairo in the presence of actors Youssra, Elham Shahine, Rania Farid Shawki, Hani Salama and his wife, Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali, journalists Magdi Al-Gallad and Khaled Salah, Mufid Fawzi and his daughter writer Hanan Mofid Fawzi, composer Hani Mehanna and Yemeni Ambassador to Egypt Abdel-Wali Al-Shemiry. Bint Min Dar Al-Salam (A Girl from Dar Al-Salam), directed by Toni Nabih, premiered at a private screening in the presence of its cast Randa Al-Beheiri, Carmen, Maher Essam, Mohamed Dakkak, Hassan Ghero and Mahmoud Al-Gebali (though actress Rehab Al-Gammal couldn't make it to the premiere). Belly dancer Lucy, cinematographer Ramses Marzouk and others also attended the screening. The president of the 17th Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts (3-8 June), Kamal Abdel-Aziz and the director of the festival Mohamed Hefzi announced the programme in a press conference at the Creativity Centre in the Cairo Opera House. The festival has also revealed the lineup of programmes, film screenings out of competition and festival tributes in its 17th edition. The festival also added four new films to its official competitions making the total number of the participating films 46. The festival announced the participation of the Egyptian film Waves in the Long Documentary Films Competition, which is directed by Egyptian Ahmed Nour who used a personal reflection of the events of the 25 January Revolution through the city of Suez where the first action was triggered. Two films were also added to the Short Documentary Films Competition; the Slovenian film My Name is Mirror by Katarina Resek and the Polish film Joanna by Aneta Kopacz, whereas the Finish film The High Heel High to the Animation Films Competition by Christer Lindström. Egyptian director Amir Ramsis's long documentary Jews of Egypt: End of a Journey will be the opening film this year. The film is a sequel to Jews of Egypt short which was successfully screened in several prominent film festivals across the world. Producer Rula Nasser announced that her film My Love Awaits Me by the Sea, by Jordanian-Palestinian director Mais Darwazah, will participate in the Ismailia Festival as well. The Documentary Competition Jury is headed by Syrian Director Mohammad Malas, and includes the Lebanese critic Hauvick Habechian, Egyptian director Hala Lotfi and Indian editor Bina Paul. The Short Fiction Competition Jury consists of Syrian director Chadi Abu Fakher and French filmmaker George Bollon, co-founder of Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival. The Cosmopolitan Club headed by Samia Younis organised a charity event to showcase fashion designer Nabila Al-Hakim's summer 2014 line of casual, soiree and wedding gown creations. Held at the Le Pacha Nile Boat in Zamalek, the show's revenues were earmarked for the benefit of the Children's Cancer Hospital 57357 and Bahtim Hospital.
