Through women's eyes At the AUC Photographic Gallery, a group exhibition entitled “Through the Eyes of Women: A Photographic Journey” presents a unique opportunity to see the world through the eyes of 17 woman photographers including Marwa Adel, Reem Al-Faisal, Randa Ali, Sara Bayoumi, Marie Cosindas, Paola Crociani, Mary Cross, Merna Al-Hennawi, Dorothea Lange, Dorothy Norman, Ann Parker, Lucie Pavlovich, Monda Rafla and Haya Salhin. An opening reception will be held on Sunday 8 March at 1pm. (see Listings p.18) Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Al-Zamanan gave a reception to mark Kuwait's 54th National Day and 24th Independence Day. Present were the Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb, Minister of International Cooperation Naglaa Al-Ehwani, Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali, Minister of Health and Population Adel Adawi, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Khaled Hanafi, Secretary-General of the Arab League Nabil Al-Arabi, Giza Governor Khaled Al-Adli, former secretary-general of the Arab League Amr Moussa, former prime minister Kamal Al-Ganzouri, head of the National Council for Women Mervat Al-Tellawi, Bahraini Ambassador Sheikh Rashed Al-Khalifa, Jordanian Ambassador Bishr Al-Khadawena, Lebanese Ambassador Khaled Ziyada, Iraqi Ambassador Diaa Al-Dabbas, Moroccan Ambassador Mohamed Al-Alaami, Algerian Ambassador Nazir Al-Arabawi, British Ambassador John Casson, Chinese Ambassador Song Aiguo, Singaporean Ambassador Premjith Sadasivan, Belgian Ambassador Gilles Heyvaert, Tajikistani Ambassador Khusrav Noziri and his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Ku Jaafar Ku Shaa. The Arab Producers' Union, headed by Ibrahim Abu-Zikri, honoured UAE's first lady Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, the head of the UAE's Women's Federation and president of the Motherhood and Childhood Supreme Council for her restless efforts in supporting women's rights. The celebration, entitled Thank You Emirates, took place at Misr University for Science and Art and featured singer Ehab Tawfik and folk dance. Sheikha Fatima's honorary shield was handed to UAE Minister of State and Chairwoman of Marriage Fund Institution Mithaa Salem Al-Shamsi and Emirati media figure Fayrouz. Present were the Director General of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, the Minister of Culture Gaber Asfour, the head of the National Council for Women Mervat Al-Tellawi and actresses Safia Al-Emari, Soheir Al-Babli and Manal Salama. The Nada Foundation for Egyptian Safe Roads launched its first event in collaboration with the Cairo Runners team under the title “We will change”, Nesmahar Sayed reports. Nada Chairman Nehad Shelbaya thanked the young volunteers from Egyptian universities who participated in the event, stressing the importance of safe driving. Ahmed Shelbaya, the scientific and planning manager of the Nada Foundation, said that Egypt loses 12,000-14,000 lives to road accidents annually, which means that 35-40 deaths occur on the road every day, and that is not to mention five times as many injures and disabilities. The second AUC Community Day was held at the New Cairo Campus, bringing together students, faculty, staff and alumni. Organised by student organisations, academic schools and offices, the day witnessed a staff service recognition ceremony, performances by AUC students and the AUC Egyptian folklore troupe, a school face-off competition, an alumni bazaar, an AUC show case, a history challenge and a campus conversation. The day also included stops by academic schools, sorting of donations to a local charity through the Community Give Back, a community photograph, raffle prizes and the announcement of the AUC Mascot's name. It ended with a performance by singer and AUC alumnus Mahmoud Al-Esseili. The Indian Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar visited Egypt to attend the Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (4-6 March). Along with China and France, India is a special guest of the conference. At the opening session Javadekar outlined India's position on climate change in the context of the upcoming 21st Conference of Parties (COP) of the UNFCC in Paris in December 2015. During his two-day visit, he will also hold meetings with his Egyptian counterpart, Khaled Fahmi, to discuss bilateral cooperation in the field of environment and coordination at the UNFCC talks. He will also meet with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri. Also at AUC, a collaborative programme on higher education and research with the Magdi Yacoub Foundation (MYF) was inaugurated last week. AUC and MYF signed two agreements that aim to advance technologies supporting cardiac procedures and heart surgeries in Egypt. The agreements were signed by Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub and AUC President Lisa Anderson at AUC New Cairo campus. The original Broadway musical Sound of Music was staged at Uptown Cairo for six days (25 February-2 March) with huge attendance and a strong celebrity presence: veteran actor Yehia Al-Fakharani and his son director Shadi Al-Fakharani together with actors Dalia Al-Beheiri, Ashraf Abdel-Baki, Ahmed Al-Fishawi, Hanna Shiha and Ingy Al-Mokadem. Father Boutros Daniel opened the 63rd Catholic Centre for Egyptian Film Festival. He honoured actors Laila Elwi, Nabila Ebeid, Safia Al-Emari, Sherine, Ahmed Khalil and Ahmed Farahat as well as cinematographer Said Al-Shimi, composer Gamal Salama, screenwriter Atef Bishay, radio icon Hamdi Al-Konayesi and journalist Kamal Ramzi. The festival's grand prize went to veteran actor Adel Imam. The ceremony also featured a concert by the Moroccan singer Jannat.
