By Madame Sosostris � The American University in Cairo Press organised an exhibition at Al-Hanager gallery, featuring 1001 paintings by Cairo-born artist Margo Veillon to mark centenary celebration, reports Enjy El-Naggar. The guests of honour at the opening included the Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni, former minister of culture Sarwat Okasha, Chairman of the AUC Board of Trustees B Boyd Hight, Mark Linz and Nabila Aql from the AUC Press and Hoda Wasfi, director of Al-Hanager Art Centre. The AUC Press also introduces a new publication, Margo Veillon: Witness of a Century, edited by Bruno Ronfard, with contributions by Jill Edwards and John Rodenbeck. � At the National Theatre, a play titled The Net, an adaptation of the German Bertholt Brecht 's play Mahagonny was opened last week. Directed by Saad Ardash, one of the Egyptian stage's greats, Ardash selected this work in particular, saying that it suits the problems of a "Third World" still suffering social injustice, the inability to practice real democracy and absence of freedom of expression. The play features the charismatic Mahmoud Hemeida -- this being the first appearance on stage by the well-known film star. Bringing dynamism and character to the play as well will be the performances of stage diva Samiha Ayoub, along with Ahmed Fouad Selim, Reham Said, and a cast of talented young actors. photo: Mohamed Wassim photo: Sherif Mahmoud � A well-attended premiere of the Egyptian film Muhima Saaba (Mission Impossible) was held this week. Present was a galaxy of celebrities, including Emirates Ambassador Ahmed Ali El-Zo'abi, Chief Editor of Al-Osbou newspaper Mustafa Bakri, and TV announcer Dina Ramez. Ramez 's husband, Tareq Allam, features as the film's leading actor. This is the third film to be directed by the up and coming Ihab Rady. The screening was attended by its guest actors Hisham Abdel-Hamid and the veteran Karima Mukhtar. Maged El-Masri, Leqaa El-Khamisi, Aida Riyad, Maye Kassab, Maha Ahmed were among the fellow-actors who attended the event held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Present too were stars Tareq Allam, Magdi Kamel, the sultry Ola Ghanem, Khaled El-Sawy, and Donia. Attending as well was comedian Haggag Abdel-Azim. � Al-Ahram Regional Institute for Journalism headed by Howaida Mustafa organised a seminar entitled "Dialogue Between Religions". Among other key speakers at the discussion was Director of the Washington Institute on Near East Studies Robert Sarlove. � Garden City Lyons Club, presided over by Awatef Serageddin organised a seminar delivered by the People's Assembly Foreign Relations Committee head Mustafa El-Feki. The discussion dealt with the situation in the Middle East. This event was attended by former prime minister Ali Lutfi, Saudi Ambassador Hisham Ben Mohieddin, Charge D'Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy in Cairo Ali El-Halabi, Cultural Counsellor at the American Embassy Heinz Mahony, TV introducer Moufid Fawzi as well as journalists and Lyons members: Bahiya Youssef, Nehad El-Sherif, Safi Zein El-Abedine and Sanaa El-Askari. � The Middle East News Agency (MENA) and the Italian news agency ANSA and ANSAmed signed an agreement of cooperation in transmission of news items between the Mediterranean and the Arab regions and exchanging news services. The agreement was signed by MENA Board Chairman and Editor-in- Chief Abdullah Hassan and ANSA Director-General Mario Rosso. The first results of cooperation between the two sides will be manifested in the third conference for women in Mediterranean journalism due to be held next May. � The 15th round of Professor of Mass Media in King Fahd University Ghazi Awadallah 's cultural salon was held at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel. The salon honoured a number of famous literati, diplomats and art figures. Amongst them were Dean of Mass Media Faculty Magui El-Halawani, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Cinema wal Nas (Cinema and People) magazine Abdel-Moneim Saad, Moroccan Ambassador in Egypt Mohamed Farag El-Doqali, actor Omar El-Hariri, cartoonist Mustafa Hussein and famed former Zamalek football centre forward Hamada Imam. Saudi economic expert Sheikh Abdul-Khaleq Said also attended along with head of the People's Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee Mustafa El-Feki, Governor of Al-Wadi Al-Gadid Ahmed Mokhtar, head of Arab Labour Organisation Ibrahim Quiedar and actresses Afaf Shoeib, Nagwa Fouad and Gihan El-Qamari. � Last Saturday was a day to remember at Al-Marazeeq Village in Al-Badrasheen. Meshwar, an NGO active in community service, most commendably provided much-needed sports equipment for the young people in the village, in addition to setting up three different basketball and football public school yards. Over 100 primary and preparatory school students rejoiced the occasion. This they did by presenting through various martial arts, namely karate, performances. They also engaged in a football tournament, with their school teachers, parents and volunteers joyfully sharing the happy occasion. � The American University in Cairo's (AUC) Third Annual Conference of the Leadership for Education and Development (LEAD) Program, was held recently in El Gouna. The conference, titled "Youth, Entrepreneurship and Development," was attended by Egypt's Minister of Education Youssri El-Gamal. The topic being entrepreneurship and the problems encountered by Egyptian entrepreneurs, students presented their own projects, aimed at enhancing development in Egypt's governorates. "In order to contribute towards the development of Egypt, it is important for students to understand the factors that aid or hinder it. By dealing with such a vital issue as entrepreneurship and learning to analyze it, the LEAD students have taken the first important step in taking ownership of Egypt's problems and finding solutions for them," said Iman El-Kaffass, director of the LEAD and Diversity Scholarship Program at AUC.
