photos: Ayman Barayez The Ministry of Culture recently commemorated three major national events, comprised of the Golden Jubilee of the nationalisation of the Suez Canal, the 33rd anniversary of October 1973 War, and 18 years since the inauguration of the Cairo Opera House. The festivities were held at the Opera House's main hall. Singers Marwa Nagui and Hani Amer were accompanied by the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and the Opera Choir. They performed a repertoire of patriotic songs which had been sung by Umm Kulthoum and Abdel-Halim Hafez. Attending was Culture Minister Farouk Hosni, Minister of Manpower and Emmigration Aisha Abdel-Hadi, Secretary-General of the Arab league Amr Moussa, head of the People's Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee Mustafa El-Feki and Director of the Opera House Abdel-Moneim Kamel. Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church held the annual "Patriotic Union" Iftar banquet at the Abbasiya Cathedral. The banquet was attended by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, Minister of State for Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Moufid Shehab,and head of the Shoura Council Safwat El-Sherif. Other dignitaries present were Minister of Endowment Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq, speaker of the People's Assembly Fathi Sorour and Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Policies Committee Gamal Mubarak. photos: Ghada Abd El-Kader The Italian Ambassador to Egypt Antonio Badini held a reception at the Italian Cultural Institute, which was attended by Ghada Abd El-Kader. The occasion's highlight was the bestowal of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic to the Egyptian film critic Mary Ghadban. Badini also granted the Insignia of Official Knight of the Order of Merit to professors at Ain Shams University's Faculty of Al-Alsun, Moheb Saad and Hussein Sherif. Honoured with the same order of merit were opera singer Gaber El-Beltagui and the former director of the Cultural Development Fund, Salah Shaqwir. Attending were veteran film star Lubna Abdel-Aziz, and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Zahi Hawass. Among the guests were director of El-Sawy Culture Wheel Mohamed El-Sawy and film critic Nader Adli. The Chairman of the Egyptian Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women (ADEW) Iman Bibars held the NGO's annual Iftar banquet at the Nile Hilton Hotel. The event was attended by Bishop Basanti of the Helwan and Massara Coptic Orthodox Church, as well as Imam Mohamed Ashour a Muslim cleric and Vice-President of Banha University Ali Shamseddin. The event's guest of honour was prominent intellectual Milad Hanna, who spoke of the strong bond that has traditionally united Egypt's Muslims and Copts. El-Sawy Culture Wheel organised a poetry evening titled "Let's Sit and Talk" featuring the young poet Ahmed Haddad. Haddad is the grandson of the late famous poets Salah Jahin and Fouad Haddad. Haddad, who is also an actor and scriptwriter, published his first diwan entitled Flowers are blooming. His second work Grain of Sand will also soon be published. He joined the talented poetess Samia Jahin, his cousin, in reciting poetry. This was accompanied by the singing of TV broadcaster on the Egyptian satellite Channel Dream I Salma Sabahi, and Ahmed El-Haggar, son of veteran singer Ali El-Haggar. The music was composed by Shadi Moenis from Eskenderella band. Children in Islam, a book published jointly by Al-Azhar University and UNICEF, was highlighted at an Iftar event organised by the International Islamic Centre for Population Studies and Research, which is affiliated to both bodies. Attending were the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantawi and President of Al-Azhar University Ahmed El-Tayeb. Present as well were the head of the team which prepared the manual Gamal Abul-Sorour and Senior Programme Officer in UNICEF Egypt Hanan Soliman. Members of the Islamic Research Council and other senior religious leaders and academics participated. Children in Islam underscores that the care, protection and development of children is central to Islam. The book gives guidance on children's rights in matters like health, education and protection, drawing from both scientific evidence, and Islamic heritage (with reference to the Quran and hadith ). It was produced with a view to providing religious leaders and development professionals information that would assist in advancing the well- being of children. The work also presents the views of Islam on sensitive and controversial issues like child labour, violence against children, physical and sexual abuse, and HIV/AIDS. Participants reflected on the key benefits that such an endeavour can bring to children, their families and to society as a whole. Jordanian singer Samah Bassam held a musical performance at Al-Ghouri Centre for Musical Heritage in the old Cairene district of Al-Azhar. Bassam sang several songs from her most recently-issued album "Reminds me of you". She also rendered songs by Fairouz, Sabah, Warda, Abdel-Halim Hafez and Umm Kulthoum. Another successful concert, also at the El-Sawy Culture Wheel was held by the Swar Al-Yasmine (Bracelet of Jasmine) troupe for spiritual chanting. The troupe comprised of three young women, Safenaze, Shahenaze and Reham El-Mahdi, performed religious songs derived from classical heritage. Two new young talents were also introduced: Mohamed Hashim and Refaat Mahmoud, aged seven and 14 respectively. The audience also enjoyed the Sufi chanting of Sheikha Sabah.
