Worth a thousand words A collection of spectacular photographs from the Egyptian International Modern Dance Festival are currently on display at Al-Gumhouriya Theatre. Taken by Al-Ahram Weekly's very own Sherif Sonbol, together with three of his colleagues in Al-Ahram daily, Bassam El-Zoghby, Mohamed Mosaad and Khaled Farid, the shots depict the festival, onstage and offstage, from 2004 to 2010. The above picture was taken by Sonbol from a 2007 show titled Smell of Ice. ( see Listings p.7 ) Al-Ahram newspaper Editor-in-Chief Osama Saraya welcomed Finnish Ambassador to Egypt Roberto Tanzi-Albi in his office at Al-Ahram Establishment. Saraya and Tanzi-Albi had a long conversation on the various means of reinforcing the cooperation between Finland and Al-Ahram Establishment, including frequent visits of the paper's journalists to Finland. During his visit, Tanzi-Albi applauded Egypt's leading role in the Middle East peace process. photos: Ayman Barayez Champollion Rotary Club (CRC), presided over by Manon Choucha, hosted a prestigious reception at the headquarters of Sukar Mazbout, or the Egyptian Society for Diabetes Care (ESDC), presided over by Ali El-Korei. The reception was held on the occasion of the ESDC gaining a new, easy to use diabetes diagnosis device. El-Korei delivered a welcome speech during which he highlighted Sukar Mazbout's main aim in helping diabetics lead a normal life. The reception was attended by the CRC members as well as a galaxy of donors. More than 180 countries participated in the International Conference of the Special Olympics for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) held in Morocco this month. The honorary president of the Special Olympics in Egypt, Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, gave a highly praised speech. In her speech, Mrs Mubarak underlined the importance of raising awareness on care for those with special needs and also mentioned the positive role played by the Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement. Special Olympics Regional Director for MENA Ayman Abdel-Wahab, head of the Egyptian and Arab Special Olympics Ismail Othman, and Executive Director Amr El-Asfour were among the Egyptians who participated in the conference in Morocco. Congratulations! Maha and Amr tied the knot in an exceptionally extravagant wedding ceremony held at Al-Saraya Hall in the InterContinental City Stars Hotel. Maha is the daughter of Abul-Wafa Hussein Rashwan, the personal assistant of President Hosni Mubarak, while the groom is the son of physician Hamed Mohamed Darwish. The ceremony was crowned by the presence of the National Democratic Party Policies Committee Chairman Gamal Mubarak, Minister of Defence field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, lawyer Murtada Mansour, Al-Qahera Al-Yom presenter and renowned media figure Amr Adib and his wife, journalist and TV presenter Lamis El-Hadidi, head of the news sector at the Egyptian Radio and Television Union Abdel-Latif El-Menawi, Libyan official Ahmed Gaddafi Al-Dam, actor Khaled Zaki, and fashion designer Hani El-Beheiri, while the party was spiced up with a superb performance by superstar Amr Diab. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid The first Jerusalem International Film Festival bestowed upon pop star Tamer Hosni the award "Jerusalem's Voice", conferred by Festival President Hussein Abu Shanab, for his participation in the campaign "We're All One" in which he visited Gaza during the most recent Israeli attacks. Hosni insisted on delivering medicine and other donations in person during his visit. Hosni has just added the finishing touches to his new song dedicated to Palestine, entitled "Oh Palestine, Your Soil is My Crown". A cosy private screening was held for the new blockbuster Benten Min Masr (Two Girls from Egypt) at Nile City Cinema. The film casts a unique ensemble of young actors, including Zeina, Saba Mubarak, Tarek Lotfi and Omar Hassan Youssef, and is scripted and directed by Mohamed Amin. Veteran actor Hassan Youssef, actress-cum-cinema producer Esaad Younis, media figure Mufid Fawzi and actress Elham Shahine were among the attendees of the screening. American University in Cairo (AUC) President David Arnold announced that he would be leaving AUC in December after serving more than seven years as its president. During his tenure, Arnold oversaw the construction of the university's new campus in New Cairo and the move of the university's undergraduate and graduate programmes to the campus in 2008. Arnold has been named president of The Asia Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports programmes in Asia that help improve governance, law and civil society, women's empowerment, economic reform and development, and international relations. During Arnold 's tenure as president, he spearheaded AUC's $125 million fundraising campaign, the largest in AUC history. Numerous academic initiatives were also launched, including the establishment of three new schools, new undergraduate and graduate programmes in the sciences and engineering, as well as new graduate programmes in law, education, gender studies, digital journalism and refugee studies. More news on AUC! The university has announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Trustees: Ambassador Youssef Al-Otaiba, business and philanthropic leader Hosna Rachid, and Professor David A Terrill. Al-Otaiba currently serves as the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States. Rachid is chairperson of the Rachid Mashreq Group and president of the Mohamed Rachid Foundation for Cultural and Social Development. Terrill is Ross McCollum-William H Corcoran professor of chemistry and chemical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Enti Talek (You are Divorced) is the title of a newly released book by Ali Hussein, who addresses divorce as a social threat to the Egyptian family and its stability. Statistics reveal that seven out of 10 marriages in Egypt end in divorce, which puts their frequency at around one divorce every six minutes. This, Hussein argues, requires scientific study as a serious problem, hence the importance of the book, which sets off alarm bells that the reader will find humorous and concerning at the same time. It seems that wedding parties are everywhere this week! A lavish reception was held for Dalia Mohamed Tharwat, daughter of talented singer Mohamed Tharwat, and businessman Karim Khaled Taha at the Semiramis InterContinental Hotel. The ceremony was enlivened by the performance of popular singer Hakim, Lebanese actress-cum-singer Nicole Saba, singers Hani Shaker and Ihab Tawfiq, and belly dancers Fifi Abdu and Aziza. A bevy of high-profile figures and celebrities were keen to share the bride and groom's special night, along with their families and friends. Among the attendees were Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Meselhi, Minister of Administrative Development Ahmed Darwish, Minister of Education Ahmed Zaki Badr, Minister of Transportation Alaa Fahmi, Shura Council Speaker Safwat El-Sherif and superstar Adel Imam.
