In a bid to support the German University in Cairo (GUC) in the field of industry-oriented research, the German Federal Minister of Education and Research Annette Schavan inaugurated the Material Testing Laboratory Mega Complex II, laying the foundation-stone of the industrial park in the heart of the GUC campus in Al-Qattamiya. Present at the ceremony were Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Hani Helal, Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the GUC Ashraf Mansour, German Ambassador Martin Kobler and President of the GUC Mahmoud Hashim. The project -- the first phase of which is due to be completed next October on 40,000 square metres -- will benefit Egyptian industry at large. photo: Sherif Mahmoud Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni inaugurated an exhibition entitled "Black and White" by artist and head of the National Centre for Fine Arts Ahmed Nawwar in person. Held at the Picasso Gallery in Zamalek, the exhibition features 73 pieces -- painting, graphic work and sculpture -- produced at different stages of Nawwar 's career. The work depicts the moments of defeat and victory in the history of Egypt in 1967 and 1973 and includes black-and-white sketches done in the 1960s in the villages and mountains of Spain. Presidential adviser Osama El-Baz, writer Mohamed Eid, actress Samiha Ayoub were among the attendees. Minister of Communication and Information Technology Tareq Kamel presided over a seminar held at El-Sawy Culture Centre on media-related themes. Conducted by Mohamed Abdel-Moneim El-Sawy, centre director, the seminar saw a lot of young people discussing their employment opportunities. British Secretary of State of Culture, Media and Sport Hon Tessa Jowell was in Cairo from 12 to 14 June. On this, her first visit, she met Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni and Minister of Information Anas El-Fiqi. She also attended British Council discussions with young filmmakers, journalists and teachers involved in the Right to Live Association (RTLA), a non-profit organisation for promoting the social inclusion of disabled children and adults. Jowell also attended a mini-festival organised by the Dreams and Teams group at the Gezira Youth Centre with football as its main theme, meeting with the head of the National Council for Sport in Egypt Hassan Saqr. photo: Khatchig Wanis On occasion of the National Day of Portugal, the Portuguese Ambassador Fernando Ramos Machado held a party at the Marriott Hotel, hosting, among others, the Slovenian Ambassador Mitja Drobnic, ambassador and head of the Delegation of European Commission in Egypt, Klaus Ebermann, Russian Ambassador Mikhail Bogdanov and Albanian Ambassador Viktor Kalemi. On to Copenhagen, where the Danish Centre for Culture and Development is organising a three-day festival entitled "Islam Expo" which will take place from 19 to 21 June. It is no coincidence that the festival comes in the wake of the "infamous" cartoon crisis triggered by drawings which were considered highly offensive to Muslims. In an obvious expression of goodwill, therefore, Islam Expo's events will all be held free of charge. The venue aims to increase the understanding and knowledge of Islam, and of its role in the modern as well as historical context. Various guest speakers will address topics related to the main theme, which revolves around the dynamism and ability to evolve that is inherent in Islam. Renowned Iranian photographer Jamsheed Bayrami will exhibit his photographs of the Hajj, the holy pilgrimage. Imad Rami from Syria will perform his soul-rending Islamic anasheed. Nor will the great, late director Mustafa El-Aqqad be forgotten. His acclaimed film The Message will be screened, to be followed by discussions on the continuing influence of the Prophet Mohamed, on contemporary Muslims everywhere. Child Labour Day, 12 June, witnessed the launch of Support Children's Rights through Education, the Art, and Media (SCREAM), an initiative undertaken jointly by the International Labour Organisation's Sub-regional Office for North Africa and the Italian Embassy in Cairo with the aim of putting an end to child labour in Egypt. To be implemented in both formal and non-formal education settings in collaboration with UN agencies, NGOs, artists as well as the World Organisation Scout Movement, SCREAM echoes Egypt's first National Strategy for the Progressive Elimination of Child Labour, launched by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak earlier this year. photo: Ghada Abd El-Kader Last week, Cinema Palace in Garden City had another of its "Star and Seminar" event, this time with young film star Ahmed El-Saqqa. Conducted by critic Nader Adli, as Ghada Abd El-Kader notes, the event saw El-Saqqa speak of his family background: his father, Salah El-Saqqa is a director; his grandfather, Abdu El-Serougi was a singer. He also spoke of his breakthrough performances in the Mohamed Heneidi vehicles Hammam in Amsterdam and Se'idi at the American University, stressing that he never hesitates in accepting a small role such as that of Atef El-Sadat in filmmaker Mohamed Khan 's award-winning Days of El-Sadat. The hall was full to overflowing, boasting media and press figures as well as fans, who after the seminar attended a screening of Tito (2004), written by Mohamed Hafzi and directed by Tareq El-Erian. A lecture on Armenian foreign policy in the Middle East was held by the Armenian Cultural Association at Houssaper Club. Our very own Mursi Saad El-Din introduced the Armenian Ambassador Roupen Garabedian who discussed challenges past and the future. To a packed hall boasting as many Egyptians as Egyptian- Armenians, Garabedian underscored relations between his country and the Arab world, especially Egypt.
