photo: Yousri Aql Congratulations! Last Friday, The American University in Cairo (AUC) held a special ceremony for the graduates of February Class 2006. The ceremony was held at the Cairo International Conference Centre, Cheops Hall. Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and winner of the Nobel peace prize 2005 Mohamed El-Baradei was given the honorary degree in doctorine of Laws by AUC President David Arnold. Member of the AUC board of trustees Paul B Hannon also received an honorary degree. El-Baradei delivered the commencement address for the graduates including the highest honoured President's Cup winner Mohamed Ahmed Dessouqi ; the Ahmed Zewail Award winner Maye Qoura. And to my delight, the Abdel-Rahman El-Sawy Award was conferred on Aliaa Osman. Among the graduates were Fatema Sedqi, grand daughter of former prime minister Aziz Sedqi, who received a bachelor degree of business administration. Pop singer Mohamed El-Esseili received bachelor degree of journalism and mass communication. Cheers, dears. photo: Ghada Abd El-Kader There was much excitement, my lovelies, at the Cairo Opera House's Small Hall because its Cultural Salon hosted the 1999 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Ahmed Zewail at a thrilling seminar. My delightful colleague Ghada Abd El-Kader was lucky to attend the seminar entitled "Egypt -- the way to the future" conducted by veteran journalist Osama Heikal. On the fringe of the seminar, Zewail distributed the prizes of the Creativity in Arts Award holding his name, which he established for gifted singers at the Opera House. Last year, singer Maye Farouk won the prize. But, this year my darlings, the award went to Marwa Nagui. The jury committee included among others Secretary-General of the Arab Music Festival Ratiba El-Hefni, talented singer Nadia Mustafa, composers Mohamed Ali Suleiman, and Hassan Abul-Seoud. Yurie Miura; Kei Wada; Yuji Tsunemi Last Sunday, I attended the "Japanese Cultural Festival 2006" press conference held at the Cairo Capital Club (CCC). Among the attendees were the Japanese Ambassador in Egypt Kunihiko Makita ; representative of the Japanese Foundation Office Kaoro Meyamoto ; director of the Japan Foundation, Cairo Office, Shimizu Junichi ; and Director of the Japanese Information and Culture Centre Tamon Mochida. The opening ceremony was held at the Cairo Opera House's Open Air Theatre. The activities of the festival -- running from 9 February until 14 March -- are organised by the Japanese Embassy and the Japan Foundation, Cairo Office. And, my lovelies what a wonderful performance, the Japanese have a knack for excelling at the arts. My heart skipped a beat as I heard the divine music. For the first time, Dai Yamamoto will present a solo recital on Tsugaru Shamisen (a three stringed Japanese musical instrument). A musical concert is due to be performed by Japan's most promising pianist Yurie Miura, accompanied by the Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jan Stulen. Yuji Tsunemi, one of the best oud players in Japan and gifted req player Kei Wada will feature together a concert of Arab music along with Egyptian musicians. A Japanese Film Festival is also being held at the Artistic Creativity Centre featuring a number of modern Japanese films as well as an exhibition on Japanese dolls at the Cairo Opera Gallery. photo: Ayman Barayez President of the Special Olympics of the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) Ayman Ali Abdel-Wahab hosted a dinner party in honour of the Moroccan princess, chairwoman of Moroccan Special Olympics Lalla Amina. Princess Amina is seeking support from the Regional Olympics Committee to help Morocco in hosting the coming Summer International Special Olympics for the year 2011. Among the dignitaries who attended the party were Moroccan Ambassador to Cairo Mohamed Farag El - Dokali, veteran writer Naam El-Baz, and chairman of Telecom Egypt Aqeel Bashir. How exciting, my dears, a delegation from the Indian Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), headed by Pankal Parekh paid a visit to Egypt 9-12 February. The delegation interacted with the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, importers and others associated with the gem and jewellery industry in Egypt. The delegation promoted the India International Jewellery Show scheduled to be held in Mumbai 4-8 May, 2006. On this occasion, Indian Ambassador to Egypt A Gopinathan honoured the Egyptian Gold Industry and Commerce Union head Sherif El-Sergani.
