Remains of the day Al-Ahram Sports magazine photographer Samir El-Ghazouli provided the Contemporary Egypt Memory project affiliated to Bibliotheca Alexandrina a group of rare photo albums that he inherited from his father late photographer Mohamed Mahmoud El-Ghazouli which comprises 200 photos documenting Egypt's political, artistic and literary history. Born in 1900, Mahmoud El-Ghazouli started his journey with photography at the age of 17 and throughout his life he succeeded to compile a huge encyclopaedia that contains around 1,350,000 photos dating back to 1825. Under the auspices of Culture Minister Farouk Hosni, Ahmed Megahed, head of the General Organisation for Cultural Palaces (GOCP), inaugurated the activities of the eighth Arab Theatre Festival at the Cairo Puppet Theatre. The ceremony began with opening speeches delivered by Megahed and the president of the festival Amr Dawara. A plethora of theatre figures were honoured including beloved theatre icon and comic genius Soheir El-Babli, along with actors Tahani Rashed, Elham Shahine, Nabila Ebeid and Laila Elwi, Riyad El-Kholi, Tayseer Fahmi, Libyan actress Soad Khalil and Libyan actor Qassim Matroud. The play Praxa created by Tawfiq El-Hakim and directed by Nader Salaheddin was granted best theatrical performance, its honorary shield handed to the star of the performance, beautiful actress Boushra, on behalf of the play's crew. The highlight of the event was a performance by Al-Nil Troupe for Folk Instruments directed by Abdel-Rahman El-Shafei and an operetta entitled A Night from a Thousand Nights presented by Alexandria National Troupe, created by Biram El-Tonsi, and directed by Abdel-Maqsoud Ghoneim. Congratulations! Bahaa Abdelmegid has his two modern Arabic novellas titled Saint Theresa and Sleeping with Strangers translated into English by Chip Rossetti and published by the American University in Cairo Press. Abdelmegid holds a PhD in English Literature from Ain Shams University, where he also teaches. He is the author of three novels, as well as a collection of short stories. Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Meselhi inaugurated the charitable bazaar of the Tahsin Al-Siha Association presided over by Sawsan Attia at the Ramses Hilton Hotel. A galaxy of the wives of ambassadors of different countries, including Morocco, Turkey, India, China and Sri Lanka, as well as association members Nazli Shahbandar, Zeinab Touqaeddin, Amal Touqan, Diaa Abul-Makarem, Kawthar Abu Nakhla and Nadia Abul- Leil participated in the bazaar. photos: Ayman Barayez The Egyptian-Lebanese Friendship Association (ELFA), presided over by Negad Shaarawi hosted a spectacular reception at the Sofitel Gezira Hotel on the occasion of the visit of one of the leading figures in Lebanese society, Randa Berri, wife of Nabih Berri, head of the Lebanese Amal movement. Guests enjoyed a magnificent night that was attended by a coterie of high- profile personalities such as Lebanese Ambassador to Egypt Khaled Ziyada and members of the Lebanese Embassy Ghazi Nasser, Ahmed Baydoun and Walid El-Alayli, Nisf Al-Donia magazine Editor-in-Chief Afkar El-Kharadli, head of Zamalek Inner Wheel Club Samia Abul-Fotouh and head of Garden City Lions Club Awatef Serageddin. The Catholic Centre represented by Father Boutros Daniel held a grand celebration for orphans at its headquarters. A number of charitable associations participated in the event together with a galaxy of luminaries such as singer Ihab Tawfiq, actresses Nihal Anbar and Somaya El-Khashab who enjoyed the children's company. In a kind gesture, they distributed gifts among the children, and sang and played with them. Students of Talaat Harb Secondary School for girls in Al-Mahala Al-Kobra met last week with Al-Ahram 's Assistant Editor-in-Chief Wagdi Riyad and Al-Ahram Weekly's Environment Editor Mahmoud Bakr. During their meeting, which was held at the hall of the main building, students discussed with Riyad and Bakr various environmental and scientific issues. Al-Azhar Park witnessed a splendid celebration with the slogan, "Our Country is Blessed by its Youth", under the auspices of National Democratic Party (NDP) Secretary- General Safwat El-Sherif and organised by NDP member Mohamed Heiba. Large audience in Al-Azhar Park enjoyed the celebration enlivened by singers Mohamed Fouad and Sameh Youssri. On the occasion of celebrating the World Health Day (WHD), an extravagant celebration was held at the Giza Pyramids. It featured a tour for products and activities of the Giza governorate, a military music performance, as well as a performance in the Pharaonic Village. The celebration was attended by a galaxy of high-profile figures, including regional director of the World Health Organisation Hussein Al-Gezairi, Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Maged George, Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Meselhi and media figure Tarek Allam. The celebration concluded with the screening of a documentary film for the Giza monuments. The Egypt-India Friendship Association (EIFA), in cooperation with the Embassy of India in Cairo, organised a cultural event to mark Orphans' Day at the Indian Embassy premises. Popular Egyptian singer Louaai contributed to the celebration, singing his famous songs to children from various orphanages. The celebration was attended by EIFA President Alieddin Hilal, Indian Ambassador to Egypt R Swaminathan and director of the Indian Culture Centre Suchitra Durai as well as EIFA members and public figures. Garden City Lions Club (GCLC) presided over by Awatef Serageddin hosted a thrilling seminar under the title, "Technology Transfer", at the Cairo Capital Club (CCC). The keynote speaker at the seminar was German University in Cairo (GUC) founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ashraf Mansour who discussed cooperation between major German corporations and the GUC to provide students with the latest technology applications. The seminar was attended by Algerian Ambassador to Egypt Abdel-Qader Al-Haggar, head of Lions Clubs in Egypt District 352 Hossam Khodeir, Nisf Al-Donia magazine Editor-in-Chief Afkar El-Kharadli and media figure Fatma Fouad. Among GCLC members attending was Safinaz Zein El-Abidin. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid On the occasion of commemorating the 56th anniversary of Al-Gomhuriya newspaper as well as the 20th anniversary of Horyati magazine, a lavish ceremony was held at the Four Seasons Hotel. Al-Gomhuriya Editor-in-Chief Mohamed Ali Ibrahim and Horyati Editor-in-Chief Mohamed Nour distributed honorary shields among an array of Egyptian and Arab celebrities. Among the honoured were TV presenter and media figure Mahmoud Saad, head of the Egyptian Football Federation Samir Zaher, gorgeous actresses Yousra, Boushra, Basma, Ghada Abdel-Razeq, Nermine El-Fiqi, Yousra El-Louzi, Maha Ahmed, and actors Talaat Zakaria and Karim Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz. The party was enlivened by veteran Egyptian singer Hani Shaker and sultry Lebanese singer Haifaa Wahbi, who appeared on stage in a dazzling black gown with colourful glittering stones. Shaker and Wahbi were granted honorary shields as well. Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Meselhi, Minister of Education Ahmed Zaki Badr, and actors Yehia El-Fakharani, Mahmoud Yassin and Farouk Falawkas were among the attendees.
