It is always satisfying to hear that a fellow Egyptian is aspiring to great heights, so Al- Ahram was delighted when Al-Ahram Editor- in-Chief and Chairman of the Board Ibrahim Nafie invited Dina Habib Powell to Egypt for a six-day visit. Egyptian-born Powell, only 31, currently serves as Assistant to President Bush for Presidential Personnel. Following a round- table discussion with senior members of Al- Ahram's numerous publications and departments, Mr Nafie hosted a dinner party in her honour at the Cairo Capital Club in Garden City. It was attended by a galaxy of Al-Ahram veteran writers and political analysts including Al-Ahram Hebdo Editor-in-Chief Mohamed Salmawy, Director of Political and Strategic Studies Centre Abdel-Moneim Said, our very own Executive Editor-in-Chief Hani Shukrallah, Editor-in-Chief of Alaaeddin children's magazine Magda El-Guindy, Al-Ahram back- page editor and author Mona Ragab, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Zahi Hawass, among other highly distinguished individuals. Powell spoke of both the ascent to her current post, and as well her strong ties to her Egyptian roots. The talk and dinner were both casual affairs, with Powell chatting openly with the entourage of journalists hammering friendly questions her way. The Silver Jubilee of the Housing and Development Bank was celebrated at the Semiramis Intercontinental hotel last week in the presence of bank chairman Fathi El-Sebaai. The spectacular event included the presence of Minister of Housing Ibrahim Suleiman, Minister of Education Ahmed Gamaleddin Moussa as well as Egypt's Olympic wrestling gold medalist in Athens Karam Gaber. As the academic year begins to roll, education-related events are fast flooding upon the Fall. One such event was hosted by one of the biggest names in the business: Nawal El- Degwi, head of the Board of Trustees of Modern Sciences and Arts University (MSA). El- Degwi held a vast party for the new batch of students entering the university at the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House. Among the luminary figures who came to share the joyous occasion with students were Minister of Transport Essam Sharaf and head of the Foreign Relations Committee at the People's Assembly Mustafa El-Fiqi.
