Days of thunder Against all weather forecasts, a thunderstorm hit Cairo last Thursday at around 5:15pm. For more than three hours heavy rain drenched the capital, and medium size hail was seen all over Cairo. Not since the past few decades has Egypt witnessed such turbulent skies. As all eyes turned upwards the frequent recurrence of light bolts etched different shapes that worked the imagination of many. As always, Nader Habib was ready with his camera, this snap shot being one of over 350 he was inspired to take. A graduate of the American University in Cairo (AUC) and a global advocate for community empowerment, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah spoke at her alma mater on civic engagement in the Arab region and the role it can play in improving lives and ensuring progress. In her address she called on the next generation of young Arabs who have benefited from higher education to accept their obligation to advance their societies. AUC President David Arnold noted that Queen Rania stands as a role model for young people around the globe, pointing out that she chose "a life of service and volunteer leadership on behalf of others," and that her example stands "as a testament to all the best qualities that we wish our graduates to strive for." In her address Queen Rania underlined that civic engagement is rooted in Arab culture and that now is the time to revive it again and fuse fresh energy into it. Attending and speaking at the event was a delegation of distinguished civil society and corporate leaders as well as policymakers and educators, including Minister of State for Family and Population Mushira Khattab. The John D Gerhart Centre for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement hosted the lecture, and its director, Barbara Ibrahim, noted that there is unprecedented initiative for change among youth in countries like Jordan and Egypt, evidenced by the number of youth-led organisations springing up to solve community problems. In an attempt to reinforce bilateral ties between Egypt and Germany, particularly in the field of education, German Ambassador to Egypt Michael Bock announced that his country is looking into establishing more German schools in Egypt, specifically in Upper Egypt, saying that he visited Sohag governorate lately to discuss establishing a German school there. His visit included inaugurating a number of new labs supported by Germany in the German-European School located in New Cairo. photos: Ayman Barayez A glamorous reception was hosted by Kuwaiti Ambassador to Egypt Mohamed Al-Rashid marking the 49th Kuwaiti National Day at the Semiramis InterContinental Hotel. The reception was crowned by the presence of a galaxy of high-profile personalities and ambassadors, parliamentary speaker Fathi Sorour, Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, Minister of State for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Moufid Shehab, former prime minister Atef Ebeid, Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Hisham Al-Nazer, Beyond magazine Chairman of the Board Mervat El-Talawi, education expert Nawal El-Degwi, Judge Khaled El-Qadi and actor Youssef Shaaban. The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC) in cooperation with the Egyptian- Indian Friendship Association (EIFA) organised a remarkable lecture under the title, "Egyptian-Indian Relations: Challenges and Opportunities". The lecture discussed ways Egypt can benefit from Indian advancements in the educational and technological fields. People's Assembly Foreign Relations Committee head Mustafa El-Feki was the keynote speaker at the seminar that was attended by Indian Ambassador to Egypt R Swaminathan and his Ecuadorian counterpart Edowin Johnson, head of the EIFA Alieddin Hilal, head of MACIC Suchitra Durai, Assistant Foreign Minister Mohamed El-Orabi, ambassadors Ahmed Haggag and Khaireddin Abdel-Latif as well as Director of Al-Hanager Arts Centre Hoda Wasfi. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid Glamour was in the air as the 58th Catholic Centre Cinema Festival concluded its activities at the centre's Nile Hall. The closing ceremony started with an exquisite performance by peerless Nubian pop singer Mohamed Mounir singing one of his most loved songs Hadouta Masriya, "An Egyptian Tale". The ceremony proceeded with the distribution of awards by fathers Youssef Mazloum and Boutros Daniel along with the jury committee. The film Al-Farah (The Wedding) took the lion's share of awards, with best film going to director Sameh Abdel-Aziz, best script to scriptwriter Ahmed Abdallah and best actor award to Khaled El-Sawi. Two certificates of recognition were granted to rising actor Yasser Galal and comedian Maged El-Kedwani. Gifted starlet Donia Samir Ghanem received the best actress award for her role in Teir Enta (Split). The latest blockbuster Welad Al-Aam (The Cousins) grabbed the audience award and a certificate of recognition that was given to its art director Fawzi El-Awamri. Cinematographer Hisham Sirry received the same award for his film Mikano. In a warm gesture, actor Hisham Abdel-Hamid paid a visit to the King Hussein Cancer Foundation during his visit to the Jordanian capital, Amman. Abdel-Hamid spent a whole day with the children of the centre, playing with them and taking photos. The foundation is considered one of the most important cancer treatment centres in the Middle East. Abdel-Hamid was visiting Amman as the guest of honour of an extravagant ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel marking the 130-year anniversary of the Egyptian Arab Land Bank. The ceremony began with a speech delivered by Abdel-Hamid followed by another given by Chairman of the Board of the Egyptian Arab Land Bank Mohamed El-Sebaei who highlighted the crucial role played by the bank in serving the Arab economy. The ceremony was concluded by honouring Egyptian Ambassador to Jordan Amr Abul- Atta, Chairman of the Central Bank of Jordan Oummaya Touqan and El-Sebaei in the presence of a wide array of banking representatives and media figures while guests were delighted by the melodies of Jordanian singer Zain Awad. The 20th African, Asian and Latin American Film Festival that is scheduled to take place in Milan from 15-21 March chose talented Egyptian filmmaker Ahmed Maher to be among the jury committee members of the official competition for long feature films. The selection of Maher comes after a long absence of Arab or Egyptian participation in the festival. Maher is the director of Al-Musafer (The Traveller) that entered the 66th Venice Film Festival and was granted one of the parallel awards of the festival -- the Christopher D Smithers Foundation Special Award. Maher stated that the administration of the festival desired to include his film in the official competition, but given that he joined the jury committee it will be screened outside of the official competition. As a part of their commitment to the UN International Year of Youth 2010, the United Nations Youth Club headed by diplomat Mazhar El-Shorbagi and Rotaract Club of Gezira Sporting presided over by Nahla Abaza launched the "Youth Action Against Human Trafficking Symposium" at Gezira Sporting Club. The symposium panel consisted of Minister of State for Family and Population Mushira Khattab, director of the UN Information Centre Khawla Mattar, Abaza and El-Shorbagi. The panelists discussed modern slavery, UN actions against human trafficking, and Egypt's response to child trafficking. At the end of the event UNYC Secretary- General Mohab Kadry presented the child-friendly texts of UN treaties that focus on child rights to Khattab.
