Grouping the ungroupable Sherif Sonbol captured these groups of dolls in Azerbijan representing figures such as former US president Bill Clinton, Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, fiction hero Harry Potter and the Virgin Mary carrying Jesus Christ. The idea behind this assorted group is that only in a display is where one can imagine the different personages gathering in one place. photos: Ayman Barayez Within the framework of its conference held for the third year under the auspices of the Arab League, the Arab Organisation for the Handicapped honoured Arab League Secretary- General Amr Moussa and Minister Laila El-Solh Hamada, deputy head of Al-Walid Bin Talal Humanitarian Organisation. Both Moussa and Hamada were awarded the organisation's shield in the presence of Assistant Arab League Secretary-General for Social Affairs Sema Nahous, Qatari Minister for Social Affairs Abdallah Nasser, Lebanese Ambassador to Cairo Khaled Ziyada, as well as a number of handicapped from various Arab countries. On the occasion of celebrating Saudi Arabia's National Day, Saudi Ambassador Hisham Al-Nazer and permanent representative of Saudi Arabia at the Arab League Ahmed Al-Qattan held a lavish reception at the Cleopatra Hall at the Semiramis Hotel. The reception was attended by a galaxy of high-profile figures such as Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa, Minister of Housing and New Urban Development Ahmed El-Maghrabi, Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Maged George, Minister of Health Hatem El-Gabali and Minister of State for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Moufid Shehab. Also present were numerous Arab ambassadors to Egypt, including Moroccan Ambassador Mohamed Farag Al-Dokali, Kuwaiti Ambassador Mohamed Al-Rashid, Lebanese Ambassador Khaled Ziyada, Omani Ambassador Abdul-Aziz Al-Hanaai and Emirati Ambassador Ahmed Al-Zoabi. Veteran actor Mahmoud Yassin, actress Nadia El-Guindi and veiled actress Sabrine, as well as actors Ashraf Zaki and Wael Nour were all present. Tomorrow, the International Food Festival which began on 8 October at the Zamalek Marriott Hotel will conclude its activities. Ten countries including Norway, the United States, Japan, Lebanon, Morocco and Egypt participated in the 10- day festival under the slogan "Taste the World". Each country took part in presenting its traditional foods and highlighting its famous tourism sites. US Ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey attended the opening ceremony. Lebanese singer Rami Ayash held an electrifying concert at Al-Shams Sporting Club with the attendance of a large audience. Club President Mohamed El-Malah honoured Ayash by awarding him the club shield and honorary membership. The Nile Lions Club, presided over by actor-cum-singer Samir Sabri, held a lavish celebration to honour a galaxy of rising actors, encouraging them to their pursue further success in their coming performances. Among them were actress Menna Faddali, actor Mohamed Abdel-Hafez, director Amr Abdeen, and head of the production sector at the Egyptian TV Rawya El-Bayad. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid The Red Sea's Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam came alive with a number of thrilling concerts featuring veteran Saudi singer Mohamed Abdu, pop singer Tamer Hosni and sultry Lebanese singer Miriam Fares. At El-Gezira Youth Centre, singer Angham and Khaled Selim cheered up their audience as they participated in Egyptian TV musical evenings. Giza Writers and Media Figures Society, headed by veteran actor Mahmoud Yassin, held a celebration at the Nile Hilton Hotel to honour veteran actress Madiha Yosri for her rich and successful artistic journey. The celebration was attended by Minister of Labour Aisha Abdel-Hadi, as well as a galaxy of Egyptian and Arab stars and media figures such as TV anchor Soheir Shalabi, author Naem El-Baz, actresses Nabila Ebeid and Lebleba. Closing today is the three-day conference on Change Initiatives and Development Towards the Future held at the Semiramis Hotel. The conference, said Chair Abdel-Rahman Tawfiq, is primarily concerned with the role of women and youth in civic development and institutional management, in addition to the role played by the media in human development. Regional and international experiences in the field of human development were also the subject of discussion among conference attendees. The conference saw 400 specialists representing 200 Arab and foreign institutions. It was sponsored by Minister of Administrative Development Ahmed Darwish, Alexandria governor Adel Labib and attended by Al-Ahram Weekly 's Mahmoud Bakr. The photography competition titled Egypt: Life in a Picture, organised by the Delegation of the European Commission in Cairo, has extended its deadline for submission to 26 October from 12 October, owing to the huge turn-out. For more information about the competition, visit www.eu- delegation.org.eg. On the occasion of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Goethe Institute in Cairo (1958) and in Alexandria (1959), a press conference was held at the institute's headquarters attended by the German Ambassador to Egypt Bernd Erbel, Regional Director of Goethe Institutes in North Africa and the Middle East Heiko Sivers and Goethe Institute Cultural Programme Director Friedrich Dahlhaus, who presented the rich cultural programme organised by the institute on this occasion. World- renowned German artist Gènther Uecker was also present, as he held his wonderful exhibition titled "The Down-Trodden Man -- 14 Crushed Tools", inaugurated the same day at the Townhouse Gallery, Downtown Cairo. ( see Listings p.3 )
