Remains of the day In Al-Manzala Lake, specifically at the village of Borg Al-Borolous, near Damietta, Sherif Sonbol captured the old fishing boats that are now sinking into oblivion in the face of the relentless forward march of the motorboat. The Czech Embassy commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Czech Egyptology Institute in 2008 with a major celebration. The programme included a lecture by the institute's professor Miroslav Verner at the embassy premises and the opening of a long-term exhibition at the Nubia Museum in Aswan. Entitled "The Czech Participation in the International Campaign to Save the Monuments in Nubia", the exhibition was inaugurated by Minister of the Czech Republic Government Cyril Svoboda, Aswan Governor Samir Youssef, Czech Ambassador Miloslav Stasek, Director of the Nubia Museum Osama Abdel-Warith and Verner. During her visit to Egypt to open the new New Zealand Embassy, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke attended the opening of "River Man", an exhibition by the late New Zealand photographer John Feeney, at the AUC Sony Gallery. Known for film production, writing and storytelling as well as photography, Feeney was based in Cairo for 40 years. His photographs depict Egypt's epic grandeur. They include historic pictures of Gamal Abdel-Nasser 's funeral procession as it left Qasr Al-Nil Bridge. New Zealand Ambassador René Wilson said he regreted not having had the chance to meet Feeney, who passed away last year: "It is fitting that our prime minister is opening this exhibition," he said. Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary-General Zahi Hawass gave a lecture at the tent of Al-Ahly Club on the thrilling topic of the Pharaoh's curse and new excavations and discoveries at the Valley of the Kings. Present were the club's General-Manager and head of its Board of Trustees Hassan Hamdi, and head of the Arab Publishers Union Ibrahim El-Moallim and various high-profile club members. The four-day "Made in India" show was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the Cairo International Exhibition and Fair Grounds with the help of the Embassy of India. The objective of the event was to showcase India's industrial and technological capabilities, and to promote development of institutional linkages between prominent business associations and chambers of industry in Egypt and the CII. A total of 115 Indian companies representing the manufacturing and services sectors participated in the exhibition. The list of participants included public sector organisations, private sector companies, and Indian government entities. To coincide with the show, a 20-member delegation of CEOs, led by Rajive Kaul, former president of the CII, visited Cairo. The delegation, accompanied by Indian Ambassador Gopinathan, was received by Minister of Finance Youssef Boutros Ghali, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Amin Abaza and Minister for Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Ahmed El-Maghrabi. As part of the event, a gala dinner was organised at the Mena House Oberoi Hotel and attended by a large number of Egyptian dignitaries and businessmen. Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Moselhi and Minister for Administrative Development Ahmed Darwish were the guests of honour. Under the auspices of the head of the General Organisation of Culture Palaces Ahmed Nawwar, the so-called "pottery meeting" is being held in Qena governorate. This year, the meeting gathers around 50 potters and ceramists. photos: Ayman Barayez Commemorating the National Day of the United Arab Emirates, UAE Ambassador to Egypt Ahmed Ali Al-Zouabi held an opulent reception at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel. The occasion was crowned by the presence of Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Ahmed El-Maghrabi, Minister of Investment Mahmoud Mohieldin, Industry Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Minister of State for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Moufid Shehab and Al-Ahram Editor- in-Chief Osama Saraya. A galaxy of stars were there, including actresses Safia El-Emari, Magda Noureddin, Nicole Saba, Manal El-Fatatri and actor-cum-singer Samir Sabri. On the occasion of French Cuisine Day, French Ambassador Philippe Coste gave a lavish reception at the Sofitel Hotel. Present were German Ambassador Bernd Erbel and his spouse, Editor-In-Chief of Al-Ahram Hebdo newspaper Mohamed Salmawy, his wife the gifted painter Nazli Madkour, Editor-In-Chief of Nisf Al-Donia magazine Afkar El-Kharadli and Tourism expert Suzi Naga. To celebrate Thailand National Day, Ambassador of Thailand Noppadon Theppitak gave a very warm reception at his residence. Among the guests were Egyptian Assistant to the Foreign Minister Tamer Khalil and a host of Arab and foreign ambassadors including Ambassador of UAE Ahmed Al-Zouabi, Ambassador of Oman Abdul-Aziz Al-Hanaai, Ambassador of Japan Kaoru Ishikawa, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam Haji Muharram Piah and Egyptian tourism advisor to Thailand Ayman Naguib. Effat Hosni is showing a new collection of beautifully coloured paintings at his exhibition "Soul of Reality" -- currently on show at the Salama Gallery until 12 December. (see Exhibitions in Listings p.9) To mark the Egyptian Writers Union Day celebrations, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qassemi, emir of Sharja, sent a congratulatory message in which he took it upon himself to provide members of the union who need it with medical treatment at his own expense. The move was confirmed in telephone conversations with head of the union Mohamed Salmawy and the Arab Writers Union secretary. Sheikh Sultan should visit the Egyptian Union headquarters this January. In the framework of celebrating the 60th anniversary of India's independence and the establishment of Indo-Egyptian diplomatic relations, the Maulana Azad Centre of Indian Culture has invited students of art faculties to participate in the painting competition, "India through Egyptian Eyes". The competition is open to undergraduate students in the universities of Cairo and Giza governorates -- the deadline being 31 December 2007. The jury committee will identify three winners who will be offered cash prizes: LE1,000, LE750 and LE250 for first to third places, respectively.
