Pack of cards

By Mme Sosostris

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* Last week luminary geologist Rushdi Said was awarded the American University in Cairo's (AUC) honorary doctorate and it is about time if you ask me. On the occasion, Said gave an inspiring Commencement Address at the bi-annual ceremony presided over by AUC President David Arnold. Said was recognised for his long years of dedication to science and his ground-breaking work in the realm of geology.

* In perfect style, Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni hosted a dinner at the Prince Mohamed Ali Museum in Manial in honour of French writer Robert Solé who is a guest of the Cairo International Book Fair. The dinner was attended by a host of Egypt's foremost thinkers, officials, and politicians. Amongst the luminary crowd I saw former minister of foreign affairs Ahmed Maher, head of the Middle East News Agency Mahfouz El-Ansari, Antonio Badini, Italy's ambassador to Egypt and Assistant Culture Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cherif El-Shoubashi to name but a few.

* The lovely and talented Hoda Wasfi has been recognised by the French government and awarded the highest of honours in arts and literature. Back home, the event was celebrated with a lavish reception hosted this week by the French Ambassador to Egypt Jean-Claude Cosiron.

* The Germans are once again at Egypt's door but this time bringing with them a mission of education. And so the reception held last week by Christian Bode, member of the GUC's Board of Trustees and head of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), on the occasion of the annual meetings of the GUC's Board of Trustees and the inauguration of new sports facilities, was quite an event. All the way from Germany came Minister of Science, Research and the Arts Peter Frankenberg. Also present were Mahmoud Zakzouk, minister of religious endowments, Ahmed Gamaleddin, the minister of education and Awad Tageddin, minister of health.