BRIEFLY IN BUSINESS

Egyptian official to discuss U.S. relations in Newport

The Egyptian consul general will be in town April 18 at the Fairmont Newport Beach to speak about Egyptian-United States relations and the future of the Middle East.

Abderahman Salaheldin has held his position since 2004 and has been a diplomat for more than 25 years.

The reception will begin at 6 p.m., with a dinner presentation following at 7 p.m. Salaheldin will make time for a question-and-answer session after the speech.

Tickets cost $50 for World Affairs Council of Orange County members and $65 for nonmembers.

Students can purchase tickets for $37.

For more information call (949) 253-5751 or visit www.worldaffairscouncil.org.

Opera Pacific offers discounts to Commerce members

Opera Pacific and the Performing Arts Center are offering Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce members discounted tickets to selected April performances of Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love.”

Members will receive a 50% discount on 7:30 p.m. performances April 11 and 19. They can receive 30% off tickets to the 7:30 p.m. performance April 14 and the 2 p.m. performance April 22.

For more information call René Franks in the Group Services Department at (714) 830-6361.

Student group holding auction to benefit Special Olympics

The student-based nonprofit organization Challenge for Charity at UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business will host its annual Charity Auction from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the University Club in Irvine.

All proceeds from the auction at Friday’s event will benefit Special Olympics of Orange County.

At the event, the Corporate Responsibility Award will be given to Tom Burnham of the Allergan Foundation to recognize the company’s philanthropic efforts.

Tickets cost $50 for the public, $30 for business school alumni and $20 for students.

For more information visit c4cirvine.org.

Newport Beach man promoted at Pacific Life Insurance Co.

Newport Beach-based Pacific Life Insurance Co. announced the promotion of Newport Beach resident Matthew Levene to assistant vice president of credit analysis.

Levene began working for Pacific Life 10 years ago as a securities accounting analyst and has had two promotions since then.

As the company’s assistant vice president, he will manage and monitor credit risks for the company.

He will also negotiate and make terms and credit recommendations to senior managers.

Levene is a chartered financial analyst.

Villa Nova Restaurant offering discounts on wine this month

The Villa Nova Restaurant is offering special wine discounts every Monday this month on over 500 bottles from its main wine list.

Guests can receive 50% off the menu price and 25% off its “cellar sections” — 800 bottles of vintage wines from California, Italy and France.

Complimentary valet parking and guest boat docks are available for guests.

For more information or to make reservations call (949) 642-7880. Villa Nova is at 3131 West Coast Highway in Newport Beach.