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FASHION & TRENDS
16 Shopaholic
All Over Knits & Gucci Winter 2015
One of the most prominent trends for Winter was the comfortingly soft, full look in wool, as seen at Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and Céline. This trend works best in neutral tones. You can add a formal touch to the look by wearing a blazer as seen in Haider Ackermann runway or for a more casual funky look make it oversized as seen at Sonia Rykiel.
BEAUTY
20 Beauty Buzz
The latest & newest beauty products & news you need to know.
YOU, LOVE & LIFE
22 Q&A
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Egyptian & Proud What is the best thing about being an Egyptian?
Despite all the hardships we encounter daily being Egyptians, still there is something that makes us celebrate belonging to this country and being part of it. This month while we celebrate the 4th anniversary of the 25th of January Revolution, Lounge asks its readers about what makes them feel proud the most about being an Egyptian.
24 Relationships
Spice up Your Relationship: Renew your passion
Keeping a Relationship young and alive is a very hard work. No matter how in love you and your partner are, you’ll always need to spice it up, you’ll need creative ideas to reassure your feelings,
you’ll need to update your methods and your ways of showing your passion, Lounge would love to remind you how to spice it up through the good and the bad times..
ENTERTAINMENT
26 Cover Story
The Diva Latifa
After her video clip ‘Ahla Haga Fya’ won clip of the year for 2014, Lounge talks to Tunisian diva Latifa about the clip, fashion and politics, as well as her coming acting projects..
30 Star
Angelina Jolie Unbroken
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Known as one of Hollywood’s icons, Lounge brought you an exclusive one on one interview with actress Angelina Jolie about her second directional attempt ‘Unbroken.’ The United Nations Goodwill Ambassador reveals all about the movie and the message behind it.
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HEALTH & FITNESS
34 Ask The Expert
Schizophrenia: “Is it geneticbased Illness or possession by evil spirits?”
Aft er all t he con t roversy aroused in media regarding evil possession, this month Lounge asks Dr. Ahmed Ihab about the truth behind this phenomenon, whether it is evil spirits or Schizophrenia, if it is an inherited disease or not as well as its treatment.
35 Health Desk
The latest & newest health & fitness news you need to know.
10
OUT & ABOUT
36 Feature
Hisham Kharma Law 3andak Dam
Founded by Hisham Kharma, ‘Law 3andak Dam’ has directly helped thousands of people who need blood. An online platform that connects blood donors to patients, ‘Law 3andak Dam’ is a non-profit online service that has made a great impact. Lounge speaks to Hisham Kharma about ‘Law 3andak Dam,’ its facilities and his upcoming work.
20 EVERY ISSUE 6 Chairman’s Letter 8 Editor’s Letter 10 In The Know
Everything you need to know to be in the know, from celebrity to entertainment news to what’s in style, Lounge keeps you fully updated.
50 Horoscope
Happy Birthday Capricorn
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52 Well Said
12 ways to be Happy
During the hectic daily routines, we sometimes tend to forget the aim behind our life. This issue with the beginning of 2015, Lounge brought you 12 tips that make you feel happier and enjoy life.
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Chairman’s Letter CHAIRMAN Ahmed Helal EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sherif Ibrahim EXECUTIVE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amira Tharwat GENERAL MANAGER Ahmed M. Hanohoum ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER Khaled Ashraf Hegazy PR & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Nevine Helal SENIOR EDITOR Reem El Shennawi
In this month’s issue of Lounge, we welcome 2015 with the sensational diva Latifa, who graces our cover for the first time, the Tunisian singer reveals all about her optimism towards the Arab world and tells us exclusively about her coming acting projects. We also brought you an exclusive one on one interview with non less than the super star Angelina Jolie, who tells us all about her movie ‘Unbroken,’ which she directed herself. Fashion addicts, don’t miss our Shopahoilic pages, where we kiss Winter goodbye with some of the seasons trends and Gucci’s 2015 collection, plus, the latest products for beauty that proved its success. We celebrate the fourth anniversary of the 25th of January Revolution with our readers, where we ask them about the things they like the most being Egyptians, and we ask Hisham Kharma about his ‘Law 3ndak Dam’ initiative for blood donors. All that plus, our tips on how to make your relationship with your partner spicier. Don’t miss the issue and enjoy 2015.
CONTRIBUTORS Sherouk Nafie ADVERTISING MANAGER Doaa Mostafa DESIGNED BY Nagy F. Ragheb GRAPHIC DESIGNER Wesam Osama EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Noha Hesham Zayed IT ADVISOR Amr Fakhr El-Din FINANCIAL ADVISOR Ahmed M. Abd el Latif
LOUNGE’S COVER: LATIFA
SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER Osama Abu Omar DISTRIBUTION Charisma International All rights reserved to Lounge. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Website: www.lounge-eg.com E-mail: info@lounge-eg.com PRINTING International Printing House To subscribe or advertise, please contact our offices at: 17 Nakhla El Motaey St. 6th Floor Apt. 601 Heliopolis, Cairo - Egypt 02-2642 2298/7 Photography, art Directing & Theme by: Nouran Khalifa Make up artist: Reham Khalifa Hair stylist: Marwan
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EDITOR’S
letter
THE EXORCISM OF IGNORANCE We’ve all heard of the controversial episode aired last month about a group of sisters, who are said to be “possessed” by evil spirits, and the TV host brought an expert to help them and make an end to their sufferings. The episode was the talk of the town for the past couple of weeks. It affected a lot of people that I’ve heard some people commenting that they couldn’t ‘live’ after watching the episode and how it scared them to death. To be honest, watching a material that discusses genes ghosts, which is not a scary movie, doesn’t make me feel interested no matter how it tackles the issue, but I had to watch a glimpse of it out of curiosity. Without judging the TV host or the girls on whether they are paid to make a spicy TV show or if they suffer from a psychological mental disorder, seeing something like this aired on TV in 2014 makes me feel sick, and what makes me even more disappointed is the number of people who believed in the episode and took it seriously. The last thing Egypt needs these days is the
distraction of the public through ignorance and superstitious beliefs, and mixing them with religion. As much as there is a national burden that we all carry, being Egyptians and living in a very critical phase our country is still witnessing, I think the media should be more aware of the content it provides. It’s good to make a huge number of viewers and get more ads, but not on the expense of the content being provided. Don’t miss our Ask the Expert section, where we brought you Dr. Ahmed Ihab, Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine & Genetic Pathology Head of The Molecular Pathology Unit & Research Group (MPRG) in The German University in Cairo, to tell us the medical explanation of such cases, the history of it and how our ancestors considered it a mental illness thousands of years before century and were searching for its cure rather than considering ghosts evil spirits!
Amira Tharwat
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in the know
BRANGELINA HIRE CYBER SECURITY TO MONITOR THEIR KIDS ONLINE
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have hired a cyber security team to protect their kids online. Ange herself is pretty old-school when it comes to technology, not using Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, but she understands the dangers of the Internet only too well. Talking about her kids’ internet use, Angelina told People, “we have someone who monitors that”. The cyber security team she and Brad have hired monitor the Internet and social media activity of their brood. “It’s a scary new world,” she explained. “It’s so beyond what we understand. We wouldn’t even know what to look for.”
DOES JENNIFER LAWRENCE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR BOYFRIEND?
Does Jennifer Lawrence have a new boyfriend? Reports are coming in that she does, and rather than going for a musician or actor this time, she is apparently seeing director Gabe Polsky. The Oscar-winning actress was spotted at Gabe’s LA home, months after her split from Chris Martin. J-Law brought her dog along, and Gabe reportedly had a chance to show off his chivalrous side when Jen’s dog ran out onto the street, and he swooped in and rescued the pup.
In the know... Celebrity
TAYLOR SWIFT ADMITS SHE HAS A WILD, REBELLIOUS SIDE
Taylor Swift has been picked as one of Barbara Walters’s 10 Most Fascinating People of 2014 - but she admitted she can be a bad girl sometimes, contrary to her good-girl image. On the two-hour special Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2014, Taylor even admitted she likes drinking - shock horror! Barbara started the interview by pointing out Taylor’s perfect public image, saying: “You have such a good reputation.
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JENNIFER ANISTON OPENS UP ABOUT HER INSOMNIA AND WEIGHT GAIN FOR CAKE
Jennifer Aniston revealed that she suffers from insomnia, saying she often wakes up at three in the morning and can’t get back to sleep. On The Dr. Oz Show this week, the Cake actress said: “I have a hard time sleeping. Sleep is a tough one for me. “My brain, the committee in my head, if I wake up at three in the morning I just start having conversations and they won’t shut up and then I can’t get back to sleep. I do have three animals and a human being in the bed, so there are all these distractions.”
JOEY FATONE OF ‘N SYNC CONFIRMS JESSICA & JUSTIN’S BABY NEWS
Justin Timberlake’s ‘N Sync bandmate Joey Fatone has spilled the beans on Justin and Jessica Biel’s baby, even though the couple haven’t yet confirmed that Jess is pregnant. Joey said: “He told me a while ago, and I kept my mouth shut. But now I can talk about it!” He also thinks the pair would make great parents, saying: “Jessica is awesome, and Justin is a kid at heart. [They’ll have] fun.”
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in the know
KATE WINSLET HAS ENTERED NEGOTIATIONS FOR UNIVERSAL PICTURES’ STEVE JOBS BIOPIC The actress is in line to join Michael Fassbender and Seth Rogen in the Danny Boyle-directed movie, reports Variety. Winslet will take the female lead, which was previously expected to go to Natalie Portman. Jeff Daniels is also reported to be in talks for the role of former Apple president John Scully. Aaron Sorkin is writing the script. Winslet will next be seen in Insurgent and Triple Nine.
In the know... Entertainment
50 SHADES OF GREY FOR INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE IN BERLIN
The 2015 Berlin Film Festival is to feature the first international screening of Fifty Shades of Grey. Director Sam Taylor-Johnson, stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan and author EL James will be in attendance for the showing on February 11, Deadline reports. The erotic drama’s supporting cast features Rita Ora, Marcia Gay Harden, Max Martini, Eloise Mumford, Jennifer Ehle, Luke Grimes and Victor Rasuk. Fifty Shades of Grey will hit cinemas on Valentine’s Day 2015. Kate Winslet in talks for Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs biopic
BARACK OBAMA HAS APPLAUDED SONY PICTURES OVER ITS DECISION TO REINSTATE THE RELEASE OF THE INTERVIEW
SARAH JESSICA PARKER IS RETURNING TO TV SCREENS
Get excited ladies Sarah Jessica Parker is returning to our TV screens with a TV show about divorce, and it’ll come a decade after the end of Sex and the City. Deadline reports that Sarah Jessica Parker will return to HBO with a new half-hour comedy series about divorce. As well as starring in the show, SJP is expected to executive produce the show, too. The show, titled Divorce, is written by British writeractress Sharon Horgan.
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The president, who publicly disagreed with the studio’s original choice to cancel the film’s distribution, is said to “welcome [the] outcome”. A statement released via the White House press secretary Eric Schultz said: “The president applauds Sony’s decision to authorize screenings of t he film. “As the president made clear, we are a country that believes in free speech, and the right of artistic expression.” The decision made by Sony and participating theatres allows people to make their own choices about the film, and we welcome that outcome.” Sony’s decision to pull the film comes after six major cinema chains in North America vowed not to show Seth Rogen’s controversial new comedy The Interview in the wake of a terror threat. Ondemand or DVD releases are also not being planned.
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in the know
NAOMI CAMPBELL IS THE NEW FACE OF AGENT PROVOCATEUR
Naomi Campbell teaming up with Jourdan Dunn for Burberry, and now the 44-year-old supermodel is the new face (or incredible body) of Agent Provocateur. Naomi Campbell is showing off the luxury lingerie brand’s Spring Summer 2015 collection, and they’ve gone for a dangerous vibe - inspired by David Lynch’s The Lost Highway and Brian de Palma’s glamorous and murderous thriller Body Double.
VIRGIN MEDIA CREATES WRISTBAND THAT RECORDS TV WHEN YOU FALL ASLEEP
Virgin Media has developed a wristband that will pause television when you fall asleep in front of the television. The technology was created by two teenagers, Ryan Oliver and Jonathan Kingsley, who were commissioned by Virgin Media as part of its Switched on Futures initiative. KipstR is a 3D-printed device featuring a pulse oximeter, which is able to detect whether the wearer is asleep and tells Virgin’s TiVo box to pause and record the rest of a show. It can also tell when the wearer is awake and resume from where it paused.
NICKI MINAJ IS THE NEW FACE OF ROBERTO CAVALLI SS15
Roberto Cavalli has announced Nicki Minaj as the face of the new Spring/Summer 2015 advertising campaign. The Anaconda star looks absolutely gorgeous in the ad campaign photos - shot in Los Angeles by photographer Francesco Carrozzini. The rather romantic prose on the press release reads: “The tribal dance of Nicki Minaj enchants the lens, while the heat of the sun and the powerful colours inebriates the mind. The colours fire orange, blue, saffron yellow and green mirror the summer, a dance of energy that captivates and charms. A strong sensuality like a slight breeze goes through the dresses’ silhouette in silk georgette with animal and floral prints.”
In the know... AMAZON IS GIVING AWAY £150 WORTH OF APPS FREE THIS CHRISTMAS
Style & Design
Amazon is giving away free apps again this Christmas to celebrate the season of goodwill. From today (December 24) until Boxing Day, the company is offering a bundle of apps worth £150 for nothing via the Amazon Appstore. Titles include popular games such as Angry Birds Space, Colin McRae Rally, Worms 3 and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. In the musicrelated categories, users can get their hands on premium apps such as TuneIn Radio Pro, which usually costs £5.88, and iReal Pro – Music Book & Play Along, usually £7.98.
RIHANNA NAMED PUMA’S NEW AMBASSADOR & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Rihanna’s got a new job, y’all! The worldwide popstar has just been announced as Puma global ambassador for Women’s Training. The new multi-year partnership - which will kick off in January 2015 - sees Rihanna serve as the Women’s Creative Director for the brand. The press release Puma released, says: “Embodying everything that Puma stands for, Rihanna’s unstoppable spirit, creative energy and prowess both on and off the stage, make her the perfect representation of the Puma brand.”
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FASHION & TRENDS shopaholic
ALL OVER KNITS
One of the most prominent trends for Winter was the comfortingly soft, full look in wool, as seen at Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and CĂŠline. This trend works best in neutral tones. You can add a formal touch to the look by wearing a blazer as seen in Haider Ackermann runway or for a more casual funky look make it oversized as seen at Sonia Rykiel.
HAIDER ACKERMANN
STELLA MCCARTNEY
STELLA MCCARTNEY
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SONIA RYKIEL
CÉLINE
MARC JACOBS
FASHION & TRENDS LOUNGE
shopaholic
GUCCI WINTER
2015
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Gucci Fall 2014–2015 collection welcomes winter with clean lines and simple silhouettes and 1960’s inspired Swinging London vibration, which gives a polished look and A-line shape. The colour palette comes in dusty pink, beige, citrus yellow with mustard notes, baby blue and sage green.
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BEAUTY LOUNGE
news
SILK EDITION BY BOURJOIS
As soft and fine as silk, as melting as a cream, Bourjois has created the new powder sensation ‘Silk Edition,’ the compact powder that takes you on an extreme sensory experience. Inspired by silk, the texture of ‘Silk Edition’ is designed to glide over the skin as lightly as a caress. Its formula is melting and it has an undetectable finish. This new generation powder creates no overload or thickness. A genuine innovation formula for ultimate comfort and bare skin sensation. A flawless and matte complexion for 8 hours, Silk Edition evens out blemishes and dark spots. The complexion is matte but never dull. Silky inside, precious out, its discreet black design is understated and elegant.
Y T
U A E
B
Z Z
U B
NARS’ FAIRY’S KISS
Nars ‘Fairy’s Kiss’ is one of two eyeshadow palettes that were released; the other palette is ‘Ride Up to the Moon.’ Both palettes include top-selling shadows from the brand and one limited edition shade. The ‘Fairy’s Kiss’ palette holds six shades with two mattes and the other four are shimmery/glittery shades, all in the pinky/plum family. It is a sophisticated six-shadow palette of celestial smoky hues to create a high-fashion haze or otherworldly effects. You can’t doubt the quality of these and they last all day (and night, if you need them too).
NO MORE CRACKED SKIN Gehwol med Salve for cracked skin has a base of selected oils, which are kind to the skin and contains an effective combination of natural essential oils, panthenol, a skin vitamin and bisabolol, the anti-inflammatory component of chamomile. With regular use the skin regains its natural elasticity and resilience and is also protected. It helps prevent cracks, skin reddening and any other unpleasant, related symptoms. Massage well into the skin once or twice daily. For even quicker relief, a warm, invigorating Gehwol Foot Bath is recommended beforehand.
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BEAUTY LOUNGE
news
ME ’ is CO IOSE N A cara rovides r s L D a N p te M GRACARA andoiseara thater, brighk r c c g S s e g MA me G d ma r bi n N al
fo n in co wa ‘Lan st-of-its-kll lashesnary, S xceptios. It e r e a fi ss to a volutio ovides ll lash and, e e a acc . This r cara pr me to ented wr t u s eye d Mas nd volufirst pa e of yo d the n ift, a e’s p a a a , n W th, l com he sh tion ara leng res Lans with t applicae masc u feat h work easiest ixes th ing for m c whi for the wand n, allow er. e e e c p h t long o fa e of h twist s fresh v r u y c eac t sta with ula tha form
‘HANG UP’ ON MAC GIORGIO ARMANI CODE ELIXIR
More enigmatic and more mysterious, here Armani Code reveals and conceals the essence of voluptuousness. The Elixir bottle is characterized by a couture presentation, a graceful homage to the Thirties, an important inspiration for Giorgio Armani, rekindles the expression of the Haute Parfumerie and the elegantly feminine gestures of the time. The élixir de parfum associates the richness of orange blossom absolute with the soft essence of Tunisian Neroli - an unexpected marriage which gives this fragrance a voluptuous magnetism. The temptation is in the heart of the flower; so soft and velvety.
‘Hang Up’ is a cremesheen lippie, which means it is a creamy lipstick with full coverage. This is a deep plum colour (perfect for Autumn or Winter), that can be worn as a full-on opaque lippie or a sheer lip tint (just lightly dab it onto the lips). Application is wonderful, since it is such a creamy lipstick. While the colour of this lipstick is quite plumy, it actually looks a lot lighter on, which means that you could layer it up until you find a shade that suits you best. It’s also quite sheer and shiny.
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YOU, LOVE & LIFE LOUNGE
Q&A
EGYPTIAN AND PROUD
d
espite all the hardships we encounter daily being Egyptians, still there is something that makes us celebrate belonging to this country and being part of it. This month while we celebrate the 4th anniversary of the 25th of January Revolution, Lounge asks its readers about what makes them feel proud the most about being an Egyptian.
What is the best thing about
being an Egyptian? FATMA IBRAHIM
As a population, we are extremely intelligent. The fact that Egyptians are smart is something that I will always be proud of.
MARC WAHBA MONY HELAL
We have amazing food, a wonderful culture, a rich heritage and an incredibly beautiful country, and the fact that it is called ‘Om el donia’ even if it gets hard on us sometimes.
AHMED OMAR
Q&A What makes me happy to be an Egyptian is how heartwarming and welcoming our people are!
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Nothing is ever really perfect, and you can’t always get the perfect package or the ideal wife, it’s that slight imperfection that drives us and keeps us going. Being an Egyptian and growing up in such an environment teaches you sympathy and compassion. As opposed to most western societies that preached and idolized individualism, I love my peeps here, I love my hairdresser to death and my doorman is my second shadow!
ADAM EL NAGGAR
I know how to correctly set up a Shisha.
SHADY FAYED
I get to experience great weather all year long.
PETER REDA
I am proud of having a historic background like the Pharaohs, our ancient history makes me happy to be an Egyptian.
EMAN EL BAHR DARWEESH
I feel proud to be an Egyptian after going through one of the strongest Revolutions a country is yet to live through. Being able to conquer an old and corrupt regime only to replace it with a cleaner one definitely makes me proud to be an Egyptian.
AHMED MELIGY
I love the weather in my country!
JEHAD EL HADY
I am a citizen of one of the oldest and greatest cultures the world has ever known.
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YOU, LOVE & LIFE LOUNGE
relationships
SPICE UP YOUR RENEW RELATIONSHIP YOUR PASSION k
eeping a Relationship young and alive is a very hard work. No matter how in love you and your partner are, you’ll always need to spice it up, you’ll need creative ideas to reassure your feelings, you’ll need to update your methods and your ways of showing your passion, Sherouk Nafie would love to remind you how to spice it up through the good and the bad times..
We need passion to succeed in any area of our lives, we need to be passionate, enthusiastic and excited to keep going on whatever we are doing to reach the maximum euphoria, and that’s what happens when we start a relationship till we reach the peak of the so called euphoria. After months or perhaps years of doing the same thing, understanding each other, practicing the same activities and having the same conversations, we start to get bored, our excitement wane and the flames of our sparks just get dull. The good news is it is normal. By remembering why you started the relationship in the first place, why you chose your partner out of all the people you had in your life, the happily ever after and the many goals you planned to share with your significant other, and by rewinding the sparks and the first dates, you’ll have the motive to spice it up and get it back on fire as it used to be. And perhaps a little bit more, nothing beats the experience.
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TEENS LOVE TIPS
Do you remember the romantic movies of Hollywood about teens love? People who used to put notes on the mirror and between papers, songs played magically through the window or in the car, and yes the surprising flowers beside the breakfast and the naughty texts message in the middle of the day or at night? Love is supposed to bring the teenager inside you back; never let go.
LOVE LETTERS
From an era to another, hand written letters never get out of style and never lose their effect. Once every week or two, write your partner a love letter and explain at least one reason why you would love this relationship to go on, or state one thing you love about your partner or perhaps write the lyrics of a song that reminds you of each other. Write whatever you feel, and make sure it’s scented and unexpected.
INVEST IN YOUR PARTNER
Find out what your partner wants to do or need to listen to and do it. Start engaging yourself and invest some of your time sharing his/her activities. Surprise your partner with attending a yoga class together or going together to the museum, or maybe spend some time just watching your partner while he/she works and order hot dinner together. Don’t be a selfish partner, sharing is and will always be caring.
PLAN FOR SOME CREATIVE DATES
Ordinary dinners, cinemas and some occasional partying at one point can be boring. So, try some new ideas to entertain your relationship and spice up your routine. Try to go for a spa day together, a ride in the wild with bicycles, a crafty night in one of these crafty places, where you can create colour and have fun, and/or a karaoke night with friends. You can also visit an orphanage and feel good about it. If all fail, go for the classical teenage nights such as, ice skating and grab some hotdogs.
REALIZE IT’S ABOUT TWO
Before finding solutions to your ordinary relationship, which started to lack a lot of excitement and passion, you have to stop complaining to your family, your friends and your partner’s friends. Make sure to keep it all between you and your significant other and be straight forward about it. Always show enough respect to figure out where you both stand before you reach an undesired level of coldness or routine. Be sure not to be offensive or defensive, talk it out to work it out.
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
Commitment is such a precious valuable thing that will need you both to work on most of the time to get the best out of it, make sure you don’t lose yourself in the process, and to be that one person who was loved throughout this whole relationship thing. Always find the time for yourself, do your activities and see your friends. Be yourself and allow your partner to always be him/herself, remember, there is a reason why you chose him in the first place. And finally, If you’ve been living in a routine for a while, be patient, get closer to your partner bit by bit. Share your ideas, come up with solutions together, and make sure you do understand each other, respect your differences and enjoy it. May you have the power to change, and learn that the power is love.
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ENTERTAINMENT LOUNGE
cover story
Photography, art Directing & Theme by: Nouran Khalifa Make up artist: Reham Khalifa Hair stylist: Marwan
THE DIVA
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LATIFA
a
fter her video clip ‘Ahla Haga Fya’ won clip of the year for 2014, Amira Tharwat talks to Tunisian diva Latifa about the clip, fashion and politics, as well as her coming acting projects…
Congratulations on winning best video clip for 2014, how did the idea came about? It is a very cheerful song that inspired me. Director Walled Nassif succeeded in making it come out in this vivid lively shape. The clip celebrates life; how far do you feel Arabs need that now? Of course we need optimism and cheerfulness especially after the hardships the Arab world witnessed. The album is full of happy and positive songs, and I am really satisfied with its success. Now after four years have already passed on the 25th of January Revolution, are you optimistic? Generally, I am a very optimistic person and I believe strongly in Allah and the gifts he granted us, but I know that the Revolution hasn’t accomplished anything of what it was calling for, there are Syrian refuges in Egypt and one million and a half Libyan scattered away from their countries. There is a rise in the number of unemployment and illegal emigrations; tourism was affected severely in Egypt, Tunisia and even Lebanon. I hope the picture becomes clearer because those who stole the Revolution drifted away from its main aim of bringing benefits to the people. I’ve just been back from the Tunisian Embassy in Cairo after voting for the president and I am so happy with the results. I wish the new president would put things back in its right place.
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ENTERTAINMENT LOUNGE
cover story
Do you think the Arab spring affected the music industry negatively? Unfortunately, it affected everything not just the music industry; it affected the markets including food, there are people who are starving in the Arab world, I can see that so far all the effects of the Revolutions were negative even in the media, there is chaos not freedom. How can we put an end to hacking songs? The end to this must be through the minister of culture. Digital rights abroad are taken very seriously, why we can’t apply this on Egypt as well. I produce for myself, but the financial gain is minimal compared to the production. That’s why in the Arab world the artist dies poor no matter how famous he was such as, Sabah who died in a hotel, she didn’t even own a house, and many others celebrities. There must be a quick end to that. Which song of the album is based on a personal experience? Shakly Meavoara & Ahla Haga Fya. Does this mean you are living a love story? (Laughs) I am living a very romantic love story, but inside of me. What are other singers CDs that you have in your car or songs on your ipod? I listen to Fayrouz or french singer, and to the radio stations most of the time. What is your best hotspot for relaxation? The North Coast, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, plus Tunis and Dubai.
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Who inspires you when it comes to fashion? A lot of designers like, Dior, Chanel and Stella Jean, I like fashion in general and I was glad to be the only singer who was asked to sing in Dubai Fashion Week’s party held by Vogue magazine. What is the secret behind your constant glow? I forgive easily and I am modest, I am always satisfied and content. I don’t drink nor smoke and I play sports and eat healthy. What is your favourite perfumes? Chanel, Tom Ford and Hermes. Tell us more about Latifa Charity institution that was established in 2005… This foundation, which I established, is mainly concerned with education, we are building schools in various areas as I believe education is the Arab world is a real weapon and a mile stone as the number of people who are ignorant in the Arab world is huge. You are very active on social media and you released the album online, how far do you believe this helps the singer? Social media is now a huge part of our life. It’s very entertaining and fun; however, I try to make the pages I own cover my life as an artist away from my personal life. It also makes me get in touch with my fans which I like a lot. You acted once in ‘Sekot Hansawar’ movie, why didn’t you repeat the experience? There will be a TV serial in the near future, but I won’t declare everything about it until I sign the contract. What are your wishes for 2015 on the personal and professional level? I wish that this year would be better than the stressful years we suffered from in the past. I wish all the refugees go back to their lands and that terrorism end. As on the personal level, I wish I’d succeed more and that God grants me health.
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ENTERTAINMENT LOUNGE
star
ANGELINA JOLIE UNBROKEN k nown as one of Hollywood’s icons, Lounge brought you an exclusive one on one interview with actress Angelina Jolie about her second directional attempt Unbroken. The United Nations Goodwill Ambassador reveals all about the movie and the message behind it.
\\We’re living
through difficult times in the world \\ Can you talk about how UNBROKEN came together? I read Laura Hillenbrand’s book and fell in love with Louie Zamperini and his message. I wasn’t initially planning on directing it; I was just looking for something to spend the next few years of my life working on. I wanted to be influenced by a great man like Louie and to learn from him. When I was halfway through I got the fever that many readers of the book get, and was drawn to him and felt inspired by his strength of spirit. Then I had many meetings with him, and began to work my hardest to get the film made. What appealed to you about Laura Hillenbrand’s book? I think Laura herself is an amazing person and that someone should write her book. She writes with such clarity and is so engaging with her readers that I felt I was there with her when I read Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption. As a director there is nothing better than getting to work on one of her books, because of all the research and work she has already done in painting the picture. What attracted you the most about this character that made you want to direct a movie about his life? We’re living through difficult times in the
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world. There are so many reasons for people to lose heart, and so many issues to be concerned and angry about. So when you come across extraordinary human beings who are able to rise above their circumstances and do good for others, it feels almost necessary to tell their story – particularly when it is someone like Louie Zamperini, who people relate to across borders and cultures and generations. But who was Louie in your eyes? And what was his message? He was an Italian immigrant who felt he wasn’t good at anything, who had selfdoubts, as many people do, and no reason to think that he would succeed at anything or become great in any way. Still, his message is that we are all born with something exceptional in us, and that everybody is tested somehow, and everyone questions themselves. We all sometimes feel we don’t know what we have inside us, but at the same time we can stand up for what we believe in and make the right choices and in the end become better people. What did you learn from him? I learned so much from Louie, and he helped me personally. If I was down and going through a rough moment, I would go and see him and he would set me back on the right
track. Did you manage to show him some footage of UNBROKEN before he passed away? Yes, on my laptop. And even then the last thing he said to me was funny and designed to make me feel better. That’s the kind of person he was. Can you imagine what it must have been like to endure something of that magnitude? No, I can’t. I probably would have panicked, but at the same time I like to believe that I would have made it through in the end. When we had a tough day on set sometimes we asked ourselves precisely that: “Can you imagine what it really must have been like?” And how was the experience of directing this movie? I have never done anything harder and at the same time more rewarding. Louie Zamperini became my dear friend – which is not something I was expecting when I walked into the project – and I wanted to get his legacy right. I loved every minute of it because I had never had to learn so much: I had to figure out how to recreate the 1936 Olympic Games, direct races and plane crashes, shoot on a raft…all within a reasonable budget.
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How has being an actress helped you understand the challenges of directing? And, vice-versa, how do you believe the experience of directing will also help your acting career? Being an actress helped me a lot during casting, to identify the right actors and help them know what they had to do, so hopefully they would also feel I was giving them enough of a push and also room to do their job. And now I know better the needs of a production, which makes me a more responsible actress than before. I am more conscious of every moveable piece in a film. Finding the right man to embody the lead role of Louie Zamperini was key. What can you say of British actor Jack O’Connell? I loved working with Jack. It was so hard to cast Louie, because he had to be a very particular actor who understood the character he was playing and the context. And he had to be someone you would believe was truly tough enough to get through everything Louie Zamperini got through, with that extra bit of fire that other people don’t have. And Jack has that – he has something in him that surely can get him, just like Louie, into a lot of trouble; but when this fire is directed the right way he is unstoppable. And that’s a beautiful thing to watch. You chose the celebrated musician and film debutant Miyavi to play Mitsuhiro Watanabe, known as The Bird, Louie’s main torturer and antagonist in the Japanese prisoner-of-war camp he lands in. I felt strongly about refusing to have a stereotype in that role. There is no straightforward good and bad in life, so to find the right actor to play somebody that was that dark I thought he had to be the opposite. Miyavi is an extraordinary husband and father, and a lot of his songs are about peace, justice and unity; so he couldn’t be more the opposite of The Bird. Following up on that, how do you expect UNBROKEN to be received in Japan? We make a point of showing casualties on both sides, or, for instance, a Japanese guard who is disturbed by what The Bird is doing, because we were very conscious of Louie’s message. He loved Japan and its people until the very end of his life. He always had that bigger view and higher understanding, and he was very happy about our relationship with Japan today; which is why it was important for us to show the cruelty and even the insanity of Watanabe, while in no way saying that he represented his country. At the same time, I am aware that we are showing a time in history that some people may not want to remember. So what have you taken back, both personally and professionally, from the experience of working on UNBROKEN? I think I am surprised by what we were all able to accomplish together, and I now feel re-inspired to make movies after having felt a bit disconnected for a while. It’s been such a journey for me, and in the end not only do I feel that I’ve become a better director but most importantly a better person. Louie didn’t want to make a movie that showed how extraordinary he was, but a story that people would watch to end up realizing how extraordinary they are.
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\\ Being an actress
helped me a lot during casting \\
Copyrights ©Universal Pictures
ENTERTAINMENT
From toy to giant, We are the ultimate guide
JANUARY 2015 / ISSUE 2
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HEALTH & FITNESS LOUNGE
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SCHIZOPHRENIA “IS IT GENETIC-
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BASED ILLNESS POSSESSION BY a EVIL SPIRITS!?� fter all the controversy aroused in media regarding evil possession, this month Lounge asks Dr. Ahmed Ihab about the truth behind this phenomenon, whether it is evil spirits or Schizophrenia, if it is an inherited disease or not as well as its treatment.
To know the history of Schizophrenia it is worth mentioning that till the early 20th century, Schizophrenia was considered in Europe as madness and insanity, and the patients were considered to be possessed by evil spirits and they were rather beaten, imprisoned or killed. Surprisingly, the oldest description of an illness like schizophrenia goes back to 1550 BC in the Egyptian Papyrus, where they described episodes of madness as visual and auditory hallucinations like hearing voices and seeing visions. The Pharaohs dealt with it as a medical problem rather than possession by evil spirits. To understand the course of the diseases, it usually starts in late adolescence and early adulthood usually before the age of 20. It is simply represented in the form of hallucinations as hearing voices and seeing visions, delusions as well as disorganized thinking and speech. In addition, there are difficulties in working and dealing with people. The main problem is that half of the patients refuse the fact that they are ill and they refuse treatment.
The main question that would trigger the curiosity: is it an inherited disorder? It is not necessarily to inherit the disease, if there is previous history for a first degree relative, the probability does not exceed 7%; however, identical twins may have a greater percentage that would reach up to 40%. Environmental factors, alcohol as well as drug abuse may contribute to the causes of schizophrenia, but very recent studies have revealed that the risk for schizophrenia arises from the change in DNA sequence from one individual to another that is called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or simply the change that happens at a single locus at the gene. Genetics became strongly associated with the disease onset and progression, but the problem is the overlap between those genetic mutations in Schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders like Bipolar disorder. Nevertheless, genetic research is ongoing to provide a strong rationale to discover how genes interact with each other and with the environment hoping to identify the genetic and epigenetic causes of schizophrenia a step on the road of replacing the traditional antipsychotic therapy with molecular targeted or genetic based drugs.
Ahmed Ihab Abdelaziz MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine & Genetic Pathology, Genetic Diagnostic Center http://www.gdc-egypt.com/index.php
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HEALTH & FITNESS LOUNGE
SECONDHAND SMOKE CAN CAUSE HEARTBURN
news
DON’T CUT THE CARBS
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, it is not about the amount of carbohydrates you eat, but it’s about the type. Refined carbs such as white bread and white rice do not have many nutrients, and often lead to weight gain if consumed in large amounts. Swap them for healthier carbs, such as brown rice or whole grain instead, as carbohydrates are an important source of slow energy.
Not only can smoking cause heartburn, but so can secondhand smoke. Inhaling tobacco smoke, from your own cigarette or someone else’s, causes the LES to relax. Secondhand smoke is especially hard on children, they, too, can develop heartburn. In young kids, the heartburn can contribute to other health issues including colic and irritability.
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K S E D H
T L A E H
OMEGA FATTY FOOD FIGHT WRINKLES
Keeping your skin well-hydrated from the inside out is one of the best ways to prevent dry skin and wrinkles. Omega fatty acids 3, 6, and 9 found in healthy fats and oils are vital because they become part of the skin cell walls. “If the skin cell walls are plump and healthy, the skin will look more hydrated and dewy as well,” said Paula Simpson, a nutricosmetics formulation expert and beauty nutritionist. Salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, coconut oil, olive oil and avocado are all great choices.
BENEFITS OF PILATES
Pilates is an exercise system that incorporates elements of yoga, martial arts, weight training and other Western forms of exercise. The Pilates method is a unique approach to exercise that develops body awareness - improving and changing the body’s postural alignment habits. Pilates focuses on correct breathing and strengthening deep core-stabilising muscles of the lower abdomen and back. Benefits of pilates include, relief from back pain, improved alignment and posture, toned abdomen and body, improved mobility in all joints and the spine, improved balance, more efficient digestion, and enhanced immune system.
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OUT & ABOUT LOUNGE
feature
HISHAM KHARMA
LAW 3ANDAK DAM
f
ounded by Hisham Kharma, ‘Law 3andak Dam’ has directly helped thousands of people who need blood. An online platform that connects blood donors to patients, ‘Law 3andak Dam’ is a non-profit online service that has made a great impact. Reem El Shennawi speaks to Hisham Kharma about ‘Law 3andak Dam,’ its facilities and his upcoming work.
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Tell us more about yourself, and ‘Law 3andak Dam’ My name is Hisham Kharma, I’m a Creative Director, Musician and Founder of ‘Law3andakDam.com,’ and recently selected as an Ashoka.org fellow. ‘Law3andakDam. com’ is a free online service that matches between blood donors and recipients based on location and blood type. Where did the idea of ‘Law 3andak Dam’ come from? And how did you get started? It came around 4 years ago when my uncle was hospitalized in a “decent” private hospital and needed blood transfusion; and one of the hospital’s blood bank staff used the situation for his favour by requesting more money under the table. I felt that there are, unfortunately, some corrupted middle men, who only care for making more money in an unethical way, rather than caring that someone might be dying inside the hospital. Why the name? I wanted it to convey a double meaning in a humorous and provocative way so that people pause, think and engage. We’re all humans, we’ve all had blood donation messages sent to our phones and disregarded them for whatever reason; so we wanted a name that could catch people’s attention. What is the difference between you and other blood donation campaigns? The way we work is if you are a potential donor and want to donate, you can always register your info on ‘Law3andakDam.com’ in the donors’ database. If you are looking for blood, you can either contact the donors in the donors’ database that match your request (location and blood type) directly, or you can fill a very simple online request with the: needed blood type, location, hospital, contact info .. etc. We receive this request and in less that 3 minutes we spread
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it heavily on social media (not just on our Facebook and Twitter, but we have partnered with multiple entities: student unions, health and non health initiatives and organizations, companies, celebrities … etc. that help us spread the cases). Potential donors who see the cases on social media start contacting those who made the request directly. So basically, our main mission is to bring the donor and recipient together in the fastest way possible without having a middleman in between. Also, all requests are required to have a “hospital name” to make sure that the entity requesting blood is legitimate. Is there any sort of coordination between ‘Law 3andak Dam’ and the Blood Bank? Big time, we complement one another. When we run blood donation campaigns from time to time with organizations for example, we usually handle the social media part by spreading awareness about the campaign, and the blood bank handles the on ground work; they provide the doctors, teams, cars, equipment … etc. Basically, they handle the blood donation process itself. Do you have partners or organizations that work with you? Multiple ones, the way we work is we keep partnering with organizations that help us expand our network. By expanding our network, we get access to all their followers, which means more awareness and more potential donors that get to see the blood requests. Bey2ollak is one of our key partners. Were you expecting the success of the page? And how do you see that huge success? We never expected such success frankly, but because of all those who constantly help and all those who use the service; and all the cases that, thank God, we’ve helped, you can not give up the rewarding feeling of saving lives
Do you make any profit out of it? Not at all, it’s a free service that relies heavily on volunteer work. Where do you see ‘Law 3andak Dam’ 5 years from now? Now, we are mainly connecting individuals; my dream is to hopefully connect blood banks as well, like maybe have ‘Law3andakDam’ representatives at hospitals blood banks that connect together to collaborate in covering the shortage in blood. Also, it could be the point of access for those who have no access to the Internet, especially in rural areas. How can people help? Everyone can help; as an individual, you can always register as a potential donor in ‘Law3andakDam.com’s’ database; you can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook to help us spread the cases. For organizations, we are always looking for partners, who can help us expand to spread more awareness about the importance of blood donation as well as help us reach more potential donors. What is your advice to people who are not aware of the importance of donating blood? My advice is that donating blood is beneficial for you and for the patient. For you, it’s healthy to renew the blood cells in your body; also, the fact that you helped save a life gives an indescribable rewarding happy feeling of making a difference. What are you currently working on? I’m currently working on my first music concert that will be in collaboration with some talented fine artists; and hopefully will be provide the audience with a fresh new experience, wish us luck.. www.Law3andakDam.com Soundcloud/hishamkharma Facebook/hishamkharma Instagram/hishamkharma
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editorial
10 WITH MINI IN EGYPT YEARS OF FUN AND JOY
e
xactly 55 years ago, on 1959, the first MINI rolled off the company’s production line at Cowley, now called Plant Oxford in England. Today every MINI owner is proud to be part of both the heritage and the future of this car, and to mark the iconic model’s 10th anniversary in Egypt. Ten years in Egypt and MINI is still giving you the ultimate go-kart feeling, fashionable, in-style, outgoing and exclusive car ever. Wherefore, the legendaryMINI is celebrating in a memorable way with an exceptional activation. Egypt the unusual land has also unusual traffic jam. MINI, which completed its tenth year in Egypt, was able to change the concept and mindset for the Egyptian people, especially when it comes to Traffic jam, which is exhausting many people. But with MINI,“Jam”
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has a different taste while driving your MINI because the car provides the go-kart feeling, smile and joy that no other car can guarantee. In this occasion MINI is proud to announce the “Traffic Jam” jar! Yes, now you can taste the “Traffic Jam”! All MINI fans and owners can have it to experience the taste of “Jam” which comes with no artificial colors or flavors typically as MINI. This ensures that driving MINI in traffic jam is not boring at all, but definitely you will get more fun and pleasure. Just call16626 to pick your jar. Last but certainly not least, MINI is preparing a unique surprise for you. In the mid of
2015 all MINI’s owners can do their usual maintenance in the biggest showroom and service center. This special center will reflect MINI’s spirit as an iconic and historical brand. Thoroughly modern yet pleasingly reminiscent of the original MINI, the latest generation offers a price, economy and handling package few can match. In Egypt MINI offers 22 different models in its range starting from 265,000 EGP. MINI’s 10th anniversary activities truly reflected its distinguished character and proved that it is up to the kind of fulfillment that fans expect from an exciting automotive brand such as MINI.
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Hassan S elim, Zein a Tawfik, Nancy H ennes and Simon Na ga
Amany Kassem, Naira El Leimy, if Anis h, le Sa ila La , Eriny Hanna rs, Mariam Taha and Sher Rowaidah Bibe
Opening of Massimo Dutti at CitySt ars
Laila Sale Sahar Fo h, Hadia Ghaleb ad and
ers, Eriny Hanna, Theodora Mariam Taha, Rowaidah Bibira El Leimy Gabrah, Ikram Zaki and Na
brah, dora Ga on Naga o e h T , a Sim ann elim and , Eriny H am TahaBibers, Hassan S ri a M t, h afa Hend Ra Leimy, Rowaida l E a ir a N
Hossam El Sayed Laila Saleh, Howayda Fahmy and
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aleb Hadia Gh
Khadiga Mohamed and Salma El Mah dy
Mariam Taha, Rowa Naira El Leimy, Hendidah Bibers, Ikram Zaki, Theodora Gabra Raafat, Eriny Hanna h, and Sherif Anis
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Mohamed Theodora El Bably, Mariam Gabrah, Pakinam FTaha, Ayat Seif El N arouk and Eriny Hanasr, na
Selim am with Hassan Massimo Dutti Te
san Selim and Hossam El Sayed, Hend Raafat, Has a Nag n Simo Nourhan Ghaleb, ne Eissa, Hadia Sahar Fo Noha El Sherbiny ad and
herbiny, oha El S r Foad N , b le a h ha Hadia G k and Sa ne Eissa, Pakinam Farou n a rh u o N El Nasr, Ayat Seif
sam El Sayed, Simon Naga, Reham Yehia, Naira El Leimy, Hos a Tawfik Zein and Sherif Anis, Hassan Selim
on Naga lim and Sim e S n a ss a H
Nourhanne Eissa, Laila Saleh, Saha r Foad and Noha El Sherbiny
Zeina Tawfik and M ariam Taha
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Indochine & Mezzeh at Le Merid ien
Delicious restauran treats from Indoc hine t
uzid and Ghadir Al Agabany Bassant Zeitoun, Nayrouz Abo
dochine ats from In e tr s u io c li De restaurant
The Le Meridien Te am
omm The EgoC
Team
urant Delicious treats from Indochine resta
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Le Meridien team wi th Nayrouz and Om ar Madkour
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Hilton Worldwide
A Year of Achie vemen ts
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m The bride & groo
The bride & groom
Fatma Zaki & Galal Yassin’s Wedd ing
The bride with her fa ther
d El Saghier The bride & groom with Saa
The bride & groom with their family
h friends room wit g & e d The bri
The bride & the groom with friends
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The bride & groom wi th friends
& groom The bride
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brand news Mercedes-Benz adopts a more “Fuel Efficient”, responsible power train and energy saving technologies for the Egyptian market
Being the inventor of Automobile, MercedesBenz is proud of its pioneering approach to a more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly motoring experience. An integral part of this approach is BlueEFFICIENCY, from entry level Mercedes-Benz cars to the high end models; a new surge of power is sweeping across the Mercedes-Benz range. Equipped with highly advanced new Direct Injection petrol engines operate with microscopic precision and millisecond-quick response which result in a strong performance, increased power output economic fuel consumption with less CO2 emissions without compromising the high performance. The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a perfect example of the benefits of the advanced BlueEFFICIENCY technologies which return a more than economical fuel consumption figure of just 5.0 litres/100 km for the C180.
Palm Hills Club in 6th of October Welcomes the Football Legend Xavi Hernandez
Xavi Hernandez, FC Barcelona and Spanish National Team legend, held a press conference this evening at Palm Hills Club in 6th of October during his visit to Cairo to host Campus Xavi Palm Hills to train Egyptian youth applying professional tactics and techniques. Campus Xavi Palm Hills is currently taking place at Palm Hills Club FCB Escola Academy inaugurated back in 2006. The Academy is the 1st of its kind in Egypt and the 3rd worldwide. Xavi along with 15 certified trainers from Xavi Academy are helping young Egyptian players develop their game both technically and tactically and most importantly mentored on fair play ethics. Palm Hills planned for Xavi’s visit to Egypt to concur with New Years and Christmas as a message to the world that Egypt is a safe destination. Xavi enjoys a huge fan-base all over the world and is followed by global media, which will definitely place Egypt at the center of the global limelight. Following rigorous tryout challenges held at Palm Hills 6th of October at Barcelona Academy soccer field, Palm Hills selected five distinguished young players giving them the opportunity to enjoy the training camp for a period of five days as a live testament of its Building On brand promise, specifically Building On Talent and Egyptian youths.
Bûche de Noël at Sofitel El Gezirah
Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah organized the annual Bûche de Noël cocktail reception, and celebrating 50 years of Sofitel luxury as well. The year 1964, witnessed the emergence of two legends, Sofitel & Dalida, with the first year in business, musical legend Dalida stayed at SofitelStrasbourg, the first hotel of the Sofitel chain, so this year, we held the magical evening in her honour. Cairo’s elite were all in attendance to celebrate and enjoy our delicious buffet&entertainment. We pulled out all the stops, with a beautiful ballet show, and even some fabulous fireworks exploding in the night sky. It was a night to remember. a beautiful Dalida-themed cake to a musical tribute to the inimitable songstress! Cairo’s creme de la creme were all in attendance to celebrate with us, mingling, sipping on fine wine, and enjoying our delicious buffet! We pulled out all the stops, with a beautiful ballet show, and even some fabulous fireworks exploding in the night sky. All in all, it was definitely a night to remember! This special year marks a half-century of Sofitel’s artful blending of the best of French art-de-vivre with local cultural refinement, today in more than 120 luxury addresses in 40 countries around the world.
Jumia Chic launched Egypt’s First Annual Fashion Awards Egypt’s Fashion Industry ready to compete on more than 10 award categories
JUMIA Chic, the fashion blog created by Jumia Egypt, today revealed the longawaited details of Egypt’s first annual fashion awards – Chic Fashion. Voted by Jumia Chic readers, the awards will have about 12 categories, highlighting the most unique players in Egypt’s fashion world. Winners will be announced at the end of January 2015. The announcement was made at Pashion Magazine’s Cairo Fashion Nights event. Launched in September, Jumia Chic has become an iconic online destination among Egypt’s fashion bloggers, bringing together all facets of high fashion and lifestyle with a few clicks.
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From the Art of Hospitality….to the Art of Clean: Ariel’s First “Art of Home Hospitality” Day
Dalia El Beheiry and Etiquette Experts shared tips and tricks for great hospitality with Ariel Hospitality is a treasured art, embedded in our culture and comes to life best at home. It’s the tiny touches of home that can make an event more memorable – from the warm welcome at the door to the family smartly dressed, from the sparkling linen to a delicious home cooked meal. That’s why Ariel organized the first “Art of Home Hospitality” day unveiling Ariel’s upgraded formula that provides “Best Stain Removal in Egypt in 1 Wash.”The event took place at Mall of Arabia, and was attended by some of the Country’s most prominent and influential figures including etiquette experts, celebrities and socialites, as well as media. Throughout the day guests were offered all they need to know about the art of hospitality, by a number of etiquette experts while they toured around an array of booths presenting delights of both famous restaurants and home-made food by talented housewives.
Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay hosts Mr. and Mrs. Germany
After a fierce catwalk competition, photo shoot and spectacular show, the guests of Kempinski Soma Bay, Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay management and a jury with representatives from the international show business crowned Babette Kronauas Miss Germany 2015. The MGC Miss Germany Corporation carried out the beauty competition in the “Misses”category, a 28-year tradition, onsite at Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay. Miss Kronau is a 36-year-old multi-talented woman from Cologne. She is also ajewellery designer, a model and a show presenter whocame out on top out of 100 charming ladies in several castings and votes. The top fivemisses travelled to Kempinski Soma Bay with the mindset that they would be the one. After the colourful Miss Germany 2015 show, where the beautiful ladies presented themselves in gala outfits, interview situations and swimsuits, Kempinski management congratulated the beaming winner.The official Mister Germany 2015 competition also took place with 17 candidates.
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brand news Radisson Blu Hotel, Alexandria Got Talent
As the Radisson Blu Hotel, Alexandria’s management is always keen to raise the employees spirit and in line with the Rezidor Hotels Group policy in encouraging each and every team member. Recently, decided Dalia Amer General Manager of the hotel holding monthly contests for the staff under the slogan of “Radisson Got Talent” whereby each department select one or two from their talented ambassadors to present their talent in front of the judges committee and all the winners of each month will participate in the final round at the yearly staff party to select the final winner who will receive an award and certificate. Photo shows: Dalia Amer General Manager, Mohamed Fouad Executive assistant Manager and Wael Fawzy Director of Finance on the judgment stage.
European Bazaar at The Conrad
For the fifth consecutive year, The Cairo Conrad hosted the awaited yearly European Embassies Charity Bazaar. Each embassy offered the best their countries had to offer from local beverages to artifacts for sale. All proceeds of these sales will be donated to Charity. As usual the attendees enjoyed that experience while warming up with Ireland’s much sought after Jameson’s Irish coffee.
HSBC Bank Egypt celebrates the opening of a new branch in Cairo Festival City
As part of ongoing efforts to optimize HSBC’s retail banking network, Deputy Chairman and CEO of HSBC Bank Egypt Jacques-Emmanuel Blanchet and Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management of HSBC Bank Egypt Ranjan Sen recently celebrated the opening of Cairo Festival City branch located in one of Egypt’s newest shopping malls in New Cairo. The Cairo Festival City branch is conveniently located in a popular business area ensuring easy access for customers. The branch has a 24 hour banking lobby where customers have access to two electronic banking channels; ATMs for cash withdrawals and instant deposits. The branch also has a dedicated Premier center providing a full range of global financial products and services to Premier customers. Ranjan Sen, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management of HSBC Bank Egypt said: “HSBC is deeply committed to optimising customer access to banking services for our valued customers in Egypt, in line with the best in class services offered by the bank across the world. In tandem with developing state of the art technology platforms for mobile, internet and phone banking, we are also constantly revisiting our branch banking footprint. We are delighted to establish a unique new branch model in Cairo Festival City mall, which has been developed and successfully piloted within HSBC’s international network.”
Oriental Weavers Invests 90 Million In 2015 Outperforms with a new automated warehouse and 3 more production lines
Oriental Weavers Group, one of the world’s largest machine-made carpet, rug and related raw materials producers is pleased to announce an extraordinary start for 2015 with its bold investments. With its products and staff having delivered consistent and sustainable performance for both existing customers and a growing roster of new ones, Oriental Weavers was able to deploy and expand its production and efficiency through launching a new automated warehouse and 3 new production lines. Confirming its confidence in Egypt’s investment climate and within its continuous support to the Egyptian economy, the group announced pumping EGP 90 million as new investments in its 10th of Ramadan-based factory in the coming 4 years. Oriental Weavers prides itself with its one of a kind 13.5 thousand m2 fully-automated warehouse. With total investments of almost EGP 86 million, the group confirms its leadership in the local and global carpet markets. This warehouse is designed according to the highest international standards to be fully automated with total capacity reaching 3,500 carpets which is equivalent to 40,000 meters of carpets daily.
InterContinental Cairo Citystars team of junior chefs wins African Culinary Cup
The Egyptian Junior Chef Team of InterContinental Hotels Group Citystars proudly won the prestigious title of African Culinary Champions 2014 at the African Culinary Cup competition held in Johannesburg. The African Culinary Cup competition, held as part of InfoChef Africa Exhibition, brought together the best National Junior Culinary Teams from across the continent. The Junior Chefs of InterContinental Hotel Group Citystars, representing Egypt at this prestigious competition, were the stars and champions. The team from InterContinental Cairo Citystars starred Ahmed El Shaahat, Moustafa Osman, Ahmed Mahmoud and Hussein Ibrahim, who made the trip to Johannesburg, South Africa with team manager Omar Hamada. The young team enjoyed spectacular success, representing not only the hotel but also Egypt and the Egyptian Chefs’ Association. The team scored 299 points out of a maximum possible 300 – an incredible achievement and one which clinched the gold medal for the team and was reward for their training by IHG and the ECA.
“Employee and Manager of the Year” at Sonesta Cairo Hotel, Tower & Casino - Cairo
Upon the on-going occasion of nominating the employee of the year, Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino – Cairo awarded Maged Leashaa from Laundry and El Sediek Abou Bakr from Stewarding department as the Employees of the Year. Also Alaa Ezzat from Banquet and Magdy Ibrahim Kitchen as the Manager of the Year. Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino - Cairo constantly aim to maintain the high quality of service and standards of hospitality to its esteemed guests, therefore kept on the yearly tradition of awarding the Best Employee and the Best Manager through the year to encourage the honorable competition to best performance among its personnel. The Pictures Show the awarded Employees and managers with Mr. Mounir Ghabbour Chairman and CEO of Sakkara Tourism investments, Mr. Hani Zariffa - General Manager of Sonesta Cairo and Mr. Emad Bedwany Director of Human Resources.
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zodiac
Capricorn Dec.23 - Jan.20 The month ahead is basically happy and successful. Health and energy are excellent. You are in a yearly personal pleasure peak until the 20th and afterwards you enter a yearly financial peak. You look respectable, have much charisma and tend to get your way in life. Your Money house is chock-full of planets this month – half of the planets are there or moving through there now. This indicates excessive focus and great financial support. Money comes in various ways and through a variety of people. There is a short-term monetary disturbance from the 2nd to the 4th, but afterwards the coast is clear. By the end of the month, you should be richer than when you began. This month focus is placed on yourself and your personal goals and interests. You need to take responsibility for your happiness now and need not worry about the approval or disapproval of others. Your approach is the best way as far as you are concerned. If you are fortunate others will also be happy.
Aquarius Jan.21 - Feb.19 A happy and successful month ahead, Aquarius. Enjoy. Now is no time to exercise personal initiative, to be more self-reliant and to take responsibility for your happiness. Other people don’t really have a lot to say about your life these days. It’s up to you. If conditions irk you, change them. It’s time to create your personal paradise on Earth. You have the power to do it. You are having your way in life and this is as it should be. You are finishing your career push for the past year and are pleasing enter a stage of preparation for the subsequent career push in six months’ time or so. It is difficult to say which is more important: the outer event or the preparation that precedes the outward event. One goes with the other. One is impossible without the other. It’s merely a question of where you are in your cycle. Career takes a back seat now. This is an opportunity to get the home, family and emotional life in right order. If these are in the correct order, the career will sort of take care of itself.
Heather Graham, January 29, 1970
Pisces Feb.20 - Mar.21 You have unlimited personal power and independence now and you are required to put it to good use. Make those changes in your life that have to be done. There is no need to consult with others or seek their approval (if this involves your personal situation). You achieve good leadership skills now. Your way is the most effective approach as far as your life is concerned. Autonomous action is always ‘karmacreating’, but if you build well the karma should be good. Personal initiative matters now, not your social connections. Career is hectic and there are many challenges to overcome, you work together harder. Health should be good. You can enhance it further by giving more attention to the spine, knees, teeth, bones, skin and overall skeletal alignment until January 5. Regular back and knee massage and regular visits to a chiropractor or osteopath will be beneficial. After the 5th pays more attention to the ankles and calves. Massage them regularly and give the ankles more support.
Aries Mar.22 - Apr.20
Happy Birthday
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Watching out for one’s self-interest and looking out for others’ interests is really two sides of a single coin. Neither has any intrinsic moral superiority. Your interest is just as no more important than another’s. What we emphasize depends on the cosmic cycle we are in at any given time. You have just come out of a cycle of needing to put others first. It is only now, and for the next five or so months, to keep a keen eye on your own interests and to pursue them. It will be easier now to make changes in your life, to create conditions as you desire them to do. With 90 per cent of the planets moving forwards this month, you should see fast progress towards your goal. Time to have things your way. Most likely you will not achieve all your career goals in their fullness (these take time and development), but you will see good progress towards them and this counts as success.
Taurus
Gemini
Apr.21 - May 21
May.22 - Jun.21
Home and family are important, but you can downplay these issues and is concentrated on your career. You are placed in the noon time of your year. You need to be achieving your outer goals in the world, and, you will. You might not reach all your career goals this month, but you will certainly see much progress towards them. The good news here is the case that the family seems to encourage the career. Family members are likewise more ambitious these days. Career is really the main headline for the month ahead. Even the financial life seems to be happening there. Mercury, your financial planet, moves into your career house on the 5th. This shows pay rises. You have the pecuniary favour of elders, bosses and authority figures. Government and government bureaucracies also seem favourably disposed towards you. Parents and parent figures too. It should be a prosperous month. The only challenge that we see right now is health and energy.
Focus on the career and your outer objectives. Home and family issues can safely be downplayed. You can best serve your family by achieving your career goals, and the family seems supportive of this. You still need to achieve your aims through consensus rather than subjective will, but it will be useful now to make a note of those conditions in your life that displease you. Though it is not yet the time to make any changes, you can at least play them. These changes will be easy to make in the coming months. Love relationships are controlled all year, but the month ahead seems particularly trying. Much of what’s happening is not in your fault. The beloved is under much stress and it has an impact on you. He or she should rest and relax more this month. Earning power will be strongest from the 1st to the 5th and from the 20th. The 9th, 10th, 18th, 19th, 24th and 25th are stressful financial days. Extra or unexpected expenses could happen then, but you will go through it.
Cancer
Leo
Jun.22 - Jul.23
Jul.24 - Aug.23
Personal interests and personal desires are de-emphasized and personal independence and power are less. The cosmos be focused on others and their needs, and so should you be. There’s nothing wrong with selfinterest, but you are located in a different stage of your yearly cycle right now. It is through others that you learn about yourself and through others that you attain your intimate desires. Thus it is an opportunity to cultivate your social skills and to attain your ends through consensus and co-operation. If conditions irk you, make note and in a few months, when you enter a cycle of personal independence, any changes will be more easily made. Right now, adapt yourself as best you can. Family is always important to you, but there are many ways to serve the points your family.
You begin your year with the Western, social sector of your chart overwhelmingly dominant. You have to forget about yourself and devote yourself to others, to let others have their way (so long as it isn’t destructive) and lead by following. The leader, which you are innately, derives his or her power from the consent of the governed and you are learning this in the month ahead. Leadership is a kind of service to others. It is not a question of pomp, ego and personal power. As you focus on others, you will find that your own needs will be satisfied. Career is currently beginning to be significant. You can start to downplay home and family issues now. On the 20th, you enter a yearly love and social peak, which will be a lot stronger than those of previous years. Finance also looks strong this month.
Virgo
Libra
Aug.24 - Sep.23
Sep.24 - Oct.23
You will face a number of circumstances that will allow it to form a quality and reliable base for a powerful and dynamic development. It is unlikely that during this current life stage you will face barriers that could really hold them back. In other words, you will receive an exclusively large inflow of positive emanations, such that even people without a tendency for the exoteric will feel this special euphoric state, which in real life does not occur that often. In other words, you will receive an exclusively large inflow of positive emanations, such that even people without a tendency for the exoteric will feel this special euphoric state, which in real life does not occur that often. In regards to the sphere of finances, business and entrepreneurship, you will have to seriously work in January 2015. Currently you will have a unique chance to make cardinal changes to the situation for your own benefit. What situation are we talking about? Well, any! The one that has a prevailing meaning to you.
This month is a great time to start a new project or business, or to launch a new product into the world. The 1st to the 5th and the 20th are the best days of this, and even after the 21st the prospects are very good. Outer career goals can be downplayed at the moment. They are important, but if you»re domestic and emotional situation is good, those things will take care of themselves. This is the period where you develop and strengthen the psychological foundations of future career success. On the 20th, you enter one of your yearly personal pleasure peaks. It’s party time; time to explore the fun side of life. After you’ve satisfied these urges, you will be located in a better frame of mind to get down to business next month.Your health and energy levels are stressed until the 20th. Do not forget to get enough rest and sleep. Enhance the health in the ways mentioned in the yearly report.
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Oct.24 - Nov.22
Nov.23 - Dec.22
Career is important and successful this year, but now it is time to gain the family and domestic situation straight. Now is now time to build up your interior forces for your next career push in about four months. Work on the career of the inner, subjective methods – visualize, imagine, dream about where you want to look and what you want to attain. Enter, as best you can, into the feeling of being where you want to look. Right now, never mind how this will need to be made. The best way to learn how to your goals is to ‘be there’ in your consciousness. The ‘how’ will unfold in due course. You are in an exceptional period for starting new projects and new activities. The best days for starting new projects are from the 1st to the 5th and the 20th. In a pinch anytime after the 20th is acceptable. Changes are difficult to make in the next few months. Your approach is not the right best approach these days.
This month is a powerful time to begin a new activity or start a new product into the world. From the 1st to the 5th and the 20th are the best days to fill out this, but, if you are rushed, anytime after the 21st is also good. This is a period of focusing on your emotional wellness and the things that make for emotional wellness. The home and family are necessary to put in the right order. You have to find and function from your point of expressive harmony. When emotional harmony is attained, career will take care of itself. The year ahead is going to be very influential career year the inner preparation is necessary now. The more vigorous the career, the more preparation is required. This is what’s happening now. Your happiness is in your own hands now, not those of others. Take the necessary steps to make it.
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well said
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uring the hectic daily routines, the constant running and the deadlines we are surrounded with, we sometimes tend to forget the aim behind our life, and we forget that we are here to be happy and enjoy every moment we breathe. This issue with the beginning of 2015, Lounge brought you 12 tips that make you feel happier and enjoy life more..
HAPPY
Live everyday as if it’s your last day. Enjoy Learn that you always have a choice, 1 it to the fullest and don’t give-up on a 5 one of the things that will guarantees chance of laughter or having a good time, as happiness is to know that it’s you who is in the second that passes by won’t come again. You are a priority, which doesn’t mean you should be selfish, but don’t forget that if you are not happy, you won’t be able to give positive energy to those around you, so search for what makes you happy and do it. Get rid of what drain your energy, surround yourself with positive successful people, who you feel yourself with and you feel happy to be around them. People who can get the best out of you. Search for things that make you optimistic, if the news makes you feel bad, stop watching it, don’t allow anyone or anything to take that optimism from you.
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charge of your life. If you hate your job, quit and find yourself a new one; you only live once. Chase your dreams, set a goal no matter how hard it is and try to accomplish it; you will feel that there is an aim for your life. Indulge your passion, find yourself a hobby and develop it be it drawing, playing music or writing. Plan for the hard days, life is not all vivid and happy; there will come a day when you won’t feel secured so, start earlier, maybe save some money or an insuring plan that will make you feel happy and ready for anything.
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Write a journal, it makes you feel good 9 about yourself and helps you document the best moments of your life. Enjoy the simplest thing, you don’t have 10 to spend lavishly to feel good or spend good time, it’s the simplest things that make
you feel alive, and the company is what matters not the place or the event. Feel good about yourself; don’t listen to commercial ads that make you feel unsatisfied. Set higher goals that seem unattained. Have confidence in yourself and like yourself the way you are, don’t change anything about yourself unless you are convinced you need to. Laugh because laughter is contagious, and if you train yourself to draw this optimistic smile on your face wherever you go, it will make you feel good and happy without noticing it.
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