Mena Massoud, the Egyptian-Canadian star of Disney s Aladdin (2019), is set to participate in the third edition of the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) which will kick off September 19 and until September 27. Egypt s Minister of Immigration Nabila Makram commented on Massoud s highly awaited attendance, saying that Massoud s participation came thanks to communication with expatriates abroad, especially those from second and third generations. She applauded Massoud s accomplishments as an international artist, who reflects an admirable image for Egypt globally, praised Massoud s devotion to the Arabic language and wished him the best in his acting career. Massoud had previously filmed a behind-the-scenes video for his Egyptian fans, showing a band playing authentic Arabic Egyptian music by the legendary Abdel Halim Hafez, with Massoud singing in Arabic as he danced with the crew. He also filmed another video right before the movie s release saying, “Egypt, this one s for you!” “I am excited for you to see the film Aladdin that is produced by Disney. I am proud to be part of this film and I hope you love it as much as I do and you enjoy it as I much as I did filming it,” he said in the video. Cheering “Tahya Masr” (Long Live Egypt), Massoud showed his and respect towards Egypt and the Arab community which he greeted during the holy month of Ramadan, saying “Ramadan Kareem” during a press conference in Jordan. The co-founder of the GFF, Amr Mansi also expressed his excitement for Massoud s attendance, saying “The festival`s management will spare no effort to build bridges of communication with the stars of the international cinema in general, and those of Egyptian assets in particular, attracting them to participate in the GFF, which we strive to present in the best picture.” Massoud previously featured in films such as “What Happens Next” (2011), “Ordinary Days” (2017), “Final Exam” (2017), “Let s Rap” (2015) and more. He was born in Cairo to Egyptian Coptic-Christian parents, then immigrated to Canada before moving to Los Angeles in 2017. Massoud alongside Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek were nominated for the Teen Choice Awards. The voting was launched on June 25 and awards will be announced on August 11, according to the Variety news website. Massoud was nominated for his famed role in Aladdin, competing in the category “Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy Movie Actor” along with other prominent actors including Will Smith, also featured in Aladdin, James McAvoy from “Dark Phoenix” (2019), Jason Momoa from “Aquaman” (2018), Lin-Manuel Miranda from “Mary Poppins Returns” (2018) and Zachary Levi from “Shazam!” (2019), Variety reported. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the film is a re-adaptation of Disney s acclaimed 1992 animated film “Aladdin”, which in turn is based on the fairy tale. The remake features inventive special effects and magical, attractive colors inspiring audiences new and old alike across the world.

The Bey Hive was feeling the love Friday over Beyonce s release of the album “The Lion King: The Gift,” which the pop queen dropped as a sister piece to her new film, a remake of the Disney classic. Beyonce dubbed the 27-track album she curated and produced “a love letter to Africa,” enlisting several African artists as well as a host of stars including her husband Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, her co-star Donald Glover (who also performs as Childish Gambino) and Pharrell Williams — along with none other than Jay and Bey s seven-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter — as collaborators. “I wanted to be authentic to what is beautiful about music in Africa,” Beyonce, who voices Nala in “The Lion King,” told ABC s “Good Morning America.” “The Gift” is separate from the film s official soundtrack which includes a rendition of Elton s John s iconic “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” by Beyonce and Glover, who plays Simba in the film. John himself also graced the film s soundtrack, released 25 years after the original, with a new song entitled “Never Too Late.” Both albums include Beyonce s latest single “Spirit.” But it s Beyonce s “Gift” that has her legions of fans abuzz. The album features Afrobeat-heavy songs interspersed with dialogue from the highly-anticipated film, which also was released on Friday and stars Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar. Sonic cinema In addition to pop royalty, Beyonce brought Nigerian musicians Tekno, Yemi Alade and Mr. Eazi on board for “The Gift,” along with Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artist Shatta Wale. Cameroonian urban music star Salatiel sang with Beyonce and Pharrell on the thumping groove “Water.” “I wanted to make sure we found the best talent from Africa, and not just use some of the sounds and did my interpretation of it,” Beyonce said on ABC. In classic Beyonce fashion, the album skews toward the visual — what she calls “sonic cinema.” “This is a new experience of storytelling,” she said in announcing the album. “It is a mixture of genres and collaboration that isn t one sound. It is influenced by everything from R&B, pop, hip hop and Afrobeat.” Beyonce also released a sprawling, richly pigmented video to accompany “Spirit,” which features the star and Blue Ivy in matching ruffled pink dresses, their long curls blowing in the desert wind. “Your destiny is comin close / Stand up and fight,” she sings. “So go into a far off land / And be one with the great I Am.” Pairing her powerful vocals with a visual feast, Beyonce makes about a dozen outfit changes in the video including both custom and couture looks, according to Vogue. The clip was partially filmed in Arizona s remote Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon. It also includes the legendary “Lion King” scene where Simba and Nala lock eyes over a pool oasis, which the new film recreated from the original animated take. “The soundscape is more than just the music because each song tells the story of the film,” Beyonce said.

The Egyptian-Polish Archaeological Mission unearthed on Thursday the remains of an ancient city dating back to the 4th through 7th century AD as well as a collection of Roman mosaics covering the floor of a house in the archaeological area of Kom el-Dikka in Alexandria. Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa al-Waziri asserted that the uncovering of the multi-colored Roman mosaics confirmed the spread of the art of mosaics in the region as well as the luxury lifestyle of several inhabitants of Alexandria. Waziri added that the mission displayed the mosaics in el-Toyor villa, the first museum of mosaic floors in Egypt. Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector Ayman Ashmawy clarified that the ancient city contained a small theater, a great imperial bath and a collection of 22 lecture halls. Meanwhile, Head of the Mission Grzegorz Majcherek said that the mosaics were 2.60 m x 2.60 m square surfaces and consisted of six hexagonal panels featuring a lotus flower surrounded by a circular frame, which was the most prominent design in the dining rooms of the Roman houses in Alexandria. He said that the mission has been working in the archaeological area since 1960, adding that the excavation works focused on the study of residential architecture in Alexandria.

A BBC report chose Egyptian falafel as the best falafel in the world, a result similar to that of the previous Guardian report from 2015. Israel in recent years attempted to contest for the best falafel recipe along with Egypt and the Levant countries. Dene Mullen, the author of the report, said about a food cart for falafel in Cairo: “A few minutes later I m presented with the finished article: piping hot taamiya served inside aish baladi with nothing more than tomatoes, lettuce and a drizzle of tahini. On the side sit crunchy pickled vegetables in a riot of colors – the highlight of which is whole green chillies caked in chilli powder, cumin and salt. The medium-hot chilli adds a welcome bite to proceedings, yet is offset by the bitter nuttiness of the attendant cumin.” He also tested falafel from countries such as Syria and Lebanon. Despite their use of more complicated ingredients, he says: “In my opinion, they d be hard-pressed to beat the Egyptian version.” He quoted food historian Ken Albala as saying in his book Beans: A History that eating broad beans in Egypt “seems to be a conscious act of nationalism. Ful medames is an expression of identity for modern Egyptians who choose to resist the onslaught of contemporary breakfast foods; it is a way to remember who they are.” “I totally agree that the best falafel in the world comes from Egypt, and I ve certainly told people who went to Egypt that,” said Claudia Roden, famed culinary anthropologist and serial Middle Eastern cookbook author. She added that it was about the taste and texture. The Egyptian falafel made from broad beans has a better texture than those made from chickpeas, because it is smoother and easier to bite. The Egyptian version also has herbs, which makes it richer in vegetables, she added. Regarding the origins of falafel, the writer says that although the issue is controversial, most modern historians say that the original falafel dates back to Egypt, particularly to the Copts of Egypt who prepared it to replace meat during the Lent.

Om Kalthoum Naguib Mahfouz presented her father s coat as a gift to Egypt s Culture Ministry which will be showcased in the museum of the late Nobel prize laureate, inaugurated on Sunday. The Egyptian Culture Ministry said that Om Kalthoum expressed pride in the Naguib Mahfouz Museum s inauguration. The museum showcases belongings demonstrating Mahfouz s life and accomplishments, having attracted worldwide attention to the art of the modern Egyptian novel. Culture Minister Enas Abdel-Dayem inaugurated the museum in Muhammad Bek Abu Dahab Complex in the Al-Azhar area, accompanied by Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anany, Governor of Cairo Khalid Abdel-Aal and Om Kalthoum, along with ambassadors from Arab and foreign countries. The Culture Minister called on the masses, especially the younger generations, to the visit Naguib Mahfouz Museum and Creativity Center and know the story of one of Egypt s pioneer writers, both regionally and globally.

American rapper Russell Vitale, publicly known as Russ, is set to perform in Egypt for the first time on Friday, August 2 at the North Coast s al-Alamein, according to an announcement made by the organizing company “Cvents”. “For the first time in Egypt,” the American rapper wrote on his official Facebook page, with the news well received by excited Egyptian fans. Russ will be having a busy summer as he s touring globally to perform some of his newest songs, according to his Facebook page. Locations for his international summer tour include Egypt, Honolulu, Melbourne, Sydney, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and more. Cvents pointed out that Egypt is the only African-Middle East country among Russ s summer tour. His hit album “There s Really a Wolf” made the fourth spot on Billboard s Top R&B/Hip-hop Albums as well as their Top Rap Albums charts, and was also number seven on the Billboard 200, the statement read. One of Russ s top hits is “What They Want” in addition to “Losin Control”, which was listed among the US Billboard s Hot 100. Forbes previously reported that the 26 year old hip-hop artist earns US$15 million annually, and listed him in their 30 Under 30 list in the music sector. Building his audience from the ground up by releasing 11 mix-tapes in 2 years, Forbes also named Russ as one of hip hop s top earners. Forbes further underscored the enormous revenues from the independent singer s “Zoo” album, which has further boosted his career. The concert s tickets are now available on TicketsMarche with prices ranging between LE500 and LE1500.

Two Opera Aida events are being planned for the touristic city of Luxor, Upper Egypt, as a technical team conducted a preview for the shows site, which will be held on October 26 and 28 in conjunction with the beginning of Egypt s winter tourist season. Preparations for two performances began at the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, which previously hosted Opera Aida performances in 1997. One hundred and fifty opera singers and performers from the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, led by Ukrainian Maestro Oksana Lenev, will take part in the shows, while German director Michael Shtorm was selected for direction. Luxor is on schedule with an exceptional event as it prepares to receive delegations from around the world to attend two Opera Aida performances in the courtyard of Queen Hatshepsut s temple on October 26 and 28, where music and singing will blend with the land of history and civilization, the Deutsche Presse-Agentur quoted a statement by the organizing company. It added that the return of Opera Aida to the Queen Hatshepsut Temple, after an absence of two decades, is a message of peace and safety from Egypt to the rest of the world. and an attempt to put Luxor back on the annual international tourism agenda. Luxor in Upper Egypt had seen similar performances of the Opera Aida in 1987 and 1997.

The Knight and the Princess , Egypt s first animation production, will be screened during the third annual El-Gouna Film Festival, taking place between 19 and 27 September in the coastal city of Hurghada. "This is the first Arab animation film. It s a dream we ve always waited for," stated Iraqi director of the festival Inteshal Al-Tamimi, confirming that the film will debut properly at the important event.

Egypt s Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Nabila Makram expressed her pride and happiness at actor Mena Massoud s achievements within his artistic career, especially after landing the lead role in the upcoming international Disney film Aladdin (2019). The minister stressed her encouragement towards his career, wishing him further success. Makram further praised Massoud s adherence to the Arabic language and an Egyptian accent. Massoud, a Canadian actor of Egyptian origin, was born on September 17, 1991 in Cairo before his Egyptian parents immigrated to Canada. Makram contacted Safwat Massoud, Mena s father, on Saturday. He told her that they were Egyptian to the core and that they were keen to educate Mena on Egypt s love and knowledge of his origins. Safwat pointed out that his son showed his talent as a student and was even summoned to the school to be told about the great talent his son harbors. He said that Mena then decided to enter acting, participated in a competition to win the role in Aladdin among many applicants and succeeded in obtaining the role. Massoud is very proud of his Egyptian origins, his father said, adding that he loves to speaks in Arabic especially with an Egyptian accent as in his last television interview.

Egypt s ministries of antiquities and foreign affairs issued a joint statement late on Wednesday condemning Christie s auction house for going ahead with the sale of a head of King Tutankhamun in London despite an outcry from the Egyptian authorities. The statement pointed out that the commencement of the auction, despite all the procedures taken by the Egyptian authorities, violates all international conventions, treaties, and agreements due to the lack of ownership documents from the auction house.

With its big black eyes and mouth upturned into what looks like a smile, it s hard to imagine the cartoonishly cute Siberian flying squirrel provoking anger in anyone. Yet in Finland, the palm-sized critter is not only seen as a scourge by landowners and developers, it has become a target for anti-EU anger. The EU Habitats Directive protects the flying squirrel s environment — mainly economically valuable forests.

Egyptian-Canadian actor Mena Massoud and Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek have been nominated for The Teen Choice Awards. The 2019 Teen Choice Awards nominations were announced on 19 June, with voting open to the public till 25 June. The Awards will take place on 11 August.

At a press conference, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the governorate will be the first to benefit from the new system through 11 general and specialized hospitals and 32 healthcare units. Financially challenged citizens will be exempted from subscription fees. The governor of Port Said and a host of ministers attended the conference.

Egyptian artistic community have come together in mourning over the multi-skilled artist Ezzat Abou Ouf who passed away early Monday at a private hospital in Cairo, after a long struggle with heart and liver diseases. "The chain of Egyptian creative artists have lost one of its circles," stated Culture minister Enes Abdel-Dayem adding that "his creation in music and drama has expressed the ambitions and dreams of a whole generation."

The global story about cannabis — the most-used recreational drug in the world — is about as fuzzy as your body feels after taking your first hit. While some places, such as states in the US, have legalized the drug, it is strictly prohibited in others. Almost 200 million people smoke pot worldwide according to the 2019 World Drug Report, published Wednesday, and that number is rising. Whether this is a good or bad thing seems somewhat hard to decipher with inconsistent global regulations on the drug, conflicting research studies and little concrete evidence of its long-term effects.

With a profound understanding of their environmental surroundings, indigenous communities around the world are often cited as being pivotal to tackling climate change. During the 2015 Paris Agreement, the parties agreed to launch a working group to strengthen the knowledge and practices of indigenous groups and to provide a platform for the exchange of experiences and adaptation techniques. Pasang Dolma Sherpa, an indigenous leader from Nepal, has just been voted one of the two co-chairs to head the indigenous group at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She spoke to DW during the The Bonn Climate Change conference, where negotiators are meeting ahead of the 25th Conference of the Parties (COP) to be held in Chile in December.

On average, humans are asleep for about a third of their life. Sounds like a waste of time? On the contrary! You might not realize it, but your body is actually hard at work while you re off in dreamland. Deep sleep and Rapid Eye Movement, or REM, sleep phases alternate every 90 minutes or so. During deep sleep, our body works like a computer running updates in the background. It produces growth hormones for regeneration and activates the immune system, so that defense cells can fight off viruses and bacteria. That s why they tell you to "sleep off" that bug!

Teen suicide rates have been rising in the US, especially among boys, a new study suggests. Between 2007 and 2017, the suicide rate among 15 to 19 year olds rose from eight per 100,000 to 12 per 100,000. While suicide rates have surged among boys in the past few years, researchers want parents to know that they are increasing among both boys and girls. "It s a very real threat," Oren Miron, lead author of the study and a research associate at Harvard Medical School, told DW. "We all like to think it s not going to happen to us."