The Voice France has launched its 14th season, and the long-running show continues to make waves and break barriers – most recently with another Lebanese contestant making an immediate impact.
Shana, whose full name is Shana Farjallah, quite literally turned heads with her debut appearance on Saturday’s episode, delivering a standout performance of You Keep Me Hangin’ On. In many ways, it was the perfect introduction.
The singer began the track – originally recorded by Motown group The Supremes in 1966 – a cappella, showing off her strong vocals before the beat kicked in and she took it up a notch. It didn’t take long for two of the four coaches, French pop stars Florent Pagny and Zaz, to turn their chairs, signalling their eagerness to mentor her through the competition.
“At 24, you already know how to do it in an adventure like this and you’ll begin to see all the little imperfections,” said Pagny. “Ultimately there's so much sensitivity in your voice. It makes me think ‘Ah yes, your palette is vast, and with that kind of talent there’s really something there'.”
Zaz added: “Shana, you have a sensitivity that is very, very raw and I want to hear more of that. And I really want to get you into [that space], because this fragility, you need to inhabit it."
It was Zaz’s easy-going charm – not to mention her blend of jazz and soul – that won over Shana, setting up a promising partnership that could go far this season. While the competition is still in its early stages, Shana’s performances have already resonated across Lebanon, where her name is trending on social media. In a recent interview with Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar, she expressed hope that her journey on The Voice would help shift public perceptions of her homeland.
“The most important thing for me as a Lebanese is that people in Lebanon know who I am, what I’ve done, and that they hear my music," she said. "I want to represent my country and show that we, as Lebanese, can succeed wherever we want."
Shana’s appearance on The Voice France marks a new milestone in her burgeoning career, which also has ties to Dubai. Born in Lebanon, she began her journey more than three years ago as an RnB singer, releasing a handful of English-language singles and, most recently, the album Identity Crisis. During that time, she also honed her live performance skills as part of the musical programme at The Theatre Dubai, co-founded by Lebanese-Armenian musician Guy Manoukian.
While her debut on The Voice France featured an English-language performance, there's a strong chance her repertoire will include Arabic songs as she progresses further in the competition.
“This is new for me, something I’ve never done before, but I decided to give it a try. I’ve come to feel that Arabic songs are more expressive than others,” she told An-Nahar. “They connect me more deeply with my family, my people, and the Middle East as a whole. I also discovered that my voice is very capable of expressing emotion in Arabic.”
Shanna is among a growing number of Middle Eastern artists competing in the French version of The Voice. Contestants are reportedly not required to be French citizens to enter. Instead, they must either reside in France or be able to travel there for the various stages of the programme.
Notable Lebanese participants in the past include singer Hiba Tawaji, who reached the semi-finals under the mentorship of Lebanese-French pop star Mika before launching a successful career, and Lara Bou Abdo, then 16, who made a strong impression with her performance of Fairuz’s Li Beirut in 2021.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
The specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
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Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
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The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
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The years Ramadan fell in May
