In the Arab world, few voices resonate with audiences as much as the enduring, almost sacred familiarity of Fairuz.
Her music has been the embodiment of Lebanon’s mourning and heartbreak, spanning generations.
Now, a song long considered part of the region’s cultural fabric – Wahdon, released in 1979 – has unexpectedly entered the orbit of global pop. During a recent live-stream teasing his ninth studio album, Iceman, the Canadian rapper Drake previewed a track that appears to sample Fairuz’s recognisable vocals, threading them through a sparse, moody production of fractured drums and hi-hats. It is a choice that has sparked fierce debate.
Composed by her son, the late musician Ziad Rahbani whose death in July caused an outpouring of tributes from figures across Lebanese culture, the track Wahdon was written by Talal Haidar as a meditation on absence, distance and the quiet ache of solitude.
The original poem is a reflection of Haidar's own experience of three young men he used to greet every morning as they headed into a forest. One day they did not appear and newspapers later reported the three had been killed fighting in Northern Palestine. In response Haidar wrote the song to reflect upon ordinary courage and sudden loss.
Now, the same words and Fairuz's vocals have been reused in new music by the rapper. It has been speculated that Drake's long-time collaborator and Lebanese-Canadian Noah Shebib, also referred to simply as 40, could be behind the decision, as he will probably be aware of the significance of Fairuz's music.
This is not the only time Fairuz has been sampled, however. In 1992, Madonna sparked controversy when she used Fairuz's hymn El Yom 'Ulliqa 'Ala Khashaba without permission for her Erotica album. A high-profile legal battle followed, resulting in Madonna having to pay $2.5 million in damages.
Madonna's choice to lay explicit lyrics over the religious song resulted in her being banned from entering Lebanon. It also demonstrated how closely Lebanon guards Fairuz and her legacy.
Iceman will be Drake's first new music since his 2023 studio album, For All The Dogs. While there is no release date as yet, he has hinted that it will be out before the year ends.
As debate and speculation continue around whether or not Fairuz will be fully credited and compensated for the use of her music, Drake has hit a sensitive touchpoint that could easily backfire if handled insensitively.
If the song makes the final album, Drake could embrace Fairuz's fan base and acknowledge the deep significance of this song and her legacy, which could simultaneously earn him new listeners while introducing the 89-year-old's musical catalogue to a new audience.
Get this wrong, however, and online backlash will await. Either way, the tease has already sparked conversation online, meaning his album will probably be streamed in anticipation whenever it is finally released.
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 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
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)
Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)
Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)
Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)
Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open)
Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)
Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)
Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)
Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
