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VIDEO: Lebanese singer, violinist perform breathtaking cover of ‘Zombie’

A talented Lebanese duo performed a stunning rendition of the song ‘Zombie’ by Irish rock band The Cranberries.

Luciana Zogbi and Andre Soueid posted their cover on YouTube, and the video quickly garnered more than 220,000 views.

“I grew up listening and loving this song,” Zogbi wrote. “It’s amazing how the lyrics are still relevant and resonate deeply with people up to this day.”

Zogbi is a YouTube sensation with more than 1.6 million subscribers. (YouTube/Screenshot)
Zogbi is a YouTube sensation with more than 1.6 million subscribers. (YouTube/Screenshot)

‘Zombie’ was written to remember the victims of two separate bomb attacks in 1993 in Warrington, England.

Andre Soueid is a fast-growing international violinist. (YouTube/Screenshot)
Andre Soueid is a fast-growing international violinist. (YouTube/Screenshot)

“With everything that’s going on in the world, Andre and I felt like creating our own rendition,” Zogbi added. “Andre’s poignant violin added beautifully to the song. I feel honored to have met and collaborated with this talented soul.”

WATCH: Zombie – The Cranberries Cover by Luciana Zogbi and Andre Soueid:

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Two of LeBron James’ former teammates played in Lebanon

Over the years, NBA star LeBron James has had many players supporting during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

Two of his former Cleveland teammates, Lee Nailon and Ronald Murray, also played in the Lebanese Basketball League.

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Nailon was a second round pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1999 NBA Draft. After a few years and a handful of other teams, he played on the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2003-04 season alongside LeBron James.

The Cavaliers did not the qualify for the playoffs for the season, and afterwards Nailon did not remain with the team.

For the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Nailon played for the Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut Club, also known as Al Riyadi.

ronald murray lebanon

Meanwhile, Ronald Murray was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft.

He played for the Cavaliers for the 2005-06 season, alongside LeBron James who was averaging almost 31 points in the playoffs.

On April 11, 2014, he signed with Al Mouttahed Tripoli Club of Lebanon for the 2013–14 season.

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VIDEO: Pranksters in mannequin costumes scare Beirut shoppers

A group of Lebanese pranksters are scaring unsuspecting shoppers all over Beirut!

The ‘HowAboutBeirut’ YouTube channel posted an April 29 video showing two men dressed in mannequin costumes as they scare men and women passing by.

Their reactions (or no reactions) are priceless — ranging from abrupt screams to a casual glance.

WATCH: Pranksters scare Beirut shoppers

The ‘HowAboutBeirut’ channel has been open since March 2013. They have more than 32 million video views.

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Lebanese director Nadine Labaki wins ‘Jury Prize’ at Cannes Film Festival

Lebanese film director Nadine Labaki made history as the first Arab woman to win a prestigious prize during the Cannes Film Festival in France.

She won the ‘Jury Prize’ for her ‘Capernaum‘ film, which follows the story of a destitute Beirut boy who files a lawsuit against his parents for raising him into a life of pain and suffering.

The director is also the second Arab woman to be in the running for the Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes festival. The first Arab woman in the running was Lebanese filmmaker Heiny Srour in 1974.

Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda won the Palme d’Or for his film ‘Shoplifters.’

RELATED: Sony Pictures acquires Lebanese film “Capernaum” ahead of Cannes

Labaki received a 15-minute standing ovation at the premiere of ‘Capernaum’ at Cannes. She told Agence France Presse that she feels strongly about the political and social messages in the film.

“I’m thinking of the notion of borders, of having to have papers to exist, of being completely excluded from the system if you don’t have them,” Labaki said. “(I’m thinking) of the maltreatment of children, modern slavery, immigrant workers, Syrian immigrants — all these issues where people find themselves completely excluded from the system because it is not capable of finding solutions.”

Sony Pictures Classics recently acquired North and Latin American rights to ‘Capernaum.’ Labaki is also known for her film ‘Where Do We Go Now?’ which was also acquired by Sony Pictures.
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Tickets on sale for Shakira’s concert in Lebanon start at $75

Tickets on sale for Shakira’s summer concert in Lebanon start at $75, the Ticketing Box Office announced.

The Lebanese-Colombian singer is set to perform during the 2018 Cedars International Festival on July 13 at 8:30 p.m., the Box Office added.

The performance is part of the entertainer’s “El Dorado World Tour,” which begins on June 3 in Hamburg, Germany and ends on Nov. 3 in Bogotá, Colombia.

‘El Dorado’ is Shakira’s eleventh studio album, mainly sung in Spanish, with three songs in English.

RELATED: Shakira to perform in Lebanon during Cedars International Festival

Organizers said they expect about 14,000 people to attend Shakira’s performance.

shakira concert lebanon 1

The tickets range from 112,500 LBP (about $75) for standing-only seats, to 750,000 LBP (about $500) for VIP seats.

For ticket information, click here.

The Cedars International Festival aims to honor Lebanon internationally through the beauty of the Lebanese cedars, organizers said.

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Former Lebanese porn star Mia Khalifa gives up guns after Texas shooting

Former Lebanese American adult film star Mia Khalifa gave up her guns and donated to a gun control advocacy group after the Texas school shooting, according to her Twitter page.

The social media influencer posted a photo showing an Austin, Texas police officer taking the weapon.

“I’m not against the 2nd (amendment),” Mia posted. “I am against the untimely deaths of children.”

Mia says she donated $1,500 to Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization which advocates for gun control and against gun violence.

The Santa Fe, Texas school shooting left 10 people dead and 13 wounded. The 17-year-old suspect Dimitrios Pagourtzis is being held without bond.

Mia left the adult industry after receiving death threats from terror groups, she says.

Her career as a porn star created a stir in Lebanon after her parents announced they would disassociate themselves from her.

“It all started to spiral out of control when the death threats from ISIS started coming in,” Mia told disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong in an interview. “That’s when I stepped away.”

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Lebanese-Colombian singer ‘Widy’ combines pop, Arab and Latin sounds

A rising Lebanese-Colombian star ‘Widy’ is combining the best in pop, Arab and Latin sounds to create exciting and rapidly-growing music.

The new Latino sensation’s real name is Wedad Cure, reports Al Arabiya. She recently performed during the Lebanese Diaspora Energy summit in Beirut.

Widy’s, whose father is Lebanese and mother is Colombian, has been nicknamed the ‘next Shakira’ by Latino press.

Photo provided/WidyMusic.com
Photo provided/WidyMusic.com

Although her Arabic isn’t perfect, Widy told Al Arabiya she is working with a recording company on a Arabic song release.

One of her songs ‘Yahabibi’ has more than 34 million views on YouTube.

During her visit to Lebanon, she also stopped by to visit her father’s hometown of Rahbe. Widy lives in Barranquilla, Columbia, which is home to a large population of Lebanese expats.

To see more of Widy, visit her Facebook page here.

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Amal Clooney shines in canary-yellow dress at Royal Wedding

Amal and George Clooney are the latest power couple to arrive at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding — and Amal looked like a ray of sunshine!

She wore a beautiful canary-yellow dress as she walked alongside George into the Windsor Castle grounds.

lebanese amal and george clooney at royal wedding 2

Amal’s Stella McCartney dress was accessorized with Gianvito Rossi nude pumps, and a side-tipped hat with a yellow-netting front and ochre-colored crystals.

Oh, and George was also there.

He wore a grey power suit with a pale yellow tie.

lebanese amal and george clooney at royal wedding 3

According to PEOPLE magazine, Meghan Markle and Amal have known each other for a while.

Their friendship started when Meghan moved to Britain, and was introduced to Amal by a mutual friend.

Amal, a Lebanese-British human rights lawyer, married George in 2014.

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Barcelona football star Cesc Fàbregas marries Lebanese girlfriend

Barcelona football star Cesc Fàbregas married his Lebanese girlfriend Daniella Semaan during a picture-perfect wedding ceremony at the lavish Cliveden House in Berkshire.

The Cliveden House is the same venue where Meghan Markle will spend the night before marrying Prince Harry.

Fàbregas, 31, and his longtime girlfriend, 42, shared photos of the big day to social media.

The Lebanese-born Semaan posted, “Just married to this handsome man that I adore.”

Fàbregas and Semaan have three children together, 5-year-old Lia, 3-year-old Capri and 1-year-old Leonardo, who all attended the wedding.

Semaan has two other children from a previous marriage to Lebanese property tycoon Elie Taktouk.

The happy couple met in 2011 when Semaan asked him for an autograph at a Japanese restaurant in London.

Fàbregas plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the Spain national team.

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Shakira to perform in Lebanon during Cedars International Festival

Shakira is set to perform in Lebanon this summer during the 2018 Cedars International Festival, organizers announced.

The world-renowned Colombian-Lebanese singer added Lebanon as part of her “El Dorado World Tour.” She will perform at the Cedars International Festival on July 13.

In a statement, festival organizers said they invited Shakira to “send a message of peace from the cedars and from Lebanon to the world.”

Organizers expect about 14,000 people to attend the opening ceremony.

Music manager Wassim Slaiby, who directs the Anghami music distribution company, helped bring Shakira to Lebanon.

“We are confident that the concert will be exceptional,” Slaiby said. “We will continue to attract world stars through Anghami and allow them to enjoy Lebanon and the Middle East.”

The Cedars International Festival aims to honor Lebanon internationally through the beauty of the Lebanese cedars.

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