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New Stamp Issued by LibanPost in Honor of Elie Saab

Prime Minister Saad Hariri honoring renowned Lebanese international designer Elie Saab in Beirut.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri honoring renowned Lebanese international designer Elie Saab in Beirut.
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New Stamp Issued by LibanPost in Honor of Elie Saab

Prime Minister Saad Hariri honoring renowned Lebanese international designer Elie Saab in Beirut.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri honoring renowned Lebanese international designer Elie Saab in Beirut.

In the latest LibanPost series of honorary stamps, a special stamp was issued in honor of Lebanese international fashion designer Elie Saab, under the name of “Elie Saab - Le Timbre.”

The launching event was held at Beit Beirut in Sodeco area, in the presence of a number of Lebanese dignitaries, including Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and was inaugurated by Mazen Hayek (Spokesman for MBC Media Group), who underlined Saab’s journey and achievements at the local and international levels.

The walls of Beit Beirut were covered with giant photos of Saab’s designs of wedding and celebrity dresses, worn by prominent international figures, especially those of famous Hollywood stars on the red carpet at the Oscars and other international festivals.

Following a ceremony, during which Hariri awarded Saab an honorary shield, the curtain was lifted on the postage stamp bearing an image of Elie Saab, which he had chosen himself.

Hariri delivered a speech in which he underlined that Lebanon was proud of the renowned designer, describing him as an example to the Lebanese youth.

Khalil Daoud, General Manager of LibanPost, emphasized the talent, passion, vision, continuous work, boldness, ambition and determination of Saab since he was 18 years old. He said the international designer’s journey was marked by endless success and that Beirut and Lebanon were always in his heart.

Saab expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and appreciation, considering the event as a tribute to all Lebanese creators in Lebanon and the world, who reflect the positive image of the country.

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Russian ‘Spy Whale’ in Norway Wasn’t Shot Dead, Likely Died of Infection

FILE - In this photo taken in April 2019 a beluga whale found in Arctic Norway is fed. (Jorgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries via AP)
FILE - In this photo taken in April 2019 a beluga whale found in Arctic Norway is fed. (Jorgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries via AP)
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Russian ‘Spy Whale’ in Norway Wasn’t Shot Dead, Likely Died of Infection

FILE - In this photo taken in April 2019 a beluga whale found in Arctic Norway is fed. (Jorgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries via AP)
FILE - In this photo taken in April 2019 a beluga whale found in Arctic Norway is fed. (Jorgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries via AP)

A beluga whale that lived off Norway’s coast and whose harness ignited speculation that it was a Russian spy, was not shot to death as claimed by animal rights groups but died of a bacterial infection, Norwegian police said Friday.
A final autopsy by Norway's Veterinary Institute “concludes that the probable cause of death was bacterial infection -- possibly as a result of a wound in the mouth from a stuck stick,” Amund Preede Revheim, head of the North Sea and Environment section of the police in south-western Norway said.
“There have been no findings from the autopsy that indicate that the whale has been shot,” he stressed, adding that the autopsy had been “made difficult by the fact that many of the whale’s organs were very rotten.” As there was no indication of foul play, there was no reason to start a criminal investigation into its death, The Associated Press quoted Preede Revheim as saying.
The tame beluga, which was first spotted in 2019 not far from Russian waters with a harness reading “Equipment St. Petersburg,” had been nicknamed "Hvaldimir,” combining the Norwegian word for whale — hval — and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It was found floating in a southern Norway bay on Aug. 31.
In September, animal advocate groups OneWhale and NOAH filed a police report saying that the animal’s wounds suggested it was intentionally killed.
They pointed at several wounds found on the animal’s skin, including what was interpreted as a bullet hole.
“Assessments made by the Veterinary Institute and the police’s forensic technicians are that these are not gunshot wounds. X-rays of the chest and head were carried out without any projectiles or other metal fragments being detected,” police said in a statement.
Earlier, police had described a stick about 35 centimeters (14 inches) long and 3 centimeters (1 inch) wide which was found wedged in the animal’s mouth, its stomach was empty and its organs had broken down, police said. No further details were given.
The 4.2-meter (14-foot) long and 1,225-kilogram (2,700-pound) whale was first spotted by fishermen not far from the Arctic town of Hammerfest.
Its harness, along with what appeared to be a mount for a small camera, led to media speculation that it was a “spy whale.” Experts say the Russian navy is known to have trained whales for military purposes. Media reports also have speculated that the whale might have been trained as a therapy animal.
There was no immediate reaction from OneWhale or NOAH.