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.



Dozens of Zoo Tigers Die after Contracting Bird Flu in Vietnam

Tigers are kept in cages at Dong Xoai zoo in Bien Hoa city, Vietnam on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Phuoc Tuan/VNExpress via AP)
Tigers are kept in cages at Dong Xoai zoo in Bien Hoa city, Vietnam on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Phuoc Tuan/VNExpress via AP)
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Dozens of Zoo Tigers Die after Contracting Bird Flu in Vietnam

Tigers are kept in cages at Dong Xoai zoo in Bien Hoa city, Vietnam on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Phuoc Tuan/VNExpress via AP)
Tigers are kept in cages at Dong Xoai zoo in Bien Hoa city, Vietnam on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Phuoc Tuan/VNExpress via AP)

More than a dozen tigers were incinerated after the animals contracted bird flu at a zoo in southern Vietnam, officials said.
State media VNExpress cited a caretaker at Vuon Xoai zoo in Bien Hoa city saying the animals were fed with raw chicken bought from nearby farms, The Associated Press reported. The panther and 20 tigers, including several cubs, weighed between 10 and 120 kilograms when they died. The bodies were incinerated and buried on the premises.
“The tigers died so fast. They looked weak, refused to eat and died after two days of falling sick,” said zoo manager Nguyen Ba Phuc.
Samples taken from the tigers tested positive for H5N1, the virus that causes bird flu.
The virus was first identified in 1959 and grew into a widespread and highly lethal menace to migratory birds and domesticated poultry. It has since evolved, and in recent years H5N1 was detected in a growing number of animals ranging from dogs and cats to sea lions and polar bears.
In cats, scientists have found the virus attacking the brain, damaging and clotting blood vessels and causing seizures and death.
More than 20 other tigers were isolated for monitoring. The zoo houses some 3,000 other animals including lions, bears, rhinos, hippos and giraffes.
The 30 staff members who were taking care of the tigers tested negative for bird flu and were in normal health condition, VNExpress reported. Another outbreak also occurred at a zoo in nearby Long An province, where 27 tigers and 3 lions died within a week in September, the newspaper said.
Unusual flu strains that come from animals are occasionally found in people. Health officials in the United States said Thursday that two dairy workers in California were infected — making 16 total cases detected in the country in 2024.
“The deaths of 47 tigers, three lions, and a panther at My Quynh Safari and Vuon Xoai Zoo amid Vietnam’s bird flu outbreak are tragic and highlight the risks of keeping wild animals in captivity,” PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.
“The exploitation of wild animals also puts global human health at risk by increasing the likelihood of another pandemic,” Baker said.
Bird flu has caused hundreds of deaths around the world, the vast majority of them involving direct contact between people and infected birds.