عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Varieties

Al-Arabiya Renowned Anchor Najwa Kassem Passes Away

Lebanese TV Anchor Najwa Kassem dies at the age of 52
Lebanese TV Anchor Najwa Kassem dies at the age of 52
TT
TT

Al-Arabiya Renowned Anchor Najwa Kassem Passes Away

Lebanese TV Anchor Najwa Kassem dies at the age of 52
Lebanese TV Anchor Najwa Kassem dies at the age of 52

Arab media and viewers were shocked at the news of the death of renowned Lebanese TV anchor Najwa Kassem, who passed away unexpectedly on Thursday in Dubai.
 
Kassem, 52, worked as a reporter for Future TV for 11 years, before moving to Al Arabiya news channel in Dubai in 2003, out of her desire to work in a more politically specialized channel.
 
She published her last tweet on Dec. 31, wishing all a happy new year.

“Dear God, protect our country and keep your eye on Lebanon,” the final tweet read.
 
Kassem has been one of the most prominent figures in the Arab media for more than two decades. She was known for her high TV interview skills and professionalism. In 2006, she received the Best Anchor Award during the 4th Arab Media Festival in Beirut.
 
“It’s really shocking and saddening that Najwa Kassem left in the glory of [her] giving and youth,” outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri said in a tweet.
 
Saudi writer Abdulrahman Al-Rashed said: “Dear to us, the media’s icon Najwa Kassem, shocked us and left us in peace.”
 
Al-Arabiya issued a statement that read: “Al-Arabiya and Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath mourn our colleague Najwa Kassem, recalling her long journalistic journey which started with the launch of Al-Arabiya in 2003 as a broadcaster and field reporter.”

“May God have mercy on our colleague … and give her family patience and solace,” the statement added.
 
Major General Khalil Al Mansoori, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police for Criminal Investigation Affairs said Kassem has died as a result of a heart attack.
 
He added that all indications and initial medical examination confirmed that there was no foul play in her death.

Most Viewed

 
 
Varieties

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)
TT
TT

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.