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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
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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.

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Varieties

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.