Asharq News, the new leading multiplatform economic and political news service, will host Ask Bassem Live, a live version of its popular Ask Bassem TV programme that promotes a healthy vegan lifestyle.
Hosted by Asharq News presenter, Dr Bassem Youssef, the event will take place on 16 January in Dubai under the theme ‘Plant-based Healthy Lifestyle’ to mark Veganuary. In addition to gaining valuable knowledge that can help them improve their health, attendees will have the opportunity to meet special guests, who will share their stories, mingle with health experts, and participate at the interactive show that will be filmed and broadcast in one of the upcoming episodes of Ask Bassem Programme.
Asharq News believes that media outlets have a social responsibility to better educate and improve awareness and knowledge towards the societies within which they work in, contributing to a better lifestyle. Asharq is focused on enabling the young generation- that makes up most Arabic speakers globally and deserves access to content that enriches their knowledge and addresses their needs.
As part of its core CSR initiatives, Asharq is launching the ‘Your Health with Asharq’ campaign to raise awareness about living a healthy lifestyle. Ask Bassem, a weekly TV programme on Asharq News, is one of the pillars of this campaign.
The Arab world is grappling with health-related issues that affect all segments of society. These include chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, as well as liver and kidney diseases, which unfortunately have a high prevalence in the Middle East.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Nabeel Al-Khatib, General Manager of Asharq News, said: “Ask Bassem was created as part of Asharq News’ movement aimed at educating the Arab world about health-related topics. With Ask Bassem Live, we are about to take our efforts one step further to increase direct engagement with our audience, raise awareness about the programme and its goals, and inspire our viewers to commit to the healthy habits championed by the programme. We invite members of the public to use this unique opportunity to lead a direct conversation with Dr. Bassem Youssef and ask him about leading a healthy lifestyle.”
Speaking on the topic of the event, Dr. Bassem Youssef said: “January is a time when people set their resolutions for the new year – and when they also often abandon them. As many resolutions are related to a healthy lifestyle – whether losing weight, launching an exercise routine, or adopting a balanced diet – Asharq News and myself have decided to support our viewers through providing practical advice that will make it easier for them to stick to their goals for the rest of the year.”
He added: “Since its launch in 2014 in the UK, Veganuary has inspired more than one million people in 192 countries to go vegan for a month – and possibly beyond. We have chosen the theme of Ask Bassem Live to support this worthwhile initiative that highlights the health and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet. I look forward to engaging with the members of our audience, getting to know them, and answering their questions.”
The event will kick off with a TED-style talk by Dr. Bassem Youssef, introducing the concept of Veganuary and recounting his own experience with a plant-based diet. In the second part on the agenda, Inspirational Stories, Dr. Youssef will interview two guests who have transformed their health with a plant-based diet. The next segment, Vegan-powered Athletes, will bring together fitness experts living in the UAE to discuss how a plant-based diet improved their performance.
The afternoon will continue with a meditation and mindfulness masterclass and a seated yoga session led by a yoga expert, followed by a live Q&A session with the audience. Next, attendees will enjoy a cooking session by a vegan chef. In an effort to encourage positivity and a mindset shift towards leading a healthier lifestyle, a final activity will be held by the beach. Finally, the event will wrap-up with a dinner.
Ask Bassem is a weekly TV programme on Asharq News that challenges traditional food myths while introducing viewers to experts, including doctors, athletes,and influencers who have changed their lives through a balanced diet. Bringing the opinions of renowned nutritionists as well as motivational success stories to the audience, the programme aims to show that the health crisis in the Middle East can be addressed and even reversed through one simple solution – an improved diet.
Dr. Bassem Youssef is a well-known media personality and medical doctor with a mission to improve the health of his viewers through his show “Ask Bassem” on Asharq News. He practiced as a cardiothoracic surgeon in Egypt for 13 years, until he became one of the most renowned Arab media personalities.
Ask Bassem Live is open to the public. Interested participants can preregister at https://www.asharqwithbassem.com/
