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Influencers from All Over the World in Jeddah

Five influencers from different countries around the world in Beit Salloum in Jeddah’s al-Balad district, Asharq Al-Awsat
Five influencers from different countries around the world in Beit Salloum in Jeddah’s al-Balad district, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Influencers from All Over the World in Jeddah

Five influencers from different countries around the world in Beit Salloum in Jeddah’s al-Balad district, Asharq Al-Awsat
Five influencers from different countries around the world in Beit Salloum in Jeddah’s al-Balad district, Asharq Al-Awsat

Coinciding with the launch of the Red Sea International Film Festival activities in Jeddah, five new media influencers from around the world arrived in the city for an experience that gave them a new and different dimension for Saudi Arabia.

Asharq Al-Awsat accompanied the five on a special tour of Jeddah’s historic al-Balad district, registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

From the ancient Beit Salloum in the center of the historic district, a travel blogger from Ohio, California, Eric Stone, owner of the “Travel Babbo” website, expressed his happiness in visiting Jeddah for the first time.

Stone said he was very eager to get to know Saudi Arabia more to convey his experience to people and why they should visit Saudi Arabia. According to the travel expert, the historical city of Jeddah is beautiful and fascinating.

Stone believes that holding the Red Sea International Film Festival in its first edition in Jeddah “is a great opportunity to introduce Jeddah to the world.”

“We are happy that our presence here coincides with the establishment of the great festival,” noted stone.

He also referred to the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which was held in Jeddah last week, considering it another opportunity to highlight Saudi Arabia on the world scene with full force.

Asharq Al-Awsat then spoke to Medellin, a travel blogger from Germany, who revealed that her visit to Saudi Arabia came after her friend visited the kingdom a week ago.

“I met a friend who visited Saudi Arabia last week and told me that it is beautiful and different from what it was in the past and that it has attractive nature scenes and many special places, so I was excited to come here and see it for myself,” said Medellin who was sporting a traditional dress of the residents of old Jeddah.

In turn, Triti, an Instagram influencer from Malaysia, pointed out that the city of Jeddah is stunning.

“The city of Jeddah is charming, and I am enjoying my time here, and we still have a lot to discover,” Triti told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Muwatantha Bladely, a Malaysian Instagram influencer and actress, expressed her happiness to be present during the Red Sea International Film Festival events.

“Holding festivals of this size for the first time in Saudi Arabia is amazing,” noted Bladely.

From Italy, Roberto Rosa, an Instagram influencer, noted that this was his second visit to Saudi Arabia.

“Historic Jeddah has changed completely within three years. It has become ready to receive tourists from around the world, especially since it is registered on the World Heritage List,” he said with a smile.

Rosa asserted that holding international festivals and events such as Formula1 and the Red Sea International Film Festival is an “opportunity to tell the world about the beauty of Saudi Arabia and Jeddah in particular and the cultural and historical treasures they contain.”

For his part, travel guide Samir Qumuzani revealed that the city of Jeddah had received dozens of artists, celebrities, and film industry enthusiasts recently. This had a significant impact on the city of Jeddah, especially al-Balad.

“Celebrities from all over the world are enjoying this place and learning about its history, heritage, and originality, as they attend the various events that are held in this city that never sleeps and convey their experiences and observations to the world,” said Qumuzani.

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Monkeys Who Recently Died in Hong Kong's Zoo Had Been Infected with Melioidosis

Giant tubeworms on the seafloor surface at 2,500 meters water depth at the East Pacific Rise, a volcanically active ridge located where two tectonic plates meet on the floor of the Pacific Ocean in this undated photograph.CC BY-NC-SA Schmidt Ocean Institute/Handout via REUTERS
Giant tubeworms on the seafloor surface at 2,500 meters water depth at the East Pacific Rise, a volcanically active ridge located where two tectonic plates meet on the floor of the Pacific Ocean in this undated photograph.CC BY-NC-SA Schmidt Ocean Institute/Handout via REUTERS
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Monkeys Who Recently Died in Hong Kong's Zoo Had Been Infected with Melioidosis

Giant tubeworms on the seafloor surface at 2,500 meters water depth at the East Pacific Rise, a volcanically active ridge located where two tectonic plates meet on the floor of the Pacific Ocean in this undated photograph.CC BY-NC-SA Schmidt Ocean Institute/Handout via REUTERS
Giant tubeworms on the seafloor surface at 2,500 meters water depth at the East Pacific Rise, a volcanically active ridge located where two tectonic plates meet on the floor of the Pacific Ocean in this undated photograph.CC BY-NC-SA Schmidt Ocean Institute/Handout via REUTERS

Nine monkeys who died in Hong Kong's oldest zoo in two days this week had been infected with an endemic disease, possibly after some digging work near their cages, officials said on Friday.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung said in a press briefing that the animals in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens contracted melioidosis and the disease later caused them to develop sepsis, according to The AP.

Yeung stressed that such infections typically occur through contact with contaminated soil and water and that there is generally no danger to humans from contact with infected animals or people.

“We're saddened by the passing of the nine monkeys,” he said.

Eight monkeys were found dead on Sunday, and another died Monday after displaying unusual behavior. The deceased animals were a De Brazza’s monkey, a common squirrel monkey, four white-faced sakis and three cotton-top tamarins — a species listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

According to Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection, melioidosis is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is widespread in soils and muddy water.

Yeung said the park conducted digging work to repair some irrigation pipes under the flower bed near the monkey cages in early October and that the deaths might be related to that.

He said the monkeys might have come into contact with the bacteria after the park's staff walked into their cages with possibly contaminated shoes. Another possibility is that some infected monkeys had close contact with other monkeys, he said.

“The incubation period for melioidosis in primates is about a week and this matched with the period after the soil digging work,” he said.

Edwin Tsui, the controller of the center, said the incident only happened in a single zone and its impact on Hong Kong residents would be very low.

Yeung on Monday held an urgent interdepartmental meeting about the deaths with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Department of Health.

Another De Brazza’s monkey also displayed unusual behavior and appetite but offiicials said its condition remained stable on Friday.

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens — the oldest park in the former British colony — fully opened to the public in 1871. It is a rare urban oasis in the downtown Central district of the financial hub, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.