JEDDAH: “Despacito” star Zuleyka Rivera is no stranger to going viral on the Internet. The Miss Universe 2006 who starred in the most viewed YouTube video ever is in the news again as photos from her visit last year to Egypt have become a hit on social media, according to the news portal Bitajarod.
The pictures circulating on social media show Rivera visiting several destinations in Egypt, including the Great Pyramid and Sphinx, Abu Simble Temple, and the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, in an attempt to promote and revive Egyptian tourism. There were also photos of Aswan and Luxor streets, and others from the inside of the Mohammed Ali Mosque. Rivera was also spotted on a horse and a camel in front of the Pyramids.
It is clear that Rivera’s photos during the visit were taken by a professional photographer.
At the age of 18, the Puerto Rican model won the coveted title of Miss Universe 2006, and went on to study acting in New York City, eventually nabbing roles in popular Mexican soap operas. She now hosts Spanish-language daytime talk shows “Un Nuevo Dia” (Telemundo) and “Despierta America” (Univision).
Rivera was also in the news lately after confessing in an interview that she too has been the victim of sexual harassment. “That’s why I left a specific country that I’m not going to name,” she said when asked about recent sexual misconduct scandals that have rocked Hollywood. “I left because I believe in me, in my talent, as far as I have come and what I have coming.”
‘Despacito’ girl Zuleyka Rivera’s Egypt photos go viral
‘Despacito’ girl Zuleyka Rivera’s Egypt photos go viral
Makkah museum displays world’s largest Qur’an
MAKKAH: The Holy Qur’an Museum at the Hira Cultural District in Makkah is showcasing a monumental handwritten copy of the Holy Qur’an, recognized as the largest Qur’an of its kind in the world.
The manuscript measures 312 cm by 220 cm and comprises 700 pages, earning the museum recognition from Guinness World Records for displaying the world’s largest Qur’an, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The manuscript is a magnified reproduction of a historic Qur’an dating back to the 16th century, the SPA stated.
The original copy measures 45 cm by 30 cm, with the chapters written primarily in Thuluth script, while Surah Al-Fatiha was penned in Naskh, reflecting the refined artistic choices and calligraphic diversity of the era.
The Qur’an is a unique example of Arabic calligraphy, gilding and bookbinding, showcasing Islamic art through intricate decorations, sun-shaped motifs on the opening folio, and elaborately designed frontispiece and title pages that reflect a high level of artistic mastery.
The manuscript was endowed as a waqf in 1883. Its original version is currently preserved at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries, serving as a lasting testament to Muslims’ enduring reverence for the Qur’an and the richness of Islamic arts across the centuries.
