Day: June 4, 2023

The Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) personnel have apprehended 1,053 people in drug dealing cases in May, removing large quantities of narcotics off the Kingdom’s streets. Media spokesperson for the Public Security Department said that the suspects were referred to the State Security Court’s public prosecutor, adding that officers seized during the raids 349 kg of hashish, about 1.6 million Captagon pills, more than 4 kg of crystal meth, more than 3 kg of marijuana, and a kilo of industrial marijuana, in addition to several firearms. Other achievements in the month of May include holding 513 anti-narcotic lectures, courses and workshops to raise awareness, in partnership with academic and media agencies and relevant partners. In a related context, about 94 people were admitted to drug rehabilitation centers, he added. The media spokesperson stressed that the AND’s anti-drug operations and security campaigns are ongoing across the Kingdom, adding that the law enforcement agency will strike with an iron fist anyone who attempts to use or deal drugs.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Minister of Culture, Dr. Labana Mashouh discussed on Sunday with her Lebanese counterpart Muhammad Wissam Al-Mortada, ways to activate cultural cooperation between the two countries and the need to develop an executive program for this purpose.

Mashouh underlined the importance to spread culture that would support common identity and values and advance the future of children of the two countries, especially there are many historical and geographical commonalities between the two countries.

Mashouh voiced hope that the joint efforts to promote cultural relations would success to serve the interest of both countries.

For his part, the Lebanese Minister of Culture referred to values, and literary and archaeological heritage which the two countries have them, highlighting the importance of cooperation in fighting the cultural and media war facing the two countries.

The Lebanese Minister invited Mashouh to visit Lebanon to discuss the implementation of cultural cooperation steps.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Busra al-Sham in southern Syria is considered one of the ancient roofed church building in the world.

The church was built in 407 according to Busra calendar for 512 AD,

and it is located in the north of the Nabatean Gate and south of Monastery of Monk Bahira.

Speaking to SANA reporter, Anas Mikdad, who has PhD in Archaeology, said that the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, in cooperation with the Italian mission from Ravenna University, have removed the modern houses next to the church to showing the church’ structure and highlighting the hidden aspects of architecture and decorations in it.

The church has a round geometric shape as many churches were built in the same way, such as Apamea, Seleucia, and Resafa, and Byzantine cathedral in Aleppo, Church of St. George in Izraa in 515 AD and Church of St. John the Baptis in Jerash in 531 AD, Mikdad said.

The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus has 3 doors on all sides with windows , covered with marble and oil paintings ,some of which still exist , in addition to picture of Virgin Mary with her extended hands surrounded by angels, He indicated.

Mikdad noted that excavations that took place inside the church have showed the mosaic floor decorated with unique geometric drawings, while its western façade is wonderfully decorated with its arches,

columns, and decorations.

He added that most of it remained until the nineteenth century, extending in a rectangular form 9 meters wide, and 26 meters long.

It is noteworthy that the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums worked to restore and remove modern buildings to show its beauty in 1970.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

On a journey entitled ‘A tribute to the countries that offered help to Syria in response to the devastating earthquake’, the world-renowned Syrian traveler Khalifa al-Hussein set out Sunday to travel on foot from the General Sports Federation in Damascus for the Iranian Capital of Tehran, passing through Iraq.

“This journey is a tribute to the countries that offered help and assistance to Syria during th earthquake catastrophe,” Khalifa al-Hussein stated to SANA.

He expected the journey to take 75 days and hailed the support provided by the General Sports Federation to facilitate all the logistical matters needed.

“I am accompanied by Fakhr al-Din Qabawah, a player for the Syrian national rugby team,” he said. “Though it is Qabawah’s first experience, he has the ambition to continue travelling till he reaches the global journeys,” he added.

Khalifa al-Hussein, 61 years old, set out his first journey in 1994 from the Syrian Deir Ezzor to the city of Al-Qardaha, then travelled to all Arab and European countries with different slogans which conveyed the message of love and peace from Syria to the world.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency