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US Returns Billionaire’s Plundered Artifacts to Jordan

Jordanian royal desert forces stand guard in front of Al Khazneh, Arabic for the Treasury, the most dramatic of many facades carved into the mountains, in the ancient city of Petra, Jordan. March 24, 2015 (photo credit: AP/Raad Adayleh)
Jordanian royal desert forces stand guard in front of Al Khazneh, Arabic for the Treasury, the most dramatic of many facades carved into the mountains, in the ancient city of Petra, Jordan. March 24, 2015 (photo credit: AP/Raad Adayleh)
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US Returns Billionaire’s Plundered Artifacts to Jordan

Jordanian royal desert forces stand guard in front of Al Khazneh, Arabic for the Treasury, the most dramatic of many facades carved into the mountains, in the ancient city of Petra, Jordan. March 24, 2015 (photo credit: AP/Raad Adayleh)
Jordanian royal desert forces stand guard in front of Al Khazneh, Arabic for the Treasury, the most dramatic of many facades carved into the mountains, in the ancient city of Petra, Jordan. March 24, 2015 (photo credit: AP/Raad Adayleh)

American authorities have returned nine looted artifacts to Jordan that were seized from a US billionaire collector as part of a landmark deal announced in December.

The artifacts were among 180 items seized by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office as part of an agreement with collector Michael Steinhardt to surrender trafficked artifacts and avoid prosecution. The deal capped a four-year investigation into Steinhardt’s possession of looted antiquities.

The Jordanian Antiquities Ministry and the US Embassy in Jordan held a ceremony in Jordan’s capital, Amman, on Tuesday showcasing the objects that were “illegally smuggled from Jordan and obtained by an antiquities collector in the United States,” the embassy said in a statement.

“This is a testament to the United States’ commitment to help protect Jordan’s cultural heritage. With today’s repatriation of Jordanian antiquities, we are keeping this promise,” Ambassador Henry T. Wooster said, The Associated Press reported.

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Haramain High-Speed Railway Sets Ramadan Record, Transporting 48,000 Passengers in a Single Day

The train continues to operate at full capacity, with the number of daily trips gradually increasing since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips per day during the last 10 days of the month. (SPA)
The train continues to operate at full capacity, with the number of daily trips gradually increasing since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips per day during the last 10 days of the month. (SPA)
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Haramain High-Speed Railway Sets Ramadan Record, Transporting 48,000 Passengers in a Single Day

The train continues to operate at full capacity, with the number of daily trips gradually increasing since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips per day during the last 10 days of the month. (SPA)
The train continues to operate at full capacity, with the number of daily trips gradually increasing since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips per day during the last 10 days of the month. (SPA)

The Haramain High-Speed Railway set a record for the highest number of passengers transported in a single day since its inauguration in 2018, with around 48,000 passengers on the 15th day of Ramadan.

Since the beginning of the holy month, the average daily ridership has exceeded 39,000 passengers, reflecting the high demand for the train as the fastest means of reaching Makkah.

The train continues to operate at full capacity, with the number of daily trips gradually increasing since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips per day during the last 10 days of the month.

To accommodate this significant demand, the Saudi Railway Company (SAR) has adjusted the train schedules to match peak times for Umrah performers, worshippers, and visitors.

Modifications have also been made to passenger flow routes within stations, and extra lounges have been provided at the Madinah station to facilitate smoother movement and enhance the travel experience.

The Haramain High-Speed Railway is one of the most prominent transportation projects serving worshippers year-round. It connects Makkah and Madinah, passing through Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport, and King Abdullah Economic City. Operating on a 453-kilometer electric line, it ranks among the top 10 fastest trains in the world, with an operational speed of up to 300 km/h.

SAR announced its operational plan for Ramadan before the season began, which included providing 1.6 million seats across more than 3,400 trips on the Haramain High-Speed Railway.