This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page a taiba Healthcare company with specialty & orphan drug marketing and distribution expertise in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region today announced that they have entered into an exclusive agreement for the distribution and commercialization of XOLREMDI® (mavorixafor) once-daily treatment for WHIM syndrome (warts in select Middle East countries (Saudi Arabia XOLREMDI (mavorixafor) was approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2024 for the treatment of patients 12 years of age and older with WHIM syndrome to increase the number of circulating mature neutrophils and lymphocytes The Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for mavorixafor for the treatment of WHIM syndrome is currently under review by the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) “We are very pleased to collaborate with taiba rare an ideal partner for X4 due to their dedication to and experience providing access to innovative rare disease treatments throughout the region,” said Paula Ragan President and Chief Executive Officer of X4 Pharmaceuticals “We look forward to working together to further expand the global reach of XOLREMDI for people with WHIM syndrome.” Chief Executive Officer of taiba Healthcare commented on the announcement: “XOLREMDI is the first and only treatment approved for patients with WHIM syndrome We are proud to partner with X4 to bring XOLREMDI to those with this rare primary immunodeficiency in the Middle East region Having been granted Orphan Drug Designation in both the U.S XOLREMDI fits well into our portfolio of innovative therapies for those with the highest unmet needs.” and sales of XOLREMDI within the territory working jointly with X4 on key strategic decisions Local regulatory filings for XOLREMDI approval will be based on X4’s registration dossier submitted to the U.S Pending any regulatory approvals in the region taiba is expected to be able to provide XOLREMDI to WHIM patients through a named-patient (compassionate use) program that allows physicians to prescribe medicines approved in other countries to local patients with no other treatment options CONTRAINDICATIONXOLREMDI is contraindicated with drugs highly dependent on CYP2D6 for clearance WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONSEmbryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action XOLREMDI is expected to cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman Verify pregnancy status of female patients of reproductive potential prior to starting XOLREMDI Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with XOLREMDI and for three weeks after the final dose QTc Interval Prolongation: XOLREMDI causes concentration-dependent QTc prolongation QTc prolongation may occur when XOLREMDI is taken with concomitant medications that increase XOLREMDI exposure and/or drug products with a known potential to prolong QTc Correct any modifiable risk factors for QTc prolongation and monitor QTc during treatment as clinically indicated in patients with risk factors for QTc prolongation or receiving concomitant medications that increase XOLREMDI exposure and/or drugs with a known potential to prolong the QTc interval Dose reduction or discontinuation of XOLREMDI may be required ADVERSE REACTIONSThe most common adverse reactions (in ≥10% patients and more frequently reported than placebo) were thrombocytopenia DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONSAvoid co-administration of XOLREMDI and strong CYP3A4 inducers Reduce XOLREMDI daily dosage when administered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors Monitor more frequently for adverse reactions associated with an increase in exposure of XOLREMDI when used concomitantly with moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors or P-gp inhibitors and reduce XOLREMDI daily dosage if necessary USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONSAdvise females that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with XOLREMDI and for three weeks after the final dose The safety and effectiveness of XOLREMDI have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 12 years of age XOLREMDI is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment To report suspected adverse reactions, contact X4 Pharmaceuticals at 1-866-MED-X4MI (1-866-633-9464) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch Please see the full Prescribing Information for XOLREMDI About WHIM SyndromeWHIM syndrome is a rare combined primary immunodeficiency and chronic neutropenic disorder caused by CXCR4 receptor dysfunction that results in impaired mobilization of white blood cells from the bone marrow into peripheral circulation WHIM syndrome is named for its four classic manifestations: warts although only a minority of patients experience all four manifestations in the acronym People with WHIM syndrome characteristically have low blood levels of neutrophils (neutropenia) and lymphocytes (lymphopenia) experience serious and/or frequent infections About XOLREMDI® (mavorixafor)XOLREMDI (mavorixafor) is a selective CXCR4 receptor antagonist approved in the U.S as a once-daily oral treatment for use in patients 12 years of age and older with WHIM syndrome to increase the number of circulating mature neutrophils and lymphocytes XOLREMDI is the only treatment specifically approved for patients with WHIM syndrome in the U.S taiba Healthcare is a leading specialty marketing sales and distribution company in the MENA region providing innovative treatments to patients with orphan and rare diseases either through early access programs or through commercialization taiba’s vision is to cover the unmet medical need in its region providing breakthrough products and high level of service to healthcare organizations and commitment to patient treatment taiba has earned a reputation as a leading regional company in rare diseases by actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with healthcare professionals X4 Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 These statements may be identified by the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target,” or other similar terms or expressions that concern X4’s expectations implied or express statements regarding compiling and submitting regulatory submissions in the select Middle East countries and the potential for approval in the select Middle East countries; the initiation and results of X4’s current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials; the timing and anticipated interactions with regulatory authorities and any related approvals for mavorixafor in Saudi Arabia and Egypt; the potential market opportunity for mavorixafor; the anticipated strategic benefits of X4’s exclusive agreement for the distribution and commercialization with taiba and of any current or future collaborations; and the mission and goals for X4’s business Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements including the risks that: there are uncertainties inherent in the regulatory approval process in the select Middle East Countries including the timing and outcome of their review; potential delays or difficulties in commercializing mavorixafor in the Middle East if regulatory approval is granted; challenges in coordinating with external partners including taiba; X4 may have difficulty establishing and maintaining an effective sales and marketing organization or suitable third-party alternatives for any approved products; X4 may not be able to obtain or maintain orphan drug designation or exclusivity for X4’s drug candidates which could limit the potential profitability of X4’s product candidates; X4 may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for mavorixafor or any other product candidate for any chronic neutropenic disorder or any other potential indication; the expected availability and timing of clinical data from X4’s ongoing clinical trials of mavorixafor may be delayed or unavailable including X4’s ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial; the design and rate of enrollment for clinical trials including the current design of a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating mavorixafor in certain chronic neutropenic disorders may not enable successful completion of the trial(s); X4’s business could be substantially harmed due to the lengthy time-consuming and inherently unpredictable regulatory review and approval processes of the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities and X4 may ultimately be unable to obtain regulatory approval for X4’s product candidates including additional indications for mavorixafor; the need to align with X4’s collaborators may hamper or delay X4’s development and commercialization efforts or increase X4’s costs; X4’s business may be adversely affected and their costs may increase if any of X4’s key collaborators fails to perform its obligations or terminates the collaboration; the internal and external costs required for X4’s ongoing and planned activities and the resulting impact on expense and use of cash which may cause the company to use cash more quickly than expected or to change or curtail some of X4’s plans or both; and other risks and uncertainties including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in X4’s Quarterly Report on X4’s Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 13 and in other filings X4 makes with the SEC from time to time X4 undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect new events or circumstances X4 Investor Contact:Daniel FerryLifeSci Advisorsdaniel@lifesciadvisors.com (617) 430-7576 X4 Media Contact:Rhiannon JeselonisTen Bridge Communicationsrhiannon@tenbridgecommunications.com taiba ContactAbdulaziz Alhasanimedia@taibahealthcare.com Taiba Investments, a leader in Saudi hospitality and real estate, has unveiled a strategic partnership with Hilton (NYSE: HLT) to bring the iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand to the holy city of Madinah Signed during the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World in Dubai this agreement underscores Taiba Investments' ongoing expansion into the high-end hospitality market and further reinforces the company's commitment to elevating Saudi Arabia's tourism sector by partnering with world-renowned hospitality companies such as Hilton Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will mark the debut of the award-winning brand in Madinah introducing its unparalleled standards of luxury and signature service to the holy city Uniquely situated on the northern side of the Prophet's Mosque (PBUH) direct views of the holy site and is only a few minutes' walk away Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will feature more than 300 sophisticated guest rooms and suites three world-class dining concepts including the celebrated Peacock Alley café and two thoughtfully curated restaurants including a signature venue The hotel will house two multi-functional halls Taiba Investments aims to significantly contribute to local economic growth and support the tourism infrastructure development all while delivering an experience deeply rooted in tradition Taiba Investments will renovate the existing Taiba Front Hotel rebranding it as Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah This transformation will merge the global brand's timeless luxury with the cultural essence of the holy city elevating the property's sophistication and exclusivity while consolidating Taiba's position as a key player in redefining Madinah's hospitality landscape Hotel website Brand OwnerHilton Construction Week Online Home » News » Saudi: Taiba Investments and Hilton to introduce Madinah’s first Waldorf Astoria a leader in Saudi hospitality and real estate has unveiled a strategic partnership with Hilton to bring the iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand to the holy city of Madinah Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will feature more than 300 rooms and suites Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah is set to open in 2028 and will mark the debut of the award-winning brand in Madinah located just a few blocks away from the northern side of the Prophet’s Mosque The agreement was signed during the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World in Dubai last week “Our collaboration with Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts will elevate tourism and hospitality by delivering an extraordinary guest experience in line with the ‘Pilgrim Experience Program’,” said Sultan Al Otaibi Hotelier Middle East Home » Saudi Arabia » Taiba Investments and Hilton to introduce Waldorf Astoria in Madinah Taiba Investments has partnered with Hilton to introduce the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts to Madinah This marks the brand’s debut in the holy city The agreement signifies Taiba Investments’ expansion into the high-end hospitality market reflecting their commitment to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector through collaborations with global hospitality companies Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will be located on the northern side of the Prophet’s Mosque offering direct views and situated a few minutes’ walk away The hotel will feature over 300 guest rooms and suites three dining concepts including the Peacock Alley café Sultan Al Otaibi chief executive officer of Taiba Investments commented: “This agreement marks a pivotal moment in our strategic growth reflecting our unwavering commitment to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s hospitality offering across diverse segments Our collaboration with Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts will elevate tourism and hospitality by delivering an extraordinary guest experience in line with the Pilgrim Experience Program This project not only reaffirms our leadership in the sector but also highlights our dedication to Saudi Vision 2030 by providing world-class accommodation that honours the Kingdom’s rich heritage.” Carlos Khneisser vice president of development for the Middle East and Africa at Hilton said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Taiba Investments through this remarkable project Saudi Arabia remains one of our fastest-growing markets and we plan to grow our footprint to exceed 100 hotels in the coming years “Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will bring the brand’s timeless hospitality and elegant service near one of the world’s most sacred sites we look forward to expanding our network across the Kingdom and delivering unforgettable experiences to our guests.” This transformation aims to merge the global brand’s luxury with the cultural essence of the holy city enhancing the property’s sophistication and exclusivity Taiba Investments aims to contribute significantly to local economic growth and support the development of tourism infrastructure while delivering an experience rooted in tradition The partnership reflects Taiba Investments’ ongoing efforts to elevate the standard of hospitality in Saudi Arabia the company leverages the global expertise and brand recognition of one of the world’s leading hospitality companies The introduction of the Waldorf Astoria brand to Madinah is expected to enhance the city’s appeal to both domestic and international visitors particularly those undertaking pilgrimages Inscription reading “Christ, born of Mary” in Greek, discovered at et-Taiyiba in the Jezreel Valley. (Photo: Tzachi Lang/Israel Antiques Authority) Many precious artifacts of human history still lie undiscovered Archeologists in Israel have recently made an extraordinary find which adds to scholars' knowledge of local life in the region 1,500 years ago A stone fragment covered in Greek inscription was unearthed in the remains of a religious building The fragment's engraving begins with the words “Christ son of Mary,” a phrase commonly used as a blessing by early Byzantine Christians The fragment goes on to give clues about its function and location—an ancient church in et-Taiyiba (Taiba) in the Jezreel Valley of Israel archeologists also discovered an elaborate mosaic floor with abstract designs The engraved stone fragment found in the walls was translated by Leah Di-Segni a researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem This work of the most God-fearing and pious bishop [Theodo]sius and the miserable Th[omas] was built from the foundation – Whoever enters should pray for them.” At the time of the stone's engraving Greek was the official language of the Byzantine Empire the successor to the Roman Empire in the eastern Mediterranean The Theodosius referenced in the inscription was a regional archbishop with spiritual authority over the area including the modern town of et-Taiyiba He founded the church in question and—like many other ancient patrons—inscribed his deed in stone The first phrase of the inscription is especially interesting to scholars for what it reveals about early Christian life in the area “Christ born of Mary” was a common blessing used to avoid evil forces they would benefit from the blessing inscribed above this phrase confirmed that the ancient religious building was in fact a church rather than a monastery The latter would have seen much less lay traffic coming and going “this is the first testimony to the church from the Byzantine period in [et-]Taiyiba and it adds to other finds attesting to the activities of Christians who lived in the region.” A mosaic floor revealed in excavations at the building where the inscription was discovered. (Photo: Tzachi Lang/ Antiques Authority) h/t: [LiveScience] What is Fresco Art? Exploring the Ancient Technique of Painting on Plaster What Is the Rosetta Stone? Learn the History Behind This Legendary Ancient Artifact Archaeologists Unearth an Incredibly Well-Preserved Ancient Food Stall in Pompeii What Is Ancient Assyrian Art? Discover the Visual Culture of This Powerful Empire Want to advertise with us? Visit My Modern Met Media Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening A 1,500-year-old inscription that reads ‘Christ born of Mary’ has been discovered by a team of archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) The early Christian inscription, written in ancient Greek, was found in the village of et-Taiyiba in the Jezreel Valley It comes from the frame of an entrance door of the Byzantine-period (5th century CE) church “It is a dedicatory inscription that was engraved while casting the foundations of the church,” said Dr a researcher in the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who deciphered the text This work of the most God-fearing and pious bishop [Theodo]sius and the miserable Th[omas] was built from the foundation born of Mary’ was intended to protect its readers from the evil eye and it was commonly used at the beginning of inscriptions and documents of the time “The inscription greets those who enter and blesses them It is therefore clear that the building is a church Churches greeted believers at their entrance whom the text refers to as the building’s founder He served as the regional archbishop — the supreme religious authority of the metropolis of Bet She’an to which et-Taiyiba in the valley belonged “This is the first evidence of the Byzantine church’s existence in the village of et-Taiyiba and it adds to other finds attesting to the activities of Christians who lived in the region,” said IAA archaeologist Dr “Remains of a church from the Crusader period were previously uncovered at the site and a monastery was discovered more recently.” “The excavation yielded finds from a variety of periods shedding light on the long settlement sequence at et-Taiyiba in the valley and on its status among the local settlements,” said IAA archaeologists Dr This article is based on text provided by the Israel Antiquities Authority Taiba will oversee the complete sales and expenditures linked to the marketing of the product Dimerix has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement worth up to nearly A$120.5m ($79.8m) with Taiba to commercialise its drug candidate for treating focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) kidney disease in the Middle East The agreement covers seven Middle East countries Dimerix will receive an upfront payment of approximately $350,000 (A$0.51m) from Taiba within 30 days Dimerix is entitled to receive up to AU$120m ($80.4m) in milestone payments on the successful commercialisation of DMX-200 in the region Dimerix will retain all commercialisation rights for DMX-200 in all other unlicensed territories The company will continue to provide funding and carry out the global Phase III ACTION3 trial in FSGS patients while Taiba will handle regulatory submissions and marketing in its licensed territories Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Taiba will also oversee the complete sales and expenditures linked to the marketing of the product The partnership will also establish a Joint Steering Committee to oversee the development and commercialisation of DMX-200 in the Middle East Taiba has the option to negotiate a license for additional indications of DMX-200 that Dimerix may develop This deal follows the report of successful interim analysis data from the global ACTION3 Phase III study of DMX-200 in March this year Taiba is the second company to license DMX-200, following a deal with Advanz Pharma executed in October last year these agreements provide Dimerix with nearly A$11.5m in upfront payments and the potential for up to A$340m in milestone payments Taiba ME CEO Dr Saif Al Hasani said: “We are thrilled to partner with Dimerix in launching DMX-200 in the Middle East pending FDA approval “DMX-200 will strengthen our portfolio of treatments for rare nephrology diseases enabling us to offer a comprehensive solution for our treating physicians we aim to introduce a breakthrough medication for our patients suffering from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).” Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network The remains of the church where the inscription was found Archaeologists have unearthed a 1,500-year-old inscribed Christian blessing that begins born of Mary," the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) reported Wednesday (Jan was once part of a lintel (the structure that spans the top of door frames) that decorated the entrance of a church located in what is now et-Taiyiba (also called Taiba) a village in Israel's northern Jezreel Valley The church itself dates to the late fifth century A.D., meaning it may have been built during the Byzantine Empire archaeologists found that the previously unknown church contained mosaic pavements arranged in a geometric design Related: Photos: Biblical-era cistern and carvings discovered in Israel  The inscription was likely created for the church's opening dedication a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem This work of the most God-fearing and pious bishop [Theodo]sius and the miserable Th[omas] was built from the foundation - - "Christ born of Mary," was likely intended to protect the reader of the inscription from evil forces — it's a common phrase used in inscriptions and documents from that time "The inscription greets those who enter and blesses them," Di-Segni said in a statement from the IAA "It is therefore clear that the building is a church and not a monastery: Churches greeted believers at their entrance Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox one of the men referenced in the inscription was one of the first Christian bishops and the building's founder meaning he had religious authority over the larger metropolis of Bet She'an "This is the first evidence of the Byzantine church's existence in the village of et-Taiyiba and it adds to other finds attesting to the activities of Christians who lived in the region," Walid Atrash archaeologists found the remains of a church from the Crusader period as well as a monastery that was under the jurisdiction of Bet She'an religious metropolis.  —Photos: Israel's largest Neolithic excavation —Photos: The ancient ruins of shivta in southern Israel —Photos: Biblical-era fortress discovered in Israel During the Byzantine period (fifth to seven centuries) and it transformed into a Christian fortress during Crusader times and some remains are still visible," Alexandre said Archaeologists found the church ahead of a road construction project archaeologists at the Israel Antiquities Authority Editor's Note: This article was updated at 6:11 p.m 22 to clarify that the lintel dates to the late fifth century and was repurposed during the Byzantine or Early Islamic period Ancient Egyptians drew the Milky Way on coffins and tombs, linking them to sky goddess, study finds Amateur astronomer captures detailed photos of Croc's Eye and Whirlpool galaxies from backyard observatory Finds of this kind, dating as they do from a period of time relatively soon after the events described in the New Testament, add credence to the narrative The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced this week that a dig in the village of et-Taiyiba in the Jezreel Valley of northern Israel has led to the uncovering of a stone engraving with an inscription in Greek saying that the building it was on was dedicated to “Jesus, the son of Mary.” The engraving is believed to have been mounted on the frame of the entrance door to one building before it was dismantled and the stone was put into secondary use in the wall of another building many years later. This was a common practice in the ancient world which can be observed in the walls to Jerusalem’s Old City, which were built by the Ottoman Turks in the 1600’s, mostly with fresh with stones that were quarried at the time but also with older stones from pervious structures. The original building that the inscription in et-Taiyiba was part of is being dated to the late 5th Century AD, when the Byzantine Empire ruled the Holy Land. However, the later structure which the stone was part of is believed to have been assembled many years later, perhaps at late as the early Islamic period. The inscription was translated by Leah Di-Segni of the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who said that it reads in full “Christ born of Mary. This work of the most God-fearing and pious bishop [Theodo]sius and the miserable Th[omas] was built from the foundation - -. Whoever enters should pray for them.” “The inscription greets those who enter and blesses them,” Di-Segni explained. “It is therefore clear that the building is a church, and not a monastery: Churches greeted believers at their entrance, while monasteries tended not to do this.”  She went on to say that the individual referred to in the inscription, Theodosius, was probably an early Christian official, an archbishop in the area with headquarters in ancient Bet She’an and covering the surrounding area, including the site of the modern-day city of et-Taiyiba. Finds of this kind, dating as they do from a period of time relatively soon after the events described in the New Testament, add credence to the narrative as they demonstrate that people who lived shortly after they were reported to have occurred believed that they occurred just as they were reported to have occurred. The site in et-Taiyiba, like many others administered by the Israel Antiquities Authority, is being worked by a combination of professional archeologists, local residents, students and volunteers from around the world, in keeping with the IAA’s long-standing policy of promoting interest in archaeology and history by making hands-on experiences available to the general public.  The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel. Set to open in 2028, Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will mark the debut of the award-winning brand in Madinah, introducing its unparalleled standards of luxury and signature service to the holy city. Uniquely situated on the northern side of the Prophet’s Mosque (PBUH), the hotel boasts exclusive, direct views of the holy site and is only a few minutes’ walk away. Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will feature more than 300 sophisticated guest rooms and suites, three world-class dining concepts including the celebrated Peacock Alley café and two thoughtfully curated restaurants including a signature venue. The hotel will house two multi-functional halls, a boardroom, private club lounge, a prayer room, as well as a fitness center.   By pioneering transformative projects, Taiba Investments aims to significantly contribute to local economic growth, generate valuable job opportunities, and support the tourism infrastructure development, all while delivering an experience deeply rooted in tradition.  As part of this strategy, Taiba Investments will renovate the existing Taiba Front Hotel, rebranding it as Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah. This transformation will merge the global brand’s timeless luxury with the cultural essence of the holy city, elevating the property’s sophistication and exclusivity while consolidating Taiba’s position as a key player in redefining Madinah’s hospitality landscape. About Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts   The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk. Get insights and exclusive content from the world of business and finance that you can trust, delivered to your inbox. The requested content cannot be loaded.Please try again later. Saudi-based developer and operator of utility projects Aljomaih Energy & Water Company (AEW) announced on Friday that together with consortium members Ajlan & Bros Group Buhur for Investment Company and the EDF Group have achieved the financial close of the Taiba-2 and Qassim-2 Independent Power Plant (IPP) projects totalling 3.96 gigawatts (GW) in Saudi Arabia The two projects have been financed through a combination of Equity Bridge Financing and Senior Debt from Riyad Bank Arab Petroleum Investment Corporation (APICORP) Commercial Bank of Dubai and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) The estmated investment cost of the two IPPs is $3.9 billion (equivalent to 14.6 billion Saudi riyals) The Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) for Taiba 2 and Qassim 2 IPPs were signed in November 2023 “We are honoured to have been selected by the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) and the Ministry of Energy to act as Consortium Lead on the development of Taiba-2 and Qassim-2 the first Combined Cycle Gas Turbines with a provision for Carbon Capture Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ajlan & Bros Group added that the collaboration with Aljomaih Energy & Water and the SPPC aligns with the company’s strategic vision and the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 Buhur for Investment Company Chairman said: “As a Saudi company we are grateful to be part of these mega projects proudly achieving this remarkable milestone within the first year of Buhur operation.” EDF Group Vice President in charge of the International Division and EDF Renewables Chairwoman and CEO said: “By integrating state-of the art innovative technology we are not only enhancing the efficiency and reliability of power generation but also actively contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions." Taiba-2 and Qassim-2 IPPs will be equipped with HL-class gas turbines from Germany’s Siemens in combination with steam turbines and generators Al Tamimi & Company provided legal advisory services to SPPC on Qassim 1& 2 and Taiba 1 & 2 power projects Saudi Arabia is targeting electricity production mix of 50 percent from renewable energy and 50 percent from highly efficient gas-fired plants together with the displacement of liquid fuels of power plants and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by up to 278 million tonnes annually by 2030 Read more: ACWA Power secures financing for Taiba 1 and Qassim 1 IPPs (Editing by Anoop Menon) (anoop.menon@lseg.com) Subscribe to our Projects' PULSE newsletter that brings you trustworthy news updates and insights on project activities and partnerships across sectors in the Middle East and Africa Get insights and exclusive content from the world of business and finance that you can trust Israel – Israeli authorities excavating in the Jezreel Valley have unearthed a 1,500-year-old inscription dedicated to Jesus Excavators found the Greek inscription while digging in the village of et-Taiyiba The inscription was engraved in stone in what is believed by researchers to be the remains of a Byzantine-era church This work of the most God-fearing and pious bishop [Theodo]sius and the miserable Th[omas] was built from the foundation...Whoever enters should pray for them.” the phrase “Christ born of Mary” was used by Christians at the time to protect against the evil eye The evil eye is an ancient curse originating in Greece and Rome that many cultures believe will cause misfortune on unsuspecting individuals while monasteries tended not to do this,” explained Dr Researchers say he was the regional archbishop of the metropolis of Bet She’an “This is the first evidence of the Byzantine church’s existence in the village of et-Taiyiba and it adds to other finds attesting to the activities of Christians who lived in the region,” said Dr Walid Atrash of the Israel Antiquities Authority As Big Tech censors media outlets they don’t like and shuts down various free speech platforms, be sure to sign up for CBN News emails and the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving news from a Christian Perspective You are signing up to receive general newsletters from CBN. By signing up, you are consenting to our privacy policy You can specify preference after sign-up and opt out at any time A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization Search'Christ born of Mary' inscription uncovered in ancient church in IsraelLog InSubscribeThe Christian Post To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Please click here to learn how You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience 'Christ born of Mary,' recently found in the village of et-Taiyiba (Taibe) in the Jezreel Valley | Tzachi Lang/Israel Antiquities AuthorityArchaeologists have discovered an Ancient Greek inscription bearing the phrase “Christ born of Mary” in northern Israel — the first evidence of an early Christian settlement from 1,500 years ago in Taibe The Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday that archaeologists discovered the inscription on a wall of a late-Byzantine era structure during excavations in Taibe the inscription had originally been laid at the entryway of a previously unknown fifth century church The phrase “Christ born of Mary” was often used at the beginning of documents or other forms of text serving as a blessing and protection from evil “As a blessing, the inscription must have originally stood at the entrance of the church, where people could see it,” Antiquities Authority archaeologist Yardenna Alexandre said, according to Aleteia it was now found incorporated in the walls therefore we know that the stone was reused as construction material Likely the building collapsed and was rebuilt.” The ruins of a Crusader-period church were previously discovered at Taibe a Christian village in the Byzantine period that was later rebuilt into a Christian fortress during Crusader times there had been no evidence of a Christian presence from the earlier Byzantine era said Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Walid Atrash “The importance of the inscription is that until now we didn’t know for certain that there were churches from this period in this area,” Atrash told the Times of Israel “There are many signs of ancient Christian life in the region — the Jezreel Valley — but this is the first evidence of the Byzantine Church’s existence in the village of Taiba,” he told the Jerusalem Post | Tzachi Lang/Israel Antiquities AuthorityStill the discovery that there was a Byzantine-era church built in the area is “unsurprising,” said Atrash adding that the new inscription has “closed the circle and now we know there were Christians in this area during this era.” The complete inscription reads: “Christ born of Mary researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem encouraged the construction of churches in his region points to a financial donation from his seat in Beit She’an the center of the religious life and the capital of Palaestina Secunda a Byzantine province from 390 CE until the Muslim invasion of circa 636 CE There is a large blank circular area on the stone where a large cross once was engraved adding he believes the cross was intentionally destroyed — by Christians or Jews who lived in the area — prior to the stone’s recycled use in the wall of the later building In July, remains from a 1,300-year-old church were discovered at a village called Kfar Kama located near Mount Tabor — the location believed to be where the transfiguration took place Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles. 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Register for MEED's guest programme  Germany's Siemens Energy has confirmed an order to supply its HL-class gas turbines along with a 25-year maintenance contract for two upcoming power plants in Saudi Arabia procurement and contracting (EPC) contractor for the Taiba 2 and Qassim 2 independent power producer (IPP) projects in Saudi Arabia will generate approximately 2,000MW of electricity at each site the Taiba 2 and Qassim 2 power plants will be initially connected to the grid in simple cycle mode in 2026 and will be permanently operated as a combined cycle power plant one year later The new plants are expected to save up to 60% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared with oil-fueled power plants They will also be compatible with Saudi Arabia's energy strategy which calls for the construction of CO2 capture and storage facilities in the medium term A utility developer team led by the local Al-Jomaih Energy & Water Company (Jenwa) won the contract to develop Taiba 2 and Qassim 2 last year which includes France’s EDF and the local Buhur for Investment signed a 25-year power-purchase agreement with the principal buyer The team subsequently appointed an EPC team, led by China Energy International Group, to work on the project, which is expected to reach financial close this month, as MEED reported The Qassim 2 and Taiba 2 combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants will each have a power generation capacity of 1,800MW Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package Because we make sure our subscribers are informed first and before their competition © MEED MEDIA FZ LLC Company number 18693 (Dubai Creative Clusters Authority) Registered address: GBS building Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) has invited companies to bid for the transaction advisory contracts for its next gas-fired independent power projects (IPPs) the Saudi principal buyer has received bids for the financial legal and technical consultancy roles for the Al-Rais and Riyadh 16 IPPs The Al-Rais IPP will have a capacity of 2,400MW while the Riyadh 16 IPP has a planned capacity of 3,600MW Since 2022 SPPC has procured two batches of combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) schemes SPPC awarded contracts to develop the Qassim 1 and Taiba 1 and the Qassim 2 and Taiba 2 IPPs last year A consortium comprising Riyadh-based Saudi Electricity Company and Acwa Power signed the 25-year power-purchase agreements with SPPC to develop and operate the Qassim 1 and Taiba 1 IPPs on 13 November The two projects are valued at SR14.6bn ($3.9bn) A team comprising the local Jomaih Energy & Water France’s EDF and the local Buhur for Investment won the contract to develop the 1,800MW Qassim 2 and 1,800MW Taiba  2 IPP schemes Each project will be developed on a build-own-operate basis by the winning consortiums which will be 100% owned by the successful bidders Meanwhile, the final consortiums of bidders are being formed for the contracts to develop and operate the Remah 1 and 2 and Nairiyah 1 and 2 IPPs, as MEED previously reported although SPPC is understood to be reviewing whether an extension is necessary will be located in Saudi Arabia’s Central Region while Nairiyah 1 and 2 will be in the Eastern Region Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) is poised to boost the Kingdom’s installed power gen capacity following close of financing for Taiba 1 and Qassim 1 Independent Power Plant (IPP) projects SEC and consortium partner ACWA Power aligned 11.4 billion Saudi Riyal ($3.04bn) of non-recourse financing for the two combined-cycle plants Blackouts across Iberia show vulnerability of ‘island grids’ Hybrid generation helps mitigate intermittency risks JERA’s FY2024 revenue falls amid lower electricity prices Taurus Energy to implement first AGP XPAND upgrade in Iraq Avangrid helps restore power in Penn’ State after storm Rare earths shortage risks to undermine the energy transition BKV and Comstock to accelerate CCUS projects at Haynesville Egypt-Greece interconnector to get EBRD and EU financing has developed a new technology to capture CO2 directly from factory chimneys The company will launch Series A round to roll out its solution on a large scale aiming for a turnover of €200 million by 2030 May 1 – The Finish technology group has signed a services agreement with Aqualectra the leading power generation on the Caribbean island of Curaçao The 5-year accord will see Wärtsilä optimise energy generation on the island as Curaçao targets to move from its current 30% renewable capacity to 50% in 2025 and 70% by at least 2027 has reserved a site for a new hydrogen plant Oulu the electrolysis plant could reach a capacity of over 500 MW with the plant meant to be commissioned in three phases between 2028 and 2033 April 10 – As offshore wind becomes cost-competitive to fossil power generation Germany’s Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) is developing a digital tool to help wind farm operators decide whether to continue operating older wind turbines or replace them Modern wind towers generate up to 20 MW each three to four times more than older structures while fossil power station based on a modern gas turbine generates over 590 MW April 7 – Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corp (TNPGCL) are planning to add 2,640 MW of power gen capacity in India Main projects included Stage 3 of the 800 MW North Chennai power station Stage 1 of the 1,320 MW Udangudi power plant as well as the 500 MW Kundah pumped hydro power project April 4 – Larsen & Toubro’s Power Transmission & Distribution (PT&D) has secured new orders in India it will install and commission a 765kV Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) and built a transmission line for power evacuation Saudi Arabia's orders include two 380kV overhead transmission lines spanning over 130 km while the UAE and Qatar contracts cover multiple GIS projects April 3 – Siemens AG has agreed to acquire Dotmatics a Boston-based provider of Life Sciences R&D software The acquisition extends Siemens’ AI-powered product lifecycle management portfolio given that the US company offers highly profitable multi-modal data management for Life Sciences R&D TÜV SÜD will showcase its services for electric utilities in terms of testing inspection and certification for a broad range of energy sources Suitability studies and inspection is on offer for wind power April 1 – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in North Wales and Merseyside are forecast to pay 13% more in electricity bills next financial year than their counterparts in London this equates to nearly £19,000 more in bills on an average like-for-like basis March 31 – Formation of the ‘Accenture Siemens Business Group’ was announced at Hannover Messe today The two companies aspire to co-develop and co-market solutions that combine automation industrial AI and software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio with Accenture’s data capabilities has converted its existing coal-fired power plant to natural gas in the Morrow repowering project utility replaced a coal-fired generating unit with an SGT6-9000HL gas turbine and the repowered combined-cycle gas plant can now produce 550 MW of flexible power March 26 – Hitachi Energy and Amazon Web Services have teamed up to deploy cloud-based solutions for utilities and power grid operators to manage the impact of vegetation on their business Wild growth of trees and bushes can impact power transmission lines while the data gathered from drones and ground patrols can be incomplete and disconnected and real-time weather forecasts to help utility customers identify and mitigate vegetation interference and risks March 25 – Wärtsilä will supply three 25DF dual-fuel engines for a new 18,600 cbm capacity LNG bunkering vessel being built for Spanish operator Ibaizabal The vessel is built at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in China with the equipment scheduled for fast-track delivery to the yard in September 2025 The ship is expected to be delivered before the end of 2026 March 24 – GE Vernova’s Saudi engineers and specialists have led the first gas turbine outage at SEC's eight power plant in Riyadh With a production capacity exceeding 1,700 MW the plant is vital for grid stability in Riydh and surrounding areas March 20  – The global market for Carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) is growing at a rate of 23.1% ResearchAndMarkets projects the market to reach $9.6 billion by 2029 account for more than half of global of CO2 emissions and 20 countries account for 80% of the global emissions March 19 – Korea East-West Power and E1 have sealed an agreement build an LNG-fuelled power plant in Yeosu A 679 MW coal-fired power station is already in operation in Jungheung which Korea East-West Power may well want to ultimately run on cleaner-burning gas March 17 – YPF’s ‘Vaca Muera Oil Sur’ pipeline has gained Argentine government approval to enter into the Regime of Incentive for Large Investments (RIGI) “With an investment of approximately $2.9 billion this project will generate more than $15 billion in oil exports annually,” YPF President and CEO Horacio Daniel Marin said suggesting the project will also impact dry gas production at the field Copyright © 2021 Gas to Power Journal Get daily business news from the region delivered straight to your inbox The power plants will be operational in a phased approach Siemens Energy has landed a substantial $1.5bn contract to provide essential components for two cutting-edge gas-fired power plants in Saudi Arabia which includes a long-term maintenance agreement extending over 25 years marks a significant step in bolstering the kingdom’s energy infrastructure are set to be among the world’s largest and most efficient combined-cycle power facilities Located in the western and central regions of Saudi Arabia these plants will each generate approximately 2,000 megawatts contributing a combined total of 4 gigawatts to the national grid This capacity is vital for meeting the energy demands of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing population and economy Siemens Energy will deploy its advanced HL-class gas turbines This state-of-the-art technology promises not only to enhance energy production but also to align with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 goals which aim to transform the kingdom into a leading global economy initially connecting to the grid in a simple cycle mode by 2026 and achieving full combined-cycle operations by 2027 a member of the Managing Board at Siemens Energy highlighted the project’s significance: “Saudi Arabia is advancing towards its Vision 2030 aiming to become a pioneering economic hub These new gas-fired power plants will ensure a reliable energy supply and support the kingdom’s sustainable development goals.” “Our local service hub in Dammam will play a crucial role in expanding and localizing technology and expertise within the kingdom,” he added In collaboration with China Energy International Group Siemens Energy will undertake the engineering and construction responsibilities for these projects This partnership is poised to deliver efficient and modern power solutions that are in line with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, the statement added The new plants are not only set to deliver significant energy savings by reducing CO2 emissions by up to 60 per cent compared to traditional oil-fueled power stations but also align with the kingdom’s strategic focus on sustainability They are designed to be compatible with future CO2 capture and storage technologies ensuring a carbon-neutral energy supply as Saudi Arabia transitions away from its aging Siemens Energy is a crucial link in Saudi Arabia’s energy transformation and positions the company as a key player in the region’s push towards a greener and more sustainable energy matrix Bob Baffert: two runners-up but yet to win the Saudi Cup Photo: Jockey Club of Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia: Bob Baffert has a long list of big races he has conquered in America and the Middle East but the most valuable one including a pair of runner-up finishes and in the most frustrating of fashions This year he brings Zedan Racing’s three-time G1 winner Taiba alongside 2022 runner-up and Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer Commonwealth Thoroughbreds and WinStar Farm.  Taiba enters off a one-sided victory in the Malibu Stakes on December 26 the same G1 Baffert’s 2021 runner-up Charlatan won in preparation for his visit to Saudi Arabia Taiba won the Santa Anita Derby and Pennsylvania Derby – both G1s – over The Saudi Cup’s 1800m distance.   "He just has so much quality," Baffert said "He will do what you want with him - he can go forward or come from off the pace – I don’t worry about him because he’s such a lazy work horse in the mornings and is so laidback but when he gets in that gate and the lights turn on – that’s when his light turns on “Charlatan was a brilliant horse with just brilliant speed but he got into a speed duel with Knicks Go and this horse – while not as brilliant speed-wise as Charlatan – has that same class and he can go longer "He is tough to ride and that’s why Mike Smith had to really get him out and get him going last time in the Malibu when he missed the break in the Breeders’ Cup Earlier on the Boxing Day card at Santa Anita Country Grammer returned to the winners' enclosure impressively in the G2 San Antonio he is two-for-two with jockey Frankie Dettori in the saddle.  “I think both horses are doing really well and Jimmy [Barnes assistant] is really happy with how they look there,” said Baffert “Country Grammer is a horse who always runs his race Frankie knows him really well and if the horse shows up he’ll get the job done if Taiba doesn’t This horse has never been better – he’s a better horse this year "The Saudi Cup is one of the toughest races to win," Baffert continued "I’ve never won it and I really want to It’s a long ship and a different surface and you have to keep them at their best the entire time.  "It’s a challenge and that’s what I love," he concluded "I’d love to win it for these owners Amr [Zedan] and the Troutts [owners of WinStar Farm] and the rest of the connections have been so loyal to me and we have won some great races together – a Triple Crown with Justify – but to win this one would be an honor and I’m just blessed to have two good horses in the race "Everyone can really run in this race and it’s a tough field but expectations are high and we have some owners with a love and passion for the horse • Visit the Saudi Cup website Saudi Cup: Frankie Dettori takes centre stage once more 7 Days In Racing: Bob Baffert, Yuichi Fukunaga, Coolangatta and more … ‘At his best, he’s in a completely different stratosphere’ – Johnston hopeful for Subjectivist's Riyadh return View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires Logo of Aljomaih Energy & Water Co.  You must verify that you are 18 years of age or older to view this page there’s no one bolder than hair extraordinaire KEASH Founder Taiba Akhuetie tells us how she’s powered her way to the forefront of the beauty industry in this instalment of Vuse's Women In Creativity series Words: Alex PetersDirector: Millie Gray24th September 2021 Scan through the coolest hair trends of the last few years and you’ll notice the name of one salon cropping up time and time again: KEASH You can thank them for gem hair embellishments – colourful diamantes intricately shaped into Nike ticks spelling out words like ​“icy” – and adorning octopus kiss curls They basically invented glow-in-the-dark hair tattoos; are the brains behind the delicate braid chains and hair tinsel you’ve surely seen all over Instagram; and are the creators of the incredible sculptural braids fashioned into huge interlocking loops and whimsical shapes KEASH is a zeitgeisty braiding salon turned creative hair brand led by founder and CEO Taiba Akhuetie Akhuetie’s baby started off life as a pop-up braiding bar at London hot-spots like WAH nails before transitioning into a big name brand and creative agency experimental styles and giving fresh twists on classic looks KEASH is always pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of hair This spirit of freedom from convention comes straight from Akhuetie and can be directly linked to her refusal to limit where she looks to for creative inspiration ​“I just walk down the street and that’s how I generally get inspired,” she says I could do that.’” That’s certainly how she came up with the concept for the hair gems an idea that was sparked after witnessing nail artists incorporating diamantes into their designs during a period when KEASH was based in a nail salon that makes Akhuetie such a trailblazer materials and products are uniquely used in ways they are not traditionally meant to be ​“I think beauty will conquer the world when people get a bit less precious about stuff,” Taiba says ​“When they aren’t trying to be perfect with things.” has seen her work with brands ranging from Burberry and Juicy Couture And it’s not just the hair on people’s heads that she’s working her magic on She also creates sculptures and objects out of hair “It’s more of an art form rather than just hair,” she says of her approach adding that the best career advice she has is: ​“just do what you want and don’t compare yourself to other people.” That sense of freedom she has to be able to just do what she wants is what underpins her beauty philosophy and Of course you do! As part of the Women In Creativity series, we’re giving away a laptop and Adobe software so you can unlock your own creatvity. Head here to enter and here to read the full T&Cs EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Adam Lilley PRODUCER Xiaoxuan Zhu PHOTOGRAPHER Lewis Vorn 1ST AD Jack Green DOP Jake Erland 1ST AC Leon Frind GAFFER Zach Kassupi SOUND George Watts PRODUCTION DESIGNER Chloeé Maugile PRODUCTION DESIGN ASSISTANTS Firpal Jawanda Taiba wins the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park by becoming the first grade 1 winner they've bred and sold The colt trained by Tim Yakteen went from zero to 100 qualifying points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series and now ranks eighth on the leaderboard "I was leaving Keeneland and I had to pull off to the side of the road to watch it on my phone … I was flipping out I was by myself and it was just amazing," Madden said Madden consigned the colt as a yearling for Ryan at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale where longtime partners Randy Hartley and Dean De Renzo bought him for $140,000 Hartley/De Renzo then pinhooked Taiba to the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale of select 2-year-olds in training selling him for $1.7 million to agent Gary Young and all that other stuff but this just hits a little differently," Madden said "It's a culmination of a lot of things the people I represent; it makes you see the forest through the trees Sign up for BloodHorse Daily He brought $140,000 which is nothing to sniff at but his 2-year-old price was astronomical Madden says he remembers the colt as "straightforward" and "level-headed," remaining unfazed throughout the commotion of the sale grounds.  "He's the type that at the sale nothing ever bothered him; vets coming in to scope the horse or showing out at the sale for three or four days … He's always been special for us and even more so now." the colt's conformation was yet another positive attribute that helped to contribute to his early success on the track "He's just what you think of when you think of an equine athlete and he's not too big or too small," Madden said EngelhardtTaiba as a yearling at Bruce Ryan's farm Ryan had been a regular Buckland client when Taiba was offered in 2020 but Madden said he still appreciates the opportunity and is still "floating on cloud nine." it's good to put that feather in our cap and I don't take it for granted," Madden said "I know every horse isn't a grade 1 winner but "This is why we're all doing this and to have the prospects of a horse that will have a really good shot on the first Saturday in May makes waking up a little bit easier," he said Taiba is the first graded stakes winner bred by Ryan who has been breeding and raising horses for more than 30 years a commercial custom glass company in Cincinnati started out with Quarter Horses but soon discovered he had better opportunities to make money with Thoroughbreds One of Ryan's first Thoroughbreds was a yearling filly named Kiosk  who he bought privately from Eutrophia Farms at the 2001 Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Fall Mixed Sale after she was bought back on a final bid of $6,700 he and Tim Hamm decided to race Kiosk together and launched a partnership that lasted for 15 years "We look at the different nicking systems and the statistics and they all pointed toward Gun Runner being a good horse we felt we had no choice," recalled Ryan who was actually born at Millennium Farms near Lexington and then was moved to Ryan's farm after he'd met the requirements to be a registered Kentucky-bred Tom Hamm (director of stallion nominations) with Three Chimneys came out and said 'This horse looks just like his daddy.' When we looked at the foal we thought he looked just like the mare," Ryan said Tim Hamm said what the colt inherited from his sire and dam are even more pronounced on the racetrack "The way he drops his head when he's really running is the way (Needmore Flattery) ran she dropped her head and runs with the same style What is interesting is that Gun Runner ran the same way I guess he got a double-dose of that style," said Hamm The blazing closing kick Taiba showed in the Santa Anita Derby mirrors what Needmore Flattery showed in most of her races She would not turn on the afterburners until the last sixteenth and he did that comfortably and easily," Ryan said "The mare would lay close to the front and then between the 3/16th and the eighth pole it would be say goodbye." Ryan does not own Needmore Flattery anymore having sold her for $195,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale to Yeguada Centurion a farm owned by Leopoldo Fernández Pujals The Uncle Mo filly the mare was carrying when she was sold was born in Ireland He still has plenty of ties to the family, however, and is racing a stakes-winning full sister to Needmore Flattery named Flatter Her Again  who won the Southern Park Stakes March 26 at Mahoning Valley Race Course "She seems to be maturing and I think there are some better races for her ahead when we get her to some other tracks," said Ryan "We'll see how she does this year We may end up next year taking her straight to Gun Runner." who is the first foal out of Needmore Flattery a son of Uncle Mo who entered stud this year at Poplar Creek Horse Center near Bethel Ryan said he and his wife Mary expected big things from him but certainly never anticipated grade 1 success so quickly He was playful and you could tell how intelligent he was when you interacted with him," Ryan said His works going in were always close to bullets and so I know he was getting groomed for a big race but a grade 1 seemed a big jump Utilities Middle East Home » Utilities » ACWA Power secures financing for the $3.89 billion Taiba 1 and Qassim 1 power plants in Saudi Arabia The financing agreements will support the development and construction of the 1,800-megawatt (MW) power plants each undertaken by separate project companies—Sidra One for Electricity Company for Taiba 1 and Qudra One for Electricity Company for Qassim 1 ACWA Power holds a 40 percent ownership stake in both project companies The total financing amount for each project is 5,690.6 million Saudi riyals ($1,517.5 million) The financing consortium comprises international and local commercial lenders The financing agreements a major step in the development of the projects which were secured by an ACWA Power-Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) consortium in October 2023 each with a capacity of 1.8 gigawatts (GW) represent a combined investment of $3.89 billion ACWA Power’s guarantees on the financing are limited to its equity bridge loan as detailed in the company’s stock exchange statement This milestone underlines ACWA Power’s commitment to advancing Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure and enhancing its role as a leading power generation company in the region The Taiba 1 and Qassim 1 projects are integral to Saudi Arabia’s strategy to expand its power generation capacity and diversify its energy mix Become a MEED subscriber for unlimited access to: Alternatively Login to your account China’s move to block sanctions on Pakistan for harbouring the notorious terrorist mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi is the latest manifestation of the growing strength of the Beijing-Islamabad axis Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has made strengthening Pakistan’s 60-year-old alliance with China a top priority The Chinese used their veto authority to block India’s attempt to pressure Pakistan for releasing Lakhvi from jail seven years after the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) attack on Mumbai on November 26 Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267 States are required to take action against designated organisations and individuals involved in terrorism are both designated terrorist organisations by the UN This is far from the first time China has used its veto to protect the LeT and Pakistan China blocked efforts to designate the JuD as a terrorist group The Chinese are well aware of the close connections between the LeT/JuD and the Pakistani army and intelligence service connections which included joint planning of the Mumbai attack The LeT is Pakistan’s preferred terror outlet the group attacked the Indian consulate in Herat on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration the LeT has led the campaign in Pakistan to send troops to fight alongside Saudi Arabia in Yemen Riyadh is an important source of LeT fund-raising The Chinese veto in the UN is only one manifestation of the growing strength of the China-Pakistan connection It is an issue that both Pakistani civilian leaders like Sharif and Pakistan’s army leaders like Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif can fully agree on economic investment and arms and technology for Pakistan China’s support was essential to the development of the Pakistani nuclear arsenal The centrepiece of the China connection now is the Chinese commitment to invest $46 billion in the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to connect Kashgar in Xinjiang to Gwadar on the Arabian Sea roads and energy supply lines involved in the project promise to transform the Pakistani economy if completed in the next 15 years It is the largest investment project ever in one country dwarfing even the US Marshall Plan after World War Two To protect the project and the Chinese construction effort the two Sharifs have promised to create a special division of the Pakistani army devoted solely to their defence Drawing on Pakistan’s elite Special Security Group the 10,000-man division will have responsibility for ensuring the safety of the Chinese projects especially in Baluchistan The economic corridor project was under consideration before Nawaz Sharif became PM But he has been especially active in pushing for it Sharif has made three trips to China since 2013 He also travelled to China during his previous two administrations including at the height of the Kargil war in 1999 Sharif has concluded that China is a much more reliable ally than the United States and a much more powerful ally than Saudi Arabia The economic corridor will link Islamabad and Beijing even more closely and place Pakistan in the Sinosphere of influence and protection The alliance dates back to the Chinese invasion of India in 1962 Indian intelligence had indications that then Pakistani military dictator Field Marshall Ayub Khan was secretly reaching out to Beijing because of Khan’s failing faith in the US President John F Kennedy’s greatest worry was that Pakistan would launch a second front and attack in Kashmir while India was fighting China in the Himalayas Pakistan and China settled their border dispute in Kashmir setting the stage for what is now the track of the economic corridor from Kashgar to Gwadar Prime minister Modi reportedly opposed the economic corridor when he visited China in May although he limited his opposition to the passage and projects through Kashmir Like India’s protests against the Chinese veto protecting Lakhvi the opposition to the economic corridor is ineffectual India-Pakistan relations under Modi have been all but frozen Modi interpreted the LeT attack in Herat as a sign that the ISI is still abetting terrorism against India in general and Modi in particular But the Herat attack would have also humiliated Nawaz Sharif since he had accepted Modi’s wise invitation to attend his inauguration The generals who run the ISI and its terror connections have no love for the Pakistani PM The BBC’s report that India is funding and training the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) in Karachi will only further strain India-Pakistan relations Although the report indicates the funding for MQM began ten years ago the report will be used by Pakistan to make its case that Modi has stepped up Indian efforts to destabilise Pakistan Modi was smart to call Nawaz Sharif to convey good wishes at the start of Ramzan He should develop a more subtle and sophisticated approach to Pakistan in general trying to engage with Sharif to improve trade and economic ties while rallying international support to shut down the LeT India is smarter to compete in Pakistan with China on investment than to lobby ineffectually against CPEC Powerful interests in the army will resist any attempt at cooling tensions with India The Pakistani officer corps is still obsessed with India Which is why it maintains such intimate ties with the LeT This piece was originally published by The Economic Times. The signing of the MOU signifies a mutual intention to explore collaboration to utilize Sitecore's DXM solutions. By leveraging Sitecore's expertise in DXM technologies, Taiba Investments aims to revolutionize guest experiences across its hotel and real estate brands. Hamad Alsalman, VP of Marketing and Communications at Taiba Investments stated: "We are committed to refining customer experiences across our portfolio through an integrated digital ecosystem that drives operational and administrative efficiencies, optimizing content and data management and elevating our offerings. This collaboration is part of Taiba’s plan to invest in digital solutions to power our journey towards enhancing the experiences of our guests and our customers in general. At the forefront of experience-driven hospitality management, this strategic alliance enables Taiba Investments to unlock new possibilities and create unforgettable stays for guests. The agreement between Taiba Investments and Sitecore sets new standards for immersive and personalized services that focus on creating the best customer experiences, contributing to the evolution of the hospitality industry towards innovation, competitiveness, and excellence. Established in 1988, Taiba Investments is recognized as a leading hospitality and real estate company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company specializes in hotel operations, property and facility management, and real estate development and asset management. Its extensive and varied portfolio comprises 39 properties, including hotels, residential communities, and commercial plazas, with over 7,700 keys and an additional +20 projects in development. Central to Taiba's commitment to offering exceptional hospitality and accommodation options is its array of specialized Saudi brands. This includes Aqeeq Hotels, Makarem Hotels, Nur by Makarem, and Dur Communities. Additionally, Taiba's partnerships with globally acclaimed brands such as IHG Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, and Accor further enhance its ability to provide a wide range of distinguished hospitality and accommodation services to diverse guests. the principal off-taker for power projects in Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that it has signed power purchase agreements (PPA) with the consortium developing Taiba 2 and Qassim 2 Independent Power Plant (IPP) projects The state-owned company announced on its X (formerly Twitter) account that the PPAs for the two combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants of 1,800 megawatt (MW) capacity each were signed with the consortium of Al-Jomaih Energy and Water Company While the duration of the PPAs wasn't disclosed, ACWA Power had announced on Tuesday that it had signed 25-year PPAs for Taiba 1 and Qassim 1 IPPs. SPPC said projects will use Class H/J Gas Turbines in Combined Cycle operation for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and incorporate carbon capture technologies It said the two projects are expected to attract investments of around 29.2 billion Saudi Riyals ($7.8 billion) (Writing by Senthil Palanisamy; Editing by Anoop Menon) With the change in the political guard in Pakistan following the May 11 general election apprehensions have grown in India regarding the strategy of the newly-crowned government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to fight Kashmir-centric militant groups especially the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its various incarnations Even though Sharif vowed to curb militant proxies operating against India and promised a thorough probe into the role of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the attacks against India these promises seemed to crumble when the Punjab provincial administration led by Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) allocated $620,000 to facilities run by the proscribed charity the parent body of the notorious Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group that carried out the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai The funds were allocated to the JuD/LeT’s Markaz-e-Taiba the group’s sprawling headquarters at Muridke (Punjab Province) for the fiscal year 2013-14 This is not the first time the Punjab government has allocated funds for the banned but still operational JuD charity the government allocated a grant of $806,000 for schools hospital and other health facilities inside the Muridke campus and another grant of $30,000 for JuD’s al-Dawa school network across Punjab (AFP the Punjab government came forward with a justification of its new grant to the JuD led by militant ideologue Hafiz Muhammad Saeed The Punjab government said that it had already taken administrative control of the JuD’s facility in 2008 following the proscription of the JuD and the budgetary allocations are needed to continue services being provided to people through welfare institutions like the dispensaries hospitals and schools of the Markaz center JuD spokesman Yahiya Mujahid noted that the funds were not placed in the JuD’s own account and said the Pakistani judiciary has cleared JuD of all past allegations leaving it free to carry on its work for the Pakistani people 2010 that JuD office-holders and activists were working in the Markaz (AFP The Markaz is known for imparting jihadi education to youths in the guise of Daura Suffa’ a 21-day indoctrination course in which students are made to study the Quran salat (prayer) and dawah (proselytization) It is believed that Osama bin Laden provided the initial $100,000 for the construction of a mosque inside the Markaz Generous donations from Saudi Arabia facilitated the establishment of the campus with a mosque an Islamic University known as Jamia Al-Dawah and at least three residential colonies The Punjab government appointed Khaqan Babar as administrator of the Markaz-e-Taiba to manage the center’s social charitable and welfare organizations in 2009 (The Nation [Islamabad] Even though the government measures were criticized by JuD/LeT officials at that time they later proved to be part of Islamabad’s well-considered policy to prevent a hue and cry over evidence of active collusion between JuD office-holders and Punjab government officials in managing day to day affairs of the Markaz and other institutions The government takeover was considered to be a face-saving measure for Pakistan which remains under intense international pressure after the 2008 Mumbai attacks there is little evidence anything has changed on the ground so far as JuD’s operations in Pakistan are concerned The JuD traces its origin to the Markaz Dawa wal-Irshad (MDI) founded in the mid-1980s by three well-known Islamist figures with the aim of participating in the Afghan war against the Soviets and subsequently in Kashmir The JuD has long been known to be a front for the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which came into existence almost at the same time with Hafiz Muhammad Saeed as its supreme leader The LeT was responsible for numerous terrorist strikes against India including the December 2000 Red Fort attack in Delhi and the November 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed more than 160 people Hafiz Muhammad Saeed renamed the MDI as Jamaat-ud-Dawa in December 2001 and placed the LeT under Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi as supreme commander and Wahid Kashmiri as head of operations in Kashmir The UN Security Council imposed sanctions against the JuD and declared it a terrorist organization in December 2008 including founders Saudi financier Bahaziq Mahmoud and founders Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi were designated as terrorists [2] The LeT was designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in December 2001 and was added to the UN sanctions list in May 2005 The JuD was identified as an alias of the LeT in April 2006 (Daily Times [Lahore] Islamabad launched a brief military operation against JuD/LeT hideouts and training camps in the early weeks of December 2008 under pressure from the United States and India Hafiz Saeed was later released from the detention for lack of evidence against him and continues to operate with impunity while Lakhvi is still in prison awaiting trial Saeed and his cohorts have founded various organizations to remain relevant in the face of growing international scrutiny and sanctions against their activities in Pakistan and elsewhere The JuD has carried out humanitarian operations during natural calamities such as the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and 2010 floods in Pakistan These activities were carried out in the name of two charitable fronts that were later designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S Department of State – the Idara Khidmat-e Khalaq (IKK) and ‘Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FiF) [4] The JuD’s humanitarian work is motivated by a desire to garner public and government support obtain fresh recruits and ensure a continuous flow of funds to carry out jihad training and operations The JuD established an Islamist umbrella group known as the Difah Pakistan Council (DPC) that has spearheaded Kashmir-related protests against India and the United States across Pakistan Hafiz Saeed said that “unless the Kashmir issue is resolved no agreements with India” (Asian News International The JuD remains at the forefront of the Kashmir struggle exhorting youths to join the militants during its frequent rallies Exploiting internet based social media platforms and technology JuD has reinvented itself as a political pressure group and is attempting to legitimize its actions before the laws of the land in the name of charity and development It maintains active Facebook and Twitter accounts and a revamped website where it lists three causes for which JuD now stands: national politics With government subsidies and financial assistance in place JuD and its leaders seem unperturbed and do not foresee any interference with their future plans and operations With its infrastructure remaining intact and under government protection the JuD and its supreme leader Hafez Muhammad Saeed remain a potent and apparently state-sponsored threat against India and the West Animesh Roul is the Executive Director of Research at the New Delhi-based Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC) 1. See: https://jamatdawa.org/jamat-ud-dawah-does-not-receive-any-funds-from-the-punjab-goverment/#sthash.ZdhbqhnI.dpuf 2. “Security Council al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee Adds Names of Four Individuals to Consolidated List, Amends Entries of Three Entities,” UNSC Department of Public Information, SC/9527, December 10, 2008, https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sc9527.doc.htm 3. “Addition of Aliases Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq to the Specially Designated Global Terrorist Designation of Lashkhar-E-Tayyiba,” U.S. Department of State Press Release, April 28, 2006, https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/65401.htm U.S. Department of State Press Release, November 24, 2010, https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/11/151931.htm 5. See: https://twitter.com/HafizSaeedJUD, https://jamatdawa.org/. The new IPPs are electrical power generation projects with provision for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) readiness The projects have a total capacity 7,200 MW It is broken up in four combined cycle power projects of 1,800MW capacity each: Taiba IPP 1 - 1,800 MW; Qassim IPP 1 - 1,800 MW; Taiba IPP 2 - 1,800 MW; Qassim IPP 2 - 1,800 MW This is in alignment with Kingdom’s Saudi Green Initiative and its stated greenhouse gases (GHGs) net-zero ambition by 2060 through deployment of technologies for circular carbon economy approach This is in addition to the energy sector’s objectives to ensuring security of supply The projects will drive further local content and add value to the Kingdom by contributing to raising the local content percentage and industry localization ten gunmen from Lashkar-e-Taiba launched a complex attack that lasted over 60 hours against India’s commercial capital one of the country’s busiest railway stations The “26/11 attacks,” as they are known in India it was already one of the most powerful terrorist groups in South Asia and generally considered to be Pakistan’s most reliable proxy against India I devoted several years of my life to researching this militant group’s evolution, and exploring the calculus behind Mumbai for my first book, Storming the World Stage: The Story of Lashkar-e-Taiba The attacks derailed a fragile peace process between India and Pakistan created fears that another attack of similar scale and lethality in India would trigger war between the two nuclear-armed powers and ushered in a trend of active shooter sieges by other jihadist groups may be that the group has actually increased its presence and influence in Pakistan despite the widespread knowledge that it was responsible for killing 166 people Bluntly speaking: Lashkar-e-Taiba got away with it That fact says a lot about the group and about Pakistan reportedly because he thought it was a front for the Israeli Mossad There is no evidence to support Iqbal’s belief It’s also possible that Lashkar-e-Taiba’s ISI handlers were given broad guidance that general attack planning against India could move forward and they operated under a form of command by negation in which the operation moved forward because no one told them to stop When trying to assess culpability within the ISI it is also important to note that the seaborne infiltration that enabled the attack was actually attempted in September and again in October albeit without alerting the Indian authorities The timing is important because Pasha’s predecessor — Nadeem Taj —left his position as director general of ISI prematurely in October 2008 it is possible he approved the plot in some form in which case we are left to wonder whether the full scope of information was relayed to Pasha during the transition We may never know how high ISI awareness or support went We do know this: ISI handlers abetted the operation meaning that the attacks were sanctioned from Lashkar-e-Taiba’s perspective This assistance was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the overall level of state support the group received Lashkar-e-Taiba did not suffer any tangible costs for 26/11 The group has changed its name several times since the Sept 11 attacks to evade sanctions and escape bans The Pakistani government still differentiates between Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa — its above-ground organization — which is not they remain two sides of a single organization the authorities temporarily shuttered Jamaat ud Dawa’s offices and prohibited the organization from fundraising and propagandizing A former official in the Punjab provincial government involved in executing the crackdown told me the authorities briefed senior Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders in advance of any punitive actions We will tell you in advance what we will do.” Today and otherwise operate with the security establishment’s blessing According to former Lashkar-e-Taiba members I spoke with in 2011 Lashkar-e-Taiba has embraced this role for ideological and operational reasons. The group has long asserted that while appropriate to “press the Pakistani rulers to enforce Islam” it is incorrect to directly fight against them since that would mean a cessation of jihad against the kufr refraining from violence against Pakistan is necessary to maintain its support for jihad against India Lashkar-e-Taiba is as committed to reforming Pakistani society and promoting its brand of extremist Islam at home as it is waging jihad abroad Staying on the state’s good side has provided the group’s leaders with space to do precisely that which runs hospitals and ambulance services across the country and not an alias for a lethal terrorist group including ensuring that both Pakistani society and the state conform to the injunctions of the Quran and Sunna promoting a foreign policy that furthers the interests of the global umma and countering the Takfiri extremist ideology of groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State Individual members of jihadist organizations have been contesting elections in Pakistan for years And the Jamiat Ulema-e Islam — one of Pakistan’s most notable religious parties — has long provided a political umbrella for various terrorist organizations Some of these groups are following Lashkar-e-Taiba’s lead and attempting to form their own political parties entering electoral politics can have a moderating influence on terrorist organizations and perhaps even create conditions for mainstreaming them the Pakistan security establishment has not forced a choice between terrorism and politics Lashkar-e-Taiba has been given space to arrogate political power all while continuing to ply its terrorist trade Until only a few months before the Mumbai attacks the plan was for the ten man terrorist team to escape It was only in August that the group’s leaders decided it would be a martyrdom operation Nine of the terrorists fought to the death The tenth — Amir Ajmal Kasab — was captured A video filmed by Indian police shows him lying on a hospital trolley on the first night of the attacks confessing to his membership in Lashkar-e-Taiba and to the group’s responsibility for the attacks Additional evidence recovered from the ship the attackers used for travel from Pakistan (and forgot to scuttle) along with communication intercepts helped the Indian authorities to build a compelling case against the group Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders not only remain at large They and the group their organization arguably have more influence in Pakistan than ever before Stephen Tankel is an associate professor at American University an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New America Security and the author of With Us and Against Us: How America’s Partners Help and Hinder the War on Terror Image: Photo by Nicholas (Nichalp), CC BY-SA 3.0 Signing up for this newsletter means you agree to our data policy nationally-representative survey of 7,656 Pakistanis in the country’s four provinces of Punjab The Lashkar-e-Taiba (and other various noms de guerre it has used and uses) differs from many of the Islamist terrorist groups operating in the region that hail from the Deobandi religious interpretive tradition in that the LeT draws from the Ahl-e-Hadees tradition the organisation has considerable conflict with these Deobandi groups in large measure because most of the Deobandis engage in a practice of takfir which then render them subject to lethal violence the Islamic State in Pakistan draws from Deobandi militant organisations because the madrassas and the terrorist organisations the Deobandis support are deeply sectarian with a rich history of targeting non-Muslims Ahmadi and increasingly Barelvis over the last decade Despite the organisation’s claims to be Ahl-e-Hadees, most of Pakistan’s Ahl-e-Hadees ulema and institutions reject Lashkar’s primary claims that waging military jihad is an inescapable obligation of all Muslims and that it can be waged only by non-state actors most Ahl-e-Hadees ulema believe that only an Islami Riyasit (Islamic State) can wage jihad While the LeT preaches nonviolence towards anyone who recognises the supremacy of Allah it has real ideological differences with virtually all other Muslim sects in Pakistan It accuses Barelvis (likely the largest market share in Pakistan) of committing idolatry for their cult-like adoration for the Prophet Barelvis not only ascribe attributes to the Prophet that are reserved for Allah alone but they also engage in practices – wearing amulets – that the Lashkar believes to be apostasy also take issue with Shias because they reject the succession of the Prophet Lashkar believes that they should be educated and converted Despite significant ideological differences with mainstream Ahl-e-Hadees institutions in Pakistan Lashkar-e-Taiba still draws support from Ahle-e-Hadees adherents which is consistent with the LeT’s proselytisation efforts (dawa and tabligh) to convert such persons to the Lashkar’s understanding of the Ahl-e-Hadees interpretative tradition Also read: India must consolidate its gains in Kashmir. Jihadist groups eyeing expansion opportunity Lashkar has long claimed to be a Kashmiri Tanzeem comprising Kashmiris fighting for Kashmiris and dying in Kashmir But it has long been suspected and recent data somewhat demonstrates that only the latter claim is true (See Figure 1) and over 90 per cent of its cadres come from a mere ten districts in Pakistan’sPunjab A meagre 1 per cent come from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Irrespective of the LeT’s claim to be a “Kashmiri” organisation it is by all measure a Punjabi organisation This raises an interesting question: Do Pakistanis support the organisation because of its religious or ethnic bona fides ethnicity is the strongest predictor of support the Baloch are significantly more likely than others to oppose the Lashkar-e-Taiba whereas Sindhis are weak in their response This also tracks with reality: Pakistan’s deep state has used the Lashkar in Balochistan for various reasons Given that Pakistan will fight to the last Baloch to make the resource-rich province safe for Chinese exploitation the Baloch rightly view the Lashkar to be another guise of Punjabi domination working in concert with the Punjabi-dominated army which many Baloch believe has immiserated Baloch in their own province Also read: TLP is no Lashkar-e-Taiba, its agitation no civil war. Yet Pakistan is losing a battle While the Lashkar is an important and violent disruptor abroad, at home in Pakistan, it is an explicitly status quo power. While LeT advocates killing kuffars (nonbelievers) in India, within Pakistan, it insists upon converting them through social services LeT’s staunch opposition to sectarian violence pits it against the Islamic State and many of the Deobandi militant groups such as the anti‐Shia Lashkar‐e‐Jhangvi (LeJ which also operates under the names Sipah‐e‐Sahaba‐e‐Pakistan and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat) or the Tehreek‐e‐Taliban (TTP or the Pakistani Taliban) which draws many of its commanders and cadres from the LeJ Moreover, the Lashkar argues against any kind of protest of the State—irrespective of its leadership—and is a staunch supporter of the current domestic, political and economic system in Pakistan, including Pakistan’s unaffordable friendship with China the third-strongest predictor of support for the Lashkar was satisfaction with the status quo Our results should put to rest any thinking that Lashkar is a revolutionary organisation Also read: US, UK, France – A review of attacks will show you how deep Pakistani terror vortex is While very little work has been done to explicate whether and why women support Islamist terrorism, women in Pakistan are much more likely to support the Lashkar than are men. As I describe elsewhere the organisation dedicates significant resources to recruit women to the organisation’s goals to ensure that they support the LeT by encouraging their sons and other male family members to join it either as militants or in supporting roles The LeT empower women to promote the organisation’s creed which empowers them and frees them to move about without hindrance To ensure that mothers are not disenchanted with the organisation the Lashkar-e-Taiba requires the mother’s explicit blessings for every mission in which her son may meet so-called martyrdom The organisation dispatches senior personnel to notify the parents of their sons’ death and it oversees the important ghaib-e-janaza Also read: What makes radicals die for their cause? This is what brain scans found These results continue to show that it is very likely that there is a viable non-kinetic strategy to deal with the Lashkar-e-Taiba Given the extensive State support for the organisation and the stronghold that Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies have in the country there is little scope to conduct information offensives that would undermine any of the sources of support we find The only options to deter the LeT—absent capabilities to impose India’s will over Pakistan decisively through overt military operations—are covert and kinetic. As I have shown elsewhere, the pyramidal and open leadership structure in Pakistan make it vulnerable to leadership decapitation While this option is challenging and difficult to execute Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp columnists and editors – is doing just that Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here Support Our Journalism Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" The Pahalgam terror attack has brought the focus back on Pakistan’s patronage of terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the targeted killings of tourists in the Baisaran meadows on April 22 A case is point is the Al-Aziz Hospital located within the Muridke complex of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) under the benevolent eyes of Pakistan’s Punjab province government show how terror network continues to thrive there in the garb of charity Al-Aziz Hospital started as a dispensary in 1994 it has progressed to a 32-bed hospital with OPD services in morning and evening the Pakistani Punjab government declared it as a “taken over health facility” It has been renamed the “Government Al-Aziz Hospital & College of Paramedical Sciences” but an analysis of its online footprint shows how it is still under the control of the JuD Also read: Pakistan stands globally isolated in its claims over Kashmir The renaming was done by Pakistan to escape sanctions under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which had put Islamabad in the grey list to indicate that it was not compliant with anti-money-laundering and terror-financing laws By renaming facilities like the Al-Aziz Hospital and putting JuD chief Hafiz Saeed in jail Pakistan managed to get itself removed from the grey list But the online footprint of the hospital clearly shows whose writ runs there. The YouTube channel of the hospital has 75 subscribers and various videos in both short and long form have been uploaded on it The YouTube channel was started in October 2023 A short video uploaded in February this year is titled “Kashmir Conference-2025” with the hashtags “al-aziz_hospital” “Kashmir humari shah rag hai” (Kashmir is our jugular vein) Interestingly, Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir, too, expressed the same sentiment recently a song — “Kashmir humara hai” — plays in the background with pictures running on it showing bearded men addressing a gathering Also read: ‘False flag operation’, ‘knee-jerk reaction’: Pak reaction to Pahalgam aftermath Another short video shows the visit of the Deputy Commissioner of Sheikhupura to the hospital Muridke town is under the Sheikhupura district of Pakistan’s Punjab But there is yet another video of a “visitor” which shows who runs the show there was identified by the US State Department as a front of the JuD/LeT to collect funds “The Department of State announces the addition of the aliases Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD) and Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq (IKK) to the Specially Designated Global Terrorist Designation (SDGT) of Lashkhar-e-Tayyiba (LET),” the US State Department had announced in a press statement on April 28 is widely believed to be in charge of the LeT’s terror infrastructure and is also being probed by Indian agencies for his involvement in the conspiracy behind the Pahalgam attack Also read: Explained: What is Indus Waters Treaty? How will its suspension hit Pakistan? the LeT had floated another political party But the US Treasury Department had sanctioned the party and designated its seven office bearers as “Global Terrorists” One of the office bearers was its current general secretary but was also heading the Peshawar headquarters of the LeT and served on the JuD’s coordination committee for Punjab It started its YouTube channel in January 2023 and fielded candidates in the February 2024 general elections in Pakistan Its candidates included Hafiz Saeed’s son Talha who contested Lahore’s NA-122 constituency Home » Hotelier Middle East » Saudi National Day offers at Millennium Taiba and Al Aqeeq Millennium Taiba and Al Aqeeq at Madinah have introduced packages and offers on F&B and stays to celebrate the 89th Saudi National Day On 23 September 2019, the property will be hosting a dinner buffet which will feature international cuisine as well as traditional Saudi delicacies From 19 to 30 September, both hotels will offer discounts on four-night stays and complimentary breakfast next to Al Masjed Al Nabawi The property’s cluster director of sales and marketing Ibrahim Sindi said: “Saudi Arabia is worldwide famous for its values such as generosity and authentic hospitality we believe that there is no better way to celebrate the Saudi National Day with Saudis and GCC nationals other than offering them exclusive rates to get a memorable stay experience within the proximity of Al Masjed Al Nabawi Our spreads for the dinner of the Saudi National Day are beyond our guest’s expectations we would like to congratulate citizens and expats in the Kingdom on this special occasion and wish them all a happy and successful life.”