MUST-READS

• Islamic Extremism
  Opinion: As Caliphates Compete, Radical Islam Will Eventually Weaken

  The rise of the Islamic State will inspire other jihadist groups to claim their own caliphates and emirates. In the long run, the extremism of these contrived dominions and the competition among them will undermine the jihadist movement. However, before that happens, the world will witness much upheaval.

• Iran Negotiations
  Ahead of talks, Iran says West must drop ‘illogical’ nuclear demands

  Iran said world powers should abandon their "illogical demands" over its nuclear program, ahead of talks on Thursday to try to bridge wide differences in positions and end the decade-old dispute by late November. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, one of Iran's chief negotiators, was speaking before a meeting in Vienna with senior officials from the three European members of the group of six world powers involved in the negotiations with Tehran.

• Global Oil Markets
  OPEC Splits on Response to Falling Oil Prices

  A split in response to falling oil prices emerged among members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries after Saudi Arabia cut its oil production sharply last month while other leading members raised their output. Saudi Arabia, the cartel's kingpin, said Wednesday it had cut its crude production by about 400,000 barrels a day in August. An industry official said the drop was tied to lower exports to the kingdom's core Asian markets.

  • Bloomberg - IEA Cuts Oil-Demand Estimates as Saudi Exports Drop to 2011 Low
• Israel-Palestine
  Israeli troops kill Palestinian during West Bank

  Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian on Wednesday during a raid on a West Bank refugee camp, Palestinian medics and the Israeli military said.

• Social Entrepreneurship
  What can a Dubai fashion startup teach you about social entrepreneurship?

  Determined to make a difference, the two women cofounded JUST, a social enterprise that aims to enable a transparent and “values-driven, not value-driven” fashion supply chain by connecting designers and manufacturers to ethical, sustainable suppliers. JUST leverages technology to promote transparency within the fashion supply chain by authenticating suppliers based on their ethical and sustainability standards and presenting them on an easy to use online platform for designers and manufacturers.

• Syria and IS
  Combat Reversals Pressure Syria’s Assad, Complicating Efforts Against Islamic State

  In a span of weeks, the Islamic State has overrun military bases in Syria's east. In the west, the regime faces a coalition of rebels that threatens the heartland of Mr. Assad's Alawite minority and could alter the course of Syria's multi-sided civil war. Alawites, a Shiite-linked group that forms the backbone of the regime and pro-government militias, are angry over the loss of hundreds of troops last month after the Islamic State captured an air base in the northeastern province of Raqqa.

  • Abu Aardvark - Previewing the Syria tourniquet
  • Economist - A harrowing journey
• Iraq and IS
  Kerry in Iraq to congratulate new premier, build alliance against Islamic State

  Kerry met with new Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other senior officials. His visit is timed to precede President Obama’s speech Wednesday evening laying out a multi-pronged plan to confront militants who have seized large swaths of Iraqi and Syrian territory with stunning speed and battlefield prowess.

  • NPR - Obama To Push Military Campaign Against Islamic State Militants
  • Center for American Progress - Defeating ISIS: An Integrated Strategy to Advance Middle East Stability
  • The Hill - ISIS is spreading, experts warn
  • Defense News - Republican Leaders Want Clear Islamic State Plan from Obama
  • BBC News - John Kerry says world cannot watch IS evil spread
• Regional Security
  Saudi Arabia hosts talks with U.S., regional allies on Thursday

  It said the participants would include Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and member states of the six-country Gulf Coopertion Council (GCC), which in addition to the kingdom comprises Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

• Petrochemicals
  Saudi Aramco, Sumitomo Chemical invite banks to back JV plant expansion

  PetroRabigh's existing plant can produce an annual 18 million tonnes of refined products and 2.4 million tonnes of petrochemical products. The new facility, known as Rabigh II, is to be built as an expansion of PetroRabigh's existing petrochemical plant, increasing output and introducing higher-margin products. The project, located on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, received a formal go-ahead from the parent firms in 2012; PetroRabigh has said previously it is due to come online in 2016, despite a string of maintenance problems at the existing facility.

• Algosaibi
  Saudi’s Algosaibi Makes Restructuring Moves

  Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers, a Saudi Arabian conglomerate that defaulted on its debts almost five years ago amid allegations of fraud, said a steering committee has been formed in a bid to advance its $6 billion restructuring.

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