MUST-READS

• Guantanamo
  McCain Brokers Compromise That Would Let Obama Close Gitmo

  John McCain’s markup of the annual defense authorization bill, or NDAA, includes a bipartisan compromise that could grant President Obama the authority to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But it comes with a very large asterisk: Congress first would have to approve the president’s plan for closing the facility and dispatching its 122 detainees.

• Arab-Israeli Conflict
  Abbas: France trying to restart Mideast peace talks

  France has resumed efforts to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was quoted on Thursday as saying.

• Persian Gulf
  US: Iran Fired on Singaporean Cargo Ship in Gulf

  An Iranian naval patrol boat fired on a Singapore-flagged commercial ship in the Persian Gulf on Thursday in an apparent attempt to disable it over a financial dispute over damage to an Iranian oil platform, a U.S. official said.

• ISIS and Antiquities
  Islamic State ‘threatens ruins of ancient site of Palmyra’

  The fighting has now brought Isil within reach of Palmyra and the city of Tadmor, in which the ruins are sited.

  • BBC News - Islamic State releases 'al-Baghdadi message'
• Saudi Foreign Policy
  What’s behind Saudi Arabia’s new muscularity

  “For decades, we have been the West’s partner and ally,” says Mr. Jasser. “Now it is time for Saudi Arabia to stand on its own, and stand tall.”

• U.S. - GCC Summit
  Obama pledges “ironclad” support to GCC security

  The joint US-GCC statement issued following the summit contained US pledges to bolster its security cooperation with the GCC on counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber-security and ballistic missile defense.

  • Gulf News - Beginning of 'a new era of GCC-US cooperation'
  • Kuwait News Agency - US, GCC to build closer relations in security cooperation, regional issues
  • Yahoo Maktoob - Gulf security is an essential part of global stability: Mohammad Bin Zayed
  • Gulf Times - Emir describes Camp David summit as fruitful
  • Arab News - Washington pledges robust defense for GCC
  • Al Arabiya - Obama vows ‘ironclad’ support to Gulf states
• Taxis in Saudi Arabia
  A History of taxicabs in the Kingdom

  In bygone times, people in the Arabian Peninsula used to travel on foot or by other modes of primitive transport such as camels, horses and even donkeys. This was the case until the arrival of motor vehicles in the last century which revolutionized transport.

• U.S. - GCC Summit
  U.S.- Gulf Cooperation Council Camp David Joint Statement

  In this spirit, and building on the U.S.-GCC Strategic Cooperation Forum, the leaders discussed a new U.S.-GCC strategic partnership to enhance their work to improve security cooperation, especially on fast-tracking arms transfers, as well as on counter-terrorism, maritime security, cybersecurity, and ballistic missile defense.

  • Whitehouse.gov - Annex to U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council Camp David Joint Statement
• Hospitality and Tourism
  Rezidor signs six new hotel projects in Saudi Arabia, UAE

  The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced it has signed six new projects in Saudi Arabia and the UAE as it looks to strengthen its portfolio in the Middle East.

• Barclays
  Barclays Wants $10B Suit Over Alleged Saudi Scheme Tossed

  Barclays Bank PLC has urged a New York state court to toss a Saudi Arabian real estate developer’s $10 billion suit over an allegedly fraudulent settlement deal with the Saudi government, arguing the complaint was untimely and without any legal or factual grounding.

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