MUST-READS

• GCC Military
  How the US Can Turn the GCC Into a Lasting Military Alliance

  GCC members prefer to deal bilaterally with the United States but when strong common interests exist and the stakes are high, GCC countries are willing to work together.

• U.S. Congress and Iran
  New US Congress a risk to Iran nuclear deal

  The current Democratic Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, blocked a bipartisan bill earlier this year that would have imposed even more stringent sanctions on Iran than are currently in effect. Now under Republican control, the Senate is likely to revive the bill. Even if it is vetoed by the US president, the newly emboldened Congress could signal to Iran that Mr Obama cannot uphold the US side of any agreement.

  • VOA - Will US Election Results Undermine Iran Nuclear Talks?
  • Al Monitor - Some in Iran worry Republican victory could derail talks
  • Washington Post - Obama’s fourth-quarter agenda for foreign policy
  • The Hill - McCain Rips WH for 'Playing Footsie' With Iran
  • Foreign Affairs - Act of Congress Israel, Iran, and the Republican Victory
• Pakistan
  U.S. diplomat and longtime Pakistan expert is under federal investigation

  A veteran State Department diplomat and longtime Pakistan expert is under federal investigation as part of a counterintelligence probe and has had her security clearances withdrawn, according to U.S. officials.

• Al Jazeera Journalists
  Amal Clooney calls on Egypt to release journalist Mohamed Fahmy

  Amal Clooney has called on the Egyptian government to release her client Mohamed Fahmy on medical grounds, after she disclosed that the jailed al-Jazeera journalist is suffering from Hepatitis C.

  • Washington Post - In stark transformation, Egyptian rights activist dies fighting for the Islamic State
• MENA Startup Investment
  New Wamda Research Lab report sheds light on MENA investment landscape and future opportunities

  Entrepreneurs that have the ambition to grow their company often reference limited funding as a barrier to achieving their goals. Whether just starting out, launching a new product or expanding into a new country, access to capital is a critical resource that is not always easy to obtain. The investment ecosystem for startups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is no exception, yet in recent years funding access in the region has improved.

• Riyadh Traffic
  Going round and round, to nowhere

  While residents in the Saudi capital have commended the big revamp being given to Riyadh’s roads, many continue to suffer because of never-ending traffic rerouting in various parts of the city. Two major projects that have been constantly cited by residents are the underground tunnel along King Abdullah Road and a similar project near the old Riyadh airport.

• Terror Attack
  Saudi ‘Terror’ Suspect Said to Have Fought in Iraq, Syria

  A Saudi citizen suspected of organizing the attack on Shiite worshipers in the oil-rich Eastern Province returned from fighting in Iraq and Syria, according to Saudi-owned newspapers. The citizen organized a cell that carried out the attack that killed seven people in the Shiite village of al-Dalwah after sneaking across the border into the kingdom, al-Hayat and Saudi Gazette newspapers said, citing security officials they didn’t identify. Asharq Al-Awsat said the Saudi fought in regional conflicts. The Interior Ministry declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

  • Reuters - Uncurbed sectarianism prompted village attack say Saudi Shi'ites
  • Bloomberg - Saudi Suspect in Attack on Shiites Crossed Over Southern Border
• Saudi SWF
  Saudi prince wants wealth fund to cope with oil slide

  A SWF proposal has in fact already been discussed by the kingdom's legislators this year, albeit no decision has been taken. "Clearly the income from our sovereign wealth fund would not cover all our budget, but at least should cover a good size of it," Prince Alwaleed added. The comments come on the heels of an open letter he sent to the Saudi government last month, criticizing what he saw as a complacent reaction to falling oil prices. At the time Brent crude was trading just below $90 a barrel.

• Entrepreneurship
  Want to push the MENA forward? Work for an entrepreneur

  As new programs in the region teach young people about the merits of starting a business, they also need to position working with a startup as a viable career choice. The two are symbiotic and the full potential of each track cannot be realized without the other. Moving forward, here are two recommendations to help shape efforts supporting entrepreneurship amongst youth:

• India and Pakistan
  A Suicide Bomber Attacks the Border of India and Pakistan

  Two Pakistani Taliban groups have claimed responsibility for the attack: Jamaat ul-Ahrar, which recently splintered from the Pakistani Taliban, and Jundallah, a veteran terrorist group whose bombing of a church in Peshawar killed 127 last year. In remarks to Dawn, a Pakistani news service, Jamaat ul-Ahrar spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed that the bombing was in retaliation for Pakistan's anti-jihadist military operations near the country's border with Afghanistan.

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