MUST-READS

• Water
  Saudi utility to spend $80bn by 2025 to raise water production

  State-run Saudi Saline Water Conversion Corp (SWCC) plans to invest SR300 billion ($80 billion) by 2025 to boost energy-intensive desalinated water production to 8.5 million cubic metres a day, the head of the utility said on Wednesday. SWCC, also Saudi Arabia's second largest power producer, now produces 3.6 million cubic metres per day of desalinated water, Abdulrahman Mohammed al-Ibrahim told reporters.

• Global Energy Markets
  New Patterns of Economic Relations and the Energy Order – Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman

  In Asia alone, 525 million people can be considered as middle class – this is more than the total population of the EU. Indeed, one of the key dynamics shaping energy markets over the last three decades has been growing energy demand in non-OECD. Between 1990 and 2013, non-OECD increased its oil consumption from around 25 million b/d to almost 45.7 million b/d, i.e. an increase of more than 20 million b/d. During the same period, OECD demand increased only by 3.8 million b/d.

• Saudi-Lebanon
  Lebanese Army commander Kahwagi meets with Saudi ambassador over Army aid

  The Lebanese Army commander discussed the pledged Saudi aid to the military with the kingdom’s ambassador to Lebanon Tuesday.

• Afghan Taliban
  Suicide car bomber kills three foreign troops in Afghan capital

  A suicide car bomber killed three foreign troops and wounded 13 Afghan civilians in an attack on a convoy near the U.S. embassy in Kabul on Tuesday, the NATO-led coalition said, one of the worst attacks on international forces in the Afghan capital in months.

  • Politico - Scenes From the Forgotten War America Is Losing
• Military Contractors
  Contractors Ready to Cash In On ISIS War

  None of the five current and former contractors who spoke with The Daily Beast expected a replay of last decade’s Iraq war. But they all said a major opportunity was coming—both for them, and for Obama, who could use the private armies as a way to conceal just how many people will be fighting in this new conflict. “Iraq this time around is not going to be as big as it was before,” said Roger Carstens, a former special operations officer who has served as a contracted military adviser in Somalia and Afghanistan. “That said, this new war will present an opportunity for the companies that have a resident train and advising capability to contribute to this new effort.”

  • Washington Post - Report: Contractors won’t benefit from U.S. strategy on Islamic State, for now
• Al-Qaeda
  Al Qaeda denies decline, acknowledges ‘mistakes’ by its branches

  Counter-terrorism experts say al Qaeda's aging leadership is struggling to compete for recruits with Islamic State, which has galvanized young followers, seized advanced weapons from Iraqi and Syrian forces while accruing a vast store of cash.

  • Long War Journal - 2 al Qaeda commanders reported killed in US airstrike in eastern Afghanistan
• Labor
  Small retailers to face Saudi feminisation rules for the first time

  Saudi Arabia’s feminisation program will be expanded to include some retail stores will fewer than five employees for the first time from October 25. Retailers selling women’s perfumes, maternity wear, abayas, shoes, bags, clothes and fabrics are to be included in what will be the third phase of the government’s plan to increase female employment.

• Finance
  Aluminum Bahrain Plans Listing on Saudi Arabia Exchange

  Aluminium Bahrain, the second-largest aluminum smelter in the Middle East, is planning to cross-list its shares in Saudi Arabia, according to four people familiar with the matter.

  • Arabian Business - Saudi's Savola says to sell stake in property project for $158m
• Social Media
  Who’s the king of the GCC social media ring?

  The UAE comes out on top with high Facebook and LinkedIn penetration rates, yet Saudi Arabia leads the region on most platforms, especially Twitter. According to the Arab Social Media Report published in May this year, Facebook usage in the Arab world has expanded to approximately 81 million users, while LinkedIn and Twitter user numbers have also grown to 8.5m and 6m, respectively.

• Saudi Charities
  Saudi Shoura okays draft law to regulate fund-raising

  According to the law, only licensed agencies can collect donations. They will have to issue statement about their revenues and expenditure as well as about the volume of their collections in cash and kind. The law also contains rules and regulations with regard to launching a charity campaign.

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