MUST-READS

• Saudi-Egypt
  Egypt signs $350m in oil, power financing deals with Saudi Arabia

  Egypt signed $350 million (Dh1.3 billion) worth of financing agreements with Saudi Arabia on Saturday aimed at upgrading its power grid and securing imports of petroleum products as it seeks to end its worst energy crisis in decades.

• Al-Qaeda in Pakistan
  Arab, Haqqani Network commanders reported killed in latest drone strike in South Waziristan

  Despite US government officials' claims that al Qaeda has been "decimated" in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the CIA continues to target the group's command and control in the region. The CIA, which operates the drone program in Pakistan, has launched eight strikes in North and South Waziristan in October. This is the highest number of strikes in Pakistan a single month since January 2013, when seven were launched. The US has averaged between two to three strikes a month, excluding a gap in 2014 between January and May, when no strikes were launched.

• MENA Startups
  What do investors in the MENA want from startups?

  While most of the funders surveyed currently have a presence in either Jordan, the UAE, or Lebanon, 83% plan to expand and increase their activity in the next two years, and most of them are seeking to become more involved in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. While challenges in obtaining investment differ from one market to the other, there are some similarities across the region. Thirty-six percent of entrepreneurs surveyed said that the supply of venture funding in their countries was small, and 24% thought that investors are not offering enough value beyond cash.

• Egypt-Gaza
  Egypt demolishes Sinai homes for Gaza border buffer

  Egypt has begun demolishing homes along its border with the Gaza Strip as part of a planned 500m buffer zone that is intended to prevent weapons smuggling.

• Savola Group
  Savola Stock Surging for Key Shareholders

  Savola was founded in 1979 as Saudi Vegetable Oils and Ghee Co. as an importer and refiner of edible oils. Food manufacturing and wholesale sales remain its primary business, accounting for more than half of the company’s revenue. Retail sales make up 41 percent of its business, almost all of which is generated by its network of 260 Al Azizia Panda United food markets. “The food and retail segments are growing at double digits,” said NCB Capital’s Tomalieh. “Those areas benefit from population growth, which right now is around the 2.5 percent mark in Saudi.”

• Afghanistan
  Violence marks Afghan president’s first month

  Suicide bombers, roadside bombs and rocket attacks on the Afghan capital have intensified in the one month since President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai took office as the Taliban are sending a message that they disapprove of his tough stance on ending the insurgency and close security ties with Washington, officials, analysts and the Taliban said. In recent days, central Kabul's diplomatic neighborhood has been shaken by late night rocket attacks. On both Friday and Sunday nights, rockets were fired into the heavily fortified "green zone," sending locals running for cover and international residents into basement safe rooms to await the all clear.

• U.S. - Pakistan
  Pakistan’s army chief to visit U.S.

  Foremost on Sharif’s mind will be the future of Pakistan’s relationship with the U.S. after 2016, when the U.S. is expected to remove almost all its troops from Afghanistan, Nawaz said. The U.S. currently reimburses the Pakistani military for its counterterrorism operations. Since launching an offensive against the Pakistan Taliban in North Waziristan this summer, the Pakistani military has increased troop strength on the border with Afghanistan from 150,000 to 170,000.

• Flynas
  Saudi budget carrier flynas suspends long-haul services

  Saudi Arabia's first and only budget airline, flynas, has suspended long-haul flights because profits on the routes did not meet expectations, chief executive Raja Azmi said on Tuesday.

• Iraq and IS
  Iraqi forces advance in new bid to retake Baiji refinery

  Iraqi security forces said they advanced to within 2 km (1.2 mile) of the city of Baiji on Wednesday in a new offensive to retake the country's biggest oil refinery that has been besieged since June by Islamic State militants. Backed by Shi'ite militias and army helicopters, government forces have swept through a desert area to the west of Baiji, aiming to recapture the city 200 km (130 miles) north of the capital.

  • Washington Post - Iraq's victory over militants in Sunni town underlines challenges government faces
  • The Hill - DOD: Iraqi Offensive Against ISIS 'a Ways Off'
• Women in Sports
  Basketball more than just a game for Saudi women

  Almaeena says basketball is becoming popular among Saudi girls because it offers the camaraderie of a team sport. Basketball is also seen as more societally acceptable since girls can practice in loose, conservative clothes, and the sport can be played indoors and outdoors. From its humble beginning at Jiddah United, the sport has grown into a network of teams in different cities. No formal league exists but women's teams play in privately organized tournaments against a handful of other private schools, universities and club teams across the kingdom.

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