MUST-READS

• MERS
  Study finds little spread of MERS-CoV in Saudi households

  The standard thinking on MERS-CoV is that it doesn't spread very easily, other than in healthcare settings with weak infection control precautions. A new study looking for transmission of the virus in the households of Saudi Arabian patients in 2013 seems to fit well with that view, though it has some limitations.

• Oil
  Saudi crude exports fall in June as domestic demand rises

  Saudi crude exports fell in June to their lowest levels in almost three years as oil use in the country’s power sector rose and local refineries processed high volumes, official data showed.

• Pakistan
  Pakistan’s Khan looks isolated as crisis reaches crossroads

  Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan appeared isolated in his struggle to bring down the prime minister on Thursday after a fellow protest leader announced he was ready to allow thousands of anti-government demonstrators to go home. Pakistan has been gripped by mass rallies for two weeks, with thousands of protesters led by Khan, a cricketer-turned-politician, and cleric Tahir ul-Qadri camped outside parliament demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

• Football
  Prince Alwaleed gives cash incentive for Hilal players

  Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), awarded each player of Al Hilal SR20,000 after the Riyadh-based football club qualified for the semifinals of the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League.

• SAMA
  SAMA net foreign assets rise to $730 billion

  Saudi Arabia’s M3 money supply growth accelerated to a three-month high of 13.2 percent year-on-year in July from 12.3 percent in the previous month, central bank data showed on Wednesday. Bank lending growth to the private sector slowed to a three-month low of 11.8 percent in July from 12.3 percent in June.

• Syria War Crimes
  How all sides are committing war crimes in Syria

  A report published Wednesday by a United Nations-appointed commission on Syria indicates that both the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and rebel factions seeking its overthrow, including the extremist Islamic State, are guilty of war crimes amid the country's ongoing, brutal civil war. Last week, the U.N. said at least 191,000 Syrians have died since hostilities broke out in 2011.

• Iraq Airstrikes
  U.S. relies on Persian Gulf bases for airstrikes in Iraq

  The U.S. military is relying on bases in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere in the Middle East to carry out airstrikes in Iraq but is masking the locations and other details about the units and aircraft involved to avoid embarrassing partners in the region.

  • Washington Post - Here's everything the U.S. military has hit with airstrikes in Iraq
  • WSJ - Islamists in Iraq Rely on Mines, Booby Traps in Battlefield Strategy
  • NYT - U.S. Mobilizes Allies to Widen Assault on ISIS
• Syria
  Possible airstrikes in Syria raise more questions

  The intelligence gathered by U.S. military surveillance flights over Syria could support a broad bombing campaign against the Islamic State militant group, but current and former U.S. officials differ on whether air power would significantly degrade what some have called a "terrorist army."

  • CNN - Opinion: ISIS is forcing a 'moment of truth'
  • Al-Jazeera - American fighting with Islamic State killed in Syria
  • Washington Post - U.S. rules out coordinating airstrikes in Syria with Assad
  • Reuters - U.S. air strikes on Syria would face formidable obstacles
  • Quartz - This is the Syrian town where the first US airstrikes could fall
• Food Imports
  Saudi Arabia food imports worth $24 billion annually

  Saudi Arabia imports almost 70 per cent of its food requirements, according to an economic study conducted by the Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, which noted that the Kingdom pays 90 billion Saudi riyals ($24 billion) annually in return for food. The study, which was released on Tuesday, noted that food expenditure in Saudi Arabia constitutes 26 per cent of all consumer spending and predicted that food consumption will significantly increase by 55.3 per cent to reach 424 billion riyals ($113 billion) by 2016.

• Haia
  Gaming Social Media

  Saudi Arabia’s Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is crying “Foul!” over a video clip that has been appearing on various social media sites. The clip purports to show a member of the Commission uttering threats against blackmailers and homosexuals while presenting himself as a member of the vice police. His is not a part of the Commission but an imposter, authorities say, and they are determined to find out who he is and to punish him.

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