MUST-READS

• Drone Wars
  ISIS War Claims Heavy Toll On Drone, Intelligence Operators at Home

  Whether it’s providing intelligence to help the president of the United States decide on a long-term strategy or issuing real-time information to friendly forces in the middle of a firefight, Air Force operators supporting surveillance flights must work constantly to analyze and decipher agonizing amounts of data. In 2013 alone, the 480th’s 6,000 airmen processed 20 terabytes of data per day, found 50 improvised explosive devices and provided eyes from above during 300 firefights.

  • Defense One - The US Just Launched Its 500th Drone Strike
  • The New Yorker - The Unblinking Stare
• Global Oil Markets
  Russia to Cooperate With Saudi on Oil While Avoiding Output Cuts

  While the Russian government has discussed a cut, it has no current plans to reduce output to arrest the decline, according to Energy Minister Alexander Novak. It hasn’t made a final decision because the economy is heavily dependent on oil revenue, he said today in Moscow. “We expect annual oil production levels of 505 to 520 million now and in the future,” Novak said. Output of 505 million metric tons is equivalent to about 10.1 million barrels a day, while Saudi Arabia’s output last month was 9.75 million barrels a day last month, according to Bloomberg estimates. Oil and gas account for more than half of Russia’s budget revenue.

• Petrochemicals
  Saudi Kayan Signs Two Islamic Financing Deals Totalling $700m

  Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company, an affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), has signed two Islamic financing deals totalling SAR2.63 billion ($700 million), it said in a statement on Thursday. It signed a SAR1.5 billion agreement with National Commercial Bank, the Kingdom’s largest lender by assets, for up to 15 years, and a SAR1.13 billion facility with Samba Financial Group, another Saudi Arabian lender, for up to 10 years.

• Women Driving
  New debate in Saudi over women’s right to drive

  The country has been witnessing tense debates, mainly on social media, over the merit of allowing women to drive, with each camp resorting to social, economic and religious arguments to reinforce their views. Al Ghaith’s tweet was the latest trigger to re-launch the debate.

• Military
  US Navy ships collide in Gulf of Aden without injuries

  Two American naval supply ships collided in the Gulf of Aden, off Yemen, Thursday but there were no injuries, the US Navy said.

• Qata-Egypt
  Why should Qatar reconcile with Egypt?

  Qatar’s backing of the Muslim Brotherhood also increases the perception among Egyptians that it is a foreign-backed organization, contributes to the intransigence of the Brotherhood leadership and delays essential political reconciliation.

• Border Security
  Illegal crossings spike across Kingdom’s southern border

  While the majority of people caught are usually men who are seeking work in the Kingdom, an increasing number are women, children and the elderly trying to escape difficult living conditions back home. Smugglers do not care about their suffering and the risks of trying to cross international borders. Many are unable to survive the journey that cuts through rugged mountain terrain and treacherous valleys.

• Women
  Male colleagues? 47% Saudi women have no problem

  About 47 percent of Saudi women say they have no problem in working with male colleagues, while 44 percent of Saudi men would not prevent their female relatives from working with male colleagues and customers, a recent survey conducted by Khadeeja bint Khuwailed Center has revealed.

• GCC
  The Riyadh Summit Saves the GCC from Disintegration

  These commitments will constitute a qualitative shift in Qatari policy when it is implemented, and will have a major impact on Qatar's position in the region and the Gulf and Arab perception of the Qatari leadership. It is no secret that Qatari policies prior to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamid's tenure following the abdication of Sheikh Hamad have been the source of controversy, anger, and reproach, causing much accusations in the direction of Doha.

• OIl
  OPEC Cut Seen Limited as Saudis Prioritize Sales: BofA report

  OPEC may cut its production ceiling by no more than 500,000 barrels a day next week as Saudi Arabia prioritizes sales volumes over halting a collapse in prices, according to Bank of America Corp.

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