MUST-READS

• U.S. - Saudi
  Analysis: Saudi succession shakeup good news for the U.S.

  "We have been doing a lot of very complicated important things together for a very long time, and we built a relationship of trust," Jon Alterman, the director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told CBS News. "They're both very smart guys, and they speak with authority and they do important things and they've delivered for the United States government and for the relationship time and time again."

  • New Yorker - The Saudi Royal Family Shakeup
  • Stratfor - Saudi Arabia's King Revitalizes the Monarchy
• Security
  Three Saudis beheaded in kingdom

  A Saudi national who shot dead a member of the security forces was among three people beheaded in the kingdom on Thursday, the interior ministry said.

• Saudi Aramco
  Saudi Aramco gets new supreme council headed by deputy crown prince – statement

  Saudi Arabia has created a new 10-member supreme council for state-run oil company Saudi Aramco , headed by the kingdom's deputy crown prince, according to a statement on Aramco's website.

• Iranian Foreign Policy
  Opinion: Iran changes its tune on peace talks

  It’s probably no coincidence that Iran’s new interest in regional diplomacy comes as its proxies have faced tougher opposition on the battlefields in Yemen and Syria. In effect, Iran’s Sunni adversaries, led by the Saudis and Emiratis, have decided to push back hard against Iranian-supported forces, by intervening militarily in Yemen and working with Turkey and Jordan to mobilize rebels in Syria. For the first time in many years, Iran seems to be on the back foot in the regional proxy wars.

  • Huffington Post - Iranian Foreign Minister: Iran, US, Saudi Have 'Common Interest' In Fighting ISIS
• Malala Yousafzai
  Pakistan court convicts 10 in shooting of Malala Yousafzai

  court found 10 suspected militants guilty Thursday for their roles in the 2012 shooting of Malala Yousafzai, the young education activist who went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

• Foreign Reserves
  Saudi Arabia Is Burning Through Its Foreign Reserves at a Record Pace

  Saudi Arabia is burning through foreign reserves at a record pace as the largesse of the new king and regional turmoil ratchet up pressure on public finances already hurt by the oil price slump.

  • Financial Times - The great Saudi cash burn
• Syria: Rebel Groups
  Syria: How a new rebel unity is making headway against the regime

  The rebel offensive in Idlib has drawn together some 6,000 fighters, including almost 1,200 from al-Nusra, and brought about unprecedented levels of co-ordination. But arguably more significant has been the support the coalition has received from regional powers. For the first time, there has been clear co-operation between Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

  • Informed Comment - Syria: Al-Qaeda takes Jisr al-Shughur, threatening Key Port
• Women
  Saudi Minister’s Removal Spurs Fears Among Women

  Loss of only female representative in government raises concerns about rollback of advances.

• Judith Miller
  Jon Stewart grills Judith Miller over her Iraq reporting

  Miller, there to promote her new book, "The Story: A Reporter's Journey," was at first jovial but quickly became exasperated with Stewart when it became apparent the host was not going to let her off easily.

• Authorized Use of Military Force
  Debate over war authorization in Congress fades with little result

  As lawmakers continue to spar with President Obama over his use of executive power on an Iran nuclear deal and a slew of domestic matters, most appear willing to let him have his way on at least one issue — the war against the Islamic State in Iraq, Syria and potentially beyond.

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