MUST-READS

• KSA and IS
  Viewing the Islamic State from Riyadh’s Perspective: A Conversation with Fahad Nazer

  I think that scholars who have carefully studied the process of radicalization and the history of militant Islamist movements are virtually all in agreement that no single factor accounts for the spread of militant groups across the globe. Rather, the “answers” lie in a a multilayered complex combining historical, political, cultural, social, psychological and economic factors and that ideology/religious indoctrination is only one component of an often lengthy process. Some have even suggested that ideology plays a relatively minor role.

• Afghanistan
  Afghanistan’s election stalemate casts shadow on NATO summit

  After nearly 13 years of war in Afghanistan, NATO leaders had hoped at this week’s summit in Wales to hail the first democratic transition of power in the country and to reaffirm a commitment of military and monetary support beyond the departure of international combat troops at the end of the year.

• Nitaqat
  Jobs for Saudis: Nitaqat rules tightened

  The Labor Ministry, which intends to tighten its noose on private firms that are reluctant to Saudize jobs, said newly employed Saudis should stay with a company for at least six months to be counted as a full Saudi worker under the Nitaqat program.

• FSA
  Tense relations between U.S. and anti-Assad Syrian rebels

  This should be the hour of coordination and brainstorming between the U.S.., its allies in Europe and the Middle East and the leadership of the appointed western-backed fighters. But according to Gen. Abdul-Ilah al Bashir, the FSA’s embittered chief of staff, they just aren’t talking.

• Islamic State
  Saudi court jails 17 for seeking to fight in Iraq

  A Saudi Arabian court jailed 17 men for up to 26 years on Monday for seeking to fight in Iraq and funding militants, official media reported, part of a security crackdown in which scores have been imprisoned in recent weeks.

• Public Health
  Ensuring Ebola-Free Haj

  During the Haj season, the Kingdom is faced with many challenges. These challenges can range from threats of terrorism to deadly accidental fires and from massive road accidents to deaths due to stampede. Now, the threat is in the form of diseases, such as Ebola. During the past month, Ebola broke out in many western African countries. The way its symptoms start is in itself misleading for doctors. It starts like flu with fever, headache and joint pains. But, a few days later the symptoms change dramatically to vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding from the gum, nose and gastrointestinal tract. After that, the patient would experience low blood pressure and drastic loss of fluid. Health experts say it is not transmitted through the air we breathe, rather it is transmitted through a patient’s fluids. During Haj we have around three million people in very limited space living side by side with each other for days. So, what can happen and what can be done?

• Arabic
  New modern Arabic-English dictionary launched

  Oxford University Press has announced the launch of a new Arabic-English dictionary which features more than 130,000 words and phrases.

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• Saudi Workforce
  Young Saudis challenging past work trends

  It has become normal to see young Saudis working in men's fashion shops, restaurants and coffee shops, serving customers to acquire the experience and work culture that will allow them to achieve higher goals. These Saudis are reflected in the recent data released by the Ministry of Labor that showed the number of Saudis working in the private sector has reached 1.47 million in 2013, representing a 332.2 percent increase from 2012

• Saudi-Qatar
  High-level Saudi delegation visits Qatar

  A high-level Saudi delegation led by Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, Intelligence Chief Khalid Bin Bandar and Interior Minister Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef paid a brief visit to Qatar on Wednesday.

  The Saudi SPA news agency said the Saudi officials arrived in Doha on a “short brotherly visit.” Qatar’s QNA news agency carried a similar report, giving no details on the purpose of the trip.

  • Asharq Alawsat - Diplomatic source says visit may be last chance to resolve dispute
  • AFP - Top Saudi envoys in Qatar talks amid Brotherhood rift
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