MUST-READS

• Free Syrian Army
  U.S.-backed Syria rebels routed by fighters linked to al-Qaeda

  The Obama administration’s Syria strategy suffered a major setback Sunday after fighters linked to al-Qaeda routed U.S.-backed rebels from their main northern strongholds, capturing significant quantities of weaponry, triggering widespread defections and ending hopes that Washington will readily find Syrian partners in its war against the Islamic State.

• Women
  WEF recognizes Saudi Arabia’s efforts on gender parity

  The Global Gender Gap Report 2014 named Saudi Arabia as one of the most improved countries in efforts to close the gender gap.

• KACST
  KSA plans to use solar energy for desalination

  In addition to the use of solar energy in desalination, the larger aim is to take advantage of the locally developed solar cells as an important energy-generating source to produce electricity in the areas where it is most needed.

• Sipchem
  Saudi Sipchem says unit to shut methanol plant for maintenance

  Saudi International Petrochemical Co Sipchem said on Monday one of its affiliates will shut a methanol plant for around three weeks for maintenance and some repairs.

• Real Estate
  Saudi Arabia’s Sedco Capital eyes $300 mln Europe real estate deal

  eddah-based Islamic investment firm Sedco Capital plans to arrange a club investment of up to $300 million in European real estate, and will soon distribute its Luxembourg fund range via two European investment firms, its chief executive said.

• Israeli F-35 Purchases
  Israel Planning To Increase F-35 Buy

  Israel is set to place a second order of F-35 joint strike fighters, bringing its planned procurement of the stealthy, fifth-generation jet up to 44. Israel became the first country to purchase the F-35 through a foreign military sales (FMS) program when it agreed in 2010 to procure 19 conventional-takeoff-and-landing F-35A models. The new order will involve adding 25 F-35A fighters.

• Saudi-India
  Saudi Arabia an ‘important pillar of India’s energy security’

  Answering questions from Saudi Gazette, Dharmendra Pradhan, Indian minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, who arrived in Riyadh on Monday for a three-day official visit for the second round of Saudi Arabia, India Energy Consultations, said the Kingdom is an important pillar of India’s energy security.

• Practicing Islam in Saudi Arabia
  Questioning the Faith in the Cradle of Islam

  Several forces are propelling the diverse changes in Saudi Arabia's religious landscape. Most important is the imminent passage of members of Saudi Arabia's largest-ever "youth bulge" into their early 20s. Youths between 15 and 24 years old make up around 17 percent of Saudi Arabia's 27 million people, and they have far more questions about their faith than their elders did.

  Saudi Arabia's isolation from regional and global trends has also been demolished by satellite television, the Internet, and the experiences of more than 150,000 Saudis sent abroad for studies on government scholarships. As a result, Saudis have greater access to religious information than ever before -- particularly about how Islam is practiced elsewhere.

• U.S. Middle East Policy
  Opinion: The Collapse of Order in the Middle East

  The rise of Da`ish is a consequence of anarchy brought on by Western attempts at regime change, but it is ultimately a deviant cult within Islam. Its immediate objective is to destroy the existing order in the Muslim world in the name of Islam. Its doctrines cannot be credibly rebutted by non-Muslims. The threat it poses requires a Muslim-led politico-military response. A US-dominated bombing campaign with token allied participation cannot kill it. The United States is well supplied with F-15s, 16s, and drones, but it lacks the religious credentials to refute Da`ish as a moral perversion of Islam. Arab air forces are helpful. Arab religious engagement and moral leadership are essential to contain and defeat Da`ish.

• Faith and Terrorism
  Opinion: How strong is link between faith, terrorism?

  The notion that there is a one-to-one correlation between religious beliefs and behavior may seem obvious and self-evident to those unfamiliar with the study of religion. But it has been repeatedly debunked by social scientists who note that "beliefs do not causally explain behavior" and that behavior is in fact the result of complex interplay among a host of social, political, cultural, ethical, emotional, and yes, religious factors.

  • Lawfare Blog - The Sectarian Apocalypse
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