MUST-READS

• Kingdom Holding Co.
  Prince Alwaleed on Murdoch, oil, and the Islamic State

  Saudi Arabia might be one of the world's largest oil exporters, but Alwaleed says now is the time for the kingdom to look beyond crude.

• Anti-ISIS Strategy
  Hagel Says U.S. Seeks Three-Front War on Islamic State

  The U.S. will combat Islamic State extremists through a “three-front” battle waged by Syrian rebels, Kurds and Iraqi security forces, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said.

  • Politico - The evolution of Chuck Hagel
• Saudi Economy
  Saudi economy ‘dynamic and growing: Prince Turki Al Faisal

  HRH Turki al Faisal, chairman at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, discusses the benefits of opening up the Saudi Arabia stock exchange and the opportunities in the country.

• Real Estate
  Saudi Arabia to consider taxing unused urban land

  Saudi Arabia's Supreme Economic Council, a top policy body chaired by King Abdullah, will study whether to tax undeveloped urban land as part of efforts to end a serious housing shortage in the world's top oil exporter.

• US Military
  Rift widens between Obama, U.S. military over strategy to fight Islamic State

  Despite Obama’s promise that he would not deploy ground combat forces, Dempsey made clear that he didn’t want to rule out the possibility, if only to deploy small teams in limited circumstances. He also acknowledged that Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, the commander for the Middle East, had already recommended doing so in the case of at least one battle in Iraq but was overruled.

  • Reuters - France Says It Launches First Air Strikes in Iraq
  • Army Times - Odierno Did Not Call for U.S. Ground Forces to Fight ISIS, Spokeswoman Says
  • Stars and Stripes - Islamic State opens major offensive in north Syria
  • Government Executive - Obama's ISIS Strategy Will Not Achieve Its Goals, Security Insiders Say
  • National Journal - Pentagon Signs Off on Plan for Striking ISIS in Syria
• Iranian Leadership
  Iran Prepares for a Leadership Transition

  Though Iran has been broadcasting pictures and videos of top state officials and noted foreign dignitaries visiting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the hospital, the health of the man who has held the most powerful post in the Islamic Republic remains unclear. The unusual public relations management of what has been described as a prostate surgery suggests Tehran may be preparing the nation and the world for a transition to a third supreme leader. Iranian efforts to project an atmosphere of normalcy conceal concerns among players in the Iranian political system that a power vacuum will emerge just as the Islamic republic has reached a geopolitical crossroads.

  • LA Times - Iran fills key role in battling Islamic State in Iraq
  • Wilson Center - Rouhani and the Potential Failure of Nuclear Talks
  • National Interest - Iran Foreign Minister to U.S.:
  • Reuters - Nuclear Deal Elusive as Iran, Six Powers Resume Talks in New York
  • CISSM - Iranian Attitudes on Nuclear Negotiations
• Higher Education
  Three Saudi universities improve global rankings

  King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) ranked number 225, surpassing the renowned Paris Sorbonne University and the UK’s Dundee University, as well as the University of Miami and other well-known institutions.

• Energy
  Deeper Saudi Oil Cuts Seen After Biggest Drop Since ’12

  Saudi Arabia will need to keep cutting oil output to sustain prices above $100 a barrel, even after the kingdom’s largest reduction in two years, according to BNP Paribas SA and Societe Generale SA.

  • Natural Gas Intelligence - U.S. Shale Revolution Supplanting Saudi, West African Oil Imports, IEA Finds
• MERS
  Saudi Arabia camel traders unalarmed by disease

  Health officials in Saudi Arabia say they are doing all they can to avoid an outbreak of the new deadly Mers virus at this year's Hajj pilgrimage. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome has killed just over 300 people in the Kingdom since it first emerged there in 2012.

• Historical Makkah
  Sustaining development of Saudi Arabia’s historical Makkah

  Historian Fawaz Al-Dahas said most visitors are knowledgeable about the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) life and his journeys but when they come to the holy capital they wish to witness Islamic history with their own eyes. In light of all of this, it is the Kingdom’s duty to preserve these historical artifacts in order to maintain the authenticity of Makkah as the cradle of Islam. As people of the land, Saudis must be aware of the history behind these artifacts, including their correct historical names.

• 10 of 60970 results<< 1 … 5,997 5,998 5,999 … 6,097 >>