MUST-READS

• Pakistan
  Pakistan parliament convenes amid crisis

  A joint session of parliament is under way in Pakistan as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tries to rally support against the protesters calling for his resignation. The session, which is expected to continue for a week, comes a day after supporters of opposition leaders, politician Imran Khan and religious leader Tahir-ul-Qadri, briefly occupied state TV building in the capital, Islamabad. Broadcast was resumed after paramilitary soldiers cleared the building.

• 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.

• Israeli Politics
  Israelis Frustrated With Outcome of Gaza Conflict

  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces frustration over how the conflict with Hamas is winding down, both from the Israeli public and from parties that wanted harsher action against Gaza's Islamist rulers.

• Foreign Jihadis
  Syria’s foreign jihadis: Where do they come from?

  More than 11,000 people have traveled from abroad to fight in Syria, officials suggest, although some have gone back home again. They ally themselves with different factions, and sometimes change loyalties as groups merge, disband or change allegiances. Naturally, countries with bigger Muslim populations tend to send the largest number of fighters.

• Ma'aden
  Saudi Ma’aden, Alcoa start commercial ops at huge aluminium plant

  Saudi Arabian Mining Co (Ma'aden) said on Monday its joint aluminium smelter with U.S.-based Alcoa has started commercial operations. The $10.8 billion aluminium plant at Ras al-Khair, on the Gulf coast of the kingdom, had experienced issues during the initial start-up phase last year when it had to shut one of its two smelting lines in October due to problems encountered during ramp-up.

• TASI
  Middle East funds see value in popular Saudi stock market

  “We believe that valuations in Saudi Arabia are beginning to look stretched at these levels,” said Vijay Harpalani, assistant fund manager at the UAE’s Al Mal Capital. “If we compare valuations, the market is trading at a premium to GCC, as well as emerging, markets.” However, managers think the Saudi market’s liquidity and diversity, as well as the macroeconomic stability provided by the country’s big current account and state budget surpluses, justify some degree of premium. They still see pockets of opportunity in some sectors.

• Commuting
  Around the World in Commuting – Olaya Road, Riyadh

  On Thursday, Instagram released Hyperlapse, a new app for creating time-lapse videos.  For anybody who has driven in Riyadh, the time-lapse of driving on Olaya Road will bring back memories.

• Solar Power
  Solar Power Investors Start to See Some Light and Heat

  Prices have stabilized as growth in demand for panels is finally outpacing capacity expansion. This benefits manufacturers. Most top-tier suppliers of solar modules reported profit margins that topped 15% in the first quarter, up from 10% toward the end of 2013, according to Matthew Feinstein of Lux Research.

• Islamic State
  As battle lines shift in Iraq, Sunnis who welcomed the Islamic State fear retribution

  A day after breaking through a siege by Islamic State militants on the Shiite town of Amerli, Iraqi forces and pro-government militias on Monday pushed their way into nearby villages they accuse of helping to enforce the months-long blockade.

  • Channel News Asia - US launches air strikes on IS rebels near dam, Amerli: Pentagon
  • CNN - Graphical Breakdown of Where Syria's Jihadists Come From
  • New York Times - Kurdish Pesh Merga: Tarnishing a Reputation as Storied Warriors
  • Politico - DOD: Iraq Effort Cost More Than $560 Million
  • Voice of America - Saudi-Iran Meeting Could Boost Fight Against Islamic State
  • New York Times - To Beat ISIS, Focus on Syria
• Haia
  Briton Man and Saudi Wife Scuffle with Religious Police

  Eyewitnesses told Al-Hayat that the victim named Peter Haworth was in one of the malls with his wife when several members of the religious police started pursuing him till the cashier’s counter, which was manned by a Saudi woman.

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