Jillian Kestler-D'Amours, Al Jazeera: Saudi Arabia is using Canada to send a message, analysts say
MBS unlikely to back down, experts say, as Saudi students, medical patients ordered to leave Canada amid diplomatic row.
Montreal, Canada - Saudi Arabia's decision to expel Canada's ambassador, recall thousands of students studying in the North American country, and suspend future trade with Ottawa took many off guard this week.
Saudi authorities pointed to a series of tweets, in which Canada's foreign affairs ministry called for the release of jailed Saudi human rights activists, as the reason for the ongoing diplomatic flare-up.
But experts say the spat is not about the statements, but rather, it's the latest attempt by Riyadh to warn other countries of the consequences of speaking out against the kingdom's human rights.
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- August 8, 2018
The Guardian view on Saudi Arabia: time to back Canada -- Guardian editorial
If you're surprised by Saudi Arabia's fight with Canada, you haven't been paying attention -- Tamara Qiblawi, CNN
Iran’s Economy Is Struggling Even Without U.S. Sanctions -- Krishnadev Calamur, The Atlantic
Will US sanctions spark turmoil in Iran? -- AFP
Don't believe the anti-Trump brigade – sanctions against Iran could actually work -- Telegraph
What It Would Take for Iran to Talk to Trump -- Vali Nasr, The Atlantic
How China changed after 2008 Beijing Olympics -- Fang Wan, DW
Is Xi Jinping’s Bold China Power Grab Starting to Backfire? -- Peter Martin and Alan Crawford, Bloomberg
Which country gives the most aid to Pacific Island nations? The answer might surprise you -- Stephen Dziedzic, ABC News Online
DR Congo, a vast and unruly African giant -- AFP
Nicolás Maduro: Who is the Venezuelan president and why might there be a plot to assassinate him? -- Harriet Agerholm, The Independent
An Assassination Attempt by Drone Is Just the Latest Moment of Chaos in Venezuela -- Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker
A State of Deep Suffering in Venezuela's Hospitals -- Jens Glüsing, Spiegel Online
Robots are getting more social. Are humans ready? -- Matt O'Brien, AP
German astronaut Alexander Gerst shocked by parched Earth images from space -- DW
