Post-Khashoggi, Saudis Make a Major Move

The kingdom names a female envoy to the US
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 24, 2019 11:35 AM CST
Updated Feb 24, 2019 12:05 PM CST
Meet Saudi Arabia's New US Ambassador
Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan.   (YouTube)

You're not seeing things: The next Saudi ambassador to America is a woman. The kingdom appointed Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan to the post Saturday in an apparent attempt to ease relations with Washington after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the New York Times reports. The daughter of a major Saudi figure—her dad, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, was ambassador to the US from 1983 to 2005—Princess Reema grew up partly in America and got a Bachelor of Arts degree at George Washington University, the BBC reports. She's also an advocate for women's rights and the kingdom's first female envoy ever. (Meanwhile, plans to sell nuclear plants to the Saudis are under new scrutiny.)

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