New Saudi ambassador to Washington

Prince Abdullah Bin Faisal Bin Turki on 21 October was named ambassador to the United States, replacing Adel Al-Jubair, who was appointed foreign minister in April. Prince Abdullah is a former chairman (2000-04) of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia), where he pushed for economic liberalisation and World Trade Organisation membership. One acquaintance described him as “a genuinely nice guy, who can get a message across and can win sympathy from a western audience”.