In wake of Khashoggi killing, Saudi king overhauls Cabinet
Saudi Arabia's King Salman is shaking things up, appointing new people to top government positions in the wake of international condemnation over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.
In a major move, foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir has been replaced by Ibrahim al-Assaf, a minister of state. Al-Assaf also sits on the boards of Saudi Aramco, the kingdom-owned oil company, and the Public Investment Fund. Al-Jubeir became foreign minister in 2015, after serving as Saudi ambassador to the United States. He already has a new role in the government, with the king naming him minister of state for foreign affairs.
Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. A critic of the Saudi government, he lived in the United States, and was at the consulate to pick up a form for his impending wedding. Turkish officials said early on that Khashoggi was killed, but Saudi Arabia was slow to acknowledge this, first saying he died in a "rogue" operation before calling the murder "premeditated." It was reported that the CIA concluded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Swiss bliss: Chenot Palace Weggis takes wellness to the next level
The Blend Heath retreat on Switzerland's Lake Lucerne offers a mid-winter reset
By Felix Bischof Published
-
Earth's mini-moon was the moon all along
Under the radar More lunar rocks are likely floating in space
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: February 4, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published