South Africa
The United States announced on Friday it had appointed Lana Marks has been appointed U.S. ambassador to South Africa.
Marks, a luxury handbag designer, was born in South Africa and speaks Afrikaans and Xhosa, the White House has said.
The U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination, which President Donald Trump put forward last year.
Washington has had no ambassador in South Africa since Patrick Gaspard left in December 2016, with its mission being overseen by a chargé d’affaires.
The website for Marks’ firm offers handbags for up to $20,000 and says they have become favourites for celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Kate Winslet and Madonna.
Go to video
Trump marks his first 100 days in office amid trade impasse with China
Go to video
Residents evacuated from nearly 200 Cape Town homes as wildfire rages
Go to video
Cape Town fire forces evacuation of nearly 200 households
Go to video
Trump's attack on diversity take center stage as Boston remembers 1965 Freedom Rally
Go to video
World leaders converge on Rome for Pope's funeral
Go to video
Russia's Putin, Trump envoy discuss war in Ukraine