Angus McDowall, Reuters

Saudi King Salman on Wednesday appointed interior minister Mohammed bin Nayef as his new heir and made his son, defense minister Mohammed bin Salman, second-in-line to succeed in a dramatic reshuffle in the world's top oil exporter.

By making Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, crown prince, and Mohammed bin Salman, who is thought to be in his early 30s, deputy crown prince, the Saudi monarch has set the kingdom's succession in stone for decades and strengthened his branch of the dynasty.

He also replaced veteran foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, who had served in the role since October 1975, with the kingdom's Washington ambassador Adel al-Jubeir, the first non-royal to hold the post.

  A number of projects in Lebanon that are being funded by loans from the World Bank have been put on hold …

  BEIRUT: French President Francois Hollande conveyed his country’s readiness to help end Lebanon’s 11-month presidential deadlock to the Maronite patriarch Tuesday, …

  A deal to release captive servicemen held hostage by the al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front entered the last stages as a Qatari-appointed negotiator …