In a widely anticipated move, Saudi Arabia's Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz has been chosen as the country's new Crown Prince. He has been appointed Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior of the Kingdom, a royal decree has announced. The country's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in a royal order issued on Thursday evening, notified the chief and members of the Allegiance-Pledge Commission of his choice. The announcement was subsequently made on state-owned television channel
Departing from the usual protocol, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife will receive Japanese Emperor Akihito and his spouse Empress Michiko who will arrive in New Delhi on Saturday on a six-day visit, their first to any South Asian country after being enthroned in 1990.