New officials were named to lead the National Guard, the General Directorate of Public Security and the Information Ministry. King Salman also ordered the creation of a national space agency to be led by another of his sons, Prince Sultan bin Salman, who was the first Arab astronaut. Among those moved in the series of royal decrees announced on Saudi state television was Adel al-Jubeir, who had become one of the best-known Saudi officials in the West in his posts as foreign minister and, previously, as ambassador to the United States. Mr. Jubeir was removed from the position of foreign minister but was named minister of state for foreign affairs. It was not immediately clear how his duties would change.

Source: New York Times December 27, 2018 16:30 UTC