The story: On Jan. 11, Sultan of Oman Haytham bin Tareq issued a decree that altered the mechanism of succession by officially naming the ruler’s heir ahead of his death.This is a major institutional change for the country. The move seeks to consolidate stability by increasing the predictability of power transitions.  

The coverage: Omani daily Al Watan on Jan. 11 hailed the decree as a response to the needs of the future, and in line with the Sultanate’s reform plan "Vision 2040"...