Abdullah

 Saudi Arabia's new leadership will push forward efforts to diversify the growing but oil-dependent economy, while easing procedures for investors, senior officials said on Jan. 26.

The euro sank to an 11-year low on Jan. 26 and Asian equities were muted after an anti-austerity party won Greece's election, throwing its international bailout into doubt and raising fears it could leave the eurozone.
 

Germany has decided to stop arms exports to Saudi Arabia because of "instability in the region," German daily Bild reported on Jan. 25.
      
Weapons orders from Saudi Arabia have either been "rejected, pure and simple," or deferred for further consideration, the newspaper said, adding that the information has not been officially confirmed.
      

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an arrived in war-torn Somalia on Jan. 25 amid tight security, a rare visit by a foreign leader to the war-torn nation.
      
Hundreds of soldiers and police officers had shut down much of the capital's streets, where on Jan. 22 five people were killed in a suicide attack on a hotel housing the Turkish delegation in Mogadishu.
      

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has said that the European Union "must admit Turkey" as a member if it opposes Islamophobia.

Dignitaries and leaders from around the world were to arrive in Saudi Arabia Jan. 24 to offer their condolences to its new King Salman, a day after the death of his half-brother King Abdullah.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sought help from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, as well as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to free two hostages snatched by Islamist militants who are demanding $200 million for their lives.

Turkey's foreign minister was in Doha on Jan. 20 to hold talks with Qatari leaders and put on a united front in the wake of the recent Qatari-Egyptian thaw, which seemed to mark a shift in the long-running foreign policy alignment of both countries.

Gulf leaders agreed Nov. 16 on the return of Saudi, Emirati, and Bahraini envoys to Qatar after an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh, promising an end to eight months of tense relations.
      

Iraqi President Fuad Masum's visit to Saudi Arabia is aimed at patching up long-strained relations between the two countries as Baghdad battles jihadist militants, a senior official said Nov. 12.
      
Masum arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and met with King Abdullah, the highest-level contact between the neighbouring countries in years.