**Babylon** was the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and reached its greatest fame and glory under King **Nebuchadnezzar II** (r. 605–562 BCE). He is credited with the construction of the magnificent Ishtar Gate and possibly the legendary **Hanging Gardens**.

During the reign of Al-Walid I, Muslim armies led by Tariq bin Ziyad (Spain) and Muhammad bin Qasim (Sindh) expanded the empire significantly.

It is claimed by China (Zhongsha) and Taiwan, and parts are contested by the Philippines.

The transfer sparked protests in Egypt, as many considered the islands Egyptian, though the government argued they were Saudi territory under Egyptian administration.

Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan but was controlled by ethnic Armenians from the 1990s until Azerbaijan recaptured it in 2023.

It provides the shortest maritime route between Europe and the lands lying around the Indian and western Pacific oceans.

Finland joined NATO in April 2023, doubling the alliance's border with Russia.

Prigozhin led a short-lived mutiny against the Russian military leadership before dying in a plane crash shortly after.

India surpassed China to become the world's most populous nation in 2023.

South Africa was the sole African member of the G20 until the African Union was admitted as a permanent member in 2023.