The summit in Johannesburg invited these nations (plus Argentina, who declined) to join, significantly expanding the bloc's influence in the Middle East and Africa.

Ataturk led the Turkish War of Independence and implemented sweeping secular reforms, including changing the alphabet from Arabic to Latin script.

Urdu developed as a 'Lashkari' (camp) language, blending Persian, Arabic, and Turkish vocabulary with local Indian dialects (Khariboli) during Muslim rule in India.

Shanghai, the world’s largest seaport, handled 12.45 million TEUs in Q1 2024, an 8.6% increase from 2023. Located on the Yangtze River, it is a global trade powerhouse.

Seattle, part of the Port of Seattle-Tacoma, is a major U.S. seaport on the Pacific coast. It handled an 18% TEU increase through July 2024, driven by rising imports.

Busan, South Korea’s largest seaport, handled 2.8 million TEUs in December 2022, though 2024 data is unavailable. It is a major hub for containers and trade.

Bab-el-Mandeb is a strait located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Its name translates to 'Gate of Tears' in Arabic, referring to the dangers attending its navigation.

Bab-el-Mandeb, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, faced Houthi attacks on shipping in 2024, disrupting trade routes and raising global security concerns.

The Malacca Strait reported four armed robbery incidents in 2024, targeting bulk carriers’ engine spares, underscoring ongoing security challenges despite reduced piracy.

Lombok Strait, connecting the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean, is an alternative to the Malacca Strait but faces piracy risks, with four armed robbery incidents reported in 2024.