Cheap paper-bound books existed long before the 20th century. In Britain, publishers such as Routledge sold railway paperbacks in the 19th century, and Bernhard Tauchnitz produced inexpensive English-language editions on the Continent from 1841. In 1935 Allen Lane launched Penguin Books in Britain with ten titles, using large print runs and selling through unusual shops such as Woolworths. In the United States, Pocket Books began in 1939 with ten titles, including Lost Horizon and Wuthering Heights, at 25 cents each. Its small format, full-colour covers and newsstand distribution became the template for American paperbacks, and its kangaroo logo named Gertrude became one of the most recognised publishers' marks. During World War II the US military distributed about 122 million Armed Services Editions to troops.

Israeli reports also say the cabinet directed the military to prepare for a possible new attack on Iran.

Angkor, near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of mainland Southeast Asia between roughly the 9th and 15th centuries. At its height the city spread across about 3,000 square kilometres, making it the largest pre-industrial city on Earth by area. Its growth depended on water: huge reservoirs called barays, along with canals and embankments, stored monsoon rain and carried it to rice fields. That system let farmers harvest more than once a year and fed a very large population through the dry season. The temple complex of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, is the best-known monument and still stands at the heart of the park.