The Old World babblers or timaliids are a large family of mostly Old World passerine birds.

The garrulous minister called the intrusion just one little spot of acne on the otherwise beautiful face of the bilateral relationship a mere blemish that could be treated with an ointment.

During the 20th century, Samarra gained new importance when a permanent lake (Lake Tharthar) was created through the construction of the Samarra Dam, which was built in order to prevent the frequent flooding of Baghdad.