A radical American-born cleric wanted by Yemen and the United States has been killed in Yemen in a drone and jet strike that news reports say was coordinated by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Anwar al-Awlaki was killed early Friday while riding in a convoy in eastern Yemen. Western news organizations quote U.S. officials as […]
U.S. Strike Kills Al-Qaida-Linked Cleric in Yemen
Europe Moves Closer to Bigger Bailout Fund
Europe moved closer Friday to adopting a bigger bailout fund to assist debt-ridden countries, with Austria the latest country to approve its expansion to $593 billion. Austria became the 14th of the 17 nations that use the euro currency that need to approve the expanded fund before it can take effect. Austria’s approval came as […]
EU Leaders Criticize Belarus, Ukraine
European Union leaders on Friday condemned Belarus for its continued poor record on human rights and the rule of law. Speaking at the first day of a summit in Poland aimed at bringing former Soviet states closer to the European Union, EU leader Herman Van Rompuy called for the release of all political prisoners in […]
European Rights Body Sees no Progress in Azerbaijan
Europe’s main human-rights body expressed concern Thursday about a lack of progress on the human-rights situation in Azerbaijan. Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg urged Azerbaijan to act urgently to uphold fundamental human rights, such as freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Hammarberg said the government in Baku has failed to implement recommendations […]
Timeline: Awlaki’s Role in Terror Attacks
Yemeni and U.S. authorities believe Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical al-Qaida-linked cleric, played a role in a number of terrorist attacks. Here is a look at the major incidents. September 2001: U.S. authorities conduct a series of interviews with Awlaki in the aftermath of the September 11th U.S. terror attacks for his alleged dealings with suspects […]
A Look at Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula
Fighters with al-Qaida’s Yemen-based affiliate, known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, originated in the ranks of the mujahedin veterans of the anti-Soviet war in the 1980s in Afghanistan. Originally, the militants operated in separate branches out of both Saudi Arabia and Yemen. But beginning in 2003, Saudi authorities cracked down on al-Qaida and many […]
US Incomes Decline Slightly
Incomes dropped slightly in the United States in August, the first decline in about two years. Friday’s report from the Commerce Department says consumers saved less and boosted spending slightly. Economists watch consumer income and spending closely because consumer demand drives most U.S. economic activity. Consumer spending has been hampered by high unemployment, stagnant wages, […]
Al-Shabab Fighters Attack Somali Border Town
Heavy fighting broke out Friday near Somalia’s border with Kenya, as al-Shabab fighters attacked a town controlled by forces loyal to Somalia’s transitional government. The militant Islamist group carried out the attack on the southern Somali town of Dhobley, five kilometers from the border with Kenya. Witnesses say forces loyal to the government later regained […]
US Sees Surge in Multiracial Population
New figures released by the U.S. government from last year’s population count show the number of Americans who identify themselves as multiracial grew during the last decade. The Census Bureau says the number of Americans who described themselves as partly white and partly black grew to 1.8 million between 2000 and 2010, more than doubling […]
A Look at The Anti-US Cleric Killed in Yemen
Anwar al-Awlaki was an American. born cleric who became a prominent al-Qaida figure, linked to the terrorist group’s Yemeni wing called al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The Obama administration targeted him for his role in orchestrating terrorism aimed at the United States. He had been a prominent and vocal al-Qaida member since the May death […]