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 […]
A Look at Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula
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 […]
A Look At Countries With Large Palestinian Populations
Palestinians are gearing up to press a bid for statehood recognition at the United Nations this week. Here is a look at territories and countries with large Palestinian populations. WORLDWIDE: Figures from the United Nations and world refugee agencies indicate there are now more than 11 million Palestinians across the globe. PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: More than […]
Al-Qaida Leader Had Multiple Terror Roles
Atiyah Abd al-Rahman was a Libyan national with close ties to late al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Rahman was on the U.S. State Department’s “wanted” list for his ties to the militant group. Al-Qaida’s second in command was believed to have been in his 30’s when, the U.S. says, he was killed Monday. The State […]
Steve Jobs: Computer Geek Turned Pop Icon
His wardrobe of black mock turtle-neck shirts and blue jeans sets him apart from other executives. He is known for super-sized announcements about the latest in must-have consumer technology. And people around the world, from technology buffs to music fans, hang on his every word. The news late Wednesday that Apple chief executive Steve Jobs […]
Afghan President’s Slain Brother a Controversial Power Broker
The younger half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai was considered the most powerful figure in the southern province of Kandahar — the birthplace of the Taliban. Ahmad Wali Karzai’s role as chief of the Kandahar provincial council was largely consultative, but his power came from his tribal and family connections, as well as the wealth […]
Afghan President’s Slain Brother a Controversial Power Broker
The younger half brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai was considered the most powerful figure in the southern province of Kandahar — the birthplace of the Taliban. Ahmed Wali Karzai’s role as chief of the Kandahar provincial council was largely consultative, but his power came from his tribal and family connections, as well as the […]
South Sudan Boasts Oil Reserves, Myriad Problems
The new Republic of South Sudan enters the world with great economic potential but faces huge challenges in its quest for peace and prosperity. The country possesses large oil reserves that made the former unified Sudan the third-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa. Its population – estimated at between 8 million and 13 million – […]
Murdoch’s Controversial Career Spans Nearly Six Decades
The career arc of the man at the center of Britain’s phone hacking scandal, Rupert Murdoch, spans nearly six decades — from his start as a reporter for Britain’s Birmingham Gazette and a copy editor for London’s Daily Express in the early 1950s, to his current incarnation as the head of News Corporation (also known […]