World CNN Wire

Here's a look at the life of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the first democratically elected president of Haiti.PersonalBirth date: July 15, 1953Birth place: Port Salut, HaitiBirth name: Jean-Bertrand AristideFather: Joseph Aristide, farmerMother: Marie (Pierre-Louis) AristideMarriage: Mildred (Trouillot) Aristide (January 20, 1996-present)Children: Michaelle…

(CNN) — Here’s a look at the life of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s most influential Shiite cleric. PersonalBirth date: August 4, 1930 Birth place: Mashhad, IranBirth name: Sayyid Ali Husaini SistaniFather: Sayyid Mohammad Baqir, a religious scholarMother: Name unavailable…

Here's a look at the equinox.The equinox occurs twice a year when the sun is directly above the Earth's equator and day and night are of equal length.FactsSeptember 22, 2021 - The autumnal equinox begins at approximately 19:21 UTC.March 20,…

Here's a look at oil spill disasters. Spill estimates vary by source.Ten Largest Oil Spills1. January 1991 - During the Gulf War, Iraqi forces intentionally release 252-336 million gallons of oil into the Persian Gulf.2. April 20, 2010 - An…

Here's a look at major ferry and ship sinking disasters throughout history.This timeline is not-all inclusive; various incidents with at least 1,000 fatalities are listed. Death tolls vary by source.TimelineApril 27, 1865 - The Mississippi River steamer Sultana explodes and…

Here's some background information about the Eiffel Tower in Paris.FactsAlmost seven million people visit the Eiffel Tower annually.About 300 million visitors have been to the tower since its opening.Designer Gustave Eiffel had a small apartment cloistered away in the upper…

(CNN) — Here’s a look at World War II, which lasted from 1939 to 1945.Causes of World War IIThe Peace of Paris - The treaties worked out in Paris at the end of World War I satisfied few. Germany, Austria…

(CNN) — Here’s some background information about World War I, also known as the First World War and the Great War, which lasted from 1914 to 1918. Causes of World War IThe assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by…

Here's some background information about World War I, also known as the First World War and the Great War, which lasted from 1914 to 1918.Causes of World War IThe assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by Gavrilo Princip, a…

Here's a look at commercial passenger airplane crashes. For crashes caused by military acts or by terrorism, see Terrorism and War-Related Airplane Crashes Fast Facts.On August 12, 1985, the largest number of deaths in a single commercial airplane crash occurred…

(CNN) — Here is a look at the life of Tzipi Livni, former foreign minister of Israel.PersonalBirth date: July 8, 1958 Birth place: Tel Aviv, Israel Birth name: Tziporah Malka LivniFather: Eitan Livni, businessman and politician Mother: Sarah (Rosenberg) LivniMarriage:…

Here's a look at the life of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.PersonalBirth date: February 20, 1951Birth place: Glasgow, ScotlandBirth name: James Gordon BrownFather: John Brown, Church of Scotland ministerMother: Jessie Elizabeth "Bunty" (Souter) BrownMarriage: Sarah Macaulay (August 3, 2000-present)Children:…

Here's a look at some recent cases of foreign governments detaining US citizens. For information about missing Americans, see Robert Levinson Fast Facts or POW/MIA in Iraq and Afghanistan Fast Facts.Currently Detained AmericansChinaMark SwidanNovember 13, 2012 - Swidan, a businessman…

Here's a look at some recent cases of foreign governments detaining US citizens. For information about missing Americans, see Robert Levinson Fast Facts or POW/MIA in Iraq and Afghanistan Fast Facts.Currently Detained AmericansChinaKai Li September 2016 - Kai Li, a…

(CNN) — Here is a look at the life of Mohamed ElBaradei, former director general of the IAEA and Nobel Peace Prize winner.PersonalBirth date: June 17, 1942Birth place: Cairo, EgyptBirth name: Mohamed Mostafa ElBaradeiFather: Mostafa ElBaradei, an attorneyMother: Aida (Hegazi)…

(CNN) — Here’s a look at human spaceflight programs in the United States and around the world.FactsThe United States ended its crewed space shuttle program with the launch of Atlantis on July 8, 2011, and landing on July 21, 2011.China…

Here's a look at the Vietnam War.Causes of Vietnam War1883-1945 - Cochin-China, southern Vietnam, and Annam and Tonkin, central and northern Vietnam, along with Cambodia and Laos make up colonial empire French Indochina.1946 - Communists in the north begin fighting…

(CNN) — Here’s a look at the Vietnam War.Causes of Vietnam War1883-1945 - Cochin-China, southern Vietnam, and Annam and Tonkin, central and northern Vietnam, along with Cambodia and Laos make up colonial empire French Indochina.1946 - Communists in the north…

Here's a look at human spaceflight programs in the United States and around the world.FactsThe United States ended its crewed space shuttle program with the launch of Atlantis on July 8, 2011, and landing on July 21, 2011.China and Russia…

Here's a look at human spaceflight programs in the United States and around the world.FactsThe United States ended its crewed space shuttle program with the launch of Atlantis on July 8, 2011, and landing on July 21, 2011.China and Russia…