Al Jazeera was founded in 1996 by the government of Qatar, which sought to create a modern media outlet in the Middle East. The Qatari government provided a loan of $137 million to facilitate the establishment of the network. Al Jazeera is owned by the Al Jazeera Media Network, which in turn is funded by the Qatari government. Headquartered in Doha, the Quatari capital, Al Jazeera covers a broad spectrum of news, including politics, economics, health, culture, science, sports, and more. The network has correspondents in various parts of the world, focusing particularly on parts of the world often underrepresented in international news. **One interesting fact**: Al Jazeera was the first independent news channel in the Middle East, breaking the mold of state-controlled media prevalent in the region. The network's independent reporting and comprehensive coverage of global affairs have made it one of the most influential news outlets in the Arab world.