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Bahraini parliamentarians vote to ban normal relations with Israel

Bahrain lawmakers vote to ban dealings with Israel

Navy will discipline former leader of dog handler unit investigated in hazing of gay sailor

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The former leader of a bomb-sniffing dog unit in Bahrain will be removed from his current position and forced to retire after the Navy reviewed years-old allegations of hazing and sexual harassment against a gay sailor and others.

Navy taking closer look at hazing of gay dog handler, other personnel, in Bahrain for Iraq war

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Navy is reviewing how it handled the case of a gay sailor abused by fellow servicemen in Bahrain for two years until he sought a discharge by coming out to his commanding officer, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

Ship with Indian crew attacked by pirates in the Gulf

MANAMA - A traditional wooden ship with Indian crew sailing from the United Arab Emirates toward Bahrain was the target of the first act of sea piracy reported in Persian Gulf waters in years, according to details of the attack that emerged Sunday.

Pirates attack ship with Indian crew in Gulf

MANAMA - A traditional wooden ship with Indian crew sailing from the United Arab Emirates toward Bahrain was targeted by the sea pirates in Persian Gulf waters on Friday late night.

As Bahrain moves to curb alcohol, Saudis still flock to island for heavy metal, Hannah Montana

MANAMA, Bahrain — This tiny Gulf island nation is sick of its reputation as a seedy off-shore Las Vegas and a hotspot of sin for Saudis, so it’s starting to rein in the booze. Already it’s flooded with Saudis looking for tamer fare they can’t get at home in their ultraconservative kingdom — Hannah Montana and heavy metal.

Police say suspected militants abduct some 400 people linked to school in northwest Pakistan

MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan — Suspected militants armed with rockets, grenades and automatic weapons abducted some 400 students, staff and relatives driving away from a boy’s school in a troubled tribal region in northwest Pakistan on Monday, police and a witness said.

Bahrain Shiites demands for equality mired in Mideast cold war between Sunnis and Iran

MANAMA, Bahrain — It seemed like a moment of reconciliation in this Gulf island nation’s bitter sectarian divide, when Sunni Muslim rulers suddenly released a group of jailed Shiite activists. Shiites, who days before had been burning tires in protests, cheered in the streets.

After the Gulf’s boom, what remains?

DUBAI - When after a short recession in the US at the beginning of the decade the price of oil began its upward climb, few could have predicted just how far it would go.

Fear of rigging casts shadow over key Asian football election

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — More than half of Asia’s 46 national soccer associations fear a key administrative election may be manipulated, and have urged FIFA to monitor the vote, the challenger said Sunday.

Bitter battle for FIFA seat to be decided by vote at Asian congress

BANGKOK, Thailand — A bitter and raw political fight for a seat on FIFA’s powerful executive committee, involving claims of vote buying and perceived threats of violence, will be resolved within a week by an Asian Football Confederation vote.

3 more track athletes nabbed in doping scandal shows track still faces perception problem

With a gold medalist in one of its top events busted for doping at the Beijing Games, the troubled sport of track and field is once again at the center of an Olympic drug scandal.

Bahrain’s 1,500-meter gold medalist, 2 cyclists, 3 others caught in Beijing doping retests

LONDON — The gold medalist in one of track and field’s glamour races and a silver winner in cycling are among six athletes from the Beijing Games nabbed for blood doping in the latest Olympic drug scandal.

Dominican Comm. says weightlifter Contreras tested positive for doping at Beijing Olympics

LONDON — The last of the six athletes caught in drug retests from the Beijing Games has now been identified — it’s Dominican women’s weightlifter Yudelquis Contreras.

Bahrain’s 1,500-meter gold medalist and 2 cyclists caught in Beijing doping retests

LONDON — Bahrain’s first Olympic track and field gold medalist, an Italian cycling silver medalist and a prominent German cyclist are among the six athletes caught for blood doping in retests of their Beijing samples.

Person familiar with results: Greek walker and Croatian runner caught in Beijing drug tests

LONDON — A person with knowledge of the results says Greek race walker Athanasia Tsoumeleka and Croatian 800-meter runner Vanja Perisic are among the six Olympic athletes caught for doping in retests of Beijing samples.

Bahrain Olympic Committee: 1,500-meter gold medalist Ramzi tested positive for doping

MANAMA, Bahrain — The Bahrain Olympic Committee said Wednesday that 1,500-meter gold medalist Rashid Ramzi tested positive for doping at the Beijing Games.

Brawn GP’s Jenson Button wins Bahrain Grand Prix for 3rd win in 4 races this year

SAKHIR, Bahrain — Brawn GP’s Jenson Button won the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, giving the Briton his third win in the four Formula One races this year.

Khalid Yaseen of Bahrain wins Madrid Marathon; Sizmaz sets course record in women’s race

MADRID — Kenya-born Khalid Yaseen of Bahrain won the rain-soaked Madrid Marathon on Sunday, finishing in 2 hours, 14 minutes, 31 seconds.

Rosberg tops qualifying at Bahrain F1 GP

SAKHIR - Nico Rosberg returned to the top of the timesheets Friday when he dominated practice for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix in a Williams.

Ferrari boss backs adviser Schumacher

SAKHIR - Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali Friday backed record Formula One champion Michael Schumacher as ‘part of our team’ following criticism of the German’s advisory role.

Red Bull breakthrough increases competition, puts pressure on Brawn GP

SHANGHAI — For the first two races of the Formula One season, the technological arms race between the teams looked like it would be the deciding factor in determining the championship.

Team principal says Ferrari down but not out as disappointing 2009 season continues in F1

SHANGHAI — Ferrari’s team principal says there is cause for gloom but no reason to panic after its worst start to a Formula One season in 28 years.

Somali pirates seize ship, 21 American crew members

NAIROBI - Somali pirates Wednesday seized a Danish-owned container ship with 21 American crew members on board as piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean surged again after a brief lull.

Burleigh assumes charge as new U.S. Charge d’ Affaires in India

NEW DELHI - Ambassador A. Peter Burleigh today assumed duties as the Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission in India.

Coalition of navies sets up new counter-piracy task force

MANAMA - The US Navy’s 5th Fleet Command which oversees all naval operations of the US-led coalition in the Middle East announced Thursday the establishment of a new task force specifically for counter-piracy operations.