Advertisement

Oct. 18, 2011 / 8:56 AM

U.S. finalizes arms deal with Bahrain

$housands of Bahrainis gathered for the funeral of the demonstrator slain hours after the king declared martial law in response to a month of escalating protests. Shiites account for 70 percent of the tiny island's half-million people but they are widely excluded from high-level posts and positions in the police and military. File photo. UPI\Isa Ebrahim$

housands of Bahrainis gathered for the funeral of the demonstrator slain hours after the king declared martial law in response to a month of escalating protests. Shiites account for 70 percent of the tiny island's half-million people but they are widely excluded from high-level posts and positions in the police and military. File photo. UPI\Isa Ebrahim | License Photo

MANAMA, Bahrain, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- A top U.S. diplomat confirmed Tuesday the United States has finalized a $53 million weapons deal with the Persian Gulf Kingdom of Bahrain.

Stephen Seche, deputy assistant secretary of state for Arabian Peninsula Affairs, said the deal is part of a move to defend Bahrain from aggression, Gulf News reported.

Advertisement

Stability in Bahrain is vital to the United States and its coalition partners in the war against terror. Ships of the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet and other navies uses its port and coordinate their anti-terror operations from Bahrain.

In a related matter, Seche said the United States was looking forward to the findings of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry scheduled for release Oct. 30.

The panel was set up in June to investigate rioting that occurred in the kingdom during February and March. Thousands of people have been interviewed by the commission in an effort to find out what really happened.

'You are doing something beautiful' Pope tells people in Papua New Guinea

World News // 21 minutes ago

'You are doing something beautiful' Pope tells people in Papua New Guinea

Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Pope Francis visited the small town of Vanimo in Papua New Guinea after delivering mass to more than 35,000 people in the capital of Port Moresby Sunday.

Three Israeli border guards 'murdered' at West Bank, Jordan crossing

World News // 4 hours ago

Three Israeli border guards 'murdered' at West Bank, Jordan crossing

Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Three Israeli border guards were shot dead by a Jordanian truck driver at the Allenby Crossing on the border between Jordan and the occupied West Bank, the Israeli Emergency Services said Sunday.

Edmundo Gonzalez flees to Spain after Venezuela's disputed election

World News // 2 hours ago

Edmundo Gonzalez flees to Spain after Venezuela's disputed election

Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez on Sunday landed in Madrid, Spain, and is seeking asylum after fleeing his home country amid an arrest warrant.

Hundreds of thousands march across Israel to demand return of hostages

World News // 19 hours ago

Hundreds of thousands march across Israel to demand return of hostages

Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Massive demonstrations demanding a deal to return the remaining Jewish hostages held by Hamas broke out across Israel late Saturday as protesters flooded into the streets 11 months after the start of the war in Gaza.

London's St. James's Park chosen for Queen Elizabeth II memorial

World News // 21 hours ago

London's St. James's Park chosen for Queen Elizabeth II memorial

Sept. 7 (UPI) -- The planned Queen Elizabeth II memorial will be located in St. James's Park in London, the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee announced Saturday.

France's New Popular Front protests prime minister appointment

World News // 22 hours ago

France's New Popular Front protests prime minister appointment

Sept. 7 (UPI) -- French trade unions and leftist organizations are protesting President Emmanuel Macron's recent appointment of conservative Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

Pope calls for greater care of indigenous populations in Papua New Guinea

World News // 1 day ago

Pope calls for greater care of indigenous populations in Papua New Guinea

Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Pope Francis said the world needs to address climate change while visiting the Pacific Island nation of Papua New Guinea, which is partly endangered by a rising Pacific Ocean.

Typhoon Yagi hits Vietnam after devastating southern China

World News // 1 day ago

Typhoon Yagi hits Vietnam after devastating southern China

Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Typhoon Yagi made landfall in northern Vietnam Saturday, after leaving a trail of destruction in southern China with sustained winds blowing up to 156 mph.

Ukraine shoots down 58 of 67 Russian attack drones

World News // 1 day ago

Ukraine shoots down 58 of 67 Russian attack drones

Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Russia launched 67 Shahed drones at various targets in Ukraine Saturday, but Ukrainian officials on Saturday said they destroyed 58 of them while several others flew into other regions.

United Nations, family call for inquiry into U.S. woman's West Bank shooting death

World News // 1 day ago

United Nations, family call for inquiry into U.S. woman's West Bank shooting death

Sept. 7 (UPI) -- The United Nations is now calling for a "full investigation" into the death of a 26-year-old American woman who was shot by Israeli forces during a demonstration in the West Bank earlier this week.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement