Middle East & North Africa

JERUSALEM, Feb 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) – An Israeli army officer was charged with failing to prevent his soldiers from beating two Palestinian detainees, Israel’s army said on Sunday.

The commanding officer, whose identity was not disclosed, was indicted for “failing to prevent a crime, negligently causing injury and conducting unbecomingly as an officer,” Israel Defence Forces Spokesperson’s Unit said, in a statement.

The officer was suspended until further notice, the army said.

JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Arab-Israeli women employees earn less than 50 percent of the national average wages, according to a report published Monday by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission at Israel's Ministry of Labor.

The report noted that Arab-Israeli women are the most discriminated in the state's employment market.

In the computer manufacturing industry, for example, Arab-Israeli women without an academic degree make only 37 percent of the average salary of Jewish-Israeli workers without a degree.

Tehran, Feb 17 : Iran on Sunday launched a new locally-made submarine capable of firing cruise missiles, state TV said, in the country's latest show of military might at a time of heightened tensions with the US.

The launch ceremony, led by President Hassan Rouhani, took place in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

"Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully self-reliant on land, air and sea," Rouhani said.

"Our defensive power is meant to defend our interests and we have never sought to attack any country," he added.

ABU DHABI, February 17. /TASS/. Russia and Saudi Arabia are holding additional consultations on a contract to supply Russia’s S-400 Triumf missile systems, CEO of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheyev told the IDEX 2019 international defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi.

"As for S-400, we are holding additional consultations on this project, now this contract [with Saudi Arabia - TASS] is being considered," Mikheyev said.

Earlier reports said the two countries had agreed on the supplies of the S-400 missile systems.

ABU DHABI, February 17. /TASS/. The United Arab Emirates’ Armed Forces have purchased Russia’s Kornet-EM anti-tank missile systems and Pantsir surface-to-air missile systems, UAE Brigadier General Mohammed Hassaini told TASS on Sunday.

"The contract on Kornet-EM is to the tune of 146.92 mln dirham ($39.7 mln) and on Pantsir - more than 45 mln dirham ($12.1 mln)," he said speaking about the outcome of the first day of the IDEX-2019 international defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi.

The general gave no other details of the deal.

TASS, February 17. Syria remains committed to dialogue to find a solution to the crisis, but will not allow its constitution to become a bargaining chip, Syrian President Bashar Assad said at a meeting with heads of local councils on Sunday.

"We will not allow the hostile states to achieve any of their objectives through their agents who hold the Syrian nationality," Syria’s SANA news agency said citing the president.

SANAA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday agreed to withdraw their fighters from the lifeline port city of Hodeidah under the Stockholm peace deal reached in December last year.

In a statement released by the rebel group, the Houthis said they will withdraw from the port city as the first step and facilitate access to the grain aid stored in the Red Sea Mills.

The move is based on a plan presented by Martin Griffiths, visiting UN Special Envoy to Yemen and Michael Anker Lollesgaard, head of the UN cease-fire monitor team in Hodeidah, they added.

Bandar Abbas, Feb 17, IRNA – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that Tehran is after cordial and brotherly relations in the Persian Gulf region.

ABU DHABI/UAE/, February 17. /TASS/. The United Arab Emirates plans to modernize Russia’s Pantsir-S1 missile system, CEO of Russian arms trader Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev told reporters at the IDEX-2019 international defense exhibition on Sunday.

"The Emirates is successfully operating the Pantsir-S1 missile system, and we received a request on a further modernization program. The work experience of Russian systems, including this system, has shown its high effectiveness," Mikheyev said.

DOHA; 17 Feb 2019; AA: Qatar has strongly condemned a militant attack that killed and injured 15 Egyptian troops in the restive Sinai Peninsula on Saturday.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry reiterated the Gulf state's rejection "of violence and terrorism no matter the motives and reasons".

It offered condolences to the Egyptian people and families of the victims.