RAMALLAH, Palestine; 18 Aug 2018; AA: The Palestine Liberation Organization’s Central Council said Friday that political ties with Washington will not be normalized unless the U.S. administration abandons its "unlawful" decisions.

"Political relations with Washington will continue at the same level until the U.S. administration abandons its unlawful decisions about Jerusalem, refugees and Jewish settlements," the council said in a final statement after its 29th annual meeting.

JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Presidency warned Israel on Friday of "dangerous consequences" of closing the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Israeli authorities earlier on Friday evening reopened the mosque for Palestinian worshipers after closing it for a few hours following a stabbing attack near the mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem.

CARACAS, Aug 18 (NNN-TELESUR) -- Venezuela "categorically rejects" the U.S. State Department's official response to the failed assassination of President Nicolas Maduro, describing Washington's "cynical accusations" as interfering in the nation's domestic politics.

In a statement published by Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Twitter on Friday, the Venezuelan government accused U.S. President Donald Trump's administration of bias, and said Trump himself had publicly advocated the use of torture.

KOVROV. August 17. /TASS/. Russia’s state hi-tech corporation Rostec is developing stronger individual protection for soldiers, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov told TASS on the sidelines of a conference on diversification on Friday.

"We are developing new technology of forming aramid fibers for developing the next-generation armor. The research shows already now that the use of this technology helps increase the armor reliability by 12-15% compared to foreign analogs, with its weight remaining the same," Chemezov said.

MOSCOW, August 17. /TASS/. Moscow has issued a note of protest to Washington over violations of international law with respect to Russia’s diplomatic missions, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

"In connection with persisting gross violations of international law by the US with respect to the Russian diplomatic and consular missions in the US, the Russian Foreign Ministry lodged strong protest to the US Department of State sending a corresponding note through diplomatic channels," the ministry said.

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan was sworn in as prime minister of Pakistan here on Saturday morning.

President Mamnoon Hussain administered the oath to Imran Khan as the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan. Caretaker Prime Minister Nasir ul Mulk was also present at the ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by diplomats, ministers, lawmakers, other political leaders, military and civil officials and dignitaries.

By Deniz Cicek Palabiyik

ANKARA; 17 Aug 2018; AA: The Turkish finance minister and his French counterpart on Friday agreed over the phone to conduct a joint action against U.S. sanctions targeting Turkey, according to the ministerial sources.

Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire discussed economic cooperation, the Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry said in a statement.

Vice President of UAE has formed a committee that will provide relief to people of Kerala, affected by severe flood.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of UAE, urged “everyone to contribute generously towards this initiative.”

According to The Indian Express, “The committee will be chaired by the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) and will include representatives from the UAE’s humanitarian organisations.”

By Maecy Alviar

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines; 18 Aug 2018; AA: President Rodrigo Duterte lashed out Friday at the United States after one of its top defense officials cautioned the Philippines against buying military equipment from Russia.

He slammed Washington for blocking the Philippine military’s modernization and only giving Manila used and refurbished military equipment, including rusted choppers from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that crashed and killed Filipino soldiers.

MOSCOW, August 17. /TASS/. The Kremlin will not comment on reports claiming that Russian leader Vladimir Putin at his Helsinki meeting with US President Donald Trump allegedly supported the idea that Iran must withdraw from Syria, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"I will not comment on that," he said. "We have already said everything we had to say about the Helsinki summit, we have nothing to add," Peskov pointed out.

BERLIN, August 17. /TASS/. The German authorities need to change the policy towards Russia and discuss the possibility of continuing cooperation in the G8 format. For its part, Moscow should likewise make efforts to become a reliable partner again, leader of the liberal German Free Democratic Party (FDP) Christian Lindner told the Passauer Neue Presse daily.

By Bayram Altug

GENEVA; 17 Aug 2018; AA: The United Nations invited Yemen’s warring parties to Geneva for peace talks on Sept. 6, a UN spokeswoman confirmed on Friday.

“I can confirm that the office of UN special envoy to Yemen [Martin Griffiths] sent an invitation to the Yemeni government and Ansarullah [Houthi movement],” UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci told a Geneva news briefing.