UK inquiry: Monks hid sex abuse to protect church reputation

London, Aug 9 (AP): A British inquiry has concluded that sexual abuse at two leading Roman Catholic schools in Britain was considerably higher than is reflected by conviction figures, with monks hiding allegations to protect the church's reputation.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse issued a scathing report Thursday, saying that monks at Ampleforth in North Yorkshire and Downside in Somerset hid allegations of "appalling sexual abuse" against pupils as young as seven.

At least 29 children killed in strike on Yemen bus

10 Aug 2018; AFP: An attack on a bus at a market in rebel-held northern Yemen killed at least 29 children Thursday, the Red Cross said, as the Saudi-led coalition faced a growing outcry over the strike.

The coalition said it had carried out a "legitimate military action", targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday by Huthi rebels.

Iran's Zarif: 'no one trusts America' anymore

8 Aug 2018; AFP: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Wednesday it was hard to imagine new talks with the US after it lost the trust of the world with its erratic decision-making.

"Imagine negotiating now -- how can we trust them?" Zarif told reporters on state broadcaster IRINN. "America has zig-zagged constantly, so now no one trusts them."

Zarif was speaking a day after Washington reimposed a first tranche of harsh sanctions following its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.

9th August Jail Bharo struggle will be massive and historic

New Delhi, Aug 8; GANASHAKTI : As part of the ongoing struggles by the peasantry and the working class, the call given by All India Kisan Sabha to organize massive Jail Bharo struggle on the Quit India Day – 9th August 2018 is receiving widespread support from various sections of the society.  Around 20 lakh people across the country are expected to participate in this struggle.

IMF asks India to consider simpler GST rate structure

Washington, Aug 8 (PTI) The IMF today described the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a "milestone reform" in India's tax policy, but pushed for a simplified structure, saying the multiple rate structure and other features could give rise to high compliance and administrative costs.

In its annual country report, the International Monetary Fund also said that a dual rate structure with a low standard rate and an additional higher rate on select items can be progressive and preserve revenue neutrality.

China decides to impose additional tariffs on 16 bln USD of U.S. imports

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China has decided to impose additional tariffs on imported products from the United States worth about 16 billion U.S. dollars, according to an official statement released Wednesday.

Approved by the State Council, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council has decided to impose additional duties of 25 percent on the 16-billion-dollar U.S. products after making proper adjustments to the second part of a list of the products subject to the tariffs.

The additional duties will take effect at 12:01 on Aug. 23, 2018.

Germany warns US Iran sanctions could cause 'chaos'

Berlin, Aug 8; AFP: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned today that US President Donald Trump's decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran could further destabilise the Middle East and boost radical forces in the region.

Trump brought back the punishing sanctions after unilaterally pulling out of a landmark 2015 deal between Tehran and Western powers to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"We still think that it is a mistake to give up on the nuclear accord with Iran," Maas said in an interview with the daily Passauer Neue Presse.

Muzaffarpur sex scandal: Bihar minister Manju Verma resigns

Patna, Aug 8 (PTI) Bihar Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma today handed over her resignation to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar amid uproar over sex scandal case in the Muzaffarpur shelter home.

Verma met the chief minister and handed over her resignation to him, sources in the Chief Minister's Office said here.

The minister has been in the eye of the storm after name of her husband surfaced in the case of sexual abuse of girls at state-funded Muzaffarpur shelter home.

Lynching in the name of cow heartbreaking: Kangana

Mumbai, Aug 8 (PTI) Actor Kangana Ranaut today said it is a sad state of affair that people in the country are being lynched in the name of cows, even as she stressed the need to protect the animal.

There have been several incidents of lynching in the country on suspicions of either cow smuggling or consuming beef.

U.S. tourism to take hit amid trade tensions with China

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Tourism experts warn that the booming U.S. tourism industry may take a hit by the escalating trade tensions between the United States and China.

"There will be impacts on the tourism. The question is how long. We hope it's temporary," Barry Lin, vice general manager of destination marketing services at Chinese online travel agency Tuniu, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Imran Khan's close aide put on no-fly list

Islamabad, Aug 8 (PTI) Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, a close aide of Pakistan's Prime Minister in-waiting Imran Khan, was today put on no-fly list on a request filed by the National Accountability Bureau, a media report said.

The top anti-graft body is conducting a probe into off-shore companies of Bukhari, who was in charge of Khan's campaign in NA-53 (Islamabad-II). Khan had defeated former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in NA-53.

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