North America

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.

By Yoshita Singh

New York, Aug 8 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has nominated a prominent Indian-American law professor and legal expert to an agency on privacy and civil liberties.

Aditya Bamzai, a professor at University of Virginia's School of Law, has been nominated by Trump to be a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board for the remainder of a six-year term expiring January, 29, 2020.

By Yoshita Singh

New York, Aug 8 (PTI) A US Navy veteran has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences on hate crime charges for killing Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla and wounding two others after he thought they were Iranians at a suburban Kansas City bar last year.

Adam Purinton of Olathe shot and killed Kuchibhotla, and wounded two others Indian national Alok Madasani and Kansas resident Ian Grillot at Austins Bar & Grill in Olathe, Kansas, in February 2017.

Washington, Aug 7 (AFP) US President Donald Trump today said that sanctions reimposed on Iran were the "most biting ever" as he warned other countries from doing business with Tehran.

"The Iran sanctions have officially been cast. These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level," he wrote in an early morning tweet.

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 7 (APP): Marking the 73rd anniversary of the U.S. atomic bomb attack on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, the top United Nations disarmament official has voiced concern that after decades of momentum towards a nuclear-free world, “progress has stalled.”

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations continues to encourage support for all governments for the Iran nuclear deal, a UN spokesperson said Monday, after Washington vowed to re-impose sanctions on Iran lifted under the deal.

Farhan Haq, a UN spokesperson, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres continues to view the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the Iran nuclear deal) as a diplomatic achievement and continues to encourage support for all governments for that, just as he did when these sanctions were being contemplated.

Chicago, Aug 6 (AP) Police say weekend shootings in Chicago have left at least 11 people dead and about 70 wounded.

The violence peaked early yesterday, including one shooting on the city's South Side that injured eight people.

The Chicago Tribune reports that by comparison, at least seven people were killed and 32 were wounded during the long Memorial Day weekend, often one of the most violent weekends of the year.

The U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 was approved by US Senate on Wednesday will codify into law the $38 billion defense aid package for Israel.

The $38 billion deal, negotiated in the final days of the Obama administration in 2016 is the most generous ever to Israel. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has been instrumental in securing this deal.

WASHINGTON, August 3. /TASS/. The United States expanded its sanctions list related to North Korea, adding the Russian Agrosoyuz bank, a Russian individual and a company from each of China and North Korea, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) reports on Friday.

Restrictions were introduced for alleged violations of the US sanctions regime and UN security resolutions by the said persons, an explanatory note to the document says.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. tech giant Apple became the first American company that saw its market cap hit 1 trillion U.S. dollars in the U.S. history after its shares rose 2.8 percent to a session high of 207.05 dollars around midday trading on Thursday.

Investors pushed Apple's market capitalization over the 1-trillion-dollar threshold amid expectations of new iPhones to be launched this fall, plus a record third-quarter financial report that the California-based company garnered a whopping 53.3 billion dollars in revenue.