In the United States, a federal appeals court on Tuesday (August 9) ruled that the tax returns of former President Donald Trump must be turned over to the House Ways and Means Committee.

In the United States, a federal appeals court on Tuesday (August 9) ruled that the tax returns of former President Donald Trump must be turned over to the House Ways and Means Committee. It appears to be another victory for the congressional committee but the 3-0 decision from the DC Circuit Court of Appeals is likely to be appealed. According to a statement from the committee’s Twitter account, "The DC Court of Appeals has just ruled that the law is on our side in seeking Trump’s tax returns. We expect to receive the requested tax returns and audit files immediately." ALSO READ | Under Beijing's national security law, four Hong Kong locals arrested for sedition Richard Neal, who is the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, sought Trump's returns in 2019. Since then, he has been engaged in a legal battle to see the former president's filings. As quoted by Deadline, Neal in a statement wrote, "With great patience, we followed the judicial process, and yet again, our position has been affirmed by the Courts." "I'm pleased that this long-anticipated opinion makes clear the law is on our side. When we receive the returns, we will begin our oversight of the IRS’s mandatory presidential audit program," the statement added. ALSO READ | Billionaires fund a massive treasure hunt in Greenland. Here's why FBI raids Trump's Mar-a-Lago home This comes a day after FBI agents raided Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate and broke into his safe. Trump said in a statement: "After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate." Although, Trump did not say why the raid took place, but he mentioned that his Mar-A-Lago "is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents." He added that the agents "even broke into my safe." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tax returns of Donald Trump must be turned over to congressional committee, appeals court rules

In a first of its kind anti-trust hearing, four most powerful CEOs in the tech world faced damning questions - Google's Sundar Pichai, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Apple's Tim Cook and Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

They were called "monarchs" by the angry and determined US congressional committee. The lawmakers made it clear they shall not bow in front of the&nbsp;"emperors" of the online economy. The grilling went on for more than five hours. It began with the big four being slammed for using their power to crush rivals.

"Many of the practices used by these companies have harmful economic effects. they discourage entrepreneurship, destroy jobs, hike costs and degrade quality. Simply put, they have too much power," the committee chairman's said.

Too big, too powerful - that's was the main accusation. The four companies are valued at $5 trillion which is more than the GDP of Germany.

All the CEOs unanimously said they are not as big as the lawmakers think. They had one argument to make: breaking up US companies would help China. They emphasised that their companies are from America, for America but failed to explain their business practices.

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Google and Facebook faced the worst ire.&nbsp;The questions and answers went like this:&nbsp;

"First question, Mr Pichai, why does Google steal content from honest businesses?" the chairman asked.

"I disagree with that characterization," Sundar Pichai said. The lawmaker hit back with evidence allegedly&nbsp;Google stole reviews from crowd-sourced review app Yelp and&nbsp;threatened to delist the company, if it objected.

Next, the committee accused Facebook of using threats to acquire Instagram. "Has Facebook ever threatened to clone the products of another company while also attempting to acquire that company?" the lawmaker asked.

"Congresswoman, not that I would not that I recall," Facebook founder Zuckerberg said. Once again&nbsp;the committee hit back with evidence with internal emails in which Zuckerberg himself had threatened Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom.

Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, the biggest tech company in the world, was delayed due to tech issues. He was accused of breaching data privacy laws.

"Does Amazon ever access and use third-party seller data when making business decisions? and just yes or no will suffice sir," the lawmaker asserted.

"I can't answer that question yes or no," Bezos said.

Then came the role of China, the committee demanded clarification. The question was asked if Apple was still manufacturing its iPhones in China? and why was Amazon featuring 80 companies to source from China and use bonded Uighur labour?

Amazon CEO Bezos did not say much, but, Apple CEO Tim Cook had an answer.

"Forced labour is abhorrent, and we would not tolerate it in Apple, and so I would love to get with your office and engage in the legislation." The lawmakers asked more about China.

While the others evaded the question, Zuckerberg said: "Congressman, I think it's well documented that the Chinese government steals technology from American companies."

A hearing such as this has not been seen in a long time, not since Microsoft stood trial in the 1990s and not since the 1994 Congressional hearing of top American tobacco executives including the AT&amp;T antitrust trial in the 1980s.

 
&nbsp;

In a first of its kind anti-trust hearing, four most powerful CEOs in the tech world faced damning questions - Google's Sundar Pichai, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Apple's Tim Cook and Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

In a first of its kind anti-trust hearing, four most powerful CEOs in the tech world faced damning questions - Google's Sundar Pichai, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Apple's Tim Cook and Amazon's Jeff Bezos. They were called "monarchs" by the angry and determined US congressional committee. The lawmakers made it clear they shall not bow in front of the "emperors" of the online economy. The grilling went on for more than five hours. It began with the big four being slammed for using their power to crush rivals. "Many of the practices used by these companies have harmful economic effects. they discourage entrepreneurship, destroy jobs, hike costs and degrade quality. Simply put, they have too much power," the committee chairman's said. Too big, too powerful - that's was the main accusation. The four companies are valued at $5 trillion which is more than the GDP of Germany. All the CEOs unanimously said they are not as big as the lawmakers think. They had one argument to make: breaking up US companies would help China. They emphasised that their companies are from America, for America but failed to explain their business practices. × Google and Facebook faced the worst ire. The questions and answers went like this: "First question, Mr Pichai, why does Google steal content from honest businesses?" the chairman asked. "I disagree with that characterization," Sundar Pichai said. The lawmaker hit back with evidence allegedly Google stole reviews from crowd-sourced review app Yelp and threatened to delist the company, if it objected. Next, the committee accused Facebook of using threats to acquire Instagram. "Has Facebook ever threatened to clone the products of another company while also attempting to acquire that company?" the lawmaker asked. "Congresswoman, not that I would not that I recall," Facebook founder Zuckerberg said. Once again the committee hit back with evidence with internal emails in which Zuckerberg himself had threatened Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom. Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, the biggest tech company in the world, was delayed due to tech issues. He was accused of breaching data privacy laws. "Does Amazon ever access and use third-party seller data when making business decisions? and just yes or no will suffice sir," the lawmaker asserted. "I can't answer that question yes or no," Bezos said. Then came the role of China, the committee demanded clarification. The question was asked if Apple was still manufacturing its iPhones in China? and why was Amazon featuring 80 companies to source from China and use bonded Uighur labour? Amazon CEO Bezos did not say much, but, Apple CEO Tim Cook had an answer. "Forced labour is abhorrent, and we would not tolerate it in Apple, and so I would love to get with your office and engage in the legislation." The lawmakers asked more about China. While the others evaded the question, Zuckerberg said: "Congressman, I think it's well documented that the Chinese government steals technology from American companies." A hearing such as this has not been seen in a long time, not since Microsoft stood trial in the 1990s and not since the 1994 Congressional hearing of top American tobacco executives including the AT&T antitrust trial in the 1980s.

China looms as US Congress committee grills chiefs of big 4 tech companies

A powerful Congressional committee has placed conditions on the release of $350 million financial aid to Pakistan for counter-terrorism operations to push Islamabad into taking action against the Haqqani network.

The Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group linked to the Taliban is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

Releasing the text of its version of the national defence authorisation (NDAA) bill, the House Armed Services Committee on Monday said that $350 million of the $700 million proposed financial assistance to Pakistan may not be released till the defence secretary certifies to Congress that Islamabad has taken actions against the Haqqani network militants.

According to the NDAA text running into more than 700 pages, it authorises $700 million in coalition support funds (CSF) to Pakistan. "Of that amount, not more than $350.0 million may be provided until the Secretary of Defence certified that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani network," it said.

The committee also authorised the president's budget request of $900 million for fiscal year 2019 for CSF payments.

In his new South Asia and Afghanistan policy in August, Trump had called for tougher measure against Pakistan if it fails to cooperate with the US in its fight against terrorism.&nbsp

Since January, the Trump administration has suspended its security assistance to Pakistan alleging that Islamabad has not been taking satisfactory actions against terrorist safe havens inside the country.

The aid suspended has not be relocated yet but has been kept aside for Pakistan to be used later if and when it starts taking actions against terrorists.&nbsp

Pakistan has repeatedly denied that there are any terrorist safe havens inside its territory. Both its officials in Islamabad and inside the United Nations in New York assert that there are no terrorist safe havens.

However, the top American leadership insists that there has been no change in Pakistani behaviour on this front that that it is fast running out of patience.

A powerful Congressional committee has placed conditions on the release of $350 million financial aid to Pakistan for counter-terrorism operations to push Islamabad into taking action against the Haqqani network

A powerful Congressional committee has placed conditions on the release of $350 million financial aid to Pakistan for counter-terrorism operations to push Islamabad into taking action against the Haqqani network. The Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group linked to the Taliban is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people. Releasing the text of its version of the national defence authorisation (NDAA) bill, the House Armed Services Committee on Monday said that $350 million of the $700 million proposed financial assistance to Pakistan may not be released till the defence secretary certifies to Congress that Islamabad has taken actions against the Haqqani network militants. According to the NDAA text running into more than 700 pages, it authorises $700 million in coalition support funds (CSF) to Pakistan. "Of that amount, not more than $350.0 million may be provided until the Secretary of Defence certified that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani network," it said. The committee also authorised the president's budget request of $900 million for fiscal year 2019 for CSF payments. In his new South Asia and Afghanistan policy in August, Trump had called for tougher measure against Pakistan if it fails to cooperate with the US in its fight against terrorism. Since January, the Trump administration has suspended its security assistance to Pakistan alleging that Islamabad has not been taking satisfactory actions against terrorist safe havens inside the country. The aid suspended has not be relocated yet but has been kept aside for Pakistan to be used later if and when it starts taking actions against terrorists. Pakistan has repeatedly denied that there are any terrorist safe havens inside its territory. Both its officials in Islamabad and inside the United Nations in New York assert that there are no terrorist safe havens. However, the top American leadership insists that there has been no change in Pakistani behaviour on this front that that it is fast running out of patience.

US Congressional committee seeks conditions on $350 million aid to Pakistan

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documents about the agency&#39;s investigation into Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton&#39;s use of a private email server while secretary of state were being reviewed on yesterday in secure rooms of the US Capitol. 
 
Lawmakers and select staff from some congressional committees could page through the material, parts of which are redacted, in large binders labeled &quot;secret&quot; that the FBI turned over to Congress on Tuesday. 
 
Republican lawmakers requested the information last month after the FBI recommended no criminal charges against Clinton. 
 
&quot;Last I heard, my colleagues had their turn with the documents at 1.30 pm,&quot; said a Senate Judiciary committee aide. &quot;There&#39;s only one set of documents for all the interested Senate committees, as I understand it.&quot; 
 
She said those viewing the material were allowed to take notes. But if notes were taken on the classified parts, those notes had to be left in the secure area with the documents. 
 
Clinton has been dogged for more than a year by questions about her use of a private email account while she was the nation&#39;s top diplomat from 2009 to 2013. 
 
Republicans have repeatedly hammered Clinton over the issue, helping to drive opinion poll results showing that many US voters doubt her trustworthiness. She faces Republican nominee Donald Trump in the Nov. 8 election. 
 
The FBI said on Tuesday it had provided &quot;relevant materials&quot; to congressional committees looking into the matter. 
 
&quot;The material contains classified and other sensitive information and is being provided with the expectation it will not be disseminated or disclosed without FBI concurrence,&quot; the agency said in a statement. 
 
Senate judiciary committee chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican, said in a statement on Tuesday an initial review of the material showed most of it was marked unclassified. 
 
Grassley, who has called for unclassified parts of the documents to be made public, wrote yesterday to the Senate security office, which has custody of the documents, asking them to provide his committee with an unclassified version. 
 
Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon in a statement also called for the public release of the documents, &quot;rather than allow Republicans to mischaracterise them through selective, partisan leaks.&quot; 
 
The documents on the Senate side of the Capitol are under the control of the office of senate security, Senate aides said. In the House of Representatives, another set was being viewed in a &quot;Secure Compartmented Information Facility,&quot; an aide with the House Oversight and Government Reform committee said. 
 
&quot;Our investigators with (security) clearances have gone down there and looked at the documents,&quot; the Oversight committee aide said. 
 
It was unclear how many lawmakers had actually seen the material so far. Most members of Congress were not in town because of a congressional recess. 
 
The documents were made available to the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Appropriations committees in the Senate, and the Oversight, Judiciary and Appropriations committees in the House, aides said. 
 
The Intelligence committees on both sides of the Capitol also have copies, so they do not have to join the line with the others. 
 
(Reuters)

Republican lawmakers requested the information last month after the FBI recommended no criminal charges against Clinton

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documents about the agency's investigation into Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while secretary of state were being reviewed on yesterday in secure rooms of the US Capitol. Lawmakers and select staff from some congressional committees could page through the material, parts of which are redacted, in large binders labeled "secret" that the FBI turned over to Congress on Tuesday. Republican lawmakers requested the information last month after the FBI recommended no criminal charges against Clinton. "Last I heard, my colleagues had their turn with the documents at 1.30 pm," said a Senate Judiciary committee aide. "There's only one set of documents for all the interested Senate committees, as I understand it." She said those viewing the material were allowed to take notes. But if notes were taken on the classified parts, those notes had to be left in the secure area with the documents. Clinton has been dogged for more than a year by questions about her use of a private email account while she was the nation's top diplomat from 2009 to 2013. Republicans have repeatedly hammered Clinton over the issue, helping to drive opinion poll results showing that many US voters doubt her trustworthiness. She faces Republican nominee Donald Trump in the Nov. 8 election. The FBI said on Tuesday it had provided "relevant materials" to congressional committees looking into the matter. "The material contains classified and other sensitive information and is being provided with the expectation it will not be disseminated or disclosed without FBI concurrence," the agency said in a statement. Senate judiciary committee chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican, said in a statement on Tuesday an initial review of the material showed most of it was marked unclassified. Grassley, who has called for unclassified parts of the documents to be made public, wrote yesterday to the Senate security office, which has custody of the documents, asking them to provide his committee with an unclassified version. Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon in a statement also called for the public release of the documents, "rather than allow Republicans to mischaracterise them through selective, partisan leaks." The documents on the Senate side of the Capitol are under the control of the office of senate security, Senate aides said. In the House of Representatives, another set was being viewed in a "Secure Compartmented Information Facility," an aide with the House Oversight and Government Reform committee said. "Our investigators with (security) clearances have gone down there and looked at the documents," the Oversight committee aide said. It was unclear how many lawmakers had actually seen the material so far. Most members of Congress were not in town because of a congressional recess. The documents were made available to the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Appropriations committees in the Senate, and the Oversight, Judiciary and Appropriations committees in the House, aides said. The Intelligence committees on both sides of the Capitol also have copies, so they do not have to join the line with the others. (Reuters)

Clinton's FBI documents viewed in secure areas of the US Capitol

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Tax returns of Donald Trump must be turned over to congressional committee, appeals court rules

China looms as US Congress committee grills chiefs of big 4 tech companies

US Congressional committee seeks conditions on $350 million aid to Pakistan

Clinton's FBI documents viewed in secure areas of the US Capitol