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Tensions between the United States and Iran intensified overnight after American forces reportedly struck a Revolutionary Guards communications tower on Iran’s Qeshm Island, prompting Tehran to launch missiles and drones toward Kuwait and Bahrain in what it described as a retaliatory operation.

According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, explosions were reported overnight on Qeshm Island. Shortly afterward, Kuwait’s military announced that its air-defense systems had been activated to intercept incoming missiles and hostile drones.

A short time later, air-raid sirens sounded in Bahrain amid what authorities believe was a missile attack launched from Iranian territory.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the missile and drone barrage directed toward Kuwait, saying the operation targeted American military installations in response to the earlier U.S. strike on Qeshm Island.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces successfully intercepted multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. According to the military, the strikes on Qeshm Island were conducted as acts of self-defense following Iranian attempts to carry out attacks elsewhere in the Middle East.

Iranian officials said the United States targeted a Revolutionary Guards communications tower located in the southern part of Qeshm Island.

“The American enemy attacked a communications tower belonging to the Revolutionary Guards in southern Qeshm Island using air-launched missiles,” the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement.

Iranian officials also claimed that their retaliatory operation struck American military facilities in the Gulf region.

“They struck an air force base and the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet in one of the countries in the region,” the Revolutionary Guards asserted.

The group further warned that additional attacks could follow if the confrontation continues.

“Any aggression will be met with a different and harsher response, and this has indeed been carried out.”

The exchange comes amid mounting friction between Washington and Tehran as President Donald Trump continues efforts to secure a new agreement with Iran while also facing domestic pressure related to energy prices and regional stability.

At the same time, reports have pointed to growing disagreements between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over policy toward Iran and the conflict in Lebanon, adding another layer of complexity to the regional crisis.

The latest Iranian attacks come at a particularly delicate moment, with the U.S. administration reportedly seeking to advance an interim arrangement with Tehran.

According to recent reports, Iranian officials are reviewing a new draft proposal submitted by the United States. However, Tehran is said to be maintaining a tough negotiating stance even as diplomatic efforts continue alongside the escalating military confrontation.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday establishing a new voluntary review framework that encourages artificial intelligence companies to submit advanced AI models for government evaluation before making them available to the public.

The measure calls on developers to provide their AI systems for federal review 30 days prior to launch, a shorter timeframe than what administration officials had initially considered.

According to Politico, the order represents a revised version of a proposal circulated last month that would have asked companies to participate in the review process 90 days before releasing new models. The president approved the updated policy after meeting with senior officials to discuss growing concerns surrounding AI safety and cybersecurity risks.

The executive order emphasizes both the strategic benefits and potential security challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence technologies.

“Advanced AI capabilities make our Nation stronger, but also introduce new national security considerations that require coordinated action across executive departments and agencies (agencies), and components. As these capabilities evolve, my Administration will continue to work closely with industry to ensure that the best and most secure technology is deployed rapidly to confront any and all threats to our country. We will continue to lead an America First cybersecurity effort that enhances both our national security and our global AI dominance.

“It is the policy of the United States to promote AI innovation and security by working collaboratively with the private sector to modernize government and private sector information systems and harden them against external threats; to protect American ingenuity and intellectual property from exploitation and theft by adversaries; and to cultivate America’s advanced AI-enabled capabilities.”

The administration had originally planned to move forward with the more expansive 90-day review requirement on May 21. However, that proposal was withdrawn just hours before it was scheduled to be signed.

Throughout Trump’s presidency, the administration has generally favored reducing regulatory obstacles for AI developers in an effort to maintain America’s competitive edge in the rapidly evolving technology sector. At the same time, officials have expressed growing concern about the security implications of increasingly powerful AI systems.

Those concerns have been heightened by reports that Anthropic’s Mythos AI model may possess capabilities that could threaten even highly sensitive computer networks, fueling calls for stronger safeguards while still allowing continued innovation.

{Matzav.com}

Although the 2026 tax season has ended, a number of Americans are still waiting for their federal tax refunds. For many of those taxpayers, however, their money could arrive in the coming weeks.

Federal officials projected that average refunds for the 2025 tax year would exceed $3,400, representing an increase of roughly 11 percent compared to the previous year. While that marked a notable rise, it fell short of claims by some administration officials that refunds would increase by as much as $1,000.

The timing of a refund depends largely on when a taxpayer submitted a return and whether it was filed electronically or on paper.

According to the IRS, most taxpayers who submit returns electronically receive refunds within approximately 21 days. Those who mail paper returns often face longer processing times, and any errors, corrections, or amended filings can further extend the wait.

As a result, taxpayers who filed by the standard April 15 deadline generally should have received their refunds already.

There are exceptions, however, and some groups of taxpayers remain in the processing pipeline.

Among those most likely to receive refunds in June are filers who submitted returns in May, either because they obtained filing extensions or because the IRS granted additional time in areas affected by natural disasters.

The IRS routinely extends tax deadlines for communities impacted by severe weather and other emergencies. For example, residents affected by storms, flooding, and the “remnants of Typhoon Halong” in parts of Alaska last October were given until May 1, 2026, to file returns and make certain payments that had originally been due before October 8, 2025.

Additional May 1 extensions applied to taxpayers affected by storms and flooding in Montana, as well as those impacted by “severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides” in parts of Washington state. Similar relief deadlines continue to affect certain taxpayers in Mississippi, Hawaii, and Georgia.

Another category of taxpayers who may finally see refunds arrive this month includes those whose payments were delayed because they failed to provide required banking information.

Earlier this year, Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee disclosed that thousands of taxpayers had received notices informing them that their refunds were being held up. In some cases, the delays lasted “more than 2 months” because the IRS lacked the necessary banking details needed to issue payments electronically.

The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service previously cautioned taxpayers that refunds could be placed on hold if direct-deposit information was missing. Those refunds generally remain frozen until taxpayers either provide the required information or choose to receive a paper check instead.

Many affected individuals have already received IRS notices directing them to update or verify their banking information through the agency’s website. Others may simply be issued paper refund checks after a waiting period of approximately six weeks.

Lawmakers have warned that taxpayers relying on mailed checks could face significantly longer delays.

In a letter earlier this year, Reps. Danny K. Davis of Illinois and Terri A. Sewell of Alabama noted that taxpayers receiving paper checks “could face more than a 10-week delay (over 2 1/2 months).”

For taxpayers who filed closer to the April deadline and later encountered processing issues, those extended timelines could mean that their long-awaited refunds may not arrive until sometime this month.

Your tax return will still be processed, even if you did not include banking information, the IRS said. You can find more details, including how to receive assistance by phone, here.

You can track your refund’s status with the IRS’s Where’s My Refund? Tool. If you filed electronically, your refund status is available within 24 hours. If you filed a paper return, it takes four weeks for your status to appear.

{Matzav.com}

The Social Security Administration announced Tuesday that it plans to finish phasing out paper benefit checks during 2026, advancing a government-wide effort to shift federal payments entirely to electronic methods.

Officials are urging beneficiaries who still receive checks through the mail to switch immediately to either direct deposit or a government-backed prepaid debit card to prevent any interruption in future payments.

The initiative is part of a broader federal modernization effort launched through Executive Order 14247, titled “Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account,” which President Donald Trump signed on March 25, 2025.

Under the order, the Treasury Department was instructed to end the use of paper checks for nearly all federal payments by September 30, 2025. The directive applies to programs including Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs payments, and federal tax refunds issued by the IRS.

Administration officials have argued that eliminating paper checks will reduce fraud, lower administrative expenses, and decrease problems associated with lost or undeliverable mail.

Although the September 2025 deadline formally ended routine issuance of federal paper checks, Social Security has continued serving a small group of recipients who have not yet transitioned to electronic payment methods while encouraging them to make the change.

According to agency data released last year, fewer than one percent of the approximately 70 million people receiving Social Security benefits were still being paid by paper check.

In a blog post published Tuesday, the agency cited Treasury Department statistics showing that producing and mailing a paper check costs an average of $3.07, approximately twenty times the cost of sending an electronic payment. The agency also noted that paper checks are sixteen times more likely to be lost, stolen, altered, or returned than digital transactions.

Federal officials have estimated that maintaining the infrastructure required to support paper payments cost taxpayers more than $657 million during fiscal year 2024.

Recipients who wish to enroll in direct deposit can do so through their online my Social Security account or by providing their banking information directly to the agency.

Individuals without traditional bank accounts can instead receive benefits through the Treasury Department’s Direct Express program by calling 1-800-967-6857 or visiting GoDirect.gov.

The government said exemptions remain available for certain beneficiaries who face significant barriers to electronic banking. Those living in remote locations, lacking banking access, or experiencing documented hardships may seek a waiver through the U.S. Treasury by calling 1-877-874-6347.

As of Tuesday, Social Security had not announced the exact date when the final paper benefit check will be issued, stating only that it expects all remaining beneficiaries to complete the transition sometime during 2026.

The move mirrors similar efforts across the federal government. In recent months, agencies including the Labor Department, Justice Department, and Internal Revenue Service have issued their own guidance outlining how they will comply with the Treasury’s mandate to eliminate paper payments.

{Matzav.com}

A potentially deadly arson attack was narrowly averted early Tuesday when a suspect allegedly set a fire inside a residential building housing young Jewish families in London’s Golders Green neighborhood before fleeing the scene.

According to a statement issued by Shomrim, residents were jolted awake in the early morning hours by the sound of a fire alarm echoing throughout the apartment complex.

Witnesses reported that an individual intentionally ignited a fire in a shared stairwell within the building. After being spotted and challenged by residents, the suspect reportedly ran from the area before authorities arrived.

A quick-thinking resident acted immediately upon discovering the flames and succeeded in putting out the fire before it could spread through the building. Despite the danger, no injuries were reported.

Shomrim volunteers arrived promptly and began assisting with the response. During their investigation, they recovered items believed to have been left behind by the suspect, evidence that may prove valuable to law enforcement. Volunteers are also working alongside police as officers review surveillance footage from nearby security cameras and CCTV systems.

Investigators have not yet determined a motive, and authorities continue to piece together exactly what occurred. The incident, however, comes during a period of growing concern within Britain’s Jewish community following a series of attacks and security incidents targeting Jewish institutions and individuals.

Police and Shomrim are asking members of the public who may have witnessed suspicious activity or who possess dashcam or surveillance footage from the area to contact investigators as soon as possible.

The attempted arson follows another disturbing incident in Golders Green less than a month ago, when two Orthodox Jewish men were stabbed.

That attack led British authorities to elevate the country’s terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe,” marking the first such increase in more than four years.

In a separate incident just weeks earlier, a Jewish resident was reportedly assaulted in Golders Green after being heard speaking Hebrew.

The neighborhood was also shaken in late March when four emergency vehicles belonging to Hatzolah were deliberately set ablaze. Authorities have arrested nine suspects in connection with that case as the investigation continues.

{Matzav.com}

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