H&R Block’s Tax Day outage frustrates last-minute filers
H&R Block experienced technology outages on Monday, preventing some last-minute tax filers from sending in their returns.
Washington
Trump’s Unfounded ‘Colossal’ Tax Hike Warning – FactCheck.org
Former President Donald Trump went on Truth Social on tax filing deadline day to warn that if President Joe Biden is reelected, there will be colossal tax hikes. However, Biden’s latest budget proposal supports extending tax cuts for individuals making less than 0,000.
Tehran could review , ‘nuclear doctrine’ amid Israeli threats
Iran could review its “nuclear doctrine” following Israeli threats, raising concerns about Tehran’s nuclear program. Israel has threatened to retaliate against Iran’s missile and drone attack, which was in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Damascus. Ahmad Haghtalab, a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander, stated that threats against Iran’s nuclear facilities could lead to a change in their nuclear doctrine. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has the final say on the nuclear program, which the West suspects has military purposes. Talks between Tehran and Washington to revive the 2015 nuclear pact have stalled since 2022. Iran continues to enrich uranium at rates up to 60% purity, far beyond the needs for commercial nuclear use.
BoE must , ‘do right thing’, cut rates in summer
The UK’s annual inflation rate fell to 3.2% in March.
US is reimposing oil sanctions on Venezuela, officials say
The U.S. will not renew a license that eased Venezuela oil sanctions, imposing punitive measures due to President Nicolas Maduro’s failure to meet election commitments.
UN says it still faces obstacles in bid to fend off famine in Gaza
The United Nations is facing difficulties in delivering aid to the Gaza Strip, with significant checkpoint delays and denied requests for aid deliveries. Despite some improvements in coordination with Israel, challenges persist in scaling up aid distribution. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated, leading to increased global outrage. Israel has approved reopening crossings and ports for aid delivery after pressure from U.S. President Joe Biden. The focus is on improving access to essential services like water, sanitation, and health to prevent famine. U.S. officials acknowledge progress in aid delivery but are working to further improve the situation. Israel is retaliating against Hamas in Gaza following an attack, resulting in casualties on both sides.
Israeli tanks push back in northern Gaza, warplanes hit Rafah, say residents
Israeli tanks re-entered parts of northern Gaza and carried out air strikes on Rafah, killing and injuring several people. Tanks surrounded schools where displaced families were seeking refuge, ordering evacuations and detaining men. The Israeli military continued operations in central Gaza, targeting gunmen and destroying terrorist infrastructure. Israel is still imposing restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite some claims of increased aid flows. The Palestinian health ministry reported over 33,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since October.
IRS offers tax relief to corporations
The IRS is waiving penalties for companies that fail to pay their estimated taxes for the first quarter for the corporate alternative minimum tax.
Iraq to vote on bill including death penalty for same-sex acts
Iraqi lawmakers are considering a bill that would introduce harsh punishments for same-sex relations, including the death penalty or life in prison. This has raised concerns among rights groups and Western diplomats who fear it would harm Iraq’s political and economic relationships. The bill also prohibits the promotion of homosexuality and imposes severe penalties for violations. Diplomats have lobbied against the bill, warning that its passage could have catastrophic consequences for international relations with Iraq.
What to look forward to at the cinema
– The American National Association Theatre Owners wrapped up a three-day event called CinemaCon where major production studios showcased upcoming features and trailers.
– Gladiator II, a sequel to the movie Gladiator, was unveiled at CinemaCon, featuring Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington in lead roles.
– A sneak peek of the upcoming Deadpool movie was shown at CinemaCon, featuring Wade as a used car salesman and setting up the next phase of the MCU.
– Remakes of Naked Gun and Scary Movie were announced at CinemaCon, expected to debut in 2025 and 2026.
– A preview for the animated movie Transformers One was shown at CinemaCon, starring Chris Hemsworth as Optimus Prime and exploring the relationship between Prime and Megatron.