Millions of Americans may finally get their tax refund

The theme of the last year for the IRS has been piles of paper, as the understaffed and underfunded agency dealt with an unprecedented backlog of unprocessed tax returns that built up amid new pandemic responsibilities.

Now, the IRS is taking a major step towards getting those returns processed and out the door: This week, it's set to finally clear its backlog of eight million original returns filed in 2021.

The IRS previously announced an all hands on deck approach for getting returns processed and checks out, which included hiring 10,000 new workers and putting together a surge team to tackle returns.

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Elon Musk said a recession is 'inevitable' and would likely take place sooner than later

The Tesla CEO gave his comments at the Qatar Economic Forum, where he was quizzed on his "super bad feeling" about the economy and what he thought of the claims made by Biden administration officials that a US recession is "not inevitable."

The company highlighted a cumulative 48% probability that a US recession would happen over the next two years. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley's chief US equity strategist, Mike Wilson, said the firm's economists have put the chance of a recession over the next year at 35%, up from 20%.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden stressed in an interview last week that a recession is still avoidable, and urged Americans to stay confident.

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😬 Former US President Donald Trump laid into Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in a Wednesday social media post that dubbed the Texan a ‘Republican in Name Only’ (RINO) for his role in bipartisan draft negotiations that brought about the framework for S.1738, the ‘Safer Communities Act.’

📌 The proposed legislation received support from 14 GOP senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). A final vote is scheduled for Thursday.

💬 “The deal on ‘Gun Control’ currently being structured and pushed in the Senate by the Radical Left Democrats, with the help of Mitch McConnell, RINO Senator John Cornyn of Texas, and others, will go down in history as the first step in the movement to TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY. Republicans, be careful what you wish for!!!” the US president said in a June 22 post to Truth Social.

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📹 Russia's MoD has published footage showing the operation of Grad MLRS and Giacint-B howitzers.

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⚡️ The United States has detected 156 cases of monkeypox so far, with the highest incidence of infections reported in the states of New York and California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

📌 "Total confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases: 156," the CDC said in a statement released on its official website on Wednesday.

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❗️ Lavrov: Russia hopes US will make rational choice on JCPOA resumption, but not sure

❗️ Russian grants ships from Ukraine ports secure passage to Bosporus strait

⚡️ Peaceful settlement in Ukraine possible only after Kiev complies with Russia's conditions, Kremlin says

🏊‍♀️ American swimmer Anita Alvarez was fortunate to survive after she fainted while competing in the women's synchronized solo free event of the World Aquatics Championships. She was pulled out of the water by her coach Andrea Fuentes in the Hungarian capital.

😳 The swimmer entered the pool to perform her synchronized choreographed routine but blacked out before sinking to the bottom of the pool.

🏥 Alvarez was administered the first aid at the site of the incident before being shifted to the pool's medical center on a stretcher.

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❗️LIVE |Russian President Vladimir Putin participates in the XIV BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit via videoconference in Moscow on Thursday, June 23.

Countries' leaders are expected to discuss the state and prospects of multifaceted cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian sectors.

👀 Freudian slip? US President Joe Biden calls Kamala Harris' husband Doug Emhoff "First Gentleman"

Doug Emhoff is the Second Gentleman.

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⚡️ Turkish FM announces process to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel

🎥 Watch young uniformed Ukrainians sing “Our Father is Bandera” and throw up their hands in a Nazi salute.

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⚡️ Federal Reserve says it can't control prices of oil or most food amid decades-high inflation

❗️🔫 The US Supreme Court has struck down a New York gun law that restricts carrying a concealed gun outside one's home.

In a 6-to-3 ruling, the court determined that New York’s licensing requirement violates the Second Amendment’s guarantee of US citizens' “right to keep and bear arms.”
The ruling comes as Congress is actively working on gun legislation following recent mass shootings in Texas, New York and California.

❗️ Washington expected to announce a new funding package for Ukraine worth about $500 million on Thursday. The package is due to include MLRs and artillery ammunition.

💰The comicbook where Wonder Woman made her DC Universe debut has been sold for $1.6 million at a Heritage auction.

The book was published in 1941, and a collector had preserved a copy of it in mint condition ever since, with comicbook graders Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) classifying it a 9.4 out of 10.

Commenting on the copy, CGC said, “No comic book that is primarily sought for its connection to a female superhero had ever realized more than $1 million at auction until now.” The book’s auction has also broken the previous record for this issue — a 2017 sale that went for $936,223.

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❗️Joe Biden says he is 'deeply disappointed' with court's gun ruling.

🎥 Europeans sent tons of humanitarian aid to the residents of Krasny Liman, but because of the Kiev radicals it did not reach its final destination.

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🇷🇺🇺🇸🇪🇺🎨 Russia's State Hermitage Museum introduces an annual moratorium on exhibitions in the United States and Europe.

❗️🔫 The US Senate has moved forward bipartisan gun control legislation, setting the stage for the chamber to vote on its passage after further debate.

The legislation would enhance background checks for firearm buyers under 21 years old, restrict firearm ownership by convicted domestic abusers, provide funding for states to develop so-called "red flag" laws and increase spending on mental health services.

The bill would also order officials to establish a Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Evidence-based Practices to identify and publish recommendations to improve school safety for use by educational agencies, law enforcement, health professionals and the general public.

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