Retail inflation declined to 6.83% in August after touching a 15-month high of 7.44% in July, mainly due to softening prices of vegetables, but still remains above the Reserve Bank’s comfort zone. The overall inflation in the food basket stood at 9.94% in August as against 11.51% in July, according to data released by the National Statistical Office on Sept 12. Retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was at 7% in August 2022.
While the retail inflation declined to 6.83% in August, it still remains above the comfort level of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which has the mandate to ensure inflation remains at 4% with a margin of 2% on either side. As per the data, inflation in the vegetable basket eased to 26.14% in August as against 37.4% in July.
The prices of ‘oil and fats’ products declined to 15.28% in August while there was low inflation in ‘meat and fish’, ‘eggs’, ‘sugar and confectionary’, ‘non-alcoholic beverages’, ‘fruits’ and ‘prepared meals and snacks’ on an annual basis.
The data also showed that inflation in the ‘housing’ was at 4.38% and ‘fuel and light’ at 4.31%.
Aditi Nayar, chief economist, ICRA, said within food items, inflation in vegetables fell to 26.1% in August from 37.4% in the previous month, contributing as much as 28 basis points of the 61 basis points decline in the inflation print between these months.
Month: September 2023
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India: Inflation declines to 6.83% in Aug on softening food prices
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Pull iPhone 12 off shelves: French agency to Apple
A French government watchdog agency ordered Apple to withdraw the iPhone 12 from the market, saying it emits levels of electromagnetic radiation that are too high. The National Frequency Agency, which oversees radio-electric frequencies as well as public exposure electromagnetic radiation, called on Apple in a statement on Tuesday to “implement all available means to rapidly fix this malfunction”.
The order was issued after the iPhone 12 recently failed one of the two types of tests for electromagnetic waves. -
UFO expert presents ‘non human’ bodies with three fingered hands and feet
A UFO expert has presented two allegedly “non human” bodies with three fingered hands and feet and said to be 1,000 years old, at the Mexican Congress, the media reported.
Jaime Maussan, who has led investigations into alien phenomena for decades, stood with scientists to unveil two corpses in a “watershed” event, reports the Daily Mail. The researchers made the extraordinary claim that the corpses, recovered from a mine in Cusco, Peru, had a genetic composition 30 per cent removed from that of human beings.
Carbon dating by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) found the bodies, pictured with three-fingered hands and feet, no teeth and stereoscopic vision, were more than 1,000 years old.
The bodies shown were roughly humanoid in shape — a retractable neck and long skull show ‘characteristics’ more ‘typical of birds’, the Daily Mail quoted the Mexican El Pais newspaper as saying. They were also found to have strong, light bones and no teeth.
The experts also claimed that one of the beings carried eggs with embryos inside them, and had implants of cadmium and osmium metals.
Under oath, Maussan said: “These specimen are not part of our terrestrial evolution…These aren’t beings that were found after a UFO wreckage. They were found in diatom (algae) mines, and were later fossilised.
“Whether they are aliens or not, we don’t know, but they were intelligent and they lived with us. They should rewrite history.”
A number of Mexican and American officials were present in Congress , including Ryan Graves, a retired director of the US Navy and a former navy pilot who gave a testimony earlier this year on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings and government classification. Source: IANS -
Apple unveils iPhone 15 with 48-megapixel camera, new chargers expected
Apple on September 12 unveiled a new iPhone 15 with a brighter display and a 48-megapixel camera as well as 100% recycled cobalt in its battery, amid a global smartphone slump and problems with sales in China.
The event at Apple’s Cupertino, California, headquarters comes amid lingering economic uncertainty, especially in China, Apple’s third-largest market where it faces challenges from expanded restrictions on using its iPhones in government offices and the first new flagship phone in several years from Huawei Technologies.
Apple also showed off a new Series 9 Watch with a feature called “double tap” where users tap thumb and finger together twice, without touching the watch, in order to perform tasks like answering a phone call.
It uses machine learning to detect tiny changes in blood flow when the user taps their fingers together, freeing up the other hand for other tasks like walking a dog or holding a cup of coffee, said Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has new features for cycling and diving and what Apple said is the brightest screen it has ever made.
Apple will no longer use leather in any of its products, said Lisa Jackson, the company’s environmental chief. The company is replacing some of those products with a textile called “FineWoven” that it says feel like suede. CEO Tim Cook also said Apple is “on track” to ship its Vision Pro mixed-reality headset early next year. While Apple is introducing new features and products, the iPhone made up more than half of Apple’s $394.3 billion in sales last year.
The global smartphone market has slumped from shipping 294.5 million total phones to 268 million in the second quarter, but Apple’s shipments declined the least of any major smartphone maker, dropping from 46.5 million phones to 45.3 million, according to data from Counterpoint Research. “The truth of the matter is, we’re in a very down smartphone market,” said Bob O’Donnell, head of TECHnalysis Research.
O’Donnell said he will also be on the lookout for any hints about Apple’s plans with what is known as generative artificial intelligence, the technology trend behind applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s “Copilot” assistant technologies for its Office software.
Analysts have repeatedly prodded Apple about its plans for such technology but the company has given few hints so far, other than Chief Executive Tim Cook’s comments in July that the company’s secret work on the technology is driving up its research spending. “Will Apple tease an advanced form of Siri? That would be something that would generate some excitement,” O’Donnell said.
Source: Reuters -
Mark Zuckerberg launches WhatsApp Channels, Indian celebs join
Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg on September 13 launched WhatsApp Channels in India and 150 other countries. Taking to Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg shared a post and captioned it, “Today we’re starting to roll out WhatsApp Channels globally and adding thousands of new channels that people can follow in WhatsApp. You can find Channels in the new ‘Updates’ tab.”
WhatsApp Channels are a one-way broadcast tool and deliver a private way to receive updates from people and organizations that matter to you, right within WhatsApp.
Mark Zuckerberg, announced the news on his WhatsApp Channel, “Excited to introduce you all to WhatsApp Channels, a new private way for you to get updates from people and organizations you follow. I’m starting this channel to share Meta news and updates. Looking forward to connecting with you all around the world.” Launching the official Indian Cricket Team WhatsApp Channel, BCCI, said, “The Indian Cricket team is thrilled to partner with WhatsApp on the launch of Channels. We kick-off our partnership with WhatsApp with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 which is set to begin in October. We will leverage Channels to generate excitement and support as India gets ready to host the marquee event after a decade-long wait.” -
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio breaks US record for longest spaceflight
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio now holds the record for the longest US spaceflight. Rubio surpassed the US space endurance record of 355 days at the International Space Station. He arrived at the outpost last September with two Russians for a routine six months. But their stay was doubled after their Soyuz capsule developed a coolant leak while parked at the space station. The trio will return to Earth on Sept. 27 in a replacement capsule that was sent up empty for the ride home.
By then, Rubio will have spent 371 days in space, more than two weeks longer than Mark Vande Hei, the previous US record holder for a single spaceflight, Russia holds the world record of 437 days, set in the mid-1990s. “Your dedication is truly out of this world, Frank!” NASA chief Bill Nelson said via X, formerly known as Twitter. A replacement crew of two Russians and an American is set to launch to the station from Kazakhstan. -
Having too much protein? You may invite these health troubles
Protein is an important nutrient in our diet and its deficiency can lower your immunity, damage your hair and skin, loss of muscle mass and cause fatigue. However, too much of protein is as dangerous as too little of it. When you are adding a lot of protein to your diet but fail to balance it with other essential nutrients like carbs, vitamins, minerals, and fibre, you may be inviting a range of complications. High protein diets can cause dehydration and it’s important to add fibre and adequate water intake. Many people may experience digestive issues if the diet is high on protein but low on fibre. Also, people could lose a lot of calcium in their urine on a high protein diet.
While high-protein diets can have benefits, they also come with some potential disadvantage.
Kidney strain
Excessive protein intake may put extra strain on the kidneys, potentially leading to kidney problems in individuals with pre-existing kidney issues.
Dehydration
High-protein diets can increase water loss through urine, potentially leading to dehydration if you don’t increase your water intake.
Nutrient imbalance
Focusing too much on protein may lead to neglecting other essential nutrients like carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
Digestive issues
Some people may experience digestive discomfort, including constipation, when consuming very high levels of protein.
Bone health
Excessive protein intake can result in calcium loss through urine, potentially impacting bone health over time.
Potential for weight gain
Consuming too many calories, even from protein sources, can lead to weight gain, especially if you’re not mindful of overall calorie intake.
How much protein do you need?
Anywhere from 10% to 35% of your calories should come from protein. So if your needs are 2,000 calories, that’s 200–700 calories from protein, or 50–175 grams. The recommended dietary allowance to prevent deficiency for an average sedentary adult is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. For example, a person who weighs 165 pounds, or 75 kilograms, should consume 60 grams of protein per day.
Once you reach ages 40–50, sarcopenia, or losing muscle mass as you age, begins to set in. To prevent this and to maintain independence and quality of life, your protein needs increase to about 1–1.2 grams per kilogram or 75–90 grams per day for a 75-kilogram person.
People who exercise regularly also have higher needs, about 1.1–1.5 grams per kilogram. People who regularly lift weights, or are training for a running or cycling event need 1.2–1.7 grams per kilogram. Excessive protein intake would be more than 2 grams per kilogram of body weight each day. -
IISc scientists develop new approach to potentially detect and kill cancer cells
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a new approach to potentially detect and kill cancer cells, especially those which form a solid tumour mass.
They have created hybrid nanoparticles made of gold and copper sulphide, which can kill cancer cells using heat, and enable their detection using sound waves, according to a study published in ‘ACS Applied Nano Materials’.
Early detection and treatment are key in the battle against cancer, noted the Bengaluru-based IISc in a statement. Copper sulphide nanoparticles have previously received attention for their application in cancer diagnosis, while gold nanoparticles, which can be chemically modified to target cancer cells, have shown anti-cancer effects.
In the current study, the IISc team decided to combine these two into hybrid nanoparticles.
“These particles have photothermal, oxidative stress, and photoacoustic properties,” says Jaya Prakash, Assistant Professor at the Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, IISc, and one of the corresponding authors of the paper. PhD students Madhavi Tripathi and Swathi Padmanabhan are co-first authors.
When light is shone on these hybrid nanoparticles, they absorb the light and generate heat, which can kill cancer cells. These nanoparticles also produce singlet oxygen atoms that are toxic for the cells, the release pointed out. “We want both these mechanisms to kill the cancer cell,” Jaya Prakash explains. The researchers say the nanoparticles can also help diagnose certain cancers. Source: PTI -
Pig kidney works a record 2 months in donated body
Dozens of doctors and nurses silently lined the hospital hallway in tribute: For a history-making two months, a pig’s kidney worked normally inside the brain-dead man on the gurney rolling past them.
The dramatic experiment came to an end on Wednesday as surgeons at NYU Langone Health removed the pig kidney and returned the donated body of Maurice “Mo” Miller to his family for cremation.
It marked the longest a genetically modified pig kidney has ever functioned inside a human, albeit a deceased one.
And by pushing the boundaries of research with the dead, the scientists learned critical lessons they’re preparing to share with the Food and Drug Administration—in hopes of eventually testing pig kidneys in the living.
“It’s a combination of excitement and relief,” Dr. Robert Montgomery, the transplant surgeon who led the experiment, told The Associated Press.
“Two months is a lot to have a pig kidney in this good a condition. That gives you a lot of confidence” for next attempts.
Montgomery, himself a recipient of a heart transplant, sees animal-to-human transplants as crucial to ease the nation’s organ shortage. More than 100,000 people are on the national waiting list, most who need a kidney, and thousands will die waiting.
So-called xenotransplantation attempts have failed for decades — the human immune system immediately destroyed foreign animal tissue. What’s new: Trying pigs genetically modified so their organs are more humanlike.
Some short experiments in deceased bodies avoided an immediate immune attack but shed no light on a more common form of rejection that can take a month to form.
Last year, University of Maryland surgeons tried to save a dying man with a pig heart—but he survived only two months as the organ failed for reasons that aren’t completely clear. -
Chop To chic: Trendy hairstyles to upgrade your look
Staying updated with the changing fashion trends might not be everyone’s cup of tea but once in 6 months getting a trendy haircut can be. If you are someone who depends on hairstylists when you visit a salon then you have to look at this list of trendy hairstyles.
Edgy Tousled Lob Haircut
If you want a hairstyle that goes with your crazy mindset then get this edgy tousled lob haircut. It’s the longer version of the bob haircut but with layers that add volume to the hair. This hairstyle can be done in varied lengths such as neck, shoulders, or collarbone. You can choose as per your desire.
Wavy Cut With Curtain Bangs
If you are restricting yourself from getting a haircut because of age then go with a wavy haircut with curtain bangs. This trending haircut suits every age group of women. The bangs elongate your face and make your cheekbones more prominent. The shoulder length creates a statement look with every outfit you carry.
Long Brunette Shag
If you want to keep your long hair intact then you can consider going with this Brunette shag haircut with long side bangs. This low-maintenance hairstyle will add extra volume to your hair and look glamorous.
Collarbone Razored Bob Cut
This medium-long bob cut is for girls who want to slay all day long without putting effort into styling their hair. The curtain bangs are enough to make you look chic and classy.
Straight Blunt Haircut With Long Curtain Bangs
Women with straight hair can opt for this minimalistic haircut. The blunt cuts ensure it reflects the light clearly and feels smooth as silk. This is the classiest haircut you can opt for. Source: Her Zindagi -
Banana Burfi
Ingredients
5 banana, 100 gm sugar, 1/4 cup butter, 1 teaspoon pistachios, 1/4 cup milk powder, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon crushed lightly cashews, 50 gm ghee
Method
– To make this delicious Navratri special recipe, heat 1 tsp ghee in a pan over moderate flame. Add crushed pistachios and cashews to the pan. Lightly fry them till they turn golden in colour.
– Now take another heavy bottomed pan and heat it over medium flame. Add the remaining ghee and the bananas in it. Mix well. Add sugar and stir well. After a minute, add cocoa powder, milk powder and butter. Reduce the flame and gently stir till all ingredients are evenly combined.
– When the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan and the bananas are well mashed, remove and transfer to a greased plate. Allow it cool. Before the mixture hardens completely, cut it into desired shapes and garnish with cashewnuts and pistachios. -
From cosy to spacious: Ways to open up your living room
Your small living room doesn’t need to feel cramped and claustrophobic. With a few clever decorating tricks you can optimise every square inch to make your snug scheme feel open, airy and organised. Click or scroll through and take a look at these ingenious living room ideas that prove that small can feel stylish and spacious too.
Small box-like living rooms have plenty of right angles so put those corners to work by filling the void with attractive artwork and practical storage. Optimise wall space by adding low-level storage that frees up a backdrop above for mirrors, photos and paintings; keeping other surfaces free for other purposes.
Choose wall-mounted lights
Free up as much floor and surface space by choosing mounted wall lighting over floor lamps. And, don’t think the alternative choice will compromise the cosy atmosphere as most sconces are dimmable. This allows you to easily adjust the lighting according to the occasion or mood.
Follow a theme
Just because your living room is small doesn’t mean it can’t be on-trend. To avoid overcrowding choose only one or two elements that tell the story like this opulent tropical living room with monkey print curtains and palm tree motif cushions.
Make the look mid-century
Clean lines, minimal embellishment and practical use mean furniture from the 1940s era is practically made for tiny living. A compact sofa, wood-framed armchair and basket-style coffee table all fit into this small living room without it looking cluttered thanks to the right-angles and narrow leg design.
Hide clutter behind a screen
Make your space clutter-free and contemporary with one fell swoop by hiding mismatched but necessary objects behind a luxe screen. Guests would never know this refined yet inviting small living room is also used as a family playroom filled with toys or a home office space with hot desk once everything is safely concealed and out of sight.
Create a cosy nook
Make your small living room feel larger by creating a separate seating area for reading or quiet reflection. Turn a small armchair away from the rest of the living area perhaps towards a window, then add a small side table, table lamp and creature comforts.
Curate a display cabinet
Glass display cabinets will keep your small living room organised and orderly with accessories safe and dust-free inside. This metal olive coloured cabinet melts seamlessly into its the green backdrop and light reflects off the glazed doors to increase the sense of space.
Camouflage the TV
A large television can dominate small living rooms so think of genius ways to integrate the TV into your living room by blending it in with wall storage. The box-like design of these wall shelves echo the shape of the TV screen and so you have to look twice before you even notice it is there.
Carve out wall storage
Look for the stud wall in your small living room and hire a contractor to cut out custom-made shelves behind the sofa. The interesting alcoves make a great solution to creating flush storage without shelves protruding from walls at a hazardous level.
Source: Lovemoney -
Taylor Swift wins top honors at MTV’s Video Music Awards
Pop star Taylor Swift has tied the record for most wins in a single night at MTV Music Video Awards (VMAs). The other stars who attended the ceremony included band Tomorrow X Together and Selena Gomez.
Nicki Minaj also stole the spotlight at the awards nite.
The annual awards ceremony that celebrates artists and performance in the music industry was held on Tuesday.
Taylor Swift received the most nominations and wins at this year’s event. The pop star was the biggest winner at VMAs. She went into the night with most nominations and left with four wins for ‘Best Pop’, ‘Song of the year’, ‘Best direction’ and ‘Video of the year’.
Prior to September 12 show, Swift held 14 VMAs to her name, placing her closely behind Beyonce’s 16 and Maddona’s 20. She ended the broadcast with 18 total Moon Person’s trophies. “This is unbelievable. The fact that this is a fan-voted award means so much to me,” Swift said in her acceptance speech. -
Shahid Kapoor to reunite with Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Shahid Kapoor is riding high on his successful career. From Farzi to his recently released Bloody Daddy, he’s been garnering accolades for his acting chops in different projects. While he continues to make headlines for different reasons, here’s an interesting update about his professional life. If the latest reports are anything to go by, then Shahid is all set to reunite with his Padmaavat director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Yes, you heard that right!
The Kabir Singh actor has often spoken about not liking himself and being cornered in the multi-starrer film headlined by Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. It was just recently he spoke about his role of Maharawal Ratan Singh and revealed that at times he feels why did he do that film. Now years later, he’s all set to lead a SLB film. According to a latest media report, Shahid Kapoor and ace director Sanjay Leela Bhansali are likely to team up once again for a project which is expected to be a full on masala entertainer. A source close to the development revealed to Pinkvilla, “Shahid and SLB have mutual respect for each other and are discussing the idea of collaborating on a special project. It’s an out and out masala entertainer, and the script has been completely developed by Bhansali’s team of writers. The filmmaker has been actively working towards casting the film over the last few months, and is having detailed conversations with Shahid on the permutation and combinations with regards to film.
The source further reveals, “It’s in very early stages of discussion at the moment and there is no director associated to the script. Once Shahid agrees in principle on the script, Bhansali will scout for a director, as he wishes to get a top director on board the project. It’s a very commercial script, on the lines of two other films produced by SLB, Rowdy Rathore and Gabbar Is Back. SLB and team are hopeful on Shahid to come on board the film.”
Point to be noted is that Sanjay Leela Bhansali is likely to get a top director on-board to helm the film and the actor is yet to give his nod to the film.
Well, there’s no official confirmation on the same. We shall wait for the makers to make an official announcement soon. -
Joe Jonas was ‘sensitive’ about Sophie Turner months before divorce
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner officially announced their separation on Instagram a few days ago. Now a source has told Page Six that Joe was ‘very sensitive’ whenever he was asked anything related to Sophie in the past few months. The singer broke his silence on the media speculation surrounding his divorce and thanked fans for support at the LA concert.
In a report by Page Six, a source said that Joe was ‘incredibly checked out and detached’ in the past few months whenever the topic of Sophie came up. The source further added, “Joe seemed very sensitive, almost touchy, when asked anything about his wife or family-related, so I’m guessing things were on the rocks with them before that.”
Earlier at their Los Angeles concert at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night, Joe said, “It’s been a crazy week. I just wanna say, look – if you don’t hear it from these lips, don’t believe it. OK? Thank you everyone for your love and support. Me and my family love you guys.” There were several media reports that came up which said that Joe was not supportive when Sophie was struggling through the birth of their second child.
Their official statement came as a shock to many fans. It read, “Statement from the two of us: After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage. There are many speculative narratives as to why but, truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children.”
Joe and Sophie tied the knot in 2019 after nearly three years of dating. The couple welcomed their daughter Willa in 2020, and had another daughter in 2022. The name of their second child hasn’t been made public.
According the divorce settlements, Joe is seeking joint custody of the girls. The documents stated, “It is in the best interests of the minor children that the parties have shared parental responsibility. A parenting plan should be established, which addresses all parenting issues and contains a timesharing schedule providing for frequent and continuing contact with both parties.” Source: HT -
Parineeti promotes ‘Mission Raniganj’
Akshay Kumar recently released the teaser of his upcoming film, ‘Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue.’ The movie which will be released in theatres on October 6, is inspired by a real-life incident at Raniganj Coalfield and from the heroic act of Late Shri Jaswant Singh Gill who led Bharat’s coal mine rescue mission.
Akshay Kumar has reunited with ‘Kesari’ co-star Parineeti Chopra for ‘Mission Raniganj.’ On September 13, the two stars were clicked at the Pooja Entertainment office in Juhu. They were clicked while promoting the film. As per various reports, they present for the special screening of ‘Mission Raniganj.’
Parineeti Chopra who is all set to tie the knot with AAP MP Raghav Chadha soon, was clicked wearing a black kurta with golden embroidery and white pants. Akshay Kumar on the other hand, was spotted donning a black shirt with cargo pants.
The two stars are busy promoting the film before Parineeti Chopra leaves for Udaipur for her wedding festivities with Raghav Chadha. IndiaToday exclusively learned the details of Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha’s wedding. The couple will be getting married on September 24. -
Chris Evans ties the knot to Alba Baptista in an intimate Massachusetts ceremony
Hollywood star Chris Evans is married. The actor, 42, wed Alba Baptista during a ceremony at a private estate in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Many of the couple’s famous friends were spotted in nearby Boston for the wedding, including Evans’ Marvel costars Robert Downey Jr and his wife Susan Downey, Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky, Jeremy Renner, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt.
Page Six was first to report the news. Hemsworth, Downey, their wives and Renner were photographed dining and chatting at the Contessa restaurant in the five-star Newbury Boston hotel.
As per People, Krasinski and Blunt were seen returning from the festivities soon after midnight. A source said: “They were very happy, joking and smiling.”
Evans and the Portuguese actress, 26, had been dating “for over a year and it’s serious”, People earlier reported.
A source added at the time: “They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her.” Baptista — who speaks five languages and is the daughter of an engineer and a translator — starred in 2022’s ‘Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris’ and is also known for her role on Netflix’s ‘Warrior Nun’. In 2018, she did an extensive amount of humanitarian work at an orphanage in Cambodia, focusing on education. She also won the Shooting Star award at the Berlin Film Festival in 2021.
Earlier this year, on Valentine’s Day, Evans shared a photo montage of himself and his then-girlfriend in honour of the annual holiday. The ‘Captain America’ star included shots of the couple hiking and travelling together and hanging out with his dog Dodger.
Source: IANS -
SRK’s ‘Jawan’ continues its dream run at global box office, crosses Rs 600 cr mark
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s action thriller “Jawan” has gone past Rs 600 crore mark at the worldwide box office, the makers said on September 13. Directed by Tamil filmmaker Atlee, the pan-India film also stars Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi as well as Deepika Padukone in a special appearance. It hit the screens worldwide on September 7 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
“‘Jawan’ becomes the first film to collect Rs 300 crore in six days, making it the fastest film to cross this milestone! Collects Rs 621.12 crore globally,” a note from the makers stated.
“In the Hindi market, ‘Jawan’ collected Rs 24 crore nett, and with other languages included, the film’s sixth-day earnings totalled Rs 26.52 crore. This brings ‘Jawan’s’ Hindi total to Rs 306.58 crore nett. When you consider the combined earnings of Hindi and other languages in India, the six-day total stands at Rs 345.60 crore,” it added.
“Jawan”, a father-son story at its core, highlights various social and political issues through its hero, essayed by Shah Rukh. The film also stars Sanya Malhotra, Priyamani, Girija Oak, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Lehar Khan, Aaliyah Qureshi, Ridhi Dogra, Sunil Grover and Mukesh Chhabra as well as Sanjay Dutt in a cameo appearance.
A Red Chillies Entertainment presentation, “Jawan” is produced by Gauri Khan and co-produced by Gaurav Verma. Source: PTI -
Janmashtami celebrated with great joy and devotion at BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, Robbinsville, NJ, USA
The young perform a captivating traditional dance at the “Festival of Inspirations”. ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (TIP): With great devotion, the Hindu community came together to celebrate Janmashtami, honoring the birth of Bhagwan Shri Krishna, on September 7, 2023. This auspicious event took place amidst the three-month-long ‘Festival of Inspirations’, marking the inauguration of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, a beacon of ancient Hindu values set against the backdrop of the contemporary world, which stands as an inspiration of ancient Hindu values.
The program consisted of incidents capturing Bhagwan Shri Krishna’s life, enriched with profound wisdom, playful innocence, and divine deeds, enlightened attendees, guiding them through His revered teachings.
The evening was graced with profound spiritual discourses. Pujya Shrutiprakashdas Swami delved into the Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, highlighting the transformative power of seeking refuge in God. Drawing parallels from the epic Mahabharat, he emphasized the unwavering protection bestowed by God upon those who surrender to Him, emphasizing the importance of trust in divine wisdom during moral dilemmas.
Renowned scholar, Mahāmahōpādhyāya Pujya Bhadreshdas Swami cited another verse from the Shrimad Bhagvad Gita – Esha Brahmi Sthiti in contemplation of how transcendence of material desires, embracing equanimity and aligning oneself with Aksharbraman, results in the attainment of brahmi stiti, the state of utmost equilibrium and oneness with God. Using the analogy of the ocean’s calm surface amidst the deep, tumultuous waters, he imparted the significance of achieving inner peace and balance, citing His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj as a living testament.
Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami, referencing the Vachnamrut, shed light on the unparalleled devotion the gopis held for Bhagwan Shri Krishna, illustrating how Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teachings can be incorporated into our daily lives. illustrated the deep affection and devotion that the gopis, female devotees of Bhagwan Shri Krishna, had for him. He spoke on how we can all imbibe lessons from these incidents to strengthen our devotion to God.The epic tale of the Mahabharat was dramatically re-enacted, emphasizing Arjun’s choice of Bhagwan Shri Krishna’s divine strength over sheer military might, symbolizing that true victory lies in unwavering faith in God. Following a dance depicting Bhagwan Shri Krishna’s childhood story, the celebration concluded with various Janmashtami traditions. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj swinging a beautifully adorned hindolo, with the murtis of Bhagwan Shri Krishna. The night was crowned with devotional songs celebrating Bhagwan Shri Krishna’s boundless love and compassion. Finally, youths formed a human pyramid recreating Bhagwan Krishna’s playful act of breaking pots to get butter in his childhood.
The event welcomed esteemed guests, including New Jersey Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo, who expressed heartfelt appreciation for the warmth and outreach of the community. Dr. Hari Eppanapally of Elysium Ventures and Andrew Dinsmore from U.S. Senator Chris Coons’ office in Delaware were also honored at the celebration. -
IRS orders immediate stop to new Employee Retention Credit processing amid surge of questionable claims
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): To protect taxpayers from scams, IRS orders immediate stop to new Employee Retention Credit processing amid surge of questionable claims; concerns from tax pros, aggressive marketing to ineligible applicants highlights unacceptable risk to businesses and the tax system
Moratorium on processing of new claims through year’s end will allow IRS to add more safeguards to prevent future abuse, protect businesses from predatory tactics; IRS working with Justice Department to pursue fraud fueled by aggressive marketing
WASHINGTON – Amid rising concerns about a flood of improper Employee Retention Credit claims, the Internal Revenue Service today announced an immediate moratorium through at least the end of the year on processing new claims for the pandemic-era relief program to protect honest small business owners from scams.
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel ordered the immediate moratorium, beginning today, to run through at least Dec. 31 following growing concerns inside the tax agency, from tax professionals as well as media reports that a substantial share of new claims from the aging program are ineligible and increasingly putting businesses at financial risk by being pressured and scammed by aggressive promoters and marketing.
The IRS continues to work previously filed Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims received prior to the moratorium but renewed a reminder that increased fraud concerns means processing times will be longer. On July 26, the agency announced it was increasingly shifting its focus to review these claims for compliance concerns, including intensifying audit work and criminal investigations on promoters and businesses filing dubious claims. The IRS announced today that hundreds of criminal cases are being worked, and thousands of ERC claims have been referred for audit.
The IRS emphasizes that payouts for these claims will continue during the moratorium period but at a slower pace due to the detailed compliance reviews. With the stricter compliance reviews in place during this period, existing ERC claims will go from a standard processing goal of 90 days to 180 days – and much longer if the claim faces further review or audit. The IRS may also seek additional documentation from the taxpayer to ensure it is a legitimate claim. This enhanced compliance review of existing claims submitted before the moratorium is critical to protect against fraud but also to protect the businesses from facing penalties or interest payments stemming from bad claims pushed by promoters, Werfel said.
“The IRS is increasingly alarmed about honest small business owners being scammed by unscrupulous actors, and we could no longer tolerate growing evidence of questionable claims pouring in,” Werfel said. “The further we get from the pandemic, the further we see the good intentions of this important program abused. The continued aggressive marketing of these schemes is harming well-meaning businesses and delaying the payment of legitimate claims, which makes it harder to run the rest of the tax system. This harms all taxpayers, not just ERC applicants.”
“For those people being pressured by promoters to apply for the Employee Retention Credit, I urge them to immediately pause and review their situation while we look to add new protections and safeguards to stop bad claims from ever coming in,” Werfel said. “In the meantime, businesses should seek out a trusted tax professional who actually understands the complex ERC rules, not a promoter or marketer hustling to get a hefty contingency fee. Businesses that receive ERC payments improperly face the daunting prospect of paying those back, so we urge the utmost caution. The moratorium will help protect taxpayers by adding a new safety net onto this program to focus on fraudulent claims and scammers taking advantage of honest taxpayers.”
Taxpayers are encouraged to review IRS guidance and tools for helping determine ERC eligibility, including frequently asked questions and a new question and answer guide released today to help businesses understand if they are actually eligible for the credit.
The IRS is developing new initiatives to help businesses who found themselves victims of aggressive promoters. This includes a settlement program for repayments for those who received an improper ERC payment; more details will be available this fall.
In addition, the IRS is finalizing details that will be available soon for a special withdrawal option for those who have filed an ERC claim but the claim has not been processed. This option – which can be used by taxpayers whose claim hasn’t yet been paid– will allow the taxpayers, many of them small businesses who were misled by promoters, to avoid possible repayment issues and paying promoters contingency fees. Filers of these more than 600,000 claims awaiting processing will have this option available. Those who have willfully filed fraudulent claims or conspired to do so should be aware, however, that withdrawing a fraudulent claim will not exempt them from potential criminal investigation and prosecution.
As part of the wider compliance effort, the IRS is working with the Justice Department to address fraud in the ERC program as well as promoters who have been ignoring the rules and pushing businesses to apply.
The IRS has trained auditors examining ERC claims posing the greatest risk, and the IRS Criminal Investigation division is actively working to identify fraud and promoters of fraudulent claims for potential referral for prosecution to the Justice Department.
IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigates a variety of COVID fraud allegations ranging from fraudulently obtained employee refund tax credits to falsified Paycheck Protection Program loans. To date, IRS-CI has uncovered suspected pandemic fraud totaling more than $8 billion. As of July 31, 2023, IRS-CI has initiated 252 investigations involving over $2.8 billion of potentially fraudulent Employee Retention Credit claims. Of those, fifteen of the 252 investigations have resulted in federal charges. Of the 15 federally charged cases, so far six matters have resulted in convictions, four of those cases have reached the sentencing phase with the average sentence being 21 months. Criminal Investigation’s work is in addition to ERC audits that have started. The IRS has already referred thousands of ERC cases for audit.
ERC: A complex credit designed to help during the pandemic; taxpayer risk growing amid aggressive marketing and potential to have to repay improper claims
When properly claimed, the ERC – also referred to as the Employee Retention Tax Credit or ERTC — is a refundable tax credit designed for businesses that continued paying employees during the COVID-19 pandemic while their business operations were fully or partially suspended due to a government order or they had a significant decline in gross receipts during the eligibility periods. The credit is not available to individuals.
The ERC is a complex claim with precise requirements to help businesses during the pandemic, and the IRS has received approximately 3.6 million of these claims over the course of the program.
“As we move nearly two years beyond the 2021 eligibility date for the program and beyond the end of the pandemic, the reality that we’re seeing and hearing from tax professionals and others is that many of the affected businesses have already come in,” Werfel said. “This means we must increase our safeguards to protect against fraud and revenue loss.”
Although promoters advertise that ERC submissions are “risk free,” there are significant risks facing businesses as the IRS increases its audit and criminal investigation work.
The IRS reminds anyone who improperly claims the ERC that they must pay it back, possibly with penalties and interest. A business or tax-exempt group could find itself in a much worse financial position if it has to pay back the credit than if the credit was never claimed in the first place. This underscores the importance of taxpayers taking precautionary steps to independently verify their eligibility to receive the credit before applying through a promoter. Taxpayers should take particular precautions because a promoter can collect a contingency fee of up to 25% of the ERC refund. Advice for taxpayers: What to do as IRS works to help businesses facing questionable ERC claims.
As the IRS continues working additional details on ERC, there are several steps that the agency recommends for businesses, depending on where they are in the process:
• For those currently awaiting an ERC claim. For those who currently have an ERC claim on file, the IRS will continue processing these claims during the moratorium period but at a greatly reduced speed due to the complex nature of these filings and the need to protect businesses from being improperly paid. Normal processing times could easily stretch to 180 days or longer. The IRS cautions that many applications will be facing additional compliance scrutiny, which means the payments could take even longer to be processed. While the IRS works on compliance measures during this period, the agency cautions businesses to expect extended wait times due to the large volume of claims and the complexity of the applications.
Due to the large volumes and the need for compliance checks to protect against fraud, the IRS is unable to expedite individual claims. The IRS believes many of the applications currently filed are likely ineligible, and tax professionals note anecdotally that they are seeing instances where 95 percent or more of claims coming in recent months are ineligible as promoters continue to aggressively push people to apply regardless of the rules.
For those currently with a pending application at the IRS, they should review the options below to see if any of those could help with their current situation.
• For those who haven’t filed a claim yet, consider reviewing the guidelines and waiting to file: For those considering filing a claim, the IRS urges businesses to carefully review the ERC guidelines during the processing moratorium period. The IRS urges businesses to talk to a trusted tax professional – not a tax promoter or marketing firm looking to make money generating applications that takes a big chunk out of the ERC claim. The new question and answer guide can also help. A careful review of the rules will show that many of these businesses do not qualify for the ERC, and avoiding a bad claim will avoid complications with the IRS.
• Withdraw an existing claim for businesses that have already filed: For those who have filed and have a pending claim, they should carefully review the program guidelines with a trusted tax professional and check the new question and answer guide. For example, the IRS is seeing repeated instances of people improperly citing supply chain issues as a basis for an ERC claim when a business with those issues will very rarely meet the eligibility criteria. Under any scenario, if a business claimed the ERC earlier and the claim has not been processed or paid by the IRS, they can withdraw the claim if they now believe it was submitted improperly – even if their case is already under audit or awaiting audit. More details will be available shortly.
• Wait for the IRS ERC settlement program to be finalized: If a business has already received an ERC that they now believe is in error, the IRS will be providing additional details on the settlement program in the fall that will allow businesses to repay ERC claims. The settlement program will allow the businesses to avoid penalties and future compliance action. The IRS is continuing to assess options on how to deal with businesses that had a promoter contingency fee paid for out of the ERC payment.
Warning flags to watch out for; help for properly claiming the ERC
The IRS has a list of red flags to watch out for aggressive marketing and questionable ERC claims.
The ERC is an incredibly complex credit, and there are very specific eligibility requirements for claiming the ERC. Employers can claim the ERC on an original or amended employment tax return for qualified wages paid between March 13, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021. However, to be eligible, employers must have:
Sustained a full or partial suspension of operations due to orders from an appropriate governmental authority limiting commerce, travel or group meetings because of COVID-19 during 2020 or the first three quarters of 2021,
Experienced a significant decline in gross receipts during 2020 or a decline in gross receipts during the first three quarters of 2021, or
Qualified as a recovery startup business for the third or fourth quarters of 2021.
More information is available on IRS.gov/erc. -
AAPI’s 17th Annual Global Healthcare Summit 2023 In New Delhi & Manipal
CHICAGO, IL (TIP): “The registration for AAPI’s 17th annual Global Healthcare Summit 2024 at the prestigious Taj Palace Hotel from January 1-3rd and at the Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Mahe in Karnataka from January 4th to 6th, 2023 is filling up fast,” Dr. Anjana Samadder, President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) announced here today.
While elaborating on the themes and areas that are going to be covered during the Summit, Dr. Sampat Shivangi, Chair of GHS 2024 said, “Future of Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence” will be the theme for the GHS 2024, which is organized by AAPI in collaboration with Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, the Indian Medical Association, and the Government of the State of Karnataka.”
Several prominent physicians and academicians have been invited and have been accepted to be the keynote speakers and chairs of various academic sessions planned and organized during the summit. Latest Advances, CME, ELS, Discussions on Research Methodology, and Scientific Writing by Academic Experts will be part of the summit.
Dr. Lokesh Edara, Chair of AAPI BOT said, “AAPI’s GHS is yet another way of continuing with our constant commitment towards making quality healthcare affordable and accessible to all the people of India. In addition, GHS 2024 will also focus on promoting Healthcare Technology including Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare.”
The focus this year will be on Mental Health, Infant and Maternal Mortality as well as Medical Jeopardy and Research Poster presentations by medical students. In addition, there will be panel discussions by International Medical Education experts and National Medical Council Board officials and mentoring of Young Professionals.
Advocacy to dismantle the stigma of mental illness and Suicide Prevention will be the highlight of the program. Chronic Disease Reversal and Prevention, Rural Health Initiatives will continue to be promoted and other Global Health Issues including Climate Change and its impact on health will be discussed.
The CEO forum will focus on Equity, Ethics, and Physician Burnout issues. The Women’s Forum will deliberate on Gender Bias and Leadership. Dr. Manoj Jain, Chair of CETI – Collaboration to Eliminate TB in India supported by CDC and USAID will discuss their ongoing long-term TB Elimination Projects in India. Comprehensive details and outcomes of TB Elimination Projects in India will be presented to the GHS delegates.
Other activities will include CPR Training for Police personnel; a Walkathon on combating mental health stigma and prevention of Childhood Obesity and several other initiatives will be announced, including treatment modalities for non-communicable medical diseases.
Dr. Anupam Seibel, GHS Chair – New Delhi says, “With hundreds of physicians from the United States, the Summit is expected to be attended by nearly 400 delegates from around the world. AAPI Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) will have many new initiatives and also will be carrying the torch of ongoing projects undertaken by AAPI’s past leaders.”
Lt. Gen. Dr. M.D. Venkatesh, Co-Chair of GHS – India says, “Many of the physicians who will attend this convention have excelled in different specialties and subspecialties and occupy high positions as faculty members of medical schools, heads of departments, and executives of hospitals and pharma companies.“AAPI GHS offers an opportunity to meet directly with these physicians who are leaders in their fields and play an integral part in the decision-making process regarding new products and services,” Dr. Satheesh Kathula, President-Elect of AAPI said.
According to GHS Convenor – USA, Dr. Subramanya Bhatt, “The preliminary program is in place, the major attractions include cutting-edge CMEs with renowned speakers, CEO Forum, Innovation Forum, an Entrepreneur Forum, Women’s Forum, and Product Theaters to highlight the newest advances in patient care and medical technology.”
“Alumni meetings for networking, an AAPI-India Strategic Engagement Forum to showcase the AAPI initiatives in India, TB Eradication in India, and recognition of AAPI Award winners will make this Summit unique,” added Dr. Rohit Singh, GHS Convenor – India. According to CME Chair – USA Dr. Banbwal Suresh Balinga and CME Chair -India, Dr. Dr. Padmaraj Hegde, while the focus of GHS 2024 will be on Mental health, Infant and Maternal Mortality, Medical Jeopardy, and Research Poster presentations by medical students with panel discussions by International Medical Education experts and National Medical Council Board officials will help mentoring of young professionals.
GHS Scientific Chair Dr. Rajendran Alappan said, “In our efforts to realize the core mission of AAPI, which is to share the best from leading experts from around the world, to collaborate on clinical challenges, the GHS in Delhi and Manipal will have clinical tracks that are of vital to healthcare in India.”
Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, Vice President of AAPI, says, “It is these learning opportunities and collaborative relationships that have now enabled AAPI and participating organizations to plan and prepare for an outstanding event that is expected to have over 300 prominent and experienced physicians and surgeons of Indian origin from around the world, who are very passionate about serving their homeland, Mother India.”
Dr. Sumul Raval, Secretary of AAPI says, “GHS 2024 is aimed at exploring possibilities for greater collaboration and cooperation between the physicians and health care providers in India with those of Indian origin and major health-care providers abroad.” Dr. Sreeni Gangasani, Treasurer of AAPI, “Harnessing the power of Indian Doctors worldwide, the AAPI Global Healthcare Summit platform has evolved with the support of prominent global and Indian medical associations . AAPI’s mission is to make a positive and meaningful impact on the healthcare delivery system both in the US and in India.”
Healthcare in India is one of the largest sectors, in terms of revenue and employment. India is making significant improvements in its healthcare infrastructure and is building modern medical facilities throughout India. Doctors of Indian origin have made tremendous progress in the 21st century and India is now being touted as a medical tourism hub. With hundreds of physicians joining from the United States, the summit is expected to be attended by three hundred delegates from around the world. AAPI Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) will have many new initiatives and will be carrying the torch of ongoing projects undertaken by AAPI’s past leaders. Dr. Sampath Shivangi said, “We are collaborating with senior leaders from leading healthcare organizations including pharmaceuticals, device and medical equipment manufacturers and major medical teaching institutions, hospitals and the Ministries of Health, External/Overseas Affairs and regulatory bodies to attend and coordinate with AAPI with an ultimate goal to providing accessible and affordable high-quality healthcare to all people of India.”
The Global Healthcare Summit has come a long way from the first Indo-US Healthcare Summit launched by AAPI USA in 2007. Since then, AAPI has organized 16 Indo – US/Global Healthcare Summits and developed strategic alliances with various organizations. Dr. Samadder said, AAPI is hopeful that several international healthcare industry partners are looking for opportunities to participate at this event for greater collaboration on Research & Development and philanthropic engagements.
Dr. Samadder expressed gratitude to all the Chairs and members of various Committees who are working hard to put together a great Summit and to enable members to return home with memories that will last a lifetime.
“Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country and internationally will meet and participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, to develop health policy agendas, and to encourage legislative priorities in the coming year. We look forward to seeing you in New Delhi and Manipal!” said Dr. Samadder. For more details, please visit: www.aapiusa.org/ To register for the Global Healthcare Summit 2023, please visit: https://summit.aapiusa.org
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Washington
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, will visit Washington next week following his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, according to three U.S. officials, says a Washington Post report. Mr. Zelensky’s plan to appear in person before the General Assembly on Wednesday, as part of the U.N.’s annual gathering in New York City, was previously known. But his follow-on trip to Washington — where he is expected to meet with President Biden at the White House and members of Congress on Capitol Hill — has not yet been announced officially. It comes as the Biden administration works to shore up support in Congress for an additional $24 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine amid a grinding Ukrainian counteroffensive that has so far yielded disappointing results. Mr. Zelensky insists that Ukraine can still make major gains.
Mr. Zelensky last visited Washington in December, where he addressed Congress and urged the continued supply of American weapons for his country’s battle against Russia, which is about to enter its 19th month. Since then, anxiety has grown among Ukraine’s supporters as they have watched a decline in U.S. public support for continuing aid to the country.
Mr. Zelensky is not expected to make a formal public speech to Congress this time but is expected to hold meetings at the Capitol, including with congressional leaders, according to aides familiar with the plans. Although most lawmakers still support aid for Ukraine, a growing chorus of right-wing Republicans, most of them in the House, has been trying to curtail assistance, and even threatening to block measures to fund the federal government if they include what they call a “blank check” for Ukraine.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who faces a rebellious far-right flank of his party that could cost him his job, has appeared to wobble under the pressure not to replenish the funds, despite previously saying that he backed continued aid for Ukraine. He is considering pushing ahead with a supplemental funding bill that would focus exclusively on domestic matters such as emergency disaster assistance and border security, putting additional funding for Ukraine at risk. The Biden administration has remained resolute. During a visit to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, last week, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken vowed that the United States would continue to support Ukraine.
Mr. Zelensky’s planned visits come amid reports that the Biden administration may be nearing a decision on sending Ukraine long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems known as ATACMS, which Ukrainian officials say they need to make major advances against Russia. Ukrainian officials have said in recent weeks that they are hopeful that Mr. Biden will approve the weapons.
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Employee Retention Credit: IRS reminds businesses to watch out for warning signs of aggressive promotion that can mislead people into making improper ERC claims
WASHINGTON , D.C. (TIP): The Internal Revenue Service continues to warn businesses to watch out for aggressive marketing by nefarious actors involving the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and urged people to watch out for red flags that can signal trouble. The credit, also called the Employee Retention Tax Credit or ERTC, is a legitimate pandemic-era tax credit but as time passes the credit has been increasingly the target of aggressive marketing to businesses that may not qualify for the credit.
Although promoters advertise that ERC submissions are “risk free,” there are actually huge risks facing businesses as the IRS increases its audit and criminal investigation work. Hundreds of criminal cases are being worked, and thousands of ERC claims have been referred for audit.
The IRS reminds anyone who improperly claims the ERC that they must pay it back, possibly with penalties and interest. A business or tax-exempt group could find itself in a much worse cash position if it has to pay back the credit than if the credit was never claimed in the first place. This underscores the importance of taxpayers taking precautionary steps and avoiding being pushed by a promoter, including instances where a promoter can collect contingency fees as much as 25%.
Properly claiming the ERC
There are very specific eligibility requirements for claiming the ERC. Employers can claim the ERC on an original or amended employment tax return for qualified wages paid between March 13, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021. However, to be eligible, employers must have:Sustained a full or partial suspension of operations due to orders from an appropriate governmental authority limiting commerce, travel or group meetings because of COVID-19 during 2020 or the first three quarters of 2021,
Experienced a significant decline in gross receipts during 2020 or a decline in gross receipts during the first three quarters of 2021, or
Qualified as a recovery startup business for the third or fourth quarters of 2021.
Warning signs of aggressive ERC marketing
The IRS sees wildly aggressive suggestions from marketers urging businesses to submit the claim because there is nothing to lose. In reality, those improperly receiving the credit could have to repay the credit – along with substantial interest and penalties.Warning signs to avoid include:
Unsolicited calls or advertisements mentioning an “easy application process.”
Statements that the promoter or company can determine ERC eligibility within minutes.
Large upfront fees to claim the credit.
Fees based on a percentage of the refund amount of Employee Retention Credit claimed. This is a similar warning sign for average taxpayers, who should always avoid a tax preparer basing their fee on the size of the refund.
• Preparers seeking anonymity by refusing to sign the ERC return being filed by the business as well as supplying their identifying information and a tax identification number. Similar to “ghost preparers,” this limits the risk to just the taxpayer claiming the credit.
• Aggressive claims from the promoter that the business receiving the solicitation qualifies before any discussion of the group’s tax situation. In reality, the Employee Retention Credit is a complex credit that requires careful review before applying.
Unscrupulous promoters may lie about eligibility requirements, including refusing to provide detailed documents supporting their computations of the ERC. In addition, those using these companies could be at risk of someone using the credit as a ploy to steal the taxpayer’s identity or take a cut of the taxpayer’s improperly claimed credit.How the promoters lure victims
The IRS continues to see a variety of ways that promoters can lure businesses, tax-exempt groups and others into applying for the credit. Aggressive marketing. This can be seen in countless places, including radio, television, social media, online as well as phone calls and text messages.
Direct mailing. Some ERC mills are sending out fake letters to taxpayers from the non-existent groups like the “Department of Employee Retention Credit.” These letters can be made to look like official IRS correspondence or an official government mailing with language urging immediate action. Some solicitations even make it look like it’s coming from the bank the business uses.
Leaving out key details. Third-party promoters of the ERC often don’t accurately explain eligibility requirements or how the credit is computed, and they do not share their workpapers with the businesses claiming the credit. They may make broad arguments suggesting that all employers are eligible without evaluating an employer’s individual circumstances. For example, only recovery startup businesses are eligible for the ERC in the fourth quarter of 2021, but promoters fail to explain this limit.
Also, the promoters may not inform taxpayers that they need to reduce wage deductions claimed on their business’ federal income tax return by the amount of the Employee Retention Credit. This causes a domino effect of tax problems for the business. Paycheck Protection Program participation. In addition, many of these promoters don’t tell employers that they can’t claim the ERC on wages that were reported as payroll costs to obtain Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness.
Mistaken supply chain arguments. Contrary to advice given by unscrupulous preparers, IRS legal guidance in July makes clear that supply chain disruptions do not qualify an employer for the credit unless they are due to a government order. Employers that experienced supply chain disruptions qualify for ERC only if they had to suspend their business operations because their suppliers were unable to provide critical goods or materials due to a government order that caused the supplier to suspend its operations.
How businesses and others can protect themselvesThe IRS reminds businesses, tax-exempt groups and others being approached by these promoters that there are simple steps that can be taken to protect themselves from making an improper Employee Retention Credit.
Work with a trusted tax professional. Eligible employers who need help claiming the credit should work with a trusted tax professional; the IRS urges people not to rely on the advice of those soliciting these credits. Promoters who are marketing this ultimately have a vested interest in making money; in many cases they are not looking out for the best interests of those applying.
Request a detailed worksheet explaining ERC eligibility and the computations used to determine the ERC amount.
Don’t apply unless you believe you are legitimately qualified for this credit. Details about the credit are available on IRS.gov, and again a trusted tax professional – not someone promoting the credit – can provide critical professional advice on the ERC.
To report ERC abuse, submit Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers.People should mail or fax a completed Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers, and any supporting materials to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.
Mail:
Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center
Stop MS5040
24000 Avila Road
Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405
Fax: 877-477-9135 -
Indian American community supports Sadhvi Ritambhara Devi ji’s ‘Vatsalyagram’ project
Organizer Dr Urmilesh Arya addressing the gathering HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): Indian American community members got together for an annual fund raiser Satsang event organized to support Sadhvi Ritambhara Devi ji’s ‘Vatsalyagram’ at Asa Mai temple in Hicksville, Long Island on Saturday. Didimaa ( as she is lovingly known to her followers ) could not attend due to a last minute illness, and sent her main disciple Sadhvi Sattyapriya Didi to address her followers.
The ‘Jyoti’ or ‘flame of selfless service’ also gets reignited in the compassionate hearts by Sadhvi Ritambhara Devi ji through her words and deeds. Vatsalyagram in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh is the only one-of-a-kind community project in the whole world that brings together abandoned / orphan children. Destitute women and widows who are otherwise not biologically related raise them as families in a community environment.
Mohan Wanchoo shared details about this project to start off the evening with a short video. Dr Urmilesh Arya moderated the evening filled with an inspiring speech, Many members in the audience praised the concept of Sadhvi Ritambhara Devi ji. It has also found a mention in the ‘Golden Book of World Records’.
Sadhvi Sattyapriya ji inspired and enlightened everyone with her address. She made a distinction between information and knowledge and emphasized the importance of thirst for knowledge. Sadhvi Ritambhara Devi ji’s love for Bharat, that reverential feeling for the mother land was also coming across in the expressions of her main disciple, Sadhvi Sattyapriya ji. The key idea of not restricting one’s evolution to sensual pleasures and seeking the ultimate gift available for human beings and practicing human values was conveyed by her with the example of family structure created at ‘Vatsalyagram’. Sadhvi ji also talked about the importance of Guru’s grace in a seeker’s spiritual growth. Devotees enjoyed melodious devotional and patriotic songs and the Mahaprasad at the end of the program.
(Press release)
Sadhavi Sattyapriya Didi enthralled the audience with her discourse. 
A view of the gathering.