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YouTube sermons and prayers at home: Muslims prepare for 'a very different Ramadan'

The coronavirus pandemic has forced significant changes to how Australia's Muslim community observe the holy month of Ramadan.




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Ruby Princess preparing to leave as passengers promised full refund

The plans for the ship's departure come as Carnival Australia confirmed on Monday it would offer a full refund to guests on the cruise that returned to Sydney on March 19.




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Military leaders warn we must prepare for a crisis worse than COVID-19

A confidential report commissioned by the Department of Defence predicted medical shortages, panic-buying and mass job losses a year before the COVID-19 outbreak.



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Shutdown costing economy $4 billion a week as Cabinet prepares to assess restrictions

Josh Frydenberg will tell the National Press Club he is happy a discussion about lifting coronavirus restrictions is taking place earlier than first planned as new analysis says the Australian economy is losing $4 billion a week.




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YouTube sermons and prayers at home: Muslims prepare for 'a very different Ramadan'

The coronavirus pandemic has forced significant changes to how Australia's Muslim community observe the holy month of Ramadan.




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Ruby Princess preparing to leave as passengers promised full refund

The plans for the ship's departure come as Carnival Australia confirmed on Monday it would offer a full refund to guests on the cruise that returned to Sydney on March 19.




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Girls prepare for Miss World finals

AUSTRALIAN critters have been a hot topic of conversation among Miss World contestants as they prepare for the final in the US on Monday.




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AOC preparing for Tokyo Olympics to go ahead as planned

The Australian Olympic Committee is preparing for the Olympic Games to go ahead as planned on July 14 despite the coronavirus threat, saying the International Olympic Committee is not living in an "Olympic bubble".




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Tour de France teams preparing for August start as coronavirus delays race

Cycling's most famous event may still go ahead this year, despite the French Government banning mass gatherings in the country until at least the middle of July.




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Hospitals prepare for wave of mental health disorders among their workers

As many as 20% to 25% of healthcare workers in hard-hit areas, experts say, are likely to develop disorders such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress.




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FDA AMENDS THE DEFINITION OF “BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT” AND PREPARES FOR THE CONCLUSION OF A DECADE-LONG TRANSITION PERIOD

By Jennifer A. Davidson and Justine E. Johnson On February 21, 2020, FDA published a final rule that, effective March 23, 2020, amends the regulatory definition of “biological product” consistent with the statutory definition under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCIA), as amended by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (FCAA),

The post FDA AMENDS THE DEFINITION OF “BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT” AND PREPARES FOR THE CONCLUSION OF A DECADE-LONG TRANSITION PERIOD appeared first on Kleinfeld Kaplan & Becker LLP.




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Preparing to Go Back to the Bedside During COVID-19: A Nurse-Turned-Bioethicist Reflects

This was the first time in a long time that I’ve renewed my nursing license with the thought that I might need it — that I might be needed.

The post Preparing to Go Back to the Bedside During COVID-19: A Nurse-Turned-Bioethicist Reflects appeared first on Bill of Health.




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Federal Court Bars Maine Resident from Preparing Tax Returns for Others

A federal court in Maine has permanently barred Robert A. Grover from preparing federal tax returns for others. The court also ordered the Maine resident to provide his customer lists to the government and to mail copies of the complaint and court order to his customers. Grover consented to the civil injunction order.



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Federal Court Bars Connecticut Woman from Preparing Tax Returns for Others

A federal district court in Connecticut has permanently barred Elda Sinani, a resident of that state, from preparing federal tax returns for others. Sinani consented to the civil injunction order.



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Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Texas Tax Preparers

The United States has sued a Dallas tax preparer, Tina Preston, her tax-preparation firm – Preston Tax Services, Inc. – and several other individuals associated with the firm, seeking to bar them all permanently from the tax-preparation business. The civil injunction suit was filed in Dallas with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.



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U.S. Asks Federal Court to Shut Down Iowa Tax Preparers

The United States has sued a Clive, Iowa, couple to bar them from preparing federal tax returns for others. According to the government complaint, Jill Schwartz-Musin, her husband Howard Musin, and their business, SSC Services, prepare fraudulent federal income tax returns for small business owners.



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Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Sacramento Tax Preparation Firm

The United States has sued a Sacramento, Calif., tax preparer, Chris Elmer, his firm – Associated Tax Planners Inc. (ATP) – and several members of his family associated with ATP, seeking to bar them all permanently from the tax-preparation business. The civil injunction suit was filed in Sacramento with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.



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U.S. Court Permanently Shuts Down Two Pennsylvania Tax Preparers

A federal judge in Pennsylvania has permanently barred Chalamar Muhammad and her husband, Curtis Muhammad, from preparing tax returns for others. Judge Harvey Bartle III of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania entered the order of permanent injunction after the Coatesville, Pa., couple failed to defend against the government’s allegations.



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Atlantic City Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Jail for Fraud

Eduardo Cortez, a resident of Mays Landing, N.J., was sentenced to 36 months incarceration and three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden, N.J. According to his plea agreement, Cortez and his employees knowingly prepared false and fraudulent tax returns for customers that included false and inflated deductions, credits and adjustments.



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U.S. Court Issues Permanent Injunction Order Against Maine Tax Return Preparer

A federal court in Maine permanently barred Donna L. Hamilton from preparing federal tax returns for others. The court also ordered the Maine resident to provide her customer lists to the government and to mail copies of the court order to her customers. Hamilton consented to the civil injunction order.



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Fraudulent Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison

DaJuan Jackson, a former tax return preparer in District Heights, Md., was sentenced to 51 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus for preparing false tax returns for customers.



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Federal Court Bars Tennessee Resident from Preparing Tax Returns for Others

A federal district court in Tennessee has permanently barred Chattanooga resident Demita Brown-Watkins from preparing federal income tax returns for others. Brown-Watkins agreed to the civil injunction order. According to the government complaint, Brown-Watkins ran her tax-preparation business through two companies—Fastax and Rapid Tax Service—and advertised the “largest refund in town.”



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Fraudulent Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison

Rodrick Williams, a former tax return preparer from District Heights, Md., was sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus for preparing false tax returns for customers.



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United States Sues to Stop Florida Tax Return Preparer from Claiming Allegedly Bogus Tax Credits

The United States has sued Robert Cusenza, a West Palm Beach tax return preparer, seeking to bar him permanently from the tax preparation business. The government’s complaint asks the court to order Cusenza to stop preparing returns and to turn over his customer list to the Justice Department.



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United States Sues to Shut Down Florida Tax Return Preparer

The United States has filed suit against a Jacksonville, Fla., tax return preparer, seeking to shut down her business. According to the government complaint, Shirley Clark, who operates the Nichet Corp., has prepared at least 1,250 federal tax returns for her customers from 2004 until 2007 and, on those returns, Clark has claimed nearly $750,000 in fraudulent fuel tax credits.



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Federal Court Permanently Bars Florida “Tax Doctor” from Preparing Tax Returns

A federal court has permanently barred Harold Mette of Bradenton, Fla., from preparing federal income tax returns for others. Mette, who has a Ph.D. degree and calls his business “The Tax Doctor,” consented to the permanent injunction order, which was entered by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.



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Federal Court Shuts Down North Carolina Tax Preparer

A federal court has permanently barred Raymond A. Renfrow of Elm City, N.C., from preparing federal income tax returns for others. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina entered the civil injunction order, which also stops Renfrow from promoting a tax fraud scheme that used sham trusts to falsely deduct customers’ non-deductible personal expenses.



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Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Florida Tax Preparer

The United States has sued a Fort Richey, Fla., tax preparer, Frank Lighty, and his tax-preparation firm – Lighty & seeking to bar them permanently from the tax preparation business. The civil injunction suit was filed in Tampa with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.



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Justice Department Asks Court to Close Georgia Tax Preparation Firms Allegedly Involved in Fuel Credit Tax Scam

The United States has asked a federal court in Savannah, Ga., to permanently bar Ophelia Kelley of Vidalia, Ga., from preparing federal income tax returns for others. According to the government complaint, Kelley operates two return preparation firms in Vidalia – Kelley Tax Service, and City and Country Girl Tax Service.



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Federal Judge Shuts Down Two Dallas Tax Preparers

A federal court has shut down two Dallas tax preparers during the height of tax-filing season. Chief Judge Sidney Fitzwater of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas signed a temporary restraining order barring Ethel Washington from preparing any tax returns. The court has also permanently barred Washington’s former employer, Tina Preston, and her firm, The Preston Group & Associates Inc., from preparing federal tax returns.



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Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Shut Down Iowa Tax Preparation Firm

The United States has brought suit in federal court against Gayle Lemmon of Humboldt, Iowa. The lawsuit seeks to bar her and her firm from preparing federal tax returns for others. According to the government complaint in the case, Lemmon’s firm, Gayle’s Bookkeeping and Tax Service Inc., prepares federal income tax returns for customers that unlawfully understate tax liabilities by claiming improper deductions for the business use of the home and for non-deductible personal expenses.



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Federal Court Bars Homewood, Illinois, Tax Preparers from Preparing Federal Tax Returns for Others

U.S. District Court Judge Robert W. Gettlemen entered an order barring tax preparers, Michael J. Singleton and his wife, Ladonna Singleton, from preparing federal tax returns for others. The court’s ruling came after the Singletons failed to defend against the government’s allegations.



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Federal Court Blocks Chicago Tax Preparation Firm from Claiming Improper Tax Credits

A federal court has barred a Chicago tax preparation firm, El Caminante, Inc. and its principal operator, Maria Colica, from preparing federal income tax returns claiming false tax credits. The company and Colica agreed to the injunction. The Government civil injunction complaint filed in the case alleged that Colica fraudulently claimed fuel tax credits for customers who were not entitled to them.



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Disbarred Maryland Attorney Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Tax Returns

Tax return preparer Lawrence Sperling pleaded guilty today to aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. Sperling was scheduled to begin trial on April 14, 2009 before Judge Deborah Chasanow in Greenbelt, Md. According to the indictment and the plea agreement, Sperling knowingly prepared tax returns for his clients that contained false and fraudulent items, including inflated medial expenses, charitable contributions, miscellaneous employment-related expenses, and child care credits.



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Bronx Return Tax Preparer Indicted for Aiding in Preparation of False Tax Returns

Alexander Tajong, a Bronx, N.Y.-based return preparer, was charged today with twenty counts of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false income tax returns for 10 of his clients during the 2002 and 2003 tax years.



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Federal Court Bars Bloomfield, Connecticut Tax Preparer from Preparing Tax Returns

A federal court has permanently barred Donald Morris of Bloomfield, Conn., from preparing federal income tax returns for others. Morris consented to the permanent injunction order, which was entered by U.S. District Court Judge Jane C. Hall in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.



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Federal Court Shuts Down Dallas Tax Preparer

A federal court in Dallas has permanently barred a Garland, Texas, man from preparing federal tax returns for others. Lucky Ngo, who operated “Lucky’s Translation and Tax Service” and “Water Inn,” prepared over 6,100 federal tax returns for customers since 2004, according to the government complaint filed in the civil injunction case. Ngo agreed to the permanent injunction order.



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Federal Court Bars Individual Return Preparers and Sarasota Firms from Preparing Tax Returns

A federal court in Tampa, Fla., has permanently barred Daniel Prewett from preparing tax returns for others. The court also barred Prewett from helping customers hide income offshore to avoid taxes, and from promoting other tax-dodging schemes. The court has also enjoined Prewett’s wife, Elizabeth George; former Prewett employees Frances Carlson, Elsie Chouinard and Natalie Swaney; and Prewett’s three tax preparation businesses, listed below. The individual defendants agreed to the injunctions.



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U.S. Court Shuts Down Georgia Tax Preparation Firms Allegedly Involved in Fuel Credit Tax Scam

A federal court in Savannah, Ga., today permanently barred Ophelia Kelley, of Vidalia, Ga., from preparing federal income tax returns for others. According to the government complaint, Kelley operated two return preparation firms in Vidalia – Kelley Tax Service and City and Country Girl Tax Service. Kelley agreed to the civil injunction order.



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U.S. Court in Seattle Permanently Shuts Down Washington, D.C., Tax Preparer

A federal judge in Seattle, Wash., has permanently barred a District of Columbia man, William H. Camp, Jr., from preparing tax returns for others and from promoting a scheme involving bogus gold mining tax deductions. The permanent injunction order was entered by Judge Ricardo S. Martinez of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, where a substantial number of Camp’s customers reside.



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Federal Judge Permanently Bars Texas Tax Preparers

A federal court today has permanently barred two additional former employees of Preston Tax Services, Inc., from preparing federal tax returns.



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U.S. Court Permanently Bars Meriden, Conn., Tax Preparer from Preparing Tax Returns for Others

A Connecticut federal court has permanently barred John Waszczak from preparing federal tax returns for others.



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U.S. Judge Bars Two Connecticut Residents from Preparing Federal Tax Returns for Others

A federal district court in Connecticut has permanently barred Wethersfield residents Deowraj Buddhu and his daughter, Sunita Buddhu, from preparing federal tax returns for others.



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Tampa Judge Shuts Down Florida Tax Preparer

A federal judge in Tampa, Fla., has permanently barred a Port Richey, Fla., tax preparer and his firm from preparing federal tax returns. U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich of the Middle District of Florida entered the permanent injunction against Frank Lighty and his firm, Lighty and Associate. Lighty consented to the permanent injunction.



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Federal Court Enjoins Iowa Tax Preparation Firm

A federal judge in Sioux City, Iowa, has barred a Humboldt, Iowa, woman, Gayle Lemmon, and her tax preparation business from preparing federal tax returns. U.S. District Judge Mark W. Bennett entered the preliminary injunction against Gayle Lemmon and Gayle’s Bookkeeping and Tax Service Inc. The order, which Lemmon agreed to, remains in effect until further order of the court.



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Georgia Federal Court Permanently Bars Fulton County Man from Preparing Tax Returns

A federal court in Atlanta has permanently barred Derrick Jackson and his businesses from preparing federal tax returns for others. The court said that since 2002, Jackson "has prepared blatantly fraudulent tax returns for customers." Jackson’s businesses were called Tax Wisdom and International Tax and Accounting Services.



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Silver Spring, Maryland, Return Preparer Found Guilty of Preparing False Tax Returns for Clients

Following a four-day trial and less than an hour of deliberations, a federal jury today convicted tax return preparer, Marcel J. Toto-Ngosso, of Silver Spring, Md., of 17 counts of preparing false tax returns in connection with a scheme to generate fraudulent tax refunds for client-taxpayers.



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Federal Court Permanently Bars Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Firm from Preparing Federal Tax Returns for Others

A federal court has permanently barred a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.,-area woman and her company from preparing federal income tax returns for others. According to the government complaint in the case, Carole Exantus of Plantation, Fla., operated a company called J’s Corporation in Miami. The court found that J’s Corporation repeatedly prepared federal income tax returns claiming false tax credits and deductions that it knew would result in understating customers’ tax liabilities.



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U.S. Judge Permanently Bars Suffolk County, N.Y., Tax Preparer from Doing Returns for Others

A federal district judge in New York has permanently barred Howard Levine from preparing federal tax returns for others. The court also ordered Levine to provide his customer lists to the government and to mail copies of the court order to his customers.



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San Diego Tax Return Preparer Convicted of Tax Fraud

Fe S. Garrett, a resident of National City, Calif., was convicted today of filing false individual tax returns, failure to pay taxes, and multiple counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. A federal jury convicted Garrett of 28 counts of the superseding indictment following a nine-day trial before U.S. Judge M. James Lorenz in San Diego.



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