According to the Washington Post, U.S. authorities announced that they have secured a $12 million forfeiture agreement from the daughter of accused antiquities smuggler Douglas Latchford, a man federal prosecutors say was a key figure in the decades-long ransacking of ancient Cambodian temples. Questions: Source: Whoriskey, P. (2023). Heir of accused antiquities smuggler agrees to… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Intermediate Accounting
Overstock.com Wins Bid To Acquire Bankrupt Bed Bath & Beyond
According to the New York Times, if the acquisition of Bed Bath & Beyond by Overstock.com is approved at bankruptcy court next week, the company will own the intellectual property of the bankrupt home goods retailer. Questions: Source: Holman, J. (2023) Overstock.com Wins $21.5 Million Bid for Bed Bath & Beyond’s Assets. The New York… Read more »
Interesting and Costly New Canadian Law for IT Companies
According to the New York Times, a new Canadian law will require technology companies to license news content. Facebook’s owner said it would drop news from the platform. Questions: Ives, M. (2023). Canada Forces Google and Facebook to Pay News Outlets for Linking to Articles. The NEw York Times, June 23 (Retrievable online at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/23/business/media/meta-google-canada-news-facebook-instagram.html)
TikTok Shakeup
According to the New York Times, TikTok’s chief operating officer is stepping down, and the company is bringing in a new executive to run its communications department. Questions: 1, Who was TikToks’s COO? 2. Which company did the new COO come from? 3. When did the resigning chief operating officer join TikTok to run its… Read more »
Loaning $9.2 Billion of Your Tax Dollars to Ford
According to the New York Times, Ford Motor and its battery manufacturing partner will receive a $9.2 billion loan to build three battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee from the Department of Energy. Questions: Source: Ewing, J. and C. Krauss (2023). Ford’s Battery Joint Venture to Get $9.2 Billion Government Loan, The New York Times,… Read more »
Forever Chemicals Settlement; No Liability Admitted
According to the New York Times, chemical giant, 3M, reached a $10.3 billion settlement deal with U.S. cities and towns regarding claims that the company contaminated drinking water with so-called forever chemicals used in everything from firefighting foam to nonstick coatings. Questions: Source: Friedman, L and V. Giang. (2023) 3M Reaches $10.3 Billion Settlement in… Read more »
The Ups and Downs of the Interest Rate
According to the Washington Post, the Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it would not raise interest rates this month. Questions: Source: Siegel, R. and A. Bhattarai. (2023). Fed leaves rates unchanged for first time since March 2022. The Washington Post, June 14 (Retrievable online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/06/14/fed-expected-leave-rates-unchanged-first-time-since-march-2022/)
“Home Equity Theft” ruled on by the Supreme Court
According to Accounting Today, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected a Minnesota county’s argument that a 94-year-old woman had no property interest in a condominium they seized from her and later sold for more than her unpaid taxes. Questions: Source: Cohn, M. (2023). SCOTUS rules for 94-year-old in property tax case. Accounting Today, June 6 (Retrievable… Read more »
Higher Stock Ownership among Americans in 2023
According to the Washington Post, 61 percent of Americans own stocks, which is the highest number since 2008. Questions: Source: Singletary, M. (2023) More Americans own stocks. This is great for their financial future. The Washington Post, June 6. (Retrievable at https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/06/06/american-stock-ownership/)
OOPS! A $3 Billion Accounting Error
According to Time, the Pentagon overcounted the value of weapons and other equipment sent to Ukraine by roughly $3 billion. Questions: Source: Hennigan, W. (2023) Pentagon Says Multi-Billion Dollar Accounting Mistake Means More Arms Funding for Ukraine. Time, May 18 (Retrievable online at https://time.com/6281063/pentagon-accounting-error-ukraine-arms-funding/)