Business
Google CEO Testifies At Trial Of Collapsed Startup Ozy Media And Founder Carlos Watson
In a brief Friday testimony at the federal financial conspiracy trial involving buzz-to-bust startup Ozy Media, Google CEO Sundar Pichai refuted founder Carlos Watson’s charges that the search giant had previously attempted to acquire Ozy.
Pichai told jurors that Google considered offering Watson a high-level news executive position in 2021 and investing $25 million in Ozy in an attempt to lure him away.
Google CEO Testifies At Trial Of Collapsed Startup Ozy Media And Founder Carlos Watson
“We were thinking about investing in Ozy Media to make the transition easier because Mr. Watson was an important part of the company,” he said.
However, prosecutor Dylan Stern inquired if you had ever made an offer to buy Ozy Media for $600 million.
“No,” Google and parent Alphabet Inc. CEO Pichai said.
According to him, Watson was first introduced to him at a conference and later in a video interview for a prospective Google position coordinating with news sources. The $25 million investment and the hiring have yet to materialize.
Prosecutors claim that Watson later informed another potential investor that Pichai had bid nine-figure to acquire Ozy. Before dissolving in fall 2021 over allegations that it had blatantly overstated its audience reach, deals, and finances, the Mountain View, California-based company produced TV shows, podcasts, and a music-and-ideas festival.
In an email statement on Friday, Ozy Media attorney Shannon Frison said that Watson’s claim that Google had made a $600 million bid is “unequivocally untrue.”
“He never had such a conversation with Google and never told anyone that he did,” Frison stated.
Watson and Ozy Media have entered not-guilty pleas on allegations, including fraud conspiracy. He claims he founded a strong, legitimate business, didn’t defraud anyone, and is being singled out for prosecution for what he calls, at most, “mistakes in business.”
Google CEO Testifies At Trial Of Collapsed Startup Ozy Media And Founder Carlos Watson
Defense attorneys claim Ozy co-founder Samir Rao is to blame for any misrepresentations. They claim Rao is falsely accusing Watson in an effort to get out of jail. Rao is awaiting sentence after entering guilty pleas to identity theft and fraud conspiracies.
Earlier in the trial, he said that ambition, desperation to keep the business afloat, and “Carlos’ deep belief that failure was not an option and we had to do whatever it took” had thrown his “moral compass.”
In a February 2021 conversation, Rao famously pretended to be a YouTube executive, even using a phone app to hide his voice, to support Ozy to Goldman Sachs investment bankers.
“It was one of the most disturbing calls that I have ever been on in my career,” Goldman executive Hillel Moerman said in court on Friday, describing the incident as “a surreal experience.”
Rao said he pulled the phony stunt to support a fabrication that YouTube was sponsoring Watson’s talk show. During the call, Rao said Watson was with him, texting him with instructions. One text displayed to jurors said, “I am a big fan of Carlos, Samir and the show.”
According to defense attorney Ronald Sullivan Jr., Watson entered the room during the call, saw that “a live train wreck” was taking place, and attempted to get Rao to halt the conversation.
Among other indicators that tipped off the Goldman bankers, Moerman noted Friday, was the alleged YouTube executive’s voice, which sounded blatantly “off.”
Google CEO Testifies At Trial Of Collapsed Startup Ozy Media And Founder Carlos Watson
Soon after, one of his coworkers called the real YouTube executive, which is owned by Alphabet. The trick fell apart, as did the possibility of an investment by Goldman.
“We had been misled,” Moerman told the Brooklyn federal court jury.
Rao testified that after the incident, Goldman Sachs continued advertising with Ozy.
Watson reported to the board of Ozy and Goldman that Rao had experienced a mental health crisis. Rao informed the jury that although he was taking antidepressants at the time, he was not on a mental health vacation.
SOURCE – (AP)
Business
Sonic the Hedgehog Dominates Christmas Wish Lists
Sonic the Hedgehog is dominating Christmas wish lists this year. The lovable blue hedgehog is back in the spotlight, from sonic the hedgehog toys and games to sonic the hedgehog coloring pages and movie hype.
Sonic-themed holiday merchandise is on fire, from quirky sweaters to action figures flying off shelves. Sonic the Hedgehog Christmas outfits for kids are selling out fast, making them a go-to gift option for festive fun.
Retailers have been quick to recognize Sonic’s holiday appeal. Special promotions and exclusive items, like the Sonic holiday t-shirts, are everywhere.
Everyone’s stocking up on Sonic merchandise, from big-box stores to boutique retailers.
Online shopping platforms are seeing a surge in searches for Sonic items. Whether it’s Sonic Christmas-themed tops or Sonic the Hedgehog coloring pages, Sonic the Hedgehog toys or Sonic and the Hedgehog 3, the demand is skyrocketing.
Retailers who tap into this trend are sure to see strong holiday sales.
Sonic has been around since the early 90s, but his popularity never wanes. With the release of Sonic 3, fans are more excited than ever.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures is preparing “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” with the newest addition in the family-friendly genre set for a spring 2027 release.
The announcement comes as “Sonic 3” opens in theatres on Friday, estimated to gross $55 million to $60 million from 3,800 North American locations.
The sequel is shaping up to be a good holiday season blockbuster for Paramount, which explains the desire in future “Sonic” adventures. On the international front, the film will be released on Christmas Day in 52 markets.
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave “Sonic 3” an outstanding 87% fresh score.
The first two films grossed a total of $725.2 million at the global box office and generated over $180 million in global consumer expenditure through home entertainment rentals and digital purchases.
They also inspired a spinoff Paramount+ series, “Knuckles,” which premiered earlier this year.
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Business
Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union 10,000 Walkout
An Amazon strike has hit facilities in the United States in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the corporation for a labour agreement during a peak shopping season.
The Teamsters union told the Associated Press that Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities in the United States walked off the job on Thursday after the firm failed to discuss a labour contract.
According to the union, Amazon employees in Teamsters union jackets were protesting at “hundreds” of additional Amazon facilities, which the union billed as the “largest strike” in US history involving the company.
The corporation, which employs over 800,000 people in its US delivery network, stated that its services will be unaffected.
It was unclear how many people, including members of Germany’s United Services Union, participated in Thursday’s demonstration. The Teamsters union reported that thousands of Amazon employees were implicated in the United States.
Amazon Strike at 10 Locations
Overall, the group claims to represent “nearly 10,000” Amazon strikers, having signed up thousands of people at roughly ten locations across the country, many of whom have joined in recent months.
The organization has claimed recognition from Amazon going on strike, claiming the firm illegally neglected its obligation to bargain collectively over salary and working conditions.
The Teamsters is a long-standing US union with nearly one million members. It is well-known for securing lucrative contracts for its members at companies like delivery behemoth UPS.
Most of the Teamsters’ Amazon campaigns have concerned drivers working for third-party delivery companies that partner with the tech behemoth.
Amazon denies that it is liable as an employer in those circumstances, which is a point of legal contention. In at least one case, labour officials have taken a preliminary stance in favour of the union.
Stalled Contract Negotiations
Amazon employees at a major warehouse on Staten Island in New York have also chosen to join the Teamsters. Their warehouse is the only Amazon facility in the United States where labour officials have formally recognized a union win.
However, the Amazon strike is because contract negotiations have not progressed since the 2022 vote. It was not one of the areas scheduled to go on strike on Thursday.
Amazon, one of the largest employers in the United States, has long received criticism for its working conditions and has been the target of activists seeking to gain traction among its employees.
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Business
Amazon Encounters Numerous Strikes As Unions Aim At The Holiday Shopping Surge.
(VOR News) – Thousands of Amazon employees at various sites across the country were scheduled to go on strike on Thursday in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the retail behemoth to acknowledge its unionised workers in the United States.
The walkout is expected to concentrate on seven Amazon locations across the country during the holiday purchasing surge and may be the most significant union action against Amazon in the nation’s history.
The business announced on Thursday morning that there had been no effect on operations. It also stated that it is “continuing to concentrate on fulfilling customers’ holiday orders.”
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters maintains that it represents more than 10,000 Amazon employees and contractors in aviation centres, warehouses, and delivery centres.
Amazon has refused to acknowledge the union for many years.
The retail giant, which employs approximately 1.5 million individuals, excludes contractors and part-timers. A strike has been initiated by delivery couriers and warehouse employees at seven distinct locations in order to exert pressure on the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that would encompass modifications to compensation, amenities, and working conditions.
Picketing was intended for New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Skokie, Illinois.
Also, the Teamsters assert that they are establishing picket lines at “hundreds” of additional warehouses and delivery centres by encouraging non-unionized workers to picket under U.S. labour law, which protects workers’ ability to take collective action to further their interests.
“Amazon workers are exercising their power,” Randy Korgan stated to NPR.
“They now realise there is a pathway to take on a corporate giant like this – and that they hold the power.” Amazon responds by accusing the Teamsters of fabricating information regarding the strikes, asserting that the participants are “entirely” outsiders rather than employees or subcontractors of the corporation.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that “the reality is that they were unable to secure sufficient support from our employees and partners and have invited external parties to harass and intimidate our team.” For more than a year, the Teamsters have been intentionally misleading the public by claiming to represent “thousands of employees and drivers.” They do not.
The Teamsters did not provide a specific duration for the strike; however, they informed NPR that it would extend beyond one day. Workers would receive $1,000 per week in strike money, as per the union.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien issued a statement in which he stated, “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can attribute it to Amazon’s insatiable greed.” We established a firm deadline for Amazon to attend the meeting and treat our members equitably. They disregarded it.
The Teamsters granted until December 15 to convene with its unionised employees and develop a collective bargaining agreement.
Amazon has opposed all unionisation efforts in court, asserting that unions were not advantageous to its employees and emphasising the compensation and benefits that the organisation currently provides.
Amazon has been accused of discriminatory labour practices on numerous occasions, including the termination of labour organisers. Furthermore, it has disputed its official status as a contract employer.
Teamsters organize Amazon delivery couriers and other employees.
In June, Amazon established its first unionised warehouse in Staten Island, New York, two years after making history by voting to join the fledgling Amazon Labour Union, which is also affiliated with the Teamsters.
The union is one of the most influential in the United States and Canada, with 1.3 million members. On Thursday, the German United Services Union declared that Amazon employees in Germany would participate in a strike in conjunction with their American counterparts.
In the past, Amazon has experienced demonstrations in Germany and Spain that were related to the holiday season in order to advocate for improved wages and working conditions.
“The holiday season has arrived.” Delivery is anticipated. Patricia Campos-Medina, the executive director of Cornell University’s Worker Institute, asserts that “this is the moment in which workers have control over the supply chain.”
The Teamsters have reported that Amazon’s profits have increased both during and after the pandemic. The corporation is currently valued at over $2.3 trillion, with net income of $15 billion in the most recent quarter alone. It is the second-largest private employer in the United States, following Walmart.
SOURCE: NPR
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