Google in talks to invest in chat company Symphony: source

(Reuters) – Google, which has now morphed into holding company Alphabet Inc, is in talks with messaging startup Symphony Communication Services LLC for a round of fundraising, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

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Twitter considers board shakeup, may include exit of Costolo: Bloomberg

(Reuters) – Twitter Inc's board is weighing a shakeup that could involve the exit of former Chief Executive Dick Costolo, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The changes may be announced when the company names a permanent CEO, Bloomberg said. Twitter declined to comment.

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Iran Quds chief visited Russia despite U.N. travel ban: Iran official

The head of Iran's elite military Quds Force, who is subject to a United Nations travel ban, has met senior Russian officials in Moscow, an Iranian official said on Friday. Qassem Soleimani, chief of the force which is an overseas arm of the Revolutionary Guards, has been subject to an international travel ban and asset freeze by the U.N

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Netflix in talks with Jack Ma-backed Wasu to enter China: Bloomberg

(Reuters) – Video streaming company Netflix Inc is in talks with Jack Ma-backed Wasu Media Holding Co and other potential partners to enter China's booming online video market, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Netflix is seeking a partner that has licenses for content on all devices, including mobile phones, computers and set-top boxes, the report said.

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Exclusive: Microsoft has no plans to pursue Salesforce – sources

Microsoft Corp currently is not weighing an offer for Salesforce.com Inc , two people familiar with the matter said on Thursday, dampening speculation that Microsoft could be drawn into bidding for the cloud software company. Bloomberg News, citing people with knowledge of the matter, reported earlier this week that Microsoft was evaluating a bid for Salesforce after the latter was approached by another unnamed would-be buyer. Microsoft considers Salesforce's current market valuation expensive, one of the people said

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Alibaba ploughs $200 million into Snapchat in latest startup deal: source

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is investing $200 million in photo-messaging app Snapchat, a source familiar with the deal said, striking its latest Silicon Valley deal as the Chinese ecommerce company builds up mobile services. The investment values the company at around $15 billion, according to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the situation as saying.

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Spotify expresses interest to raise $500 million: WSJ

(Reuters) – Online music streaming service Spotify is working with Goldman Sachs for a new round of private fundraising which could potentially put off the initial public offering for another year, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Spotify is talking with investors who are known to buy into companies before a IPO, including mutual fund T. Rowe Price Group, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

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Security software maker AVG approached by possible buyers: WSJ

(Reuters) – AVG Technologies NV has been approached by potential buyers amid a wave of deals for security-software makers, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. There is no formal sale process, but should there be a deal, it would likely come together in the coming months, according to the report.

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Home Depot says about 53 million email addresses stolen in breach

By Devika Krishna Kumar (Reuters) – Home Depot Inc , the world's largest home improvement chain, said about 53 million email addresses were stolen during a recent breach of its payment data systems, in addition to some 56 million payment cards previously disclosed by the retailer. The company, which confirmed the theft in September, said the stolen files that contained the email addresses did not include passwords, payment card information or other sensitive personal information. Home Depot, which had estimated that the breach would cost about $62 million, was one of a string of U.S

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Zynga’s third quarter results beat estimates driven by mobile efforts

By Malathi Nayak SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Zynga Inc reported better-than-expected third-quarter results as the maker of “Farmville” set its mobile gaming push in motion with releases such as “New Words with Friends.” Shares in the San Francisco-based mobile gaming company, were up about 8 percent in after-hours trading on the Nasdaq after ending Thursday's session up a cent at $2.36.

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