international

Exclusive: Japan’s Rakuten Wins the Heart of Pinterest in $100M Funding Race With $1.5B Valuation

Liz Gannes and Kara Swisher in Commerce on May 16 at 8:18 pm PT

The largest e-commerce site in Japan is about to get pinned by Ben Silbermann in massive funding round.

Confirmed: Schultz and Efrusy to Leave Groupon Board; “Accounting Types” Joining

Kara Swisher in Commerce on April 30 at 12:40 pm PT

Will a shake-up of the board of the daily deals company help its prospects?

It’s Official: Yahoo Lays Off 2,000 Employees — 14 Percent of Workforce

Kara Swisher in News on April 4 at 6:22 am PT

CEO Scott Thompson promises that Yahoo, after staff cuts of 14 percent of the entire workforce, will be “smaller, nimbler, more profitable and better equipped to innovate as fast as our customers and our industry require.”

Spotify’s Special Projects Head Shakil Khan Moves to Path to Do Same

Kara Swisher in News on March 30 at 5:00 am PT

The fix-it guy for the popular music service takes his tools over to the personal social network.

CEO Thompson Tells Yahoos “Real Change Is Coming” (It’s Exclusive Internal Memo Time!)

Kara Swisher in News on March 15 at 5:06 am PT

The new leader addresses the nervous troops: Once more unto the breach, dear possibly laid-off Yahoos, once more …

Twitter Grabs Two Googlers for International Advertising Expansion

Kara Swisher in Media on February 22 at 11:07 pm PT

The online communications network goes hunting for talent at search giant.

Yahoo Starts Making Wish List, as Asian Deal Huffs to Finish Line and Board Changes Readied

Kara Swisher in News on February 6 at 5:45 am PT

Here’s a big, honking update on the Silicon Valley Internet giant’s various machinations for you!

Japan’s Rakuten Set to Challenge Amazon With Help From Kobo

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 27 at 11:40 am PT

Who is Amazon’s biggest competitor? It may be a Japanese-based company you’ve never heard of.

Airbnb’s Skyrocketing Growth Includes Four Million Nights Booked in 2011

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 26 at 6:00 am PT

Travelers have used Airbnb to book a total of five million guest nights over the past four years, staying in spare bedrooms and empty homes around the world.

Zynga Confirms It Is Seeking Partners for Online Gambling Initiatives

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 20 at 6:00 am PT

Operating the largest poker game on Facebook is not enough — Zynga has confirmed that it is exploring the prospects for real-money gambling, and is in active talks with several partners.