Zynga pulls back from Facebook collaboration Zynga Inc. loosened ties to Facebook Inc., the main platform for its games, amending the pact that had governed a close collaboration between the two companies. Zynga will no longer be required to use Facebook as the login for game users, and Facebook, operator of the world's largest social network, will now be able to develop its own games, according to the terms of the new contract. Zynga can also elect not to use Facebook Payments as the way for users to buy virtual goods, and it can also opt not to display ads served by Facebook.
Jobless claims sink amid Sandy volatility Initial claims for unemployment benefits dropped again last week, to 393,000, as the job market continued to recover from superstorm Sandy. New jobless claims were down 23,000 for the week that ended Saturday compared with the previous week, the Labor Department said. It was the first time the figure had fallen below 400,000 since Sandy caused it to shoot up to 451,000 for the week ended Nov. 10, the highest level in more than a year and a half. The less-volatile four-week average was 405,250, up 7,500 from the previous week's revised figure of 397,750.
Former NBC executive Zucker to lead CNN CNN made official its decision to install Jeff Zucker, the former chief executive of NBC, as the new president of CNN Worldwide. The announcement culminated a monthslong search to find a replacement for Jim Walton, who had led CNN to record profits even as ratings for its U.S. network hit record lows. The network announced in July that Walton would step down. Zucker will be expected to return the U.S. network to competitive standing against rivals Fox News and MSNBC.
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