International Business News - Most Rated Articles http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif On July 7th Carl Icahn issues a letter to the board of Yahoo. The following is the letter in full. <hr> 143389 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/icahn-urges-yahoo-reconsider-microsoft-remove-yang-text.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:09:00 EDT Microsoft Corp. is open to a "major transaction" with Yahoo Inc to either purchase a part or all of the company if a new board of directors is elected, billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn wrote in a letter to shareholders on Monday. 143424 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87295-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/microsoft-open-yahoo-deal-board-elected.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/microsoft-open-yahoo-deal-board-elected.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:55:45 EDT Merrill Lynch & Co. may take a $6 billion writedown in for the second quarter and could look to raise capital by selling part of its stake in BlackRock, an investment management firm, for up to $2 billion, according to a Citigroup report. 143563 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/merrill-lynch-citigroup-blackrock-writedown.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:09:07 EDT A new film festival has opened in New York that promises to connect American audiences with authentic Asian cinema. 143630 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87464-japan-cuts.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/japan-cuts-festival-japan-movies.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/japan-cuts-festival-japan-movies.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:58:35 EDT Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke said the Fed is considering extending emergency loans to investment banks into next year in the light of current market instability, while noting the need for a stronger investment bank regulator. 144118 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/88019-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/fed-mulls-more-help-for-investment-banks-stronger-oversight.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/fed-mulls-more-help-for-investment-banks-stronger-oversight.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:28:24 EDT "Lord of the Rings" trilogy fans will get a chance to be extras in "The Hobbit", which starts filming in 2009 by Mexican film director Guillermo del Toro. 144355 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/88211-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/lord-the-rins-hobbit-del-toro.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/lord-the-rins-hobbit-del-toro.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:52:30 EDT The first biological baby of Australian actress Nicole Kidman was born today in the United States. 143705 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87563-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/nicole-kidman-039-first-biological-baby-born.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/nicole-kidman-039-first-biological-baby-born.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:41:50 EDT The wife of Yankee's player Alex Rodriguez -- who last week was involved in affair rumors with pop singer Madonna -- filed for divorce on Monday in Miami. 143720 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87573-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/rod-039-wife-files-divorce-affairs-and-misconduct.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/rod-039-wife-files-divorce-affairs-and-misconduct.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:21:46 EDT Demonstrations on the town square show how divided people are over the school board's decision to fire a science teacher accused of preaching his Christian beliefs in the classroom and burning crosses on students' arms. 143816 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/88007-teacher-bible.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/ohio-town-split-over-middle-school-teachers-acts.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/ohio-town-split-over-middle-school-teachers-acts.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:09:11 EDT Apple Inc.'s stock rose Monday just days before the computer and gadget maker is set to release an updated iPhone that is significantly cheaper and will work over faster wireless networks. 143733 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87587-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/apple-shares-rally-ahead-iphone-launch.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/apple-shares-rally-ahead-iphone-launch.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:41:37 EDT Microsoft Corp. threw its weight behind investor Carl Icahn's effort to dump Yahoo Inc.'s board, saying Monday that a successful shareholder rebellion would encourage the software maker to renew its bid to buy Yahoo's Internet search engine or possibly the entire company. 143743 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87626-microsoft-yahoo.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/microsoft-backs-icahns-bid-oust-yahoo-board.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/microsoft-backs-icahns-bid-oust-yahoo-board.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:20:42 EDT U.S. stocks failed to hold onto an earlier triple-digit rally on the Dow as a $6 plunge in oil prices was erased by plunging financial stocks. 143474 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/stocks-oil-dollar-financials.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:58:13 EDT For a vivid insight into the clash of old and new in China, follow the bicycle. Morning rush hour in Beijing and Shanghai used to be rivers of cyclists flowing in a majestic hush down broad bike lanes. Today, many of those lanes have been taken over by cars and buses, their roar and honk drowning out the tinkle of bicycle bells. 143238 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/bikes-chinas-icon-thrive-despite-car-invasion.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:27:34 EDT NBC is using the Olympics as a "billion-dollar research lab" to get a sense of how people are using different media platforms to experience the Beijing Games that begin Aug. 8. 143269 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87282-u-s-olympic-track.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/nbc-sees-olympics-research-mecca.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080707/nbc-sees-olympics-research-mecca.htm Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:12:04 EDT If veteran Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd's trademark jaunty smile seems a bit forced these days, it's no surprise. The five-term Democrat's home-state popularity has slipped in the wake of his failed presidential bid and allegations he got cut-rate mortgages from a leading offender in the subprime mortgage meltdown. 143796 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87809-dodd-popularity-dip.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/dodds-popularity-slips-in-connecticut.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/dodds-popularity-slips-in-connecticut.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:34:55 EDT Will Smith's box-office superpowers remain intact. Smith's "Hancock"--the story of a boozing, foul-mouthed superhero who dresses like a street bum--led the Fourth of July weekend with a $66 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday. 143111 http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/87073-premiere-hancock-la.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080706/smiths-hancock-bounds-66m-opening-weekend.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080706/smiths-hancock-bounds-66m-opening-weekend.htm Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:24:58 EDT