As the humanitarian situation worsens in Burma - with even the unconcerned military rulers admitting a death toll of 78,000 - Microsoft has announced that it would consider a partial buyout of the Yahoo! internet search engine.
With the spectre of death from malnutrition stalking an estimated 30,000 under-fives in the stricken Asian state, the software giant released a statement saying that it "is not proposing to make a new bid to acquire all of Yahoo at this time, but reserves the right to reconsider that alternative" after withdrawing its offer of $33 per Yahoo share, which valued the company at over $47bn.
The Association of South East Asian Nations is holding urgent talks to try to find ways of getting relief to the 2.4 million Burmese caught up in the continuing disaster. Meanwhile, billionaire investor Carl Icahn is seeking to buy up shares in Yahoo in an attempt to force out the board which rebuffed Microsoft’s offer.
“Shh, don’t bother us with the real world,” said Microsoft’s Bill Gates. “Icahn’s just landed on Park Lane. I’ve got Mayfair, but the crucual question facing the world is: will he buy it just to thwart my ambitions, or will he be content to sit back on his portfolio of utilities, stations and middle-rent properties and play the longer game? Where is Burma anyway? Is it anywhere near Old Kent Road?”
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