Reuters - Microsoft Corp offered Yahoo Inc $1 billion in cash to buy its search business in a deal that would have delivered $1 billion in additional annual operating income to Yahoo, a source familiar with Microsoft's thinking said on Friday.

Reuters - Yahoo Inc and Google Inc are close to reaching a search advertising deal, and talks between Yahoo and Microsoft Corp about a similar deal have fallen through, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

AP - Yahoo has hired Internet search leader Google to sell some online ads in hopes of boosting its profit.

AFP - Yahoo and Google on Thursday announced a much-rumored alliance to put the Internet search king's expertise to work pumping money from its floundering rival's online advertising.

Reuters - Microsoft's plan to establish a strong footing in online advertising suffered a big blow on Thursday as merger talks with Yahoo finally, formally failed and Yahoo said it would let Google sell search ads on its site.

AP - Yahoo Inc. became Microsoft Corp.'s takeover prey largely because Google Inc. established such a commanding lead in the Internet's lucrative search advertising market.

Reuters - Google co-founder Sergey Brin wants to go to space and has made a $5 million down payment to book a seat on a private space flight with Space Adventures, the space tourism company said on Wednesday.

AP - A company that sends wealthy tourists into space aboard Russian rockets announced Wednesday that it has a new client, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, and a new plan for the first entirely private flight to the international space station.