BARCELONA (AFP) ― Top seed Rafael Nadal extended his current clay court win streak to 31 matches as the Spaniard overcame an early run of breaks to post a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Santiago Giraldo on Thursday at the ATP Barcelona Open.Nadal is bidding for a sixth title at his “home” event in seven editions after missing 2010 due to treatment on a knee injury.He moved into the quarterfinals in less th

CHENGDU, China (AFP) ― Teenager Han Chang-won reinforced his growing reputation as one of the most exciting prospects in Asia by taking the clubhouse lead Thursday on the opening day of the $3-million Volvo China Open.The 19-year-old South Korean, who only recently made his professional debut, fired an eight-under-par 64 which included birdies on the last four holes at Luxehills International Coun

Global carmakers unveil ambitious China expansion plans as they battle back from tsunamiSHANGHAI (AP) ― Global automakers unveiled ambitious expansion plans for China on Tuesday, targeting the country’s newly prosperous drivers as the industry struggles to recover from Japan’s tsunami.Nissan Motor Co. plans to raise sales by about 15 percent to 1.15 million vehicles this year, said CEO Carlos Ghos

Global carmakers rolling out new SUVs, luxury sedans and concept cars at auto showHONG KONG (AP) ― Global automakers are bringing their flashiest SUVs, luxury sedans and electric concept cars to Auto Shanghai, China’s biggest auto show of the year, as the industry reels from disruptions caused by the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan last month.The show has become one of the industry’s most

 

IMF, World Bank warn on high food prices, joblessnessWASHINGTON (AFP) ― Global finance chiefs warned Saturday that rising food prices, unanswered joblessness, Mideast turmoil and weak finances in advanced economies could still derail economic recovery.“We are one shock away from a full-blown crisis,” said World Bank president Robert Zoellick about the surge in basic food prices.“The financial cris

Apple Inc. will begin selling a white model of the iPhone 4 in the next few weeks after a 10- month delay, according to three people familiar with the plans. The new version will be available from AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless by the end of April, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public. The release was stalled as Apple resolved manufacturing challen

'Oil prices above $100 hurt global economy, demand outlook stable'The International Energy Agency maintained its outlook for global oil demand in 2011, while warning that prices above $100 a barrel are starting to hurt the global economy. Worldwide oil consumption will increase by 1.4 million barrels a day, or 1.6 percent, this year to average 89.4 million a day, the Paris-based adviser said Tuesd

 

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) ― One budget deal down, President Barack Obama and Congress began to pivot Sunday from the painful standoff over this year’s spending to a pair of defining debates over the nation’s borrowing limit and the election-year budget.Much will be revealed at midweek, when the House and Senate are expected to vote on a budget for the remainder of this fiscal year and Obama reveals his plan

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) ― Voters in Iceland rejected a government-backed deal to repay Britain and the Netherlands for their citizens’ $5 billion worth of deposits in a failed online bank, referendum results showed Sunday ― sending the dispute to an international court and plunging the economically fragile country into new uncertainty.Final results showed the “no” side had just under 60 percent of

AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP) ― Yang Yong-eun used a hybrid to take down Tiger Woods and win the PGA Championship. Now he’s got even more hybrids in his bag and his sights set on a Masters title.Fellow countryman Choi Kyung-ju also has some new hybrids of his own, along with a share of third place with Yang after the first round of the Masters.The two Korean players shot 67s on Thursday, the second straig

CLEVELAND (AP) ― Josh Tomlin outpitched Boston’s Josh Beckett, Cleveland came up with just enough timely hits and the Indians kept the Red Sox winless so far this season with a 3-1 victory Tuesday night over the team many predicted would win it all.Tomlin (1-0) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings, taming a star-studded Boston lineup that came in batting just .200 and has yet to find it

Regulators to up supervision of nation’s financial plumbing to prevent another crisisWASHINGTON (AP) ― Regulators are working closely to strengthen oversight of inner workings of the nation’s financial system, part of a broader effort to prevent a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday.The financial overhaul law enacted last year directs the Fed and

Australia’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate at the highest level in the developed world as floods disrupt coal mining in the nation’s northeast and a rising currency tempers inflation. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens held the overnight cash rate target at 4.75 percent for a fourth straight meeting, as forecast by all 25 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. He calle

Shifting from imported oil to cleaner forms of energy will help boost job creationWASHINGTON (AP) ― President Barack Obama says shifting the U.S. away from imported oil and toward cleaner forms of energy will add momentum to a trend that has led to 1.8 million new jobs in the past 13 months.Obama used his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday to promote his ideas for bringing down gasoline pr

Reviving elusive target, Obama calls for one-third reduction in U.S. oil imports by 2025WASHINGTON (AP) ― President Barack Obama on Wednesday called for a one-third reduction in U.S. oil imports by 2025, reviving a long-elusive goal of reducing America’s dependence on foreign supplies as political unrest rocks the Middle East and gasoline prices rise at home.Tackling an issue that has vexed nearly