CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple Inc. said yesterday that iPad sales have topped 2 million since its launch almost two months ago.

The Cupertino, Calif., company began selling the iPad on Friday in Asia and Europe. The iPad launched April 3 in the United States.

The company had previously said it sold 1 million iPads in the United States just 28 days after its launch. As a result of the strong demand at home, Apple had pushed back the start date of its international sales.

This past weekend, Apple began selling iPads in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The company said the device will be available in nine more countries in July and additional countries later this year.

The iPad can be used to send e-mails, draw pictures and play games. It can also be used as an electronic reader. The basic model costs $499 in the United States, not including extras.

LOW-CARBON, GREENER CITY IS ROME'S AIM

ROME — Rome's mayor unveiled a master plan yesterday to transform the eternal city into a green, low-carbon, post-petroleum capital — aimed in part at bolstering Rome's 2020 Olympic bid.

Mayor Gianni Alemanno presented the proposal alongside U.S. economist Jeremy Rifkin, who has been advising the European Union on a long-term economic sustainability plan to address the global economic crisis, energy security and climate change.

The plan calls for Rome to invest around $615 million over the next 20 years in new industries and businesses, creating what city officials claim will result in thousands of new jobs and making the capital independent energetically. It envisages three areas of transformation: turning the congested historic center into a greener, pedestrian-friendly space; developing the commercial/industrial "ring" around the capital; and improving agricultural areas outside the city to reduce its carbon imprint.

Rifkin said the goal was to create a durable economic vision, saying the aim was a "democratization of energy."

SPAIN'S GOVERNMENT MAY FORCE REFORMS

MADRID — Spain's Socialist government warned yesterday it will impose labor market reforms if unions and management fail to agree on changes needed for Spain to resurrect its economy — and reassure markets worried about the country's ability to show growth and pay off debt.

The labor market talks have taken on new urgency with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero under pressure from the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and even President Obama to take bold action and ward off a Greek-style debt crisis that would further hurt the euro.

Two ministers warned the government will give unions and management a few more days, then act decisively if needed. Hours later, another round of talks ended inconclusively. Yesterday was the deadline for a deal.

Unions have said if such a unilateral government decree goes against the interests of workers, they will call a general strike.

TURKMENISTAN WILL BUILD GAS PIPELINE

SHATLYK, Turkmenistan — Turkmenistan yesterday started work on a $2 billion gas pipeline that aims to boost its export capacity and increase the reclusive nation's economic and political clout in the global gas market.

President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov hailed the new 620-mile pipeline — dubbed East-West — stressing that Turkmen firms would build it on their own.

Turkmenistan's gas wealth has long been the focus of intense rivalry between Russia, China and the West. Russia had a lock on most of the country's gas exports until last December, when a major China-bound pipeline went into operation.

By building the new pipeline on its own, Turkmenistan will essentially get the final say about the ultimate destination of the natural gas: Russia, or the West.

— Advertiser News Services