Murcia, Spain - Spanish rescuers on Thursday rescued two would-be immigrants whose two companions had died while trying to cross from Africa to Spain, officials said.

A French oil tanker initially spotted the vessel carrying two survivors and two bodies at about 120 kilometres south-east of Cartagena on Spain's south-eastern coast.

A Spanish vessel and helicopter rescued the survivors who were hospitalized in serious condition. The survivors, who were believed to be Algerians, were between 20 and 30 years old.

Murcia, Spain  - Substitutes David Ferrero and Juan Carlos Ferrero came up with easy wins Friday to send holder Spain surging to a 2-0 lead over Israel in the Davis Cup World Group semi-final.

Ferrer, replacing Fernando Verdasco, hero of the 2008 final over Argentina, got the hosts off to a fast start, pounding Harel Levy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. It was equally straightforward for teammate Juan Carlos Ferrero, fast approaching his 30th birthday.

The former number one was merciless as he played in place of injured Rafael Nadal for a 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 thrashing of Dudi Sela.

Murcia, Spain - Substitutes David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero take defending champion Spain into Friday's opening day of the Davis Cup semi-final tie against underdog Israel in the absence of Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco.

Ferrer will open the weekend against Israeli Harel Levy, with Ferrero, back on side after being picked to end a three-year drought, facing Dudi Sela in the second rubber on clay in southern Spain.

Nadal has said on his website that even though he cannot play due to an abdominal muscle pull, he plans to be on site for the competition to support his team.

Murcia, Spain  - Spanish rescuers were Thursday searching for a woman who went missing after her car was swept away by flood water, officials said.

The 25-year-old went missing in Torre Pacheco near Murcia in the south late Wednesday.

The floods have already claimed at least two lives. An elderly couple drowned in their car after it was caught in flood waters near Jaen.

Flooding forced the evacuation of dozens of people, and caused damage to homes and agricultural fields in Jaen province.

Murcia, Spain  - Spain take heavy favourite's odds into a weekend Davis Cup semi-final clash with tennis minnow Israel even though the mighty Iberians miss Rafael Nadal due to injury.

The holders are hoping to reach a second consecutive final in the worldwide team competition as they take a 3-0 record against Israel into the September 18-20 tie.

Murcia, Spain  - Australian Simon Gerrans won the 10th stage of cycling's Tour of Spain on Tuesday while Alejandro Valverde defended the golden jersey as overall leader.

Gerrans of the Cervelo team edged Ryder Hesjedal of Canada, Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark and Kazakhstan's Alexander Vinokourov in a sprint finish at the end of the
171.2-kilometre stage from Alicante to Murcia.

All posted 3 hours 56 minutes 19 seconds, 29 seconds ahead of Adam Hansen of Australia, the nearest of the pursuers.

Murcia, Spain - The white bikini stood out brilliantly against the young Spanish woman's body, whose arms, legs, abdomen and face were almost black. Though the sun beats down mercilessly on Spain's Costa Calida, or "Warm Coast," the woman's colour was not a deep suntan. She and her girlfriends had come to Lo Pagan, on the Mar Menor, to cover themselves with medicinal mud.