NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Investigators said Monday they have widened their probe into U.S. regulators' failure to spot alleged fraud by fallen financier Bernard Madoff.

NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors Monday tried to get fallen financier Bernard Madoff tossed in jail, saying he tried to hide at least $1 million in assets.

BEIJING, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- China is renewing its crackdown on Internet content, targeting sites that fail to filter questionable content, officials said.

U.S. markets drop Monday ... U.S. auto sales plunged in December ... Japanese stocks in seldom seen upswing ... California avocados looking at lean year ... News from United Press International.

NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose Monday on political tensions and an oil production cut, which began in the new year.

CHICAGO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Grains closed mostly higher on the Chicago Board of Trade Monday as corn prices stayed low, while wheat, soybeans and oats made gains.

DETROIT, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. auto companies reported plunging auto sales in December with Detroit's Big Three claiming sales at least 30 percent below December 2007.

NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. stock indexes closed lower Monday after automakers reported sales in December were down in the range of 30 percent.

TOKYO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Domestic sales of new cars in Japan fell for the fifth consecutive year in 2008, the Japanese Auto Dealers Association said Monday.

TOKYO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A broad range of stock gains pushed Japan's Nikkei 225 index above 9,000 for the first time in nearly two months Monday.

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- California avocado farmers expect the 2009 crop to be the smallest since a freeze decimated 1990's fruit, a growers' association said.

DETROIT, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp. has scheduled key negotiations this week to begin the process of proving it can reshape itself into a profitable company.

ATLANTA, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Delta Air Lines Inc. executive Neel Shah said the U.S. carrier would lean more and more on its cargo operations while its passenger services shrink.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A slowing economy is pushing U.S. hotels to lower rates, which could sharply cut operating income, an industry research group said.

BEIJING, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- China's fiscal revenue is expected to rise 19 percent for 2008 compared to 2007, a sharp slowdown from 2007's increase, its finance minister said Monday.

CUPERTINO, Calif., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs ended speculation about his health problems, saying a hormone imbalance, not cancer, was causing his weight loss.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Spending on private and public construction in the United States fell less than expected in November, the U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday.

NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. stock indexes were mixed on concern of a continued slide in automobile sales and lower construction spending.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A European Union delegation headed to Ukraine after nine countries reported natural gas supply problems due to Ukraine's dispute with Gazprom over a bill.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The provincial minister of finance for the Canadian province of Alberta is seeking advice from Norway on handling billions of dollars in oil revenue.