BEIJING - Police have arrested a Catholic monk in connection with the murders of a priest and a nun in a church in north China.

Flood extensively damages crops in Haryana, Punjab

CHANDIGARH - Freshly sown paddy crop in thousands of acres of fertile agricultural land has been destroyed in nearly four days of flood fury in some districts of Haryana and Punjab - the states that are the biggest food grain contributors to the national kitty.

Teenager dies in floodwaters as more heavy rains pounds Oklahoma; third child killed in 1 week

OKLAHOMA CITY — Officials say a teenager was swept to her death in Oklahoma when heavy rain fueled by persistent tropical moisture pounded parts of the state.

US, Russia complete massive spy swap (Second lead)

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON/MOSCOW - The US and Russia have completed arrangements for one of the largest spy swaps in history as 10 Russian spy suspects and four prisoners in Russian custody pleaded guilty to charges against them.

Att’y: Passing speedboat made boater swerve, causing deadly crash near Statue of Liberty

Pa. judge: Pit bull that bit pop singer Vanessa Carlton can go home if fence installed

Cavendish sheds tears of joy after winning 5th stage, Cancellara keeps lead at Tour de France

Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing Hungarian students in Pa. duck boat accident

EPA says tests show moderate health concerns with air 50 miles from Gulf oil spill

Navy blimp arrives in New Orleans, will become mobile observation platform above Gulf spill

Appeals court rejects effort by US government to restore offshore drilling moratorium

Appeals court rejects effort by US government to keep offshore drilling moratorium in place

As barge bore down on duck boat in Philly, tourists had only seconds to react _ and scream

Draft UN statement condemns SKorea ship sinking but doesn’t directly blame NKorea

Pilot ejects to safety from jet that crashes in Nevada near Fallon Naval Air Station

Bear killed after attacking Colorado man in his basement

As heat wave breaks in Northeast, misery persists, death toll rises

Rio Grande bulges as new rain-packed storm hits soaked Texas-Mexico border, homes evacuated

US gives BP deadline for answers on oil well cap

WASHINGTON - The White House Thursday gave BP Plc 24 hours to respond to questions on its plans to replace a containment cap with a tighter seal on the gushing well in the Gulf of Mexico.

Russia will release four detainees in spy exchange: US (Lead, changing dateline)

WASHINGTON - The US will expel 10 convicted Russian spies following their guilty pleas Thursday in exchange for the release of four individuals held in Russia, the US Justice Department announced.

Some oil spill events from Thursday, July 8, 2010

21 die in Pakistan tribal clashes

ISLAMABAD - Twenty-one people were killed Thursday night when clashes broke out between two tribes in southern Pakistan, media reports said.

Appeals court to rule next week on US government’s bid to keep drilling moratorium in place

Court to rule next week on drilling moratorium

Police in New Mexico say father gave 6-year-old son detailed lessons on bomb-making

NM police say dad taught son, 6, to make bombs

Skimmer sent by Kevin Costner’s company to do work in the oil-fouled Gulf of Mexico

Kevin Costner’s oil skimmer to work in fouled Gulf

Draft statement on SKorea ship sinking condemns but doesn’t directly blame NKorea

UNSC draft condemns NKorea for SKorea ship sinking

Louisiana official wants end to curbs on media reporting of Gulf spill; plans letter to Obama

Louisiana official blasts restrictions on media

Big 5 cuts fiscal 2nd-quarter guidance, blames slow economic recovery, cold West Coast weather

Big 5 cuts guidance, cites cold West Coast weather

Chile upholds former spy chief’s conviction in Argentina bombing that killed Pinochet critics

Chile’s top court upholds Prats bombing verdicts

Atty: Passing speedboat made boater swerve, causing deadly boat crash near Statue of Liberty

Atty: 3rd boat key factor in deadly NYC boat crash

12 die in Uruguay prison fire

Montevideo, July 9 (IANS/EFE) Twelve inmates of a prison were killed and seven others injured when a fire broke out at the facility in eastern Uruguay Thursday, police said.

Spokesman: Workers hurt, killed in Ohio factory roof collapse were doing routine maintenance

Ohio roof collapse victims were doing routine work

UN diplomats say draft statement on SKorea ship sinking to be presented to Security Council

Security Council to meet on SKorea ship sinking

Mark Cavendish sheds tears of joy after winning 5th Tour stage; Cancellara keeps lead

Cavendish wins 5th stage of Tour de France

Amid Iraq’s political turmoil, Shiite pilgrims offer tempting target for insurgents

Attacks highlight Iraq’s tempestuous politics

Fla. Gov. Crist calls special legislative session to get offshore oil drilling ban on ballot

Fla. gov calls legislature for oil drilling ban

Authorities close 2 bridges on Texas-Mexico border, limit traffic on a 3rd as Rio Grande rises

Commercial bridge on US border stays open, for now

Moderate 5.3 quake hits Andamans

NEW DELHI - A moderate earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale hit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 7.17 p.m. Thursday, but there were no report of casualties.

CBI arrests three for defrauding bank

CHANDIGARH - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three people from New Delhi for defrauding a bank here of over Rs. 1.30 crore, officials said Thursday.