WASHINGTON - US federal investigators are trying to find the cause of a plane crash in Texas that killed two brothers from Bangalore, India and a friend.

Beijing buildings prone to lightning strikes in summer

BEIJING - Over 20,000 lightning strikes hit Beijing every year, but the majority of buildings in the Chinese capital are not properly protected from lightning.

Ex-prisoner found with cannabis-filled tennis balls

AUCKLAND - Police in a New Zealand town have seized two tennis balls filled with cannabis and foiled the attempt of a recently-released prisoner, who was about to hurl the balls inside a prison.

Next steps in test of BP Gulf oil cap

NEW ORLEANS — BP shut all three valves to close a new cap over its busted Gulf of Mexico well Thursday, stopping the flow of oil into the water for the first time since April. What’s next?

2 American troops killed in roadside bombing in Afghanistan; gunmen kidnap 5 health workers

Storms from unstable heat in Southern California yield lightning, sparking 8 brush fires

1,200 Russians drowned in 2010 summer

MOSCOW - Over 1,200 Russians have drowned this summer after trying to find relief from a stifling heat wave - many of them after drinking alcohol, officials said.

China asks websites to stop pornographic content

BEIJING - China has asked 122 websites to stop offering online reading and downloading services with pornographic content.

For some Gulf Coast residents hurt by oil leak, it’s hard to believe BP has finally stopped it

85 days, 16 hours and 25 minutes: BP finally stops oil from Gulf gusher _ for now

President Barack Obama, daughter Sasha Obama and wife

Congressional committee investigating Gulf oil spill expands probe to include abandoned wells

Oil spill probe now includes abandoned wells

A by-the-numbers look at the Gulf oil spill

A by-the-numbers look at the Gulf oil spill

Some oil spill events from Thursday, July 15, 2010

BP finally cuts off the oil leak in the Gulf; now the question is whether the well will hold

President Barack Obama speaks briefly on Afghanistan

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Seven girls die as boat sinks in Nile

CAIRO - At least seven girls were killed when a boat sank in the Nile Thursday evening, officials said.

BP executive calls halt of oil flow a “great sight” but still urges caution at early stage

BP exec: Halt of oil flow a “great sight”

NEW ORLEANS — A top BP executive says the company’s success in stopping the flow of oil for the first time since April is a “great sight” but not cause for celebration.

US closes Guantanamo beach where 3 Marines drowned pending investigation of July 4 incident

US closes Guantanamo beach where Marines drowned

BP says new cap chokes off all oil gushing from busted well for first time since April

BP says it has choked off all oil from busted well

At least 20 killed in twin blasts outside mosque in southeastern Iran

At least 20 killed in bombings in southeast Iran

Obama calls halt to oil spill ‘positive sign’ though effort still in testing phase

Experts say coke plants, like Pa. 1 that exploded, full of dangers but can operate safely

Experts: Coke plants full of dangers, can be safe

BP says oil stops gushing from busted well after valves shut on new cap

BP: Oil stops gushing into Gulf waters from busted well for first time since April

BP says no more oil going into Gulf

NEW ORLEANS — BP says oil has stopped leaking into the Gulf for the first time since April.

BP slowly dialing down remaining Gulf oil flow in latest effort to finally stop the plume

BP slowly dialing down remaining Gulf oil flow

Iran’s state news agency says at least 20 dead in blasts outside mosque in southeastern Iran

Report: At least 20 killed in bombings in Iran

First batch of sea turtle hatchlings rescued from oily Gulf of Mexico released into Atlantic

Sea turtles rescued from Gulf spill released

Death of 3 counselors in single-car parkway crash devastates New York camp for disabled

3 counselors at NY camp for disabled die in crash

House approves overhaul for program providing insurance to those in flood-prone areas

House approves overhaul of flood insurance program

House votes to overhaul program providing insurance for residents of flood-prone areas

House OKs overhaul of US flood insurance program

Iran’s state news agency says 2 blasts hit mosque in southeastern Iran, causing casualties

2 blasts hit southeastern Iran; casualties feared

Mother of Pacheco’s alleged lover arrested

PANAJI - In a late night development in the Nadia Torrado death case, Goa Police Thursday arrested her mother Sonia and booked her for culpable homicide and destruction of evidence.

Vatican tightens laws on sex abuse and other crimes

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican published Thursday an updated, stricter set of norms governing how the Catholic Church deals internally with priests and other religious figures linked to crimes such as the sexual abuse of minors and mentally handicapped people.

Iraqis take charge of last prison in US control amid concerns government isn’t ready

Iraqis take charge of last prison in US control

Man held for killing lover

NEW DELHI - A 23-year-old man has been arrested in north Delhi for brutally murdering a woman with whom he had an illicit relationship, police said Thursday.

Gunmen kidnap 5 Afghan health workers; district official killed on road as violence soars

Afghan health team abducted; local official killed

Crews make progress containing 170-square-mile fire at Idaho National Laboratory nuclear site

Crews make progress on fast-growing SE Idaho fire

From bikinis in Moscow to melting roads in Czech Republic, Europe wilts in heat wave

Bikinis in Moscow: Europe wilts in heat wave

Natural gas prices climb as Americans crank up air conditioners amid summer heat

Natural gas jumps as hot weather boosts demand

Southern La. shelter overrun with animals as struggling Gulf pet owners are forced to give up

Shelters filling up as Gulf pet owners struggle

MNC executive abducted, robbed in Gurgaon

GURGAON - An executive of a multinational company was abducted by three robbers from outside his office here at gun point, driven around in a car for more than two hours and robbed, police Thursday said.

Bihar Police hunt for former MP Pappu Yadav

PATNA - An alert has been sounded for the arrest of former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Pappu Yadav, who has failed to surrender after his bail was cancelled by the Supreme Court in a murder case, police said Thursday.

Police probe workers’ deaths at Jindal plant

RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh Police Thursday began a probe into the deaths of two workers at the Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) plant in Raigarh district in the state. The company, owned by Congress MP Naveen Jindal, has also set up its own investigation.

Feinberg says $20 billion Gulf oil fund set up by BP will begin payments in early August

$20 billion oil fund to begin payments in August

BP temporarily lets more oil through cap as it prepares delayed bid to shut down Gulf flow

BP reopens part of oil cap to get ready for test

Student gangraped in Greater Noida

GREATER NOIDA - A class 12 student was abducted while she was returning from her tuition classes and allegedly gangraped in Greater Noida, police said Friday.

Verdict on transfer of Gujarat riots case reserved

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court Thursday reserved its order on a petition seeking transfer of the Gulberg Society massacre case during the 2002 Gujarat riots from the judge hearing it due to his alleged “biased behaviour”.

Man impersonating as IAS official held

GHAZIABAD - A 30-year-old Class 8 dropout and a fluent English speaker was arrested for impersonating as a 2007 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Bihar cadre in Ghaziabad Thursday, police said.

Police dig out baby girl’s body to probe murder claim

KOLKATA - Police dug out the body of a nine-month-old baby from a grave in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district and sent it for autopsy Thursday after locals alleged that the girl child had been murdered by her grandmother.