MEXICO CITY – Mexican authorities have passed clothing that belonged to some of the 43 students missing from rural teachers’ college to a lab in Austria for genetic testing. The attorney general’s office said in a statement Tuesday that it sent some 53 items to the University of Innsbruck almost …

GULFPORT, Miss. – Marine experts in Mississippi are working around the clock as two whales, their species unseen in South Mississippi for 40 years, fight for survival. Moby Solangi of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport says a fisherman Tuesday reported what he thought were two dead dolphins …

SYDNEY – Football Federation Australia says it is aware of the tense security situation in the Tajikistan capital of Dushanbe just four days before the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifying match at the city’s Central Stadium. Armed groups led by a disaffected deputy defense minister mounted attacks Friday in and near …

NEW ORLEANS – A rare white alligator has died at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. The Audubon Nature Institute announced the death of “Spots” the alligator on Monday. The alligator was 28 years old. The cause of death is being investigated. Spots had a rare genetic …

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Supreme Court has ordered the government to pay at least $510.3 million to a consortium led by German airport operator Fraport AG that built Manila’s newest airport terminal. The decision, made public Wednesday, ends years of legal wrangling over how much compensation Philippine International Air …

SAN FRANCISCO – The owner of a wayward chicken that fouled up traffic at the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge last week is reclaiming his bird. Ken Houston says he was taking two of his chickens to a nearby school garden last Wednesday, when he stopped at the Oakland Army Base, …

BERLIN – German authorities say a United Airlines flight from Frankfurt to San Francisco was ordered back shortly after takeoff because of a bomb threat. A spokesman for the federal police says after the jet returned safely Friday to Frankfurt Airport all luggage and people on board were searched but …

Meltdowns are as much a part of the NFL sidelines as cheerleaders and first-down markers. It seems every week a receiver retreats to the bench yelling at his quarterback, who usually barks right back. Last weekend it was Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub screaming at each other. Sometimes it’s players …

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina freshman Sindarius Thornwell says those complaining about Frank Martin’s sideline behavior don’t understand the coach. He adds the players wouldn’t have anyone else leading the Gamecocks. Martin was suspended one game by the school for harsh language aimed at guard Duane Notice in a loss …

INDIANAPOLIS – Philadelphia finally got things right on the final night of the season. The 76ers looked like the high-scoring, solid defensive team the brass envisioned when it traded for Andrew Bynum. On a night Jrue Holiday and Spencer Hawes played fewer than 10 minutes, Dorell Wright scored 23 points …