TEHRAN, Iran – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that the research rocket Iran recently launched was built in just nine months without using any foreign models. Iran’s launch of a rocket in early February provoked unease in an international community already suspicious over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, since the …

HONOLULU – An American has been charged with violating a new federal animal cruelty law by smuggling cockfighting weapons from the Philippines into the United States. Joseph Marty Toralba was arrested at the Honolulu airport on Feb. 2 as he was returning from an international cockfighting derby in the Philippines. …

LUBBOCK, Texas – Bob Knight resigned Monday as coach at Texas Tech, a stunning midseason move by major college basketball’s winningest men’s coach. His son, Pat, a Red Raiders assistant, will take over the program. It was unclear why Knight stepped down. Chris Cook, a spokesman for athletic director Gerald …

JUNEAU, Alaska – Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband are expecting their fifth child in May, she announced Wednesday. Palin, 44, who just three months ago was modeling for the fashion magazine Vogue, doesn’t look seven months pregnant. “I will be delivering an addition to the first family,” Palin told …

BOGOTA, Colombia – Security forces killed the No. 2 commander of Colombia’s main guerrilla group in combat Saturday, dealing what the government called the biggest blow to the leftist force since its formation. Raul Reyes, who became the public face of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia as the group’s …

SLIDELL, La. – A former elementary school custodian, already booked on six counts of aggravated rape involving two 10-year-olds, is facing new allegations, according to police. Dino Jay Schwertz, 41, of Slidell, was booked at the City Jail over the weekend with six counts of aggravated rape against the 10-year-olds. …

SPRINGVILLE, Ala. – The driver of a bus carrying 44 children on a field trip passed out at the wheel, and a teacher’s quick actions kept the vehicle from careening into oncoming traffic, students said. Math teacher Amy King grabbed the steering wheel and tried to straighten the swerving coach, …

Delta, Colo. – A Delta high school teacher is facing child abuse charges for allegedly telling students to beat up another student who was late for class. Delta police say the incident began after 22-year-old teacher Brian Havel ordered the student to do 100 push-ups as punishment for being late. …

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives filed a federal lawsuit Monday to compel former White House counsel Harriet Miers and White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten to testify on the 2006 firing of nine U.S. attorneys. The two had already been found in contempt of the Democratic-led Congress, but …

VIENNA, Austria – A fourth official in western Austria has opened a package containing acid, but was not injured, authorities said Saturday as they widened their investigation into the mysterious targeting of politicians in the area. Alois Lissl, director of public safety in the province of Upper Austria, told reporters …