Urgency for Vaccine Grows as Virus Ravages China’s Pigs

BEIJING (AP) — Scientists are working to develop a vaccine to help guard the world’s pork supply as a deadly virus ravages Asia’s pig herds. Farmers have long contained its spread by quarantining and killing infected animals, but the disease’s devastating march into East Asia is intensifying the search for another solution. The virus hadn’t been…

Afghanistan Vows to Crush Islamic State Havens After Attack

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s president on Monday vowed to “eliminate” all safe havens of the Islamic State group as the country marked a subdued 100th Independence Day after a horrific wedding attack claimed by the local IS affiliate. President Ashraf Ghani’s comments came as Afghanistan mourns at least 63 people, including children, killed in the Kabul bombing at…

Hong Kong Airport Slowly Reopens After Crippling Protests

HONG KONG (AP) — Airlines were checking in passengers at Hong Kong’s airport Tuesday, a day after protesters forced one of the world’s busiest transport hubs to shut down to highlight their calls for democratic reforms in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. Thousands of protesters took over the facility’s main terminal on Monday, an escalation of…

Epstein Dies In The Dark, But Abuse Investigation Carries On

By JIM MUSTIAN, MICHAEL R. SISAK and MICHAEL BALSAMO NEW YORK (AP) — Jeffrey Epstein died of an apparent suicide in his jail cell, now prompting an additional federal investigation into his death along with one already examining allegations of sexual abuse and conspiracy against him. Epstein, a wealthy financier accused of orchestrating a sex-trafficking…