It had all the makings of a public-health horror story: an outbreak of a wildly deadly virus on the doorstep of the nation's capital, with dozens of lab monkeys dead, multiple people testing positive, and no precedent in this country on how to contain it.

Americans' introduction to the Ebola virus came 25 years ago in an office park near Washington Dulles International Airport, a covert crisis that captivated the public only years later when it formed the basis of a bestselling book.

Islamic militants' growing influence in Iraq and Syria is a threat to Americans, lawmakers from both political parties agreed Sunday even as they sharply disagreed on what role the United States should play in trying to crush them.

President Barack Obama last week approved limited airstrikes against Islamic State fighters, whose rapid rise in June plunged Iraq into its worst crisis since the end of 2011, when U.S. troops withdrew from the country at the end of an unpopular eight-year war. Obama said the current military campaign would be a "long-term project" to protect civilians from the deadly and brutal insurgents.

J.K. Rowling published a new Harry Potter short story last month. And Daniel Radcliffe braced himself once again.

The 25-year-old British star faces consistent and persistent questions from fans and the press about whether he'll return to the character that he spent much of his childhood playing. Rowling's story of a 34-year-old Potter posted online was not going to help matters.

A 78-year-old Florida woman tried to fly on an international trip to the Philippines from Detroit Metropolitan Airport with almost $41,000 in cash hidden inside her girdle, bra and carry-on bag, federal authorities said.

A complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Detroit said the Clearwater woman was trying to board a flight April 2 to the Philippines with her daughter. She initially said she had $200 in cash but submitted a form declaring she had $1,200, prompting questions.

Roger Federer advanced to the Rogers Cup final Saturday night, beating Spain's Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4 to set up a match against upset-happy Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The second-ranked Federer is seeking his third titles of the year. He has 79 career titles and is a 17-time Grand Slam champion.

A new generation of Japanese architects is scoring success by reinterpreting the past.

Unlike their predecessors, who modernized Japan with Western-style edifices, they talk of fluidly defining space with screens, innovatively blending with nature, taking advantage of earthy materials and incorporating natural light, all trademarks of Japanese design.

The United States' top disease detective calls Ebola a "painful, dreadful, merciless virus."

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak in West Africa an international emergency, killing more than 900 people and spreading.

Sending heavier vehicles and, eventually, humans to Mars requires first testing new technologies to see if they actually work.

But it's infeasible to conduct experiments on the red planet, so to mimic Mars' low-density atmosphere, NASA sent a saucer-like test vehicle high above the Earth.

Legendary director Woody Allen has added his handprints to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but not the one in California.

It's in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

The adventures of sisters Anna and Elsa of "Frozen" fame will continue, at least on paper.

Random House Children's Books announced Friday that they will launch a new series next year tied to the blockbuster Disney movie. The first two books, "Anna & Elsa #1: All Hail the Queen" and "Anna & Elsa #2: Memory and Magic," are scheduled for January. The planned first printing for each book is 150,000 copies.