CONGRESS-IRAN-NUCLEAR

WASHINGTON — The hard-fought nuclear accord with Iran survived the U.S. Senate on Thursday, as Democrats overcame ferocious Republican opposition and delivered President Barack Obama a major victory on his top foreign policy priority. A disapproval resolution for the agreement fell just short of the votes needed to move forward as most Democratic and independent senators banded together against it, all but guaranteeing that the measure would not reach Obama's desk and the nuclear deal will move forward unchecked by a Congress controlled by Republicans. It's an improbable win by Obama in the face of staunch opposition from the state of Israel and Republicans in Washington and on the presidential campaign trail. 

PRESIDENTIAL RACE-TRUMP

WASHINGTON — A wave of criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike rose Thursday after Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump insulted the physical appearance of Carly Fiorina, his party's only female White House contender. It's a new test for the candidacy of the brash-talking Trump, whose standing in opinion polls has surged despite a series of comments that might well have doomed a traditional politician. 

PRESIDENTIAL RACE-BIDEN

NEW YORK — Vice President Joe Biden described himself Thursday as overwhelmed by the recent death of his son and unconvinced he could commit fully to being president, in an emotional interview that cast a deep pall over his deliberations about jumping into the 2016 presidential race. Asked on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" about entering a Democratic race that features frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton, Biden said he said he didn't know if he was prepared to run following Beau Biden's death in May to brain cancer. 

UNITED NATIONS-PALESTINIANS-FLAG

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution allowing the Palestinians and the Holy See to raise their flags at U.N. headquarters — a symbolic step pursued by the Palestinians in their quest for an independent state. Israel strongly objected to the proposal and joined seven other countries, including the United States, in voting "no"; 119 nations voted "yes" and 45 abstained. 

VENEZUELA-OPPOSITION LEADER

CARACAS, Venezuela — A man died and several people were injured as supporters of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez clashed with government loyalists outside a Caracas courthouse in anticipation of an impending verdict. By Hannah Dreier. AP Photos.

URUGUAY-SYRIAN REFUGEES

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — After giving them sanctuary last year, Uruguay will now help a group of Syrian refugees reach another country, President Tabare Vazquez said. 

GUATEMALA-GRAFT INVESTIGATOR

GUATEMALA CITY — Ivan Velasquez, an unassuming, 60-year-old jurist, has become an unlikely celebrity in Guatemala as the head of a U.N. commission whose aggressive investigation of entrenched corruption brought about last week's dramatic resignation of the Central American nation's president. 

UNITED NATIONS-PEACEKEEPING OVERHAUL

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. chief is taking aim at sexual abuse by peacekeepers, calling it "one of my greatest disappointments" and saying he will repatriate the troops of countries that don't act on allegations. The U.N. has already started to suspend payments to countries when allegations are credible. Ban Ki-moon's statements are in response to the first comprehensive assessment of peacekeeping in 15 years and largely agree with a high-level panel's suggestions for a major overhaul. The U.N. has more than 105,000 troops and police in 16 missions in some of the world's most dangerous places. Member states contribute the personnel and receive monthly payments in return.