CONGRESS-IRAN NUCLEAR

WASHINGTON — It was supposed to be a long and uncomfortable August for Democrats undecided about President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, but so far the political heat brought on by opponents of the much-contested accord is more of a simmer than a rolling boil. 

ISLAMIC STATE CHEMICAL WEAPONS

EDGARTOWN, Massachusetts — The United States is investigating whether the Islamic State used chemical weapons, the White House said, following allegations that IS militants deployed chemical weapons against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq. 

CUBA-UNITED STATES

HAVANA — Washington's top diplomat comes to Havana on Friday to raise the Stars and Stripes over the newly reopened U.S. Embassy, making a symbolically charged victory lap for the Obama administration's new policy of engagement with Cuba. 

PRESIDENTIAL RACE-BUSH-TORTURE

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush declines to rule out resuming the use of torture under some circumstances by the U.S. government. 

ECUADOR-STRIKE

QUITO, Ecuador — A general strike against President Rafael Correa virtually paralyzes Ecuador's capital, provincial cities and major highways, and violent clashes break out between protesters and police in several cities.