POPE

HAVANA — Pope Francis flies to eastern Cuba on Monday for the next leg of his pilgrimage after having met with both Raul and Fidel Castro but missing out on an encounter with Cuban dissidents.

 

POPE-COLOMBIA

HAVANA — Pope Francis begs the Colombian government and rebels to end South America's longest-running conflict, saying they simply have no right to let ongoing peace talks fail.

 

POPE-CONGRESS

WASHINGTON — This week's historic address by Pope Francis to a joint meeting of Congress has lawmakers of all political affiliations and religious backgrounds buzzing. For the many Catholic lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including Republican Boehner and Democrat Pelosi, the occasion carries special significance, even as they brace for the unconventional pontiff to make both parties squirm with his focus on hot-button political and social issues.

 

UNITED STATES-IRAN NUCLEAR

WASHINGTON — It's a done deal, yet opponents of the Iran nuclear agreement won't go quietly. The 60-day congressional review period has expired, and last week the State Department outlined its plan to put in place an accord that aims to prevent Iran from becoming nuclear-armed. Congress is poised to start cranking out legislation to reinstate sanctions or shore up what some lawmakers say is an ill-fated pact with a state supporter of terrorism.

 

UNITED NATIONS-DEVELOPMENT GOALS

A season of goal-setting begins this month as the United Nations launches a new 15-year plan to fight grinding world poverty, improve health and education and quell climate change. With United Nations-Development Goals-Glance.

 

UNITED STATES-CHINA-TOP ISSUES

WASHINGTON — Key issues facing the United States and China as the Asian nation's leader, Xi Jinping, makes his first U.S. state visit since becoming president in 2013. President Barack Obama will host Xi at the White House on Friday.

 

PRESIDENTIAL RACE-REPUBLICANS

WASHINGTON — A leading Republican presidential candidate says he doesn't believe that a Muslim should be elected to the nation's top office, stirring up yet another controversy for a party that professes a commitment to broaden its appeal and promote tolerance.

 

WHITE HOUSE-SOCIAL SECRETARY-WHAT A WEEK

WASHINGTON — The diplomatic double whammy of back-to-back visits by Pope Francis and Chinese President Xi Jinping is creating some pressure-filled days for Deesha Dyer, five months into her tenure as White House social secretary.

 

COLOMBIA-PLANE CRASH

BOGOTA, Colombia — The sole survivor of a plane crash in Colombia that killed two people during work on an upcoming Tom Cruise movie has been transferred to the U.S.

 

EMMYS

LOS ANGELES — Long-standing barriers fall at the Emmy Awards as Viola Davis becomes the first non-white actress to claim top drama acting honors, Jon Hamm finally wins for "Mad Men," and "Game of Thrones" overcomes Emmy anti-fantasy resistance to claim the top drama award. AP Photos.