UNITED NATIONS AT 70

UNITED NATIONS — The worsening war in Syria, allegations of child sexual abuse by U.N. peacekeepers and the mishandling of the Ebola epidemic cast a spotlight on the inadequacies of the United Nations in a globalized world, operating with a power structure that hasn't changed since 1945. 

POPE

WASHINGTON — Pope Francis is bringing his resonant message of humility and hope to Capitol Hill as he becomes the first pontiff in history to speak to a joint meeting of Congress. By Erica Werner and Nicole Winfield.

COLOMBIA-PEACE TALKS

HAVANA — Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the leader of the country's largest rebel group announced an important breakthrough in peace talks that sets the stage to end Latin America's longest-running armed conflict. 

CHINESE PRESIDENT-US VISIT

SEATTLE — With his feel-good tours of Boeing, Microsoft and a local high school complete, Chinese President Xi Jinping departs Washington state Thursday for the other Washington, where tougher discussions on cybersecurity, intellectual property protections and human rights await. 

With: STATE DINNER-CHINA REDO — China will get its second state dinner with President Barack Obama when its leader, Xi Jinping, arrives at the White House on Friday. The question is, how will the United States make this shindig different from the last one. 

VENEZUELA-COLOMBIA

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Nicolas Maduro has extended an anti-smuggling crackdown on his country's border with Colombia while denying that his government's troops are threatening neighboring Guyana to the east.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE-TRUMP

COLUMBIA, South Carolina — Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is boasting about keeping his lead in the polls, but that isn't deterring him from sniping at rivals and complaining about the media.