UNITED NATIONS-SUMMIT

UNITED NATIONS — President Barack Obama pledges all possible tools — military, intelligence and economic — to defeat the Islamic State group, but acknowledges the extremist group has taken root in Syria and Iraq, is resilient and continues to expand. 

UNITED STATES-CUBA

UNITED NATIONS — Making good on a pledge to change U.S. posture toward Cuba, President Barack Obama held talks Tuesday with Cuban President Raul Castro, the second time the leaders of the once-estranged nations have met this year. 

UNITED STATES-AFGHANISTAN

WASHINGTON — In a potential major shift in policy, U.S. military leaders want to keep at least a few thousand U.S. troops in Afghanistan beyond 2016.

OBAMA-SYRIA

NEW YORK — In a year of diplomatic breakthroughs, President Barack Obama can't escape the shadow of Syria's intractable crisis. Obama arrived for his annual trip to the United Nations this week eager to tout the restoration of U.S. diplomatic ties with Cuba and the completion of a landmark nuclear accord with Iran. He shook hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif, the first such encounter by an American president since the 1979 Islamic revolution, and held formal talks with Cuban President Raul Castro.

ISLAMIC STATE SANCTIONS

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government announces sanctions against 25 people and five groups connected to the Islamic State, disclosing intelligence that depicts a sprawling international organization with tentacles across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 

PRESIDENTIAL RACE-REPUBLICANS-TAXES

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidates promise tax cuts for everyone, without much concern for balancing the budget. By Nicholas Riccardi. SENT: 880 words, photos.

With: PRESIDENTIAL RACE-BILL CLINTON-TRUMP; PRESIDENTIAL RACE-CLINTON; PRESIDENTIAL RACE-TRUMP-PUTIN.

CONGRESS-PLANNED PARENTHOOD

WASHINGTON — The head of Planned Parenthood defends the U.S women's health organization before a Republican-run Congress bent on slashing its federal funding, telling lawmakers that accusations against her group fed by stealthily recorded videos are "offensive and categorically untrue." 

PERU-MINE PROTEST

LIMA, Peru — Peru's government suspends civil liberties and mobilizes the military in a highlands region after four people were killed and 22 injured in a clash between police and farmers over a Chinese-owned copper mining project.