• Islamic State Steps Up Counter-Attacks as Mosul Offensive Enters Second Week

  Islamic State expanded its attacks on Monday against Iraqi army and Kurdish forces to relieve pressure on its militants confronting an offensive on Mosul, its last major urban stronghold in the country.

  

• 'Gay Cake' Appeal: Christian Bakers Lose Appeal

  A Northern Irish bakery that refused to bake a cake iced with a pro-gay slogan lost its bid to overturn its prosecution for discrimination on Monday as a local court rejected an appeal based on its owners' Christian beliefs.

  

• Last Presidential Debate: Donald Trump Facing Last Big Chance to Make a Mark Before Nov. 8

  U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump faces a formidable challenge on Wednesday when he and Democrat Hillary Clinton face off in their third and final debate as Trump tries to reverse his standing in an election that appears to be tilting away from him.

  

• Gunman Who Killed Three at Planned Parenthood Clinic Says Being Drugged Against his Will

  A gunman deemed mentally unfit to stand trial for killing three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado last year said in a courtroom outburst on Tuesday that he is being "forcibly" drugged at a state hospital.

  

• Abandoned Villages on Road to Mosul Rigged with Tunnels and Bombs

  A deep tunnel, booby trapped with an improvised explosive device, burrows under houses at the entrance to the village. Nearby, an anti-personnel mine lies half buried in a dirt road.