• As Deadline for Action Looms, Senate Seeks Ways to Avert Shutdown as GOP House Pushes for Defunding Planned Parenthood

  A legislative holding action to avert a U.S. government shutdown began taking shape in the Senate on Tuesday, but it was still far from certain whether a dispute over funding for women's healthcare group Planned Parenthood could be overcome.

  

• Obama Set to Get Pledges for Thousands of U.N. Peacekeepers: Official

  Some 50 world leaders, more than a third from Europe, are set to pledge thousands of troops and police, equipment or training for United Nations peacekeeping missions during a summit that will be chaired by U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday, a U.S. official said.

  

• Volkswagen Says 11 Million Cars Hit by Emissions Cheating Scandal, Probes Multiply

  Volkswagen AG said a scandal over falsified U.S. vehicle emission tests could affect 11 million of its cars around the globe as investigations of its diesel models multiplied, heaping fresh pressure on CEO Martin Winterkorn.

  

• Volkswagen Needs to Explain Away Software to Avoid Criminal Charges, Experts Say

  Volkswagen AG will probably have to show there was some legitimate reason to install software that led to false vehicle emissions tests if it is to avoid U.S. criminal charges, lawyers said on Tuesday.

  

• Greater Sage Grouse Denied U.S. Endangered Species Act Protection

  A long-simmering debate in the American West over the fate of a ground-dwelling bird reached a climax on Tuesday as the Obama administration denied Endangered Species Act protections to the greater sage grouse in favor of less rigid habitat conservation measures.