TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
‘Decision time’ on debt, Obama says
As negotiation falters, Senate works on framework to raise debt limit.
(By Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane)
Banks, investors show no default leeway
U.S. outreach seeking ways to soften blow of possible debt-limit breach proves unfruitful.
(By Zachary A. Goldfarb)
Ahmed Wali Karzai’s killer had been a Taliban foe
Afghan officials are exploring signs that Taliban convinced the police commander to switch sides.
(By Joshua Partlow)
Woman, child survive Beltway bailout
A woman holding a toddler in her arms jumps out of a moving car after a man forced his way into the vehicle, police say.
(By Justin Jouvenal)
Why is the world so wild about Harry Potter?
With the release of the final movie, where does a cultural touchstone that defined a decade go now?
(By Monica Hesse)
POLITICS
Murdoch protege Rebekah Brooks resigns
LONDON — News International says that CEO Rebekah Brooks has resigned.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Phone hacking scandal casts light on Murdoch's political role around the globe
WASHINGTON — Rupert Murdoch is a political kingmaker in Britain and his native Australia. In the United States, he’s best known for promoting conservative opinion through media properties like the Fox News Channel. And in China, he’s primarily a businessman working to give his News Corp. empire a toehold in that country’s tightly controlled media market.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Campaign finance reports give hint into Republicans' presidential hopefuls and their viability
WASHINGTON — Six months before the first votes are cast, Republican presidential contenders are disclosing how much cash they have available — and how much debt they have to overcome — to win the GOP’s nomination.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Obama's hands-on negotiations with lawmakers each day 'the only option' as debt crisis deepens
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s decision to haul lawmakers in day by day to negotiate a debt deal comes down to reality: He has no other choice. The president has essentially cleared his agenda to deal with one enormous crisis.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Cool places, high prices
Al Kamen’s In the Loop, on a BIA budget meeting in Bar Harbor, Maine, and Donald Rumsfeld’s TSA pat-down.
(, The Washington Post)
STYLE
Hints From Heloise: Grout in doubt
Tips on cleaning stubborn tile grout.
(, King)
Ask Amy: Family joins elephant in the room for visits
A well-meaning grandmother arranges reunions with her deadbeat son and his disinterested adult child. What she nor her son will acknowledge, though, is his absence and neglect during her grandson’s youth
(, Tribune Media Service)
Absence made the heart grow distant
A reader’s boyfriend has changed since a three-week overseas trip.
(, The Washington Post)
‘Chinese Flowers’ at Freer
Every blossom tells a story in “Chinese Flowers,” the latest in the Freer Gallery’s series of season-related exhibitions.
( by Mark Jenkins , The Washington Post)
Blazing a lot of firsts as top lady
Betty Ford blazed trails as a progressive political wife, but the office of the first lady has not done much with those trails.
(, The Washington Post)
SPORTS
Re-Bjorn: Returning to site of 2003 meltdown, Dane roars to 65 for early British Open lead
SANDWICH, England — Enough about 2003. Thomas Bjorn is trying to create some new memories at Royal St. George’s.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Thursday's Sports in Brief
FOOTBALL
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
On Baseball: With Bonds and Clemens, you can't put a baseball star on trial without a mistrial
NEW YORK — Seems you can’t put a baseball star on trial without a mistrial.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Cesar Cielo's doping case overshadows preparations for swimming world championships
SHANGHAI — Cesar Cielo’s doping case overshadowed the preparations of other athletes a day before the opening of the world swimming championships.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
St. Louis Cardinals finally healthy for 2nd-half run at division, playoffs
ST. LOUIS — Tony La Russa rapped his head several times, part a superstitious plea that the tough times are finally past for the St. Louis Cardinals.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
WORLD
Thai Foreign Minister visiting Germany in bid to rechieve the Crown Prince's impounded plane
BERLIN — Germany says Thailand’s foreign minister is coming to Berlin in a bid to retrieve Thai Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s plane, which was impounded earlier this week.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Pirates holding S. Korean hostages demand compensation for deadly Korean navy raid
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali pirates holding South Korean hostages demanded on Friday that the South Korean government release pirate prisoners and pay compensation for a commando raid that killed several pirates earlier this year.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Belgian court upholds acquittal of sleepwalker who sexually assaulted 9-year-old girl
MONS, Belgium — A Belgian court says it believes a man accused of sexually fondling a 9-year-old girl is not guilty because he did it in his sleep.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Indian army kills 3 suspected rebels during raid in disputed Kashmir
SRINAGAR, India — The Indian army says it has killed at least three suspected rebels in a raid in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Washington's former ambassador to UN says Palestinian campaign for recognition means little
JERUSALEM — A Palestinian attempt to gain U.N. recognition without a peace agreement with Israel means “next to nothing” even if it succeeds, a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said Friday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Women's World Cup final: U.S. vs. Japan preview
Previewing the 2011 Women's World Cup soccer final between the United States and Japan in a live discussion between Washington Post readers and Navy women's soccer coach Carin Gabarra.
(, vForum)
Emmy nominations: Lisa de Moraes on the TV Column
Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes is back and ready to chat about all the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes!
(, vForum)
Free Range on Food
Free Range on Food is a forum for discussion of all things culinary.
(, vForum)
Five myths about Jane Austen
Carol Adams separates Jane Austen fact from fiction.
(, vForum)
Got Plans? Discuss great ideas for local entertainment, dates and family fun with the Going Out Gurus.
The Going Out Guide staff discuss great ideas for local entertainment, dates and family fun.
(, vForum)
TECHNOLOGY
Japan Earthquake Pushes Sony Ericsson To A Q2 Loss; Smartphones Account For 70 Percent Of Sales
( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)
Daily Crunch: Smart Home
( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)
DoAT Quickly Adds Google+ Sharing From The iPhone In A Clever Way
( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)
AP source: FBI opens investigation into whether News Corp tried to hack 9/11 victims' phones
NEW YORK — The FBI has opened an investigation into allegations that media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. sought to hack into the phones of Sept. 11 victims, a law enforcement official said Thursday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Nintendo DS Still Outselling 3DS Two To One
( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)
BUSINESS
Volkswagen AG announces record 1st-half group sales of more than 4 million vehicles
BERLIN — Germany’s Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest automaker, said Friday it set a new first-half group sales record, as strong growth in the Asia-Pacific region boosted deliveries.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Europe awaits bank stress test results with hope
FRANKFURT, Germany — Ninety European banks get their test results back Friday, as regulators seek to increase transparency and convince the markets that the global financial system can withstand big shocks like a possible Greek debt default.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
SKorean lawyer and iPhone fan wages legal fight against Apple over privacy
SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean lawyer and self-described iPhone fan is waging a legal battle against Apple Inc. over the device’s tracking capabilities.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Italy to give final approval to austerity measures seen as key to avoiding debt crisis
ROME — The lower house of Italy’s parliament has begun discussing a €70 billion ($99 billion) austerity package ahead of a final vote on the measures seen as crucial to averting a debt crisis in the eurozone’s third largest economy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Justice Department probing Credit Suisse
GENEVA — Swiss bank Credit Suisse says its cross-border business is the subject of a U.S. Justice Department investigation.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
