TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Scotland Yard chief quits
Sir Paul Stephenson steps down amid Britain’s phone-hacking scandal, just hours after former editor Rebekah Brooks is arrested.
(By Anthony Faiola)
Congress preparing crucial votes on debt limit
The growing sentiment for raising the federal limit on U.S. borrowing sets the stage for a week of largely scripted actions on Capitol Hill, where leaders in both chambers are looking to build support for the plan being crafted by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
(By Zachary A. Goldfarb)
How they spent $32 million
First major spending reports of the 2012 presidential campaign demonstrate styles and priorities.
(By Dan Eggen and T.W. Farnam)
Questions arise about Miranda warnings
An episode at a Virginia school illustrates some of the questions raised about Miranda warnings as the police presence has grown in public schools and after a Supreme Court ruling.
(By Donna St. George)
In Japan, an overflowing cup of pride
For Japan, the victory in the Women’s World Cup is a break from victimhood and a chance to go wild with joy.
(By Chico Harlan)
POLITICS
Remember death panels? New Medicare board, not yet active, is denounced as 'rationing' panel
WASHINGTON — So long death panels. Hello “rationing” board.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Remember death panels? New Medicare board, not yet active, is denounced as 'rationing' panel
WASHINGTON — An independent panel created under President Barack Obama’s health care law to control excessive increases in Medicare costs is drawing heavy fire from Republicans.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Tea party takes its turn in debt battle as 'cut, cap and balance' plan is set for House vote
WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders are giving tea party-backed Republican freshmen the run of the House this week with a plan to let the government borrow another $2.4 trillion — but only after big and immediate spending cuts and adoption by Congress of a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
GOP-leaning group launches TV ads targeting vulnerable House Democrats in 10 districts
WASHINGTON — A conservative group linked with Republican strategist Karl Rove has launched an ad campaign targeting 10 vulnerable House Democrats up for reelection in 2012.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Obama picks former Ohio AG Cordray to lead consumer agency; GOP set to oppose
WASHINGTON — Reigniting a partisan fight over banking regulations, President Barack Obama intends to nominate former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to lead a consumer protection bureau that was a central feature of a law overhauling the rules that govern the financial sector.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
STYLE
In ‘Squirrel,’ it’s Charles Darwin and a rodent
Michael Merino’s “Squirrel, or the Origin of a Species” has Charles Darwin going head to head with a funny squirrel.
(, The Washington Post)
Ask Amy: Family plays ‘please pass the kidney’
A reader’s reluctance to donate a kidney to an ailing relative has in-laws fuming.
(, Tribune Media Service)
Hints From Heloise: The automated voice
A cry in the wilderness against automated answering systems.
(, King)
She thinks her boss is her real soul mate
A newly married woman has taken a job where the boss is more attractive than her husband.
(, The Washington Post)
Hisham Matar shares tales of two Libyan fathers
A missing dad and a country’s “father figure” inspire the author.
( by William Booth LONDON , The Washington Post)
SPORTS
Clarke wins British Open
Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland wins with a 5-under 275, following the path of younger countrymen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell as a major champion.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Li Shixin wins, China finishes 1-2 in men's 1-meter diving at world championships
SHANGHAI — Li Shixin slipped into the water with barely a splash on his final dive, then climbed out of the pool and held up his index finger to signal No. 1.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Ryan Newman holds off car owner Tony Stewart for first victory of season
LOUDON, N.H. — Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart delivered quite the 1-2 punch in New Hampshire.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Weekend Sports in Brief
SOCCER
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Tour leader Thomas Voeckler surprises himself, spurs French fans, but doubts victory in Paris
MONTPELLIER, France — Thomas Voeckler stayed with the big Tour de France favorites in the mountains.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
WORLD
64 missile warheads stolen from Romanian train; authorities say not dangerous on own
BUCHAREST, Romania — Authorities say they are investigating the theft of 64 missile warheads from a train transporting military equipment to Bulgaria.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
British PM: Parliament should delay summer break so he can brief lawmakers on phone hacking
LONDON — British Prime Minister David Cameron, under huge political pressure over the intensifying phone hacking scandal at Rupert Murdoch’s embattled U.K. newspaper empire, said Monday that Parliament should delay its summer break so he can brief lawmakers.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Petraeus hands over command in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan — Gen. John Allen took over command of American and coalition forces in Afghanistan on Monday from Gen. David Petraeus, assuming responsibility as Afghanistan’s international allies draw up exit plans from the nearly 10-year conflict.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
New agreement offers more autonomy to India's ethnic Gorkha separatists
NEW DELHI — The government of the Indian state of West Bengal plans to sign an agreement Monday offering greater autonomy to the Gorkha ethnic group in hopes of ending their often violent agitation for a homeland in the Himalayan foothills.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
UN court orders back Thai, Cambodian troops
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The U.N.’s highest court Monday ordered troops from both Thailand and Cambodia to immediately withdraw military forces from disputed areas around a World Heritage temple straddling their border.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Fix Faceoff: 2012 Presidential Election
Political blogger Chris Cillizza's fast-paced video Q&A about the 2012 presidential election.
(, vForum)
Opinion Focus with Eugene Robinson
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson discusses his recent columns and the latest news in a live Q&A.
(, vForum)
ComPost Live with Alexandra Petri
The Compost, written by Alexandra Petri, offers a lighter take on the news and political in(s)anity of the day.
(, vForum)
Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)
Women's World Cup Final: U.S. vs. Japan recap
A live discussion on the 2011 Women's World Cup final between the U.S. and Japan hosted by Washington Post soccer reporter and blogger Steven Goff.
(, vForum)
TECHNOLOGY
Key dates in the phone hacking scandal that has engulfed Rupert Murdoch's media empire
— November 2005: News of the World royal reporter Clive Goodman writes story saying Prince William has a knee injury. Buckingham Palace complaint prompts police inquiry.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
South Korea's Samsung LED seeks US import ban on Osram products amid patent dispute
SEOUL, South Korea — A Samsung unit is raising the ante in a patent dispute with a German rival over energy-saving LED lighting amid intensifying legal disputes among global companies jockeying for supremacy in key consumer technologies.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
BUSINESS
European debt contagion fears haunt markets; Italian, Spanish yields up as euro drops
LONDON — Worries that Europe’s debt crisis will spread to Italy and Spain weighed on markets Monday after stress tests into the continent’s banks failed to ease tensions ahead of an emergency meeting of EU leaders.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
EU asks states to give citizens access to bank accounts regardless of residency, income
BRUSSELS — The European Union is asking states to make it easier for EU citizens to open a basic bank account, regardless of where they live, their income or credit history.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Fitch says it expects more corporate fraud accusations, probes at Chinese companies
HONG KONG — Chinese companies will continue to be hit by corporate fraud accusations and investigations as the country struggles to improve corporate governance standards, Fitch Ratings said on Monday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Philips posts $1.9B loss in Q2 after big writedown in goodwill; operating profits also worsen
AMSTERDAM — Royal Philips Electronics NV, the world’s largest lighting company, reported a €1.35 billion ($1.9 billion) loss for the second quarter on Monday, mostly due to a writedown on the value of its goodwill — the amount paid in excess of the fair value of companies that it has acquired in the past.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
World stock markets mostly lower, dragged down by debt worries in Europe, US
HONG KONG — Worries about Europe’s banking woes and debt problems in the U.S. dragged global stock markets lower on Monday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
