TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
New Senate debt plan gains support
Meanwhile, House Republicans pass a balanced-budget measure.
(By Lori Montgomery and Rosalind S. Helderman)
Post-ABC poll: Public sees dire consequences of budget deal failure
Neither Republicans nor President Obama are seen as willing to compromise, though the GOP fares worse.
(By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen)
Murdoch denies knowledge of hacking
A parliamentary committee grills power brokers who have been tainted by the phone-hacking scandal, including Rupert Murdoch and his son James and Rebekah Brooks.
(By Anthony Faiola)
Murdoch’s pieing is nothing new
A pie in the face is the prankster’s eternal signature.
(By Manuel Roig-Franzia and Monica Hesse)
Two charged in alleged spy scheme
The Justice Department alleges that a Kashmiri American group is a financial front for Pakistan’s intelligence services.
(By Dan Eggen)
POLITICS
Obama to talk economy, debt ceiling with more TV stations as deficit talks press on
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama continues his push for an agreement to raise the debt ceiling by sitting down this morning for more broadcast interviews.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Minn. congressman offers plan to make dairy industry more profitable, less costly to taxpayers
MILWAUKEE — When milk prices plummeted in 2009, wiping out years of savings and causing hundreds of dairy farms to go under, struggling farmers pleaded for the government to do something to help stabilize prices and inspire growth.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
As conservatives balk, House Speaker seeks bipartisan majority to raise federal debt ceiling
WASHINGTON — The terms “billions” and “trillions” are tossed around in the nation’s debt ceiling debate. Probably no number, however, is more important than 217.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Harrisburg city council rejects Pa. appointee's financial recovery plan
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The city council in Pennsylvania’s financially troubled state capital on Tuesday rejected a recovery plan written by state-appointed consultants, forcing the mayor to write her own plan and keeping alive talk of seeking federal bankruptcy protection.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Justice corrects anthrax filing
The Justice Department said it is not altering its position regarding the 2001 anthrax attacks.
( Associated Press , The Washington Post)
STYLE
(, The Washington Post)
Ask Amy: Ex-stepmother claims the kids as her own
Seeing her husband’s ex-wife claiming to be her kids’ mother on Facebook really irritates this single mother, to the point where she’s considering consulting an attorney.
(, Tribune Media Service)
Caught between unyielding parents
Her parents complain about each other but won’t do anything about it, and she’s caught in the middle.
(, The Washington Post)
Good to Go: Fettoosh in Arlington
Fettoosh in Arlington will transport you to the Mediterranean with its fresh Lebanese fare.
(, The Washington Post)
First Bite: Seasonal Pantry
Chef Daniel O’Brien offers a meal three nights a week in his small food shop in Shaw.
(, The Washington Post)
SPORTS
9 players from 7 countries make World Series of Poker final table in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — Nine poker players from seven countries made the final table of the World Series of Poker main event early Wednesday after a 23-year-old from Costa Rica busted out of the no-limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament in 10th place.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
A glance at the final 9 players in the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — The final nine players in the World Series of Poker main event, as determined Tuesday night after an eighth session of no-limit Texas Hold ‘em at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The finalists emerged from a field of 6,865 players and will compete Nov. 5-7 for the tournament’s top prize of $8.71 million. Ninth place will win $782,115, to be paid Wednesday; higher finishers will win at least $1,009,910 and be paid the difference from ninth-place money in November. Players are in order of their seating arrangement at the final table.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Tuesday's Sports in Brief
FOOTBALL
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
After tough time at British Open, Bernhard Langer hopes for better luck at senior version
WALTON ON THE HILL, England — After struggling in the rainswept British Open, Bernhard Langer hopes he’s back in his element in the senior version on a course that holds fond memories.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Chinese star Yao Ming retires, ending basketball career cut short by foot and leg injuries
SHANGHAI — The NBA’s version of the Ming Dynasty is done. After helping pro basketball gain a foothold in the world’s most populous market, Chinese star Yao Ming has retired.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
WORLD
Clinton nudges India to broaden interests, influence in China's backyard
CHENNAI, India — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is urging India to expand its traditional sphere of interest beyond South Asia to compete with China’s increasing assertiveness around the continent.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Serbia arrests last war crimes fugitive
BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbian TV station B92 says authorities have arrested Goran Hadzic, the last remaining fugitive sought by the U.N. war crimes court.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Cameron to face parliament day after Murdoch accepts no personal blame for hacking scandal
LONDON — Prime Minister David Cameron faces lawmakers Wednesday at an emergency parliament session on Britain’s spreading hacking and bribery investigation, a day after media mogul Rupert Murdoch accepted no responsibility for wrongdoing in the scandal that is threatening some of Britain’s most powerful people.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
UN: Parts of Somalia suffering from famine and tens of thousands have died, mostly children
NAIROBI, Kenya — Parts of southern Somalia are suffering from famine, a U.N. official said Wednesday, and tens of thousands of Somalis have already died in the worst hunger emergency in a generation.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Rupert Murdoch's Australian company distances itself from phone hacking scandal in Britain
SYDNEY — Rupert Murdoch’s Australian media company insisted Wednesday it has no connection with the phone hacking controversy in Britain and said it is willing to answer any questions about its local operations.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Free Range on Food
Free Range on Food is a forum for discussion of all things culinary.
(, vForum)
The Web Hostess: Online manners, memes and must-see video
A weekly chat about the best ways to kill time online. Our Web Hostess, Monica Hesse, sifts the Internet so you don't have to, searching for meaning, manners and the next great meme.
(, vForum)
Adrian Higgins gives advice on grooming your garden in the spring and summer
How to improve your garden in the summer
(, vForum)
D.C. Mayor's Office Live: Vincent Gray on teacher evaluations, council changes
District Mayor Vincent C. Gray will answer reader questions about recent public school teacher firings, changes on the D.C. Council and more in his monthly live Q&A.
(, 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)
TECHNOLOGY
South Korea moves to replace paper with digital textbooks for its tech-savvy students
GOESAN, South Korea — Outside the classroom a hot summer day beckons, but fourth-grade teacher Yeon Eun-jung’s students are glued to their tablet PCs as they watch an animated boy and a girl squabble about whether water becomes heavier when frozen.
(Associated PressAssociated Press, AP)
Roku hopes addition of 'Angry Birds' game spurs sales of its latest flock of set-top boxes
SAN FRANCISCO — Roku is ready to hatch the popular “Angry Birds” video game on a new version of its set-top box for streaming online entertainment to TVs.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Venture-capital investments rise in second quarter, along with first-time financings
SAN FRANCISCO — Venture capitalists invested more in U.S. startups in the second quarter than they did during the same period a year ago, suggesting that investors are ramping up their search for the next Facebook or Twitter.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Apple results surpass expectations in third quarter, with record iPhone, iPad sales
NEW YORK — Apple Inc.’s results trumped expectations for yet another quarter, with iPhone and iPad sales setting new records.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Summary Box: Venture-capital investments rise in 2nd quarter, along with first-time financings
FUNDING UP: During the April-June period, venture capitalists invested more in U.S. startups than they did a year earlier, according to a study slated for release Wednesday. While the IPO and acquisition markets are still rough, more startups received their first round of financing in the quarter — a sign that more investors are looking for hot, new companies.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
BUSINESS
South Korea moves to replace paper with digital textbooks for its tech-savvy students
GOESAN, South Korea — Outside the classroom a hot summer day beckons, but fourth-grade teacher Yeon Eun-jung’s students are glued to their tablet PCs as they watch an animated boy and a girl squabble about whether water becomes heavier when frozen.
(Associated PressAssociated Press, AP)
Spain's Bankia savings bank group stock float to test investor confidence
MADRID — Spain’s third-largest banking group will test investor confidence when it floats on the Madrid exchange Wednesday in an attempt to raise money to meet new capital requirements.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
No change in July in Bank of England voting on key rate as growth concerns heighten
LONDON — Seven of nine members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep the key interest rate at a low of 0.5 percent in July, according to minutes suggesting heightened growth concerns had reduced the likelihood of a hike in coming months.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Asian stocks rise as investors are encouraged by healthy earnings reports from US companies
HONG KONG — World stock markets rose Wednesday, boosted by healthy earnings reports from U.S. companies and optimism that U.S. and European politicians may be closer to working out their debt problems.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Samsung sets Galaxy S II smartphone's US rollout for August
SEOUL, South Korea — Samsung plans to roll out its top line Galaxy S II smartphone in the United States next month.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)