President Obama, House Speaker Boehner present dueling debt-limit plans to nation
House and Senate leaders formally unveiled dueling backup plans Monday afternoon to raise the federal debt limit after intense negotiations failed Sunday to break a partisan impasse that threatens to throw the government into default next week.
(By Paul Kane and Lori Montgomery)
Achieving political ends, but little else
Both Obama and Boehner delivered a partisan message blaming the other for a breakdown that threatens the nation’s credit rating, its financial markets and the fragile economy.
(By Dan Balz)
Whatever happened to the art of the deal?
The current debt-ceiling debate in Congress is occurring in an atmosphere that seems to make compromise almost impossible.
(By David A. Fahrenthold)
More Americans unhappy with Obama on economy, jobs
A growing number of Americans believe President Obama has hurt the economy, and have lost confidence in his ability to create jobs.
(By Ylan Q. Mui and Jon Cohen)
Wealth gap is wider than ever
The wealth gap between whites and minorities is at a historic high, according to new census data analyzed by the Pew Research Center.
(By Peter Whoriskey)
POLITICS
China orders 2-month nationwide rail safety inspection after train crash; minister apologizes
BEIJING — The Chinese government on Tuesday ordered a two-month, nationwide safety campaign for its railway system after a collision between two bullet trains killed at least 39 people.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Dubai ruler shakes up leadership of emirate's international banking hub; regulator tapped
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Dubai’s ruler is replacing the head of the emirate’s prominent Dubai International Financial Center banking hub with the man charged with overseeing its regulation.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Troops, vets get smartphone help for stresses or battlefield; there's an app for that
WASHINGTON — When terrifying battlefield memories come rushing back to mind, in night sweats, flashbacks or a panic attack, some troops and vets now find comfort by reaching for their smartphones.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
After losing $8 billion last year, Postal Service to consider closing 3,600 retail outlets
WASHINGTON — The Postal Service is considering closing more than one in 10 of its retail outlets.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Rival debt ceiling plans drive Congress into gridlock; Obama appeals for compromise
WASHINGTON — Rival Democratic and Republican plans to raise the government’s borrowing ability have thrust Congress into a standoff just one week away from a potentially devastating debt crisis. President Barack Obama made a last ditch call for compromise, but House Speaker John Boehner said negotiations with the White House had been futile.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
STYLE
Ask Amy: Friend rejects secrecy of platonic friendship
His old landlady is keeping their platonic friendship secret from her new husband, and it just doesn’t feel right to him.
(, Tribune Media Service)
Miss Manners: Refusing to do a favor doesn’t require an excuse
A reader keeps schlepping her friend to a faraway airport when she really doesn’t want to. Apparently she’s under the mistaken belief that “politeness” means catering to everyone’s whims.
(, Universal Press)
Hints From Heloise: Introducing Heloise II
Present-day Heloise finds the column she wrote in 1977 while working for her mother.
(, King)
Prime time for a debt showdown
For Obama, it was practically a regularly scheduled program. For Boehner, it was a pilot episode.
( by Jason Horowitz , The Washington Post)
The music charts, they are a-changin’
Who’s on top in music? With so many outlets for tunes, it’s hard to say, but plenty of companies are trying.
( by Chris Richards , The Washington Post)
SPORTS
Alberto Contador to skip Spanish Vuelta, says he needs to rest
MADRID — Spanish rider Alberto Contador said late Monday that he won’t compete in this year’s Spanish Vuelta after losing his Tour de France crown to Cadel Evans last week.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Monday's Sports in Brief
WASHINGTON — NFL players voted to OK a final labor deal Monday, days after the owners approved a tentative agreement, and the sides finally managed to put an end to the 4½-month lockout, the longest work stoppage in league history.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Hungary edges US 9-8 in quarterfinals of men's water polo worlds
SHANGHAI — Daniel Varga and Denes Varga scored two goals each to lead Hungary to a 9-8 win over the United States in the quarterfinals of the world water polo championships on Tuesday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Rangers pound out baseball-best 20 runs in rout of Twins
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers put on an offensive display — scoring early and often in baseball’s biggest outburst this season.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Not so sweet 16: Mariners extend club record to 16 straight losses, fall to Yankees 10-3
NEW YORK — The Seattle Mariners found nothing sweet about this 16.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
WORLD
Vietnam sends ailing dissident priest back to jail after more than a year of medical parole
HANOI, Vietnam — Authorities in Vietnam have sent an ailing Catholic priest and one of the country’s best-known democracy activists back to jail more than a year after his release on medical parole, an official said Tuesday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Vietnamese prime minister to stay for 2nd term as economic woes deepen
HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung was given a second term at the communist country’s helm Tuesday as the nation tries to overcome economic woes that deepened under his watch.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
35 killed as Taliban try to regain Afghan territory
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan and NATO forces battling insurgents said Tuesday that 35 people have died in escalating violence as the Taliban try to regain territory lost during the winter months to the U.S.-led alliance.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Israeli PM announces reforms aimed at defusing growing protests over housing costs
JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister is responding to growing protests over housing prices with a string of reforms aimed at defusing the crisis.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Helicopters join search for American surfer who disappeared in Indonesian waters
JAKARTA, Indonesia — A helicopter joined fishing boats and divers scouring waters off western Indonesia on Monday in search of an American surfer who disappeared after coming off a powerful 10-foot (3-meter) wave.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
NFL lockout, Redskins chat with Rick Maese
Redskins reporter Rick Maese answers questions about the Redskins and end of the NFL lockout.
(, vForum)
Chatological Humor: Monthly with Moron
Gene Weingarten takes polls and chats about his recent columns.
(, 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)
The Reliable Source Live
Washington Post columnists Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts discuss your favorite gossip, celebrity sightings and their recent columns.
(, vForum)
The Live Fix with Chris Cillizza
Get your Friday Live Fix as Chris Cillizza discusses the 2012 Presidential race and everything that goes with it.
(, vForum)
TECHNOLOGY
Coming Attractions: Wal-Mart launches online digital movie rental and purchase service
NEW YORK — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is now renting and streaming movies online, many the same day they come out on DVD, in a second bid for a share of popular movie rental and streaming website Netflix Inc.’s business.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Nintendo 1Q earnings likely to highlight struggling sales, strong yen
TOKYO — Nintendo’s earnings for the April-June quarter are likely to be lackluster, underscoring how sharply the company’s fortunes have turned since the days when the Wii seemed to be an unstoppable retail force. The Japanese video game and console maker reports results on Thursday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Chinese search site Baidu says quarterly profit up 95 percent on traffic growth
BEIJING — Baidu Inc., which operates China’s dominant search engine, said Tuesday its quarterly profit jumped 95 percent on traffic growth and strong spending by big advertising customers.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
BUSINESS
World stock markets mostly rise as investors anticipate compromise in US debt deadlock
SEOUL, South Korea — World stocks mostly rose Tuesday as investors anticipated a compromise would resolve the U.S. debt deadlock even as President Barack Obama described his country as being dangerously close to default.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Summary Box: Wal-Mart to offer video-streaming service on Web site
NEW YORK — THE NEWS: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Tuesday started a service streaming many movies the day they come out on DVD, a second bid for some of movie rental and streaming website Netflix Inc.’s business.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Poland's jobless rate drops to 11.8 percent in June as economy keeps up growth
WARSAW, Poland — Government statistics show that Poland’s jobless rate fell to 11.8 in June from 12.2 percent in May.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
BP Q2 earnings below forecast at $5.6 billion even as costs of Gulf of Mexico spill diminish
LONDON — BP PLC on Tuesday reported lower than expected earnings for the second quarter as it struggled to lift production in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Wal-Mart launches online digital movie service
NEW YORK — Now playing: Movies at Walmart.com.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)