TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Boehner, Reid scramble to build support for rival plans
House Speaker John A. Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid scrambled to build support for rival debt plans, but both appeared doomed without major bipartisan modifications.
(By Lori Montgomery, Felicia Sonmez and Paul Kane)
Al-Qaeda could collapse, U.S. officials say
The assessment reflects a widespread view at the CIA and other agencies that a relatively small number of blows could effectively extinguish the group.
(By Greg Miller)
70 million government checks a month? It’s even more than that.
The number President Obama used falls short of the real reach of the federal government.
(By Alec MacGillis)
Boehner, Reid give ground on debt proposals
Judging by their plans, both sides appear to have already conceded. The big question is whether these concessions constitute reasoned compromises or weary capitulation.
(By Rosalind S. Helderman and David A. Fahrenthold)
Report: Vikings strike a deal for McNabb
The Redskins have reportedly agreed to the framework of a trade that would send QB Donovan McNabb to the Minnesota Vikings for a sixth-round pick in 2012, and possibly another sixth-rounder in 2013.
(By Mike Jones and Rick Maese)
POLITICS
Lawmaker: More than 40 Americans radicalized and joined Somali terror group to fight
WASHINGTON — More than 40 Americans have been recruited and radicalized by al-Qaida-linked terrorists in Somalia and have gone to the war-torn country to fight, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee says.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Terror arrests prompt delays for Iraqis hoping to move to US; 2011 numbers dramatically down
WASHINGTON — Hussein Ibrahim al-Tikriti has a name and a resume that can create a lot of enemies in Iraq.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Few concrete savings in rival debt-reduction and budget plans by Boehner, Reid
WASHINGTON — They may promise to reduce federal spending by $3 trillion or thereabouts, but the immediate spending cuts in rival budget and debt proposals by House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid only measure a few billion dollars. The rest are mostly promises — and in Reid’s case, a glaring $1 trillion ploy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Default fears abound as lawmakers seem at a loss on how to agree on raising US debt limit
WASHINGTON — Neither the House nor the Senate has a clear path forward for must-pass legislation to allow the government to continue to borrow to pay its bills, putting lawmakers and financial markets alike on edge less than a week before the deadline for heading off a first-ever U.S. default.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Obama changes tone, not message
With each appearance about the debt ceiling crisis, Obama has not altered his message as much as his persona.
( by David Nakamura , The Washington Post)
STYLE
MTV plans tribute to Amy Winehouse
Recommended viewing for Wednesday, July 27.
(, The Washington Post)
Hints From Heloise: From herbs to club soda
Favorite food hints from Heloise Central.
(, King)
Ask Amy: If Freddy Krueger visits you, call on Scooby-Doo
At 23, reader is getting tired of being afraid of the dark.
(, Tribune Media Service)
Too much attention from future in-law
Her future father-in-law commented about how flattering her dress was. Was he making a pass at her?
(, The Washington Post)
Last call for best tomato recipes
This is the sixth annual Washington Post Food section contest that features the best of our readers’ tomato recipes.
(, The Washington Post)
SPORTS
London confident as 1-year Olympic countdown is marked by aquatics center opening, ceremony
LONDON — With one year to go until the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games, London organizers completed the last of the Olympic Park’s permanent venues Wednesday and promised to put on a safe and spectacular event that will captivate the world.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Tuesday's Sports in Brief
SALT LAKE CITY — Olympic silver medalist Jeret “Speedy” Peterson was found dead in a remote canyon in Utah in what police are calling a suicide.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Clueless boss runs Bengals like mom-and-pop store while players keep rushing for the exits
There’s a chilling moment in the movie classic, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” every time a human who doesn’t realize he’s fallen asleep opens his eyes and doesn’t realize his mind and will are no longer his own.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
With agreement in place, Chicago Bears can shift their focus to business on field
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The fun has officially started for the Chicago Bears.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Detroit Lions begin returning to camp after lockout ends, hope to build on strong 2010 finish
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Cliff Avril pulled up to the gate and opened his window as a crowd of reporters converged on his Escalade.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
WORLD
Athletes rally in Baghdad, demand release of Iraqi football player detained in Bahrain
BAGHDAD — Dozens of athletes rallied in Baghdad on Wednesday, demanding the release of a 16-year-old Iraqi football player detained in Bahrain earlier this year when the country was swept by anti-government protests.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Britain officially recognizes Libyan rebels as country's legitimate government
LONDON — Britain officially recognizes Libyan rebels as country’s legitimate government.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
N. Korea demands peace treaty with U.S.
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea demanded Wednesday that the United States sign a peace treaty formally ending the Korean War, as a senior North Korean diplomat visited New York to negotiate ways to restart six-nation nuclear disarmament talks.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Jewish group urges Iran be barred from Olympics until Iranians end boycott of Israeli athletes
JERUSALEM — A Jewish organization says Iran should be barred from taking part in the Olympics and other international sporting events until its athletes stop boycotting their Israeli counterparts.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Foreign Office: Britain to expel all Libyan embassy staff
LONDON — The British government says it is expelling all remaining staff from the Libyan embassy, as it recognizes the country’s rebels as the legitimate government.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Opinion Focus with Eugene Robinson
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson discusses his recent columns and the latest news in a live Q&A.
(, vForum)
Debt Ceiling drama: Why Jonathan Capehart thinks your voice needs to be heard
In his Post-Partisan blog post today, Opinion writer Jonathan Capehart said that "Folks should be marching on the Capitol" in protest of the way the debt issue is being handled. Do you agree?
(, vForum)
Barbara Hawthorn, the DC-based designer who decorated the Capitol Hill home in this week's section, joins Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza in the weekly Home Front chat.
Barbara Hawthorn, the DC-based designer who decorated the Capitol Hill home in this week's section, joins the weekly chat.
(, vForum)
Chatological Humor: Monthly with Moron
Gene Weingarten takes polls and chats about his recent columns.
(, 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)
TECHNOLOGY
iOS 5 To Have Powerful Face Detection
( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)
SAP Now Allows Businesses To Layer Big Data With Google Maps And Earth
( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)
Daily Crunch: Handset
( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)
BuddyTV Turns Your iPhone Into A Smarter Viewing Guide And Remote
( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)
Olympus E-PL3 Gets Price And September Shipping
( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)
BUSINESS
French carmaker Peugeot Citroen posts higher 1st half earnings, warns on rising costs
PARIS — French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen SA has warned that repercussions from this year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan will weigh on its earnings in the second half of the year, sending its share price sharply lower Wednesday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Nissan quarterly profit drops 20.3 percent on quake disruption, rising yen and material costs
TOKYO — Nissan’s quarterly profit dropped a smaller-than-expected 20 percent as Japanese automakers took a battering from the quake and tsunami disaster that disrupted car production and destroyed dealerships.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
iOS 5 To Have Powerful Face Detection
( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)
Asian stock markets mostly lower, weighed down by US debt concerns as deadline looms
HONG KONG — World stock markets wallowed Wednesday as the U.S. government edged closer to defaulting after lawmakers in the world’s biggest economy failed to make significant progress on raising its borrowing limit.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Moody's downgrades Nokia's credit rating amid concerns over its smartphones
LONDON — Moody’s has downgraded its credit rating on Finnish mobile phone company Nokia by two notches partly because of a loss of competitiveneses of its smartphones.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)