Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis

As shutdown and default loom, gridlock persists

Karen Tumulty and Paul Kane

Washington hurtles toward the edge of another financial precipice, and no one — conservatives, GOP leadership, congressional Democrats, the White House — seems to have a way to stop it.

Officials: Private cash gives edge to Islamists in Syria

Joby Warrick

Wealthy Arab backers are funneling cash to Islamists in Syria, undermining efforts to raise the standing of moderate militias.

Gunmen kill dozens, take hostages at Nairobi mall

Sudarsan Raghavan

People scramble for safety in Westgate shopping center. (Reuters)

Al-Shabab, a Somali militia linked to al-Qaeda, asserted responsibility for the assault, and the attackers, wielding machine guns and AK-47 rifles, remain holed up with hostages.

Shoppers flee | Photos: Chaos at high-end mall

First and 17: 'You still have chores'

Top recruit Da'Shawn Hand celebrates his debut on ESPN's top 10 plays and gets a job at a gym.

U.S. narrowly escaped nuclear blast in 1961 H-bomb accident, document says

Associated Press

The East Coast explosion would have been 260 times stronger than the one that destroyed Hiroshima.

Why Larry Summers won’t be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve

Ezra Klein

WONKBLOG | His campaign failed because some Democrats see him as a stand-in for the president.

Mass shooting survivors tell a nation: ‘Thoughts and prayers’ aren’t enough

Eli Saslow

Victims of Newtown, Aurora and other sites share stories across a nation they fear has grown numb.

When flooding turns your river cruise into a bus cruise, what do you do?

Christopher Elliott

COLUMN | Flooding in Europe has wreaked havoc with river cruises, disappointing passengers.

Opinions

Why America didn’t stand D.C. Strong

Cynthia McCabe

Twelve people were fatally shot, yet there was no outpouring for the Navy Yard shooting.

More Headlines

Can farmers markets serve the poor?

Michael Lipsky

OUTLOOK | As child poverty rises, local markets are the best place to rethink how to better reach the poor.

Post Magazine

How to handle office screamers

Karla L. Miller

@WORK ADVICE | There are two options when trying to talk with someone who has lost control.

All the financial advice you’ll
ever need fits on this 4x6 index card

All the financial advice you’ll<br> ever need fits on this 4x6 index card

Ezra Klein

WONKBLOG | Follow the principles on this index card and you’ll be in better shape than most Americans.

As Hillary Clinton ponders 2016,
some decisions still haunt her

As Hillary Clinton ponders 2016, <br>some decisions still haunt her

Dan Balz

THE TAKE | Her successes make a strong case for a run, but her past may serve as a warning.

What’s black, white, despised all over?

John Kelly

COLUMN | Sick of all the panda news? You’re not alone. Some people have had enough of the cub.

FUYANG, CHINA - AUGUST 28: 87 year old Dou Shengli walks out of his home at a rural village near Fuyang, Anhui Province, China on 28 August 2013. As able-bodied adults seek work in cities in hopes of better income, more and more villages in China are inhabited mostly by the elderly and children. (Photo by Qilai Shen for The Washington Post)

Dou Shengli, his wife have a one-room home. (Shen/For Post)

In China, ‘nobody takes care of us’

Simon Denyer

Decades of societal turmoil have frayed the ties that once bound families together extremely closely.

‘They have their own families to look after’

Editors’ Picks

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: A fan of the Tampa Bay Rays attempts to steal second base and is tackled by a security guards in the 5th inning during play against the Texas Rangers September 16, 2013 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX***

The week’s best news photos

PHOTOS | Here’s a quick way to catch up on the week’s news, through some of our favorite images.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 3: A view of the living room in Kiera and Michael Kushlan's 750 square foot condo, which has won awards for design on September, 03, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/TWP)

Decorating small spaces

PHOTOS | These D.C. apartments show how to fit clever design into minimal square footage.

Featured Photo Galleries

Attack in Nairobi

Gunmen stormed a high-end mall in the Kenyan capital, lobbing grenades and firing weapons. At least 39 people are dead.

Photos of the day

Giant pumpkin, Cold War performance, space microbe, Colorado floodwaters recede, food-bank drive and more.

The harvest moon boldly shines

Behold the harvest moon, the full moon closest to the fall equinox.

MLB power rankings

Barry Svrluga assesses the best teams in Major League Baseball through Thursday.

Apple’s latest iPhone models go on sale

Fans of the iPhone line up to get the latest smartphone models from Apple.

Champion boxer Ken Norton dies at age 70

The former heavyweight is best remembered for breaking Muhammad Ali’s jaw in a 1973 bout and losing a 1976 rematch.

Animal views

Native Australian animals, Gentle Barn sanctuary, a crying baby elephant, Israel’s sea turtle rescue center and more.

Navy Yard shooting’s aftermath

In the days after a gunman kills 12 at the compound, some workers return while others spend the time in remembrance.

Politics

The state that taxes the poor the most is... a blue one

Niraj Chokshi

GOVBEAT | The state that easily handed Obama a victory also happens to have the nation’s highest tax burden on the poor.

More Opinions

The heroes inside Syria

Samer Attar

We need more good people to make a difference.

Local

Victim in violent struggle at Adams Morgan bar dies; case now a homicide

Matt Zapotosky

Rockwell John Flint, a former teacher, had been in critical condition since he was injured trying to calm an unruly patron at Rendezvous Lounge last month.

Sports

Hokies’ extra effort subdues Marshall

Mark Giannotto

Virginia Tech needs three overtimes — and a number of lucky breaks — to win in the rain in Blacksburg.

Business

The best cancer care isn’t always the most expensive

Harold Pollack

WONKBLOG | Too many patients are subjected to punishing and futile treatments. Too much costly imaging is performed for too little therapeutic benefit.