U.S., Chinese athletes battle it out at Olympics

The tense U.S.-Chinese relationship is playing out on the Olympic stage as accusations of doping and poor sportsmanship on both sides — and a thirst to one-up each other in medal count — highlight the friction between the world's only superpower and its burgeoning Asian rival.

Slaying the monstrous tax code is no easy task

From President Obama to House Speaker John A. Boehner, there's broad consensus that Congress needs to unclutter the federal tax code and remove the special breaks that litter its 70,000 pages -- but Thursday's dry run in a Senate committee showed just how tough it will be to slash.

White House advised early Solyndra's light was going dim

A top White House adviser received clear notice that solar panel maker Solyndra Inc. faced a "severe liquidity crisis" even before a controversial restructuring allowing investors to recoup money from the now-bankrupt company before taxpayers, documents released Thursday show.

Argentine president toys with challengers in own party

Less than a year into her second term, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez is scrambling to rein in key party allies who already are jockeying to succeed her amid an increasingly dire fiscal situation.

Weak U.S. hiring expected for fourth straight month

U.S. hiring was likely sluggish in July for a fourth straight month, held back by slower economic growth and an uncertain outlook.

AIDS used as reason to legalize prostitutes

Pro-prostitution groups are latching onto the global AIDS epidemic to push for worldwide legalization of the world's oldest profession.

Romney to Reid on tax accusations: 'Put up or shut up'

Mitt Romney on Thursday directly addressed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's insinuation that the former Massachusetts governor didn't pay any taxes for 10 years, telling the Nevada Democrat to put his money where his mouth is.

Romney focuses on middle class

Mitt Romney touted his five-point economic plan here Thursday, saying it would create 12 million jobs, while President Obama in Florida called it a scheme to give millions in tax cuts to the richest Americans.

Congress extends sanctions on Myanmar

The Senate on Thursday approved legislation to extend some sanctions on Myanmar by another year.

Annan quits as Syrian envoy

Kofi Annan has resigned as the United Nations' and the Arab League's special envoy for the Syrian crisis.

Inside the Beltway: The Governor's Posse

Hey, include Gary Johnson in the presidential debates and let America have access to a third party, say his allies. Or else.

Vouchers given to 1,788 D.C. public school students

More than 1,700 students from the District will get the chance to attend a private school this year through a federal voucher program, despite an ongoing debate among leaders in the city and on Capitol Hill about whether "school choice" should stay within the bounds of the public school system.

House reprimands California congresswoman

The House prolonged its three-year ethics investigation of one California Democrat while officially voting to reprimand and fine another.

U.S. sends $12M in new aid for Syrian refugees

The Obama administration is providing $12 million in new humanitarian assistance to help hundreds of thousands of displaced or suffering Syrian civilians as civil war continues to rage between rebels and the Assad regime.

New Egypt Cabinet sworn in, faces heavy tasks

Egypt's new prime minister and his Cabinet were sworn in on Thursday, the first government since the election of a Muslim Brotherhood leader as the country's first freely elected president.

Palestinians brace for repercussions over U.N. bid

The Palestinians are bracing for possible punitive reactions by the U.S. and Israel if they go ahead with plans to seek U.N. General Assembly recognition of "Palestine" as a non-member observer state, according to an internal document obtained Thursday.

Commentary

BOONE: Lay off Chick-fil-A

One of the very few specific things I remember from my college days was a psychological principle called "negative persuasion." It was so instantly and experientially true that I've never forgotten it.

CALABRIA: Dodd-Frank's small-business lending time bomb

After two years of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a few of the landmines hidden in its hundreds of pages are starting to come to the surface.

NUGENT: Nut control, not gun control

In the wake of the massacre in Aurora, Colo., the left has once again resorted to clamoring for further restrictions on the right of law-abiding citizens to own guns and defend ourselves -- even in the face of inescapable evidence that such restrictions are at the root cause of such slaughters.

MILLER: When only criminals have guns

In the nation's capital, it's a fair question to ask: Who gets the better deal, innocent citizens who want to own a gun, or dangerous criminals? The District's deliberate policy of releasing criminals back onto the streets shows the liberal city council's answer has little to do with public safety.

EDITORIAL: Tea Party Tuesday

The Tea Party hasn't dominated the headlines in quite some time. Following its ballot-box success in 2010, the loosely organized small-government movement has taken a breather. Results from Tuesday's primary elections in Texas and Georgia leave little doubt that the Tea Party is back and ready for action in November.