U.S. strikes Somali militants, al-Qaeda member

Navy SEALs have raided the home of a leader of al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group behind a mall attack in Kenya, and the U.S. military has been involved in the capture of a terrorist suspected in the 1998 embassy bombings, officials say.

In U.S. politics, darker reds, deeper blues and little purple

The government shutdown is the latest manifestation of strong partisan divisions deeply embedded in American politics.

Nearly 350K on furlough to return to defense jobs

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The Pentagon says its workers are needed for military support. (AFP/Getty)

The Pentagon has ordered most of its civilian employees back to work, and the House passes a bill to give federal workers retroactive pay when the government shutdown ends.

Syria’s moving of weapons may signal cooperation with demolition effort

Syria’s moving of weapons may signal cooperation with demolition effort

Damascus is consolidating its chemical arsenal as international teams prepare to dismantle it.

Coffee. Chitchat. E-mail. At Navy Yard, the reassuring routine — then, gunfire.

Coffee. Chitchat. E-mail. At Navy Yard, the reassuring routine — then, gunfire.

The tightknit “Cube Farm” was just settling into the clockwork of a Monday when a shooter killed 12.

Forcing eye contact while arguing? Here’s why you will probably lose.

Forcing eye contact while arguing? Here’s why you will probably lose.

Locking eyes with someone in a fight can cause listeners to be more stubborn, a study finds.

A new voice emerges in decades-old fight over team’s controversial name

A new voice emerges in decades-old fight over team’s controversial name

The president is the latest to weigh in on the debate over the Redskins.

Picks of the Week 

What has 6 legs, smells bad and wants to cozy up in your house? Stink bugs.

What has 6 legs, smells bad and wants to cozy up in your house? Stink bugs.

It’s that time of year in the region: The plentiful, invasive stink bugs are looking for their winter homes.

District schools settle Title IX complaint, giving girls chances to play

District schools settle Title IX complaint, giving girls chances to play

Office of Civil Rights to hold D.C. schools to tight deadlines to provide equal opportunities.

Crisis revives #shutdownpickuplines

Crisis revives #shutdownpickuplines

“Where have you been sequestered all of my life?” and other ways to woo federal government workers.

HANDOUT IMAGE: Dr. Kevin Geiss - Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy DOD, Department of the Air Force. (Photo by Sam Kittner / kittner.com) **MANDATORY CREDIT, ONE TIME USAGE ONLY, NO TRADE, NO SALE, ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUCTION WITH SERVICE TO AMERICA AWARDS**

Air Force energy expert Kevin Geiss. (Sam Kittner)

He saved the government $1 billion. And then he was furloughed.

Air Force energy expert Kevin Geiss just wants to get back to the office to save the government more money.

Editors’ Picks

Heavy morning commuter traffic moves over the Memorial Bridge, looking toward the Lincoln Memorial, into Washington Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, while Congress continues their legislative standoff that that could shutdown many parts of the U.S. government on Tuesday. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)

The shutdown’s winners

PHOTOS | Federal workers might be furloughed, but the news isn’t bad for everyone in Washington.

Kashmiri villagers thresh rice after harvest in Boras village, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Srinagar, India, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013. Agriculture is the main source of food, income, and employment in rural areas. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

The week’s best news photos

PHOTOS | From a blizzard in North Dakota to India’s “Wildlife Week,” some of our favorite news photos.

Featured Photo Galleries

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Man who set himself on fire on Mall dies

The man, who set himself on fire Friday, could not immediately be identified because his burns were so severe.

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How did our politics get so polarized?

From the civil rights struggle to the Reagan Revolution to Obamacare, a history of hyper-partisanship.

BERJAYA

Navy Midshipmen pull away from Air Force Falcons, 28-10

Keenan Reynolds scored three times to rally the Midshipmen past Air Force.

BERJAYA

Car chase and shooting on Capitol Hill

Federal agents trying to stop a car speeding between the White House and the U.S. Capitol killed its unarmed driver.

BERJAYA

The week’s best news photos

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

BERJAYA

Vo Nguyen Giap dies

The general who led the Vietnamese military in the defeat of Japanese, French and U.S. forces died Oct. 4 at 102.

BERJAYA

Sights of the shutdown

Federal facilities across Washington and the country are closed after Congress fails to pass a funding bill.

BERJAYA

Photos of the day

Pope Francis visits Assisi, Syrian refugees, money-eating pooch, breast cancer awareness week and more.

Politics

Longtime GOP donors unnerved by shutdown strategy

Longtime GOP donors unnerved by shutdown strategy

The growing unease among some underscores the deepening divisions over the ascendant tea party wing.

More Opinions

Rise of the New Confederacy

Rise of the New Confederacy

COLUMN | The goal? Bring down the federal government.

Local

Riders say weekend Red Line closure
is ‘simple,’ but ‘inconvenient’

Riders say weekend Red Line closure <br>is ‘simple,’ but ‘inconvenient’

With 5 stations in the downtown core shut down, shuttle buses operate smoothly, but riders are frustrated.

Sports

A humbling reality check for Maryland

A humbling reality check for Maryland

C.J. Brown is lost to a concussion and the Terps are rarely competitive in 63-0 thrashing by No. 8 Florida State.

Business

Hotel tax feud will be fought in states

Hotel tax feud will be fought in states

GOVBEAT | Who should pay the government when you book a hotel room on Orbitz? Hotels and the online travel industry are at odds.

Technology

Tor, the NSA, and the government’s internal debate over online anonymity

Tor, the NSA, and the government’s internal debate over online anonymity

THE SWITCH | The NSA is trying to break Tor while the State Department is paying to teach activists how to use it.

World

Colombian ex-leader sounds off on heir’s talks with rebels

Uribe relentlessly bashes Santos on Twitter, raising eyebrows with his warnings against the negotiations.

Federal Government

Thousands of furloughed workers in D.C. area file unemployment claims

Thousands of  furloughed workers in D.C. area file unemployment claims

Applications from federal workers in D.C. and Maryland have already exceeded the typical annual number.

Lifestyle

In London during hunting season, it’s all fair game

In London during hunting season, it’s all fair game

When the season opens in England, chefs fill their menus with game of all kinds, from birds to beasts.

Discussions

What’s it like to work at NASA?

What’s it like to work at NASA?

Jason Dworkin, chief of astrochemistry at NASA, is on call during the shutdown. He answered questions about what it’s like to work as a scientist at the agency.

Diversions