Pentagon to send floating base to Mideast

(AP / ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Craig Whitlock

The Navy is converting an aging warship it had planned to decommission into a makeshift staging base for commandos as tensions rise with Iran, al-Qaeda in Yemen and Somali pirates, among other threats.

Gingrich professes shock at Romney’s ‘totally dishonest’ debate performance

Gingrich professes shock at Romney’s ‘totally dishonest’ debate performance

Amy Gardner and Philip Rucker

Says he was subdued during event because comments stunned him.

Associates: Paul pursued strategy of publishing controversial newsletters

Associates: Paul pursued strategy of publishing controversial newsletters

Jerry Markon and Alice Crites

GOP candidate has denied writing inflammatory passages in the pamphlets from the 1990s.

France says it will accelerate pullout of its combat forces from Afghanistan

France says it will accelerate pullout of its combat forces from Afghanistan

Edward Cody and Karen DeYoung

Urges NATO to transfer combat operations by the end of 2013.

Recovery picks up pace as economy grew at a rate of 2.8% last quarter

Recovery picks up pace as economy grew at a rate of 2.8% last quarter

Peter Whoriskey

Rate is the fastest recorded in 18 months, but a weak housing market is still cause for concern.

45 years after first space tragedy for the U.S., lessons linger for NASA

45 years after first space tragedy for the U.S., lessons linger for NASA

Brian Vastag

Today is the anniversary of the launchpad fire that killed three Apollo astronauts.

Magnets used to mimic piercings pose a swallowing hazard for kids

Magnets used to mimic piercings pose a swallowing hazard for kids

Lena H. Sun

Kids using BB-size magnets as fake tongue studs can end up in the doctor's office — or even in surgery.

Dull flick will push you off the ‘Ledge’

Dull flick will push you off the ‘Ledge’

Ann Hornaday

MOVIE REVIEW | Hankering for a down-market version of popular ambitious action flicks? This is it.

Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy (right) after the sentencing of Brittany Norwood. With McCarthy are Jayna Murray's parents and her brother. (Mark Gail/Post)

Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy (right) after the sentencing of Brittany Norwood. With McCarthy are Jayna Murray's parents and her brother. (Mark Gail/Post)

Lululemon killer is sentenced to life in prison without chance for parole

Paul Duggan and Mary Pat Flaherty

Brittany Norwood, who murdered her Bethesda yoga clothing store co-worker and then pretended she, too, had been attacked, asked the judge for mercy Friday.

Opinions

For the GOP, greed is good

For the GOP, greed is good

Eugene Robinson

The party laughs in the face of economic fairness.

More Opinions

Top Headlines

Market Watch

DJIA
-0.58%
S&P 500
-0.16%
NASDAQ
0.40%
Get Quote
 Last Update: 07:09 PM 01/27/2012

Featured Videos

Parents speak after Lululemon murder sentencing (10:55)

Parents speak after Lululemon murder sentencing (10:55)

After Brittany Norwood was sentenced to life without parole for the murder of Jayna Murray, Murray's parents spoke about the sentencing. (Jan. 27)
Cars.com Super Bowl ad: 'Confident You' (0:31)

Cars.com Super Bowl ad: 'Confident You' (0:31)

Cars.com Super Bowl ad: 'Confident You'
Listen: Demi Moore 911 call

Listen: Demi Moore 911 call

A caller on a 911 recording released by Los Angeles fire officials says Demi Moore smoked something before she was rushed to the hospital Monday night. The woman on the call said the actress was having convulsions, shaking and "burning up." (Jan. 27)
Best GOP debate lines, from grandmas to lunar colonies (1:36)

Best GOP debate lines, from grandmas to lunar colonies (1:36)

Discussions of lunar colonies and grandmas were among the must-see moments at the Republican debate in Florida on Thursday night. (Jan. 26)
Obama targets rising college tuition (2:22)

Obama targets rising college tuition (2:22)

President Obama on Friday outlined a plan to reduce the costs of higher education by increasing the amount of federal grant money available in low-interest loans. (Jan. 27)
Cruise ship offers 14K to uninjured passengers (0:33)

Cruise ship offers 14K to uninjured passengers (0:33)

The passengers of grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia have been offered a compensation of nearly 14 and a half thousand dollars. (Jan. 27)
Nike founder defends Paterno (2:03)

Nike founder defends Paterno (2:03)

Nike founder and chairman Phil Knight got a standing ovation at Joe Paterno's public memorial Thursday for defending the late coach's response to an accusation of child sex abuse against a former assistant. (Jan. 26)

Don't Miss . . .

For sale: Extravagant D.C. homes

PHOTOS | Here are The Washington Post’s picks of local distinguished homes on the market.

WASHINGTON,DC- JAN.26, 2012: Lexus LF LC rotating at Washington Car Show in Washington, on Jan.26, 2012 . ( Photo by Jeffrey MacMillan )

The future of cars

PHOTOS | More than 700 vehicles from 42 makers are on display at the Washington Auto Show.

Politics

#CampaignReads: Curating the 2012 election

Amanda Zamora

Campaign Reads features the best 2012 election coverage, as suggested by Post Politics readers on Twitter.

Columns and Blogs

Solitary torture

Solitary torture

Sidney Rittenberg Sr.

What being kept alone in a cell for months does to an inmate.

Bruce Babbitt

An Alaskan treasure imperiled

Carolyn Hax

Competing for fiance’s attention

Alexandra Petri

Bob Dole and Gingrich — symbolic ice buckets?

Featured Photo Galleries

Images from Republican candidates’ headquarters

A peak at candidates’ support networks.

Polar bear plunges

Want to take a dip in icy waters? It’s a scream. Just check out these plungers’ faces.

NHL power rankings

Tarik El-Bashir assesses the top teams in the National Hockey League.

Day in photos

Holocaust memorial, world’s largest emerald, Syrian uprising and more.

Eye on entertainment

Michael Jackson celebration, Claire Danes, Chris Isaak, Beth Ditto and other celebrities.

Obama on the reelection trail

President Obama is raising money and reaching out to voters and volunteers.

Redskins’ last road to glory

The road to the 1991-92 Super Bowl.

Animal views

Orangutans, camels, monkeys, seals and more.

Featured Discussions

Hax-Philes

Crossing a party line

Crossing a party line

Carolyn Hax

What would you do if you were surreptitiously videotaped at a friend’s party?

More conversations

Your Photos

Ode to the minivan

Ode to the minivan

The family clunker may be decidedly uncool, but it is the setting to many a story. Tell the tale of your memorable minivan.

More conversations

Diversions

Comics

Crosswords

Crickler

Sudoku

Kakuro

Horoscopes

PlayFour

TV listings

Entertainment News

Neeson batters away midwinter blues

Neeson batters away midwinter blues

Ann Hornaday

Actor has become as reliable a fixture of bleak midwinter as frosty winds and earth as hard as iron.

Oprah protégé out at OWN

Oprah protégé out at OWN

Lisa de Moraes

The co-venture of Harpo company and Discovery Communications said see ya to longtime Oprah producer Lisa Erspamer.

Lifestyle

Pieces of black history

Pieces of black history

Lavanya Ramanathan

These eight artifacts are some of Washington’s quiet treasures. Here’s how to see them all.

Where to watch Oscar-nominated movies

Where to watch Oscar-nominated movies

Jess Righthand

See what Post critics thought about the top flms, and get showtimes for the ones playing now.