Here’s a look at some of the day’s top stories from WTOP:
Report: Russian hackers steal 1.2B passwords
A published report says Russian hackers have stolen 1.2 billion user names and passwords in a series of Internet heists affecting 420,000 websites. The New York Times says the thievery was uncovered by Hold Security, a Milwaukee firm that has a history of sifting out online security breaches.
The identities of the websites that were broken into weren’t identified by the Times. Security experts believe crooks will continue breaking into computer servers unless companies become more vigilant.
Helping immigrant kids with the baggage they carry
The politicians keep arguing over what to do about the stream of unaccompanied minors coming over the U.S. border illegally, but in the meantime, places such as The Tree House Child Assessment Center, in Rockville, is dealing with real kids who have had some real tough experiences, including physical and sexual abuse.
WTOP’s Kate Ryan talks with a therapist from the center, who shares some harrowing stories of what children – some only five years old -endured as they traveled thousands of miles on their own.
Is Redskins camp bringing promised boost to Richmond?
The team claims that the Bon Secours Training Center on donated land last year, the promise was that it would generate $8 million of revenue for Virginia’s capital city. But how much of that is really going to the town as opposed to the team? Do local businesses really see a bump when training camp is on? WTOP’s Noah Frank asked around, and the answer is complicated. See what the locals have to say on our Sports page.
Cease-fire in Gaza holds for second day
A cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that ended a month of fighting is holding for a second day, ahead on negotiations in Cairo on a long-term truce and a broader deal for the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
Delegations from both sides were in Cairo on Wednesday where Egyptian mediators planned to shuttle between them to try to work out a deal. The cease-fire is the longest lull in a war that has killed nearly 1,900 Palestinians. Israel has lost 67 people, including three civilians.
Kansas GOP Sen. Roberts defeats tea partyer
Mainstream conservatives in Kansas have dealt another blow to the tea party movement.
With 79 percent of precincts reporting, three-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts is edging out Milton Wolf in Tuesday night’s primary. And in Michigan, businessman and lawyer Dave Trott easily defeated Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, 66 to 34 percent, in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District. There also were competitive primaries in Missouri and Washington state.
US regulators: Banks’ failure plans inadequate
Federal regulators have told the biggest banks in the U.S. that their plans for unwinding their operations in case of failure are inadequate to prevent the sort of financial disaster that struck in 2008 and led to a massive government bailout.
The Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Tuesday criticized as “not credible” the so-called “living wills” that the 11 largest banks were required to submit under the 2010 law overhauling financial regulation. The banks, with $50 billion or more in assets, include Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley. The regulators say the banks’ plans make unrealistic assumptions about likely developments in case of failure.
Aid group: American with Ebola weak but improving
The husband of the second American aid worker recently diagnosed with Ebola says the patient is weak but showing signs of improvement.
The president of the aid group SIM USA says Nancy Writebol’s husband described her as progressing. When she arrived in Atlanta Tuesday for treatment, she was wheeled in a stretcher. David Writebol, still in Liberia, says the family was considering funeral arrangements, but now feels relieved and cautiously optimistic. He praised her treatment in Liberia.
Virginia movie theater’s plea:
