Today's Top News from The Washington Times

		Sunday, July 24, 2011 Must Read Stories Today
Oslo bomb was 'Oklahoma City-type' A police official has told The Associated Press that the bomb used in the attack at the Norwegian prime minister's office was "some kind of Oklahoma City-type" device made of fertilizer and diesel fuel. Report: China building electromagnetic pulse weapons for use against U.S. carriers China's military is developing electromagnetic pulse weapons that Beijing plans to use against U.S. aircraft carriers in any future conflict over Taiwan, according to an intelligence report made public on Thursday. DNC's debut TV ad for 2012 in Spanish The Democratic National Committee is devoting its first television ad buy of the 2012 presidential race to a Spanish-language commercial, trying to persuade Hispanic voters in seven swing-state markets that President Obama has not failed them economically. Russian agent linked to U.S. Embassy blast A bomb blast near the U.S. Embassy in Tblisi, Georgia, in September was traced to a plot run by a Russian military intelligence officer, according to an investigation by the Georgian Interior Ministry. Troubled diva Amy Winehouse dead at 27 Few artists summed up their own career in a single song — a single line — as well as Amy Winehouse. "They tried to make me go to rehab," she sang on her world-conquering 2006 single, "Rehab." ''I said 'No, no no.'" Train collision in China kills 33, injures 190 A Chinese bullet train crashed into another high-speed train that had stalled after being struck by lightning Saturday in eastern China, causing four carriages to fall off a viaduct and killing at least 33 people and injuring 190 others, state media reported. Despondent leaders try to put debt talks on track Hours after another White House meeting, debt talks have shifted to Congress, where top leaders were meeting Saturday evening — without President Obama — to try to come up with a deal that would raise the government's debt limit before an Aug. 2 deadline. Walter Reed to close after more than a century Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Army's flagship hospital where privates to presidents have gone for care, is closing its doors after more than a century. Pitcher Lannan hits two-run homer as Nats beat Dodgers 7-2 Andre Eithier stared up into the right-field bleachers in disbelief before leaning on his knees and exhaling. Livan Hernandez, in the Nationals dugout, put his hands on his head and uttered the words "Oh my God," while the rest of the Nationals bench erupted into hysterics. On the field, Nationals left-hander John Lannan was trotting around the bases after one of the season's most improbable sights: a home run. D.C. Council member Thomas settles AG's lawsuit D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. has settled a lawsuit that accused him of using grant money and charitable donations for personal golfing trips, hotel stays and a new sport utility vehicle, the Office of the Attorney General said Friday. The National Debt Papers: China's debt collection letters to U.S. (PARODY) Dear U.S. Treasury Department, This letter is a friendly reminder that the monthly interest payment on your account in the amount of $2,217,000,000.37 is now past due ... Debt talks break down between Obama, Boehner Deficit-reduction talks between congressional Republican leaders and President Obama broke down Friday night, with Speaker John A. Boehner saying he will try to reach a deal with Senate leaders instead of the White House. 675,000 stolen credit card numbers gets hacker 10 years in prison A Georgia man was sentenced Friday in federal court in Virginia to 10 years in prison for trafficking in counterfeit credit cards and aggravated identity theft, accused of stealing 675,000 credit card numbers leading to $36 million in losses. Obama ends gays in military ban President Barack Obama has formally repealed the ban on gays serving openly in the military. Obama dethrones czars, debate simmers Two years after he dramatically expanded the scope of so-called policy czars, President Obama this year quietly scrapped some of the most controversial posts, tamping down what had been a simmering constitutional fight with Congress. Japanese saving energy despite extreme heat The central government has asked civil servants to wear T-shirts and Hawaiian shirts instead of suits and ties. Businesses such as Hitachi and Kyocera are growing vines to cover factory walls — and are asking their employees to do the same at home. Commentary MILLER: White House video crime? President Obama is so obsessed with returning to the executive mansion that he may have forgotten to abide by campaign ethics rules. Last month, he made a video in a ground-floor room of the White House asking Democrats to pony up for a chance to win "dinner with Barack and Joe," referring to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. SAUERBREY: Forcing the irresponsible to act responsibly President Obama dismissed the House of Representatives' "Cut, Cap and Balance" plan by saying, "We don't need a constitutional amendment to do our jobs. The Constitution already tells us to do our jobs - and to make sure that the government is living within its means and making responsible choices." RASMUSSEN: Time for public-union temper tantrums Another day, another union up- rising. This time, Illinois' government unions are up in arms about raises they were supposed to receive on July 1. But don't be fooled - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn isn't joining the ranks of the governors of New Jersey, Wisconsin and Ohio. KNIGHT: It's official: Tea is good for the GOP Of all the bombs that liberal pundits toss at the Tea Party, none better illustrates why the GOP should actually pay attention than Thursday's article by E. J. Dionne Jr., the liberal Washington Post columnist. 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