31 July: Ceasefire in Sri Lanka collapses, Tamil rebels announce they are officially back at war with Sri Lankan gov't, leader saying ceasefire agreement "null and void at the moment"... Massive Russian oil pipeline bursts, causing spill of more than 50 cubic meters, affecting an estimated area of more than 6 square miles; spill could be larger than reported, as pipeline is capable of carrying up to 1.2 million barrels per day; observers speculate environmental catastrophe in surrounding region... After Ecuador gov't accuses Chevron-Texaco of fraud in pollution case, Cofan natives, who live in Amazon rainforest in upland Ecuador, have pressed a court to speed up its ruling in a $6.1 billion lawsuit against the company for environmental damage; the lawsuit, going back to 1993, accuses Chevron-Texaco of "dumping 18 billion gallons of oil-laden water into the environment"... In aftermath of Qana killings, Israel's 48-hour suspension of airstrikes, US Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice says she believes a ceasefire motion will be voted by the UNSC this week, saying in Jerusalem "This morning, as I head back to Washington, I take with me an emerging consensus on what is necessary for both an urgent cease-fire and lasting settlement"... UNSC voted unanimously on statement expressing "extreme shock and distress" at Qana deaths, "strongly deplores this loss of innocent lives", but did not condemn Israel directly for the deaths, urging instead a cessation of hostilities in "a lasting, permanent and sustainable cease-fire"; both sides have vowed to recommence attacks after 48-hour halt ends, with Israel defense min. Amir Peretz saying a cessation of action would allow extremists "to return to the region"; Israel has continued using airstrikes in support of ground forces in Taiba, but witheld attacks elsewhere...

30 July: More than 1 million gather in Mexico City's central Zocalo Plaza in support of PRD candidate López Obrador's calls for a vote-by-vote recount in narrow election... UN rights body criticizes US rights record in war on terror, in prosecutions, imprisonment at home, treatment of asylum seekers forced by threat of violence to family into collaboration with violent groups; report is second such critique from UN in recent months and specifically demanded US immediately close all secret detention facilities, noting such camps are in direct violation of int'l humanitarian law; the US report on its own practices, as required by treaty as part of hearing process, was turned in 7 years late... Israel bombardment of Qana village in Lebanon leaves over 60 dead —34 children— in house where two extended families were sheltering; Lebanon PM Saniora has canceled visit with US Sec. of State Rice, accuses Israel of war crimes; Guardian reports "Mohamad Qassim Shalhoub, a slim 38-year-old construction worker, emerged with a broken hand and minor injuries, but he lost his wife, five children and 45 members of his extended family"; Lebanese officials report more than 80 strikes on Qana in one night, Israel says Hezbollah was firing rockets from area, though this claim is widely reported as unconfirmed; BBC reports Israel has agreed to halt airstrikes for 48 hours to investigate the targeting of civilians in Qana... 10 years earlier, in 1996, Qana was hit with similar strikes, which killed 100 civilians sheltering in a UN compound; Israel expressed regret then as well, and the outcry led to an imposed ceasefire, where Hezbollah was forbidden from using civilian areas and Israel agreed not to target them... New Russian law broadens defintion of "extremist activity", critics say it could be used to stifle democracy, crush opposition parties, silence journalists; Putin gov't says it's designed to target racist and nationalist groups responsible for hate crimes...

29 July: Agent Orange found to have caused significant genetic damage to soldiers who served in Vietnam war; study is first to show direct relationship between exposure, significant increase in genetic damage; children, grandchildren of Vietnamese exposed to toxin have suffered increased incidence of genetic defect, cancers... Speculation mounts officers, gov't officials could face war crimes charges in US courts for actions tied to system permitting abuse of terror detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantánamo Bay... Assassination of Somali minister threatens to collapse Baidoa gov't, already hit with mass resignations, growing power of Union of Islamic Courts militia taking control of country; parliament will hold a motion of no confidence against its PM, key observer says "The transitional government is now in the process of total collapse", suggesting invitation for Ethiopian troops to secure Baidoa was grave political error; concerns are mounting conflict in Somalia could spread throughout east Africa region, as demands for Ethiopia to withdraw are more frequent... US State Dept. qualifies as "outrageous" Israel justice minister's suggestion the world has given 'permission' for intense bombing of Lebanon; US spokesman quoted as saying "The US is sparing no efforts to bring a durable and lasting end to this conflict"... The UN is removing a team of observers stationed in southern Lebanon in the aftermath of four deaths caused by Israeli bomb attack; aid groups say it is nearly impossible to reach southern villages due to persistent bombardment, warn of disease spreading among displaced civilians huddled in shelters; Bush, Blair call for ceasefire, say UN motion could come Monday, urge Hezbollah, Syria to work toward peace, including warning by Blair to Syria if it does not cooperate in shaping peace "they will face the risk of increasing confrontation"; pair call for rapid deployment of multinational force to keep peace along Israel-Lebanon border... CA heatwave takes 30 lives in one day, 139 over 11 days of 104F+ heat; most of the deaths were among elderly and infirm, and concentrated in areas like the Central Valley, where temps reached over 115F for several days; experts say such an event occurs only once in a quarter century...

28 July: UN Security Council expresses "shock and distress" at killing of 4 peacekeeping monitors by Israeli bombs; Lebanon's health minister reports at least 600 civilians have been killed by the bombardments in 16 days, while BBC reports 51 Israelis have died —18 civilians— in Hezbollah attacks since the Israeli offensive began on 12 July... While ceasefire not yet reached, US diplomacy turning to composition of peacekeeping force for southern Lebanon; Sec. Rice says US forces will not likely be deployed, but NATO, EU may lead multinational force; UK PM Blair expected to press Bush to back immediate ceasefire; draft UN resolution may call for immediate deployment of int'l troops, long-term force of 20,000 to enforce UNSC Res. 1559, which calls for disarming militia like Hezbollah... HRW urges Uganda not to allow amnesty for war criminals in negotiating a peace for the brutal conflict in the north of the country; human rights org. reports rebel LRA atrocities include "torture, sexual abuse, mutilations, recruitment of child soldiers, and forcing children to kill even members of their own families", reminds 5 top leaders are sought for trial before the ICC at the Hague; in late July 2004, HRW urged the ICC itself to ensure the safety of witnesses in the probe and to thoroughly investigate crimes committed by both sides in the conflict... Russia agrees to sell heavy military arms to Venezuela, despite US arms embargo; Guardian reports "Russia's state arms exporter Rosobornexport said it would sell 24 military planes and 53 attack helicopters to the south American state in one of a series of deals between the countries worth an estimated total of £1.6bn"... Crackdown on nepotism in Brazil has led to the resignations of 118 judges and appeals judges; at least 11 judicial officials have been cleared, and several more criminal probes are underway... Fmr. Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad reportedly attacked with pepper spray by unknown assailants, experienced some difficulty breathing, but recovered without hospitalization; current PM has condemned incident, called for police to investigate...

27 July: 14 Israeli soldiers killed in clashes with Hezbollah, as ground fighting intensifies; after saying ceasefire was urgent, US Sec. of State Rice opposes such move, Rome summit ends with only joint statement in favor of UN stabilization force, no specifics; Olmert for first time announces need for quick end to hostilities, seeks "weakened" Hezbollah instead of total dissolution, but foresees possibly long struggle to reach objective of securing 2-mile-wide buffer zone along Lebanese border... Bush admin. officials issue proposal for tribunals closely based on military commissions ruled illegal by US Supreme Court, to prosecute prisoners suspected of terror ties; proposal reportedly permits hearsay evidence, bars accused from attending; Supreme Court had ruled trials must provide "all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples", but Bush admin. now seeks new law from Congress to approve narrowing of due process rights ... US federal appeals court temporarily halts bribery investigation of Louisiana congressman, while a case is heard challenging the constitutionality of the Justice Dept.'s unprecedented raid on his Capitol Hill office... Credit rating for China's currency debt, as determined by Standard & Poors, raised from A- to A, as analysts cite efforts to stabilize, clean up banking sector; lack of transparency still endemic in system, despite two state banks being listed on Hong Kong exchange... Editorial suggests EU will not achieve popular support for a new constitution until it guarantees transparency and democratic institutions at all levels, notes skepticism of citizenry about closed door negotiations, reports lack of direct citizen input into delegate selection, treaty drafting, that "all decisions were made behind closed doors by the 15 members of the Presidium"...

26 July: White House press secretary says Pres. Bush does not in fact consider embryonic stem-cell research to be murder, despite rhetoric surrounding last week's veto of legislation to provide federal funding for the research; CA gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said on 21 July, after loaning $150 in state funds to the research, "California is poised to lead not only this country, but all countries on stem-cell research", and the EU has just reached a pact to fund the research there, with some compromises to placate conservative objections... Widening coalition of hunters, environmentalists and conservationists fighting to prevent hydrocarbon drilling in pristine wilderness, focus is New Mexico, but movement helping to slow development of public lands across west... Kenya to receive $335 million in aid from the United States, which says it is a strategic partner and a state successfully transitioning to multiparty democratic elections... 6 members of a sectarian "death squad" captured in Baghdad; sectarian killings have escalated continually since the bombing of the al-Askari Mosque in Samarra this February; press now report estimated 100 civilian deaths per day in Iraq, sectarian killing reached head of Baijat tribe, of which Saddam Hussein is a member... Article in Slate warns of misapplying statistics to suggest lives in one nation are worth more than in another; inflating statistics by demographic proportion can have the reverse effect of making a violent attacks seem underwhelming from a distance; making the comparison to losing precisely the same number of individuals from your immediate environs tends to more accurately convey the emotional response of people suffering violent attacks (as in Iraq, Israel and Lebanon)... 4 UN peacekeeping observers killed by Israel bombing while sheltering in bunker at UN post; reports say 4 —from Austria, China, Canada, and Finland— sought shelter in bunker after Israeli forces shelled the site 14 times; BBC reports rescue team also fired upon as it tried to clear rubble, reach bodies; in Rome —where crisis talks are due to be held today— Kofi Annan expressed dismay, saying "I am shocked and deeply distressed by the apparently deliberate targeting by Israeli Defence Forces of a UN Observer post in southern Lebanon", suggesting diplomatic pressure will now be relentless to negotiate or impose some sort of cessation of violence...

25 July: Hydrogen fuel cell to be used to power toy car, which will include its own solar-powered refilling station; Shanghai based company to begin selling the toy this month, as a means of educating the public in the technology's use; company's founder says "We want to make sure this technology gets adapted globally"... Gulf News reports further complications in escalating Mideast violence: "The UN launched a $150 million aid appeal for victims of Israel's strike on Lebanon; US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice meets with Olmert to discuss a possible ceasefire; Bush's administration faces a lawsuit for failing to protect American citizens trapped in Lebanon", mounting civilian deaths, failure so far to begin negotiations... US Sec. of State, Condoleezza Rice, says US seeks "urgent and enduring" peace, where violence is not a tool for resolving political differences, adds "I have no doubt there are those who wish to strangle a democratic and sovereign Lebanon in its crib" and ending the violence is necessary to preserve the Lebanese democracy; Rice also expressed concern at the worsening humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, the change in rhetoric may be related to a top level meeting between Pres. Bush, herself and Saudi officials over the weekend... HRW urges Israel to abandon use of cluster bombs, as they pose a serious risk to civilian lives... Police in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, used teargas to disperse demonstrators criticizing Sunday's scheduled elections as unfair and undemocratic and calling for better monitoring to bring about a truly open and fair vote... Venezuelan pres. Hugo Chávez announces petroleum cooperation agreement with Belarus, which will aid his country in exploring for and refining crude oil, as part of a technology transfer pact... Georgian officials have sent military forces to the volatile province of Abkhazia, which has been beset with a separatist movement and which Georgia is struggling to bring under control...

24 July: Magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck yesterday off coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia, raising concerns about possible tsunami, or chain of quakes... UN emergency relief coordinator Jan Egeland says levelling of civilian sections of Beirut violates int'l humanitarian law, says destruction is "horrific" after first-hand tour of bombed sites; Egeland expressed shock that "block after block" of structures had been totally destroyed, said humanitarian aid would soon arrive but "So far Israel is not giving us access"... US now said to be "rushing" delivery of precision guided bombs to Israel, to replenish supply depleted by intense bombardment of Lebanon; move raises ire of regional gov'ts concerned it will provoke more intense efforts by Hezbollah backers to escalate violence... Sec. Rice to meet with Saudi officials to discuss Lebanon conflict; speculation spreading that Syria may be needed to play key role in halting Hezbollah activity, to bring negotiated end to Israel's bombardment; CNN Int'l reported yesterday that Syria's information minister has called for an immediate cease-fire and requested direct talks with US officials to work out how to halt Hezbollah and Israel attacks; Pope Benedict XVI, speaking from a mountain retreat in Italy, has called for an immediate halt to all hostilities between Israel, Hezbollah, urged "all sides" to begin negotiations immediately to build peace; Israel foreign minister says "there is no conflict between Israel and Lebanon", that offensive is designed to "help the Lebanese government" to implement UNSC resolution calling for Hezbollah disarmament... Estimated 36,000 to 48,000 people in Queens, New York, remain without power after 7 days; mayor says damage to underground power grid extensive, persistent thunderstorms undermining restoration process; intense summer heat poses serious health risk to infirm and elderly if they are not able to transfer to cooled environment... Car bombs yesterday in Iraq reportedly kill at least 50; car bomb in Afghanistan kills 8, as violence in both countries continues to mount... Hussein defense team alleges he was in good health when taken to hospital, believe move was device to keep him away from trial proceedings, say they will boycott trial proceedings Monday...

23 July: HRW report presents evidence that prisoner abuse was routine in prisons operated by US forces in Iraq between 2003 and 2005, suggesting a policy condoning abuse; the US gov't says its own investigations show there was no such policy; concerned soldiers reportedly sought to stop abuse, were ignored, have stated abusive techniques were approved by commanders... Coalition of López Obrador, currently 2nd in votes counted in recent Mexican election, says it will organized "radical energetic actions" if the ruling party does not permit the re-opening of ballots for recount; moves thought to include plans for 2.5 to 3 million demonstrators gathering in the captial... Israel has struck a mosque complex in Sidon, southern Lebanon, first strike inside city where thousands of refugees had gathered for safety; reports say entire complex "destroyed", building targetted for alleged links to Hezbollah leadership; reports circulate saying Israeli tanks moved into southern Lebanon, after offensive against 10 villages in south Lebanon and the destruction of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corp's Beirut transmitters... Thousands of protesters in Chicago call for a halt to Israel-Lebanon conflict, say peace must be negotiated... Indiana has opened its first soy bio-diesel production plant, to be operated by Evergreen Renewables, in an effort to develop an alternative, renewable energy economy... Saddam Hussein is moved to hospital for treatment due to symptoms of debilitation from 17-day hunger strike...

22 July: Scientists in Japan are working to create an entire new universe, using processes related to quantum mechanics and the concentration of energy at the barrier between dimensions in our universe; using the properties of the mysterious "Higgs field", scientists hope to be able to concentrate a massive amount of energy in one space, pushing the structure of space-time to its limit, until a new "baby universe" breaks off into its own entirely separate and infinitely expanding space... Amnesty International criticizes 3 major US web firms for collaborating in China's censorship of the web, urges Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, to take steps to challenge China's censorship laws... Ethiopia, Somalia "on war footing", as Somalis allege Ethiopia has made military incursions into country, even patrolling Baidoa, where Somalia's interim gov't is based; Somalia has long accused Ethiopia of unlawfully occupying region of Ogaden, granted to Ethiopia by British colonists, but claimed as part of historic Somalia... Malaysian foreign minister has said Burma's military junta is holding southeast Asia hostage, preventing development and the expansion of democracy... Israel organizing troops, artillery, reserves, for ground invasion of Lebanon; Israel has reportedly issued warnings by pamphlet and by radio to residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate in anticipation of attacks... Israel has also rejected int'l calls for an end to the offensive in Lebanon, saying it will only stop when it has neutralized, distanced or destroyed Hezbollah; Lebanon's social affairs minister has now publicy blaimed Iran and Syria for the abduction of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah guerrillas... Questionable tactics, biased policies —against homosexuals, women, minorities— have raised concerns over direction of Poland under the Kaczsynski twins, serving as president and PM; IHT says, however, their views do not represent Polish society...

21 July: Cyprus struggling to deal with influx of evacuees from Lebanon, has formally requested cooperation from other European Union member states, to assist with housing, supplies, refugee transit and eventual repatriation processes; to date, Cyprus is the only nation providing transit facilities for evacuation vessels... Admitting difficulty of full ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, UN Sec. Gen. Kofi Annan has called for "an immediate cessation of hostilities, and a far greater and more credible effort by Israel to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure while the conditions for such a cessation are urgently developed"... White House now calling for significant multinational peacekeeping force along Israel-Lebanon border, with new mandate, arms monitoring capabilities... British scientists say steep decline in bee populations across Europe threatens flora of countryside, diversity of plantlife depending on bees for pollination; 80% decline in diversity of bee species coincides with 70% of studied species declining in population; study also suggests land use, and chemical fertilizer and pesticide use could be contributing... Bill Gates donates $287 to HIV-AIDS research; funding will go to 165 researchers in 19 countries, through 16 distinct donations, to permit them to collaborate in hopes of accelerating the achievement of a safe, effective vaccine against the virus... UK gov't to consider plans to permit planting of genetically modified (GM) crops; campaigners say proposal would not protect non-GM crops from contamination, does not allow consumers to choose GM-free foods; 2005 study indicated potential harm to wildlife, food availability, biological resilience... After Bush vetoes stem-cell research legislation, CA gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered the state to loan $150 million to state agency for stem-cell research to fill funding gap; Schwarzenegger is running for re-election, move backs voter-supported research program... Islamist leaders in Mogadishu have said they will wage a "holy war" against Ethiopia unless it withdraws all troops from Somali territory; BBC reports a reporter "has seen Ethiopian troops patrolling" the town where the interim Somali gov't is located, despite official denials from Ethiopia... Whitehaven, on Cumbrian coast, to be first place in Britain where analogue TV is de-activated and traditional TV broadcast, as such, disallowed (by fall 2007), in transition to all-digital TV...

20 July: Guardian newspaper reports destruction of Lebanese seaside border village of Srifa by airstrike; Israel targetted the village because Hezbollah had fired missiles from the area in the past; at least 17 were killed, 15 homes destroyed, and all survivors have now fled; nearby a physician and his family were killed when a missile struck their van, in which they were fleeing intensifying bombardment of the area around Aitaroun; nearest hospital reports it has only 5 days of food, water, cannot get supplies from Beirut; saying 300 people have been killed in 7 days, PM Saniora has urged the int'l community "Lift the siege and quickly send humanitarian aid"; ground invasion near white cliffs of coastal border town of Naqoura leads to fears of wider ground offensive; AP reports "Israel used a radio station near the border to broadcast warnings into south Lebanon telling civilians to leave the region, a move some saw as preparation for a larger Israeli ground operation in the area"... UK's Channel Five to show documentary in which a woman terminally ill with cancer is cryonically frozen for possible resuscitation at a future time when a cure is possible; documentary is the first instance where the invasive procedure of cryonic preservation is shown on TV... Man freed from Missouri prison after serving 23 years for a rape he did not commit; he was framed by an acquaintance who used his name; DNA evidence ruled him out conclusively as the rapist; victim is described as "traumatized", given that she identified the wrong man, despite spending time in a "well-lit room" chatting with her attacker... Drought, heat, withering US crops across midwest, west; nearly 80% of crop lost in some areas, some counties —dozens in Colorado and Nebraska— to get disaster relief... 6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Jakarta, shaking high-rise office towers, tsunami warning sirens cause population to flee to higher ground; no news of tsunami striking as with Monday's 7.6 magnitude offshore quake... Researchers say they have successfully recreated déjà-vu in the lab, opening the possibility that the neural mechanics of the phenomenon can be explained by breakthroughs in research...

19 July: Evidence has been revealed through a special prosecutor's investigation in Chicago that police there tortured some suspects in the 1970s and 1980s in order to elicit confessions; the findings also suggest the statute of limitations applicable to the alleged crimes is 3 years, precluding any prosecution; human rights groups and the UN have called for more aggressive corrective action and several suspects have filed civil lawsuits... More than 50 Lebanese, mostly civilians, were killed today by Israel's bombardment; the Lebanese PM has made an urgent plea to the international community to help bring an end to the hostilities, saying his country has been "torn to shreds" and mostly innocents killed... AT&T lawyers compare NSA wiretapping to Watergate in order to evoke precedent wherein Supreme Court ruled a then AT&T subsidiary could not be sued for complying with illegal gov't wiretapping... HRW urges "Chinese authorities should immediately release Chen Guangcheng, a blind lawyer persecuted for exposing official abuses"; their report finds that Mr Chen was detained solely for political reasons and that his lawyers have been barred from presenting a defense, alleges "house arrest, physical abuse, and then 'disappearance' by local authorities"... Fmr US pres. Bill Clinton's foundation to help Nigeria provide low-cost HIV-AIDS drug treatment... France launches new maps site, heavily funded by gov't owned research organization, site designed to compete with Google; Geoportail says its maps of France have maximum resolution of less than 0.5 meters and are more accurate than Google Earth... US Senate passes stem-cell research funding bill, which faces likely veto from Pres. Bush; 63-37 vote means 4 additional yes-votes would be required to override a presidential veto... Death toll in Java tsunami rises to over 500; Indonesians nervous as tremors in region continue to threaten islands...

18 July: Death toll in Java tsunami rises to reported 357, aid teams begin work in area most affected; Indonesia's tsunami warning system was reportedly not installed on Java... UK House of Commons wrestles with problem of mass evacuation of 12,500 Britons and dual-nationals from Lebanon; UK may have treaty obligations to welfare of British Commonwealth citizens as well, leading to the description of the potential evacuation operation as "the largest evacuation since Dunkirk"... Middle East conflict brings worst violence in quarter century; Guardian newspaper reports "Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed 203 people, all but 13 of them civilians, while 24 Israelis have died, including 12 civilians hit in rocket attacks"; Israel foreign minister calls for "effective deployment" of Lebanese army in the south, "diarmament of Hezbollah as a militia"... Mangrove wetlands in Pacific vanishing beneath rising sea level; scientists speculate nearly half of mangroves could disappear, destroying breeding grounds that support major fisheries; report says goods and services produced by mangroves could reach average of US$900,000 per square km... Ford Motor Company has announced a £1 billion investment to cut carbon emissions; money to be spent in the UK over 6 years to develop a new fleet of low-emissions "green" vehicles... Hewlett-Packard has introduced a memory chip the size of a tomato seed; not yet on the market, it is planned as a rival to RFID storage and transmission technology for localized data; HP plans to use the device to "bridge the digital and physical worlds"... Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) were recently introduced into the marketplace, expected to improve the speed, resilience and reliability of portable memory chips such as those used in digital cameras... New variety of surgical sponges to contain RFID chips, to permit surgeons to sweep radio "wand" over surgical wound before stitching, to avoid potentially deadly complications from sponges left in patient...

17 July: Israel's bombardment of Lebanon is described as "relentless", with civilian death tolls mounting; at G8 summit, Tony Blair and Kofi Annan have called for an international stabilization force along Lebanese-Israeli border to halt Hezbollah rocket attacks, help prevent civilian deaths in Lebanon; Annan warned both sides "under international humanitarian law, they have an obligation to spare civilian lives"; Hezbollah's determination to retaliate by targetting civilian centers, deputy PM Peres saying group "running wild"; Lebanese health minister suggests hospitals in Lebanon are "overwhelmed" by the number of casualties, may run short of supplies due to destruction of bridges, roads, airport... An earthquake off the coast of Indonesia this morning triggered an international tsunami warning; witnesses said they observed a two-meter-high wave demolishing buildings along the southern coast of Java, leaving at least 44 dead by early accounts... UK prosecutors opt not to charge any individual police officers in connection with unprovoked shooting death of Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian immigrant, in a London Underground station, last July; the Met Police force will, however face a collective prosecution in connection with public health and safety laws; Mr de Menezes' family, which has been calling for criminal prosecution of the police involved, said the decision was "unbelievable" and "shameful"; they family says it will pursue all available legal means to obtain justice... Small town in Pennsylvania, in the suburbs of Philadelphia, has passed a local ordinance targetting undocumented workers and declaring English the official language of the town; Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund challenging law as unconstitutional, arguing only federal gov't can make immigration policy, say law is racist and promotes prejudice... More than 170 people have been killed in flooding related to the intense tropical storm that struck southern China 3 days ago...

16 July: US, Russia announce cooperation strategy for ensuring security of civil nuclear energy facilities, materials, invite other G8 member states to join program, which will cooperate with IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog agency... UPI reporting Israel gov't has declared martial law in north, as Hezbollah rocket attacks reach Tiberias, furthest penetration to date; UPI also reports at least 106 people have been killed by Israel's airstrikes in Lebanon over 4 days, most of them civilians, including two vans evacuating an announced attack site, while 15 Israelis are reported killed, 4 civilians and 11 soldiers; Bush blames Hezbollah for Israeli bombardment of Lebanon, calls for unilateral disarmament of militant Lebanese shi'a group; Lebanese official told press "In all languages, the action is attributed to the actor", blaming Israel for the destruction caused by its bombs; UN Security Council fails to reach agreement on a statement calling for a truce, Arab League Sec. Gen. Amr Moussa is quoted as saying the peace process is now "dead"... 100,000 Haitians marched in Port-au-Prince, demanding the return of exiled president Jean-Bertrand Aristide... Massive numbers of demonstrators, placed in the hundreds of thousands, gathered in Mexico City's central plaza, El Zócalo, to demand a full vote-by-vote manual recount of all ballots cast in the election sof 2 July; the currently 2nd-running candidate, who lost the as-yet uncertified count, Mr López Obrador, has called on his supporters to use peaceful actions of civil disobedience to keep up pressure on the gov't to re-examine the vote...