July 19, 2006 (Wednesday)
- A 235-193 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives falls short of the 2/3 majority needed to override President George W. Bush's first-ever veto of a bill intended to reauthorize federal funding of embryonic stem cell research (see Stem cell controversy). (AP)
- Record-breaking temperatures continue in a U.S. heat wave and another in Europe, causing at least 18 deaths, including some as far north as the Netherlands. The UK hit a record-breaking July temperature of 36.5°C (97.7°F) at Wisley. (BBC)
- Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the United States Federal Reserve warns the United States Senate Banking Committee of the possible impact of rising energy prices on inflation. (Bloomberg)
- Internet censorship: In an unprecedented move for a leading democracy, India bans some blogs; Huge outrage reported. (BBC), (Business Standard),(Blog-Herald), (New York Times)
- 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict:
- Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in fierce fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon.(BBC NEWS)
- At least 55 civilians have been killed in Israeli air strikes in Lebanon.(BBC NEWS)
- Israeli ground troops cross the border into Lebanon in a limited incursion. (International Herald Tribune)
- Israeli airstrikes hit the southern suburbs of Beirut near the airport. (CNN)
- A cruise ship carrying 1000 Americans leaves Beirut for Cyprus as the fighting enters its second week. (Associated Press)[permanent dead link]
- Israeli warplanes attack bunker in south Beirut believed to contain Hezbollah leaders. (Associated Press)
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Operation Summer Rains):
- At least nine Palestinians have been killed in fresh Israeli operations in Gaza and the West Bank.(BBC NEWS)
- Independent reports say that over 100 people are dead and missing in North Korea as a result of floods and landslides, while the North's government-controlled media omitted mention of any casualties. More than 9,000 families are left homeless. There have been at least 25 deaths in South Korea. (MSNBC)
- OFCOM removes the retail price controls that had been imposed on Britain's dominant telco, the BT Group, for the last 22 years. (LSE) (Reuters) (BBC)
- An aristocratic house believed to be the birthplace of Augustus, the first emperor of ancient Rome, is discovered under the Palatine Hill.(SFGate)