Editing 2006

{{Pp-move}}
{{Events by month|2006|prefix=Portal:Current events/}}
{{About year|2006|the album|2006 (album)}}
[[File:2006 Events Collage 3.0.jpg|right|From top left, clockwise: the [[2006 Winter Olympics]] are held in [[Turin]], Italy; Israel and Lebanon enter [[2006 Lebanon War|conflict]]; [[2006 Mumbai train bombings|train bombings]] in [[Mumbai]] kill 209 people; Montenegro [[2006 Montenegrin independence referendum|votes to declare independence]] from Serbia; the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] is held in Germany and is won by Italy; [[Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907]] crashes in the [[Amazon rainforest]] after a mid-air collision with an [[Embraer Legacy 600]] business jet; an [[2006 Yogyakarta earthquake|earthquake]] in [[Yogyakarta]] kills over 5,700 people; the [[IAU]] votes on the [[IAU definition of planet|definition of ''planet'']], which demotes [[Pluto]] and other [[Kuiper belt]] objects and redefines them as "[[dwarf planet]]s".|300x300px|thumb]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Year nav|2006}}
{{Year in various calendars|year=2006}}
{{Year article header|2006}}
{{C21 year in topic}}
2006 was designated as the [[International Year of Deserts and Desertification]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=7589&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |title=International Years proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=2008-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001215257/http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D7589%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html |archive-date=October 1, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{TOC limit|2}}

==Events==

===January===
* [[January 1]]–[[January 4|4]] – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a [[Russia–Ukraine gas disputes|price dispute]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/energies/energies-14-04984/article_deploy/energies-14-04984-v2.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/energies/energies-14-04984/article_deploy/energies-14-04984-v2.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Hold-Up Problems in International Gas Trade: A Case Study|work=Energies|access-date=2022-03-20}}</ref>
* [[January 12]] – [[2006 Hajj stampede|A stampede]] during the [[Stoning of the Devil]] ritual on the last day at the [[Hajj]] in [[Mina, Saudi Arabia]], kills at least 362 [[pilgrims]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hundreds-killed-as-haj-pilgrims-rush-to-stone-the-devil-522749.html|title=Hundreds killed as Haj pilgrims rush to stone the devil|date=January 13, 2006|access-date=2009-07-06|work=[[The Independent]]|first=Justin|last=Huggler|location=London|archive-date=November 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119045108/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hundreds-killed-as-haj-pilgrims-rush-to-stone-the-devil-522749.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/islam/hajj.html|title=What is the Islamic hajj?|date=January 12, 2006|work=[[CBC News]]|access-date=2009-07-06|quote=It's the same place where 362 people died in a stampede on Jan. 12, 2006|archive-date=July 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715045405/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/islam/hajj.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 15]] – [[NASA]]'s ''[[Stardust (spacecraft)|Stardust]]'' mission successfully ends, the first to return dust from a [[comet]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181763,00.html|title=Stardust Container in Almost Perfect Condition|date=January 17, 2006|access-date=2009-07-06|agency=Associated Press|work=Fox News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106160304/https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181763,00.html|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[January 19]] – [[NASA]] launches the first interplanetary space probe to [[Pluto]], the ''[[New Horizons]]''.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/|title=New Horizons|work=jhuapl.edu|access-date=November 25, 2015|archive-date=December 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223122133/http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 22]] – [[Evo Morales]] is inaugurated as [[president of Bolivia]].
* [[January 25]] – [[Hamas]] wins the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2006/1/26/hamas-wins-huge-majority |title=Hamas wins huge majority |website=Al Jazeera |date=January 26, 2006 |access-date=October 5, 2024}}</ref>
* [[January 29]] – The roof of one of the buildings at the [[Katowice International Fair]] [[Katowice Trade Hall roof collapse|collapsed]] in [[Katowice]], Poland, killing 65 and injuring 170.<ref>{{cite news|title=Poland cuts death toll from cave-in of roof to 62|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/30/world/europe/30iht-poland.html|work=The New York Times|date=January 30, 2006 |accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref>
* [[January 30]] – Jennifer San Marco goes on [[Goleta postal facility shootings|a killing spree]] in [[Goleta, California]], United States that leaves seven people dead before she takes her own life.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.com/2013/01/31/goleta-postal-murders/ | title=The Goleta Postal Murders | date=January 31, 2013 | access-date=October 3, 2023 | archive-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004092908/https://www.independent.com/2013/01/31/goleta-postal-murders/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

===February===
* [[February 4]] – Egyptian passenger ferry, {{ship|MS|al-Salam Boccaccio 98}}, sinks in the [[Red Sea]] off the coast of Saudi Arabia, killing over 1,000 people.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183906,00.html|title=Relatives Trash Company Offices After Red Sea Disaster|agency=Associated Press|date=February 6, 2006|access-date=2009-07-05|work=Fox News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106152047/https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183906,00.html|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[February 6]] – [[Stephen Harper]] is sworn in as the [[Prime Minister of Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen Harper |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stephen-joseph-harper |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |language=en}}</ref>
* [[February 10]]–[[February 26|26]] – The [[2006 Winter Olympics]] are held in [[Turin, Italy]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/feb/10/winterolympicsturin2006.sport|title=Winter Games open in Turin|last=Associated Press|date=February 10, 2006|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2017-02-05|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=February 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206112347/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/feb/10/winterolympicsturin2006.sport|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[February 17]] – A [[2006 Southern Leyte mudslide|massive mudslide]] occurs in [[Southern Leyte]], Philippines killing an estimated 1,126 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?06/MDRPH00107.pdf |title=Philippine Landslide and Flood Operations Update #7 |publisher=[[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] |date=August 31, 2007 |access-date=2009-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807212947/http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?06%2FMDRPH00107.pdf |archive-date=August 7, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[February 22]] – [[2006 al-Askari mosque bombing]]: Explosions occur at the [[al-Askari Shrine]] in [[Samarra]], Iraq. The attack on the shrine, one of the holiest sites in [[Shia Islam]], causes the escalation of [[sectarian violence in Iraq]] into a full-scale war (the [[Iraqi Civil War (2006-2008)|Iraqi Civil War of 2006–2008]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/feb/28/iraq1|title='1,300 dead' in Iraq sectarian violence|website=The Guardian|date=February 28, 2006 |access-date=May 25, 2022|archive-date=June 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627185217/https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2006/feb/28/iraq1|url-status=live}}</ref>

===March===
* [[March 9]] – [[NASA]]'s ''[[Cassini–Huygens]]'' spacecraft announces a geyser-like emission of vapor, dust, and small ice crystals on [[Saturn]]'s moon [[Enceladus]], possibly indicating the presence of water.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cowen |first=Ron |date=May 2, 2006 |title=The Whole Enceladus: A new place to search for life in the outer solar system |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/whole-enceladus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525143943/https://www.sciencenews.org/article/whole-enceladus |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=ScienceNews}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/moon-spray|title=Moon spray|website=ScienceNews|date=January 2, 2006|access-date=May 20, 2022|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520204322/https://www.sciencenews.org/article/moon-spray|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[March 10]] 
** NASA's ''[[Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]]'' enters orbit around [[Mars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://astronomy.com/news/2006/03/mars-orbiter-arrives-march-10|title=Mars orbiter arrives March 10|website=Astronomy Magazine|date=March 7, 2006|access-date=May 21, 2022|archive-date=June 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625072454/https://astronomy.com/news/2006/03/mars-orbiter-arrives-march-10|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[Michelle Bachelet]] becomes the first female [[president of Chile]].
* [[March 15]] – The [[United Nations General Assembly]] votes overwhelmingly to establish the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The United Nations System: A Synopsis|author=Baber, Graeme|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|date=Sep 2019|page=16|language=en}}</ref>
* [[March 21]] – [[Microblogging]] and [[social networking service]] website Twitter was launched.

===April===
* [[April 4]] – The [[Faddoul Brothers]], kidnapped on February 23, 2006, in [[Caracas]], Venezuela, are found dead, causing outrage and mass protests against insecurity in the country.<ref name="País">{{cite news |last=Hernández |first=Clodovaldo |date=April 6, 2006 |title=Hallados muertos tres hermanos venezolanos secuestrados hace 38 días |url=http://elpais.com/diario/2006/04/06/internacional/1144274413_850215.html |access-date=March 1, 2017 |newspaper=El País |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527220105/https://elpais.com/diario/2006/04/06/internacional/1144274413_850215.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Universal">{{cite web |last=Vargos |first=Reinaldo |date=April 6, 2006 |title=Ciudad colapsada por protestas |url=http://www.eluniversal.com/2006/04/06/pol_art_06155A.shtml |access-date=March 1, 2017 |publisher=El Universal |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926035157/https://www.eluniversal.com/2006/04/06/pol_art_06155A.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Mundo">{{cite web |date=April 6, 2006 |title=Los venezolanos toman la calle en protesta por el asesinato de tres hermanos |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/04/06/internacional/1144346175.html |access-date=March 1, 2017 |website=Elmundo.es |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527220104/https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/04/06/internacional/1144346175.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[April 11]]
** The [[European Space Agency]]'s ''[[Venus Express]]'' spaceprobe enters [[Venus]]' orbit.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191293,00.html |title=European Space Probe Goes Into Orbit Around Venus |agency=Associated Press |date=April 12, 2006 |access-date=2009-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414070147/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191293,00.html |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |work=Fox News  }}</ref>
** President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] confirms that Iran has [[Nuclear program of Iran|successfully produced]] a few grams of low-grade [[enriched uranium]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/12/MNGIVI7RTH1.DTL |title=Iran celebrates uranium enrichment Experts say nuclear step means Tehran is serious, but weapon is years off |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 12, 2006 |access-date=2009-07-09 |first=James |last=Sterngold |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105204526/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2006%2F04%2F12%2FMNGIVI7RTH1.DTL |archive-date=January 5, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/04/11/iran.nuclear/index.html|title=Iran says it joins 'countries with nuclear technology'|publisher=CNN|date=April 12, 2006|access-date=2009-07-09|archive-date=March 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315113821/http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/04/11/iran.nuclear/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[April 20]] – Iran announces a deal with Russia, involving a joint [[uranium enrichment]] firm on Russian soil;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article707817.ece|title=Russia backs Iran's nuclear programme|work=The Times|first=Jenny|last=Booth|date=April 21, 2006|access-date=2009-07-09|location=London|archive-date=June 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604125140/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article707817.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> nine days later Iran announces that it will not move all activity to Russia, thus leading to a ''de facto'' termination of the deal.

===May===
* [[May 17]] – The [[Human Genome Project]] publishes the final [[Chromosome 1 (human)|chromosome]] sequence, in ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Pearson|first=Helen|date=May 17, 2006|title=Human genome completed (again)|url=https://www.nature.com/news/2006/060515/full/news060515-12.html|journal=Nature News|pages=news060515–12|language=en|doi=10.1038/news060515-12|s2cid=84880949|doi-access=free|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=August 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817211404/http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060515/full/news060515-12.html|url-status=live |issn = 0028-0836|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
* [[May 18]]–[[May 20|20]] – The [[Eurovision Song Contest 2006]] takes place in [[Athens]], Greece, and is won by [[Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest|Finnish]] band entrant [[Lordi]] with the song "[[Hard Rock Hallelujah]]".
* [[May 27]] – The 6.4 {{M|w}} [[2006 Yogyakarta earthquake|Yogyakarta earthquake]] shakes central [[Java]] in Indonesia with an [[Medvedev–Sponheuer–Karnik scale|MSK]] intensity of IX (Destructive), leaving more than 5,700 dead and 37,000 injured.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000ej1c#executive|title=M 6.3 – Java, Indonesia|website=earthquake.usgs.gov|access-date=2018-01-28|archive-date=June 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611145127/https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000ej1c#executive|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/31/ap/world/mainD8HUGLJO0.shtml|title=U.S. Military Joins Indonesia Quake Relief|date=May 31, 2006|work=CBS News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614121332/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/31/ap/world/mainD8HUGLJO0.shtml|archive-date=June 14, 2006}}</ref>

===June===
* [[June 3]] – [[Republic of Montenegro (1992–2006)|Montenegro]] declares its independence from [[Serbia and Montenegro]] after a May 21 [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|referendum]] and becomes a [[sovereign state]]. Two days later, the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro officially disbands after [[Republic of Serbia (1992–2006)|Serbia]] declares its independence as well, ending an 88-year union between the two countries<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/serbia-ends-union-with-montenegro-1.785687|title=Serbia ends union with Montenegro|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=2006|access-date=November 22, 2019|archive-date=December 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203022123/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/serbia-ends-union-with-montenegro-1.785687|url-status=live}}</ref> and leaving Serbia as the successor country to the union.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-03-montenegro_x.htm|title=Montenegro declares independence from Serbia|work=[[USA Today]]|date=June 3, 2006|access-date=2009-07-25|archive-date=March 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313103107/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-03-montenegro_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-06/04/content_4643122.htm |title=EU reiterates respect for independence of Montenegro |agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |date=June 4, 2006 |first=Mu |last=Xuequan |access-date=2009-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209221022/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-06/04/content_4643122.htm |archive-date=December 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[June 9]]–[[July 9]] – The [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] takes place in Germany; Italy defeats France in the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5056630.stm|title=Football {{!}} World Cup 2006 {{!}} for World Cup|date=June 9, 2006|website=BBC Sport|access-date=2017-02-05|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117233821/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5056630.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991652.stm|title=Zidane off as Italy win World Cup|date=July 9, 2006|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-02-05|archive-date=September 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906192236/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991652.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[June 28]]
** Israel [[Operation Summer Rains|launches an offensive]] in the [[Gaza Strip]] in response to rocketfire by [[Hamas]] into Israeli territory.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/1522647/Israel-launches-warning-air-strikes-on-Gaza.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/1522647/Israel-launches-warning-air-strikes-on-Gaza.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Israel launches warning air strikes on Gaza|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Tim|last=Butcher|date=June 29, 2006|access-date=2009-07-25 | location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
** The United States Armed Forces withdraws its forces in Iceland, thereby disbanding the [[Iceland Defense Force]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/16/AR2006031601846.html|title=U.S. to Remove Military Forces And Aircraft From Iceland Base|last=White|first=Josh|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=March 17, 2006|access-date=2018-01-29|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=January 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129080722/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/16/AR2006031601846.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===July===
* [[July 1]] – The [[Qinghai–Tibet railway]] begins operation, making [[Tibet Autonomous Region|Tibet]] the final [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China|province-level entity]] of China to establish a conventional railway.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2006-07-02-china-railway_x.htm?POE=TECISVA|title=China's first train to Tibet conquers high-altitude hurdles|agency=Associated Press|date=July 2, 2006|access-date=2009-07-31|first=Alexa|last=Olesen|work=USA Today|archive-date=March 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313104139/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2006-07-02-china-railway_x.htm?POE=TECISVA|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[July 6]] – The [[Nathu La]] pass between India and China, sealed during the [[Sino-Indian War]], re-opens for trade after 44 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/07/content_4803157.htm |title="Silk Road" rejoins at Nathu La Pass after 44 years |agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |date=July 7, 2006 |first=Li |last=Baodong |author2=Shuangqi, Fu |access-date=2009-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209231058/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/07/content_4803157.htm |archive-date=December 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[July 11]] – [[2006 Mumbai train bombings|A series of seven bomb blasts]] hits the city of [[Mumbai]], India, killing more than 200 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/30/india.bombs/index.html?section=cnn_world|title= India police: Pakistan spy agency behind Mumbai bombings |date=October 1, 2006|website=CNN |language=en|access-date=2018-01-29|archive-date=October 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009144852/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/30/india.bombs/index.html?section=cnn_world|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[July 12]] – Israeli troops [[2006 Lebanon War|invade Lebanon]] in response to [[Hezbollah]] kidnapping two Israeli soldiers and killing three others. Hezbollah declares open war against Israel two days later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/scfcn/CTVNews/20060713/israel_lebanon_strikes_060714/CTVNewsAt11/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109045559/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/scfcn/CTVNews/20060713/israel_lebanon_strikes_060714/CTVNewsAt11/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 9, 2012|title=Hezbollah vows 'open war' as violence escalates|publisher=[[CTV Television Network]]|access-date=2009-10-09|date=July 14, 2006}}</ref>

===August===
* [[August 10]] – News was revealed of a thwarted [[2006 transatlantic aircraft plot|terrorist plot to detonate liquid explosives]] disguised as soft drinks, aboard multiple transatlantic air flights.
* [[August 14]] – [[Sri Lankan civil war]], [[Chencholai bombing]]: 61 female students in [[Mullaitivu]] are killed by the [[Sri Lanka Air force|Sri Lankan Air Force]] in an air strike.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2016/08/14/impunity-reigns-in-sri-lankas-august-14-2006-bombing-of-schoolgirls/?sh=3dfe5e1d37e1 | title=Impunity Reigns In Sri Lanka's August 14, 2006 Bombing Of Schoolgirls | publisher=Forbes | work=Anjali Manivannan | date=August 14, 2016 | accessdate=June 22, 2021 | archive-date=June 24, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204802/https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2016/08/14/impunity-reigns-in-sri-lankas-august-14-2006-bombing-of-schoolgirls/?sh=3dfe5e1d37e1 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[August 16]] – Russian government patrol boat {{ill|31st Kisshin Maru incident|lt=shoots at a Japanese fishing boat|ja|第31吉進丸事件|ru|Инцидент с «Киссин Мару 31»}}, killing one crew member.<ref>{{Cite web| url = https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/18/rls_0816b.html | title = The shooting and seizure of a Japanese fishing boat in the waters around the Northern Territories | publisher = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan]] |language=Japanese| date = August 16, 2006 | accessdate = September 16, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news24.jp/articles/2006/08/19/0465142.html|title=Dead body found at Nemuro Port, Ministry of Foreign Affairs protests to Russia |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423054022/http://www.news24.jp/articles/2006/08/19/0465142.html| publisher=[[NTV News24]]|language=Japanese|date=August 19, 2006|archivedate=April 23, 2014|accessdate=September 16, 2024}}</ref>
* [[August 22]] – [[Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise Flight 612]] crashes near the Russian border in Ukraine, killing all 170 people on board.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/08/22/russia.crash/|title=Russian jet crash kills all 170 on board|publisher=CNN|date=August 23, 2006|access-date=2009-10-10|first=Matthew|last=Chance|archive-date=December 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228202143/http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/08/22/russia.crash/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 24]] – The [[International Astronomical Union]] [[IAU definition of planet|defines]] '[[planet]]' at its 26th General Assembly, removing [[Pluto]]'s status as a planet and reclassifying it as a [[dwarf planet]] 76 years after its discovery. [[Irony|Ironically]], this was in the same year when [[NASA]] sent its [[New Horizons|first probe]] to the [[Astronomical object|celestial body]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9824-pluto-gets-the-boot-as-the-planet-count-drops.html|title=Pluto gets the boot as the planet count drops|work=[[New Scientist]]|access-date=2009-10-10|date=August 24, 2006|first=Stephen|last=Battersby|archive-date=June 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615004417/http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9824-pluto-gets-the-boot-as-the-planet-count-drops.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>

===September===
* [[September 1]] – [[Analog television|Analog]] terrestrial television is switched off in Luxembourg, being the first country to do so.
* [[September 7]] 
** British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] announces his intention to resign by the end of 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5322094.stm |title=I will quit within a year – Blair |work=BBC News |date=September 7, 2006 |access-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-date=November 17, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117032828/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5322094.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[September 2006 lunar eclipse|Partial lunar eclipse]], visible over most of Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia.
* [[September 19]] – The [[Royal Thai Army]] overthrows the government of Prime Minister [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] in a ''[[2006 Thai coup d'état|coup]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thai military claims control after coup |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/sep/19/thailand |website=The Guardian |access-date=February 4, 2021 |language=en |date=September 19, 2006 |archive-date=October 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050901/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/sep/19/thailand |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[September 22]] – [[Solar eclipse of September 22, 2006|Annular solar eclipse]], visible in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, parts of Brazil, and the southern Atlantic.
* [[September 28]] – [[Typhoon Xangsane]] passed [[Manila]] on its way to causing more than 300 deaths, mostly in the Philippines and Vietnam.<ref name="gp">{{cite web|author=Boyle, Kevin|title=Typhoon Xangsane: 25 September – 2 October|publisher=Typhoon2000|access-date=October 13, 2014|url=http://www.typhoon2000.ph/garyp_mgtcs/sep06sum.txt|archive-date=December 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214052710/http://www.typhoon2000.ph/garyp_mgtcs/sep06sum.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[September 29]] – [[Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907]], a [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-800]], collides with an [[Embraer Legacy 600]] over the [[Amazon rainforest]], killing all 154 occupants on board the 737 whereas all 7 onboard the Legacy survives.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-19078146_ITM|title=Passports of Legacy jet pilots seized pending investigation in Brazil crash.|publisher=Europe Intelligence Wire|access-date=2009-10-10|date=October 4, 2006|archive-date=December 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209210958/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-19078146_ITM|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=Accident Boeing 737-8EH PR-GTD, Friday 29 September 2006 |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/322098 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=asn.flightsafety.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=Accident Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 600 N600XL, Friday 29 September 2006 |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/322097 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=asn.flightsafety.org}}</ref>

===October===
* [[October 6]] – [[Fredrik Reinfeldt]] replaces [[Göran Persson]] as [[Prime Minister of Sweden]].
* [[October 9]]
** North Korea claims to have conducted its first-ever [[2006 North Korean nuclear test|nuclear test]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/oct/09/northkorea|title=North Korea claims first nuclear test|work=The Guardian|date=October 9, 2006|access-date=2009-10-11|location=London|archive-date=February 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206020356/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/oct/09/northkorea|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Google [[History of YouTube#Purchase by Google (2006)|purchased]] YouTube for US$1.65&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theage.com.au/business/google-closes-a2b-youtube-deal-20061115-gdotv3.html |title=Google closes $A2b YouTube deal |work=The Age |date=November 15, 2006 |access-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209013507/http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Google-closes-A2b-YouTube-deal/2006/11/14/1163266548827.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[October 11]]–[[October 13|13]] – [[St Andrews Agreement]] is held in Scotland between the British and Irish governments on devolution in Northern Ireland.
* [[October 13]] – South Korean [[Ban Ki-moon]] is elected as the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, succeeding [[Kofi Annan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5401856.stm|title=Profile: Ban Ki-moon|publisher=BBC|date=October 13, 2006|access-date=2009-10-11|archive-date=October 2, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002213545/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5401856.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[October 22]] – [[Fernando Alonso]] wins his second [[World Drivers Championship]].
* October (date unknown) – [[Marine protected area|The Offshore MPA]] project is initiated.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Offshore Marine Protected Area Project|first=Offshore Marine Protected Area Project|date=2011|title=Final Summary Report 2011|url=https://www.sanbi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ompareportdec2011summary-report-final.pdf#:~:text=A%20collaborative%20five-year%20Offshore%20Marine%20Protected%20Area%20project,of%20potential%20offshore%20spatial%20management%20measures%20including%20MPAs. |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.sanbi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ompareportdec2011summary-report-final.pdf#:~:text=A%20collaborative%20five-year%20Offshore%20Marine%20Protected%20Area%20project,of%20potential%20offshore%20spatial%20management%20measures%20including%20MPAs. |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|access-date=January 2, 2022|website=South African National Biodiversity Institute}}</ref>

===November===
* [[November 2]] – ''[[No. 5, 1948]]'' by [[Jackson Pollock]] becomes the [[List of most expensive paintings|most expensive painting]] after it is sold privately for [[List of most expensive paintings|$140&nbsp;million]].<ref name="Artnet">{{cite web | url= http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/news/artmarketwatch/artmarketwatch11-3-06.asp | title= Art Market Watch | date= November 3, 2006 | access-date= November 8, 2006 | publisher= Artnet | archive-date= January 8, 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070108223812/http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/news/artmarketwatch/artmarketwatch11-3-06.asp | url-status= live }}</ref>
* [[November 3]] – [[Microsoft]] releases [[Microsoft Office 2007|Office 2007]] for manufacturing.
* [[November 5]] – Former [[President of Iraq]] [[Saddam Hussein]] is [[Execution of Saddam Hussein|sentenced to death]] by hanging by the [[Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal|Iraqi Special Tribunal]]. He is later executed by hanging for crimes against humanity on December 30.<ref name="ap burial">{{Cite news |date=December 31, 2006 |title=Saddam buried in village of his birth |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1107AP_Saddam.html |access-date=2006-12-31 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |agency=Associated Press}}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* [[November 8]] – Microsoft releases [[Windows Vista]] for manufacturing.
* [[November 11]] – Sony releases the [[PlayStation 3]].
* [[November 12]] – The breakaway state of South Ossetia holds a [[South Ossetian independence referendum, 2006|referendum]] on independence from Georgia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/11/AR2006111101247.html|title=Georgia: Separatist Vote Illegitimate|agency=Associated Press|first=Maria|last=Danilova|access-date=2009-10-12|date=November 11, 2006|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=January 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110162545/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/11/AR2006111101247.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[November 19]] – [[Nintendo]] releases the [[Wii]].
* [[November 22]] – [[2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump|A toxic waste dumping incident occurs in Côte d'Ivoire]] by [[Trafigura|a Panama ship sent by Singaporean oil company]], causing 3 deaths and the poison treatment of 1500 people.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 1, 2011|title=Ivory Coast Government Panel Releases Toxic Waste Findings {{!}} News|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-11-23-voa22/319097.html|access-date=2021-03-11|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001021153/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2006-11-23-voa22.html|archive-date=October 1, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 7, 2006 |title=In pictures: Ivorian toxic waste |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/5322760.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006071012/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/5322760.stm |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=2021-03-11 |work=BBC Online |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[November 23]] – A series of [[23 November 2006 Sadr City bombings|car bombs and mortar attacks]] in [[Sadr City]], [[Baghdad]], kills at least 215 people and injure 257 other people.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 25, 2006 |title=Iraqi militias take fiery revenge for slaughter |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15873863 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923220402/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15873863 |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |access-date=2009-10-12 |work=NBC News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

===December===
* [[December 1]] – [[WikiLeaks]] leaks [[Hassan Dahir Aweys]]' [[conspiracy]] to assassinate [[Somali government]] officials.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Khatchadourian |first=Raffi |date=May 31, 2010 |title=What Does Julian Assange Want? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/06/07/no-secrets |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711220632/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/06/07/100607fa_fact_khatchadourian |archive-date=July 11, 2014 |access-date=2021-03-09 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-us}}</ref>
* [[December 5]] – The military seizes power in Fiji, in a [[2006 Fijian coup d'état|coup d'état]] led by Commodore [[Frank Bainimarama]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maynard |first1=Roger |title=Fiji military seizes power in bloodless coup |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/dec/05/fiji.travel2 |website=The Guardian |access-date=February 4, 2021 |language=en |date=December 5, 2006 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225222217/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/dec/05/fiji.travel2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[December 11]]
** [[Felipe Calderón]] sends the Mexican military to combat the drug cartels and put down the violence in the state of Michoacán, initiating the [[Mexican Drug War]].<ref>{{cite news |date=December 4, 2011 |title=Mexico's president pledges to continue fighting cartels |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2011-12-04/americas/world_americas_mexico-president-speech_1_drug-war-strategy-cartels-human-rights?_s=PM:AMERICAS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127111118/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-12-04/americas/world_americas_mexico-president-speech_1_drug-war-strategy-cartels-human-rights?_s=PM%3AAMERICAS |archive-date=January 27, 2012 |access-date=January 27, 2012 |newspaper=CNN}}</ref>
** [[Analog television|Analog]] terrestrial television is switched off permanently in the Netherlands.
* [[December 24]] – Ethiopia admits its troops have [[War in Somalia (2006–09)|intervened in Somalia]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6207333.stm|title=Ethiopia dismisses Somali threat|publisher=BBC|access-date=2009-10-13|date=December 24, 2006|archive-date=January 15, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115174637/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6207333.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[December 29]] – UK settles its [[Anglo-American loan]], post-WWII loan debt.
* [[December 30]] – Former Iraqi president [[Saddam Hussein]], was [[Execution of Saddam Hussein|executed by hanging]].

==Births and deaths==
{{Main|Category:2006 births|Deaths in 2006}}

==Nobel Prizes==
[[File:Nobel medal.png|right|120px]]
* [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry|Chemistry]] – [[Roger D. Kornberg]].
* [[Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences|Economics]] – [[Edmund Phelps]].
* [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Literature]] – [[Orhan Pamuk]].
* [[Nobel Peace Prize|Peace]] – [[Muhammad Yunus]] and the [[Grameen Bank]].
* [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Physics]] – [[John C. Mather]], and [[George F. Smoot]].
* [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Physiology or Medicine]] – [[Andrew Z. Fire]], and [[Craig C. Mello]].

==New English words and terms==
* [[Wish list|bucket list]]
* ''[[crowdfunding]]''
* ''[[crowdsourcing]]''
* [[Eris (dwarf planet)|Eris]]
* [[hypermiling]]
* [[mumblecore]]
* [[Showreel|sizzle reel]]
* [[ski cross]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/time-traveler/2006|title=Time Traveler by Merriam-Webster: Words from 2006|website=merriam-webster.com|access-date=May 8, 2018|archive-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208233949/https://www.merriam-webster.com/time-traveler/2006|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal bar|2000s}}
{{Events by month links}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2006}}
[[Category:2006| ]]