2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Caretaker government is formed
Justice Mainur Reza Chowdhury was discussed as a nominee, but he died before appointment. Two retired justices of the Supreme Court: Justice M. A. Aziz and Justice Hamidul Haq, were also considered. Aziz was Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) at that time. The Awami League complained about him in that position, so did not accept him for CA. Justice Haq was disqualified as he had been appointed Chairman of the Judicial Training Institute by the immediate past BNP government. Having held a for-profit office is a disqualification for the CA. In addition, BNP opposed his nomination as CA.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Caretaker government is formed
Justice Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury was considered. He had retired before Mainur Reza Chowdhury. The BNP opposed him, as the Parliamentary Adviser of Khaleda Zia was against him. In August 2012, The Daily Star reported that Khaleda Zia has said she regretted having opposed Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury's appointment at the time.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Caretaker government is formed
Given the parties' failure to agree on a candidate, according to the constitution the position devolved to the President, Iajuddin Ahmed, serving since 2002. He took it on in addition to his regular responsibilities, which under the caretaker government included the Defense Ministry. Iajuddin Ahmed formed a government, appointing ten advisors to a council to act as ministers. He appointed his press spokesman, the journalist Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury, as his chief Presidential Advisor, with the status of Minister of State. Chowdhury had the responsibility to negotiate with the political parties to bring them to participation in the election.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Caretaker government is formed
The Awami League agreed to take part in the elections, but demanded that Iajuddin Ahmed make mass changes to the administration to free it from what they called the BNP's politicisation. They also demanded that a new and accurate voter list be compiled. The BNP also had its own issues against the opposition. Hussain Muhammad Ershad, head of the Jatiya Party allied with BNP, asked the CTG not to extend date of submission of nominations for candidates, as requested by Awami League, as his candidates had filed on time.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Caretaker government is formed
At Sheikh Hasina's demand, a presidential advisor negotiated with the Election Commission to gain a two-day extension for filing of nominations On 23 December 2006, all political parties joined the planned elections of 22 January 2007. The last day of nomination filing was extended to 26 December 2006 to accommodate all political parties, as requested by Sheikh Hasnna to Mukhles Chowdhury.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Caretaker government is formed
On 3 January 2007, the last day possible, the Awami League declared that they and their allies would boycott the election. The withdrawal added to the political uncertainty and more violent protests resulted, in which hundreds had already been injured. These actions had devastating, disruptive effects on the economy.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Caretaker government is formed
"The two women [Hasina and Zia] are bitter rivals and barely speak to each other. Their mutual loathing is reflected among their respective sets of supporters.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Caretaker government is formed
Bangladesh is one of the most politically polarised countries in the world, even though the actual policy differences between the two largest parties do not amount to anything significant.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Caretaker government is formed
But the ceaseless bickering and violent confrontations have meant that the Bangladeshi economy – already fragile – is coming under further pressure."


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention
Military representatives met with President Ahmed on 11 January, urging him to declare a state of emergency, and to resign and appoint an Interim Chief Advisor. According to a United States diplomatic cable later released under Wikileaks, the Army Chief, General Moeen U Ahmed, and his group persuaded the President to declare a state of emergency on 11 January 2007. At the time, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence & Counterterrorism, Brigadier General A T M Amin, met with the US Ambassador, Patricia Butenis, to explain the military's concerns.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention
Given the Awami League's withdrawal from the elections, they believed that supporting a one-sided election might threaten the armed forces continued participation in UN peacekeeping missions – UNPKO, which they valued. In addition, they were worried about threatened terrorist violence from Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which had set off 300 bombs in August 2005. They wanted a neutral government established until "fair, free and credible elections" could be held in which all parties participated.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention
In the near term, Justice Fazlul Haque, the senior CTG advisor, was to be appointed Interim Chief Advisor, and Fakhruddin Ahmed, a prominent banker, would quickly be appointed Chief Advisor to replace Iajuddin Ahmed. All of them were the violation of the constitution and when chief advisor or prime minister resigns the whole advisory council or cabinet is deemed to be resigned what Advisor Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury categorically pointed out.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention
Mukhles Chowdhury also deleted some sentences, which were derogated remarks against the country to justify the military intervention, written by Lt. Gen. Moeen in the president's speech broadcast on 11 January 2011. Moeen's main pillar of 11 January 2007 military coup was then Military Secretary to the President (MSP) Major General Aminul Karim. Due to this, Advisor Mukhles Chowdhury attempted to replace him by then General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 24 Division Major General Md Abdul Mubeen, who was later appointed as army chief by successive government.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention
Unfortunately, DG of Special Security Force (SSF) Major General Syed Fatemi Ahmed Rumi supported Aminul Karim and misled former prime minister Khaleda Zia on this. Initially. Mrs Zia was convinced by Advisor Chowdhury, but later she took side of Rumi. But what she did not realise that once loyal this army officer had already betrayed with her. Although Rumi was posted long five years of Khaleda Zia's tenure with her, she was under surveillance by him as well. During those days, he intercepted her personal life.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention
Ironically, an army group including him, tried to publish a Nikahnama (marriage document) of his once boss in Prothom Alo, a bangla daily. Fatemi Rumi accompanied General Moeen to his maiden visit to India, he was posted by Moeen to Rangpur division of army where Moeen visite three times and worked to establish a University in Rangpur. Moreover, Rumi pressured businessmen to contribute donation for the Kings Party "Jago Bangladesh" a political party created by Moeen, which dies a natural death.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention
Likewise, when Mukhles Chowdhury informed top politicians that by 12 January 2011 there would be a martial law in Bangladesh, Brigadier Chowdhury Fazlul Bari misled Khaleda Zia with the help of Aminul Karim to implement Moeen's plan to capture Presidency. In addition, Amin (popularly known as Bihari Amin as he was a settler from India's Bihar Province) informed the US diplomats that the Director General for National Security Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Md. Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury (Haider), was relieved from duty and being investigated.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention
(Later that year, he was charged in the 10-Truck Arms and Ammunition Haul in Chittagong, an incident of smuggling to a militant organisation based in India.) The President's remaining CTG advisor, M Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury, was also relieved of his duties. The cable noted that both men were believed to be paths of influence from Khaleda Zia and the BNP.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention
Assuring the diplomats of the military's support for the civilian government, Amin said their immediate goals for the caretaker government were to:


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention, Cessation of election monitoring operations
The BBC reported on 11 January 2007 that, given the withdrawal of the Awami League, and announced resignations, the United Nations and the European Union immediately suspended their election monitoring operations, as conditions for a credible vote did not exist. The EU said,


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention, Cessation of election monitoring operations
"The European Commission has decided to suspend its Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Bangladesh covering the parliamentary elections on 22nd January. The European Commission has recalled the long-term observers already on the ground, and will not deploy the other phases of its observation mission, which was due to be led by MEP Alexander Graf Lambsdorff."


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention, Cessation of election monitoring operations
"The political crisis in Bangladesh has severely jeopardised the legitimacy of the electoral process. The announced cancellation of numerous international observation missions is regrettable. The United Nations has had to suspend all technical support to the electoral process, including by closing its International Coordination Office for Election Observers in Dhaka."


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention, State of emergency
On the same day as the UN and EU withdrawal, Chief Advisor Iajuddin Ahmed announced a state of emergency in Bangladesh. He established a late night to early morning (11 p.m. to 5 am) curfew. The Economist reported this action as a form of coup d'état. Within hours President Ahmed announced his resignation as chief advisor and postponed the scheduled election. Prior to his resignation, he accepted the resignations of nine of the ten advisors of the caretaker government.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention, State of emergency
President Ahmed appointed Justice Fazlul Haque, the senior-ranking CTG advisor, as the interim Chief Advisor. The columnist Zafar Sobhan of the Daily Star newspaper wrote, "It is fairly apparent that it was done under pressure from the army because of the threat that the country could lose its peacekeeping role" with the United Nations, which was both prestigious and lucrative in terms of payment to the country.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention, State of emergency
On 12 January 2007, with military backing, the former Bangladesh Bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed, who had worked for the World Bank, was sworn in as the new Chief Advisor. He appointed five advisors on 13 January to form the new interim government. When he was officially named as the head of the caretaker government, he lifted the curfew. The state of emergency was continued, suspending some basic rights provided by the constitution, such as the freedom of movement, assembly, and speech to limit protests and disruptive political activity.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention, Corruption and murder charges
In 2007, the caretaker government pursued graft and corruption charges against both major party leaders and some of their senior staff, trying to clean up the country, which was notorious for corruption. It filed charges against 160 politicians, civil servants, and businessmen, including Tareque and Arafat Rahman, two sons of the former prime minister, Khaleda Zia, who were both active in the BNP. Later in the year, the government filed charges of corruption against both her and Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League. This anti-corruption effort was greeted with approval by the people, who were tired of government officials "siphoning off the country's wealth."


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention, Corruption and murder charges
In April, the media reported that the caretaker government was trying to force both major party leaders out of the country, which was needed to reform the political system. Supporters of Khaleda Zia were negotiating for her to go to Saudi Arabia, but that country declined. The CTG banned Sheikh Hasina from returning from a trip and had prohibited political activity. By 26 April 2007, the government had changed its position, and allowed Hasina to return and both leaders to resume political activities. Hasina was being charged with murder for the deaths of four opposition supporters in late 2006, allegedly due to attacks by her party members, prior to the state of emergency being imposed.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention, Corruption and murder charges
On 12 July 2007, Sheikh Hasina, party leader of the Awami League, was arrested for graft, based on charges filed by a businessman against her for actions in 1998.


2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis, Military intervention, Restoration of parliamentary democracy
After holding power for more than a year, the CTG decided to hold local elections in some locations on 4 August 2008. The main parties criticised this as unconstitutional. General elections were held on 29 December 2008, when the Awami League and its Grand Alliance won two-thirds of the seats in parliament. The BNP and its four-party alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami, comprise the major opposition.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties
The 2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties was the handover of the title of president and presidential duties from longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro to his brother Raúl Castro, the next-in-line-of-succession person in Cuba, following Fidel's operation and recovery from an undisclosed digestive illness believed to be diverticulitis. Although Raúl Castro exercised the duties of president, Fidel Castro retained the title of President of Cuba, formally the President of the Council of State of Cuba, during this period.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties
Fidel had been in power since 1959 and held the title of President of Cuba since 1976. At the time of his operation in July 2006, he was 79 years old and the last governing communist leader from the Cold War era.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties
Fidel felt proud to have not only thwarted the Bay of Pigs Invasion, failed CIA attempts to kill him, and acts of Cuban exile violence, but also outlived the Cold War and the USSR, and exhorting the Cuban people brave the crippling effects of the US embargo against Cuba (largely to whip up patriotic fury against the US) and the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties
While the radical left (especially Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales) praised Castro as a tireless defender of the poor and oppressed in Latin America and Africa while standing up to US hegemony in the Americas, Fidel Castro's sworn enemies, namely the US and Cuban-Americans, saw him as a ruthless tyrant who broke his promise to restore democracy to Cuba by imposing a repressive communist government on the island that muzzled all opposition and wrecked the Cuban economy.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties
On February 19, 2008 Fidel announced that he would not stand for re-election as President at the next meeting of the National Assembly of People's Power. Raúl was elected President by the National Assembly on February 24, 2008.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, July 2006 announcement
The transfer of duties was announced in a proclamation read on state television at 8:15 p.m. by Castro's secretary, Carlos Valenciaga. The proclamation appeared on the Granma website that night and was printed in Cuba's national newspaper Granma, the next day. In his statement of delegation, Castro stated: "the operation has obliged me to take several weeks of rest, at a remove from my responsibilities and duties".


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, July 2006 announcement
The proclamation transferred to his brother the functions as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, Comandante of the Armed Forces, President of the Council of State, and of the Government of the Republic of Cuba. It transferred other functions to José Ramón Balaguer Cabrera, José Ramón Machado Ventura, Esteban Lazo Hernández, and Carlos Lage Dávila.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, July 2006 announcement
Castro also announced in his statement that he had spoken to the Guayasamín Foundation, whose responsibilities included organizing his oncoming 80th birthday celebrations on August 13, 2006. He requested that the group postpone the anniversary until December 2, 2006, the 50th anniversary of the Granma Landing. The letter ended with the Cuban leader's customary pronouncements: "Imperialism will never be able to crush Cuba. The Battle of Ideas will continue advancing. ¡ Viva la Patria! ¡ Viva la Revolución! ¡ Viva el Socialismo! ¡ Hasta la Victoria Siempre! (Long live the Motherland! Long live the revolution! Long live socialism! Ever onward to victory! )".


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, July 2006 announcement
The transfer of power was in line with Article 94 of the Cuban Constitution, which states: "In cases of the absence, illness or death of the president of the Council of State, the first vice president assumes the president's duties".


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, Caribbean
Along with well wishes from many leaders from around the world, the prime minister of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Denzil Douglas wished the "political legend" Castro a swift recovery on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Douglas was unwavering in his support, saying, "At this challenging time for the people of Cuba, we of Caricom want them to know that we wish for President Fidel Castro a successful recovery, and soon.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, Caribbean
He has proven to be a great friend of the Caribbean and of all poor and developing countries struggling for a better life for their peoples." He also warned against trying to create instability during the transition, adding: "We in CARICOM sincerely hope that as President Castro...recovers, and acting President Raúl Castro takes on the very demanding responsibilities as Head of State, that there would be no adventurism on the part of any and from whatever quarter, to create problems for the Cuban people..."


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, Caribbean
Thereafter Saint Lucia's Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony also issued a series of well wishes for his Cuban counterpart. Dr. Anthony said he was just as surprised as the Cuban people and the rest of the world by the sudden news of President Castro's illness. But, he added, he was "also confident that he is receiving the best medical care in the world, because the quality of health care in Cuba is exceedingly good and I'm sure he is being given the very best medical care.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, Caribbean
In his press release the Saint Lucian Prime Minister also said, "The Cabinet of Ministers, and indeed the people of Saint Lucia, have much admiration for the Cuban President and his personal interest in making humanitarian and social assistance available to Saint Lucia and the rest of the Caribbean, especially in the fields of health and education."


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, United States
On July 31, just hours prior to the announcement of Castro's condition, U.S. President George W. Bush told WAQI-AM, a Spanish-language radio station in Miami, "If Fidel Castro were to move on because of natural causes, we've got a plan in place to help the people of Cuba understand there's a better way than the system in which they've been living under. No one knows when Fidel Castro will move on. In my judgment, that's the work of the Almighty."


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, United States
On August 2, Senator Robert Bennett (R-Utah) said President Bush told him the administration was surprised by the announcement of Castro's illness, "The president's comment was that everybody was caught by surprise, and we'll have to wait and see what U.S. action is necessary. I think all of us can say we had no idea this was coming."


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, United States
Senators met in Washington, D.C. to discuss "A Democratic Cuba After Castro", as many senators argued that the United States should have a plan in case the United States would need to offer any help to Cuba during a transfer of duties.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, United States
Cuban-American Senator Mel Martinez stated that he and many other Cuban-Americans regard Raúl Castro as a temporary figure and not someone capable of leading Cuba into the future.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, United States
There were celebrations among the large Cuban-American population of Miami, Florida, Jersey City, New Jersey, and several other smaller Cuban communities in the US opposed to Castro's regime.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, United States
On August 3, 2006, the White House released the following statement:


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, United States
The United States is actively monitoring the situation in Cuba following the announcement of a transfer of power. At this time of uncertainty in Cuba, one thing is clear: The United States is absolutely committed to supporting the Cuban people’s aspirations for democracy and freedom. We have repeatedly said that the Cuban people deserve to live in freedom. I encourage all democratic nations to unite in support of the right of the Cuban people to define a democratic future for their country. I urge the Cuban people to work for democratic change on the island.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, United States
We will support you in your effort to build a transitional government in Cuba committed to democracy, and we will take note of those, in the current Cuban regime, who obstruct your desire for a free Cuba. In the event of a transition in the Cuban government, we stand ready to provide humanitarian assistance as needed to help the Cuban people. It has long been the hope of the United States to have a free, independent, and democratic Cuba as a close friend and neighbor. In achieving this, the Cuban people can count on the full and unconditional support of the United States.


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, Latin America
President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez and President of Bolivia Evo Morales both made statements of support for Castro's recovery. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian president and a long-time friend of Castro, said "Cubans alone should decide on a possible presidential successor. The succession process is a decision the Cuban people will have to take".


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, Latin America
Numerous Latin American publications, including Peru's La República, and Bolivia's La Razón, ran front-page articles about the event, featuring pictures of a frail-looking Castro, head in hand. Others, such as Mexico City's La Crónica de Hoy and El Sol de México, focused on the bond between Castro and his brother Raúl, the former showing a picture of the two walking together, the latter a picture of an elderly Fidel with arm held aloft by Raúl. A headline in Peru's La República declared Castro's cessation of duties to be "the end of an era", while Venezuela's El Universal said the event was "unprecedented in 47 years of power."


2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties, Reaction in the Americas, Latin America
On August 5, 2006, the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo reported that Cuban authorities had informed Brazilian president Lula da Silva that Castro's health was much worse than what the Cuban government had previously admitted in public, contending that he was suffering from intestinal cancer and will be unable to resume control of the Cuban state. The Brazilian government quickly denied that the report was accurate. Folha's editors responded to the government's denials by saying their sources were Castro's top aides.


2006–2008 European Nations Cup First Division
The European Nations Cup (ENC) First Division is the sixth edition of the so-called Six Nations B, since its launch in 2000.


2006–2008 European Nations Cup First Division
The ENC is played over two years during which all teams meet each other home and away. The games are usually played in February and March during the Six Nations Championship, and in May to avoid very cold conditions in Eastern Europe. However the winner of this does not get promoted to the Six Nations.


2006–2008 European Nations Cup Second Division
The 2006–2008 European Nations Cup (ENC) Second Division (a European rugby union competition for national teams) will be contested over two years during which all teams meet each other home and away. The winner of Division 2A, Germany, will be promoted to Division 1 and fifth place, Netherlands, relegated to Division 2B. The winner, Poland, and loser of Division 2B shall be promoted to Division 2A and relegated to Division 3A, respectively.


2006–2008 European Nations Cup Second Division
In 2006 Ukraine was relegated from the First Division to Division 2A and Latvia promoted from Division 3A to 2B. The other teams joined from Round 3 of the qualification for the World Cup 2007. Spain, the winner of Round 3 of WC qual., was thereby promoted to the First Division in 2006.


2006–2008 European Nations Cup Third Division
The 2006–2008 European Nations Cup (ENC) Third Division (a European rugby union competition for national teams)  will be contested over two years during which all teams meet each other home and away. The Third Division consists of four levels, which effectively constitute the 5th through 8th levels of European international rugby. The winner of each division shall be promoted to the next highest division, and the loser relegated to the next division lower.


2006–2008 European Nations Cup Third Division
The previous champion of Division 3A, Latvia was promoted to the Second Division and replaced with Serbia and Montenegro (now Serbia), which came last in Round 3 of the qualification for the World Cup 2007.


2006–2008 European Nations Cup Third Division, Division 3C
Bosnia was relegated to division 3D, while Israel will undertook a relegation/promotion playoff with Cyprus.


2006–2008 Juba talks
The Juba talks were a series of negotiations between the government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group over the terms of a ceasefire and possible peace agreement. The talks, held in Juba, the capital of autonomous Southern Sudan, began in July 2006 and were mediated by Riek Machar, the Vice President of Southern Sudan. The talks, which had resulted in a ceasefire by September 2006, were described as the best chance ever for a negotiated settlement to the 20-year-old war. However, LRA leader Joseph Kony refused to sign the peace agreement in April 2008. Two months later, the LRA carried out an attack on a Southern Sudanese town, prompting the Government of Southern Sudan to officially withdraw from their mediation role.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Preparations
A delegation from the LRA arrived in Juba, Sudan on 8 June 2006 to prepare for talks with the Ugandan government, to be mediated by the Government of Southern Sudan and by the Community of Sant'Egidio. These talks were agreed to after Kony released a video in May in which he denied committing atrocities and seemed to call for an end to hostilities, in response to an announcement by Museveni that he would guarantee the safety of Kony if peace was agreed to by July. Museveni had pledged to grant Kony total amnesty if he gave up "terrorism".


2006–2008 Juba talks, Preparations
Uganda's security minister Amama Mbabazi urged the International Criminal Court to drop the indictments issued in 2005 against leaders of the LRA, but LRA legal adviser Krispus Ayena Odongo rejected the offer, saying that accepting amnesty "presupposes surrender" and would mean the LRA was no longer available for discussions. Several organizations, including the ICC and the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute insisted that LRA leaders must be arrested in accordance with the Rome Statute.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Preparations
Joseph Kony gave his first interview to the press after 20 years of carrying out the conflict in late June 2006. He denied that the LRA had carried out any atrocities and blamed President Museveni for oppressing the Acholi. Regardless, in late June 2006, the Government of Southern Sudan formally invited Uganda to attend peace talks.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Initial negotiations
On 14 July 2006 talks began in Juba between delegations from the LRA and Uganda, with the Vice-president of Southern Sudan Riek Machar as the chief mediator. The leader of the Ugandan delegation, Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda stated that his priority was to obtain a quick ceasefire. The LRA delegation, led by Martin Ojul, said that LRA's acceptance of the peace talks should not be interpreted that LRA can no longer fight, but stressed that a negotiated settlement is the best way to end the conflict.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Initial negotiations
The initial delegation was criticized as largely consisting of expatriate Acholi, rather than members of the fighting force. However, after many delays Vincent Otti arrived for meetings on the 29th, followed the next day by Kony's 14-year-old son Salim Saleh Kony (sharing a name with the brother of President Museveni, Salim Saleh). Kony himself met with local religious and political leaders from northern Uganda and southern Sudan on the following day. On 2 August, Kony held his first-ever press conference in which he demanded a ceasefire before LRA-government negotiations resumed on the 7th and denied ever abducting children. Some media sources noted that, of the approximately 80 LRA fighters surrounding the press venue, several appeared to be in their early teens.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Initial negotiations
The broader context of the talks remained confused. The government of Southern Sudan views the talks as a means of ridding itself of a foreign army that is complicating their delicate relationship with the Khartoum government. The request by the Ugandan Government for ICC to suspend war crimes indictments against leaders of the LRA, condemned by international human rights groups but largely supported by leaders and civilians within northern Uganda, led some political analysts to see Ugandan Government's request as a ploy to gain local support.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Initial negotiations
The comment of a George Olara, an IDP living in a camp in Pader, was fairly typical: "He [Kony] should not be taken to The Hague. Let him come back and live with the community because this is how reconciliation will be achieved. ... Peace will come if the talks succeed, but there is the potential that they may also fail like they have done before".


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire
On 4 August 2006, Vincent Otti declared a unilateral ceasefire and asked the Ugandan government to reciprocate. Ugandan Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda stated that they were waiting to see the effect on the ground. ICC indictee Raska Lukwiya was killed in battle on 12 August 2006; the LRA asked for three days of mourning though a spokesman said that talks would continue. Ugandan President Museveni set a 12 September 2006 deadline to finalize a peace deal. The government and LRA signed a truce on 26 August 2006.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire
Under the terms of the agreement, LRA forces were required to leave Uganda and gather in two assembly areas, where the Ugandan government promised they would not attack and the government of Southern Sudan guaranteed their safety. Once this is accomplished, talks on a comprehensive peace agreement would begin. Although a final agreement was not reached by the 12 August deadline, LRA rebels began gathering in the assembly areas and the government delegation stated that they would not hold to the deadline. Machar stated that several hundred rebels, including Otti, had gathered either at Ri-Kwangba in West Equatoria or Owiny Ki-Bul in East Equatoria.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire
The government also began a process of creating "satellite camps" to decongest the main IDP camps. In Pader, 28 satellite sites were occupied out of 48 identified as of late September 2006, while the numbers in Kitgum were 21 of 36. IDPs farther south in Teso and Lango were being encouraged to return home directly. However, talks continued to be delayed.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire
On 23 September, the LRA delegation threatened to walk out of the negotiations, claiming that the UPDF had attacked their forces at Owiny Ki-Bul and demanding that composition of the government delegation be changed and that the ICC warrants be voided before any agreement. Uganda denied the accusation of attacks. Both delegations met with mediator Riek Machar on 25 September 2006, but not with each other.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire, Attacks
The negotiations were paused in early October while a Cessation of Hostilities monitoring team was sent to Owiny Ki-Bul. The team found that no attack had taken place, but that the LRA had simply moved away from the designated site. The team recommended that the LRA rebels regroup at Owiny Ki-Bul, while stating that the LRA had not honored the agreement and was using hostile propaganda, that the UPDF was located close to the assembly points and that the mediators had failed to provide armed guards for the assembled rebels. On 11 October 2006, the LRA proposed that Uganda adopt a federalist structure, prompting criticism from the government spokesperson.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire, Attacks
On 20 October 2006, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni traveled to Juba to meet the LRA negotiators face-to-face for the first time in an attempt to revive the talks, described as "stalled" by BBC News and "faltering" by The Monitor newspaper. A Uganda government source reported that the president spoke angrily and rebuked the LRA team several times, before later referring to the LRA as "unserious" in a subsequent address to South Sudan government officials.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire, Attacks
A pall had been thrown over the talks by the murder of several dozen civilians, including the shooting of women and children in the head, near Juba during the two previous days. The attacks were carried out by an as-yet unnamed group, but some suspected that the LRA was responsible for the mayhem.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire, Attacks
After a week-long impasse, the LRA and government signed a second truce on 1 November 2006 that mandated the monitoring team until 1 December. The previous agreement had technically expired in September. As part of the agreement, the army was to withdraw from Owiny Ki-Bul, past a 30-km (18-mi) buffer zone. The LRA was given a week to regroup at Owiny Ki-Bul, and four weeks to gather at Ri-Kwangba. Both Kony and Otti refused to enter the camps, citing fear of arrest on the ICC warrants. The agreement further stated that food would not be provided to LRA units outside the assembly points except in "exceptional circumstances".


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire, Attacks
In one of the most significant moments for the LRA during the talks, United Nations Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland met with Kony and Otti in the hopes of pushing the talks forward on 12 November 2006. Egeland had previously stated that he would meet with Kony only if the LRA released abducted children and wounded members, but Kony denied that anyone in the LRA was either wounded or held against their will.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire, Attacks
The LRA declared that it was withdrawing from the talks on November 30, stating that UPDF had killed three of its fighters. The deadline for the LRA fighters to finish gathering at the assembly points was 1 December. Uganda denied the charge. Also, outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Joaquim Chissano, former president of Mozambique, to be the UN envoy to the conflict. The truce was further extended for two more months on 18 December.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Ceasefire, Attacks
On 12 January 2007 Ojul stated that recent comments made by al-Bashir and Kiir clearly signified that the LRA was not welcome any longer in Sudan, and that further talks should occur in Kenya instead. On 14 March 2007 the LRA stated it would once again return to the Juba talks. After South Africa, Kenya and Mozambique agreed to join the peace talks (a demand the LRA had made before it would return to Juba), the next round of talks was held from 13 April to 14 April 2007. In this round, the ceasefire was extended until 30 June 2007, and Ri Kwangba was the agreed upon assembly point. The next round of talks was set for 25 April 2007.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
Following this suspension in the peace talks, the Juba Initiative Project enabled the resumption of the talks in May 2007, thanks to the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for LRA-affected areas Joaquim Chissano. The talks were again mediated by the Government of Southern Sudan, but with the support of the United Nations and logistic facilitation from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), under the leadership of her local head Eliane Duthoit.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
On 29 June 2007, the sides agreed to the principles of how justice and reconciliation will be handled, the third of the five-point agenda. The LRA and government agreed that both formal justice procedures and the traditional Mato Oput ceremony of reconciliation would play a role. Government delegation spokesperson Barigye Ba-Hoku stated that they would attempt to convince the ICC that this would address their concerns about impunity and that arrests under ICC auspices would not be necessary.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
In November 2007, an LRA delegation led by Martin Ojul journeyed to Kampala to restate their commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Ojul later led the delegation on a tour of northern Uganda to meet victims of the insurgency and ask their forgiveness. However, reports surfaced that LRA deputy commander Otti had been executed on or around 8 October 2007 over an internal power struggle with Kony.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
On 20 December 2007 the government set an ultimatum for the peace talks to conclude by 31 January 2008, threatening that a new military offensive otherwise. The death of Vincent Otti, confirmed in mid-January 2008, was reported to threaten the success of the talks. Talks resumed on 30 January 2008, and the ceasefire was extended until 29 February 2008. The European Union and the United States joined the negotiations, increasing the number of observers to eight.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
A breakthrough in negotiations was reached on 3 February 2008 regarding accountability and reconciliation. A deal was signed on 19 February 2008 which decided that the war crimes would be tried in a special section of the High Court of Uganda, thus bypassing the International Criminal Court and also removing one of the last obstacles to a final peace deal. On 22 February 2008, the rebels walked out of the talks again after being denied senior government posts.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
However, shortly thereafter they signed another breakthrough agreement according to which they "would be considered for government and army posts", but not automatically appointed. A permanent ceasefire to come into effect 24 hours after the signing a comprehensive peace treaty (expected by 29 February 2008) was agreed upon on 23 February 2008.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
More problems appeared on 28 February 2008: The rebels demand a retraction of the ICC indictments, but the Ugandan government only wants to ask the UN to do that after the rebels have demobilised. An accord on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration was signed late on 29 February 2008, leaving the signing of the peace treaty itself as the last missing action.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
The truce was extended until 28 March 2008, and the final peace talks will continue on 12 March 2008. The ICC prosecutor-general Luis Moreno-Ocampo on 5 March 2008 rejected demands by the rebels for a meeting, stating that "arrest warrants issued by the court... remain in effect and have to be executed".


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
it was reported that rebel leader Kony would nonetheless come out of the bush to sign the peace agreement on 28 March 2008, with the implicit agreement that he will not be apprehended and transferred to the ICC while out in the open; such an action was also thought to likely see a remobilisation of his rebel army. Furthermore, it was suggested that Uganda should lobby at the United Nations Security Council to suspend the ICC indictments for a year.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
On 12 March 2008, as final talks were set to continue, the ICC inquired as to the precise definition of the powers of the proposed intra-Ugandan war crimes court section, in a move seen as softening the indictments on the LRA rebels. The final signing of the peace deal was delayed on 26 March 2008 from 28 March 2008 to 3 April 2008; while the ceasefire was not formally extended with this deadline, both parties were expected to continue adhering to it. The signing was then further delayed to 5 April 2008. It was later announced that Kony would sign the deal in the bush two days before that. However, this was postponed to 10 April 2008; reportedly, Kony was suffering from diarrhoea.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Resumption
The ICC inquired as to the precise nature of the special courts in Uganda. Kony delayed the signing of the final treaty further on 10 April 2008, reportedly asking for more information about what kind of punishments he could face. He later clarified that he wanted to know further details about how mato-oput, the Acholi traditional justice, would be used, and how exactly the special division of the High Court would work; he then suspended the peace talks and appointed a new negotiating team, claiming to "have been misled". Specifically, Kony fired chief LRA negotiator David Nyakorach Matsanga and replaced him with James Obita. Kony subsequently failed to show up at Nabanga to sign the treaty.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Collapse
The government subsequently stated that they would return to Juba and Kampala, as the LRA had broken the agreement, and that the ceasefire agreement would not be extended. The next steps of both sides are unclear. Diplomats unsuccessfully tried to restart the talks on 26 April 2008. On 26 May 2008 the government set up a special war crimes court with the mandate to try the LRA in an attempt to convince the ICC to withdraw its indictments against LRA leaders.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Collapse
Since April 2008, the LRA had begun rearming and abducting recruits, with the BBC stating that 1000 new abductees had been added to the 600 old LRA fighters by June. Lord's Resistance Army negotiator James Obita stated that on 4 June 2008, the Southern Sudan army attacked an LRA encampment killing two, though this is unconfirmed. On 5 June 2008, the LRA attacked the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA) camp at Nabanga, killing 21, seven soldiers and 14 civilians, before killing a local chief in the nearby village of Yamba.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Collapse
The LRA fighters burnt the SPLA camp before returning to Ri-Kwangba. This occurred as Kony reappointed Matsanga as chief negotiator. Matsanga claimed on 6 June to have contacted UN Envoy Joaquim Chissano to revive the talks; Chissano subsequently arrived in Kampala for talks with President Museveni on 7 June.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Collapse
However, the Government of Southern Sudan announced on 8 June that they would no longer mediate, with Information Minister Gabriel Changson Cheng noting that there were multiple reasons for the decision, including the recent attack and the apparent lack of interest in the peace process on the part of the Ugandan government. The governments of the nations in which the LRA is active met earlier in the week and all suggested military action.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Collapse
In December 2008 the United Nations Security Council agreed with a Joaquim Chissano's recommendation that the peace efforts should continue will continuing to support the ICC arrest warrants.


2006–2008 Juba talks, Collapse
Harvard University produced a case study on the peace process entitled "Giving Peace a Chance".


2006–2008 Lebanese protests
The 2006–2008 Lebanese protests were a series of political protests and sit-ins in Lebanon that began on 1 December 2006, led by groups that opposed the US and Saudi-backed government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and ended on 21 May 2008 with the signing of the Doha Agreement. The opposition was made up of Hezbollah, Amal, and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM); a number of smaller parties were also involved, including the Marada party, the Lebanese Communist Party and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests
A majority of the members of the government were part of the anti-Syrian March 14 Alliance, a coalition of political parties and independents in Lebanon. The two groups were also divided along religious lines, with most Sunnis and Druze supporting the government, and most Shi'a supporting the opposition. The Christian community was split between the two factions, with Michel Aoun, the leader of the FPM, claiming to have more than 70% support among the Christians, based on the results of the 2005 parliamentary election.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests
The opposition, which had nearly 45% of the parliamentary seats, was seeking to create a national unity government, in which it demanded one more than one third of the Cabinet seats. This would give them veto power, as well as the ability to collapse the government. The government refused the demands. The opposition was also seeking to hold early parliamentary elections, hoping to remove the current majority held by the March 14 Alliance. Conversely, the March 14 Alliance majority was seeking to hold early presidential elections to replace pro-Syrian President Émile Lahoud. In the Lebanese political system, parliament elects the president. However, according to article 49 of the constitution, the President of Lebanon must receive two-thirds of the votes in the first session or an absolute majority of votes in subsequent sessions.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests
On 8 April 2007, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the opposition, declared the situation deadlocked, but expressed an unwillingness to escalate the protests into a civil war. He suggested the status quo would continue until the regularly scheduled elections in 2009. Nevertheless, a new wave of sectarian violence started in Lebanon in May 2008. Responding to the government's crackdown on Hezbollah's secured network the militants belonging to the organization and its allies blocked Beirut airport as well as main city streets, paralyzing life in the capital. On 8 May 2008, gun battles erupted between Hezbollah supporters and pro-government loyalists, while the leader of the organization called the government's decision "a declaration of war".


2006–2008 Lebanese protests
Following one week of clashes in May 2008, leaders of both the opposition and majority signed the Doha Agreement on 21 May, defusing the 18-month crisis. The agreement called for the election of General Michel Sulaiman as president and the formation of a national unity government under Fouad Siniora.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Background
Following the Cedar Revolution and subsequent elections in July 2005, anti-Syrian and pro-American politicians held the majority of the twenty four seats in Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's cabinet, as well as the majority of the democratically elected parliament. Pro -Syrian and the Aoun Movement politicians held a minority of the seats in both the Cabinet of Ministers and the Parliament. Even though they held a majority, the pro-US group were not able to secure a two-thirds majority. Unlike other democracies, Lebanon cannot be ruled by a simple majority.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Background
The anti-Syrian politicians were primarily members of the March 14 Alliance led by Saad Hariri, son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, and PSP leader Walid Jumblatt, amongst others. The opposition politicians were primarily members of anti-Syrian and Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, pro-Syrian Hassan Nasrallah's Hezbollah, and Nabih Berri's Amal Movement.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Background
As political division in Lebanon persisted, Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri and thirteen other Lebanese leaders from various religious groups and political affiliations convened a "National Dialogue" conference on 2 March 2006, with the aim of addressing issues ranging from the status of President Émile Lahoud to the assassinations of prominent Lebanese figures, and the disputed border region of Shebaa farms, being held by Israel. Also on the agenda, the establishment of diplomatic relations with Syria.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Background
On July 12, 2006, a Hezbollah raid across the Israeli border resulted in the capture of two soldiers and the deaths of three others, setting off the 2006 Lebanon War between Hezbollah paramilitary forces and the Israeli army that lasted 34 days. The conflict resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 Lebanese, the majority of whom were civilians, and the destruction of a significant amount of national civilian infrastructure, including Rafiq Hariri International Airport.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Background
However, due to the failure of Israeli forces to eliminate Hezbollah's leadership, halt Katyusha rockets and mortar attacks on northern Israel, did not rescue its two captured soldiers, Hezbollah declared victory. By resisting destruction at the hands of a far more powerful opponent, Hezbollah's support in Lebanon increased significantly amongst sectors of the population. The ruling government, by contrast, was seen by some as impotent in comparison, for its failure to effectively combat the Israeli forces.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Background
Syria and its allies declared the ruling government illegitimate, prevented the parliament from meeting and would not allow presidential elections to replace Emile Lahoud, who left office in November 2007. The Syrian Muhabarat acted through the Fatah al-Islam in the Palestinian refugee camps of northern Lebanon to disrupt the Sunni community and the Lebanese army. This may have been related to Bashar al-Asad's objections to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (Asad reportedly told Ban Ki-moon in April 2007 that "Instability would intensify if the Special tribunal were established).


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Arab League meetings
Amr Moussa, the Arab League secretary-general, called on Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to intervene to help Lebanon's deepening political crisis. Having been to the country with Moussa later on, the Arab League presidential envoy, Osman Ismail, said a road map had been set up to deal with the situation in Lebanon. However, according to many analysts, it was described as being rigged with mines that could explode anytime. And ultimately, Fouad Siniora stated that Lebanon was witnessing a very difficult moment in its history.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Arab League meetings
We have reached a deadlock and cannot seem to agree on any of the outstanding issues.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Economic impact
The ongoing protests were estimated to cost the Lebanese economy approximately $70 million a day, or $560 million thus far, according to Lebanon's Economy Minister, Jihad Azour. Stores and restaurants in Beirut were forced to keep their doors closed, and the pedestrian streets were deserted. With the holiday season coming up, including Christmas for the large Christian community, and Eid ul-Adha on December 27 for the Muslim community, businesses fear losing even more income due to the political crisis.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Economic impact
Tourism, one of the largest sectors of the economy, which had still not fully recovered from the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict, was also adversely impacted from the mounting tensions after the November 21, 2006 assassination of Cabinet Minister Pierre Gemayel. With Lebanon being a popular holiday destination, businesses also fear that the drop in tourism will further impact their business, with Paul Achkar, head of the Lebanese hotel association, stating that hotel occupancy is currently 25% of normal.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Economic impact
In March 2007, Standard Chartered Bank published a report that expressed concern about the ability of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government to push for fiscal and economic reforms amid the acute political division in the country.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Position of foreign governments, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan
On November 27, 2006, King Abdullah II of Jordan warned that the world might witness three civil wars in 2007 – one in Iraq, one in the Palestinian territories, and one in Lebanon.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Position of foreign governments, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan
As the protest began, leaders in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan publicly supported Siniora. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told French television that the opposition was being unreasonable. "There is also the risk of outside interference in these demonstrations. That can lead to very serious confrontations and even lead to the destruction of Lebanon," he said.


2006–2008 Lebanese protests, Position of foreign governments, Israel
On December 5, 2006 the Israeli government considered redeploying troops in Lebanon, without regard for the UNIFIL forces already in the country, if the Hezbollah-led protest succeeds in toppling the current Lebanese government. An Israeli government staff and a journalist from the Jerusalem Post warned that the goal of both Hezbollah and its sponsor, Iran, if achieved, could lead to negative results beyond Israel.


2006–2008 Southeastern United States drought
The 2006–08 Southeastern United States drought was a crippling drought that struck the southeast of the U.S. Several reasons, including an unusually strong Bermuda high pressure and La Niña in the eastern Pacific Ocean (which causes dry conditions across the southern U.S.) were responsible for the drought. 2007 was particularly dry across the region, with rivers and lakes dropping to record-low levels and in some areas.


2006–2008 Southeastern United States drought, Formation
The drought was set in motion by the weather phenomenon La Niña which developed during 2005. La Niña caused dry weather across much of the Southeast, this was evident due to the fact that winter 2005–06 was dry for much of the region. On top of that, the Bermuda High, also known as the Azores High, a hot and dry air mass over the Atlantic, formed unusually far west, and blocked storms from entering the region, a pattern that wouldn't break until 2008. The dryness continued into 2006.


2006–2008 Southeastern United States drought, Formation
However, it was mild in comparison in 2007 and did not cause too many effects. Following that, 2007 was very dry across the Southeastern U.S. receiving record-low rainfall during the year. Mississippi and Georgia each had their driest spring on record, where spring typically is very wet across the region. The following summer was scorching hot and dry across the region with record-breaking wildfires across the region. In fact, August 2007 would end up being the warmest August and second-hottest month of any month across the region.


2006–2008 Southeastern United States drought, Formation
with Knoxville, Tennessee having a daily maximum temperature above 100 °F (38 °C) on 16 days that month, and an all-time record.. High temperatures were still in the 90s °F (32+ °C) as far late as the end of October. The drought peaked in October, with over 70%  of the Southeast in D4 or the worst category of drought, known as exceptional. 2007 would be the second-driest year as a whole over the region. North Carolina had its driest calendar year ever; several towns nearly ran out of water.


2006–2008 Southeastern United States drought, Formation
The Bermuda High retreated out into the Atlantic and heavy winter rains during 2007–08 helped alleviate drought, a wet 2008 improved drought across most of the region; however, parts of Western North Carolina remained in drought until 2009.


2006–2008 Southeastern United States drought, Aftermath
It is estimated that the drought caused an economic loss over the region at $1.3 billion and water shortages caused the first importing of water in 100 years, and crops failed across the region, causing catastrophic impacts.


2007
2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2007th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 7th  year of the 3rd millennium, the 7th  year of the 21st century, and the  8th   year of the 2000s decade.


2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year, International Polar Year, and the International Year of Languages.


2007 (album)
2007 is a dark minimal techno album by Matthew Dear under his pseudonym of False. It is Dear's first mix album.


2007 (album), Development
Matthew Dear began developing the 2007 album due to unreleased material beginning to build up on his hard drives. Disliking having unused tracks, Dear talked with his label Minus about using the material to create an album that was to be different from his previous works. The album was developed as a dark and rhythmless mix, which was "a big turn on to complete the album" for Dear. Dear describes the process of creating 2007 as like creating two separate albums: first focusing on creating individual tracks and then working on bringing them together as a seamless work. Dear titled the album 2007 due to it being completed in said year, to give it a stamp of timeliness, and to avoid applying a forced narrative to the music.


2007 (album), Release
A vinyl single was released of "Fed on Youth", with a B-side of "Face the Rain".


2007 (album), Reception
Resident Advisor—an online magazine with a focus on electronic music—named 2007 as the 10th best album of 2007. In their review of the album, RA described 2007 as "mystifying" and praised it for "dodging every effort to be understood." XLR8R called the album a "pinnacle of minimal-techno artistry", and Dusted Magazine praised its "perfect balance between austerity and propulsion." However, Hot Press criticised 2007 for not capturing the zeitgeist of the actual year 2007.


2007 1. deild karla
The 2007 season of 1. deild karla was the 53rd season of second-tier football in Iceland.


2007 1000 Guineas
The 2007 1000 Guineas Stakes was a horse race held at Newmarket Racecourse on Sunday 6 May 2007. It was the 194th running of the 1000 Guineas.


2007 1000 Guineas
The winner was Michael Ryan's Finsceal Beo, a chestnut filly trained by Jim Bolger at Coolcullen in County Carlow and ridden by Kevin Manning. Finsceal Beo's victory was the first in the race for her owner, trainer and jockey.


2007 1000 Guineas, The contenders
The race attracted an unusually large field of twenty-one runners, seventeen trained in the United Kingdom, three in Ireland and one in Sweden. The favourite was the Jim Bolger-trained Finsceal Beo who had been named European Champion Two-year old Filly in 2006 when she had won the Rockfel Stakes in England and the Prix Marcel Boussac in France. The other Irish runners were Arch Swing the winner of the C. L. Weld Park Stakes and the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes, the Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Miss Beatrix, and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Theann.


2007 1000 Guineas, The contenders
The best of the British-trained runners appeared to be the Cheveley Park Stakes winner Indian Ink and Simply Perfect, the winner of the May Hill Stakes and the Fillies' Mile and Scarlet Runner (Princess Margaret Stakes, Nell Gwyn Stakes). Finsceal Beo headed the betting at odds of 5/4 ahead of Indian Ink (17/2), Simply Perfect (9/1) and Arch Swing (10/1).


2007 1000 Guineas, The race
Shortly after the start, the fillies split into two groups across the wide Newmarket straight, with the larger group racing up the stands side (the left of the course from the jockeys' viewpoint), with the smaller group running down the centre of the course. The 150/1 outsider Fantasy Parkes headed the stands side group from Scarlet Runner, Finsceal Beo and Treat, whilst the 250/1 shot Princess Valerina led the centre group from Arch Swing. The two groups merged after half a mile, by which point Scarlet Runner had taken the overall lead.


2007 1000 Guineas, The race
A quarter of a mile from the finish, Scarlet Runner began to struggle and was overtaken by Finsceal Beo and Arch Swing, with Simply Perfect and Indian Ink making progress. In the closing stages, Finsceal Beo went clear and stayed on well to win by two and a half lengths from Arch Swing, with Simply Perfect one and a quarter lengths back in third. Treat finished fourth ahead of Indian Ink, who had failed to obtain a clear run a furlong from the finish.


2007 1000 Guineas, The race
Finsceal Beo's winning time was an "outstanding" 1:34.94. Her owner, Michael Ryan said "That was fantastic. We have a super filly and a super trainer. We'll drink every pub dry of Guinness between here and Stansted Airport tonight!"


2007 1000 km of Monza
The 2007 1000 km of Monza was the opening round of the 2007 Le Mans Series season. It took place on 15 April 2007, at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy.


2007 1000 km of Monza, Official results
Class winners in bold. Cars failing to complete 70% of winner's distance marked as Not Classified (NC).


2007 1000 km of Nürburgring
The 2007 1000km of Nürburgring was the third round of the 2007 Le Mans Series season. It took place on 1 July 2007, at the Nürburgring, Germany.


2007 1000 km of Nürburgring, Official results
Class winners in bold. Cars failing to complete 70% of winner's distance marked as Not Classified (NC).


2007 1000 km of Nürburgring, Official results
† - #59 Team Modena was disqualified for failing post-race inspection. The car has a fuel tank larger than regulations allowed.


2007 1000 km of Silverstone
The 2007 1000 km of Silverstone was the fifth round of the 2007 Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Silverstone Circuit, United Kingdom, on 16 September 2007.


2007 1000 km of Silverstone, Official results
Class winners in bold. Cars failing to complete 70% of winner's distance are marked as Not Classified (NC).


2007 1000 km of Spa
The 2007 1000km of Spa was the fourth round of the 2007 Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, on 19 August 2007.


2007 1000 km of Spa, Official results
Class winners in bold. Cars failing to complete 70% of winner's distance marked as Not Classified (NC).


2007 1000 km of Spa, Official results
† - Shinji Nakano was excluded from the results of the race for avoidable contact with another car.


2007 1000 km of Valencia
The 2007 1000 km of Valencia was the second round of the 2007 Le Mans Series season. It took place on 6 May 2007, at Circuit de Valencia, Spain.


2007 1000 km of Valencia, Official results
Class winners in bold. Cars failing to complete 70% of winner's distance marked as Not Classified (NC).


2007 12 Hours of Sebring
The 2007 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring was the 55th running of this event and the opening round of the 2007 American Le Mans Series season. It took place on March 17, 2007.


2007 12 Hours of Sebring, Official results
Class winners are in bold. Cars failing to complete 75% of winner's distance marked as Not Classified (NC).


2007 2. deild karla
The 2. deild karla is the third tier of men's football in the Icelandic football league system, and the 2007 season was the 42nd edition of the tournament. Haukar won the league, completing the whole season without losing a match, and were subsequently promoted to the 1. deild karla for the 2008 campaign. The second- and third-placed teams, UMF Selfoss and KS/Leiftur, also won promotion. UMF Sindri Höfn finished bottom of the league, having lost all of their away matches, and were relegated to the 3. deild karla.


2007 2. deild karla, Clubs
Ten clubs competed in the 2. deild in 2007. This was the last time the league was played in this format, as it was expanded to 12 teams the following year.


2007 2. deild karla, Results grid
Each team played the other nine teams both home and away, resulting in a total of 90 matches.


2007 2. deild karla, Awards, Player of the year
The 2. deild player of the year for 2007, selected by the KSÍ, was Selfoss striker Sævar Þór Gíslason. He returned to the club in January 2007, having left 10 years previously to join ÍR. Gíslason was the league's top scorer with 20 goals in 18 matches, including a hat-trick against Magni on the final day of the season.


2007 2. deild karla, Awards, Young player of the year
Ásgeir Þór Ingólfsson, left-midfielder for Haukar, was awarded the young player of the year award for 2007. Aged just 16 at the start of the season, he scored 10 goals from midfield in his debut campaign in senior football. His performances earned him a call up to the national under-19 side in September.


2007 2. deild karla, Awards, Manager of the year
Ragnar Hauksson, player-manager of KS/Leiftur, was named 2. deild coach of the year for 2007. His team had been predicted to finish seventh in the league before the start of the season, but they exceeded expectations and sealed promotion to the 1. deild with a final-day win against Völsungur. His 10 goals for the club during the 2007 season also led to him being selected in the team of the year.


2007 2. deild karla, Awards, Team of the year
The KSÍ also selected a team of the year, which included the best 11 players and 5 substitutes.


2007 2. divisjon
This is the current revision of this page, as edited by Jolicnikola (talk | contribs) at 23:35, 2 April 2020 (→League tables). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version.


2007 2. divisjon
The 2007 2. divisjon was the third highest football league for men in Norway.


2007 2. divisjon
26 games were played in 4 groups, with 3 points given for wins and 1 for draws. Nybergsund, Hødd, Sandnes Ulf and Alta were promoted to the First Division. Number twelve, thirteen and fourteen were relegated to the 3. divisjon. The winning teams from each of the 24 groups in the 3. divisjon each faced a winning team from another group in a playoff match, resulting in 12 playoff winners which were promoted to the 2. divisjon.


2007 24 Hours of Daytona
The 2007 Rolex 24 at Daytona was a Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series 24-hour endurance sports car race held on January 27–28, 2007 at the Daytona International Speedway road course. The overall winner of the race was the Chip Ganassi/Felix Sabates-owned #01 car, a Lexus-powered Riley MkXI, driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, Salvador Durán, and Scott Pruett. The GT class was won by the #22 Alegra Motorsports/Fiorano Racing Porsche GT3 Cup car driven by driver/owner Carlos de Quesada, Jean-François Dumoulin, Scooter Gabel, and Porsche factory driver Marc Basseng.


2007 24 Hours of Daytona, Prelude
GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing driver Alex Gurney took the pole, his fourth in Rolex Series competition, with a lap of 1:43.475 at an average speed of 123.856 mph (199.327 km/h).


2007 24 Hours of Daytona, Race
At the green flag, which fell just past 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, Gurney jumped into the lead and the field made its way around the first lap cleanly. But after only seven laps of the 24-hour race, Gurney crashed into the back of a slower GT car which had lost its hood and unexpectedly slowed dramatically. The team would make repairs, but Gurney's GAINSCO Auto Insurance-sponsored Pontiac-powered Riley, which was co-driven by Jon Fogarty and Jimmy Vasser, would never again be in contention for the win.


2007 24 Hours of Daytona, Race
On January 28, an early morning wreck of the #82 Porsche GT3 Cup, driven by Chris Pallis, damaged part of the outer retaining wall, causing the race stewards to display the red flag for only the third time in the history of the 24 Hours of Daytona, temporarily suspending the race while repairs took place. An exciting battle took place between three different teams with a diverse group of drivers. The DP class fight was between eventual winner Telmex Chip Ganassi Racing's Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Pruett, SunTrust Racing's Max Angelelli and SAMAX Motorsport's Patrick Carpentier. Polesitter Alex Gurney's hopes for victory were dashed when his GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac Riley was damaged in a first-hour accident.


2007 24 Hours of Daytona, Race, 1,000,000th lap
At 11:11 a.m. on the morning of January 28, British-born female Champ Car driver Katherine Legge made history by completing the one millionth lap of the Rolex Daytona 24 hour race, since its inception. Legge, driving the #84 Robinson Racing Pontiac-powered Riley DP car, passed the finish line with less than 2 and a half hours left in the race, completing the 30,419th lap of the 2007 running of the race. Legge was lying in the 31st position at the time.


2007 24 Hours of Daytona, Race, 1,000,000th lap
3 women competed at this years race. Valerie Limoges of Canada, Katherine Legge of Great Britain & Milka Duno of Venezuela.


2007 24 Hours of Daytona, Race, 1,000,000th lap
Juan Pablo Montoya became the first racer in history to have won a Formula One race, the Indianapolis 500, a Champ Car title, and the 24 Hours of Daytona. Mario Andretti also won a Formula One race, a Champ Car title and an endurance sports car race at Daytona, but Andretti's victory came in the 1972 event alongside co-driver Jacky Ickx in a six-hour event.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 75th 24 Hours of Le Mans (French: 75e 24 Heures du Mans) was an 24 hour automobile endurance race for Le Mans Prototype and Grand Touring cars, which took place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, near Le Mans, France, from 16 to 17 June 2007. It was the 75th edition of the event, as organised by the automotive group, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) since 1923. Unlike other events, it was not a part of any endurance motor racing championship. A test day was held two weeks prior to the race on 3 June. The event was attended by 250,952 spectators.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans
The LMP1 class saw the first competition between the new diesel engined Peugeot 908 HDi FAP prototype and the diesel Audi R10 TDI, the 2006 Le Mans winner; the Audi once again achieved an overall victory. There was heavy attrition in the LMP2 class, in which only two competitors finished the race. In the GT1 class, Aston Martin achieved its first win over the Corvette since returning to the event in 2005. The GT2 class was a battle between Ferrari and Porsche, won by Porsche.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Background
The dates for the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans were confirmed by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) in September 2006. It was the 75th edition of the race and occurred at the 13.629 km (8.469 mi) Circuit de la Sarthe road racing track close to Le Mans, France, from 16 to 17 June 2007. The automotive journalist Charles Faroux proposed the race to Georges Durand, the president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), and the industrialist Emile Coquile for a test of vehicle reliability and fuel-efficiency, which was first held in 1923. The event is considered one of the world's most prestigious motor races and is part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Track changes
Between the 2006 and 2007 races, the Circuit de la Sarthe was upgraded, most obviously by the reprofiling of the Tertre Rouge corner. The new corner was moved inward, to create a long flowing curve instead of the single point apex it had been previously, shortening the lap distance by 21 meters to a revised 13.629 km.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Track changes
Nine new garages were built at the end of the pit lane, replacing the four temporary garages that had been built a few years earlier. The additional garages allowed the ACO to increase the number of entries it could grant from 50 to 55. The paddock behind the garages was also re-organized with more facilities added for spectators, including more shops, new landscaping, and the Audi Tower monument.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Track changes
The public roads from the Indianapolis corner to the Porsche Curves were re-surfaced. Run-off areas at the Dunlop Chicane, Tertre Rouge, Indianapolis, and Ford Chicanes were also partially asphalted in order to avoid gravel being brought back onto the circuit by cars which had gone off course. This also increased safety by allowing the cars to slow themselves more efficiently using their brakes and tyres on tarmac.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Regulation changes
Rule changes were announced by the ACO for all Le Mans-based series such as the American Le Mans Series, the Le Mans Series, and Japan Le Mans Challenge effective in 2007 for all four classes in October 2006 following close coordination with engineers, fuel companies and manufacturers. Diesel engined LMP1 cars had their fuel tank capacity decreased from 90 l (20 imp gal; 24 US gal) to 81 l (18 imp gal; 21 US gal) and with petrol engines retained their 90 l (20 imp gal; 24 US gal) tanks. LMP2, GT1, and GT2 class vehicles had to be fitted with 5 per cent smaller air restrictors than they had run in 2006, in order to decrease power. Each of the GT1 and GT2 classes were allowed to run ethanol and other alternative fuels if approved by the ACO.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Regulation changes
The ACO also imposed Le Mans specific rule changes. All entries had to run Shell fuel in either diesel or petrol form. The temperature inside closed-cockpit cars was not to exceed 32 °C (90 °F) in cars with air conditioning or 10 °C (50 °F) above the ambient air temperature in cars without. The ACO would monitor cockpit temperature, and stop any car in which those limits were exceeded. Noise level regulation was revised: the noise emitted from the car had to be less than 113 dB with measurement taken at 15 m (49 ft) from the edge of the track. Newer but not older LMP900 and LMP675 class prototypes were allowed to be entered for the event.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Regulation changes
It was also decided to begin the event at 3:00 pm local time, one hour earlier than the normal 4:00 pm, to provide French spectators more time to vote in the 17 June French legislative election.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Entries
The ACO's Selection Committee received 76 race entry applications by the 24 January deadline. It reviewed every application and granted 55 invitations to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with entries divided between the LMP1, LMP2, LMGT1 and LMGT2 categories.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Entries, Automatic invitations
Automatic entries were earned by teams which won their category in the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams which won Le Mans-based series and events such as the 2006 Petit Le Mans, the 2006 Le Mans Series and the 2006 American Le Mans Series were also invited. Some second-place finishers were also granted automatic entries in certain series as well as the third-place LMGT1 finisher of the 2006 Petit Le Mans.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Entries, Automatic invitations
Additionally, entries were also granted to the winners and runners-up of the LMGT1 and LMGT2 categories of the 2006 FIA GT Championship under an agreement with the  ACO president Claude Plassart, and Stéphane Ratel, the president of the FIA GT Championship organising body, the Stephane Ratel Organisation. As entries were pre-selected to teams, they were restricted to a maximum of two cars and were not allowed to change their vehicles from the previous year to the next. Entries were permitted to change category provided that they did not change the make of car and the ACO granted official permission for the switch.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Entries, Automatic invitations
On 19 January 2007, the ACO announced that 24 of the 28 teams had accepted their automatic entries before the deadline. Penske Racing turned down both of its invitations, and Ray Mallock Ltd. rejected its second entry due to a lack of funding. Vitaphone Racing Team rejected its invitation because its Maserati MC12 did not comply with the ACO's GT1 rules, although the team later attempted to gain entry in another class through application.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Entries, Official entry list
The ACO published the official entry list on 27 February 2007, which included the full 55 entries and 8 reserves, the largest field since the 1989 edition. Although drivers were not listed, Tom Kristensen's injury in the opening round of the 2007 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season made his participation in the race questionable. As the driver with the most wins at Le Mans, he was intended to be part of Audi's factory team. Fellow Audi DTM driver Mattias Ekström was nominated as his possible replacement by Audi. However, on 11 June 2007 Kristensen was cleared by doctors to race, leaving Ekström's services unneeded.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Entries, Official entry list, Reserve entries
A total of eight reserve entries were listed by the ACO in its initial published list. Reserves were added to the entry list when a competitor already on the list withdrew. The ACO determined the order in which reserve entries were considered for addition to the entry list.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Entries, Official entry list, Reserve entries
Two cars officially withdrew from the entry list in April, with their places taken by the following reserve entries. Rollcentre Racing withdrew its LMP2 Radical-Judd entry due to the car being purchased by Embassy Racing on 3 April. The PSI Experience Chevrolet Corvette C6.R was promoted to the race entry as a result. Eight days later, Petersen/White Lightning withdrew its GT2 Ferrari entry had as a consequence of financial strain to the team, leaving it to concentrate solely on the American Le Mans Series. The GPC Sport Ferrari F430 took its place on the entry list.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Entries, Official entry list, Reserve entries
JMB Racing also withdrew its entry from the reserve list due to its drivers reaching an agreement with AF Corse to run in its entry instead.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Test session
The official test session for Le Mans was held on 3 June, and was the only practice session that was not part of qualifying timing. A total of eight hours of track time was allowed for teams to find their set-ups and for rookie drivers to get in their required ten laps to learn the circuit. Peugeot set the day's pace with a 3 minutes, 26.707 seconds from Sébastien Bourdais in the No. 8 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP with 22 minutes of testing to go.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Test session
He was one-and-a-half seconds faster than the No. 1 Audi R10 TDI of Frank Biela who was the highest-placed Audi driver in second. Biela was followed by Allan McNish in the sister No. 2 Audi in third who was ahead of Jean-Christophe Boullion's fourth-placed No. 16 Pescarolo 01 car. Jacques Villeneuve put the No. 7 Peugeot in fifth to be the fastest rookie driver over the course of the two sessions.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Test session
Michael Vergers' No. 32 Barazi Epsilon car and his teammate Adrián Fernández in the No. 33 entry set identical lap times of 3 minutes, 39.016 seconds to lead the LMP2 category. The third-fastest class time was set by Warren Hughes' No. 40 Quifel ASM Team Racing for Portugal Lola car that had a misfire. In GT1, the No. 63 Corvette driven by Jan Magnussen recorded the fastest time of 3 minutes, 49.207 seconds, followed by the No. 007 Aston Martin of Tomáš Enge and the second factory No. 64 Corvette.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Test session
Porsche and its new 997s set the first three fastest-laps in the GT2 class. IMSA Performance Matmut's Patrick Long led with a 4 minutes, 1.598 seconds lap, while Autorlando's Allan Simonsen and Johannes van Overbeek of the Flying Lizard team followed behind in second and third positions. The Risi Competizione entry was the fastest Ferrari in fourth place.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Test session
Although there were various small incidents, three major accidents led to a red flag for the session. The No. 13 Courage Compétition entry, driven by Guillaume Moreau, went off at the Porsche Curves during the second hour. The car could not return to the test session due a bent chassis caused by the heavy impact. The second red flag involved the No. 24 Noël del Bello entry going off the track at the same location in the hands of Vitaly Petrov, becoming briefly airborne after contact with the concrete wall. In the final incident, almost in the last hour of the session, the No. 10 Arena Motorsports Zytek also went off at the Porsche Curves, and briefly caught fire.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Test session
The damage to the Arena Zytek led to the car being withdrawn during scrutineering a week and a half later, just before the actual race. The team decided that it was not able to repair the damage in time for the car to pass scrutineering.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Qualifying
Qualifying was held on 13–14 June, with two two-hour sessions each night; one run at dusk, the other in darkness. New drivers were again required to run a set number of laps to learn the circuit and be allowed to race: three in daylight and three at night. The best overall time from all four sessions determined the starting grid.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Qualifying, Wednesday
The first qualifying session began under the threat of rain, so most of the teams tried to set a good lap time before the conditions deteriorated. The Audis and Peugeots swapped the overall pole position several times, and at the end of the session the No. 1 Audi was fastest overall with a time of 3.28.301. The No. 33 Barazi-Epsilon Zytek led LMP2, after an earlier misfiring problem had been repaired. Oreca's Saleens were the fastest two GT1 cars, while Ferrari and Porsche were close to one another in GT2.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Qualifying, Wednesday
The session was red flagged about halfway through because of an accident in which the No. 53 JLOC Lamborghini Murciélago, driven by Marco Apicella, hit the wall at the first Mulsanne chicane. The No. 25 Ray Mallock Ltd. Lola and No. 81 LNT Panoz were the only cars not to set a lap time before the session briefly returned to green as rain began. The ACO extended the session by fifteen minutes to compensate for the earlier red flag.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Qualifying, Wednesday
The second session started several minutes late due to the damp conditions from the earlier rain. A red flag briefly came out for the No. 5 Swiss Spirit Lola a few minutes after the session began due to the car being stopped at the side of the track. Although the track was drying, it was not until the last half hour that teams were able to improve on their first session times.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Qualifying, Wednesday
The No. 2 Audi and No. 8 Peugeot swapped the pole position multiple times before the session ended with the No. 8 Peugeot claiming the top position on the final lap of the session with a time of 3:26.344. In GT1 the No. 008 Larbre Aston Martin took the class lead on the final lap with a 3:50.761. The LMP2 and GT2 classes saw very little improvement; the class leading teams remained the same.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Qualifying, Wednesday
It was later announced by the ACO that JLOC Isao Noritake would be allowed to use another Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT chassis, borrowed from the French DAMS team, but Marco Apicella was not allowed to drive in the race due to the head injuries he sustained in his accident during qualifying, leaving the team with two drivers.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Qualifying, Thursday
The first session on Thursday began in heavy rain. Although some cars attempted to carry out wet weather testing, the conditions forced all the teams back to their garages. Once the rain began to slacken off cars returned to the track, but the rain continued throughout the entire session. No one was able to improve on their qualifying times from the previous day.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Qualifying, Thursday
The rain continued throughout the second session, so most teams concentrated on their wet weather setups in preparation for a wet race. About halfway through the session the No. 7 Peugeot in the hands of Marc Gené missed the turn at Arnage and hit a tire barrier. The car was unable to return to the pits and was taken behind the wall by the marshals. This was soon followed by the No. 73 Luc Alphand Corvette missing the same turn as well, but it continued on without significant damage. The No. 70 PSI Corvette had a minor accident in the last five minutes of the session, bringing out the only red flag of the day and ending all of qualifying.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Qualifying, Thursday
Audi led the wet sessions with a 4:01.257 time for the No. 1 car, followed by the No. 3 Audi and No. 8 Peugeot within a second. No. 33 Barazi-Epsilon again led the times for the second day in LMP2, while the No. 54 Oreca Saleen continued to show strong pace with the fastest time in GT1. The No. 93 Autorlando Sport Porsche was the fastest GT2 class entry in the rain.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Qualifying, Qualifying times
Class leaders and the fastest lap time on each day are in bold. No cars set a faster time on the second day.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Warm-up
The drivers took to the track at 09:00 Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00) for a 45-minute warm-up session, which was used to check car functionality and components on a circuit dampened by rainfall the night before. The No. 8 Peugeot of Bourdais lapped fastest at 4 minutes, 00.830 seconds, ahead of Allan McNish's No. 2 Audi in second and the other Audi of Marco Werner in third. Emmanuel Collard was the highest-placed Pescarolo entry in fourth.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Warm-up
The fastest LMP2 time was a 4 minutes, 17.127 seconds from the Barazi Epsilon car driven by Vergers, who was four seconds quicker than RML's No. 25 Lola car used by Thomas Erdos. Oliver Gavin aboard the No. 64 Corvette topped the LMGT1 time sheets from the No. 007 Aston Martin of Enge as Patrick Long's No. 76 IMSA Porsche was fastest in LMGT2.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Start
The race began at 3:00 pm local time (GMT+2), with the track still damp following a wet morning warm-up. It was spectated by 250,952 people. Sébastien Bourdais's Peugeot 908 HDi FAP led the field into the Dunlop Chicane, which he overshot, handing the lead to the No. 2 Audi R10 TDI. The three Audis took over the lead during the opening hour, before pit stops began.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Start
The rebuilt Lamborghini of JLOC Isao Noritake was the first retirement of the race when the gearbox failed on the Mulsanne during its second lap of the race. Shortly after the first hour of the race had been completed, heavy rain resulted in the safety car being brought out again.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Start
Soon after the field was released, the safety car was once again required after an accident in which Mike Rockenfeller spun his No. 3 Audi R10 TDI on the exit from Tertre Rouge, hitting the safety barriers on the Mulsannes Straight backwards. While crews fixed the barrier, Rockenfeller attempted to repair his Audi, but he was finally forced to retire. This caution period also saw an early retirement for the No. 64 Corvette when a part of its drivetrain broke while following the safety car. Gavin attempted to return to the pits using battery power but was stopped by the marshals, forcing him to abandon the car. The race eventually continued after nearly an hour under caution.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Night
As dusk began to fall on the drying track, the No. 8 Peugeot suffered from rear wheel hub failures which required two lengthy visits to the garage.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Night
This allowed the No. 1 Audi to take over second place. Jacques Villeneuve's No. 7 Peugeot also lost time, which dropped it to two laps behind the No. 2 Audi. The No. 1 Audi had its own brief moment when the No. 63 Corvette clipped the Audi's rear end. The Corvette was forced to take evasive action through the Dunlop Chicane's gravel trap, and the Audi required replacement rear bodywork on its next pit stop.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Night
A third safety car period was caused by the Creation Autosportif entry, which ran into the tire barriers at the Porsche Curves and needed to be extracted. The Creation returned to the pits but eventually retired. The Kruse Motorsport entry also suffered problems when it briefly stopped at the pit entrance during the caution period, blocking other cars attempting to make their own pit stops. The Kruse entry eventually succeeded in getting to its garage.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Night
As the night continued and the race neared its halfway point, many cars suffered mechanical failures,  putting them out of the race. They included a large number of the LMP2 class cars such as Team ASM and Ray Mallock Ltd., both of which had led the class at one point. In GT1, the two factory Aston Martins led the lone remaining factory Corvette by one lap, while the No. 97 Risi Competizione Ferrari had a two-lap lead in the GT2 class.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Morning
In the early hours, fluids were spilled on the track by the leader in GT2, the Risi Competizione Ferrari. This caused numerous competitors to spin, and required the Ferrari to undergo major front-end repairs, resulting in the car falling several laps behind.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Morning
The biggest problem of the morning though occurred shortly before the completion of the 17th hour, when the race-leading No. 2 Audi of Rinaldo Capello lost the left rear wheel at high speed at the Indianapolis corner. Unable to control the car he went straight on into a tire barrier. Although Capello attempted to get the car back to the pits, it was too badly damaged to be drivable. Television footage had recorded the No. 2 Audi being dropped off its airjacks before the left rear wheel was attached on the prior pit stop, but Audi claimed that this was likely not the cause of the wheel coming off at speed.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Morning
With two Audis out, this left the lone No. 1 Audi to take over the race lead, with the two Peugeots four and six laps behind respectively. Just before to the No. 2 Audi's accident, the GT1-leading Aston Martin had also come off the track, damaging its front splitter. The necessary repairs led to the car spending eight minutes in the garage, dropping it to fourth in class. The lone factory Corvette gained a place to take over second in class. Scuderia Ecosse's Ferrari briefly took over the GT2 lead after Risi's problems, but it too broke down on the track, handing the lead to the IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche. Binnie Motorsport's entry had a sizable lead in its class, having not suffered the many problems its LMP2 competitors had.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Finish
After having held off for most of the race, the rain began to fall once more during the final three hours. This caused numerous incidents, including the No. 93 Autorlando Porsche missing a Mulsanne chicane and plowing through a temporary tire barrier. The No. 7 Peugeot made an unscheduled garage stop and retired one lap after re-entering the race, claiming oil pressure problems.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Finish
The rain eventually became heavier, making the conditions treacherous and bringing the safety car back out. This put a temporary stop to the battle between Aston Martin and Corvette for first and second place in the GT1 class. The second place Corvette had been quicker in the wet conditions, but it was not allowed to further close on the Aston Martin during the safety period. After problems for both of the Barazi-Epsilon LMP2s, Binnie Motorsports brought its class leading LMP2 car to the garage to ensure that the car was prepared for the weather and could hold on to the lead until the finish.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Finish
After over an hour behind the safety car, the field was released to race one last time with only twelve minutes remaining. With no close contests between the competitors, the field continued to run at less than racing pace, in preparation for the finish. The No. 8 Peugeot of Sébastien Bourdais briefly went into the pits, before returning to the track. To ensure that the Peugeot finished the race, and did not break down before crossing the finishing line behind the winner, Bourdais stopped at the Ford Chicanes on the final lap. Once the No. 1 Audi had gone past to take the checkered flag, Bourdais restarted the Peugeot and finished as well. The No. 16 Pescarolo finished the race in third, the highest placed petrol car.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Finish
The No. 009 Aston Martin took the GT1 class win by a single lap over the Corvette, earning Aston Martin its first victory since its overall win in 1959. The No. 76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche was the GT2 winner, with a six lap margin of victory. Only two cars finished in the LMP2 class. The No. 31 Binnie Motorsports Lola took the victory in spite of finishing 18th overall. Of the 54 starters, only 29 cars finished the race. The GT1 class cars proved themselves to be the most reliable, losing only two competitors over the 24 hours.


2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Race, Official results
Class winners are marked in bold. Cars finishing the race but not completing 75 per cent of the winner's distance are listed as Not Classified (NC).


2007 24 Hours of Nürburgring
The 2007 ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring was the 35th running of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. It took place on June 10, 2007. Manthey Racing's #1 Porsche claimed honours in the SP7 class and was the overall victor, completing 112 laps over the 24 hours. Zakspeed Racing and their #3 Dodge Viper claimed second overall and finished as top runner in the SP8 GT3 class.


2007 3. divisjon
The 2007 season of the 3. divisjon, the fourth highest association football league for men in Norway.


2007 3. divisjon
Between 18 and 26 games (depending on group size) were played in 24 groups, with 3 points given for wins and 1 for draws. Twelve teams were promoted to the 2. divisjon through playoff.


2007 3M Performance 400
The 2007 3M Performance 400 was the 23rd race in the 2007 NASCAR season was scheduled to be held on Sunday, August 19, 2007 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. However, a day-long rain postponed the race until August 20, but another rainstorm postponed the race until the following day.


2007 3M Performance 400, Practice and qualifying
Kasey Kahne, with a speed of 187.544 mph, was fastest in practice. He was followed by Jimmie Johnson, David Stremme, Kyle Busch, and Matt Kenseth who rounded out the top five.


2007 3M Performance 400, Practice and qualifying
An early blow came in the first practice when Jeff Burton lost an engine minutes into the warmups. As a result, the No. 31 Chevrolet started in the back of the field regardless of where he qualified.


2007 3M Performance 400, Practice and qualifying
In qualifying itself, newly formed Gillett Evernham Motorsports looked to turn its season around with an all GEM front row. However, those efforts were thwarted by that of Greg Biffle, who held the pole until Jeff Gordon, the final driver to qualify, took his 62nd career Bud Pole award. Of note, Michael Waltrip Racing placed two of its cars in the top 15 although Dale Jarrett failed to make the show.


2007 3M Performance 400, Practice and qualifying
Did not qualify: No. 36 – Jeremy Mayfield, No. 44 – Dale Jarrett, No. 78 – Scott Wimmer, No. 37 – Kevin Lepage, No. 84 – A. J. Allmendinger


2007 3M Performance 400, Race
The two-day postponement because of weather was the first since the 1997 DieHard 500 at Talladega. In that case, the race was run on the day before Mothers' Day, which was May 10. However, this race would be started on August 21 at 10:00 a.m.  With no rain scheduled until the afternoon, the race ran its full distance although NASCAR waved a competition caution for the drivers to adjust their cars.


2007 3M Performance 400, Race
Kurt Busch, driving a Dodge Charger, held off the Chevrolet Monte Carlos of Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, under a green-white-checkered finish, to take his second win in three races. As with his earlier victory at Pocono, Busch led the most laps, 96 out of 203.


2007 3M Performance 400, Race
Gordon and Denny Hamlin, the top two drivers in the Cup standings, clinched places in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Busch remained in 12th place, but extended his lead over 13th place Dale Earnhardt Jr. to 163 points.


2007 3M Performance 400, Race
Also, Bill Davis Racing took back 35th place in the owners' standings for its No. 22 team on the strength of a sixth-place finish from Dave Blaney. This meant that BDR was guaranteed a starting spot for the next race, the Sharpie 500. Wood Brothers/JTG Racing (#21) fell back to 36th. It was the third change for 35th, between these teams, since late July.


2007 3M Performance 400, Race
For the first time in the brief history of Toyota in the Cup Series, two of its drivers finished in the top 10 in the same race: Blaney and Brian Vickers (8th).


2007 3M Performance 400, Race
The race telecast, scheduled for ESPN, was relocated to ESPN2.