2006 Yemeni presidential election, Results
Election officials said that about five million people voted out of around 9.2 million eligible voters. The opposition disputed early results showing Saleh with 82% of the vote, saying that the count gave Saleh 60% and Bin Shamlan 40%; it also claimed there had been electoral violations. The European Union Election Observation Mission called the election "an open and genuine contest", but with "important shortcomings". It said that at some polling stations there was intimidation, violation of voter secrecy, campaigning by the GPC, and underage voting.


2006 Yemeni presidential election, Results
Subsequent results, with most (17,000 out of 27,000) of the ballot boxes counted, continued to give Saleh an overwhelming majority, with 3.4 million votes against 880,000 for Bin Shamlan. The opposition, continuing to allege fraud, threatened a massive protest.


2006 Yemeni presidential election, Results
Final results on 23 September showed Saleh with 77.2% of the vote and Bin Shamlan with 21.8%. Bin Shamlan subsequently accepted the results as a "reality", although he said that they did not reflect the people's will. Saleh was sworn in for his new term on 27 September.


2006 Yeti Airlines Twin Otter Crash
On 21 June 2006, when approaching Jumla Airport, Nepal, a Yeti Airlines DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed into the ground after the crew decided to abort the landing and perform a go-around for an unknown reason. Eyewitnesses said that the plane appeared to have stalled while making a tight turn on the threshold of runway 27 and ploughed into the ground in a ball of fire on the eastern edge of the runway.


2006 Yeti Airlines Twin Otter Crash, Aircraft
The aircraft involved in the crash was a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter operated by Yeti Airlines. Its maiden flight was in 1980 with Lesotho Airways. The aircraft was purchased by Yeti Airlines one year prior to the accident from another Nepalese carrier, Skyline Airways. It was the third incident of this aircraft operated by Yeti Airlines and was one of four Twin Otters in the airline's fleet.


2006 Yeti Airlines Twin Otter Crash, Crew and Passengers
There were six passengers on board the aircraft as well as three crew members. All occupants on board died in the crash. The cockpit crew members were identified as Capt Krishna Malla, co-pilot Dipak Pokhrel.


2006 Ykkönen
League tables for teams participating in Ykkönen, the second tier of the Finnish football league system, in 2006.


2006 Ykkönen, League table, League Movements
Two teams were directly promoted to the Veikkausliiga (and only two teams were relegated to the Kakkonen) because Allianssi Vantaa withdrew from the Veikkausliiga and they were not replaced by another club.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake
The 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake (also known as the Bantul earthquake) occurred at 05:54 local time on 27 May with a moment magnitude of 6.4 and a maximum MSK intensity of VIII (Damaging). Several factors led to a disproportionate amount of damage and number of casualties for the size of the shock, with more than 5,700 dead, tens of thousands injured, and financial losses of Rp 29.1 trillion ($3.1 billion). With limited effects to public infrastructure and lifelines, housing and private businesses bore the majority of damage (the 9th-century Prambanan Hindu temple compound was also affected), and the United States' National Geophysical Data Center classified the total damage from the event as extreme.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake
Although Indonesia experiences very large, great, and giant thrust earthquakes offshore at the Sunda Trench, this was a large strike-slip event that occurred on the southern coast of Java near the city of Yogyakarta. Mount Merapi lies nearby, and during its many previous historical eruptions, large volume lahars and volcanic debris flowed down its slopes where settlements were later built. This unconsolidated material from the stratovolcano amplified the intensity of the shaking and created the conditions for soil liquefaction to occur. Inadequate construction techniques and poor quality materials contributed to major failures with unreinforced masonry buildings (then the most prevalent type of home construction), though other styles fared better.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Tectonic setting
The islands of Indonesia constitute an island arc that is one of the world's most seismically active regions, with high velocity plate movement at the Sunda Trench (up to 60 mm (2.4 in) per year), and considerable threats from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunami throughout. Java, one of the five largest in the Indonesian archipelago, lies on the Sunda Shelf to the north of the Sunda Trench, which is a convergent plate boundary where the Indo-Australian Plate is being subducted under the Eurasian Plate.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Tectonic setting
The subduction zone offshore Java is characterized by a northward dipping Benioff zone, frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity that influence the regional geography, and direct or indirect stress transfer that has affected the various onshore faults. Sedimentation is closely related to tectonics, and while the volume of offshore sediment at the trench decreases with distance from the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta at the Bay of Bengal, the onshore accrual of sediments near the Special Region of Yogyakarta has been shaped by tectonic events.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the shock occurred 20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Yogyakarta at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi), but other institutions provided source parameters (location and depth) that were not in agreement. No information was present on the extent of the faulting or the direction of propagation and there was no link to the eruption of Mount Merapi.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake
The USGS suggested that the focal mechanism was most likely associated with left-lateral slip on a NE trending strike-slip fault, as that is the orientation of the Opak Fault, but this has not been validated. No surface breaks were documented, but the location of the greatest damage that was caused does align with the Opak Fault as a possible source.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake
A group of Japanese and Indonesian scientists visited the area in March 2007 and confirmed the lack of surface ruptures, and pointed out that any visible expression of the fault would likely have been rapidly destroyed due to the tropical climate, and have acknowledged the widely varying locations (and the preference for the Opak Fault) that were reported by the various seismological institutions. Their investigation resulted in a different scenario, with an unknown or newly formed NE trending fault as the origin of the shock.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake
Evidence for one of the proposed faults was found in the form of alignment of portions of the Oyo River near the USGS' epicenter, which is parallel (N°65E) to the Nglipar fault in the Gunungkidul region. If the shock occurred in this area it could indicate the reactivation of a major fault system. The second proposed fault further to the east is nearly parallel to the Ngalang and Kembang faults that lie to the north of the Oyo River.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake, InSAR analysis
While the densely populated area that saw significant destruction is adjacent to the Opak River Fault, both the USGS and Harvard University placed the epicenter to the east of that fault.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake, InSAR analysis
Few seismometers were operating in the region, but a group of temporary units that were set up following the mainshock recorded a number of aftershocks that were east of the Opak River Fault and were aligned along a 20 km (12 mi) zone striking N°50E. Due to the ambiguous nature of the available information on the source of the Yogyakarta earthquake, a separate group of Japanese and Indonesian scientists applied one of the first uses of interferometric synthetic aperture radar to determine the source fault. Several data sets (one captured in April 2006 and another post-earthquake batch from June) were collected from an instrument on board the Advanced Land Observation Satellite and were compared to each other to show potential ground deformation patterns.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake, InSAR analysis
A lack of any dislocation found on the images along the Opak River fault made evident the lack of movement along that fault, and though the aftershocks were occurring at a depth of 8–15 km (5.0–9.3 mi), the deformation was distinct at the surface. The observed ground deformation that was detailed by the differential satellite images and Global Positioning System measurements was roughly 10 km (6.2 mi) east of (and parallel to) the Opak River Fault, along a zone that passed through the USGS' epicenter, and delineated a NE trending vertical fault (a dip of 89°). The displacements were not more than 10 cm (3.9 in) and indicated left-lateral strike-slip motion as well as a component of reverse slip, and to the west of the Opak River Fault (and closer to the areas of damage) strong ground motion triggered subsidence of volcanic deposits from Mount Merapi.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake, Strong motion
In 2006, Mount Merapi had not been active for more than four years, but on May 11 a pyroclastic flow triggered the evacuation of more than 20,000 people from the northern sector of Yogyakarta. While authorities expected a larger eruption to follow, the earthquake occurred instead. The volcano's previous eruptions deposited loosely bound sedimentary material in the valley during lahar flows and this material was found to have played a significant role in the effects of the shock. For example, German and Indonesian scientists set up instruments at several locations situated on different soil types to measure aftershocks.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake, Strong motion
Of nine events that were analyzed, it was found that the station at Imogiri (a heavily affected village that was built on 150–200 meters (490–660 ft) of sediment) showed signs of local amplification when compared to a location that was built on bedrock, and that the deposits amplified the impact of the shallow crustal rupture.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake, Liquefaction
A separate post-event study looked at the relationship with the layer of sediment and the occurrence of soil liquefaction during earthquakes near Bantul. Researchers stated that the Yogyakarta region is seismically active, with four known events in the 19th century and three in the 20th century, with peak ground acceleration values of 0.038–0.531g. The type and properties of sediment control the occurrence and distribution of liquefaction, and other environmental conditions (like the water table) also play a part, as well as the peak ground acceleration of the earthquake.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Earthquake, Liquefaction
The Bantul-Klaten plain consists of alluvium (sand, silt, clay, and gravel) and volcanic deposits from Merapi (sand, agglomerates, tuff, and ash), as well as limestone and sandstone. Borehole and magnetic data surveys show that the alluvium and lahar deposits at the Bantul graben are 20–200 meters (66–656 ft) thick and at places over 200 meters, and the water table is .6–5 meters (2 ft 0 in–16 ft 5 in) below ground level. Most liquefaction events took place near the 2.5 km (1.6 mi) wide Opak Fault zone. Sand boils, lateral spreading, settling, and slides led to some tilting and collapse of buildings.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Damage
Altogether, eleven densely populated districts comprising 8.3 million people were affected, but the regencies of Bantul, Sleman, Gunung Kidul, Kulon Progo, Klaten, and the city of Yogyakarta were especially hard hit. More than 5,700 people were killed in the early morning shock, with tens of thousands injured, and hundreds of thousands made homeless. Total financial losses from the event are estimated to be Rp 29.1 Trillion ($3.1B), with 90% of the damage affecting the private sector (homes and private businesses) and only 10% affecting the public sector.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Damage
The damage to housing accounted for about half of the total losses and a comparison was made to the damage to homes in Aceh following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Damage in central Java was more pronounced because of the substandard construction practices and the high population density, but on the other end of the scale, damage to infrastructure was very limited.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Damage, Housing
With 154,000 houses destroyed and 260,000 units experiencing damage, the event was one of the most costly natural disasters in the previous ten years. With 7% of housing units lost, more houses were damaged than during the 2004 Sumatra–Andaman and the 2005 Nias–Simuele events combined. With 66,000 homes destroyed, the Klaten District saw the heaviest damage, followed by Bantul, with 47,000 destroyed. In the most heavily damaged areas, 70–90% of units destroyed, contributing to a total of 4.1 million cubic meters of debris. Of the three home construction styles used in the area, the most common type fared badly.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Damage, Housing
Low quality materials and improper construction styles led to unreinforced masonry buildings being responsible for the large loss of life and the high number of injuries. The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute stated that there was a "lack of wall integrity in the transverse direction for out-of-plane forces" and "no mechanical connection between the top of the wall and the roof or floor, and inadequate out-of-plane strength due to a lack of reinforcement".


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Damage, Prambanan
The Prambanan Temple Compounds (also known as the Roro Jonggrang Temple) was constructed near the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java in 856, and was abandoned shortly thereafter. The site, which has experienced about 16 earthquakes since the 9th-century (including the 2006 event), consists of three yards of varying sizes with different stone block temples, and was rediscovered by a Dutch explorer in 1733. The smallest yard (110 m2) houses the main temple, and a slightly larger yard (220 m2) houses the Perwara temple. The main Prambanan Temple Complex is housed in the largest yard (390 m2).


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Damage, Prambanan
Many stones were dislodged and some parts broke off during the earthquake, and civil engineers were brought in to investigate the characteristics of the soil under the temple using ground penetrating radar, bore samples, and standard penetration tests. The goal was to visually examine the soil layers, to determine soil bearing capacity and depth of groundwater, as well as the depth of bedrock. Recommendations were then made regarding the renovations and repair process.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, International aid
Many countries and organizations offered foreign aid to the devastated region, but the actual amounts delivered/received often varied from these figures, as in the case of other disasters.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Reconstruction
Applying lessons learned from the Aceh recovery from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the government of Indonesia promoted a community-driven approach in reconstruction from the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake. The government leveraged social capital to hasten the reconstruction process. In housing recovery for instance, both the government and NGOs introduced capacity building initiatives (e.g. socialization and on-the-spot training for the construction of earthquake-resistant housing such as penyuluhan and pelatihan teknis) and advocated for use of local materials (e.g., Merantasi). The Kecamatan Development Project (KDP) and the Urban Poverty Project (UPP) are examples NGOs supporting community-driven processes.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Reconstruction
The government was slow to implement assistance in reconstructing private houses, leading many homeowners to repair or rebuild their homes either by themselves or with community help. Reconstruction in some areas was aided by relief agencies, like the Red Cross Red Crescent.


2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, Reconstruction
Villagers rebuilt their homes with extremely limited resources, using simple affordable materials. They turned to traditional materials, such as bamboo, because of the damage inflicted by collapsing brick walls.


2006 Yukon general election
The 2006 Yukon general election was held on October 10, 2006, in Yukon, Canada, to elect members of the 32nd Yukon Legislative Assembly. The Premier of Yukon asked the territorial Commissioner for a dissolution of the  Assembly on September 8, 2006. Because of changes in the Yukon Act, the Yukon Party government's mandate resulting from this election is for as long as five years instead of four.


2006 Yukon general election, Results by riding
names in bold indicate cabinet ministers, names in italics are party leaders


2006 Yukon general election, Opinion polls
Trendlines polls from October 2005 to June 2006 are based on a 100-day rolling average. Trendlines polls from July 2006 to October 2006 only include the respective monthly figures.


2006 Yukon general election, Opinion polls
Trendlines has conducted a poll in every riding every month for several months. According to the September/October polls, the Yukon Party could form a minority government with 7 of the 18 seats; or the Liberal Party and NDP could form a majority coalition with 11 out of the 18 seats.


2006 Zakarpattia Oblast local election
Zakarpattia Oblast local election, 2006 is a local election in Zakarpattia Oblast that took place on March 26, 2006. 90 seats were split among seven political parties and blocks, which received at least 3% popular vote.


2006 Zakarpattia Oblast local election, Results
Mikhail Kichkovsky (Our Ukraine) was elected Chairman in April 2006.


2006 Zakouma elephant slaughter
The 2006 Zakouma elephant slaughter refers to a series of poaching massacres of African elephants in the vicinity of Zakouma National Park in southeastern Chad. These killings were documented in aerial surveys conducted from May through August 2006 and total at least 100 animals. This region has a four decade history of illegal killing of this species; in fact, the Chad population was over 300,000 animals as recently as 1970 and has been reduced to approximately 10,000 as of 2006. The African elephant nominally has Chadian governmental protection, but the implementation practices of the government (backed with certain EU help) have been insufficient to stem the slaughter by poachers. The African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana) species occurs in several countries of Eastern and Central Africa.


2006 Zakouma elephant slaughter
The most recent aerial surveys were conducted from August 3–11, 2006, overseen by J. Michael Fay, a Wildlife Conservation Society conservationist and National Geographic explorer-in-residence. They found five separate massacre sites. Zakouma is considered "one of the last bastions of wildlife in all of central Africa".


2006 Zakouma elephant slaughter
Commissioned by the government of Chad and Project CRUSSE (Conservation and Rational Utilization of Sudan-Sahelian Ecosystems), Fay conducted surveys  In 2005 and 2006 of elephants within Zakouma, and found populations to decline from 3885 to 3020 animals, significantly offsetting the precipitous increase of the previous six months, although the counting error could not be fully assessed.


2006 Zakouma elephant slaughter, Reporting details
Fay reported that he saw five men at a base camp, who ran when his airplane approached. At another time he saw one man on horseback with an automatic weapon, who fired on his airplane. "Zakouma elephants are getting massacred right before our eyes. ", Fay relayed to reporters. "We hadn't been in the air more than two hours when we saw our first carcass. It was fresh, maybe just a few weeks old, not far from the park headquarters, and the animal's face had been chopped off, the tusks removed." Fay and National Geographic photographer Michael Nichols documented what they found in .


2006 Zakouma elephant slaughter, History of Zakouma National Park
Zakouma National Park is located between Sarh and Am Timan, in the southeastern part of Chad. Created in 1963, it was Chad's first national park, and has an area of almost 3000 square kilometres. It is entirely surrounded by the Bahr Salamat Faunal Reserve. Zakouma was neglected during the period of civil conflict, but a restoration programme, supported by the European Union, began in 1989 and is continuing in 2006.


2006 Zakouma elephant slaughter, History of Zakouma National Park
Elephants within the park have protection from the Chadian government, but the elephants who migrate outside Zakouma to forage in the rainy season, are not subject to the same patrol protection as within the park. According to Stephen Sautner of the Wildlife Conservation Society: "All hunting of elephants in Chad is illegal, and the sale of ivory has been banned since 1989, though black-market trade is increasing."


2006 Zakouma elephant slaughter, Logistics of ivory trade
Killing elephants for ivory has been a major cause of the decline of the African elephant population since at least the 1970s. Most of the ivory harvested is imported into China and Thailand. For example, between 1996 and 2002 forty-five tonnes of ivory in transit to China were seized by authorities. China agreed to reduce imports of ivory; however a Chinese official Chen Jianwei has indicated that many Chinese people are confused about the legality of ivory imports.


2006 Zakouma elephant slaughter, Relation to regional conflict
Zakouma is about 260 kilometres west of the conflict area of Darfur, and is in the path of recent warfare in Chad, thus overall security is low and the national border is "porous in this isolated region."


2006 Zakouma elephant slaughter, Conservation action
In response to this devastating event, The WILD Foundation partnered with The Wildlife Conservation Society and others to deter and detain poachers using aircraft surveillance. The aircraft will focus on park borders, where elephants are not protected.


2006 Zambian general election
General elections were held in Zambia on 28 September 2006 to elect a President, members of the National Assembly and local government councillors. The result was a victory for the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, which won 75 of the 150 National Assembly seats and whose candidate, Levy Mwanawasa, won the presidential vote. Voter turnout was just over 70%.


2006 Zambian general election, Campaign
During the campaign, Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata was strongly critical of Chinese investment in the country and suggested that he would recognize the Republic of China (Taiwan). One opinion poll in September gave Sata a considerable lead over Mwanawasa, 52% to 27%, with Hakainde Hichilema in third place at 20%, but Mwanawasa questioned these results. Another poll earlier in the month gave Mwanawasa the lead with 33% to Sata's 24%, although this marked a drop from the 45% reported for Mwanawasa by a previous poll in August, and an increase for Sata, who had been at 15%.


2006 Zambian general election, Campaign
Former president Kenneth Kaunda backed Hichilema and expressed disapproval for Sata. Former president Frederick Chiluba urged people to vote for Sata.


2006 Zambian general election, Campaign
The possibility was raised that Sata could be disqualified from the election for allegedly giving a false declaration of assets in August; he had claimed that a former minister in Mwanawasa's government owed him $100,000.


2006 Zambian general election, Results
The winner of the presidential elections was determined in one round according to the first-past-the-post system. Initial results from the election gave Sata the lead, but further results put Mwanawasa in first place and pushed Sata into third place. Interim results released after votes from 120 of 150 constituencies were counted put Mwanawasa on just over 42% of the vote; Hakainda Hichilema had 28%; and Michael Sata had slipped to 27%. When opposition supporters heard that Sata had slipped from first to third place, riots erupted in Lusaka. According to interim results Mwanawasa still held an easy lead in constituencies counted up to 16:00 on 1 October.


2006 Zambian general election, Results
Late in the afternoon of 2 October, the Zambian Electoral Commission announced that Mwanawasa had officially won the election with 43% of the vote; Sata took second place with 29% and Hichilema took third place with 25%. He was sworn in for another term on 3 October.


2006 Zambian general election, Results
The total electorate was 3,941,229 and 2,789,114 votes were cast of which 48,936 were spoilt. Voter turnout was 70.77%.


2006 Zambian general election, Results, National Assembly
The elections in Lupososhi (19,230 registered voters) and Kabompo East (16,148) were postponed due to the death of candidates.


2006 Zurich Open
2006 Zurich Open was a Tier I women's tennis event on the 2006 WTA Tour.


2006 Zurich Open, Finals, Doubles
Cara Black /  Rennae Stubbs defeated  Liezel Huber /  Katarina Srebotnik, 7–5, 7–5


2006 Zurich Open – Doubles
The Doubles Tournament at the 2006 Zurich Open took place between 16 October and 23 October on the indoor hard courts of the Hallenstadion in Zürich, Switzerland. Cara Black and Rennae Stubbs won the title, defeating Liezel Huber and Katarina Srebotnik in the final.


2006 Zurich Open – Singles
The Singles Tournament at the 2006 Zurich Open took place between 16 October and 23 October on the indoor hard courts of the Hallenstadion in Zürich, Switzerland. Maria Sharapova won the title, defeating Daniela Hantuchová in the final.


2006 Zushi mayoral election
The city of Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan held a mayoral election on December 10, 2006. The election was won by the Democratic Party of Japan candidate, Ryūichi Hirai.


2006 Züri-Metzgete
The 2006 edition of the Züri-Metzgete cycling classic took place on October 1 in a circuit in and around the Swiss city of Zürich. It was part of the 2006 UCI ProTour, and won by Samuel Sánchez. It turned out to be the last running of the Züri-Metzgete race.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing
The 2006 al-Askari Shrine bombing occurred on 22 February 2006 at approximately 6:44 a.m. local Iraqi time, and targeted the al-Askari Shrine in the city of Samarra, Iraq. The attack on the mosque, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, has not been claimed by any group; the then President of the United States, George W. Bush, suggested from "evidence" that the bombing was an al-Qaeda plot. Although the mosque was severely damaged from the blast, there were no casualties.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing
The attack was followed by retaliatory violence, with over a hundred dead bodies being found the next day and well over 1,000 deaths in the days following the bombing; some counts place the death toll at over 1,000 on the first day alone. Already-prevalent communal violence between Iraqi Sunnis and Shia armed groups eventually escalated into a full-scale civil war.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, The attack and response
On February 22, 2006, at 6:44 a.m. (0344 UTC), explosions occurred at al-Askari Mosque, effectively destroying its golden dome and severely damaging the mosque. Several men wearing military uniforms, had earlier entered the mosque, tied up the guards there and set explosives, resulting in the blast. Two bombs were set off by five to seven men dressed as personnel of the Iraqi special forces who entered the shrine during the morning.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, The attack and response
No injuries were reported following the bombing. However, the northern wall of the shrine was damaged by the bombs, causing the dome to collapse and destroying three-quarters of the structure along with it.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, The attack and response
Following the blast, American and Iraqi forces surrounded the shrine and began searching houses in the area. Five police officers responsible for protecting the mosque were taken into custody.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, The attack and response
The dome had been repaired by April 2009 and the shrine reopened to visitors.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Responsibility and accusations
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on the mosque.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Responsibility and accusations, Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Although Al-Qaeda in Iraq denied any involvement in statements released, in June 2006, it was reported that Iraqi commandos and troops had captured and seriously wounded Yousri Fakher Mohammed Ali, a Tunisian also known as Abu Qudama al-Tunesi, after he and 15 other foreign fighters stormed an Iraqi checkpoint 25 miles north of Baghdad, according to Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Responsibility and accusations, Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Abu Qudama confessed to taking part in the attack on al-Askari mosque in Samarra and gave a detailed account of how the attack took place. Al-Rubaie said Iraqi security forces had yet to capture the mastermind of the mosque attack, Haitham al-Badri, an Iraqi and leader of one of Al Qaeda in Iraq's cells, who was later killed in an airstrike on August 2, 2007. Al-Rubaie said al-Badri, Abu Qudama, four Saudi nationals and two other Iraqis stormed the mosque Feb. 21, rounded up the shrine's guards, members of Iraq's Facility Protection Service, and bound their hands. The group then spent the rest of the night rigging the mosque with bombs. At dawn the next day, they detonated the explosives, bringing down the dome.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Responsibility and accusations, Al-Qaeda in Iraq
In an August 2006 press conference U.S. President George W. Bush stated "it's pretty clear – at least the evidence indicates – that the bombing of the shrine was an Al Qaida plot, all intending to create sectarian violence." In May 2007, also 'Iraqi officials' blamed Al Qaeda of the attack. Before his death, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi listed among his goals the incitement of a civil war between Iraq's Shiites and Sunnis.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Responsibility and accusations, Al-Qaeda in Iraq
In September 2006, Iraqi officials announced the capture of Hamid Juma Faris Jouri al-Saeedi in connection with the bombing, allegedly done on his orders by Haitham al-Badri. Al-Badri was killed in August 2007.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Post-bombing violence against Sunnis
As a result of the bombing, there was widespread violence throughout Iraq. According to the Sunni Clerical Association of Muslim Scholars, 168 mosques were attacked in the two days following the bombing, while ten imams were murdered and fifteen others kidnapped. The Shi'ite controlled Interior Ministry said it could only confirm figures for Baghdad, where it had reports of 19 mosques attacked, one cleric killed and one abducted. The normal daily patrols of US coalition forces and Iraqi security forces were temporarily suspended in Baghdad during the few days following the bombing.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Political reactions, Iraq
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari has urged Iraqis to stay unified and peaceful, saying the attack was an effort to incite violence. He has also called for three days of national mourning. However, talks between him and a prominent Sunni Muslim group are put on hold as the Sunni Iraqi Accord Front quits discussions on forming a new government due to the recent violence. At the same time, a government organization called the Sunni Endowments that maintains Sunni mosques and shrines condemned the attack. On Feb 25, al-Jaafari blamed terrorists for the crisis: "The Iraqi people have one enemy; it is terrorism and only terrorism. ... There are no Sunnis against Shiites or Shiites against Sunnis."


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Political reactions, Iraq
Despite the Sunni boycott, President Jalal Talabani pressed ahead with a meeting that he had called to avert a descent toward a civil war. After discussions with Shiites, Kurds and leaders of a smaller Sunni group, he warned about the danger of all-out war.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Political reactions, Iraq
The government is extending a curfew it imposed in parts of the country on Friday to calm tensions sparked by an attack on a Shia shrine.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Political reactions, Iraq
Iraqi defence minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi warned about the danger of a long civil war. Also, he said that Iraq would not hesitate to dispatch tanks to the streets to end violence and impose security. The minister also denied any involvement by what he called Interior Ministry commandos in the attack that targeted Harith Sulayman al-Dari, leader of the Association of Muslim Scholars.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Political reactions, Iraq
Sunni and Shiite clerics in Iraq have agreed to prohibit killings and to ban attacks on each other's mosques in an effort to ease sectarian violence.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Political reactions, International
U.S. President George W. Bush warned about the threat of civil war and expressed support for the Iraqi government. On February 25, Bush called seven Iraqi political leaders in an extraordinary round of telephone diplomacy aimed at getting talks restarted about forming a permanent government. On February 28, Bush decried the latest surge in sectarian violence and said that for Iraqis "the choice is chaos or unity." In congressional testimony, National Intelligence Director John Negroponte said a civil war in Iraq could lead to a broader conflict in the Middle East, pitting the region's Sunni and Shiite powers against one another.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Political reactions, International
UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called the bombing a "criminal and sacrilegious act", urging Iraqis to show restraint and avoid retaliation.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Political reactions, International
Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington's ambassador to Iraq, and the top US commander in the country, Gen. George Casey, issued a joint statement saying the US would contribute to the shrine's reconstruction.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Religious reactions, Iraq
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani sent instructions to his followers forbidding attacks on Sunni mosques, especially the major ones in Baghdad, and calling for seven days of mourning. He hinted that religious militias could be given a bigger security role if the government was incapable of protecting holy shrines.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Religious reactions, Iraq
On February 25 Sistani called for Iraq's powerful tribes to be deployed to protect the country's holy places after three attacks on Shia shrines in four days: "Ayatollah Sistani, who received a tribal delegation from Kufa, asked that the Iraqi tribes reclaim their role of protecting the shrines," said an official in Sistani's office in the Shia clerical center of Najaf. ... After the crimes against the places of worship, including the blowing up of the mausoleum in Samarra and the attacks against the tombs of Salman the Persian and Imam Ali bin Mussa al-Rida, the tribes must take a stand and claim a role in the protection of these sites."


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Religious reactions, Iraq
Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr condemned the attack and called for calm. Having called to stop mutual attacks, Sadr ordered members of his militia to protect Sunni mosques in majority Shia areas in southern Iraq. Sadr called for Iraqi unity and warned against "a plan by the occupation to spark a sectarian war". He called on Sunni groups such as the Association of Muslim Scholars to form a joint panel and ordered his militia to defend Shiite holy sites across Iraq.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Religious reactions, Iraq
On February 25 Sunni and Shiite clerics agreed to prohibit killing members of the two sects and banning attacks on each other's mosques in an effort to ease tension between Iraq's Muslim communities following sectarian violence after the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine. The agreement was made during a meeting between representatives of Sadr and Shiite cleric Jawad al-Khalisi and members of the influential Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars at the Abu Hanifa Mosque, a Sunni place of worship.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Religious reactions, Iraq
According to Juan Cole, three Iraqi clerics all employed their influence and authority among the Shiite rank and file to make the Samarra bombing work for them politically. Sistani expanded his militia and stayed at the forefront of the movement by encouraging peaceful rallies. Abdul Aziz al-Hakim used the explosion in Samarra to bolster his own authority.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Religious reactions, Iraq
He remonstrated with the American ambassador, saying it was not reasonable to expect the religious Shiites, who won the largest bloc of seats in parliament, to give up their claim on the ministry of interior, and that, indeed, Khalilzad had helped provoke the troubles with his assertions to that effect earlier. Muqtada al-Sadr used the incident to push for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, something he has wanted since the fall of Saddam.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Religious reactions, Iran
Grand Ayatollah and Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei, urged Shi'ites not to take revenge on Sunni Muslims for the attack on the Samarra shrine and deflected blame to the United States and Israel.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Religious reactions, India
Syed Ali Nasir Saeed Abaqati a leading Shia cleric from Lucknow, India held al-Qaeda responsible for destruction of the Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Analysts' views
"I think this is probably the most dangerous event that has occurred since the fall of Saddam Hussein," former CIA Middle East specialist Reuel Marc Gerecht told CNN. "It risks our entire enterprise in Iraq."


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Analysts' views
"We may be on the verge of taking communal violence to the next level," warned Juan Cole, professor of Middle-Eastern history at the University of Michigan, who called Wednesday "an apocalyptic day in Iraq".


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Analysts' views
"It's very clear that the Shiites are interpreting this chain of events as evidence that the Americans are weak and can't protect Shiite interests," said Cole. "And now Americans are having to come back to the Shiites and ask them to be magnanimous and give away a lot of what they've won in elections."


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Analysts' views
"It was always going to be a very hard sell, but now it's an impossible argument; Shiites aren't going to give away any power at all at this point," he said, adding that "it's possible that there could be a hung parliament, the government would collapse, and you'd have to go to new elections. And that would be a disaster in the present circumstances."


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Analysts' views
William F. Buckley, Jr. considered the bombing as an indication of a general failure of the US policy in Iraq.


2006 al-Askari mosque bombing, Analysts' views, WikiLeaks data
The October 2010 Iraq War documents leak shed new light on the events of February–March 2006. In particular, the logs reveal that U.S. soldiers immediately reported an "explosion of retaliatory killings, kidnappings, tortures, mosque attacks, and open street fighting," even as U.S. commanders including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were downplaying media reports of a surge in killings. The previous "official" death toll for post-bombing sectarian fighting, of 3–400, was based on information from the Shiite-led government and the Sadr-run Health Ministry, which was directly involved in atrocities according to the logs. According to The Washington Post reporter Ellen Knickmeyer, her contemporary report of 1,300+ casualties, dismissed at the time as an outlier, was in fact an undercount; the actual deaths, she says, exceeded 3,000.


2006 and 2007 Tunisia clashes
On 23 December 2006 and 3 January 2007, Tunisian security forces engaged in clashes with members of a group with connections to the Islamist terror group Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in the towns of Soliman and Hammam-Lif south of the capital Tunis, killing more than a dozen people.


2006 and 2007 Tunisia clashes, Clashes
On 23 December, two Islamists were killed and two arrested in a shootout with police in the town of Hammam-Lif south of Tunis.


2006 and 2007 Tunisia clashes, Clashes
On 3 January, at least two members of Tunisian security forces and twelve Islamists were killed, and fifteen arrested in a clash in a forested area near Soliman.


2006 and 2007 Tunisia clashes, Clashes
Among those killed was the leader of the group, Lassaad Sassi, a former Tunisian policeman who had spent time in Afghanistan and headed a terror network based in Milan, Italy. Sassi's group had reportedly established training camps in the mountains in Djebel Ressas and Boukornine south of the Tunisian capital.


2006 and 2007 Tunisia clashes, Clashes
According to French daily Le Parisien at least 60 people were killed in the clashes. It was later revealed that the Islamists had been in possession of blueprints of foreign embassies as possible targets. The attacks were the most serious by Islamists in Tunisia since the Ghriba synagogue bombing in 2002.


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia
Anti - NATO protests (including one riot) took place in the Ukrainian port city of Feodosia from late May to early June 2006, partially disrupting a joint Ukrainian-U.S. military exercise, which was canceled 20 July 2006.


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia, Background
The military Ukraine-NATO Partnership for Peace military exercise Sea Breeze 2006 exercise (in Crimea) was scheduled to take place in Ukraine starting 17 July 2006. Its aim was to "simulate the defence of a peninsula caught between a totalitarian state and a democratic one." "Sea Breeze" manoeuvres had been held annually since 1997. Another British-Ukrainian war-game called "Tight Knot" was scheduled to start on 14 June 2006 (near Mykolaiv).


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia, Background, Legal concerns
On 4 June 2006, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree on preparations of the two war-games. The approval for the exercises by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) was still pending early June 2006 because after the parliamentary election of March 2006 it resumed its work on 7 June 2006. In February 2006 the Verkhovna Rada elected before the 2006 election rejected a presidential bill on allowing foreign troops to take part in the maneuvers planned for 2006. The Verkhovna Rada was due to vote on the same bill on 7 June 2006, but decided to adjourn until 14 June.


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia, Background, Legal concerns
On 6 June 2006 the Crimean legislature declared Crimea a "NATO-free territory".


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia, Events
On 27 May 2006 the United States (U.S.) cargo ship Advantage anchored in Feodosia, bringing what Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko described as U.S. "technical aid." Unarmed seamen offloaded construction materials to build barracks for Ukrainian sailors at a training range near the town of Stary Krym, not far from Feodosia. Two days later, Feodosia residents, mobilized by local chapters of the Party of Regions, the Nataliya Vitrenko Bloc, and the Russian Community of Crimea, began to picket the port, displaying anti-NATO slogans written in Russian and blocking U.S. cargo from getting to its destination.


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia, Events
Together with Advantage 200 U.S. Marine Corps reservists arrived to Feodosia. Their mission was to take part in the Sea Breeze 2006 military exercise from 17 July. When the Marine reservists tried to reach the training facility that they were assigned to renovate protesters surrounded their bus, rocking it and trying to smash the windows, eventually forcing the vehicle to head to a military sanatorium, where the reservists remain. Protesters reportedly harassed Marine reservists if they stepped outside their military base. The marines were advised against going into nearby towns for fear of provoking noisy confrontations.


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia, Events
On 4 June 2006 U.S. marines began leaving Crimea. American and Ukrainian officials stated because their contract was ending. Associated Press reported that no repair work was done at the base they were assigned to renovate. On June 8 Ukraine and United Kingdom postponed Tight Knot. On 20 July 2006 the United States cancelled Sea Breeze, "due to the situation in the Middle East".


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia, Events
Reportedly the group of protesters rarely consisted of more than a few hundred demonstrators. They accused NATO and the United States of seeking a foothold in Ukraine. The Ukrainian defense ministry stated 2 June 2006 that the planned exercises were not connected with NATO.


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia, Diplomatic reaction
On 5 June 2006, Serhiy Yevtushenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, was stopped at the Moscow airport and sent back to Ukraine. The following day, Russian Duma vice-speaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky and member Konstantin Zatulin were banned from entering Ukraine (were declared persona non grata) based on the Ukrainian law concerning foreigners’ status, "foreigners are prohibited to enter the country if they violated Ukrainian legislation during their previous stay." In the case of Zatulin, Ukrainian government accused him of trying to invoke ethnic violence and work against territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state. For example, Zhirinovskiy stated: “Ukraine does not exist. Russian governors must sit in Kyiv and Minsk. True Russian borders are the borders of September 1917.” The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced the ban as unfriendly.


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia, NATO-involved military events in Ukraine since 2006
The 2006 Crimean anti-NATO protests did not impact foreign military units to participate in multinational military exercises in Ukraine. Various military exercises (including ones with NATO troops) were held in Crimea since 2006.


2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia, NATO-involved military events in Ukraine since 2006
According to a poll by Razumkov Center in March 2011 some 51% of the Crimean residents considered NATO a threat, while across Ukraine this rate was 20.6% on average.


2006 ball-tampering controversy
In 2006, during the fourth day of the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval, umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove ruled that the Pakistani team had been involved in ball tampering. The Pakistani players refused to take the field after the tea break in protest of the decision. After waiting two more minutes the umpires removed the bails and declared England winners by forfeiture. This was the first such end to a Test match in more than 1,000 Tests.


2006 ball-tampering controversy
The International Cricket Council (ICC), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later affirmed that the decision to award the match to England was in accordance with the Laws of Cricket. After the game, an email was leaked showing that Hair had offered his resignation from the ICC Elite Umpire Panel in return for a non-negotiable one-off payment of US$500,000. Hair said that the ICC had been in negotiations with him prior to the incident.


2006 ball-tampering controversy
The ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle later acquitted Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of a ball-tampering charge, but banned him for four one day internationals for bringing the game into disrepute. After the hearing the ICC announced that Hair would not be umpiring at the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy because of security concerns. Hair was later banned from officiating in international matches by the ICC: they stated that although Hair had been banned from Tests, there is "no issue" with the result of the Oval Test match.


2006 ball-tampering controversy
In the aftermath of the Oval incident, Hair was voted Umpire of the Season in a poll carried out by The Wisden Cricketer, with more than a third of the votes. A leaked ICC report showed that immediately before the Oval incident, Hair was ranked the second-best umpire in the world overall behind Simon Taufel and number one in terms of decision-making statistics.


2006 ball-tampering controversy
In 2007 Hair announced he was suing the ICC and PCB on grounds of racial discrimination, alleging that he was made a scapegoat when he was barred from officiating Test matches after the Oval Test, as no action was taken against his fellow umpire Billy Doctrove. He later dropped the discrimination case. The ICC restored Hair to the Elite Umpiring Panel in 2008 but he resigned five months later, having officiated in only two further Tests.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Incident
On 20 August 2006, during the fourth day of the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval, umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove ruled that the Pakistani team had been involved in ball tampering. They awarded five penalty runs to England and offered them a replacement ball. The Pakistani players refused to take the field after the tea break in protest at the decision. The umpires left the field, directed the Pakistani players to resume play and returned once more 15 minutes later.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Incident
After waiting two more minutes the umpires removed the bails and declared England winners by forfeiture. This was the first such end to a Test match in more than 1,000 Test matches. The Pakistani team did take to the field 25 minutes later – 55 minutes after the umpires first took to the field for a resumption of play – but  Hair and Doctrove pointed out that the game had already ended with a Pakistani forfeiture the moment the bails were removed, even though both teams were willing to continue the match. The Test was abandoned, with the match awarded to England.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Reaction
The International Cricket Council (ICC), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later affirmed that the decision to award the match to England was in accordance with the laws of cricket. However, it caused much debate in the cricketing world, with former cricketer Michael Atherton criticising Hair for not continuing the game. Nasser Hussain sided with Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, saying that he would have done exactly what Inzamam did, while Steve Waugh backed the umpires' decision, saying "No-one is bigger than the game. The laws are there for a reason." Michael Holding described the umpires' initial penalty for ball tampering as "insensitive" and said that every law has room for flexibility. Imran Khan called Hair an "umpiring fundamentalist", and commented that "Such characters court controversy", while Wasim Akram called for Hair to be sacked.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Reaction
It was revealed in an ICC news conference on 25 August that after the game, Hair had offered his resignation from the ICC Elite Umpire Panel. In an e-mail entitled "The Way Forward" addressed to Doug Cowie, the ICC's umpire manager, and with apparent reference to an earlier conversation between the two which had not been made public by the ICC, Hair stated he would resign from his position in return for a non-negotiable one-off payment of US$500,000 directly into Hair's bank account. This was to be kept confidential by both sides.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Reaction
Hair was in contract with the ICC until March 2008, and the payment was said to compensate for the loss of future earnings and retainer payments. He subsequently revoked this offer. Hair had stated that the suggested sum was to be compensation for the four or more years he would have umpired for had the controversy not happened, which he claimed would be "the best years he had to offer international umpiring".


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Reaction
Hair had previously suggested, however, in an April 2006 interview that he might give up umpiring at the end of the World Cup saying "I'm not so sure that after another 12 months I'll have the passion to keep enjoying it." In the press conference, the ICC's chairman Malcolm Speed did not offer any assurances about Hair's future.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Reaction
On 27 August, Hair responded to the release of the e-mails by stating that the ICC had been in negotiations with him prior to him sending them. He was quoted as saying: "During an extended conversation with Mr. Cowie, I was invited to make a written offer. The figure in the e-mail correspondence was in line with those canvassed with the ICC." The ICC however denied they had invited a claim. In a press conference on 28 September 2006 Hair reiterated that he never considered retirement.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, ICC hearing
On 28 September, the ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle chaired the hearing into Inzamam's case and acquitted him of the ball-tampering charge stating, "Having regard to the seriousness of the allegation of ball-tampering [it is an allegation of cheating], I am not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that there is sufficiently cogent evidence that the fielding team had taken action likely to interfere with the condition of the ball" in his official report, but banned him for four One Day Internationals for bringing the game into disrepute.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, ICC hearing
Each of the ICC-appointed match officials (Hair, Doctrove, Cowie, Trevor Jesty, Mike Procter, and Peter Hartley) were of the opinion that markings on the ball indicated tampering. However Geoffrey Boycott, testifying before the panel, stated "That's a good ball, not just a playable ball." Another witness, TV analyst Simon Hughes, testified that Hair was "guessing", and the ball was in  "pretty good condition", when he examined it. At a press conference after the hearing, PCB's chairman Shahryar Khan revealed that his board had not ruled out calling for charges of bringing the game into disrepute against Hair.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, ICC hearing
Following the hearing, the ICC announced that Hair would not be umpiring at the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy because of security concerns. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated that they were bothered by the controversy surrounding Hair rather than any security issues, but Malcolm Speed wrote that these had been raised by independent advisors.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Ban
On 4 November 2006, Hair was banned from officiating in international matches by the ICC following a two-day meeting held by the ICC. The announcement was made by ICC President Percy Sonn in Mumbai, India, in a press conference.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Ban
Both Malcolm Speed, CEO of the ICC, and Sonn, stated that although Hair has been banned from tests, there is "no issue" with the result of the Oval Test match, which Pakistan forfeited. The decision was met with praise from the Pakistani board, who had previously called for Hair to be sacked. It was widely rumoured on 3 November 2006, that Hair was going to be banned, after a "reliable source" leaked information to an Indian television network.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Ban
The unnamed source said that 10 test playing nations voted on whether Hair should be allowed to continue, with the West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Bangladesh all voting for Hair to be removed, while England, Australia and New Zealand supported him. The voting at the decision to ban Hair was seen by some to reflect the perception of Hair in different countries. Most Asian commentators welcomed the move.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Ban
Javed Miandad said that such a move by ICC sets an example that meant "all other umpires will be under pressure to take the right decisions"and Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar also supported the decision. The former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga welcomed the decision to ban Hair, commenting that "Hair had a prejudice against Asian teams. I am happy that he is finally out. The decision will do good to future cricket."


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Ban
The majority of criticism against the decision to ban Hair from matches involving test nations has come from his home country of Australia. Ricky Ponting said he was surprised by the ICC's move to ban Hair and Cricket Australia demanded the ICC explain the reasons for Hair being stood down. Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said "Umpires need to have confidence in the system – that they are supported by best-practice administration and processes." The Australian media has also been critical of the decision. News Corp's Robert Craddock said, "Having seen how brutally Hair was abandoned after his tough call, only a brave or foolish umpire would be courageous enough to throw himself into the lion's den."


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Ban
At the time, Hair had not ruled out taking legal action after the decision. Billy Doctrove, the other umpire during the Oval Test, is unaffected by the ICC's ban on Hair, though he was overlooked for the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Ban
In the aftermath of the Oval incident Hair was voted Umpire of the Season in a poll carried out by The Wisden Cricketer, with more than a third of the votes. A leaked ICC report showed that immediately before the Oval incident, Hair was ranked the second-best umpire in the world overall after umpire Simon Taufel and number one in terms of decision-making statistics.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Racial discrimination allegations
In February 2007 Hair announced he was suing the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board on grounds of racial discrimination. Hair alleged that he was made a scapegoat when he was barred from officiating Test matches after the forfeited Oval Test, as no action was taken against his fellow umpire Billy Doctrove.


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Racial discrimination allegations
"I can confirm I have instructed my lawyers, Finers Stephens Innocent, 179 Portland Street, London, to issue an application to the London Central Employment Tribunal alleging racial discrimination from the International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board. Therefore it is inappropriate for me to make further comment as this matter is yet to be determined by the tribunal."


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Racial discrimination allegations
"I haven't spoken to anybody about this. I hope you understand that I haven't released any information about this. Somebody else obviously has. I've got no idea who but I value confidentially, unfortunately I've discovered other people don't."


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Racial discrimination allegations
In response to this move by Hair, PCB chairman Dr. Naseem Ashraf said "Mr Hair was removed from the ICC panel of umpires because of his bad umpiring and his poor judgement."


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Racial discrimination allegations
In a statement in reply to the notification of Hair against PCB, Ashraf further went on to say


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Racial discrimination allegations
"It is crass for him to say a black West Indian was let off [whereas] he was a white man and therefore he was charged. Mr Hair was the senior umpire and he literally took over that Oval cricket match. I was present there. "There was only one man that evening that did not want cricket to be played. [ It was] a black spot on the history of cricket thanks to Mr Hair."


2006 ball-tampering controversy, Racial discrimination allegations
However, on 9 October 2007 Hair dropped his discrimination case. The ICC said Hair would undergo a development programme over the next six months seemingly with the goal to place him back into top level matches. During this six-month period he would continue to officiate in second tier ICC associate matches. The ICC restored Hair to the Elite Umpiring Panel on 12 March 2008. However, on 22 August 2008 Hair handed in his resignation to the ICC to take up a coaching role, after he had only officiated in two Tests, in May and June 2008 between England and New Zealand. He had been an international umpire for 16 years.


2006 boys high school basketball All-Americans
An All-American team is an honorary sports team that is generally composed of the best amateur players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". The term is used in U.S. team sports to refer to players who are selected by members of the national media. Walter Camp selected the first All-America team in the early days of American football in 1889.


2006 boys high school basketball All-Americans
Both the McDonald's All-American team selection and the Jordan Brand All-American team selection have associated high school basketball all-star games held in conjunction with them, in which the players are divided into two teams to compete in an exhibition game. The Jordan Brand held its first contest in 2002. McDonald's All-Americans have competed in such contests since 1977, and a girls' game was added in 2002. Both the Parade and USA Today lists included underclassmen, but fifth-year seniors were ineligible for the Parade team. Those lists also both designated ordinal teams as first team, second team, etc., while the McDonald's and Jordan Brand teams were selected without distinction among selectees. In basketball, some All-American teams are composed by position, while others were not.


2006 boys high school basketball All-Americans
In 2006, 47 boys' high-school basketball players were selected to major honorary All-American teams. For the 2006 selections, McDonald's selected 24 players to its All-American team; the Jordan Brand included 21 players, and the USA Today All-USA prep basketball team had 15. The list also includes the 40 Parade All-Americans, the largest of the four teams.


2006 boys high school basketball All-Americans
The 2006 class of McDonald's All-Americans is regarded as the best class of the decade, with approximately 22 of the 24 expected to make it to the National Basketball Association by the time they have exhausted their collegiate eligibility, which in most cases is four years of competition in five years of enrollment.


2006 boys high school basketball All-Americans
Sherron Collins, Kevin Durant, Wayne Ellington, Spencer Hawes, Tywon Lawson, Greg Oden, Brandan Wright and Thaddeus Young were named to all four lists. Among this group, Durant, Hawes, Lawson and Oden were selected to the first team of both organizations that enumerated their selections. Collins was the only one of these to go undrafted. Oden and Derrick Rose were both NBA Draft overall number-one selections, in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Gerald Henderson, Jr. was the highest selection in the 2009 NBA Draft (12th overall). Damion James and Stanley Robinson were the only selections from this group in the 2010 NBA Draft. Kyle Singler and Vernon Macklin were the final draftees from this group in the 2011 NBA Draft.


2006 boys high school basketball All-Americans, All-American teams
The table below details the selections for four major 2006 boys' high-school basketball All-American teams. For those teams where teams were enumerated as first, second, etc. team, the number corresponding to this designation appears in the table. For teams where no such enumeration exists, a check mark is used. The following columns are included in the table:


2006 civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco
The civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco of 2006 began on Wednesday, May 3, when police prevented a group of 60 flower vendors from selling at the Texcoco local market in the State of México, about 30 km (19 mi) from Mexico City. State police used violence and arrest against resisters.


2006 civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco
The flower vendors appealed to the residents of San Salvador Atenco, a small neighboring community about 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Mexico City, famous for creating their resistance organization against the development of an airport on their land in 2002 ( an organization called the "FPDT", and known to be allied with the Zapatista Army of National Liberation).


2006 civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco
The Atenco residents blocked the highway to Texcoco near their town. In response, hundreds of state police were summoned to remove the blockade, but were unsuccessful after five attempts.


2006 civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco
The confrontations were very violent, causing Enrique Peña Nieto, then Governor of the State of Mexico, to ask president Vicente Fox the support of federal forces. The resulting chaos lead to the death of two protesters, and dozens of people (mostly women) were sexually assaulted by the police forces.


2006 civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco, National Human Rights Commission report
On 16 October 2006, National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) President José Luis Soberanes Fernández published the results of its five-month investigation of the case. The CNDH called the incident a "tragedy", called particular attention to the excessive use of force and firearms by state and federal authorities, and specifically found that:


2006 civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco, National Human Rights Commission report
In connection with these findings, the CNDH submitted recommendations to the federal Secretary of Public Security, Eduardo Medina Mora; the governor of the state of México, Enrique Peña Nieto; and the commissioner of the National Migration Institute, Hipólito Treviño. These included, inter alia, improved training for the security forces, due compensation for the next-of-kin of the two fatalities and for all those whose human rights were violated, and a review of the expulsion procedures applicable to foreign visitors.


2006 civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco, National Human Rights Commission report
The report concluded that the violence could have been prevented through dialogue, but that "preference was given to the use of public force".


2006 civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco, National Human Rights Commission report, Police brutality
The National Human Rights Commission has charged that police used excessive force, smashing windows and furniture, and hauling people from their beds. The commission is investigating reports that police molested and raped female detainees and injured children, elderly and the disabled.


2006 dengue outbreak in India
In the 2006 dengue outbreak in India, cases of dengue fever were reported first from New Delhi in early September and by the end of September other states also started to report deaths. At least 3613 confirmed cases of dengue fever were reported and over 50 people died in the outbreak.


2006 dengue outbreak in India, Outbreak
By 9 October 2006 more than fifty deaths were reported to dengue fever and more than 3613 patients were treated for this disease.


2006 dengue outbreak in India, Statistical data
The Government of India's Health Department released the statistical data related to dengue fever in a press statement on 8 October 2006.


2006 dengue outbreak in India, Statistical data
Nationwide data on the dengue outbreak, released by the Ministry of Health


2006 dengue outbreak in India, Statistical data
On 13 October 2006, six persons died due to dengue fever in Delhi. It was the highest number of deaths reported from Delhi in a day due to this disease.


2006 dengue outbreak in Pakistan
The 2006 dengue outbreak in Pakistan was at the time the worst on record. There were 1931 lab-confirmed cases, and 41 confirmed deaths, according to the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Other sources report a death toll of 52.


2006 dengue outbreak in Pakistan
Since 2006, studies indicate that dengue fever is on the rise in Pakistan. It is noted throughout the year, peaking at post-monsoon season. Many factors have been cited, including a surge in the principal mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti. and Aedes albopictus  However, in 2006, an additional factor may have been the lack of patient management standards, since dengue was a relatively new public health challenge for the country.


2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia
The 2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia refers to the deaths, unlawful arrests, expulsions and overall mistreatment of several thousand ethnic Georgians by the Russian government during the 2006 Georgian–Russian espionage controversy. The official Russian position was that Georgians in question violated the Russian immigration law and that their expulsion and treatment in custody was just standard law enforcement. The Georgian government countered that Russia's concerted actions against ethnic Georgians, including properly documented individuals, was an act of political retribution for the arrest of Russian spies and was tantamount to "mild form of ethnic cleansing". Georgian claims were supported by the Human Rights Watch, which documented "the Russian government's arbitrary and illegal detention and expulsion of Georgians, including many who legally lived and worked in Russia..." Georgia subsequently sued the Russian Government in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).


2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia
In 2014, the European Court ruled in Georgia's favor, concluding that Russia's actions in 2006 violated the European Convention on Human Rights. The ruling gave the Russian government a period of 12 months so that it could negotiate with Georgia the precise terms of compensation for damages incurred by the Georgian citizens and their families; in 2015 Georgia officially requested in excess of 70 million Euros in damages for the victims. In 2019, the European Court awarded Georgia with 10 million Euro damages compensation.


2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia, Deaths and allegations of mistreatment
The spree of arrests and deportations of ethnic Georgians in Russia was marred by allegations of grave human rights violations. Two Georgians died in Moscow while in custody. Tenghiz Togonidze, a 48-year-old migrant worker died of acute asthma in a Moscow airport as he was awaiting deportation. According to the Georgian Embassy in Moscow, Togonidze was denied medical attention for five days of detention despite his requests to see a doctor. The Russian authorities say everything possible was done for Togonidze. Manana Jabelia, a Georgian national living in Russia since the war in Abkhazia, died of a heart attack in Moscow while in custody following her detention for allegedly not having any identity or immigration papers. At the time, her passport was pending renewal at the Georgian consulate in Moscow.


2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia, International reaction
On 1 October 2007, the Human Rights Watch released a report on Georgian immigrants in Russia, which documented "the Russian government's arbitrary and illegal detention and expulsion of Georgians, including many who legally lived and worked in Russia," and that following the growing political tensions between Russia and Georgia, "Russian authorities began a widespread crackdown on ethnic Georgians, Georgian nationals, and Georgian-owned or Georgian-themed businesses and organizations... Senior government officials disparaged Georgians openly on government-owned TV, and much of Russia's government-friendly TV and other media followed suit... Police and other authorities denied basic rights to many of the detained" and underscored that "the Russian government's campaign against Georgians occurred in the context of pervasive racism and xenophobia in Russia."


2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia, International reaction
In its January 2007 report, Freedom House concluded that the Russian authorities "tolerated and encouraged the mistreatment of immigrants from Georgia and other Caucasus countries."


2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia, Legal proceedings
Georgia sued Russia in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), demanding that Moscow reimbursed pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages. On 3 July 2009, the ECHR declared that it found Georgia's complaints against Russia over deportations admissible for hearing and would deliver its judgment "at a later date".


2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia, Legal proceedings
In 2014, the European Court finally ruled that Russia's action's in 2006 were in violation of the European Court of Human Rights and gave Moscow 12 months to negotiate with Georgia the precise terms of compensation for damages incurred by the Georgian citizens; in 2015 Georgia officially requested in excess of 70 million Euros for the victims.


2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia, Legal proceedings
In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that as result of the 2014 verdict, and upon Georgia's 2015 application for damage compensation, Russia has to pay 10 million Euros to Georgia. As of December 2020, Russia has not yet issued compensations to the deportees. On 4 December 2020, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe called on the Russian authorities to "either directly pay the just satisfaction and the interest accrued to the Government of Georgia, or to commit to using the Council of Europe as an intermediary for that payment."


2006 elections in India, Legislative Assembly elections
The State Assembly elections in India of 2006 took place between April 3, 2006 and May 8, 2006. The Indian states that went into poll are Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry.


2006 elections in India, Legislative Assembly elections
Counting of votes for all the states was completed on May 11, 2006 and results were declared on May 20, 2006.


2006 elections in India, Legislative Assembly elections, Assam
Elections in Assam for 65 ACs occurred on April 3, 2006 and another 61 ACs on April 10, 2006.


2006 elections in India, Legislative Assembly elections, Kerala
Elections in Kerala for 65 ACs occurred on April 22, 2006, 61 ACs on April 29, 2006, and 15 ACs on May 3, 2006. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M))-led Left Democratic Front beat the incumbent Indian National Congress-led United Democratic Front by a margin of 56 seats (out of a total of 140 seats). V.S. Achuthanandan, of CPI (M) was sworn in as the 20th Chief Minister of Kerala, on May 18, 2006.


2006 elections in India, Legislative Assembly elections, Tamil Nadu
Elections in Tamil Nadu for 234 ACs occurred in a single phase on May 8, 2006. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led front won the elections, beating the incumbent All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led government. The DMK leader, M Karunanidhi was sworn in as chief minister.


2006 elections in India, Legislative Assembly elections, West Bengal
Elections in West Bengal for 45 ACs occurred on April 17, 2006, 66 ACs on April 22, 2006, 77 ACs on April 27, 2006, 57 ACs on May 3, 2006, 49 ACs on May 8, 2006.


2006 elections in India, Legislative Assembly elections, Puducherry
Elections in Puducherry for 3 ACs occurred on May 3, 2006 and 27 ACs on May 8, 2006.


2006 electoral calendar
This electoral calendar 2006 lists the national/federal direct elections held in 2006 in the de jure and de facto sovereign states and their dependent territories. Referendums are included, although they are not elections. By-elections are not included.


2006 electoral calendar
See elections in 2006 for an overview of the 2006 results.


2006 end-of-year rugby union internationals
The 2006 end of year tests, also known as the 2006 Autumn Internationals, refers to several international rugby union matches that took place during November 2006 principally between touring teams from the southern hemisphere – Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and South Africa – and one or more teams from the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Canada and Romania also played Six Nations teams during this period.


2006 end-of-year rugby union internationals
Ireland's games were the last Tests to be played at Lansdowne Road before it was closed for redevelopment.


2006 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Week 1
Touch judges:Paul Honiss (New Zealand)Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)Television match official:Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)


2006 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Week 1
Touch judges:Stuart Dickinson (Australia)Matt Goddard (Australia)Television match official:Christophe Berdos (France)


2006 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Week 2
Touch judges:Steve Walsh (New Zealand)Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)Television match official:Peter Allan (Scotland)


2006 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Week 2
Touch judges:Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan)Television match official:David Changleng (Scotland)


2006 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Week 2
Touch judges:Donal Courtney (Ireland)Rob Debney (England)Television match official:George Clancy (Ireland)


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
On the night of August 29–30, two ethnic Russians were killed and several others badly injured by Chechens in a restaurant in the town of Kondopoga in the Republic of Karelia, Russia.


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
A group of Russian men were eating at the Azeri-owned  restaurant, when allegedly, they noticed that the expensive, premium brand vodka bottle the waiter was pouring their drinks from was actually filled with a cheap, low quality spirit. An argument and brief scuffle ensued. The ethnic Russians then left the bar. The barman then called a 'rescue team' of 15 Chechens. This team of hired 'protectors' actually arrived an hour after the Russians involved in the initial fracas had exited, but on arrival, randomly attacked ethnic Russian diners in the restaurant, who hadn't been involved in the original vodka dispute.


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
Armed with baseball bats and knives, they set on the clientele shouting 'allahu akbar! ', and in a brutal melee, 2 Russians were killed, 8 seriously injured and 15 mutilated, the injuries ranging from cuts to gouged out eyes. Despite the fact that 3 police vehicles were in the direct vicinity of the restaurant, the police did not intervene. This has led to allegations that the police were being paid off by the Chechen gang.


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
The Finnish television documentarist Arvo Tuominen explained the violence in the following way:


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
A couple of Russian fellows who had just been released from jail came to celebrate there (in the Chayka restaurant). They got fed up with the slow service of the Azeri bartender and did him in. The bartender called to the scene the Chechens from whom he had bought security. They then beat to death two bystanders. The police did not intervene in the events at all, since the Chechens had bought security from the police. Thus a spontaneous uprising of the people was the result.


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
After the funeral of the Russian victims, tensions spilled over into an all out riot as the mob attempted to obtain vigilante revenge. Many of the Chechens and the families left the town, some stating a desire to live in Finland.


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
Sergey Katanandov, the head of Karelia Republic, told "Izvestia" on September 6 about a gang of Chechens who drove around the town in a Mercedes without number plates 'terrorising locals'. He also related an incident where a Chechen gang beat a local policeman. An ensuing lawsuit by the policeman was dropped, Katanandov hinting that he had been 'paid off' by the gang - others believe fear of reprisals may have been his motivation.


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
It said to be an open secret in Russia that many businesses often operate under the protection of kryshas ("roofs") - that provide protection via the FSB and other state bodies. In Kondopoga, many believe such 'immunity from prosecution' was visibly flaunted by the Chechen gang and the businesses under their protection.


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
Some reports link this state of affairs to  clashes on the night of September 1–2, 2006 between groups of ethnic Russian youths and the  OMON (a SWAT-type and riot-control unit) troops. The Chayka restaurant was destroyed during this unrest. A number of Chechen-owned businesses were also targeted.


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
On September 2, two days after the beginning of rioting, there was a mass meeting held at the town hall. A number of Russian nationalists came from Moscow, including leaders of Movement Against Illegal Immigration, and organized  a rally  calling on the government to forcibly resettle all people from the Caucasus, especially ethnic Chechens, from the town.


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
The nationalists pointed to the reign of fear spread by Chechen gangsters and the many violent acts committed against ethnic Russians, exacerbated by corrupt officials 'in the pockets' of the Chechens, as their motivation.


2006 ethnic tensions in Kondopoga
On April 1, 2010, the Chechens and Dagestanis who participated in the original restaurant attack were convicted of various crimes. Islam Magomadov was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to 22 years of imprisonment, five more people were convicted of assault and aggravated assault and received sentences ranging from 3 years 10 month up to 10 years of imprisonment.


2006 in Afghanistan
The following lists events that happened during 2006 in Afghanistan.


2006 in Afghanistan
See also: Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006, and Timeline of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present).


2006 in Afghanistan, November
In November 2006, the U.N. Security Council warned that Afghanistan may become a failed state due to increased Taliban violence, growing illegal drug production, and fragile state institutions. In 2006, Afghanistan was rated 10th on the failed states index, up from 11th in 2005. From 2005 to 2006, the number of suicide attacks, direct fire attacks, and improvised explosive devices all increased. Intelligence documents declassified in 2006 suggested that Al Qaeda, Taliban, Haqqani Network and Hezb-i-Islami sanctuaries had by then increased fourfold in Afghanistan. The campaign in Afghanistan successfully unseated the Taliban from power, but has been significantly less successful at achieving the primary policy goal of ensuring that Al-Qaeda can no longer operate in Afghanistan.


2006 in Africa, Conflict and civil war, Darfur conflict
President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir refuses  the deployment of 20,000 Blue Helmets in a United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1706 adopted on September 1.


2006 in Africa, Notes
This text is being translated from the original French-language article.


2006 in Albania
The following lists events that happened during 2006 in the Republic of Albania.


2006 in Algeria
The following lists events that happened during 2006 in Algeria.


2006 in American soccer
The 2006 season was the 94th year of competitive soccer in the United States.


2006 in American soccer, National team, Men, Senior
The home team or the team that is designated as the home team is listed in the left column; the away team is in the right column.


2006 in American soccer, Major League Soccer, Tables
Purple indicates Supporters' Shield clinched Yellow indicates Regular Season Runners-up clinched Green indicates playoff berth clinched


2006 in American soccer, USL Division 1, Table
Commissioner's Cup, bye to semifinal round of playoffs  Bye to semifinal round of playoffs  First round of playoffs


2006 in American soccer, USL Division 1, Table, Playoffs
Quarterfinals and Semifinals 2-game aggregate Higher seeded team hosted first game


2006 in American soccer, USL Second Division, Table
Purple indicates regular season champion Green indicates playoff berth clinched


2006 in American soccer, USL Second Division, Table
1New Hampshire was penalized 1 point for use of an ineligible player in a game.


2006 in American television
The following is a list of events affecting American television during 2006. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and new channel initiations.


2006 in American television, Programs, Shows changing networks
The following shows will air new episodes on a different network than previous first-run episodes.


2006 in Armenia
The following lists events that happened in 2006 in Armenia.


2006 in Australia
The following lists events that happened during 2006 in Australia.


2006 in Australian literature
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 2006.


2006 in Australian television, Programming changes, Changes to network affiliation
This is a list of programs which made their premiere on an Australian television network that had previously premiered on another Australian television network. The networks involved in the switch of allegiances are predominantly both free-to-air networks or both subscription television networks. Programs that have their free-to-air/subscription television premiere, after previously premiering on the opposite platform (free-to air to subscription/subscription to free-to air) are not included. In some cases, programs may still air on the original television network. This occurs predominantly with programs shared between subscription television networks.


2006 in Australian television, Programming changes, Subscription premieres
This is a list of programs which made their premiere on Australian subscription television that had previously premiered on Australian free-to-air television. Programs may still air on the original free-to-air television network.


2006 in Bangladesh
2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2006th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 6th  year of the 3rd millennium, the 6th  year of the 21st century, and the  7th   year of the 2000s decade.


2006 in Bangladesh
The year 2006 was the 35th year after the independence of Bangladesh. It was the last year of the rule of BNP led by Khaleda Zia and also the first year of the regime of the fourth caretaker Government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed.


2006 in Bangladesh, Economy
Note: For the year 2006 average official exchange rate for BDT was 68.93 per US$.


2006 in Bangladesh, Events, Awards and Recognitions, International Recognition
Yunus was the first Bangladeshi to ever get a Nobel Prize. After receiving the news of the important award, Yunus announced that he would use part of his share of the $1.4 million (equivalent to $1.78 million in 2019) award money to create a company to make low-cost, high-nutrition food for the poor; while the rest would go toward setting up an eye hospital for the poor in Bangladesh.


2006 in Belgian television
This is a list of Belgian television related events from 2006.


2006 in Belgium
This article lists some of the events that took place in Belgium in 2006.


2006 in Benin
The following lists events that happened during 2006 in Benin.


2006 in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The following lists events that happened during the year 2006 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.


2006 in Botswana
The following lists events that happened during 2006 in Botswana.


2006 in Brazilian football
The following article presents a summary of the 2006 football (soccer) season in Brazil, which was the 105th season of competitive football in the country.


2006 in Brazilian football, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Relegation
The four worst placed teams, which are Ponte Preta, Fortaleza, São Caetano and Santa Cruz, were relegated to the following year's second level.


2006 in Brazilian football, Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
Atlético Mineiro declared as the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B champions.


2006 in Brazilian football, Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, Promotion
The four best placed teams, which are Atlético Mineiro, Sport, Náutico and América-RN,  were promoted to the following year's first level.


2006 in Brazilian football, Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, Relegation
The four worst placed teams, which are Paysandu, Guarani, São Raimundo and Vila Nova, were relegated to the following year's third level.


2006 in Brazilian football, Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Promotion
The four best placed teams in the final stage of the competition, which are Criciúma, Vitória, Ipatinga and Grêmio Barueri, were promoted to the following year's second level.


2006 in Brazilian football, Copa do Brasil
The Copa do Brasil final was played between Flamengo and Vasco.


2006 in Brazilian football, Copa do Brasil
Flamengo declared as the cup champions by aggregate score of 3–0.


2006 in Brazilian football, Brazil national team
The following table lists all the games played by the Brazil national football team in official competitions and friendly matches during 2006.


2006 in Brazilian football, Women's football, Brazil women's national football team
The following table lists all the games played by the Brazil women's national football team in official competitions and friendly matches during 2006.


2006 in Brazilian football, Women's football, Brazil women's national football team
The Brazil women's national football team competed in the following competitions in 2006:


2006 in Brazilian television
This is a list of Brazilian television related events from 2006.


2006 in British music
This is a summary of 2006 in music in the United Kingdom.


2006 in British music charts
This is a summary of 2006 in music in the United Kingdom including the official single and album charts.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
In January, X Factor winner Shayne Ward held on to the top spot in the single chart with his debut "That's My Goal" for three weeks. Ward later went on to top the charts with his debut album in April, on the back of his reality TV show success.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
Meanwhile, The Strokes and HARD-Fi both got their first number one albums in January, the Strokes previously having two number twos. Arctic Monkeys were the big story, with their second single "When the Sun Goes Down" repeating the feat of their debut and reaching number one. A week later their debut album, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not", sold over 360,000 copies in its first week. It stayed at number one for four weeks. Arctic Monkeys were also big winners at the NME Awards, taking home three awards. They picked up Best Single for "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor", Best New Band and Best Group. Other winners included Kanye West, singer Ricky Wilson and the Kaiser Chiefs who despite being nominated for six awards only came away with one for Best Album.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
The 2006 BRIT Awards were dominated by 'new' acts, with the Kaiser Chiefs winning 3 awards, including 'Best Group', and James Blunt coming away with two. Other big winners were Coldplay, who had the best album and single, and Green Day.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
The pop band All Saints announced that they would be reforming, five years after they had split in 2001. Another return came from Leo Sayer, who hit number one 29 years after his previous chart topper, with a remix of the single "Thunder in My Heart". Smash Hits magazine, however, left the music business after 28 years of covering pop music. Later in the year, Top of the Pops also ended, after 42 years on British television. It had been losing ratings for the past five years, having been usurped by music television. The traditional live Saturday morning children's programmes ended too, after 38 years on BBC & ITV. Again, they had been losing ratings for the past 4 years, for the same reason.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
The other number ones in the start of the year went to Madonna, with her 12th chart-topper "Sorry", and to US rapper The Notorious B.I.G. in February, who climbed to number one. The song was a re-working of his debut single "Nasty Girl" (which features guest appearances from Jagged Edge, P. Diddy, Nelly, and Avery Storm). He died in 1997, but this is the first time he has scored a #1 and just under a year after "rival" rapper 2Pac had also achieved his first #1 with "Ghetto Gospel".


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
Chico Slimani, who had finished fifth in the X Factor, went straight to number one with "It's Chico Time", holding on to the top spot for two weeks in March. Orson climbed to the top of the singles chart successfully knocked Chico off the top spot with their song "No Tomorrow".


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
With a new chart rule stating that singles on downloads alone may enter the chart a week before their full release, Ne-Yo was the first act who managed to climb from #18 to #1, one week after it was released on downloads alone, with his debut single So Sick. Embrace entered to #2 that week with their new single "Nature's Law", making it their biggest single to date. However, it only failed to reach #1 due to a large count of legal downloads which didn't register in the official charts.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
The following week, their fifth studio album This New Day became their third album to reach #1 in the UK Albums Chart. Other acts that benefited from the change in rules included The Black Eyed Peas, Pink, Liz McClarnon, Girls Aloud, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, James Blunt, Joey Negro, Sean Paul and Nelly. The following week, Gnarls Barkley became the first act to top the singles chart on downloads alone, with Crazy.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
This was the start of huge success for the duo, who went on to top the singles charts for 9 weeks, as well as the album chart for a week and also the UK Official Download Chart for an outstanding 11 weeks making it the longest stay on the UK Official Download Chart history. However, the single version of Crazy was deliberately deleted on 28 May in order to stop the single's welcome being overstayed.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
"Crazy" was the first single to top the UK singles chart for nine weeks consecutively since 1994 when Wet Wet Wet's "Love Is All Around" was number one for fifteen weeks (the last song to spend exactly nine weeks on top was "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984). But, Crazy's nine-week run at number one came to an end when singer/songwriter Sandi Thom finally knocked it off number one with her debut single I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair). 2006 also saw Morrissey return to the top of the album chart for the first time in 12 years with "Ringleader of the Tormentors".


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
Thom occupied the number one spot for a solitary week before being replaced by Nelly Furtado, who climbed to number one with Maneater and maintained her position the following 3 weeks. On 18 June 2006 there were five England Football World Cup songs in the top 13 in the Official UK Singles Chart. This included the official single by Embrace, a parody of the Dad's Army theme by the Tonedef Allstars and the former number 1 single Three Lions, which topped the chart in both 1996 and 1998.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
The festival season was marked by the absence of Glastonbury, which was taking a 'fallow year'. Headliners at the major festivals included: The Who and Red Hot Chili Peppers at T in the Park; Coldplay and the Foo Fighters at the Isle of Wight Festival; Metallica and Guns N' Roses at Download Festival; Radiohead and Kasabian at V Festival; The Prodigy and Goldfrapp at Creamfields; Daft Punk and Groove Armada at Global Gathering 2006; The Who and The Strokes at the Wireless Festival; and Pearl Jam and Muse at the Carling Weekend.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
This would turn out to be the penultimate year, that the much disputed sponsorship deal by the brewery would take place, and would go on to be the start of the brewery's decline in the UK live music scene, as it suddenly lost its sponsorship deals for gig venues to LiveNation and O2


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
Following Nelly Furtado's 3 weeks on top for the first time, both Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean's Hips Don't Lie and Lily Allen's Smile enjoyed a first time at the top of the UK singles chart summit with Shakira's smash hit and Lily Allen's debut single. Another debut single to be released was German dance group Cascada's Everytime We Touch which went on to peak at #2, as Hips Don't Lie held them of the top spot. It ended 2006 as being the UK's fifteenth best selling single.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
Pop band McFly scored their fifth UK number one single Don't Stop Me Now/Please, Please but the following week dropped to number 6 in the top 40. The week after Shakira climbed back on top with "Hips Don't Lie", the first time since 2004's single Call on Me by Eric Prydz to return to the top. July also saw first time number one albums for the Lostprophets and Razorlight.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
In August, it was an American female double on top of both charts, with Christina Aguilera's Back To Basics topping the album chart, and the following week former Destiny's Child star Beyoncé Knowles scored her second (fourth, including her career with the group) number one single with Deja Vu along with her boyfriend Jay-Z.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
September kicked off with another American act at #1 in both charts, this time former 'N Sync star Justin Timberlake with his comeback single Sexyback and with his second album FutureSex/LoveSounds. He had previously has three number two records and this is his first #1 single as a solo artist and as part of 'N Sync.


2006 in British music charts, Summary, Chronological Review
The following week the Scissor Sisters managed to score their first UK #1 with I Don't Feel Like Dancin' and is third highest seller (so far) of this year. They also scored their second #1 in the album chart with Ta-Dah, therefore topping both the album and singles chart at the same time (the last act to manage that was Gnarls Barkley with Crazy and St. Elsewhere).