2006 History

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What Events Happened in 2006

  • Twelve coal miners die in the Sago Mine Disaster near Buckhannon, West Virginia in the United States.
  • A stampede during the Stoning of the devil ritual on the last day at the Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, kills 362 Muslim pilgrims.
  • Several European newspapers reprint controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, sparking outrage and rioting in the following weeks
  • Iran Tests Missiles which are capable of reaching Israel
  • The Iranian Leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust ever existed.
  • Saddam Hussein is charged and found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death by hanging
  • Zacarias Moussaoui convicted of conspiring to kill Americans as part of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,
  • Sixty-five miners become trapped underground after an explosion in a mine Nueva Rosita, Mexico There were no survivors.
  • Tropical Cyclone Larry makes landfall in Queensland, Australia
  • Over 160 people are killed by seven bombs on the train network in Mumbai India
  • Tsunami strikes the Indonesian island of Java killing 300
  • Capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah guerrillas Israel Bombs Lebenon and escalation of violence in Middle East
  • North Korea declares it has carried out its first test of a nuclear weapon, becoming the worlds 9th Nuclear Power
  • North Korea Test Medium Range Missiles
  • Heatwave affects US and Europe in July
  • The Easter Week Midwest Tornado Outbreak affecting Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and other US states . Iowa City takes a direct hit from a tornado.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's suffers a stroke and suffers from a persistent vegetative state.
  • The US Energy department has released a report that there are about a trillion barrels worth of oil in the form of Oil shale reserves in the Green River basin.
  • 6 U.S. seaports Sold To Middle East
  • Partial power blackout in Europe including Parts of Germany, Belgium, France (including parts of Paris), Spain, and Italy
  • 6.6 magnitude earthquake at sea hits the US state of Hawaii.
  • Italy wins the 2006 world cup in Germany defeating France
  • More than 1 million take to the streets in France in the largest nationwide protest ever over the "Contrat première embauche" (CPE - First Employment Contract or Beginning Workers Contract)
  • Montenegro and Serbia Split to Gain Independence
  • The Basque separatist group ETA announces Cease Fire
  • Congress passes the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act (Cope Act) which ends current Network Neutrality.
  • The Winter Olympic Games are held in Turin, Italy
  • Hamas ( Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya ) the Palestinian Islamist militant organization wins the Palestinian parliamentary elections, and formally took over the Palestinian government, with Ismail Haniyeh sworn in as the new prime minister.
  • One day boycott of United States schools and businesses by One Million immigrants, both legal and illegal
  • World Trade Talks break down with blame shared equally between the developing and the G8 countries of the world.
  • California suffers it's worst heat wave in recent history with temperatures reaching 115 degrees and lasting for a two week period.

Popular Culture 2006

Popular Films

  • The Pink Panther
  • Big Momma's House 2
  • Underworld: Evolution
  • Nanny McPhee
  • Final Destination 3
  • Failure to Launch
  • Eight Below
  • V for Vendetta
  • Ice Age: The Meltdown
  • Date Movie
  • Garfield
  • Miami Vice
  • Monster House
  • Over The Hedge
  • Pirates of the Caribbean 2
  • Superman Returns
  • Thank You For Smoking

Popular Musicians

  • Mariah Carey
  • Beyonce
  • Ne-Yo
  • INXS
  • The Pussycat Dolls
  • Nine Inch Nails
  • Coldplay
  • System of a Down
  • Gwen Stefani
  • Madonna
  • P!nk
  • Bon Jovi
  • Morrissey

Popular Television

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
  • Malcolm in the Middle
  • Survivor
  • The Weakest Link
  • Yes, Dear
  • The Simpson's
  • 24
  • Fear Factor
  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent
  • Pop Idol
  • Smallville
  • The Amazing Race
  • The Bernie Mac Show
  • American Idol
  • CSI: Miami
  • The Bachelor
  • The George Lopez Show
  • Without a Trace
  • Arrested Development
  • Cold Case
  • Hope and Faith
  • Las Vegas
  • NCIS
  • Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
  • The O.C.
  • Two and a Half Men
  • Boston Legal
  • CSI: New York
  • Desperate Housewives
  • House
  • Lost
  • The Apprentice
  • American Dad!
  • Everybody Hates Chris
  • Family Guy
  • Grey's Anatomy
  • My Name Is Earl
  • The Office

Technology 2006

  • The one billionth song is purchased from Apple iTunes.


Research for this year is provided by The People History.
See History By Year and Decade for more prices and information.
Find out more about the 2000s at ThePeopleHistory.com.