Introduction
2006
The headlines in 2006 were marked by death, scandal and politics: 12 die in Sago Mine disaster. Former Enron executives guilty. Death sentence for Saddam Hussein. Iraq insurgent al-Zarqawi killed. War in Lebanon. Nuclear saber-rattling in Iran, North Korea. "Crocodile Hunter" killed. Former Beatle in divorce battle. Trans-Atlantic terror plot foiled. Ex-Russian spy poisoned. Megachurch preacher in sex scandal. Democrats win midterms.Use the links below or to the right to look back at some of the top stories from the past 12 months. And cast your vote for the top story of 2006.
Sago Mine disaster
January 5
Immigration protests
April 10
Hundreds of thousands of protesters turned out in more than 140 cities in at least 39 states, demanding that the nation's estimated 11 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants get a chance to live the American dream. In Washington, the House and Senate passed vastly different versions of immigration reform, but a comprehensive bill proved elusive before the November midterms. Instead, Congress approved a 700-mile fence along one-third of the U.S.-Mexico border, which Bush signed into law 12 days before the election.• Rallies call for illegal immigrant rights | Gallery | Interactive
• Bush OKs 700-mile border fence | Map
McCartney-Mills separate
May 17
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills said they were separating after four years of marriage. Mills, who has a young daughter with McCartney, was expected to claim a large share of the former Beatle's fortune. Newspapers published alleged court documents claiming McCartney mistreated Mills; Sir Paul vowed to "vigorously" defend himself. Elsewhere, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline split up, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt went to Namibia to have their baby, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had a child and got married, and Madonna sparked controversy by adopting a Malawian baby.• McCartney and wife to separate | McCartneys set for 'battle royal'
• Alleged court filings: McCartney mistreated wife
Enron trial
May 25
After four years of investigations, 16 weeks of testimony and six days of jury deliberations, Enron former Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling and founder Kenneth Lay were found guilty of conspiracy and fraud. The former executives were convicted of misleading the public about the financial health of Enron, whose 2001 collapse symbolized a wave of corporate fraud that swept the country. Lay, 64, died of coronary disease on July 5 while awaiting sentencing. Skilling was sentenced to 24 years in prison on October 23.• CNNMoney: Lay and Skilling's day of reckoning | Special report
• CNNMoney: Enron founder Ken Lay dies | Skilling gets 24 years
Al-Zarqawi killed
June 7
World Cup final
July 9
Italy won a penalty shootout 5-3 to lift the World Cup for the fourth time after Zinedine Zidane was sensationally sent off for head-butting Marco Materazzi. The French captain was shown the red card in the final match of his career near the end of the final, which was tied 1-1 after extra time. A few months later, Materazzi broke his silence, telling Gazzetta dello Sport it was a remark he made about Zidane's sister that provoked the incident. Materazzi said that when Zidane offered to give him his France jersey in response to persistent shirt-tugging by the Italian, he had replied: "I would prefer your sister."• SI.com: France's Zidane wins Golden Ball | Special report
• SI.com: World Cup Blog: The bitter end
• Zidane sees red as Italy win Cup | World Cup 2006
Mumbai train blasts
July 11
A series of seven explosions killed at least 186 people and wounded about 700 others on crowded commuter trains and stations during evening rush hour in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai. India has accused Pakistan's intelligence agency and a Pakistan-based Islamist militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, of involvement, but Pakistan and the group have denied any links. In November, Indian police charged more than two dozen people in connection with the attack, including 13 in custody.• At least 174 killed in Indian train blasts | Gallery
• On the scene: People were hanging from the train
• World reacts to Mumbai blasts | Special report
Israel-Hezbollah war
July 12
Israel launched a series of bombing raids into Lebanon after Hezbollah forces crossed into Israel, killing three soldiers and abducting two more, a move the Israeli prime minister called an "act of war." A month later, a cease-fire took effect, and displaced civilians began returning home. About a million people on each side of the border were displaced, officials said. The conflict left 908 dead and 3,877 wounded in Lebanon, and 159 dead and more than 1,000 wounded in Israel, authorities in the two countries said.• Israel authorizes 'severe' response to abductions | Special report
• Lebanon truce holds despite clashes | Interactive: Mideast conflict timeline
Tainted spinach
August 2
Trans-Atlantic plot foiled
August 10
JonBenet Ramsey arrest
August 16
John Mark Karr was arrested in Thailand in connection with the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, a 6-year-old beauty pageant contestant whose beaten and strangled body was found in the basement of her family's Colorado home 10 years ago. Karr, 41, told reporters he was with JonBenet the night she died and that her death was an accident. Karr was extradited to Colorado, but his admission only deepened speculation about whether the soft-spoken schoolteacher committed the crime. Almost two weeks later, officials abandoned their case against Karr after DNA tests failed to link him to the case.• Suspect arrested in JonBenet case | Gallery | Timeline | Questions
• No DNA match, no JonBenet charges | Special report
• Karr: 'I've never harmed a child' | Patsy Ramsey dies
Iran nuclear standoff
August 31
Iran defied a United Nations deadline calling for the Islamic republic to halt its nuclear activities or face sanctions. Tehran insists its program is for peaceful purposes only, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vowed not to give in to Western interests. But the Bush administration suspects Iran is using its nuclear program to develop weapons, and President Bush has called for worldwide isolation of Iran until it "gives up its nuclear ambitions." China and Russia -- both veto-wielding members of the Security Council -- have been reluctant to sanction Iran, and Moscow proceeded with arms deals with Tehran.• U.N.: Sanctions loom, Iran keeps enriching
• Iran seeking to become Mideast superpower
• Archive: Iran disregards U.N. deadline 
'Crocodile Hunter' killed
September 4
Steve Irwin, the enthusiastic "Crocodile Hunter" who enthralled audiences around the world with his wildlife adventures, was killed by a stingray barb that pierced his chest while he was shooting a TV program on the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast of Australia. Irwin, 44, is survived by his wife, Terri, and their two children, Bindi Sue and Robert. "The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," Irwin's manager and friend John Stainton told reporters. "He died doing what he loved best."• 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin dead | Thousands mourn 'Crocodile Hunter' | Gallery
Amish school shooting
October 2
A heavily armed truck driver barricaded himself in a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania, killing five girls execution-style before killing himself, police said. The killer told his wife he had molested children 20 years ago and was dreaming about doing it again. He brought lubricant to the schoolhouse, but there was no evidence the victims were sexually assaulted. It was the nation's third deadly school shooting in a week. In Colorado, a 53-year-old man sexually assaulted hostages before killing a 16-year-old student and then himself. And a high school student in Wisconsin was suspected of killing his principal after being disciplined for carrying tobacco.• Fifth girl dies after Amish school shooting | Gallery
• Police: School killer told wife he molested family members
• Slain Amish girls laid to rest | Interactive
North Korea nuclear test
October 9
North Korea's official news agency reported the country had performed a successful underground nuclear test. Five days later, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to impose sanctions on North Korea as punishment for the test. North Korea rejected the resolution and walked out of the Security Council chamber. The test came three months after North Korea test-fired six missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2 rocket believed capable of reaching the western United States. The Taepodong rocket failed after 40 seconds, but the United States denounced the tests as "provocative."• U.S. calls for sanctions against North Korea | Timeline
• North Korean test 'went wrong,' U.S. official says | Special report
• Archive: Fears of an arms race chain reaction
Yankee's plane crash
October 11
New York Yankees' pitcher Cory Lidle was killed when his plane crashed into a Manhattan high-rise and burst into flames. The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report said a slight wind and a tight turning radius were factors in the crash, which also killed flight instructor Tyler Stanger. Investigators have not determined who was flying the plane at the time of the accident. One resident of the apartment building was seriously burned when the plane crashed into her apartment on 30th floor. Lidle had just finished the 2006 season with a 12-10 record.• Yankees pitcher killed in crash of small plane | Gallery | Map
• A pitcher's passion for flying held his tragic fate | Tributes pour in for pitcher Lidle
Megachurch preacher scandal
November 4
Saddam Hussein verdict
November 5
Democrats win midterms
November 7
Ex-Russian spy poisoned
November 23
Former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko died in a London hospital on November 23; large doses of polonium-210 were found in his body. Litvinenko, 43, was a longtime critic of the Russian government, which he blamed for his sudden, fatal illness. Russian authorities denied any role. Traces of the radioactive material have been found at Litvinenko's home, places he ate and where he held meetings just before falling ill, authorities say. Traces also were reported on British Airways planes, a London soccer stadium and the British Embassy in Moscow. British police said they are treating the death as a murder.• Russian former spy dies | Police: Spy death now murder probe
• Spy's widow points finger at Russia | Timeline
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