Timeline September 2006

Events in September 2006 6

• 1929 – 2006 Oriana Fallaci (1929-2006) Died 15 September 2006, aged 77 Oriana Fallaci, the Italian journalist and war correspondent famed for her combative interviews with world leaders, died of cancer in Florence. Her later writing on Islam and the West drew both acclaim and controversy. She remained one of the most influential Italian journalists of her generation.
• 1962 – 2006 Steve Irwin (1962-2006) Died 4 September 2006, aged 44 Steve Irwin, the Australian wildlife expert known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed by a stingray barb while filming near the Great Barrier Reef. His death was mourned worldwide and drew attention to marine safety. He was remembered for popularizing wildlife conservation on television.
• 2006 Pope Benedict XVI's Regensburg lecture sparks controversy Remarks on Islam provoke global protests Pope Benedict XVI quoted a Byzantine emperor's critical remarks about Islam during a lecture at the University of Regensburg. The comments triggered protests and attacks on churches across the Muslim world. The Vatican issued clarifications, and the Pope later expressed regret over the reaction.
• 2006 Thai military coup Ousting of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra The Royal Thai Army seized power in a bloodless coup while Thaksin Shinawatra was in New York for the UN General Assembly. The military suspended the constitution and installed an interim government. It was Thailand's first coup since 1991.
• 2006 US Navy retires the Tomcat Final flight, NAS Oceana The Tomcat makes its final US Navy flight. Replaced by the Super Hornet, most retired airframes are shredded to keep spare parts from reaching Iran.
• 2006 Facebook opens to the public End of college-only registration requirement Facebook removed its restriction limiting membership to college students and select networks, opening registration to anyone over 13 with a valid email. User numbers surged in the following months. The move set the site on the path to becoming the dominant global social network.