'Blind faith led a Ukranian man to climb into a lions cage to see if God would protect him. He was killed.'

Charlotte Haines Lyon looks back at the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Six. Click on the orange links to read more about the subject.

2006 was the year that bloodshed in Iraq rarely left the headlines and Afghanistan wasn’t far behind.

Meanwhile the Middle East looked increasingly precarious. North Korea and Iran dominated the news for their aggressive stance on nuclear development. Climate change was finally accepted by politicians to be a problem (also, see the surefish climate change section)

January

The year started with fear of bird flu as the first people outside of South East Asia died from the disease.

Ariel Sharon suffered a massive stroke.

Charles Kennedy called a leadership contest for the Liberal Democrats after admitting to a drink problem.

There was international concern as Iran broke the seals of the Natanz nuclear research facility.

The government were defeated on their third reading of the Racial and Religious Hatred bill.

February

Nepal hit back at international criticism after what was widely seen to be unfair and flawed municipal elections.

Rene Preval was declared President after much disputed elections in Haiti.

The Winter Olympics in Turin drew took place, and were called a success (although you can still buy goods from the Winter Olympics online shop).

The Anglican Church asked the US and Canadian churches to consider their position in the worldwide communion after liberal stance on homosexuality.

Comedian Linda Smith died of cancer, aged 48.

March

Christian hostage Norman Kember was released in Iraq amidst criticism of his attitude towards his rescuers.

Bird flu panic continued as a dead swan found in Scotland tested positive.

Sir Menzies Campbell wins a somewhat revealing leadership contest for the Lib Dems.

Spring was delayed as the UK saw a cold snap with snow.

April

The Chancellor Gordon Brown pledged £8.5 billion to help fund primary education in developing countries.

Five medical staff were killed whilst working for Christian Aid in Northern Afghanistan.

Rioting erupted in the Solomon Islands after the appointment of Snyder Rini as Prime Minister.

Four months deadlock ended in Iraq when President Jalal Talibani asked Shia Jawad al-Maliki to become his deputy.

The Archbishop of York conducted four outdoor full immersion Easter baptisms.

Her Majesty the Queen celebrated her 80th birthday

May

A partial peace agreement was signed, signalling possible peace in Darfur.

Nepal’s House of Representatives was reinstated and the King’s powers were removed.

3000 people were killed by an earthquake on the Indonesian island of Java.

Peace protestor Brian Haw had his signs removed after his five-year protest in Parliament Square.

Madonna yet again sparked outrage as she performed a mock crucifixion during her show.

June

Police launched an anti terror raid in East London, arresting two Muslims, one of whom was shot. Both were later released without charge.

The Church of England launched their "Shrinking the Footprint" campaign, in the hope that churches with lessen their environmental footprint.

People around the world anxiously awaited the sixth of the sixth of the sixth.

Blind faith led a Ukranian man to climb into a lions cage to see if God would protect him. He was killed.

July

Over 160 people were killed in Mumbai by six simultaneous bombs planted on commuter trains.

War broke out between the Lebanon and Israel.

The first free and fair elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo occur with no clear winner.

Roger Federer won his fourth men’s singles title at Wimbledon. Amelie Mauresmo won the women’s title. Italy won the football World Cup.

David Walliams, of Little Britain fame, raised £1 million for Sports Relief by swimming the channel.

August

Cuban leader Fidel Castro temporarily handed over power to his brother whilst undergoing stomach surgery.

Addresses across East London, Birmingham and High Wycombe were raided as part of an anti terror investigation. Eleven people were charged with involvement in an alleged airline bomb plot.

A fragile ceasefire was established in the Lebanon.

6000 people were left homeless when flash floods hit Burkina Faso.

The UN deadline passed for Iran to stop work on uranium enrichment.

September

Ian Woosnam led the European team to win the Ryder Cup.

Protests and prayer vigils were held around the world, demanding an end to the conflict in Darfur.

The Archbishop of Canterbury signed an agreement with Chief Rabbis of Israel, setting out a framework for interfaith dialogue with regard to Middle East.

The UK government withheld funding from the World Bank in protest of the conditions placed on poor countries receiving loans.

The Archbishop of Wales criticised plans to replace the Trident Missile system.

October

International adoption hit the headlines, as Madonna adopted a boy from Malawi.

The appropriately named Stern Report warned that climate change won’t simply damage the planet but will severely harm the economy. For further analysis, click here.

Anti poverty work was recognised when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to jointly to Professor Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh and the Grameen Bank he founded.

Controversy abounded when Jack Straw asked Muslim women wearing the Niqab to remove it. A Muslim teaching assistant was suspended after insisting on wearing her veil in school. She was later dismissed from the position.

There was outrage when a Christian working for British Airways was told to conceal the cross on her necklace.

November

There was mixed reaction to Saddam Hussein’s death sentence for crimes against humanity.

Midterm elections in the US saw Democrats seize control of both houses.

Iraqi Bishop, Louis Sako, pleaded with Christians to unite and pressurize the government to respect their rights in a bid to stem the tide of Christians leaving Iraq.

Intrigue and fear spread as an ex Russian spy was killed in London by a lethal dose of radiation.

Nick Clarke, long standing News at One presenter and Radio Four favourite, died of cancer.

December

After much speculation, Tony Blair became the first prime minister to be interviewed by police, as part of the loans for honours inquiry.

After nine years and nearly four million pounds spent on an inquiry into the death of Dodi Fayed and Diana, Princess of Wales’, we were told, again, that she died in a car driven by a driver who was over the alcohol limit. Mohammed Al-Fayed, the owner of Harrods and father of Dodi Fayed, alleges the crash was not an accident.

England lost the Ashes after retaining them for the shortest period in history.

Two American Episcopal congregations voted to sever ties with their Bishop, following support for women and gay bishops. The congregants have turned to the authority of the Nigerian Church instead.

Five prostitutes were murdered in Ipswich within a fortnight.