On this day

December 30, 2006

Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from December 30, 2006

Under Madam Speaker, Conflict Gives Way to Collaboration

By Damien Cave

Christine C Quinn has changed political environment of New York City Council in her first year as speaker; has emerged as influential partner of Mayor Michael R Bloomberg, changing high-stakes conflict between them to focus on effectiveness and collaboration; privately, some council members say Quinn has acquiesced too often, with Council overriding mayoral votes only twice in 2006, down from 15 in 2005; photos (M)

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For Bush, Joy of Capture Muted at the End

By Jeff Zeleny

Capture of Saddam Hussein three years ago was jubilant moment for White House, but his execution seemed hardly to inspire same sentiment; Pres Bush, in statement written in advance, said execution would not end violence in Iraq; growing chaos and violence in Iraq has steadily overshadowed torturous rule of Hussein, who for more than two decades held unique place in politics and psyche of US, symbol of manifestation of evil in Middle East; what could have been triumphal bookend to US invasion of Iraq has instead been dampened by grim reality of conditions on ground there; chronology of major events in Hussein's two trials for crimes against humanity; photo (M)

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Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of December 27, 2006, covering December 30, 2006.

  1. 1
    Album cover for The Inspiration by Young Jeezy

    The Inspiration

    Young Jeezy

    Last week
    —
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    1
  2. 2
    Album cover for Taylor Hicks by Taylor Hicks

    Taylor Hicks

    Taylor Hicks

    Last week
    —
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    1
  3. 3
    Album cover for Hannah Montana by Soundtrack

    Hannah Montana

    Soundtrack

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    8
  4. 4
    Album cover for NOW 23 by Various Artists

    NOW 23

    Various Artists

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    6
  5. 5
    Album cover for Awake by Josh Groban

    Awake

    Josh Groban

    Last week
    11
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    6

Notable Deaths

Saddam Hussein

2006Saddam Hussein, Iraqi general and politician, fifth President of Iraq (born 1937)[†]

Saddam Hussein was an Iraqi politician and revolutionary who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until his overthrow in 2003 during the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He previously served as the vice president from 1968 to 1979 and also as the prime minister from 1979 to 1991 and later from 1994 to 2003. A leading member of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, he espoused Ba'athism, a mix of Arab nationalism and Arab socialism, while the policies and political ideas he championed are collectively known as Saddamism.

2006Terry Peck, Falkland Islander police officer and spy (born 1938)[†]

Terence John Peck was a member of the Falkland Islands Defence Force who during the 1982 Falklands War became a war hero by spying on the Argentine invaders, subsequently escaping to British lines, acting as a scout for 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, and taking part in the fighting for Mount Longdon. A fiercely patriotic Islander, he vehemently opposed Argentina's claim to the Islands. He later met and befriended an Argentine conscript who served during the war.

Michel Plasse

2006Michel Plasse, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1948)[†]

Michel Pierre Plasse was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League from 1970 to 1982. He was selected first overall in the 1968 NHL Amateur Draft by the Montreal Canadiens

Historical Events

Madrid–Barajas Airport

2006Madrid–Barajas Airport is bombed.[†]

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport is the main international airport serving Madrid, the capital city of Spain. At 3,050 ha in area, it is the second-largest airport in Europe by physical size behind Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. In 2019, 61.8 million passengers travelled through Madrid–Barajas, making it the country's busiest airport as well as Europe's fifth-busiest.

MV Senopati Nusantara

2006The Indonesian passenger ferry MV Senopati Nusantara sinks in a storm, resulting in at least 400 deaths.[†]

The MV Senopati Nusantara was an Indonesian ferry that sank in a storm on December 30, 2006. The Japanese-made ship was a scheduled passenger liner from the port of Kumai in Central Kalimantan (Borneo) to Tanjung Emas port in Semarang, Central Java. About 40 km (25 mi) off Mandalika Island, the ship sank during a violent storm in the Java Sea. At least 400–500 people are thought to have drowned, with only 224 surviving.

President of Iraq

2006Former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein is executed.[†]

The President of the Republic of Iraq is the head of state of Iraq. Since the mid-2000s, the presidency is primarily a symbolic office, as the position does not possess significant power within the country according to the constitution adopted in October 2005.

Historical Context for December 30, 2006

In 2006, the world population was approximately 6,671,452,015 people[†]