Current events of 15 September 2006 (2006-09-15) (Friday) edit history watch

The U.S. State Department's annual report on religious freedom criticizes the governments of Uzbekistan, Iran and China for increasing repression while noting improvement in the practices of the governments of Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Vietnam. (Voice of America) Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy: Pope Benedict XVI is criticized throughout the Islamic world for comments he made on September 12, quoting the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos (1391-1425) regarding Muhammad and Islam. Street protests take place in parts of South Asia. (CNN) Taliban insurgency: The Afghan security forces have retaken a district headquarters in the western Farah province after a short Taliban occupation. (BBC) Yemen foils two attempts by four suicide bombers to attack two oil refineries, Al Jazeera reports. (Al Jazeera),(Reuters) Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone becomes new Cardinal Secretary of State of the Holy See, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti is named new Secretary for Relations with States (foreign minister). At the same time, Angelo Cardinal Sodano retires after sixteen years as Cardinal Secretary of State. [1] Close to half a million people stage a march in Taipei to demand the resignation of President Chen Shui-Bian. (BBC), (CNN) UPN network shuts down, marking the first time in 50 years a United States broadcast television network ceased broadcasting.