Israeli troops invade southern Lebanon on July…

Human Rights Watch's 2006 report on Egypt details serious human rights violations, including routine torture, arbitrary detentions and trials before military and state security courts.

Construction is booming in Albania as villas, apartment complexes, offices, restaurants, and hotels multiply at a frantic rate.

Moreover, due to black market trade and through other venues, Albania currently boasts the highest percentage of Mercedes Benz automobiles of any European nation.

The current civil war in Chad between Chadian government forces and several Chadian rebel groups has also involved the Janjaweed.

Sudan supports the rebels, while Libya mediates the conflict, as do diplomats from other countries

The Government of Chad estimates in January 2006 that six hundred and fourteen Chadian citizens have been killed in cross-border raids.

The Tripoli Agreement is signed on February 8, 2006, but the fighting in Chad persists, leading to several new agreement attempts.

Greco-Turkish relations enter a new phase of tension in May 2006, after the mid-air collision of a Greek F-16 with a Turkish F-16 results in the death of the Greek pilot.

Repeated Greek airspace violations and provocations by Turkey, as well as a multitude of internal political problems faced by the Turkish government, have led Greece to fear that Greco-Turkish relations will continue to deteriorate.

A total of 419,240 Montenegrins, representing 86.5% of the total electorate, cast their votes on independence in an internationally monitored referendum on  held on on May 21, 2006.

230,661 votes or 55.5% are for independence and 185,002 votes or 44.5% are against.

The 45,659 difference narrowly surpasses the 55% threshold needed to validate the referendum under rules set by the European Union.

According to the electoral commission, the 55% threshold had been passed by only twenty-three hundred votes.

The Parliament of Montenegro declares the independence of Montenegro, on June 3, 2006, formally confirming the result of the referendum on independence.

Serbia does not obstruct the ruling; it will confirm ts own independence and declare the Union of Serbia and Montenegro dead shortly thereafter.

The National Assembly of Serbia declares Serbia the successor to the State Union on June 5.

Israel launches an offensive in the Gaza Strip on June 28, 2006, in response to rocketfire by Hamas into Israeli territory.

Montenegro begins the process of seeking international recognition as well as a seat at international organizations, and on June 28, 2006, it becomes the 192nd member state of the United Nations.

In addition, the member-states of the European Union and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council all recognize Montenegro's independence; doing so removes all remaining obstacles from Montenegro's path towards becoming the world's newest sovereign state.

However, the pro-Union bloc in Montenegro refuses to acknowledge the result of the referendum.