March 17, 2006 (Friday)
- Beijing's wealthiest millionaire, Yuan Baojing, and two alleged accomplices are sentenced to death and executed by lethal injection for murder by a Liaoyang court, making Yuan the wealthiest person to be executed in PRC history. (Xinhuanet) (Washington Post)[permanent dead link]
- The European Parliament demands that Senegal turn over Hissène Habré to Belgium to be tried for his actions while he was President of Chad. Senegal is not expected to comply, as it already refused extradition demands from the African Union. The ATDPH has expressed its approval of the decision. (AllAfrica)
- Six people have been charged in connection with Kenya's biggest fraud, which cost the government about $600 million. (BBC)
- Following an outbreak of bird flu in Israel, Europe bans imports of Israeli chicken; Ministry of Agriculture halts exports of unprocessed birds; Kibbutzim in the south, heart of Israel put under closure; four people hospitalized in the south are found not to be infected with the disease. (Ynetnews)
- Thomas Lubanga, former leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots militia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, becomes the first person arrested on behalf of, and then referred to the International Criminal Court for war crimes. (ICC)
- The fourth global World Water Forum meets in Mexico City to address problems of water shortages and conflicts. Protesters claim the forum is a platform for further privatization of water supplies. (AP via Forbes)
- The International Crisis Group warns that continued neglect of the Darfur conflict may lead to thousands more deaths and spill over into neighboring countries, further destabilizing the region. (Reuters)[permanent dead link]