Strewth!, 'Crocodile Hunter' dies in tragic acccident
Australia's 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin was fatally injured when a stingray's serrated barb punctured his chest while filming in Austrailia, 5th September 2006. It was pulled from his chest before he lost consciousness and died, his manager said as fans worldwide mourned the exuberant naturalist.

Blair calls for halt to sniping
In his first public speech since saying he would step down within the year, he said Labour was "ideologically united" despite the "spasm" of attacks during the first week of September. Public pressure is calling for Blair to step down as Prime Minister immediately, his popularity and honesty have been questioned for months. People keep saying that the Labour party must have a clear direction forward with clear priorities and a new leader before the May 2007 elections.

Space shuttle Atlantis blasts off
After two frustrating weeks of delays, space shuttle Atlantis and its six astronauts blasted off Saturday 9th September 2006 on a mission to resume construction of the international space station for the first time since the Columbia disaster 3 1/2 years ago. As the shuttle streaked into space, more than 100 cameras zoomed in for any signs of foam breaking off its external fuel tank, the problem that doomed Columbia.

Atlantis carried one of the heaviest payloads ever launched into space a 17 1/2 ton truss section that will be added to the half-built space station. It includes two solar arrays that will produce electricity for the orbiting outpost. Atlantis' weight was so much that it only had a crew of six, instead of the usual seven astronauts. Construction of the space station has been on hold since Columbia disintegrated over Texas, killing seven astronauts on their return to Earth in February 2003. Since then, NASA has struggled to find ways to prevent the breakaway of hard foam chunks like those that had fatally damaged Columbia's wing during liftoff.

Europe clinch Ryder Cup hat-trick
The European Ryder Cup team pose with the trophy during the closing ceremony at the K Club golf course, Straffan, Ireland, 24th September 2006. The European team retained the cup against the team from the United States. Fans were still in raptures as Europe strolled to a 18½-9½ victory over America in the 36th Ryder Cup.

Swedish rookie Henrik Stenson had the honour of clinching the point that guaranteed victory before the Europeans completed a memorable week with their best-ever performance in the last-day singles, winning eight of the 12 matches and halving one.

Shortly before Stenson's moment in the spotlight, British duo David Howell and Luke Donald had posted quick-fire wins to lift the hosts to an unassailable tally of 14 points.