Ongoing financial crisis and recession which began in late 2007 continues with many calling it the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s causing house prices to decline, and unemployment to increase. In 2009 governments in the US and around the world pumped trillions of dollars into the financial system and into the economies hoping to avert another Great Depression and by the end of 2009 although unemployment had continued to increase, markets had recovered and most thought the worst was over.
Russia shuts off all gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine.
More Information and Timeline for Gas Crisis
Russia fully closes down gas supplies to Ukraine due to a dispute over a debt of $2.4 billion to Gazprom. Reduced supply had started on January 1st but due to negotiations breaking down all supplies were cut on January 7th. Most of the European Union relies of Gas from the Gas Fields of Russia so although the dispute was between Russia and the Ukraine the effects of it are felt in Western Europe with Bulgaria, Moldova and Slovakia the worst effected. The dispute lasted until a settlement was reached between Gazprom and the Ukraine on January 30th, 2009.
Pirates Attempt Hijack of MV Maersk Cargo Ship 280 miles southeast of Eyl, Somalia, Hijack Fails but they take the Captain Richard Phillips as a hostage
More Information and Timeline For Cargo Ship MV Maersk hijacking
1. April 8th, four pirates based on the FV Win Far 161 attack the MV Maersk Cargo Ship
2. Chief Engineer Mike Perry takes 14 members of the crew into a "secure room" as per anti-piracy training.
3. The 4 Pirates board the ship but are unable to gain control of the ship
4. After failing to take control of the ship the pirates take Captain Richard Phillips as a hostage and get in a Lifeboat
5. April 9th United States Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) and the guided-missile frigate USS Halyburton (FFG-40) reach the MV Maersk
6. April 9th to April 12th Stand off between the 4 pirates holding Captain Phillips on the Lifeboat and the USS Bainbridge and USS Halyburton
7. April 11th MV Maersk and it's Navy Escort arrive at the port of Mombasa, Kenya
8. April 12th Following concern that the Captain is in danger U.S. Navy SEAL marksmen open fire and kill the three pirates on the lifeboat. Captain Phillips is rescued uninjured
In 2013 the story of the attempted hijacking and rescue of Captain Phillips is turned into a movie "Captain Phillips" starring Tom Hanks
NASA launches the final space shuttle mission to the Hubble Telescope during May. The Space Shuttle Atlantis carried a seven person crew to complete repairs on the Hubble Telescope for the fifth and final time during the STS-125 mission. The crew consisted of Commander Scott Altman and pilot Gregory Johnson, as well as mission Specialists Michael Good, Megan McArthur, John Grunsfeld, Michael Massimino, and Andrew Feustel. The crew was successful in their mission of replacing several parts and adding two new instruments to the space telescope over the course of five space walks. They also filmed the progress of their mission with an IMAX camera.
How Much things cost in 2009
Average Cost of new house $232,880.00
Average Income per year $39,423.00
Average Cost for house rent $675.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas $2.73
US Postage Stamp 42 cents
1 LB of Bacon $3.19
Movie Ticket: $7.50
Loaf of Bread $1.77
In-state College Tuition $6,585.00
Price Of Gold Per Ounce ( September 1st 2009 )$958.00
Price Barrel Of Oil $53.56 per barrel
The Death of the King of Pop Michael Jackson ( June 25th ) brings worldwide outpourings of grief, he is the most successful entertainer of all time. His career began in 1964 as the lead singer and youngest member of The Jackson 5. His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time. His personal life led to much critisism including over his ever changing appearance including his nose, and skin color, allegations of child sexual abuse for which he was tried and acquitted in 2005. A public memorial service is held for musician Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. His death is still under investigation and possible charges against his former Doctor will come in 2010. After more than 12 months questions over his life and death generate considerable public interest
The top two selling movies in 2009 are "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs"
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) observed its 60th Anniversary at its 21st Summit during April of 2009. The summit was co-hosted by France and Germany and was held in the cities of Strasbourg, Baden-Baden, and Kehl on the 3rd and 4th of April. During the summit Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former Prime Minister of Denmark, was appointed as the Secretary-General of the organization. The group discussed several topics including the conflict in Afghanistan, NATO’s relationship with Russia, and a re-evaluation of future strategies.
Communist Protesters block Singha Durbar in Nepal.
More Information and Timeline for Maoist Protesters in Nepal
On November 12, 2009 thousands of protesters from the Unified Communist Party of Nepal blocked entry points to Singha Durbar, which is the official seat of Nepalese government, as part of a two-day restoration of what they call “civilian supremacy”. They blocked eight access points to the principal government secretariat, and were led by the Maoist chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ Mohan Vaidya ‘Kiran’ and Baburam Bhattarai. The Nepalese capital was badly disrupted by the Maoists, who chanted slogans against the government and blocked all of the roads that lead to Singha Durbar.
World "swine flu", Global pandemic
The World Health Organization declares H1N1 influenza strain, commonly referred to as "swine flu", as a global pandemic.
Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President
Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States
Michael Jackson dies in strange circumstances
Michael Jackson dies in strange circumstances and brings worldwide outpouring of grief
Deadliest bushfires in Australian history
The deadliest bushfires in Australian history ( Black Saturday bushfires ) in the Australian state of Victoria leave 173 people dead and more than 2000 homes destroyed.
European Union
Slovakia adopt the Euro joining 15 other European countries using the single currency
Ceasefire in the Gaza War
Israel and Hamas declare a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza War.
Icelandic banking system collapse
The Icelandic banking system collapse causing the collapse of the Icelandic government and resignation of the Prime Minister Geir Haarde
G-20 summit
G-20 summit, involving state leaders rather than the usual finance ministers, meets in London and later in the year in Pittsburg to discuss the ongoing global financial crisis
João Bernardo Vieira, is assassinated
The President of Guinea-Bissau, João Bernardo Vieira, is assassinated.
Josefa Iloilo
President Josefa Iloilo suspends the nation's Constitution, dismisses all judges
Thailand state of emergency in Bangkok
Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva again declares a state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas ( September 2008 )
Pakistan
Gunmen, near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan fire on a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team.
Madagascar coup d'état
A coup d'état in Madagascar overthrows the President Marc Ravalomanana.
South America Power Failure
The country of Paraguay is left with no power for a few hours and 60 million in Brazil also suffer power outage for up to 6 hours.
Greenland
Greenland the least densely populated country in the world ( 836,109 sq miles ) population less than 60,000 an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, gains control over its law enforcement, judicial affairs, and natural resources
NATO
Albania and Croatia join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Iran
Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American journalist, is sentenced to eight years in prison for espionage by an Iranian court
Iran sustained protests
Following the reelection of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on June 13th , there are a series of sustained protests which are stopped by Iranian Forces.
North Korea launches the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 satellite,
North Korea launches the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 satellite, Later in the year announces it had conducted a second successful nuclear test in the province of North Hamgyong.
North Korea
Following former U.S. President Bill Clinton meeting with with Kim Jong-il in North Korea two American journalists, who had been arrested and imprisoned for illegal entry earlier in the year receives pardons.
Scotland Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi
The convicted terrorist Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi is freed on compassionate grounds by the Scottish government.
Samoa and American Samoa tsunami
A tsunami triggered by An 8.3-magnitude earthquake near the Samoan Islands destroys communities and harbors in Samoa and American Samoa leaving nearly 200 deaths
Indonesia 7.6-magnitude earthquake
A 7.6-magnitude earthquake strikes 28 miles west-northwest of Padang, Sumatra killing over 1,000 in Indonesia
Treaty of Lisbon
The Treaty of Lisbon comes into force in European Union (EU) member states
US Airways Flight 1549
US Airways Flight 1549 after being struck by a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff Piloted by Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger makes a successful Crash landing In the Hudson River
An American and Russian satellites collide over Siberia, creating a number of Conspiracy theories. But the facts are as the number of satellites increase above the earth the chances of Space collisions increases.
NASA launches the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter/LCROSS probes to the Moon to search for water ice near the Moon's south pole. In November NASA announces they found 'significant' ammounts of water on moon
The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting up to 6 minutes and 38.8 seconds, occurs over parts of Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
Mobile Phone technology continues to grow with increased use of 3G networks and improvemnents in the Operating Systems that drives most moblile phones today.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator resumes operations in February 2010
Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper
China Chairman of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao
France President Nicolas Sarkozy
Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel
India Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Japan Prime Minister Taro Aso / Yukio Hatoyama
Mexico President Felipe Calderón
Russia / Soviet Union
General Secretary of the CPSU Dmitry MedvedevSouth Africa State President Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe / Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
United States President George W. Bush / Barack Obama
United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown