January 13 – Ethiopian military forces begin pulling out of Somalia, where they have tried to maintain order for nearly two years.
January 17 – Israel announces a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza War. It comes into effect the following day, on which Hamas declares a ceasefire of its own.
January 21 – Israel completes its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Intermittent air strikes by both sides of the preceding war continue in the weeks to follow.
February 7 – The deadliest bushfires in Australian history begin; they kill 173, injure 500 more, and leave 7,500 homeless. The fires come after Melbourne records the highest-ever temperature (46.4°C, 115°F) of any capital city in Australia. The majority of the fires are ignited by either fallen or clashing power lines or deliberately lit.
February 8 – The Taliban releases a video of Polish geologist Piotr Stańczak, whom they had abducted a few months earlier, being beheaded. It is the first killing of a Western hostage in Pakistan since American journalist Daniel Pearl was executed in 2002.
April 18 – Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-Americanjournalist, is sentenced to eight years in prison for espionage by an Iranian court. She is released the following month, after an appeals court reduces and suspends her sentence.
April 29 – Amidst Russia's effort to improve relations with NATO and with the West in general, NATO expels two Russian diplomats from NATO headquarters in Brussels over a spy scandal in Estonia. Russia's Foreign Ministry criticises the expulsions.
June 20 – The death of Neda Agha-Soltan, an Iranian student shot during a protest, is captured on what soon becomes a viral video that helps to turn Neda into an international symbol of the civil unrest following the presidential election.
June 21 – As a step toward total independence from the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland assumes control over its law enforcement, judicial affairs, and natural resources. Greenlandic becomes the official language.
June 25 – The death of American entertainer Michael Jackson triggers an outpouring of worldwide grief. Online, reactions to the event cripple several major websites and services, as the abundance of people accessing the web addresses pushes internet traffic to potentially unprecedented and historic levels.
November 13 – Having analyzed the data from the LCROSS lunar impact, NASA announces that it has found a "significant" quantity of water in the Moon'sCabeus crater.
Half-Life (1998) – although the date is never explicitly referenced, 2009 is the last year that Half-Life could be set in, as calendars in the game display '200X.'
Family Matters: In the 1994 episode "Father of the Bride", Carl Winslow sleeps for fifteen years and wakes up in the year 2009 where main characters Steve Urkel and Laura Winslow are married with four children.
Batman Beyond (1999 – 2001): In the episode "Out of the Past," it is revealed that sometime in 2009, Batman fought Ra's al Ghul in an incident they referred to as "The Near-Apocalypse of 09." An incident that Ra's has started. The event is also referenced again in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Epilogue"
Blue Gender (1999–2000): A vicious new disease breaks out forcing Yuji Kaido and other infected humans into cryogenic stasis until a cure can be found.
Dark Angel (2000–2002): Max Guevara and her "brothers and sisters" escape from Manticore in 2009. America is devastated by an electromagnetic pulse later in the same year.
Ultraman Nexus (2004–2005) is set in 2009, acting as a sequel to the 2004 film Ultraman: The Next which was set in its production year.
The West Wing ("The Ticket," 2005): Former President Jed Bartlet opens his presidential library in New Hampshire and chats with some of his former staffers.
Series 4 (2008) episodes Partners In Crime, The Sontaran Strategem/The Poison Sky and The Stolen Earth/Journey's End; and Turn Left, (which is set in a parallel universe).
^(October 27, 2006)"News Release – IAU0606: The International Astronomical Union announces the International Year of Astronomy 2009". International Astronomical Union. October 27, 2006. http://iau.org/public_press/news/release/iau0606/. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
^"The International Year of Astronomy 2009". IYA2009. http://astronomy2009.org/. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
^ Topolánek asks Barroso for help in visa dispute Prague Daily Monitor
^ Slovakia adopts the euro on January 1 Times Online
^(2009-01-03)"Israeli Troops Launch Attack on Gaza". New York Times. 2009-01-03. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/world/middleeast/04mideast.html?_r=2&hp. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
^"Europeans shiver as Russia cuts gas shipments". http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28515983/.
^(2009-01-13)"Somali joy as Ethiopians withdraw". News article (BBC News): pp. 2. 2009-01-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7825626.stm. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
^(January 17, 2009)"Israel declares ceasefire in Gaza". BBC. January 17, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7835794.stm. Retrieved January 17, 2009.
^Ruane, Michael (2009-01-20). "D.C.'s Inauguration Head Count: 1.8 Million". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012103884.html. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
^ Middle East | Last Israeli troops 'leave Gaza'. BBC News (2009-01-21). Retrieved on 2009-07-07.
^ At least six Gaza rockets hit southern Israel – Haaretz – Israel News. Haaretz. Retrieved on 2009-07-07.
^ Kassam rocket strikes Eshkol Region|Israel|Jerusalem Post. Jpost.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-07.
^(February 28, 2009)"'Five rockets' fired into Israel". BBC. February 28, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7916555.stm. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
^ Congo and Rwanda forces arrest rebel leader Laurent Nkunda The Guardian
^ Congo Warlord Pleads Not Guilty at ICC’s First Trial (Update1). Bloomberg.com (2009-01-26). Retrieved on 2009-07-07.
^ Icelandic PM becomes world's first leader to step down over banking system crisis | World news. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2009-07-07.
^(2009-02-01)"Orthodox Church enthrones leader". BBC. 2009-02-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7863385.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
^(1 February 2009)"First gay PM for Iceland cabinet". BBC News. 1 February 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7863923.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
^ Video of Beheading of Pole Held by Taliban Is Real, Official Says
^ Crash of US, Russian Satellites a Threat in Space – ABC News. Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-07.
^(2009-02-11)"Tsvangirai sworn in Zimbabwe PM". BBC News. BBC. 2009-02-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7882762.stm. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
^ Sudan, Darfur Rebel Group Sign Peace Framework – ABC News. Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-07.
^(2009-02-26)"Ex-Serbian president acquitted of Kosovo war crimes". Reed Stevenson. Reuters. 2009-02-26. http://uk.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUKLQ706014._CH_.2420. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
^ President of Guinea-Bissau assassinated – CNN.com. Edition.cnn.com (2009-03-02). Retrieved on 2009-07-07.
^(3 March 2009)"Gunmen shoot Sri Lanka cricketers". BBC News. 3 March 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7920260.stm. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
^(4 March 2009)"Reuters.com". Reuters. 4 March 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUS123622821727. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
^(17 March 2009)"Madagascar president forced out". BBC News. 17 March 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7948196.stm. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
^(April 5, 2009)"U.N. Security Council to meet on N. Korea launch". CNN. April 5, 2009. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/04/05/nkorea.worldreax/?iref=mpstoryview. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
^(2009-04-10)"Fijian president Ratu Josefa Iloilo abolishes constitution, sacks judiciary and assumes power". Australian Associated Press (The Australian). 2009-04-10. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25316239-601,00.html. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
^(12 April 2009)"AP Top News at 4:00 a.m. EDT". Associated Press. 12 April 2009. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8-DEMtAE9q4i4ySQ0eV_qZefmRQD97GQ08G0. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
^(12 April 2009)"AP Top News at 4:00 a.m. EDT". BBC News. 12 April 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7995606.stm. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
^(April 18, 2009)"Iran sentences U.S. journalist to 8 years". CNN. April 18, 2009. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/18/iran.us.journalist/index.html?iref=newssearch. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
^(April 21, 2009)"U.N. Launches Library Of World's Knowledge". The Washington Post Company. April 21, 2009. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/20/AR2009042001324.html?hpid=sec-world. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
^(2009-04-25)"Statement by WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan 25 April 2009 — Swine influenza". World Health Organization. 2009-04-25. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_20090425/en/index.html. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
^(April 26, 2009)"Canadian Governments Confirm Six Cases of Swine Flu (Update2)". Bloomberg L.P.. April 26, 2009. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=awMeiF_SLkGs&refer=home. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
^(April 30, 2009)"NATO expels two Russians over Estonia spy scandal". Reuters. April 30, 2009. http://uk.reuters.com/article/gc07/idUKTRE53T3T520090430. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
^C. Bryson Hull and Ranga Sirilal. "Sri Lanka’s long war reaches end, Tigers defeated". Archived from the original on 2009-06-11. http://www.webcitation.org/5hRWbsWHv. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
^(2009-05-23)"Ex-S Korea leader 'kills himself'". BBC News. 2009-05-23. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8064799.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
^(May 25, 2009)"UN Security Council Condemns North Korea Nuclear Test (Update1)". Bloomberg. May 25, 2009. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601089&sid=aOoNPErMuqyg. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
^(2009-06-11)"World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic". World Health Organization. 2009-06-11. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/en/index.html. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
^ Hinckley, David and Richard Huff. "Michael Jackson's memorial 2nd most-watched funeral ever, after Princess Di, say Nielsen ratings". New York Daily News, 8 July, 2009.
^ Helgason, Gudjon and Meera Selva. "Iceland's parliament votes to join EU". Yahoo! News, 16 July, 2009.
^(August 3 2009)"Evo inicia la implementación de la autonomía indígena con fiesta". La Razón. August 3 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-09-05. http://www.webcitation.org/5jZkD0Osr. Retrieved September 1 2009.(Spanish)
^(August 4 2009)"Clinton leaves North Korea with pardoned journalists". Reuters. August 4 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0418415720090804. Retrieved August 5 2009.
^(August 16, 2009)"Taiwan president under fire for go it alone handling of typhoon accepts US aid". Telegraph. August 16, 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/taiwan/6038112/Taiwan-president-under-fire-for-go-it-alone-handling-of-typhoon-accepts-US-aid.html. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
^"Lockerbie bomber's possible release offers new undercurrent to Libya's revolution celebration". KTLA. http://www.ktla.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-af-libya-double-celebration,0,3923469.story. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
^(3 October 2009)"67% vote Yes to Lisbon Treaty". RTÉ News. 3 October 2009. http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1003/eulisbon1.html. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
^(3 October 2009)"Results received at the Central Count Centre for the Referendum on Treaty of Lisbon 2009". 3 October 2009. http://www.referendum.ie/referendum/current/index.asp?ballotid=79. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
^(4 October, 2009)"Irish Ayes on Lisbon Treaty Have Europe Smiling". TIME. 4 October, 2009. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1927731,00.html. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
^(8 July 2009)"Lisbon II referendum set for 2 October". RTÉ News. 8 July 2009. http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0708/eulisbon.html. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
^(8 July 2009)"Irish treaty vote set for October". BBC News. 8 July 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8140269.stm. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
^(2009-10-19)"European scientists find trawl of 32 new planets". Reuters. 2009-10-19. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20091019/tsc-oukoe-uk-space-planets-1df2b7e.html. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
^"Tony Blair Has Dropped Out Of The Race To Be EU President As Herman Van Rompuy Gets The Nod - World News - Sky News". http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Tony-Blair-Has-Dropped-Out-Of-The-Race-To-Be-EU-President-As-Herman-Van-Rompuy-Gets-The-Nod/Article/200911315457404?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15457404_Tony_Blair_Has_Dropped_Out_Of_The_Race_To_Be_EU_President_As_Herman_Van_Rompuy_Gets_The_Nod. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
^(2009-11-20)"Webcast: One week to go until crucial summit – Swedish Presidency of the European Union". 2009-11-20. http://www.se2009.eu/en/meetings_news/2009/11/12/webcast_one_week_to_go_until_crucial_summit. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
^ The Treaty of Lisbon will enter into force on 1 December 2009, and on that date the six month rotating presidency of the European Council, currently held by Sweden, will cease to exist (as the provision for its existence will have been erased from the Treaties in force) and the new office of President of the European Council will come into being. The appointment of Herman van Rompuy as President of the European Council will be formalized on the date of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, and will be effective immediately. Also, article 6 of the Protocol on transitional provisions annexed to the Treaty of Lisbon provides that, on the date of the entry into force of the Treaty, the terms of office of the current High Representative for the common foreign and security policy and of the Deputy Secretary General of the Council shall cease, and the Council shall then elect a Secretary General (the current High Representative combines the role of Secretary General of the Council, but that will no longer be the case under the Lisbon Treaty). http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/08/st06/st06655.en08.pdf
^NASA (2009-11-13). "NASA's LCROSS Impacts Confirm Water in Lunar Crater". Press release. Archived from the original on 2009-11-21. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhome%2Fhqnews%2F2009%2Fnov%2FHQ_09-265_LCROSS_Confirms_Water.html&date=2009-11-21. Retrieved 2009-11-21. "Preliminary data from NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, indicates the mission successfully uncovered water in a permanently shadowed lunar crater."
^(2009-11-13)"NASA finds 'significant' water on moon". CNN. 2009-11-13. http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/11/13/water.moon.nasa/index.html. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
^Overbye, Dennis (2009-11-20). "Proton Beams Are on Track at Collider". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/science/21collider.html. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
^(2008-09-19)"Hadron Collider forced to halt". BBC News Online. 2008-09-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7626256.stm. Retrieved 2009-11-21.