Here are some of the notable events and highlights from 2009:

• Barack Obama inaugurated as 44th President of the United States
• Global financial crisis continues, leading to bailout of major banks
• H1N1 Influenza outbreak, also known as Swine Flu, spreads globally
• Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest on June 25th
• Protests in Iran following disputed presidential election results
• Air France Flight 447 crashes into Atlantic Ocean, killing all 228 passengers
• Discovery of Kepler-10b, first confirmed exoplanet in a habitable zone
• Launch of the Mars Rover, Curiosity, by NASA
• Germany holds federal election, with Angela Merkel reelected as chancellor
• Release of the movie Avatar by James Cameron, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time.