2009

Events in 2009 83

• 1896 – 2009 Henry Allingham (1896-2009) Died 18 July 2009, aged 113 Allingham was a British veteran of the First World War, one of the last surviving founding members of the Royal Air Force, and for a time the world's oldest verified living man. He became a prominent advocate for remembering the war's veterans in his later years. He was awarded France's Legion of Honour.
• 1898 – 2009 Harry Patch (1898-2009) Died 25 July 2009, aged 111 Patch was the last surviving combat soldier of the First World War to have served in the trenches, having fought at the Battle of Passchendaele. He rarely spoke publicly about the war until his nineties, later becoming a prominent voice for peace. His death was marked by a memorial service at Wells Cathedral.
• 1908 – 2009 Claude Levi-Strauss (1908-2009) Died 30 October 2009, aged 100 Levi-Strauss was a French anthropologist regarded as the founder of structural anthropology, whose work on kinship and myth reshaped the social sciences. His books, including Tristes Tropiques and The Savage Mind, influenced fields far beyond anthropology. He was elected to the Academie francaise in 1973.
• 1912 – 2009 Karl Malden (1912-2009) Died 1 July 2009, aged 97 Malden was an American actor who won an Academy Award for A Streetcar Named Desire and later starred in the television series The Streets of San Francisco. He also served for decades as a spokesman for American Express. His film career spanned more than five decades.
• 1914 – 2009 Norman Borlaug (1914-2009) Died 12 September 2009, aged 95 Borlaug was an American agronomist whose high-yield wheat varieties sparked the Green Revolution, credited with saving hundreds of millions of people from famine across Asia and Latin America. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for this work. He continued research and advocacy for global food security into his final years.
• 1915 – 2009 Les Paul (1915-2009) Died 13 August 2009, aged 94 Paul was an American guitarist and inventor whose innovations in solid-body electric guitars and multitrack recording transformed popular music. The Gibson Les Paul guitar, named for him, became one of the most iconic instruments in rock music. He continued performing weekly club shows into his nineties.
• 1916 – 2009 Robert McNamara (1916-2009) Died 6 July 2009, aged 93 McNamara served as US Secretary of Defense under presidents Kennedy and Johnson, overseeing the escalation of the Vietnam War before later becoming president of the World Bank. He later expressed regret over his role in the war in memoirs and the documentary The Fog of War. He remains one of the most consequential and controversial American officials of the Cold War era.
• 1916 – 2009 Walter Cronkite (1916-2009) Died 17 July 2009, aged 92 Cronkite anchored the CBS Evening News for nineteen years and was often called "the most trusted man in America." He covered major events including the Kennedy assassination, the Apollo moon landings and the Vietnam War. His measured reporting style shaped American television journalism for a generation.
• 1917 – 2009 Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) Died 16 January 2009, aged 91 Wyeth was one of the best-known American painters of the twentieth century, celebrated for realist works such as Christina's World. He worked primarily in tempera and watercolor, depicting rural scenes near his homes in Pennsylvania and Maine. His work remained widely popular despite critical debate over his realist style.
• 1918 – 2009 Oral Roberts (1918-2009) Died 15 December 2009, aged 91 Roberts was an American televangelist and faith healer who pioneered televised religious broadcasting and founded Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma. His ministry was among the largest and most influential in American evangelicalism during the twentieth century. He remained active in the movement he built until his death.
• 1918 – 2009 Paul Harvey (1918-2009) Died 28 February 2009, aged 90 Harvey was an American radio broadcaster whose news and commentary program was syndicated on thousands of stations for decades. His segment "The Rest of the Story" became one of the most recognized voices in American radio. He continued broadcasting into his nineties.
• 1919 – 2009 Jennifer Jones (1919-2009) American actress, Oscar winner for The Song of Bernadette, and wife of David O. Selznick.
• 1920 – 2009 Ricardo Montalban (1920-2009) Died 14 January 2009, aged 88 Montalban was a Mexican-American actor best known for playing Mr. Roarke on the television series Fantasy Island and Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. He worked in Hollywood for over six decades. He also had a long career as an advocate for Latino representation in film.
• 1921 – 2009 Eunice Kennedy Shriver (1921-2009) Died 11 August 2009, aged 88 Shriver was an American philanthropist and member of the Kennedy family who founded the Special Olympics in 1968. Her advocacy work greatly expanded opportunities and public attention for people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work.
• 1922 – 2009 Bea Arthur (1922-2009) Died 25 April 2009, aged 86 Arthur was an American actress best known for starring roles in the television sitcoms Maude and The Golden Girls, winning Emmy Awards for both. Her deep voice and comic timing made her one of television's most recognizable performers. She also had an extensive career on the Broadway stage.
• 1923 – 2009 Ed McMahon (1923-2009) Died 23 June 2009, aged 86 McMahon was an American broadcaster best known as Johnny Carson's longtime sidekick and announcer on The Tonight Show for three decades. He also hosted Star Search and appeared in numerous commercials and specials. His catchphrase introductions became a fixture of American late-night television.
• 1930 – 2009 Frank McCourt (1930-2009) Died 19 July 2009, aged 78 McCourt was an Irish-American author who won the Pulitzer Prize for his memoir Angela's Ashes, recounting his impoverished childhood in Limerick, Ireland. The book became an international bestseller and was adapted into a film. He wrote two further memoirs later in his career.
• 1930 – 2009 J.G. Ballard (1930-2009) Died 19 April 2009, aged 78 Ballard was a British author known for novels including Empire of the Sun, drawn from his childhood internment in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, and for dystopian science fiction such as Crash. His work influenced a wide range of writers and filmmakers. Empire of the Sun was adapted into a Steven Spielberg film in 1987.
• 1932 – 2009 Ted Kennedy (1932-2009) Died 25 August 2009, aged 77 Kennedy represented Massachusetts in the US Senate for nearly 47 years, becoming one of the chamber's most influential legislators on healthcare and civil rights. He was the youngest brother of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. His death came as Congress debated major healthcare reform he had long championed.
• 1932 – 2009 John Updike (1932-2009) Died 27 January 2009, aged 76 Updike was an American novelist, poet and critic best known for his Rabbit series of novels, which won him two Pulitzer Prizes. He published prolifically across fiction, poetry and criticism for over five decades. He was widely regarded as one of the leading American writers of his generation.
• 1933 – 2009 Corazon Aquino (1933-2009) Died 1 August 2009, aged 76 Aquino served as President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992, coming to power after the People Power Revolution that ended Ferdinand Marcos's rule. She was the first female president of the Philippines and a symbol of the country's return to democracy. Her death prompted an outpouring of national mourning.
• 1936 – 2009 Mary Travers (1936-2009) Died 16 September 2009, aged 72 Travers was an American singer and the female voice of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, known for hits including "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and their versions of Bob Dylan songs. The group was closely associated with the 1960s folk revival and civil rights movement. She continued to perform and record with the group for decades.
• 1936 – 2009 David Carradine (1936-2009) Died 3 June 2009, aged 72 Carradine was an American actor best known for the 1970s television series Kung Fu and for his role as Bill in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films. He came from a prominent acting family and appeared in dozens of films over his career. He was found dead in a hotel room in Bangkok.
• 1947 – 2009 Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009) Died 25 June 2009, aged 62 Fawcett was an American actress who rose to fame on the television series Charlie's Angels and whose 1976 red swimsuit poster became one of the best-selling posters in history. She later earned critical acclaim for dramatic roles including The Burning Bed. Her death from cancer came the same day as Michael Jackson's.
• 1947 – 2009 Dave Arneson (1947-2009) Died 7 April 2009, aged 61 Arneson co-created the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Gary Gygax, helping to found the modern role-playing game industry. His early campaign designs introduced concepts still used across the hobby. He later worked on numerous other game projects.
• 1950 – 2009 John Hughes (1950-2009) Died 6 August 2009, aged 59 Hughes was an American filmmaker who wrote and directed a series of defining 1980s teen comedies including The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Sixteen Candles, and later wrote Home Alone. His films shaped the era's popular image of American adolescence. He largely withdrew from public life in his later career.
• 1952 – 2009 Patrick Swayze (1952-2009) Died 14 September 2009, aged 57 Swayze was an American actor who starred in the films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, both major box-office successes of the 1980s and 1990s. He continued to work in film and television after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008. His death drew tributes from around the world.
• 1960 – 2009 Third most successful UK chart act Behind Elvis & Cliff only With 69 UK chart singles between 1959 and the 2000s — 35 as The Shadows and 34 as Cliff Richard & The Shadows — the band became the third most successful act in UK Singles Chart history, behind only Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard.
• 1963 – 2009 Natasha Richardson (1963-2009) Died 18 March 2009, aged 45 Richardson was a British actress and member of the Redgrave acting family, known for films including Nell and the Broadway revival of Cabaret, for which she won a Tony Award. She died from injuries sustained in a skiing accident in Quebec. Her death prompted widespread attention to the risks of head injuries in skiing.
• 1977 – 2009 Robert Enke (1977-2009) Died 10 November 2009, aged 32 Enke was the goalkeeper for the German national football team and Bundesliga club Hannover 96 when he died by suicide after a long struggle with depression, which he had kept largely hidden. His death prompted widespread discussion of mental health in professional sport. A foundation in his name continues to fund depression research.
• 1977 – 2009 Brittany Murphy (1977-2009) Died 20 December 2009, aged 32 Murphy was an American actress known for roles in films including Clueless, 8 Mile and Girl, Interrupted. Her sudden death from pneumonia complicated by drug intoxication at age 32 drew widespread media attention. Her husband died of similar causes in the same house five months later.
• 1981 – 2009 Jade Goody (1981-2009) Died 22 March 2009, aged 27 Goody rose to fame as a contestant on the British reality show Big Brother and became one of the country's best-known reality television personalities. She continued to document her life publicly after being diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer, raising awareness of the disease. Her death drew major national media coverage in Britain.
• 1982 – 2009 Neda Agha-Soltan (1982-2009) Died 20 June 2009, aged 26 Agha-Soltan was an Iranian woman shot and killed during protests in Tehran against the disputed 2009 presidential election. Video of her death, filmed by bystanders, spread worldwide online and made her a symbol of the Green Movement protests. Her death drew international condemnation of the Iranian government's crackdown.
• 2001 – 2009 G.W. Bush presidency 43rd President — 2001 to 2009 George W. Bush served as the 43rd President from January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009. He led the War on Terror following 9/11, invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, and responded to Hurricane Katrina.
• 2008 – 2009 50th anniversary tour with Cliff Richard Europe, Australia, NZ, South Africa To mark fifty years since Cliff Richard and the Shadows first performed together, the band toured Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa — a global celebration of one of British music's longest-running partnerships.
• 2009 Blockchain Bitcoin Genesis The invention of a decentralized ledger technology for secure data.
• 2009 – present Justin Bieber The Teen Idol The first true megastar of the YouTube era; maintained global dominance for over a decade.
• 2009 – present Rimac Automobili Croatian electric hypercar company Rimac became internationally recognized for advanced electric hypercars and battery technologies. The company later partnered with and invested in several major global automotive brands.
• 2009 The Hurt Locker Best Picture — 82nd Academy Awards Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq War film about a bomb disposal team. Bigelow became the first woman to win Best Director.
• 2009 – 2010 Who's My Bitch -- and the group disbands The Paradiso Girls follow "Patron Tequila" with the single "Who's My Bitch," but the group is dropped by Interscope Records and disbands in 2010 before achieving the major commercial breakthrough that their debut promised. The dissolution is a setback but not an end: Bennett remains close to Robin Antin and continues working in the Los Angeles music industry. Her relationship with Antin survives the group's collapse and will prove crucial to her next chapter.
• 2009 Uber founded Ride-sharing disrupts transport Uber was founded in San Francisco in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp. It grew to operate in over 70 countries, fundamentally disrupting the taxi industry worldwide.
• 2009 US Airways Flight 1549 lands on Hudson River Captain Sullenberger ditches airliner after bird strike An Airbus A320 struck a flock of geese shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport and lost both engines. Captain Chesley Sullenberger glided the plane to a landing on the Hudson River, and all 155 people aboard survived. The incident became known as the Miracle on the Hudson.
• 2009 Gaza War ends Israel and Hamas declare separate ceasefires Israel unilaterally declared a ceasefire on 18 January 2009, ending its three-week military offensive in the Gaza Strip known as Operation Cast Lead. Hamas announced its own ceasefire days later, and Israeli forces completed their withdrawal by 21 January. The conflict killed over a thousand Palestinians and thirteen Israelis.
• 2009 Obama inaugurated 44th US President takes office Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009, watched by a crowd of nearly 2 million on the National Mall.
• 2009 – 2017 Obama presidency 44th President — 2009 to 2017 Barack Obama served as the 44th President from January 20, 2009 to January 20, 2017. He passed the Affordable Care Act, ordered the raid killing Osama bin Laden, and signed the Paris Climate Agreement.
• 2009 Zimbabwe forms unity government Mugabe and Tsvangirai share power after disputed election Robert Mugabe was sworn in alongside opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister, forming a power-sharing government after months of political crisis and violence following the 2008 election. The agreement was brokered by regional mediators to end Zimbabwe's economic collapse. Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change joined Mugabe's ZANU-PF in cabinet.
• 2009 Slumdog Millionaire wins Best Picture British film set in Mumbai sweeps the Academy Awards Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director at the 81st ceremony in Los Angeles. The film, shot largely in Mumbai's slums, also won Best Original Score and Best Song for "Jai Ho". It became a global box-office success after a modest budget.
• 2009 Kepler space telescope launched Discovers thousands of exoplanets NASA's Kepler space telescope launched on March 6, 2009, tasked with finding Earth-like planets around other stars. It discovered over 2,600 confirmed exoplanets before retiring in 2018, transforming our understanding of planetary systems.
• 2009 G20 London Summit World leaders agree $1.1 trillion crisis response Leaders of the G20 nations met in London to coordinate a response to the global financial crisis, pledging over a trillion dollars in support for the IMF and world trade. The summit produced agreements on financial regulation and tax havens. Host Gordon Brown chaired the meeting amid large anti-capitalist protests.
• 2009 L'Aquila earthquake strikes central Italy Magnitude 6.3 quake kills over 300 people An earthquake struck the Abruzzo region of central Italy in the early hours of 6 April 2009, devastating the city of L'Aquila. More than 300 people were killed and tens of thousands were left homeless. The disaster later led to a controversial manslaughter trial of scientists over risk communication.
• 2009 Somali pirates hijack the Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips taken hostage and later rescued Somali pirates seized the US-flagged cargo ship Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia, taking Captain Richard Phillips hostage in a lifeboat after the crew retook the vessel. US Navy SEAL snipers killed three of the pirates and freed Phillips on 12 April 2009. The incident drew international attention to Somali piracy.
• 2009 Susan Boyle becomes global singing sensation Unknown Scottish contestant stuns Britain's Got Talent Susan Boyle, a 48-year-old unemployed woman from Scotland, performed "I Dreamed a Dream" on the television talent show Britain's Got Talent. Video of her audition was viewed by hundreds of millions worldwide within days, turning her into an overnight international celebrity. She went on to finish as runner-up in the competition.
• 2009 India re-elects Congress-led coalition Manmohan Singh returns as prime minister India's general election produced a stronger mandate for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, with Manmohan Singh continuing as prime minister for a second term. Over 400 million voters took part in the multi-phase election. The result was seen as a rejection of identity-based regional parties in favor of national coalitions.
• 2009 2009 World Snooker Championship John Higgins Title 3 Winner: John Higgins; Runner-up: Shaun Murphy. Score: 18–9.
• 2009 Chrysler files for bankruptcy Automaker restructures under US government oversight Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a US government-backed restructuring during the financial crisis. The company formed an alliance with Fiat as part of its reorganization. It emerged from bankruptcy weeks later with government and union stakes in the new company.
• 2009 Star Trek (2009) — J.J. Abrams reboot J.J. Abrams relaunches the franchise with an alternate "Kelvin Timeline" created by time travel, allowing a new cast to play the original characters — Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Zoe Saldaña as Uhura. Spectacular action, controversial among purists for its departure from Roddenberry's ethos, enormously commercially successful. Budget: $150 million. Gross: $386 million.
• 2009 Space Shuttle Atlantis services the Hubble Space Telescope Final shuttle mission to upgrade the observatory Space Shuttle Atlantis flew the fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, installing new instruments and repairing others during five spacewalks. The upgrades extended Hubble's operational life by years and improved its imaging capability significantly. It was the last time astronauts visited the telescope.
• 2009 Patron Tequila -- the debut single The Paradiso Girls' debut single "Patron Tequila," featuring Lil Jon and Eve, is released on 12 May 2009 via Interscope Records. The track peaks at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and introduces the group to a mainstream US audience. The hip-hop-inflected club track suits the group's multinational, Pussycat Dolls-influenced sound. The single's moderate success keeps the group in the industry conversation and leads to a follow-up.
• 2009 Sri Lankan Civil War ends Government forces defeat the Tamil Tigers The Sri Lankan military declared victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), killing rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and ending a 26-year civil war. The final months of fighting caused heavy civilian casualties in the north of the island. The war's end left lasting questions over wartime conduct on both sides.
• 2009 North Korea conducts second nuclear test Underground detonation draws UN condemnation North Korea tested a nuclear device underground at its Punggye-ri site, its second such test after 2006. The UN Security Council responded with tightened sanctions in Resolution 1874. The test heightened tensions with South Korea, Japan and the United States.
• 2009 French Open 2009 Men: Roger Federer · Women: Svetlana Kuznetsova Federer won his only French Open after Nadal lost in the fourth round. Federer completed the career Grand Slam.
• 2009 Air France Flight 447 crashes into the Atlantic All 228 aboard killed on flight from Rio to Paris Air France Flight 447, an Airbus A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean after its pitot tubes iced over and the crew lost control following an aerodynamic stall. All 228 people on board were killed. Wreckage and flight recorders were not recovered until nearly two years later.
• 2009 General Motors files for bankruptcy Automaker restructures with US government backing General Motors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, becoming one of the largest industrial bankruptcies in US history. The US government provided billions of dollars in financing and took a majority ownership stake in the restructured company. GM emerged from bankruptcy protection about six weeks later.
• 2009 World Health Organization declares H1N1 pandemic First global flu pandemic declaration in 41 years The World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert to the highest level after the H1N1 swine flu virus spread across multiple continents. The declaration was the first of its kind since 1968. The virus ultimately proved less deadly than initially feared but prompted vaccination campaigns worldwide.
• 2009 Iran's Green Movement protests erupt Mass demonstrations follow disputed presidential election Millions of Iranians protested after incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared winner of a presidential election that opposition supporters of Mir-Hossein Mousavi said was rigged. Security forces cracked down harshly, killing dozens of protesters over the following months. The unrest became known as the Green Movement.
• 2009 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen #2 film of 2009 — $836m worldwide Directed by Michael Bay. Sam Witwicky and the Autobots battle the Decepticons who are searching for an ancient energy source.
• 2009 Michael Jackson dies King of Pop, age 50 Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, aged 50, from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication administered by his personal physician. His death triggered an outpouring of grief worldwide.
• 2009 Honduran military ousts President Zelaya Coup plunges Honduras into political crisis Honduran soldiers removed President Manuel Zelaya from office and flew him into exile after a dispute over a proposed constitutional referendum. Congress installed Roberto Micheletti as interim president, a move most of the international community refused to recognize. The crisis triggered months of unrest and diplomatic isolation.
• 2009 Bernie Madoff sentenced to 150 years in prison Wall Street financier ran history's largest Ponzi scheme Bernard Madoff was sentenced in a New York federal court to the maximum 150 years in prison for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of tens of billions of dollars over decades. The fraud collapsed in late 2008 during the financial crisis. Thousands of individuals, charities and funds lost their savings.
• 2009 US combat troops withdraw from Iraqi cities Handover marks step toward full US withdrawal American combat forces withdrew from Iraqi towns and cities under the terms of a bilateral security agreement, handing responsibility for urban security to Iraqi forces. Iraqis celebrated the milestone as National Sovereignty Day. The withdrawal was a step toward the full US troop pullout completed in 2011.
• 2009 Wimbledon 2009 Men: Roger Federer · Women: Serena Williams Federer beat Roddick 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14 in an epic final. His 8th Wimbledon and record 15th Grand Slam at the time.
• 2009 Suicide bombers strike Jakarta hotels Twin attacks on Marriott and Ritz-Carlton kill nine Suicide bombers linked to Jemaah Islamiyah attacked the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta within minutes of each other, killing seven victims plus the two bombers. Dozens more were injured. The attack was Indonesia's first major terrorist bombing since 2005.
• 2009 US Open 2009 Men: Juan Martín del Potro · Women: Kim Clijsters Del Potro upset Federer in five sets. Clijsters came out of retirement to win.
• 2009 "Reunited" album First studio album with Cliff in 40 years Released "Reunited – Cliff Richard and The Shadows" on 21 September 2009 — celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first recordings together and marking their first studio collaboration in forty years, including the single "Singing the Blues".
• 2009 Guinea stadium massacre Security forces kill opposition protesters in Conakry Guinean security forces opened fire on an opposition rally at a stadium in the capital Conakry, killing more than 150 people and committing widespread sexual violence against women. The massacre was ordered under the military junta of Moussa Dadis Camara. An assassination attempt against Camara followed weeks later.
• 2009 Star Trek: The Next Generation remastered in HD CBS releases TNG remastered in high definition, with original film elements digitally restored and CGI space effects recreated. The project takes six years and is one of the most extensive television restoration projects in history.
• 2009 Obama awarded Nobel Peace Prize Prize cited efforts to strengthen international diplomacy The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded US President Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize less than a year into his term, citing his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation. The choice proved controversial given his short time in office. Obama accepted the award in Oslo that December.
• 2009 Fort Hood shooting Army psychiatrist kills thirteen at Texas base US Army Major Nidal Hasan opened fire at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, killing thirteen people and wounding more than thirty others. Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, was later convicted and sentenced to death. It was the deadliest shooting on a US military base in history.
• 2009 Large Hadron Collider restarts World's largest particle accelerator resumes after repairs CERN's Large Hadron Collider resumed operations more than a year after a helium leak caused extensive damage shortly after its 2008 launch. Repairs and safety upgrades allowed beams to circulate again at the Geneva facility. The collider would go on to enable the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012.
• 2009 The Twilight Saga: New Moon #4 film of 2009 — $710m worldwide Directed by Chris Weitz. Bella Swan is devastated by her vampire love's departure and finds solace in a friendship with Jacob Black.
• 2009 Treaty of Lisbon enters into force EU reform treaty creates new presidency and voting rules The Treaty of Lisbon took effect across the European Union after years of ratification delays, amending the bloc's governing treaties. It created the post of President of the European Council and streamlined qualified-majority voting. Herman Van Rompuy became the first holder of the new presidency.
• 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Conference UN summit ends with non-binding accord World leaders gathered in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP15) seeking a binding successor to the Kyoto Protocol. Negotiations ended instead with the non-binding Copenhagen Accord, brokered in part by the United States, China, India, Brazil and South Africa. Many participants criticized the outcome as a failure to reach a legally binding deal.
• 2009 Avatar #1 film of 2009 — $2.92bn worldwide Directed by James Cameron, starring Sam Worthington. A paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the indigenous Na'vi people. Highest-grossing film ever at the time.