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1 Operation Seabight A shipment of cocaine, worth 750 million, is seized off the coast of Ireland in the largest such seizure in the country's history. 9 November     2008
2 Irish pork crisis of 2008 Ireland issues an international recall of its pork products following the discovery of contaminated pig feed. 6 December     2008
3 2009 Gabonese helicopter crash Seven French soldiers are killed and one is reported missing following a helicopter crash off the Gabonese coast. 17 January     Jan. 2009
4 Anglo Irish Bank hidden loans controversy The President of Ireland Mary McAleese signs emergency legislation confirming the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank. 21 January     Jan. 2009
5 Dendermonde nursery attack Three people are stabbed to death and ten more are injured after an attack at a crèche in Dendermonde, Belgium. 22 January     Jan. 2009
6 Laurent Nkunda Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda is arrested by the Rwandan military on its country's border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 22 January     Jan. 2009
7 2009 Buachaille Etive Mòr avalanche Three people are killed and one is seriously injured following an avalanche on Buachaille Etive Mòr in the Scottish Highlands. 24 January     Jan. 2009
8 2009 Nakumatt supermarket fire A massive fire at a supermarket in downtown Nairobi, Kenya kills at least 14 people. 30 January     Jan. 2009
9 2009 Malagasy protests At least 68 people are killed in anti-government protests in Madagascar. 29 January     Jan. 2009
10 2009 Kenyan oil spill ignition Over 50 people are killed and 82 critically injured following an oil spillage ignition in Molo, Kenya. 1 February     Feb. 2009
11 Patriarch Kirill of Moscow   Kirill of Moscow (pictured) becomes the 16th Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. 1 February     Feb. 2009
12 Enten controversy The chairman of a Tokyo bedding supplier is arrested by Japanese police following the exposure of an investment scam reportedly worth US$1.4 billion. 5 February     Feb. 2009
13 February 2009 United Kingdom and Ireland snowstorm   The heaviest snowfall for 18 years disrupts air and road traffic and shuts schools across much of Ireland and the United Kingdom (snowfall in London pictured). 6 February     Feb. 2009
14 2009 Malagasy protests Madagascar police open fire on a protest in Antananarivo, killing at least 50 people and injuring hundreds. 7 February     Feb. 2009
15 2009 Amazonian airplane crash An airplane crashes near Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, Brazil, killing 24 people. 8 February     Feb. 2009
16 Bolivian constitutional referendum, 2009 President of Bolivia Evo Morales enacts a new constitution which grants more power to the country's indigenous majority and allows for land reform. 8 February     Feb. 2009
17 Tlatelolco (archaeological site) The discovery of a 16th-century mass grave containing at least 49 human skeletons at the Tlatelolco archaeological site in Mexico City is announced. 11 February     Feb. 2009
18 2009 Orissa train derailment A passenger train derails in the Indian state of Orissa, killing at least 15 people and injuring 150. 13 February     Feb. 2009
19 HIV/AIDS in the People's Republic of China China confirms HIV/AIDS as its leading cause of death by infectious disease in 2008, a fivefold increase over a three year period. 19 February     Feb. 2009
20 2009 Slovak coach and train collision Eleven people are killed and 20 more are injured in a collision between a tourist coach and a train in central Slovakia. 21 February     Feb. 2009
21 2009 Shanxi mine blast A mine blast in Gujiao in the Shanxi province of China kills at least 73 people and injures at least 113 more. 22 February     Feb. 2009
22 Battle of South Mogadishu A machine gun and mortar battle in Mogadishu, Somalia kills 15 people and injures at least ninety more in the Somali Civil War. 24 February     Feb. 2009
23 Gamburtsev Mountain Range An international team of scientists announces the completion of its mission to map the Gamburtsev Mountain Range beneath the Antarctic ice. 25 February     Feb. 2009
24 2009 Bolivian dengue fever epidemic An outbreak of dengue fever kills at least 18 people and infects 31,000 more in Bolivia. 26 February     Feb. 2009
25 Kano trovafloxacin trial litigation U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer settles a multi-billion dollar damages case with 200 alleged victims of a drugs trial in Kano, Nigeria. 26 February     Feb. 2009
26 2009 Bank of Ireland robbery Over 7 billion is stolen from the Bank of Ireland in College Green, Dublin, in the largest bank robbery in Irish history. 27 February     Feb. 2009
27 Svalbard Global Seed Vault 90,000 food crop seed samples are delivered to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in the Arctic Circle. 26 February     Feb. 2009
28 João Bernardo Vieira   The President of Guinea-Bissau, João Bernardo Vieira (pictured), is assassinated during an armed attack on his residence in Bissau. 2 March     Mar. 2009
29 2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods Floods in Namibia and Angola kill 90 people and make at least 25.000 people homeless. 20 March     Mar. 2009
30 2009 Six Nations Championship Millennium Stadium Ireland wins its first Six Nations Grand Slam in rugby union since 1948. 21 March     Mar. 2009
31 2009 Yemeni tourist attacks A suicide attack kills four South Korean tourists and a local guide in Shibam, Yemen. 18 March     Mar. 2009
32 2009 Montana Pilatus PC-12 crash A Pilatus PC-12 crashes in the U.S. state of Montana, killing at least 14 people. 22 March     Mar. 2009
33 GhostNet The University of Toronto researchers discover GhostNet, a China-based electronic spying operation which has infiltrated 1,295 computers in 103 countries. 29 March     Mar. 2009
34 Brian Cowen nude portraits controversy   The unexpected public hanging of Ireland's Taoiseach, Brian Cowen (pictured), occurs in Dublin, following months of economic uncertainty. 1 April     Apr. Fls. 2009
35 Binghamton shootings Thirteen people are killed and 26 others are severely wounded during a shooting incident in Binghamton, New York. 3 April     Apr. 2009
36 2009 L'Aquila earthquake An earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy, kills at least 50 people and leaves 50,000 homeless. 6 April     Apr. 2009
37 2009 Masters Tournament Ángel Cabrera wins the 2009 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, USA, after a two-hole playoff. 12 April     Apr. 2009
38 Kamień Pomorski homeless hostel fire   A fire at a homeless hostel in Kamień Pomorski, Poland, kills at least 21 people and injures at least 20 others in the country's worst fire disaster since 1980. 14 April     Apr. 2009
39 Mycocepurus smithii Researchers report the discovery of Mycocepurus smithii, the first ant species determined to consist exclusively of females that reproduces through cloning. 15 April     Apr. 2009
40 Durban Review Conference   A number of delegates exit in protest during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's (pictured) speech at the Durban Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. 20 April     Apr. 2009
41 Great Wall of China A Chinese government study locates an extra 3,850 kilometres (2,390 mi) of the Great Wall of China. 20 April     Apr. 2009
42 23 April 2009 Iraqi suicide attacks Two suicide attacks in Baghdad and Baquba kill at least 76 people, including 46 Iranian pilgrims, and injure over 100 others in the deadliest terrorist incidents in Iraq this year. 23 April     Apr. 2009
43 Shining Path The Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path makes a resurgence in Peru, with anti-government ambushes killing 14 soldiers in April 2009. 21 April     Apr. 2009
44 Mathira Massacre At least 29 people are hacked and stoned to death in clashes between Mungiki members and civilians in Karatina, Kenya. 21 April     Apr. 2009
45 Puijila darwini   The discovery of Puijila darwini, the oldest seal ancestor ever located, is announced. 22 April     Apr. 2009
46 2009 attack on Dutch Royal Family   Six people are killed in an attempt on the Dutch Royal Family (Queen Beatrix pictured) as a car driver crashed through crowds watching the annual Koninginnedag celebrations. 30 April     May 2009
47 2009 May Day protests Police clash with protesters across the world as traditional May Day marches turn violent. 1 May     May 2009
48 Carol Ann Duffy Carol Ann Duffy is named Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, the first female, the first Scot and the first openly gay occupant of the post. 2 May     May 2009
49 Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye   Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye (pictured) replaces Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré as Prime Minister of Senegal. 2 May     May 2009
50 Pacific Islands Forum The Pacific Islands Forum suspends Fiji's membership indefinitely due to the recent political, legal and human rights situation in the country. 3 May     May 2009
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51 2009 Brazilian floods and mudslides Floods and mudslides across Brazil kill at least 14 people and displace over 62,000 more from their homes. 2 May     May 2009
52 Cross-Strait relations The Republic of China allows financial investment from the People's Republic of China for the first time since 1949. 2 May     May 2009
53 World Snooker Championship 2009   John Higgins (pictured) beats Shaun Murphy in the final of the 2009 World Snooker Championship, becoming the oldest winner of the tournament since 1985 and the sixth to win three or more titles in modern times. 4 May     May 2009
54 2009 Schalfkogel avalanche Austria's deadliest avalanche since 2000 kills six hikers on Schalfkogel in Sölden. 3 May     May 2009
55 2009 swine flu outbreak action against pigs Egypt commences the extermination of all domestic pigs in the country, as a response to the recent swine flu outbreak. 4 May     May 2009
56 2009 Mardin wedding party attack Gunmen kill 44 people at a wedding party using grenades and automatic weapons in Mardin Province, Turkey. 4 May     May 2009
57 Seal hunting   The European Parliament endorses a bill banning imports of seal products (seal pictured), drawing complaints from the Canadian government. 5 May     May 2009
58 2009 World Table Tennis Championships Wang Hao The 2009 World Table Tennis Championships conclude, with China's Wang Hao and Zhang Yining winning the men's singles and women's singles titles respectively. 5 May     May 2009
59 Foreign relations of Guinea Guinea recalls ambassadors from 30 countries worldwide for no apparent reason. 5 May     May 2009
60 2009 Brazilian floods and mudslides The death toll in the Brazilian floods and mudslides reaches 19, with 186,000 people left homeless; President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (pictured) inspects the disaster area. 5 May     May 2009
61 STS-125 NASA launches Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-125, the fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. 11 May     May 2009
62 Eurovision Song Contest 2009   Norway wins the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "Fairytale" performed by Alexander Rybak, with a record-breaking 387 points. 16 May     May 2009
63 Ruth Padel Ruth Padel is named the first female Oxford Professor of Poetry, after a controversial race. 16 May     May 2009
64 Kuwaiti parliamentary election, 2009 In Kuwait's parliamentary election (parliament building pictured), several women are elected for the first time in the nation's history. 17 May     May 2009
65 Raffaele Amato Raffaele Amato, a Camorra boss accused of being one of the principal importers of cocaine into Italy, is arrested in Marbella, Spain. 17 May     May 2009
66 Disclosure of expenses of British Members of Parliament   British politician Michael Martin (pictured) announces his resignation in a scandal over expenses of Members of Parliament, becoming the first Commons Speaker since 1695 to be forced from office. 19 May     May 2009
67 Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Ireland's Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse concludes that the Roman Catholic Church and government inspectors knew sexual abuse was "endemic" in boys' institutions. 22 May     May 2009
68 2009 Heineken Cup Final In rugby union, Leinster defeat Leicester Tigers in the 2009 Heineken Cup Final to win their first ever Heineken Cup. 23 May     May 2009
69 2009 Cannes Film Festival At the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, Michael Haneke's Austrian film The White Ribbon wins Palme d'Or. 24 May     May 2009
70 Mawazine At Mawazine, at least 11 people are killed and 40 others are injured after a wire fence collapses at a football stadium in Rabat, Morocco. 24 May     May 2009
71 Challenger Deep   The remotely operated vehicle Nereus becomes the third in the world to reach the Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean. 3 June     June 2009
72 Marc Ravalomanana Marc Ravalomanana Former President of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana (pictured) is sentenced in absentia to incarceration for alleged abuse of office. 3 June     June 2009
73 Luís Cabral Luís Cabral, the first President of Guinea-Bissau, dies aged 78. 2 June     June 2009
74 2009 South African mine deaths At least 61 illegal miners from Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe are found dead in a mine in the Free State, South Africa. 2 June     June 2009
75 2009 Peruvian political crisis At least 52 people are killed and 155 others are injured in clashes between security forces and indigenous tribes near Bagua in Peru. 6 June     June 2009
76 Shanghai Pride   Shanghai Pride, the People's Republic of China's first gay pride event, is hosted in Shanghai (gay pride flag pictured). 7 June     June 2009
77 2009 Hermosillo daycare center fire A daycare center fire kills at least 41 children and burns 46 people in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. 6 June     June 2009
78 Omar Bongo President of Gabon Omar Bongo, the longest-serving non-royal head of state, dies in Spain aged 73. 7 June     June 2009
79 2009 imprisonment of US journalists by North Korea American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling are found guilty of illegally entering North Korea and sentenced to 12 years hard labor. 8 June     June 2009
80 Omagh bombing Four people, including Real Irish Republican Army leader Michael McKevitt, are found responsible for the 1998 bombing of Omagh in Northern Ireland. 8 June     June 2009
81 Danish Act of Succession referendum, 2009   Denmark (coat of arms pictured), the Faroe Islands and Greenland vote in favour of abolishing male-preference primogeniture in their Act of Succession referendum. 8 June     June 2009
82 Pearl Continental hotel bombing At least 11 people are killed and at least 46 others are injured in a bomb blast at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar, Pakistan. 9 June     June 2009
83 Rose Francine Rogombé   Rose Francine Rogombé is sworn in as Interim President of Gabon, following the death of President Omar Bongo. 9 June     June 2009
84 Michael Thomas (author) Michael Thomas wins the 2009 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for his debut novel Man Gone Down. 11 June     June 2009
85 BRIC   The BRIC countries hold their first official summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia. 16 June     June 2009
86 2009 Algerian military ambush At least 18 soldiers are ambushed and killed by Islamist rebels in Bordj Bou Arréridj, Algeria, in the deadliest attack aimed against the government this year. 18 June     June 2009
87 20 June 2009 Taza bombing At least 67 people are killed and over 200 more are injured near Kirkuk in the deadliest single attack in Iraq since March 2008. 20 June     June 2009
88 Flute Archeologists confirm the discovery of a 35,000-year-old flute, the oldest known musical instrument, in Germany. 25 June     June 2009
89 2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race   The 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race concludes in Saint Petersburg, Russia, with the winner being Sweden's Ericsson 4 team (boat pictured with Ericsson 3 in Stockholm) skippered by Torben Grael of Brazil. 28 June     June 2009
90 2009 European floods At least 13 people are killed in the Czech Republic and Poland by floods, which have also affected Austria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. 28 June     June 2009
91 Yemenia Flight 626 Yemenia Flight 626 crashes with more than 150 people aboard, soon after takeoff from Sana'a, Yemen, en route to Moroni, Comoros. 30 June     June 2009
92 2009 Viareggio train accident   A freight train carrying liquified petroleum gas exploded in Viareggio, Italy, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 50 others. 30 June     June 2009
93 Brucellosis   Ireland eradicates brucellosis. 1 July     July 2009 9,904 (8th)
94 Fredrik Reinfeldt Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt (pictured) becomes President of the European Council. 1 July     July 2009
95 Organization of American States The Organization of American States suspends Honduras (flag pictured) due to the country's recent political crisis. 5 July     July 2009
96 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa In rugby union, South Africa win the 2009 Test series against the British and Irish Lions 2–1, with the Lions achieving their first Test victory since 2001. 5 July     July 2009
97 Jadranka Kosor Jadranka Kosor becomes the first female Prime Minister of Croatia. 7 July     July 2009
98 Frank Kabui Frank Kabui becomes the Governor General of the Solomon Islands. 7 July     July 2009
99 2009 Jakarta bombings Bombings in Jakarta, Indonesia, kill at least nine people and injure at least 50 others. 17 July     July 2009
100 Iceland and the European Union   Iceland's Althing votes by a narrow majority to apply for membership of the European Union after five days of debate. 16 July     July 2009
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101 Natalia Estemirova The body of Russian human rights activist Natalia Estemirova is located in Ingushetia after her abduction in Chechnya. 16 July     July 2009
102 Paul Biyoghé Mba   Paul Biyoghé Mba becomes Prime Minister of Gabon after Jean Eyeghe Ndong resigns to launch his presidential campaign. 17 July     July 2009
103 2009 Karachi floods At least 26 people are killed and 150 others injured as a result of heavy rains in Karachi, Pakistan. 19 July     July 2009
104 Giant Panda The birth of the world's first Giant Panda conceived using frozen sperm is announced in Sichuan, China. 24 July     July 2009
105 2009 Nigeria battles At least 150 people are killed during battles in several Nigerian states. 26 July     July 2009
106 2009 Turks and Caicos Islands migrant shipwreck At least 15 Haitian migrants are killed and dozens are missing following a shipwreck in the Caribbean near the Turks and Caicos Islands. 28 July     July 2009
107 São Tomé and Príncipe dobra São Tomé and Príncipe agrees a loan deal with Portugal to link the dobra and the euro. 28 July     July 2009
108 2009 Tel Aviv gay centre shooting spree At least two people are killed and 15 others injured in a shooting attack at the Gay and Lesbian Association building in Tel Aviv, Israel. 1 August     August 2009
109 HIV A new strain of the human immunodeficiency virus is discovered in a woman from Cameroon. 2 August     August 2009
110 Indigenous peoples of the Americas Bolivia becomes the first country in South America to declare the right of indigenous people to govern themselves. 3 August     August 2009
111 2009 Sudanese nomadic conflicts More than 180 people are killed and 30 others injured in nomadic conflicts in Sudan. 3 August     August 2009
112 MV Princess Ashika The MV Princess Ashika, an inter-island ferry operating in Tonga, sinks, leaving at least 26 people missing. 6 August     August 2009
113 Slender-billed Vulture   The first successful captive breeding of the critically endangered Slender-billed Vulture (pictured) is announced in India. 6 August     August 2009
114 Foreign relations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Thirteen years after the countries ceased diplomatic relations, President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda meet in Goma. 6 August     August 2009
115 Foreign relations of Rwanda 6 August     August 2009
116 Rafael Correa   Rafael Correa is sworn in for a second term as President of Ecuador. 12 August     August 2009
117 2009 Handlová mine blast A mine fire and explosion in Handlová, Trenčín Region, kills 20 people in Slovakia's deadliest mining disaster. 12 August     August 2009
118 Grégoire Ndahimana After 15 years in hiding, Grégoire Ndahimana is arrested in North Kivu for the alleged murder of 2,000 Tutsi civilians during the Rwandan Genocide. 12 August     August 2009
119 Les Paul   Electric guitar innovator Les Paul (pictured) dies at the age of 94. 13 August     August 2009
120 2009 Romanian bus-train collision Romania's deadliest road accident for fifteen years, a bus and train collision, kills at least 13 people in Scânteia, Iaşi County. 14 August     August 2009
121 Mexico–Uruguay relations President of Mexico Felipe Calderón and President of Uruguay Tabaré Vázquez meet in Montevideo, Uruguay, to sign an accord worth $500 million. 16 August     August 2009
122 2009 BWF World Championships At the 2009 BWF World Championships in Hyderabad, India, Lu Lan wins the women's singles and Lin Dan wins the men's singles, becoming the first player to win three men's singles World Championship titles. 16 August     August 2009
123 LGBT rights in the United Kingdom Lesbians are granted equal birth rights in England and Wales. 31 August     August 2009
124 Guatemalan Civil War Felipe Cusanero is sentenced to 150 years in prison for his part in the disappearance of 6 Mayan farmers during the Guatemalan Civil War in the 1980s. 3 September     September 2009
125 2009 Java earthquake At least 63 people are killed and more than 87,000 homes destroyed in Java in Indonesia's deadliest earthquake since 2006. 4 September     September 2009
126 2009 Ciudad Juárez rehab center attack At least 18 people are shot dead at a drug treatment clinic in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. 3 September     September 2009
127 2009 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final   In hurling (equipment pictured), Kilkenny beat Tipperary in the 2009 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final to win their fourth consecutive championship. 7 September     September 2009
128 Niger River   Nigeria commences a 36 billion naira dredging of the Niger River. 10 September     September 2009
129 LGBT rights in Uruguay Uruguay becomes the first Latin American country to legalise LGBT adoption. 9 September     September 2009
130 2009 Sierra Leone ferry accident At least 90 people die and over 100 others are declared missing after a ferry accident off the coast of Sierra Leone. 8 September     September 2009
131 Lebanon (film) The Israeli film Lebanon wins the Golden Lion at the 66th Venice International Film Festival. 12 September     September 2009
132 2009 Taldykorgan fire At least 38 people are killed during a fire at a drug abuse clinic in Taldykorgan, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan. 12 September     September 2009
133 Vladimir Voronin   President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin (pictured) resigns. 11 September     September 2009
134 Norman Borlaug   Agronomist Norman Borlaug (pictured), the "father of the Green Revolution", dies at the age of 95. 12 September     September 2009
135 2009 Tri Nations Series South Africa defeat New Zealand 32-29 to win the 2009 Tri Nations rugby union series. 13 September     September 2009
136 2009 Wujek-Slask mine blast At least thirteen miners are killed and thirty others hospitalised following a mine blast in Ruda Śląska, Poland. 18 September     September 2009
137 2006 Côte d'Ivoire toxic waste dump Trafigura reaches an out of court settlement with 31,000 people affected by its 2006 dumping of toxic chemicals in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. 20 September     September 2009
138 Northern Sea Route The German ships Beluga Fraternity and Beluga Foresight become the first Western commercial vessels to navigate the Northern Sea Route. 19 September     September 2009
139 Precious (film) The drama film Precious, directed by Lee Daniels, wins the People's Choice Award at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. 20 September     September 2009
140 José Manuel Barroso José Manuel Barroso is re-elected for a second term as President of the European Commission. 16 September     September 2009
141 Stella Obasanjo A Spanish surgeon is sentenced to one year in prison and disqualified from medical practise for three years for his role in the death of Nigeria's First Lady Stella Obasanjo in 2005. 22 September     September 2009
142 Irina Bokova   Irina Bokova (pictured) is elected Director General of UNESCO, the first female and first Eastern European to fill the role. 22 September     September 2009
143 2009 Australian dust storm   A dust storm (pictured in Gold Coast, Queensland), described as "the worst in at least 70 years", sweeps across several Australian states, covering Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney in red dust. 23 September     September 2009
144 2009 Bhutan earthquake A 6.3 Mw earthquake strikes Bhutan and India, killing at least 11 people. 21 September     September 2009
145 2009 Korba chimney collapse The collapse of a chimney following a lightening strike in Korba in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh traps at least 100 construction workers and kills 25. 23 September     September 2009
146 Persecution of albinism Three men are sentenced to death after admitting they murdered and mutilated a 14-year-old albino boy in Shinyanga Region, Tanzania. 23 September     September 2009
147 Alicia de Larrocha Award-winning pianist Alicia de Larrocha from Catalonia dies at age 86. 26 September     September 2009
148 Supreme Court of the United Kingdom   The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (location pictured) takes effect, replacing the Law Lords as the final court of appeal in the country. 1 October     October 2009
149 Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland Bill, 2009 The Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland is passed, enabling the country to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon. 3 October     October 2009 2,020 (19th)
150 2009 northeastern Sicily floods and mudslides Floods and mudslides in Messina and across northeastern Sicily, Italy, kill at least 21 people in the country's deadliest landslide disaster since 1998. 2 October     October 2009
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151 Marek Edelman   Marek Edelman, the last surviving leader of the Warsaw Uprising, dies in Poland aged 90. 2 October     October 2009
152 Shōichi Nakagawa Former Japanese Minister of Finance Shōichi Nakagawa is found dead in his Tokyo apartment aged 56. 4 October     October 2009
153 Armenia–Turkey relations The foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey sign an accord intended to normalise their relations. 10 October     October 2009
154 2009 Pakistan Army General Headquarters attack The Pakistani Special Service Group frees 40 hostages held after militants attacked the Army's General Headquarters. 10 October     October 2009
155 Irish National Liberation Army The Irish National Liberation Army announces an end to its armed struggle. 11 October     October 2009
156 One Laptop per Child Under the One Laptop per Child scheme, Uruguay becomes the first country to deliver a free laptop to each child of primary school age. 13 October     October 2009
157 Economic Community of West African States The Economic Community of West African States suspends Niger from membership over its ongoing constitutional crisis. 20 October     October 2009
158 2009 Cairo train collision At least 50 people are killed and 30 others are injured after two trains collide near Cairo, Egypt. 24 October     October 2009
159 Los Maniceros massacre The bodies of ten footballers kidnapped from Colombia are discovered scattered across Táchira, Venezuela. 24 October     October 2009
160 Sanjaagiin Bayar Prime Minister of Mongolia Sanjaagiin Bayar resigns for health reasons. 28 October     October 2009
161 Moussa Dadis Camara   The African Union, the European Union and the United States impose sanctions on Guinea's military junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara and 41 members of the junta. 29 October     October 2009
162 Désiré Munyaneza Désiré Munyaneza is sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity and war crimes for his role in the Rwandan Genocide, at his trial in Canada. 29 October     October 2009
163 Claude Lévi-Strauss Claude Lévi-Strauss, the "father of modern anthropology", dies in Paris, aged 100. 3 November     November 2009
164 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation   At the 4th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Sharm el-Sheikh, China's Premier Wen Jiabao pledges US$10 billion in soft loans to 49 African leaders for Sino-African cooperation. 9 November     November 2009
165 2009 El Salvador floods and mudslides El Salvador declares a state of emergency as at least 140 people are killed by floods and mudslides. 10 November     November 2009
166 Dompoase mine collapse An illegal gold mine collapses in Dompoase, Ghana killing 18 people. 12 November     November 2009
167 November 2009 Great Britain and Ireland floods   Continued flooding affecting Great Britain and Ireland results in the death of a police officer when a bridge collapses at Workington. 20 November     November 2009
168 Foreign relations of Algeria Egypt recalls its ambassador to Algeria in a dispute following a qualifying match between the nations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 19 November     November 2009
169 Rafael Caldera Former President of Venezuela Rafael Caldera dies at the age of 93. 23 December     December 2009
170 ASEAN–China Free Trade Area The ASEAN–China Free Trade Area, the world's largest free trade area in terms of population, comes into effect. 1 January     January 2010
171 Togo national football team One person is killed and several others are injured as the Togo national football team's bus comes under attack ahead of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. 9 January     January 2010
172 2010 Papua New Guinea bus crash Papua New Guinea's worst road accident kills at least 40 people after two buses collide near Lae. 14 January     January 2010
173 Togo national football team In football, Egypt beats Ghana 1–0 to win the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, claiming their third successive title, while Togo is excluded from the next two editions of the tournament. 31 January     February 2010
174 2010 Madeira floods and mudslides Flooding on the Portuguese island of Madeira kills at least 32 people and paralyzes many basic services in the regional capital Funchal. 20 February     February 2010
175 Honey (2010 film) Bal wins the Golden Bear at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival, the first Turkish film to win that award since 1964. 20 February     February 2010
176 India – Saudi Arabia relations   Manmohan Singh (pictured) becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia since 1982. 27 February     February 2010
177 2010 Pratapgarh stampede More than sixty people are killed during a stampede at a temple in Kunda, Uttar Pradesh, India. 4 March     March 2010
178 Vladislav Ardzinba   Vladislav Ardzinba, the first President of the Republic of Abkhazia, dies in Moscow at the age of 64. 4 March     March 2010
179 2010 Jos riots Hundreds of townspeople are killed in inter-religious attacks just outside Jos, Nigeria. 7 March     March 2010
180 2010 Turkey earthquake An earthquake in Turkey's Elâzığ Province kills more than 50 people and injures at least 50. 8 March     March 2010
181 2010 Victorian storms A series of storms passes through Victoria, Australia, leading to flash flooding and 5-cm (2-in) hail in Greater Melbourne. 7 March     March 2010
182 Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy Egypt's foremost Islamic cleric Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy dies at the age of 81 during a visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 10 March     March 2010
183 Carlos Slim   Carlos Slim (pictured) becomes the first Mexican to top the Forbes rich list of billionaires. 10 March     March 2010
184 List of unreleased Michael Jackson material The estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music sign the biggest recording deal in history, which includes future album deals of his unreleased material. 19 March     March 2010
185 2010 Six Nations Championship In rugby union, France win the 2010 Six Nations Championship with a Grand Slam. 20 March     March 2010
186 Makombo massacre Human Rights Watch says it has discovered the killings of at least 321 people by the Lord's Resistance Army in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 28 March     March 2010
187 Death and state funeral of Lech Kaczyński and Maria Kaczyńska A state funeral is held for Polish President Lech Kaczyński and First Lady Maria Kaczyńska in Krakow, following a week of mourning in the wake of his fatal plane crash. 18 April     April 2010
188 Black Sea Fleet Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych agrees to extend Russia's lease on the Black Sea Fleet naval base in Sevastapol for 25 years in exchange for discounted natural gas. 21 April     April 2010
189 Waragi Eighty people over three weeks die from multiple organ failure after drinking waragi in Kabale, Uganda. 23 April     April 2010
190 2010 London Marathon Tsegaye Kebede wins the men's race of the 2010 London Marathon and Liliya Shobukhova wins the women's event. 25 April     April 2010
191 Austrian presidential election, 2010 Heinz Fischer is reelected President of Austria. 25 April     April 2010
192 2010 Johnson & Johnson children's product recall American pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson announces a recall of 43 over the counter children's medicines in 12 countries due to manufacturing deficiencies. 30 April     May 2010
193 2010 World Snooker Championship Neil Robertson wins the World Snooker Championship, becoming the first Australian to do so since 1952. 4 May     May 2010
194 Lost Man Booker Prize Troubles, by James Gordon Farrell, wins Lost Man Booker Prize for novels published in 1970. 19 May     May 2010
195 May 2010 Central European floods   Severe flooding in Central Europe kills at least 9 people, including 4 Polish firefighters. 21 May     May 2010
196 Air India Express Flight 812 Air India Express Flight 812 from Dubai to Mangalore, India, crashes with more than 160 abroad while attempting to land. 22 May     May 2010
197 2010 Fuzhou train derailment A passenger train travelling from Shanghai to Guilin derails in a mountainous area near Fuzhou, Jiangxi. 23 May     May 2010
198 2010 Kingston unrest At least 44 civilians are killed and 37 others wounded during unrest in Kingston, Jamaica. 26 May     May 2010
199 Gaza flotilla clash Israeli Defense Forces clash with protesters aboard a flotilla of ships in international waters heading for the Gaza Strip, killing at least ten people. 31 May     May 2010
200 Horst Köhler   Horst Köhler resigns as President of Germany. 31 May     May 2010
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201 Andrei Voznesensky The Soviet and Russian poet and writer Andrei Voznesensky dies at home at the age of 77. 2 June     June 2010
202 Zamfara State lead poisoning epidemic Nigerian health authorities announce that a series of lead poisonings in Zamfara State have killed at least 163 people since March. 4 June     June 2010
203 2010 Kandahar wedding bombing A suicide bomb attack at a wedding in Arghandab District, Afghanistan, kills 40 people and wounds 77 others. 10 June     June 2010
204 2010 Chihuahua shootings At least 39 people are killed in a shooting in Chihuahua, northern Mexico. 11 June     June 2010
205 Bloody Sunday Inquiry The Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday finds the British Army guilty of shooting 27 civilians who were later discovered to be innocent. 15 June     June 2010
206 Nauruan parliamentary election, June 2010 A parliamentary election in Nauru results in a hung parliament. 19 June     June 2010
207 Graeme McDowell In golf, Graeme McDowell, of Northern Ireland, wins the US Open, the first European to win the tournament since 1970. 20 June     June 2010
208 Colombian presidential election, 2010 Juan Manuel Santos from the Party of the U is elected President of Colombia. 20 June     June 2010
209 2010 Yanga train derailment At least 60 people are killed after a train derails in the Republic of the Congo. 21 June     June 2010
210 2010 northeastern Brazil floods Floods cause the deaths of at least 44 people and the disappearance of hundreds more in northeastern Brazil. 22 June     June 2010
211 Kyrgyzstani constitutional referendum, 2010 A new constitution is approved in a referendum in Kyrgyzstan. 28 June     June 2010
212 Leviathan melvillei The discovery of fossilised remains of Leviathan melvillei, an extinct species of physeteroid whale, is announced. 30 June     July 2010
213 Serigne Mouhamadou Lamine Bara Mbacké Senegal begins eight days of national mourning upon the death of Serigne Mouhamadou Lamine Bara Mbacké, Grand Marabout of the Mourides. 1 July     July 2010
214 Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah Islamic scholar Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah dies at the age of 74. 4 July     July 2010
215 Olufemi Terry Sierra Leonean writer Olufemi Terry wins the Caine Prize for his short story "Stickfighting Days". 5 July     July 2010
216 Same-sex marriage in Argentina Argentina legalises same-sex marriage, becoming the first Latin American country to do so. 15 July     July 2010
217 Assassination of Sokratis Giolias Greek investigative journalist Sokratis Giolias is assassinated in Athens; the first such assassination in Greece for 25 years. 20 July     July 2010
218 2006 Côte d'Ivoire toxic waste dump A Dutch court finds British commodities trader Trafigura guilty of dumping toxic waste off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire in 2006. 23 July     July 2010
219 Summer 2010 Russian wildfires Wildfires kill 48 people and cause evacuation of thousands in western Russia. 5 August     August 2010
220 Guido de Marco   Former President of Malta and President of the United Nations General Assembly Guido de Marco dies suddenly. 13 August     August 2010
221 2010 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final In Gaelic football, Cork defeat Down to win their seventh All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. 22 September     September 2010
222 Robert G. Edwards Robert Geoffrey Edwards wins the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his development of in vitro fertilisation. 4 October     October 2010
223 Norman Wisdom Comedy actor Norman Wisdom dies aged 95. 4 October     October 2010
224 2010 strikes in France Strikes continue in France as millions of people demonstrate against government attempts to raise the retirement and pension ages. 16 October     October 2010
225 Green Party (Ireland)   The Irish Green Party (leader, John Gormley, pictured) withdraws from the country's coalition government, leaving it without an overall majority. 24 January     January 2011
226 2010–2011 Haiti cholera outbreak Haitian cholera outbreak reaches South America, as at least 111 Venezuelans contract cholera brought from Haiti's neighbor, the Dominican Republic. 29 January     January 2011
227 Sumo The Japan Sumo Association cancels a Grand Tournament for the first time in 65 years after a match-fixing controversy. 5 February     February 2011
228 Chevron Corporation Chevron is fined $8.6 billion for Texaco's pollution of the Amazon region of Ecuador over a twenty-year period. 15 February     February 2011
229 Belo Monte Dam Preliminary construction of the controversial Belo Monte Dam in Brazil is allowed after the previous ruling is overturned by a higher court. 6 March     March 2011
230 Dera Ghazi Khan bombings Double suicide bombings at a Sufi shrine in Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan leave 50 people dead and 120 wounded. 4 April     April 2011
231 Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom makes the first-ever state visit by a British monarch to the Republic of Ireland. 17 May     May 2011
232 John Banville Irish writer John Banville wins the 2011 Franz Kafka Prize. 27 May     May 2011
       
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