Events Date 2009 January | History by KabAstro

Taiwan Adopts Hanyu Pinyin

Jan 1 The government of the Republic of China adopts Hanyu Pinyin as its official Chinese romanization (before this time, the most commonly used was Tongyong Pinyin.

Linguist and Father of Pinyin Zhou Youguang

Jan 2 75th Sugar Bowl: #6 Utah beats #4 Alabama, 31-17
Jan 3 Israeli ground forces invade Gaza.
Jan 3 The Bitcoin network is created as the first block of the digital currency is mined by a person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto
Jan 4 Phil Taylor, with a 7–1 victory in the final over Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld wins his 12th PDC World Darts title, his 14th in all; his 110.94 average remains a record for the PDC World Darts Championship final
Jan 5 38th Fiesta Bowl: #3 Texas beats #10 Ohio State, 24-21

Fanning Rising Star

Jan 6 Dakota Fanning receives the Rising Star Award at the 20th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival

Jan 6 Israel begins an assault on the Gaza Strip

Smith, Witherspoon Win

Jan 7 35th People's Choice Awards: Will Smith & Reese Witherspoon win (Movie Star) and Hugh Laurie & Christina Applegate win (TV)

Jan 8 14th Critics' Choice Movie Awards: Slumdog Millionaire wins Best Film
Jan 8 A 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit Costa Rica´s region of Volcan Poás, with an epicenter near Cinchona. It was caused by Varablanca-Angel fault.
Jan 8 College Football, 11th BCS National Championship, Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens: #2 Florida beats #1 Oklahoma, 24-14

Hopman Cup

Jan 9 Hopman Cup Tennis, Perth: Dominik Hrbatý beats Russia's Marat Safin 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 for an unassailable 2-0 lead, and Slovakia's 3rd title

66th Golden Globes

Jan 11 66th Golden Globes: "Slumdog Millionaire," Mickey Rourke, Kate Winslet and Colin Farrell win

Musical Finale

Jan 11 John Du Prez and Eric Idle's musical "Spamalot", based on the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," and starring Tim Curry and Davis Hyde Pierce, closes at the Shubert Theatre, NYC, after 1,575 and 3 Tony Award wins

Ronaldo Player of the Year

Jan 12 Cristiano Ronaldo is awarded 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year for the first time at a ceremony in Zurich

Jan 13 Global shipping experiences a drop in trade, as exports from South Korea dropping an annualised 30%, with Taiwan and Japan experiencing a 42% and 27% drop respectively

Sullenberger Lands on the Hudson

Jan 15 Chesley Sullenberger lands US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in NYC. All passengers and crew members survive in what becomes known as the "Miracle on the Hudson"

Passengers wait to be rescued on the wings of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River

"We Are One"

Jan 18 "We Are One" concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington prior to Barack Obama's inauguration attracts an estimated crowd of 400,000; performers include: Beyoncé, Jon Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Mariah Carey, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, John Legend, Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Stevie Wonder

Folk Singer, Songwriter and Activist Pete Seeger

Jan 18 AFC Championship, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Steelers beat Baltimore Ravens, 23-14
Jan 18 NFC Championship, University of Phoenix Stadium: Arizona Cardinals beat Philadelphia Eagles, 32-25

Barack Obama Inaugurated

Jan 20 Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America, becoming the United States' first African-American president

Jan 20 Joe Biden assumes the office of the Vice President of the United States
Jan 23 Dendermonde nursery attack occurred in Dendermonde, Belgium.
Jan 23 UK officially enters recession as GDP falls by 1.5% in the last quarter of 2008 following a 0.6% drop in the third quarter, with unemployment growing by 131,000 to 1.92 million (6.1%)

Benedict XVI Rescinds Excommunications

Jan 24 Pope Benedict XVI rescinds the excommunications of four bishops consecrated without papal consent in 1988 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre

Jan 25 25th Sundance Film Festival: "Precious" based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire" wins Grand Jury Prize Dramatic
Jan 25 57th NHL All-Star Game, Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec: East beats West, 12-11, SO; MVP: Alexei Kovalev, Montreal Canadiens, RW

Blame It

Jan 26 "Blame It (On the Alcohol)" single released by Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain (Billboard Song of the Year 2009)

Jan 26 "I Run to You" single by Lady Antebellum is released (Grammy Award Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal 2009, Billboard Song of the Year 2009)

"Working On A Dream"

Jan 27 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen's 16th studio album "Working On A Dream", made with the E Street Band

Jan 29 Rod Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois, is removed from office after being convicted of corruption charges

Williams' 10th Grand Slam

Jan 31 Australian Open Women's Tennis: Serena Williams wins 10th Grand Slam singles title; outclasses Dinara Safina of Russia 6-0, 6-3

Jan 31 In Kenya, at least 113 people are killed and over 200 injured following an oil spillage ignition in Molo, days after a massive fire at a Nakumatt supermarket in Nairobi killed at least 25 people.