2009 MAIN EVENTS AT A GLANCE PART 1

 Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, and Uganda assume their seats on the United Nations Security Council.

The Czech Republic takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union^[4] from France

 Slovakia adopts the Euro as its national currency, replacing the Slovak koruna

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir is appointed as the new Prime Minister of Iceland, becoming the world's first openly lesbian head of government

The first trial at the International Criminal Court is held. Former Union of Congolese Patriots leader Thomas Lubanga is accused of training child soldiers to kill, pillage, and rape

 Morgan Tsvangirai is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Zimbabwe following the power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe signed in September, 2008

The President of Guinea-Bissau, João Bernardo Vieira, is assassinated during an armed attack on his residence in Bissaau

Albania and Croatia join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes near L'Aquila, Italy, killing nearly 300 and injuring more than 1,500

The Fourth East Asia Summit is postponed after Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declares a state of emergency in Bangkokand surrounding areas

Sweden assumes the presidency of the European Union

July 22 – The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting up to 6 minutes and 38.8 seconds, occurs over parts of Asia and the Pacific Ocean; it is figured to be the most widely observed total eclipse in human history.

The 35th G8 summit is held in L'Aquila, Italy

Bolivia becomes the first South American country to declare the right of indigenous people to govern themselves

Iceland's national parliament, the Althingi, votes to pursue joining the EU

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

An 8.3-magnitude earthquake triggers a tsunami near the Samoan Islands. Many communities and harbors in Samoa andAmerican Samoa are destroyed, and at least 189 are killed.

At the G-20 Pittsburgh summit, world leaders announce that the G-20 will assume greater leverage over the global economy, replacing the role of the G-8, in an effort to prevent another financial crisis like that in 2008

The International Olympic Committee awards the 2016 Summer Olympics to Rio de Janeiro

The Czech Republic becomes the final member-state of the European Union to sign the Treaty of Lisbon, thereby permitting that document's initiation into European law

December 7 – December 18 – The UNFCCC's United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 conference is held in Copenhagen, Denmark