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Major Events of May 2009: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from May 2009 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of May 2009: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 May 2009 Air France Flight 447 Disappears Over Atlantic: Tragedy struck as Air France Flight 447, carrying 228 people from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, vanished over the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in the loss of all passengers and crew.
  • 02 May 2009 UN Calls for Halt to Palestinian Evictions: The United Nations issued a directive to Israel demanding a stop to the eviction of Palestinians from East Jerusalem, highlighting ongoing territorial tensions.
  • 03 May 2009 Iraq Maintains US Troop Withdrawal Deadline: Iraq confirmed that it would not extend the withdrawal deadline for United States Armed Forces, signaling a firm commitment to the planned military drawdown and national sovereignty.
  • 04 May 2009 Mass Shooting at Wedding in Mardin Province: A tragic incident occurred in Mardin Province where at least eight gunmen attacked a wedding celebration, resulting in the deaths of 44 people in a shocking act of violence.
  • 05 May 2009 Deadly Wedding Party Attack in Turkey: A horrific terrorist attack occurred in south-eastern Turkey, where masked assailants armed with automatic rifles and grenades launched a brutal assault on a wedding celebration, resulting in the tragic deaths of 44 innocent people.
  • 06 May 2009 Maine Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: Maine becomes the fifth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage when Governor John Baldacci signs the bill into law, citing constitutional rights as his motivation.
  • 07 May 2009 U.S. Bank Capital Reserves Crisis: The U.S. Federal Reserve reported that ten of the largest 19 banks lacked adequate capital reserves during the economic downturn, mandating a total capital raise of US$75 billion by the end of 2010. Bank of America was identified as the most vulnerable, requiring US$34 billion in additional capital.
  • 08 May 2009 Fannie Mae Reports Massive Financial Loss: Fannie Mae, a critical player in the US housing market, reported a staggering $23.2 billion quarterly loss and requested an additional $19 billion in government support, reflecting the ongoing financial crisis.
  • 09 May 2009 Jacob Zuma Becomes President of South Africa: Jacob Zuma was elected as the President of South Africa, marking a significant political transition in the country's post-apartheid era. Zuma succeeded Thabo Mbeki and represented the African National Congress (ANC) party.
  • 10 May 2009 The H1N1 influenza virus kills a third of the US citizens and spreads to Australia, Japan and other countries.
  • 11 May 2009 NASA Atlantis Space Shuttle Launches to Repair Hubble Space Telescope: The NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a critical mission to service and repair the Hubble Space Telescope, a pivotal moment in space exploration and astronomical research.
  • 12 May 2009 Nazi Collaborator John Demjanjuk Begins Trial: John Demjanjuk, a suspected Nazi death-camp officer, arrived in Munich, Germany, to stand trial for alleged war crimes committed during World War II, representing a significant moment in post-Holocaust legal proceedings.
  • 13 May 2009 European Commission Imposes Record Fine on Intel: The European Commission levied a historic antitrust fine of 1.06 billion euros (US$1.45 billion) against Intel after an eight-year investigation, ordering the company to halt anti-competitive practices targeting Advanced Micro Devices.
  • 14 May 2009 Zhao Ziyang's Secret Memoirs Published: The secret memoirs of Zhao Ziyang, former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, detailing his perspective on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, were published.
  • 15 May 2009 Eurozone Economic Contraction: The Eurozone's 16 national economies experienced a significant economic contraction of 2.5% in the first quarter of 2009, reflecting the global financial crisis's widespread impact.
  • 16 May 2009 Sri Lanka Declares Victory Over Tamil Tigers: President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced the military defeat of the Tamil Tigers, marking a significant turning point in Sri Lanka's long-running civil conflict.
  • 17 May 2009 Lithuania Elects First Female President: Dalia Grybauskaite made history by becoming Lithuania's first female president, winning a decisive victory with 68 percent of the votes, signaling a significant milestone for gender representation in Lithuanian politics.
  • 18 May 2009 Sri Lankan Civil War Ends: Sri Lanka's army decisively defeats the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), unifying the country after 25 years of conflict. Rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is killed at age 54, marking a significant turning point. The prolonged civil war resulted in an estimated 70,000 casualties, representing a tragic chapter in Sri Lankan history.
  • 19 May 2009 Death of LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran: Velupillai Prabhakaran, the notorious leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was found dead in northeast Sri Lanka, marking a significant turning point in the long-running Sri Lankan Civil War.
  • 20 May 2009 Catholic Church Abuse Report: Ireland's Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse concluded that the Roman Catholic Church and Department of Education were aware of systemic sexual abuse in boys' institutions, revealing a profound institutional failure.
  • 21 May 2009 US Provides Nuclear Energy Framework to UAE: The United States established a comprehensive framework for providing nuclear energy technology and support to the United Arab Emirates, signaling a significant diplomatic and technological collaboration.
  • 22 May 2009 India's New Government Formation: Dr. Manmohan Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister of India, marking the continuation of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in a significant democratic transition.
  • 23 May 2009 Death of Former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun: Former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun (2002-2008) dies at age 62 after falling from Ponghwa Mountain near Bongha village. His death is suspected to be a suicide, occurring during an ongoing investigation into alleged bribery during his presidential term.
  • 24 May 2009 Space Shuttle Atlantis Hubble Mission Completion: NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis successfully completes its final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope and lands at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
  • 25 May 2009 Hubble Space Telescope Final Servicing Mission: NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis successfully completed the final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, extending the orbital observatory's operational capabilities and scientific potential.
  • 26 May 2009 Trial of Aung San Suu Kyi: The trial of prominent pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi took place, drawing international attention to political repression in Burma and generating calls for her immediate release.
  • 27 May 2009 North Korea Abandons Korean War Truce: North Korea officially abandoned the truce that ended the Korean War, declaring South Korea's participation in a US-led maritime nuclear weapons inspection initiative as a 'declaration of war', escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
  • 28 May 2009 Korean Peninsula Tensions: Following North Korea's abandonment of the 1953 Korean War armistice, the United States and South Korea simultaneously elevated their military alert statuses.
  • 29 May 2009 UN Conference on Disarmament: The Conference on Disarmament adopts its 2009 Programme of Work, establishing a Working Group to negotiate a treaty banning nuclear weapons.
  • 30 May 2009 North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile: Despite potential international sanctions from the UN Security Council, North Korea proceeded to launch its sixth ballistic weapon, escalating regional tensions.
  • 31 May 2009 Death of Last Titanic Survivor: Millvina Dean, the last known survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster, passed away in Southampton, England at the age of 97. She was just nine weeks old when the ship sank in 1912, making her the youngest passenger to survive the historic maritime tragedy.