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Major Events of October 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 October 2009 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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

  • 01 Oct 2009 China Celebrates 60th Anniversary of People's Republic: Beijing hosts massive celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The event showcases China's economic and political transformation since 1949, featuring military parades and cultural performances.
  • 02 Oct 2009 Rio de Janeiro Wins 2016 Olympic Games: The International Olympic Committee selected Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the host for the 2016 Olympic Games, defeating Madrid, Spain. Chicago and Tokyo were eliminated in earlier rounds of voting.
  • 03 Oct 2009 Treaty of Lisbon Referendum: Ireland holds a second referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon, a significant European Union reform treaty designed to enhance the EU's institutional framework and decision-making processes.
  • 04 Oct 2009 PASOK Wins Greek General Election: The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) secured a decisive victory in the Greek general election, defeating the New Democracy party with 44% of the vote compared to their opponent's 33.5%.
  • 05 Oct 2009 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine: Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider, and Jack W. Szostak were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase, advancing our understanding of cellular aging and cancer research.
  • 06 Oct 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded for Optical Communication and CCD Sensor: Charles K. Kao and Willard S. Boyle were awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics for groundbreaking achievements in optical communication transmission and the invention of the charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, a revolutionary imaging semiconductor circuit that transformed digital photography and telecommunications.
  • 07 Oct 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded for Ribosome Research: Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and Thomas A. Steitz were awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking studies on the structure and function of ribosomes, providing critical insights into cellular protein synthesis mechanisms.
  • 08 Oct 2009 Taliban Attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul: A devastating terrorist attack by the Taliban targeted the Indian Embassy in Kabul, resulting in at least 17 fatalities and 83 injuries, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in Afghanistan.
  • 09 Oct 2009 Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize: U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," a surprising and controversial decision early in his presidency.
  • 10 Oct 2009 Turkey and Armenia Normalize Relations: Turkey and Armenia signed a historic accord to normalize diplomatic relations, addressing long-standing tensions stemming from the Armenian Genocide during the Ottoman Empire. This diplomatic breakthrough aimed to heal historical wounds and establish peaceful bilateral relations after nearly a century of hostility.
  • 11 Oct 2009 INLA Announces End of Violence: The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) officially declared an end to violent activities in Northern Ireland, marking a significant step towards peace.
  • 12 Oct 2009 Nobel Prize in Economics Awarded: Oliver Williamson and Elinor Ostrom were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics, recognizing their groundbreaking contributions to economic governance and institutional analysis.
  • 13 Oct 2009 US Senate Advances Healthcare Reform: The United States Senate Finance Committee approved a major healthcare reform bill, a critical step in the Obama administration's efforts to overhaul the American healthcare system.
  • 14 Oct 2009 Iraq War Casualties Report: The Iraqi government releases a sobering report revealing that over 85,000 Iraqis were killed violently between 2004 and 2008. This figure notably excludes deaths in the initial months of the 2003 war and casualties from non-violent causes, highlighting the significant human cost of the conflict.
  • 15 Oct 2009 Controversy Over Obama's Nobel Peace Prize: Initially, three of five Norwegian Nobel Committee members opposed awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama in 2009, sparking debate about the premature nature of the award.
  • 16 Oct 2009 UN Human Rights Council Endorses Goldstone Report on Gaza War: The United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed the Goldstone Report, which accused both Israel and Hamas of potential war crimes during the Gaza conflict, marking a significant moment in international human rights investigation.
  • 17 Oct 2009 Pakistan Army Launches Taliban Offensive: The Pakistan Army deployed 30,000 troops to South Waziristan to conduct a major offensive against the Taliban and their allies, escalating military operations in the region.
  • 18 Oct 2009 Deadly Suicide Bombing in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan Province: A devastating suicide bombing occurred in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, killing 42 people, including 15 members of the Revolutionary Guards, with six senior commanders among the casualties. This attack was the deadliest since the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). The Sunni rebel group Jundollah claimed responsibility, while Iran accused the United States and United Kingdom of supporting terrorism by backing the group.
  • 19 Oct 2009 UN Investigators Challenge Afghan Election Results: United Nations-backed electoral fraud investigators invalidated approximately one-third of President Hamid Karzai's votes, necessitating a runoff in the Afghan presidential election and raising significant questions about the electoral process's integrity.
  • 20 Oct 2009 US Supreme Court to Rule on Guantanamo Prisoner Release: The Supreme Court of the United States agreed to deliberate on whether federal courts have the authority to release prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, a significant legal and human rights decision.
  • 21 Oct 2009 IAEA Proposes Nuclear Draft Agreement: The International Atomic Energy Agency proposed a draft agreement with Iran and three other world powers to address international concerns about Tehran's nuclear program.
  • 22 Oct 2009 China's Economic Growth Accelerates: China's economy experienced robust growth, expanding by 8.9% in the third quarter compared to the previous year, marking the fastest economic pace in one year.
  • 23 Oct 2009 UK Economy Continues Contraction: The United Kingdom's GDP contracted by 0.4% between July and September, marking six consecutive quarters of economic decline - the first such sustained contraction since record-keeping began in 1955.
  • 24 Oct 2009 A plot to assassinate President of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov was stopped.
  • 25 Oct 2009 Baghdad Double Suicide Bombing: A devastating double suicide car bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, targeted the ministry of justice and a provincial government office near the heavily fortified Green Zone, resulting in at least 155 fatalities and over 520 injuries. This was the deadliest terrorist attack in Iraq in two years, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region.
  • 26 Oct 2009 Karadzic Boycotts War Crimes Trial: Radovan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb leader, refuses to attend his own trial at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague.
  • 27 Oct 2009 Austrian University Student Protests for Free Education: Austrian universities experienced widespread grassroots occupations, with significant student movements in Vienna, Graz, and Linz, ultimately leading to advocacy for free education for all students.
  • 28 Oct 2009 Peshawar Market Bombing: A devastating car bomb exploded in a crowded market in Peshawar, Pakistan, causing massive casualties. The terrorist attack killed 120 people and injured at least 200, marking one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in the region during 2009.
  • 29 Oct 2009 US Economy Emerges from Recession: The United States officially exited recession in the third quarter of 2009, with the economy experiencing a growth rate of 3.5%, signaling economic recovery after the global financial crisis.
  • 30 Oct 2009 Healthcare Reform Bill Unveiled: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced a comprehensive healthcare reform bill featuring a public insurance option and a new tax on wealthy Americans to fund the initiative, marking a significant moment in U.S. healthcare policy.
  • 31 Oct 2009 Death of Qian Xuesen, Renowned Chinese Scientist: Qian Xuesen, a pioneering Chinese scientist known for his significant contributions to aerospace engineering and rocket science, passed away. Often called the 'Father of Chinese Rocketry', Xuesen played a crucial role in developing China's space and missile programs.