January 2, 2009 (Friday)
- A Swedish charter aircraft carrying 150 passengers touches down at Baghdad International Airport, becoming the first European commercial flight to land there since 1990. (AFP via Google News)
- 2008 SLA Northern offensive: The Sri Lankan Army captures the Tamil Tigers' de facto capital of Kilinochchi. (BBC)
- Ethiopia withdraws its military forces from Somalia after two years of helping the Transitional Federal Government combat insurgents. (BBC)
- Luis Fortuño is sworn in as Governor of Puerto Rico. (AP)