January 21, 2009 (Wednesday)
- The United States Senate confirms Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. (New York Times)
- Toyota surpasses General Motors to become the world's largest automaker. (Reuters)
- BHP Billiton announces it will cut 6,000 jobs worldwide, including 3,300 in Australia. (ABC News Australia)
- United States President Barack Obama halts the trials of detainees at Guantánamo Bay Naval Base's detention camp. (Reuters)
- Despite a ceasefire in its conflict with Israel, Hamas fires eight mortar shells into the country. (Haaretz)
- The United Kingdom reports that 1.92 million Britons were unemployed in December 2008. (Sky News)
- China Central Television omits sensitive portions of U.S. President Obama's inaugural address. (MSNBC)
- President of Ireland Mary McAleese signs a bill confirming the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank. (RTÉ)
- The missing engine from US Airways Flight 1549 is found at the bottom of the Hudson River. (CNN)