- Global Financial Crisis: Subprime mortgage crisis in the United States triggered a series of bank failures, leading to a global recession.
- Olympic Games: The Summer Olympics were hosted in Beijing, China, amidst concerns over human rights, the environment, and air quality.
- Russia-Georgia Conflict: Russia invaded Georgia after Georgia attempted to retake control of the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
- Financial Bailouts: The U.S. government bailed out major banks to prevent further collapse of the financial system.
- Mumbai Attacks: A series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, killed more than 170 people and injured hundreds.
- Sichuan Earthquake: A magnitude 8.0 earthquake in China's Sichuan province caused significant damage and loss of life.
- Pope Benedict XVI Resigns: Pope Benedict XVI resigned from his position, becoming the first pope to do so in nearly 600 years. Pope Francis was elected as his successor.
- Barack Obama Elected President: Barack Obama became the first African-American president of the United States, succeeding George W. Bush.
- Spacecraft Landings: China's Chang'e 1 lunar probe successfully landed on the moon, and India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft entered lunar orbit.
- European Economic Crisis: The financial crisis in Europe intensified, leading to austerity measures and concerns over the future of the eurozone.