THE YEAR THAT WAS

One of the most important international events that grabbed the headlines was the election of a black as the President of the US. The world looked at him with new hope. The death of Michael Jackson shortly before he was to perform at a live show in London left his fans in a state of shock. Unbelievable though it is, the star died in debt. The Copenhagen summit on climate change saw a major conflict between developed nations and Third World countries. India and China figured prominently in the talks. Sri Lanka heaved a sigh of relief following the killing of V Prabhakaran at the hands of the army. The good news for India was Venkatraman Ramakrishnan being declared the joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry

Barack Obama created history when he became the first black President of the US.

Barack Obama created history when he became the first black President of the US. — AFP

 

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, a structural biologist, got the Nobel for his study of the structure and function of the ribosome.
Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, a structural biologist, got the Nobel for his study of the structure and function of the ribosome. — PTI

 

People walk past a globe — part of a “Cool Globe” exhibition — symbolising the fight against global warming and climate change in Copenhagen.
People walk past a globe — part of a “Cool Globe” exhibition — symbolising the fight against global warming and climate change in Copenhagen. — AFP

 

King of pop Michael Jackson died at 52 in June this year, leaving a void in the world of music.
King of pop Michael Jackson died at 52 in June this year, leaving a void in the world of music.

 

The Sri Lankan army achieved major success when it killed LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran
The Sri Lankan army achieved major success when it killed LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran — PTI

 

Nineteen-year-old shuttler Saina Nehwal became the first Indian woman to win a Super Series title, the highest category in badminton on a par with a Grand Slam victory in tennis
Nineteen-year-old shuttler Saina Nehwal became the first Indian woman to win a Super Series title, the highest category in badminton on a par with a Grand Slam victory in tennis.

 

A.R. Rahman won the Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Song for ‘Jai Ho’ in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.
A.R. Rahman won the Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Song for ‘Jai Ho’ in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. Photo: Reuters

 

Resul Pookutty added another Oscar to India’s kitty for sound mixing in Slumdog Millionaire.
Resul Pookutty added another Oscar to India’s kitty for sound mixing in Slumdog Millionaire. Photo AP/PTI

 

As promised, Ratan Tata delivered the world’s cheapest car.
As promised, Ratan Tata delivered the world’s cheapest car. Photo Manas Ranjan Bhui

 

As on December 20, 2009, as many as 782 lives in India were lost to the H1N1 influenza, reported the office of the Director-General of Health Services.
As on December 20, 2009, as many as 782 lives in India were lost to the H1N1 influenza, reported the office of the Director-General of Health Services. Photo: PTI

 

B. Ramalinga Raju, former chairman of Satyam Computers, committed a fraud worth Rs 7,136 crore
B. Ramalinga Raju, former chairman of Satyam Computers, committed a fraud worth Rs 7,136 crore

 

On July 2, the Delhi High Court legalised gay sex among consenting adults, ruling that Section 377 of the IPC, which treats such acts as a criminal offence, runs counter to people’s fundamental rights to personal liberty, equality and non-discrimination guaranteed under the Constitution.
On July 2, the Delhi High Court legalised gay sex among consenting adults, ruling that Section 377 of the IPC, which treats such acts as a criminal offence, runs counter to people’s fundamental rights to personal liberty, equality and non-discrimination guaranteed under the Constitution. Photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui

 

The elections in Haryana saw Bhupinder Singh Hooda on a shaky wicket. He had to take the support of Independents and his bete noire Kuldeep Singh Bishnoi’s Haryana Janhit Party to form a government.
The elections in Haryana saw Bhupinder Singh Hooda on a shaky wicket. He had to take the support of Independents and his bete noire Kuldeep Singh Bishnoi’s Haryana Janhit Party to form a government.

 

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