January 8, 2009 (Thursday)
- The United States Congress certifies the results of the 2008 presidential election, confirming Barack Obama as President-elect. (Fox News)
- Pakistan confirms that Ajmal Amir, the last surviving participant in the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai, India, is a Pakistani citizen, but dismisses National Security Advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani for making the admission. (CNN-IBN)
- 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict:
- Several rockets fired from Lebanon strike the Israeli city of Nahariya. Hezbollah denies responsibility for the attack. (Sky News)
- The United Nations suspends humanitarian aid operations in Gaza after receiving fire from the Israel Defense Forces. (BBC)
- The UN Security Council votes, with the United States abstaining, to adopt Resolution 1860, which calls for a ceasefire in the conflict. However, Israel and Hamas continue their actions. (UNNewsCentre) (Sky News)
- The Bank of England cuts interest rates to 1.5 percent, its lowest level in its 315-year history. (BBC)
- Russia and Ukraine agree to resend natural gas through pipelines to Europe. (AP)
- Lasantha Wickrematunge is assassinated in Sri Lanka (Guardian)
- The Sri Lankan Army recaptures the village of Pallai from the Tamil Tigers in an effort to reach the Jaffna Peninsula. (CNN)
- North Korea announces it will hold its delayed parliamentary election on March 8. (CNN)