21st century

====2008====
* [[January 1]] – [[Cyprus]] and [[Malta]] adopt the [[euro]] currency.<ref name="vgEan">[http://www.euractiv.com/en/euro/cyprus-malta-set-join-eurozone-2008/article-163836 Cyprus and Malta set to join eurozone in 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130041939/http://www.euractiv.com/en/euro/cyprus-malta-set-join-eurozone-2008/article-163836 |date=January 30, 2009}}, EurActiv</ref><ref name="qxkbC">[http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1198764121.53/ Akrotiri and Dhekelia adopt the euro], EUbusiness ([[ISO 4217]] code: VEF). {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706103838/http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1198764121.53/ |date=July 6, 2009}}</ref>
* [[January 14]] -; At 19:04:39 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], the uncrewed [[MESSENGER]] [[space probe]] is at its closest approach during its first flyby of the planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]].<ref name="45JNK">{{cite web
  | url          = http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/mer_flyby1.html
  | title        = Mercury Flyby 1
  | access-date  = 2008-01-12
  | publisher    = [[Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory]]
  | url-status   = dead
  | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516045507/http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/mer_flyby1.html
  | archive-date = May 16, 2008
  }}</ref>
* [[January 21]]
**Stock markets around the world plunge amid growing fears of a U.S. [[recession|Great Recession]], fueled by the 2007 [[subprime mortgage crisis]].<ref name="UdyTv">{{Cite news
  | author1      = Landler, Mark
  | author2      = Timmons, Heather
  | url          = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/business/22stox-web.html
  | title        = Stocks Plunge Worldwide on Fears of a U.S. Recession
  | date         = January 21, 2008
  | work         = The New York Times
  | access-date  = November 21, 2008
  | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081211195300/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/business/22stox-web.html
  | archive-date = December 11, 2008
  | url-status   = live
  }}</ref>
**[[Online activist]] group [[Anonymous (hacker group)|Anonymous]] initiates [[Project Chanology]], after a [[News leak|leaked interview]] of [[Tom Cruise]] by the [[Church of Scientology]] is published on [[YouTube]], and the Church of Scientology issued a [[DMCA takedown|"copyright infringement" claim]]. In response, Anonymous sympathizers took to the streets to [[protest]] outside the church (after February 10), while the church's websites and centres were getting [[DoS attacks]], [[Prank call|phone line nukes]], and [[black faxes]].<ref name="sx8F7">{{Cite web|date=2011-05-10|title=Hackers Declare War on Scientology – Science News {{!}} Science & Technology {{!}} Technology News - FOXNews.com|website=[[Fox News]]|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,325586,00.html|access-date=2021-03-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510074500/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,325586,00.html|archive-date=May 10, 2011}}</ref><ref name="vOwe0">{{Cite web
  | date         = 2008-03-23
  | title        = From The Magazine : Radar Online : Scientology is under attack from a faceless cabal of online activists. Has America's most controversial religion finally met its match?
  | url          = http://www.radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2008/03/scientology_anonymous_protests_tom_cruise_01.php
  | access-date  = 2021-03-12
  | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080323063402/http://www.radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2008/03/scientology_anonymous_protests_tom_cruise_01.php
  | archive-date = March 23, 2008
  }}</ref><ref name="phLJJ">{{Cite web
  | date        = 2012-09-21
  | title       = "Anonymous" threatens to "dismantle" Church of Scientology via intern…
  | url        = http://apcmag.com/anonymous_threatens_to_dismantle_church_of_scientology_via_internet.htm
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120921005702/http://apcmag.com/anonymous_threatens_to_dismantle_church_of_scientology_via_internet.htm
  | url-status  = dead
  | archive-date = 2012-09-21
  | access-date = 2021-03-12
  | website     = archive.ph
  }}</ref><ref name="waVoL">{{Cite web|date=2008-08-21|title=Hacker Group Declares War On Scientology – News Story – KNBC {{!}} Los Angeles|url=http://www.knbc.com/news/15132759/detail.html|access-date=2021-03-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821132355/http://www.knbc.com/news/15132759/detail.html|archive-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref><ref name="muTyR">{{Cite news
  | last        = MAR
  | title       = Online group declares war on Scientology
  | newspaper   = National Post
  | language    = en-CA
  | url        = http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=261308
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20080128145858/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=261308
  | url-status  = dead
  | archive-date = 2008-01-28
  | access-date = 2021-03-12
  | issn        = 1486-8008
  }}</ref><ref name="LwGGz">{{Cite magazine
  | title       = War Breaks Out Between Hackers and Scientology – There Can Be Only One
  | language    = en-us
  | magazine        = Wired
  | url         = https://www.wired.com/2008/01/anonymous-attac/
  | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211014/https://www.wired.com/2008/01/anonymous-attac/
  | archive-date=2021-10-14  
  | access-date = 2021-03-12
  | issn        = 1059-1028
  }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="LqoSy">{{Cite web|date=2008-07-05|title=Anonymous Versus Scientology: Cyber Criminals or Vigilante Justice? {{!}} The Legality|url=http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22|access-date=2021-03-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705202321/http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22|archive-date=July 5, 2008}}</ref><ref name="yECdo">{{Cite web
  | date         = 2008-03-28
  | title        = Group Lines Road To Protest Church Of Scientology – Orlando News Story – WKMG Orlando
  | url          = http://www.local6.com/news/15205679/detail.html
  | access-date  = 2021-03-12
  | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080328184704/http://www.local6.com/news/15205679/detail.html
  | archive-date = March 28, 2008
  }}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=December 2022}}
* [[February 16]] – [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|Kosovo unilaterally declares independence]] from [[Serbia]]. Serbia refuses to recognize it and considers Kosovo as part of its territory.
* [[February 18]] – [[WikiLeaks]] releases [[allegations]] of [[Tax evasion|illegal activities]] carried out by the [[Cayman Islands]] branch of [[Swiss banking]] corporation [[Julius Baer Group|Julius Baer]]; a subsequent [[Bank Julius Baer v. WikiLeaks|lawsuit against WikiLeaks]] prompts a [[Web domain|temporary suspension]] of the website, but uproar about violations of [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|freedom of speech]] causes WikiLeaks to be brought back online.<ref name="UHHp2">{{Cite magazine
  | title       = Cayman Islands Bank Gets Wikileaks Taken Offline in U.S. – Updated with Links
  | language    = en-us
  | magazine        = Wired
  | url         = https://www.wired.com/2008/02/cayman-island-b/
  | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211014/https://www.wired.com/2008/02/cayman-island-b/
  | archive-date=2021-10-14  
  | access-date = 2021-03-09
  | issn        = 1059-1028
  }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="L7ZF1">{{Cite news
  | last        = Gollner
  | first       = Philipp
  | date        = 2008-02-29
  | title       = Judge reverses ruling in Julius Baer leak case
  | language    = en
  | work        = Reuters
  | url         = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baer-idUSN2927431720080229
  | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211014/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baer-idUSN2927431720080229
  |  archive-date=2021-10-14  
  | access-date = 2021-03-09
  }}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* [[August 1]] – [[August 12|12]] – [[Russo-Georgian War|An armed conflict]] is fought between [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and the [[Russian Federation]] together with [[Ossetians|Ossetian]] and [[Abkhazians|Abkhazian]] separatists on the other. Russia officially [[International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia|recognizes]] independence of [[Abkhazia]] and [[South Ossetia]].
* [[November 4]] – [[Barack Obama]] is [[2008 United States presidential election|elected]] as the first African-American [[president of the United States]]. He is sworn into office in [[January 20]], 2009.