Historical timeline for January 3

The United States conducts airstrikes across northern Venezuela, including the capital Caracas and captures Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores.

At least 91 people are killed in bombings in Kerman, Iran, during a ceremony commemorating the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani four years earlier.

Singapore's Jurong Bird Park permanently closes.

Iranian General Qasem Soleimani is killed by an American airstrike near Baghdad International Airport, igniting global concerns of a potential armed conflict.

Chang'e 4 makes the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon, deploying the Yutu-2 lunar rover.

For the first time in history, all five major storm surge gates in the Netherlands are closed simultaneously in the wake of a storm.

In response to the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, Iran ends its diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.

Boko Haram militants destroy the entire town of Baga in north-east Nigeria, starting the Baga massacre and killing as many as 2,000 people.

The first block of the blockchain of the decentralized payment system Bitcoin, called the Genesis block, is established by the creator of the system, Satoshi Nakamoto.

Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashes into the Red Sea, resulting in 148 deaths, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Egyptian history.

Israeli–Palestinian conflict: Israeli forces seize the Palestinian freighter Karine A in the Red Sea, finding 50 tons of weapons.

The Mars Polar Lander is launched by NASA.

Baikal Airlines Flight 130 crashes near Mamoney, Irkutsk, Russia, resulting in 125 deaths.

In Moscow, Russia, George H. W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin sign the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

CommutAir Flight 4821 crashes on approach to Adirondack Regional Airport, in Saranac Lake, New York, killing two people.

United States invasion of Panama: Manuel Noriega, former leader of Panama, surrenders to American forces.

Varig Flight 797 crashes near Akouré in the Ivory Coast, resulting in 50 deaths.

Apple Computer is incorporated.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, comes into force.

Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro.