Other Notable Events, January 5

In 1998, U.S. Rep. Sonny Bono, R-Calif., of Sonny and Cher fame, was killed when he hit a tree while skiing at South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

In 2000, the Clinton administration decided that Elian Gonzalez, a 6-year-old Cuban refugee whose mother drowned while trying to enter the United States, should be returned to his father in Cuba. The next day, hundreds of Cuban-Americans marched in protest in Miami.

In 2002, a 15-year-old student pilot, flying alone, was killed when he crashed his single-engine Cessna into the 28th floor of the Bank of America building in Tampa, Fla. No one else was hurt.

In 2005, at least 24 people were killed in two car bomb explosions in Iraq in mounting violence ahead of upcoming elections.

Also in 2005, Eris, the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system, was discovered.

And in 2005, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan launched a $977 million emergency appeal to cover six months of aid for 5 million victims of the Southeast Asia tsunami.

In 2006, at least 134 people were killed in two car bombings in Iraq and more than 120 others were wounded in a second day of heavy violence.

In 2007, U.S. President George W. Bush named Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte to become deputy secretary of state and retired Adm. John McConnell to replace him at the national intelligence directorate.

Also in 2007, 43 people died in a two-day series of militant assaults on migrants, mostly milkmen, in two districts of India.

In 2008, tribal violence following the disputed Kenya presidential election claimed almost 500 lives, officials said. Turmoil exploded after incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner over opposition candidate Raila Odinga, who had a wide early lead.

In 2009, Leon Panetta, the former California congressman and chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, was chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be head of the CIA.

Also in 2009, Israeli troops, in a massive air, land and sea assault, pushed deeper into Gaza, seizing control of rocket-launching areas surrounding the city of Gaza, even as Israel pledged to allow humanitarian aid into the strip.

In 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama said intelligence officials failed to act on information they had on a terror suspect who boarded a Detroit-bound airliner with explosives and tried unsuccessfully to blow up the plane as it neared its destination on Christmas Day.

In 2011, the 112th U.S. Congress convened with surging Republicans, buoyed by an infusion of conservative newcomers with Tea Party support, taking command of the House and Democrats retaining control of the Senate. Freshman GOP House members totaled 82, the party's largest rookie class in nearly 90 years.

In 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama and Defense Department leaders unveiled a new national defense strategy they said would prepare the military for 21st-century challenges. Obama told the Pentagon he wanted a leaner military.

Also in 2013, at least 72 people were killed in sectarian bombings in Iraq, including 48 Shiite pilgrims who died in a suicide attack while preparing for a holy day.

And, human rights groups said 39 people in three villages were killed by Rwandan rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.