Editing 1979 (section)

===January===
{{main|January 1979}}
* [[January 1]]
** [[United Nations Secretary-General]] [[Kurt Waldheim]] heralds the start of the ''[[International Year of the Child]]''.<ref>{{cite book|author=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Regional Centre for Culture and Book Development in Asia|title=Newsletter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LH6ezAgKysQC|year=1979|page=3}}</ref> Many musicians donate to the ''[[Music for UNICEF Concert]]'' fund, among them [[ABBA]], who write the song ''[[Chiquitita]]'' to commemorate the event.
** In 1979, the United States officially severed diplomatic ties with the [[Republic of China]] ([[Taiwan]]). This decision marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, turning to view the People's Republic of [[China]] as the sole legitimate representative of China.
** The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full [[Sino-American relations|diplomatic relations]].
** Following a deal agreed during 1978, [[France|French]] carmaker [[Peugeot]] completes a takeover of American manufacturer [[Chrysler]]'s [[Chrysler Europe|European operations]], which are based in [[United Kingdom|Britain]]'s former [[Rootes Group]] factories, as well as the former [[Simca]] factories in [[France]].
* [[January 6]] – [[Geylang Bahru family murders]]: Four children, aged five to ten, are brutally killed in [[Geylang Bahru]], [[Singapore]].
* [[January 7]] – [[Cambodian–Vietnamese War]]: The [[People's Army of Vietnam]] and Vietnamese-backed [[Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation|Cambodian insurgents]] announce the fall of [[Phnom Penh]], [[Cambodia]], and the collapse of the [[Pol Pot]] regime. Pol Pot and the [[Khmer Rouge]] retreat west to an area along the [[Thailand|Thai]] border, ending large-scale fighting. 
* [[January 8]] – [[Whiddy Island Disaster]]: The French tanker ''Betelgeuse'' explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at [[Bantry]], Ireland; 50 people are killed.
* [[January 9]] – The ''[[Music for UNICEF Concert]]'' is held at the [[United Nations General Assembly]] to raise money for [[UNICEF]] and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by the [[Bee Gees]], other performers include [[Donna Summer]], [[ABBA]], [[Rod Stewart]] and [[Earth, Wind & Fire]]. A soundtrack album is later released.
* [[January 16]] – Shah [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]] flees [[Iran]] with his family, relocating to [[Egypt]] after a year of turmoil.
* [[January 19]] – Former U.S. Attorney General [[John N. Mitchell]] is released on [[parole]] after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama.
* [[January 22]] – [[Uganda–Tanzania War]]: [[Battle of Mutukula]]: The [[Tanzania]]n military captures the [[Uganda]]n border town of [[Mutukula, Uganda|Mutukula]] after a short battle.
* [[January 25]] – [[Pope John Paul II]] arrives in Mexico City for his first visit to Mexico, mainly for 1979's [[Latin American Episcopal Conference]] (CELAM) or Conference of [[Puebla]].
* [[January 28]] – [[Deng Xiaoping]] arrives in Washington, D.C., for the [[State visit by Deng Xiaoping to the United States|first visit]] of a [[paramount leader]] of the People's Republic of China to the United States.