The 1980s

1981 45 years ago

The first game of the 1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand and the United States is held in Gisborne, New…

The 1981 South African rugby tour polarised opinions and inspired widespread protests across New Zealand. The controversy also extended to the United States, where the South Africa…

The first game of the 1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand and the United States is held in Gisborne, New…

1981 45 years ago

The Washington Star ceases all operations after 128 years of publication.

The Washington Star, previously known as the Washington Star-News and the Washington Evening Star, was a daily afternoon newspaper published in Washington, D.C., between 1852 and 1…

The Washington Star ceases all operations after 128 years of publication.

1981 45 years ago

The IBM Personal Computer is released.

The IBM Personal Computer, often referred to as the IBM PC, is the first microcomputer released in the IBM PC model line and the basis for the IBM PC compatible de facto standard. …

The IBM Personal Computer is released.

1981 45 years ago

The Assemblée Nationale votes to abolish capital punishment in France.

The National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral French Parliament under the Fifth Republic, the upper house being the Senate. The National Assembly's legislators are know…

The Assemblée Nationale votes to abolish capital punishment in France.

1981 45 years ago

More than 100 workers are exposed to radiation during repairs of at the Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant in Japan

The Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant is located in the city of Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by the Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC). The total site area is 5.12 sq…

More than 100 workers are exposed to radiation during repairs of at the Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant in Japan

1981 45 years ago

Bobby Sands dies in the Long Kesh prison hospital after 66 days of hunger-striking, aged 27

Robert Gerard Sands was a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) who died on hunger strike while imprisoned at HM Prison Maze in Northern Ireland. Sands helped to pl…

Bobby Sands dies in the Long Kesh prison hospital after 66 days of hunger-striking, aged 27

1981 45 years ago

The Italian government releases the membership list of Propaganda Due, an illegal pseudo-Masonic lodge that was implicat

Propaganda Due was a Masonic lodge, founded in 1877, within the tradition of Continental Freemasonry and under the authority of Grand Orient of Italy. Its Masonic charter was withd…

The Italian government releases the membership list of Propaganda Due, an illegal pseudo-Masonic lodge that was implicat

1981 45 years ago

Transamerica Corporation agrees to sell United Artists to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $380 million after the box office fail

Transamerica Corporation is an American holding company for various life insurance companies and investment firms operating primarily in the United States, offering life and supple…

Transamerica Corporation agrees to sell United Artists to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $380 million after the box office fail

1981 45 years ago

Ecuadorian president Jaime Roldós Aguilera, his wife, and his presidential committee die in an aircraft accident while t

Jaime Roldós Aguilera was an Ecuadorian politician who was the 33rd President of Ecuador from August 10, 1979 until his death on May 24, 1981. In his short tenure, he became known …

Ecuadorian president Jaime Roldós Aguilera, his wife, and his presidential committee die in an aircraft accident while t

1981 45 years ago

Anestis Agritis, Greek footballer

Anestis Agritis is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Anestis Agritis, Greek footballer

1981 45 years ago

Maya Dunietz, Israeli singer-songwriter and pianist

Maya Dunietz, is an Israeli musician and artist, combining a solo career with collaborations with renowned musicians: Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, Roscoe Mitchell, John Tilbury, H…

Maya Dunietz, Israeli singer-songwriter and pianist

1981 45 years ago

Matthieu Proulx, Canadian football player

Matthieu Proulx is a former safety with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Matthieu Proulx, Canadian football player

1981 45 years ago

Jenny Meadows, English runner

Jennifer Brenda "Jenny" Meadows is a retired British athlete. Her main event was the 800 metres although earlier in her career she also competed over the 400 metres. In the 800 m s…

Jenny Meadows, English runner

1981 45 years ago

In Riyadh, the Gulf Cooperation Council is created between Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Ara

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi …

In Riyadh, the Gulf Cooperation Council is created between Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Ara

1981 45 years ago

Italian Prime Minister Arnaldo Forlani and his coalition cabinet resign following a scandal over membership of the pseud

The prime minister of Italy, officially the president of the Council of Ministers, is the head of government of the Italian Republic. The office of president of the Council of Mini…

Italian Prime Minister Arnaldo Forlani and his coalition cabinet resign following a scandal over membership of the pseud

1981 45 years ago

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that five people in

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) is a series of epidemiological science periodicals published by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).…

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that five people in

1981 45 years ago

The first of the Indiana Jones film franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark, is released in theaters

Indiana Jones is an American media franchise consisting of five films and a prequel television series, along with games, comics, and tie-in novels. The franchise centers on the adv…

The first of the Indiana Jones film franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark, is released in theaters

1981 45 years ago

At the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London, a teenager, Marcus Sarjeant, fires six blank shots at Queen Elizabeth II

Trooping the Colour is a ceremonial event performed every year on Horse Guards Parade in London, United Kingdom, by regiments of Household Division, to celebrate the official birth…

At the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London, a teenager, Marcus Sarjeant, fires six blank shots at Queen Elizabeth II

1981 45 years ago

Hanna Pakarinen, Finnish singer-songwriter

Hanna Helena Pakarinen is a Finnish pop and pop-rock singer who rose to fame as the winner of the first series of the Finnish singing competition Idols in 2004. Since then, she has…

Hanna Pakarinen, Finnish singer-songwriter

1981 45 years ago

Ryan Raburn, American baseball player

Ryan Neil Raburn is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies and Wa…

Ryan Raburn, American baseball player

1981 45 years ago

Chris Thompson, English runner

Christopher Peter Thompson is a British former long-distance runner, who won the silver medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, on 27 …

Chris Thompson, English runner

1981 45 years ago

Zhang Yaokun, Chinese footballer

Zhang Yaokun is a retired Chinese footballer.

Zhang Yaokun, Chinese footballer

1981 45 years ago

Hayden Christensen, Canadian actor

Hayden Christensen is a Canadian actor. He gained recognition for his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader in the Star Wars media franchise. He first appeared in the prequel…

Hayden Christensen, Canadian actor

1981 45 years ago

US President Ronald Reagan awards the Congressional Gold Medal to Ken Taylor, Canada's former ambassador to Iran, for he

Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. A member of the Republican Party, he became an im…

US President Ronald Reagan awards the Congressional Gold Medal to Ken Taylor, Canada's former ambassador to Iran, for he