1981 in History

Plays on Abacab as Genesis adopts a cleaner and more modern early-1980s sound.

Chan Sy becomes Acting Prime Minister after Pen Sovan's removal

Under Satish Dhawan, APPLE is launched as India's experimental geostationary communication satellite.

Pen Sovan is appointed Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Kampuchea

PMOI conflict with the authorities escalates after Banisadr's impeachment and the suppression of opposition demonstrations

Walesa is arrested by Jaruzelski, who fears Polish invasion

Walesa is arrested by Jaruzelski, who fears Polish invasion

Arrested for 8 yrs for corruption

Arrests 3/4 of the Solidarity leadership

Khamenei is badly wounded when a bomb hidden in a tape recorder explodes during a speech in Tehran

Is assassinated by Islamist army officers during a military parade in Cairo.

Assassinated by extremist Muslim soldiers

Death of Jaime Roldos Aguilera, killed by terrorists in an air-crash

Rajai is killed in the Prime Minister's office bombing

Bahonar is killed when a bomb explodes at the prime minister's office in Tehran

Bahonar is assassinated in the bombing of the prime minister's office

Bahonar is assassinated in the prime minister's office bombing

Wounded alongside President Reagan in an assassination attempt

Israeli bombers destroy PLO/al-Fatah headquarters in Beirut

Israeli bombers destroy PLO/al-Fatah headquarters in Beirut

Israeli planes bomb a nuclear power plant near Iraq, the act is condemned by the UN

Israeli F-16 fighter-bombers destroy a nuclear power plant in Iraq at Osirak, Iraq, before it goes into operation, a facility the Israelis charged could have been used to make nuclear weapons

Bombed by Israel to prevent Iraq developing nuclear weapons

Discusses nuclear missiles, European security and arms negotiations with Helmut Schmidt.

Travels to West Germany for discussions with Chancellor Helmut Schmidt during renewed East-West tensions.

Fakouri is killed in the Iranian Air Force C-130 crash after returning from the front

Fallahi is killed when a returning Iranian military C-130 crashes near Kahrizak

Jahanara is killed in the C-130 crash while returning from the southwest war front

Namjoo is killed in the C-130 crash with other senior military commanders

Pym becomes leader of the Commons, Nott Defence Secretary & Britain Chief Sec

Lawson, Tebbit & Parkinson join the Cabinet & Prior becomes the Northern Ireland Sec

Addresses the Commons concerning the Canvey Island planning inquiry.

Israel annexes the Golan Heights, seized from Syria in 1967, Parliament approves the annexation of the Golan Heights with legislation in one day

Israel & the PLO endorse ceasefire agreements

Appointed Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP)

Appointed Chairman of Solidarity

Hua Guofeng is replaced by Hu Yaobang (an ally of Deng Xiaoping) as as Party Chairman of Communist China

Khomeini removes Banisadr from command of the armed forces as the political struggle with clerical leaders deepens

Completes his term as President of the European Commission.

Ends four years as President of the European Commission.

Arrives in Melbourne for the Commonwealth Conference

Contributes percussion and songwriting to Computer World.

Performs electronic percussion on Computer World.

Releases Computer World, predicting everyday life shaped by data, networks and machines.

Shapes Computer World's computerised speech, rhythm and information-age themes.

Diouf becomes President of the Senegambia Confederation with Gambia

Arrives in Melbourne for the Commonwealth Conference

Congratulates Reagan on his election victory & invites him to Britain for discussions

Solidaritys 1st national congress

Voters approve the new constitution giving sweeping powers to President Marcos

Proposes a major reconstruction of the Government to tackle economic problems

The attempted military coup fails when the King supports Constitutional Government

Forms a Cabinet, the 1st in Spain since 1939 without generals

Pen Sovan begins leading the Council of Ministers

The attempted military coup fails when the King supports Constitutional Government

Holds 300 members of the Cortes at gunpoint in a failed coup

Leads 200 civil guards in a takeover of the Cortes. Holds 300 members of the Cortes at gunpoint in a failed coup

Shot dead during a military coup

Gives Pulp's demo tape to John Peel at a Sheffield Polytechnic roadshow.

Visits Brezhnev & gives assurances he will end "anarchy & disarray" in Poland

Solidarity agree to a 3 month moratorium on strikes

700,000 students & workers go on strike against Party priveleges

Dismissed as Prime Minister after the Warsaw demonstrations & replaced by Jaruzelski

!st day of a weekend of riots in Brixton. Lord Scarman is later appointed to review the causes of the riots

Moss Side in Manchester experiences its first of 2 days disorder

Visits Liverpool and drives through the scene of the riots in Toxteth

Solidarity agree to a 3 month moratorium on strikes

Visits Brixton & expresses "extreme distress & horror"

Healey retains the Labour deputy leadership after defeating Tony Benn in the electoral-college ballot.

Karolos Papoulias is appointed Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Voyager 2 photographs bright wispy terrain across Dione's trailing hemisphere.

Dismisses 5 cabinet ministers

Dismisses 8 cabinet ministers

Dismissed as Prime Minister after the Warsaw demonstrations & replaced by Jaruzelski

Khomeini dismisses Banisadr from the presidency after the parliamentary vote against him

Criticises aspects of monetarist economic policy and the direction of Thatcherism.

The Act reduces individual income-tax rates and accelerates business depreciation allowances.

First spell as Thatchers full-time economic adviser between 1981 and 1983, expands the frontiers of influence for public servants, and maintaines the first Thatcher Governments adherence to monetarism

Elections for the tenth Knesset are held despite last minute polls suggesting a victory for Shimon Peres' Alignment

Menachem Begin's Likud wins by just one seat, voter turnout is 77.8%

Defeated by Mitterand in the 2nd round of the Presidential election

Healey defeats Tony Benn with just over 50 percent of the electoral-college vote.

Livingstone turns his attention to achieving a GLC Labour victory, exchanging his safe-seat in Hackney North for the marginal Inner London seat at Paddington; wins the seat by 2,397 votes. A Labour GLC election victory, with McIntosh installed as Head of the GLC; within 24 hours he would be deposed by members of his own party, replaced by Livingstone

A Labour GLC election victory, with McIntosh installed as Head of the GLC; within 24 hours he would be deposed by members of his own party, replaced by Livingstone

Wins 51.7% of the vote, 48.3% for Valery Giscard dEstaing

Elections for the tenth Knesset are held in Israel, despite last minute polls suggesting a victory for Shimon Peres Alignment, Menachem Begins Likud win by just one seat, voter turnout is 77.8%

The Social Democrats sustain heavy losses in West Berlin

Congratulates Reagan on his election victory & invites him to Britain for discussions

Receives recognition for methods revealing atomic and molecular energy levels.

The First Gro Harlem Brundtland Government ends in Oslo, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Norway.

The First to Fourth Martens Governments ends in Brussels, concluding this period as Prime Minister of Belgium.

The Odvar Nordli Government ends in Oslo, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Norway.

The Third Strougal Government ends in Prague, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia.

Greece becomes a member of the European Communities during Rallis's premiership.

Leads Liverpool to European Cup victory over Real Madrid.

Villa begins its first European Cup campaign with a decisive victory over Valur.

Supports stronger European political cooperation during the London European Council.

Release Face Dances with Kenney Jones on drums.

"Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated.

Livingstone got on board with a campaign known as "Keep Fares Fair" in order to bring about a change in the law that would make the Fares Fair policy legal; an alternate movement, "Cant Pay, Wont Pay", accused Livingstone of being a sell-out and insisted

The GLC appeal the "Fares Fair" court verdict, taking the case to the House of Lords but five Law Lords unanimously rule in favour of Bromley Borough Council, putting a permanent end to the Fares Fair policy, GLC transport chairman Dave Wetzel labelled the judges

that the GLC proceed with its policies regardless of their legality

Appointed Federal Vice Chancellor

Fighting breaks out between Lebanese christian militia & Syrian peacekeeping troops

Mitterrand represented France at a European Council soon after becoming President and reaffirmed France's role in Community affairs.

Begins the First Gro Harlem Brundtland Government in Oslo and serves as Prime Minister of Norway.

United States aircraft shoot down two Libyan fighters during naval exercises.

Records Pulp's first John Peel session at BBC Maida Vale studios.

Mousavi serves as foreign minister in the turbulent period before becoming prime minister

Receives a fourth Hero of the Soviet Union title late in his political career.

Begins the Fourth Strougal Government in Prague and serves as Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia.

Wins 6th French Open title. Winner of the French Menss Singles Tennis Championship, 6th time

Helps found the SDP with Jenkins, Shirley Williams and Bill Rodgers.

Helps form the SDP as one of the Gang of Four.

Joins Jenkins, David Owen and Bill Rodgers in the SDP breakaway.

Leads the National Party to another parliamentary election victory.

Co-authors the German-Italian initiative calling for progress toward European Union.

Heads the Italian government as the Genscher-Colombo initiative proposes stronger European political cooperation.

Helps submit the German-Italian Draft European Act proposing stronger political cooperation and progress toward European Union.

The Kinks release Give the People What They Want.

Deputy leader Illtyd Harrington said the administration was challenging the absurd cosmetic approach to Armageddon.

The GLC published the names of 3,000 politicians and administrators designated to survive a nuclear attack on London in underground bunkers.

The Livingstone administration declared London a nuclear-free zone and stopped the GLC's annual £1 million spending on nuclear-war defence plans.

Livingstone calls a caucus of his supporters; announcing his intent to challenge McIntoshs leadership, he invited those assembled to stand for other GLC posts, the meeting ends having agreed on a full slate of candidates then McIntosh holds a GLC Labour meeting; the attendees called an immediate leadership election, in which Livingstone defeated him by 30 votes to 20 & the entire left caucus slate is then elected

Deputy leader Illtyd Harrington said the administration was challenging the absurd cosmetic approach to Armageddon.

The GLC published the names of 3,000 politicians and administrators designated to survive a nuclear attack on London in underground bunkers.

The Livingstone administration declared London a nuclear-free zone and stopped the GLC's annual £1 million spending on nuclear-war defence plans.

A Labour GLC election victory, with McIntosh installed as Head of the GLC; within 24 hours he would be deposed by members of his own party, replaced by Livingstone

Cutler and the Conservatives learn of Livingstones plans, proclaiming that a GLC Labour victory would lead to a Marxist takeover of London and then Britain; the rightist press pick up the story, with the Daily Express using the headline of "Why We Must Stop These

Livingstone turns his attention to achieving a GLC Labour victory, exchanging his safe-seat in Hackney North for the marginal Inner London seat at Paddington; wins the seat by 2,397 votes.

Red Wreckers".

"Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated.

Livingstone got on board with a campaign known as "Keep Fares Fair" in order to bring about a change in the law that would make the Fares Fair policy legal; an alternate movement, "Cant Pay, Wont Pay", accused Livingstone of being a sell-out and insisted

The GLC appeal the "Fares Fair" court verdict, taking the case to the House of Lords but five Law Lords unanimously rule in favour of Bromley Borough Council, putting a permanent end to the Fares Fair policy, GLC transport chairman Dave Wetzel labelled the judges

that the GLC proceed with its policies regardless of their legality

Mc Intosh proclaims the GLC coup illegitimate, asserting that Labour was in danger from a leftist take-over.

This record states: Livingstone calls a caucus of his supporters. announcing his intent to challenge Mc Intoshs leadership, he invited those assembled to stand for other GLC posts.

This record states: Livingstone defeated him by 30 votes to 20 & the entire left caucus slate is then elected.

This record states: the meeting ends having agreed on a full slate of candidates then Mc Intosh holds a GLC Labour meeting. the attendees called an immediate leadership election, in which.

A Labour GLC election victory, with McIntosh installed as Head of the GLC; within 24 hours he would be deposed by members of his own party, replaced by Livingstone

The GLC appeal the "Fares Fair" court verdict, taking the case to the House of Lords but five Law Lords unanimously rule in favour of Bromley Borough Council, putting a permanent end to the Fares Fair policy, GLC transport chairman Dave Wetzel labelled the judges "Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated

Says that Russia is the primary source of danger to the world

Attempts to assassinate President Reagan. Arrested for shooting President Reagan & 2 of his aides

Inaugurated President of the USA, 40th President, 1st term. Fifty two American hostages are released from Iran

Announces plan to cut federal employment by 37,000

Announces plan to link welfare benits to work requirements

The US will send 15 Green Berets to El Salvador as military advisers

President Reagan & 3 aides are shot in an assassination attempt in Washington

Returns to the Whitehouse 12 after being shot

Ends curbs on grain exports to Russia

Expels all Libyan Diplomats due to Libyas support for terrorists

Offers to cancel Cruise & Pershing in Europe if Russia removs missiles on Europe

Introduces economic sanctions against Russia for making Poland to adopt martial law

Al-Khasawneh participates in government appointment connected with Jordanian political and historical developments.

Pen Sovan's government begins reconstruction under the PRK

John Lennon and Yoko Onos Double Fantasy wins Album of the Year for 1981 at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards

Takes part in Commons proceedings on transfer of Greater London Council housing.

Heads the government when Greece becomes the tenth member of the European Communities.

Serves as president when Greece enters the European Communities as their tenth member state.

Joins the leaders establishing the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Supports Saudi diplomacy during the council's creation.

Beheshti is killed in the bombing of the Islamic Republic Party headquarters

Mohammad Montazeri is among the parliamentarians and officials killed in the Islamic Republic Party headquarters bombing

Serious disturbances in Handsworth expose tensions involving policing, unemployment and deprivation.

The party adopts a historical resolution condemning the Cultural Revolution as a grave error

Hu Yaobang leads the party as it formally reassesses Mao's errors and the Cultural Revolution

The day after Jimmy Carter leaves Office the US hostages in Iran are released

Humbar Estuary Bridge, worlds longest span, 1.4 km, opens

Is inaugurated as Director General of the IAEA.

Begins sixteen years leading the international nuclear agency.

Majles votes that Banisadr is politically incompetent after his conflict with Khomeini and Islamic Republic Party leaders

Addresses Commons questions on increasing private-enterprise involvement in inner-city areas.

Mahdavi-Kani becomes interim prime minister after the deaths of Rajai and Bahonar

Mahdavi-Kani is appointed interim prime minister after the deaths of Rajai and Bahonar

Mahdavi-Kani leads an interim government after the Rajai-Bahonar assassination

Iranian assets are transferred under the Algiers agreements, including movement through a Bank of England account

Agrees with Margaret Thatcher to establish the Anglo-Irish inter-Governmental Council

Agrees with Garret FiitzGerald to establish an Anglo-Irish inter-Governmental Council

All 52 American hostages are released after the Algiers agreements take effect on Reagan's inauguration day

Iraq beats back Irans 1st major counteroffensive

Iran launches a major offensive on the central front with Iraq

An unauthorised landing on South Georgia by Argentine scrap-metal merchant Constantino Davidoff

An unauthorised landing on South Georgia by Argentine scrap-metal merchant Constantino Davidoff

Rezaei becomes commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during the war

Bahonar becomes the second prime minister of the Islamic Republic after the 1979 revolution

Bahonar serves as prime minister in the Islamic Republic government

Bahonar becomes secretary general of the Islamic Republic Party after Mohammad Beheshti is assassinated

Bahonar rises to party leadership after Beheshti is killed in the Hafte Tir bombing

Bahonar becomes secretary general of the Islamic Republic Party after Beheshti's assassination

Bahonar serves as prime minister and secretary general of the Islamic Republic Party

Bahonar combines senior government office with leadership of the Islamic Republic Party

Al-Khasawneh participates in jerusalem policy connected with Jordanian political and historical developments.

John Lennon and Yoko Onos Double Fantasy wins Album of the Year for 1981 at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards

PMOI supporters join major demonstrations against clerical rule as the confrontation with the Islamic Republic turns violent

Records a four-song Pulp demo at Studio Electrophonique that later helps secure a BBC session.

Mehmet Ali Agca claims he was working for the KGB

Mousavi becomes Prime Minister of Iran under President Ali Khamenei

Mousavi becomes prime minister within the Islamic Republic's clerical political order

Khomeini installs Khamenei as President of Iran after the October election

Zia-ul-Haq renames the Engineering Research Laboratories as Khan Research Laboratories in recognition of A. Q. Khan's work.

Begins the Kåre Willoch Government in Oslo and serves as Prime Minister of Norway.

Appointed Leader of the House of Commons

Tunisia held a legislative election allowing opposition lists to compete, although the ruling front won every seat.

Signs the Limehouse Declaration with other Labour defectors launching the SDP project.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning a ministerial visit to Liverpool.

After the Toxteth riots, becomes closely involved in developing a programme of regeneration for Liverpool.

Takes part in a substantial Commons debate on local-authority expenditure.

Directs Lola.

Represents Ireland as leaders consider budget disputes and renewed European integration.

Represents Greece at his first European Council after taking office as prime minister.

Represents Germany as leaders discuss the Community budget, agriculture and renewed European integration.

Represents newly admitted Greece at its first year of European Council participation.

Majles approves Mousavi as prime minister after Khomeini accepts him as a compromise candidate

Velayati fails to secure a parliamentary vote of confidence as Khamenei searches for a prime minister

Diannas engagement to Charles becomes official

The Council of National Salvation comes to power & declares martial law. The borders are sealed, a curfew imposed, broadcasting controlled. Strikes & assemblies are banned

The Government attempts to destroy the union with the martial law of 1981 and several years of repression, but in the end it had to start negotiating with the union. Jaruzelski declares martial law

John Paul II meets Lech Walesa at the Vatican

John Paul II meets Lech Walesa at the Vatican

Addresses the Commons on the Merseyside Development Corporation.

Metallica is formed by guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield and Danish-born drummer Lars Ulrich, after both had placed classified advertisements in the publication The Recycler about forming a band

Metallica is formed by guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield and Danish-born drummer Lars Ulrich, after both had placed classified advertisements in the publication The Recycler about forming a band

Torrelio succeeds Garcia Meza as head of the military government.

Serves as Minister of Education before becoming prime minister under Mohammad Ali Rajai

Sings on Mob Rules, the second studio album of the Dio-fronted Black Sabbath line-up.

Retains a commanding white parliamentary majority.

Banisadr becomes associated with the National Council of Resistance of Iran as an opposition coalition forms against the government

Banisadr joins opposition efforts around the National Council of Resistance of Iran

Banisadr helps establish the National Council of Resistance of Iran in exile

Rajavi helps form the National Council of Resistance of Iran as an umbrella opposition organisation

Rajavi helps establish the National Council of Resistance of Iran as an opposition coalition

Rajavi helps establish the National Council of Resistance of Iran as an exile opposition coalition

Uses the Twenty-Sixth Party Congress to call for another round of arms-control negotiations.

Council of State replaces the earlier revolutionary council framework

Addresses Commons questions on policy and expenditure for the new towns.

Shares the medicine prize for discoveries about visual information processing.

Shares the physics prize for high-resolution electron spectroscopy.

Fakouri supports the Abadan offensive through Iranian air force command

Fallahi helps direct the Iranian operation to relieve Abadan

Jahanara is associated with IRGC field activity in Khuzestan during the operation to break the Abadan siege

Khomeini backs the offensive that breaks the Iraqi siege of Abadan

Namjoo is involved in the command review of the successful Abadan operation

Khomeini supports the offensive that helps Iran retake Bostan from Iraqi forces

Rashid is assigned an operational command role in the offensive to retake Bostan

Rezaei supervises Revolutionary Guard planning for Operation Tariq al-Quds

Sayad Shirazi supervises army planning for the Bostan offensive

Addresses Commons questions on inner-city partnership committees.

Pen Sovan combines senior party status with the prime ministership

Leads the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party through its third congress

Heng Samrin consolidates senior state and party leadership after Pen Sovan's removal

Communist Party of Kampuchea renamed Party of Democratic Kampuchea

Appointed Party Secretary of the Communist Party

PASOK wins the election and prepares Greece's first socialist-led government.

Reagan dismisses striking air traffic controllers who refuse to return to work.

Israel & the PLO endorse ceasefire agreements

Iranian authorities blame the Peoples Mojahedin of Iran for the bombing that kills Bahonar

The PMOI is blamed by Iranian authorities for the bombing that kills Bahonar

Voyager 2 obtains the mission's first useful close spacecraft views of distant Phoebe.

Nick Mason releases his solo album, "Fictitious Sports" with help from Carla Bley and Robert Wyatt

Answers a parliamentary question concerning the planning appeals system.

Shot in the Vatican Sqr by a Turk, Mehmet Ali Agca. Mehmet Ali Agca claims he was working for the KGB

John Paul II visits Mehmet Ali Agca & forgives him

Pen Sovan's position weakens before his removal from office

Ne Win steps down as President while retaining party dominance

Appointed President of Argentina

Appointed President of Argentina

Appointed de facto President of Argentina after Roberto Eduardo Viola

Appointed de facto President of Argentina after Jorge Rafael Videla

Begins the constitutional presidential period established by the 1980 Constitution.

Appointed President of Ecuador after the death of Jaime Roldos

Assumes the presidency after a national referendum following Sadat's assassination.

Appointed President of France, 1st term

Khamenei takes office as president during wartime and internal political repression

Rajai takes office as President of Iran after winning the July election

Appointed president during the final phase of the civic-military dictatorship

Diouf becomes President after Senghor resigns

San Yu becomes President of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma

Khamenei wins the presidential election following the assassination of Mohammad Ali Rajai

Rajai wins the presidential election held after Banisadr's removal from office

Wins confirmation as President in a national referendum after Sadat's assassination.

Becomes acting President after Sadat's assassination and is confirmed by referendum.

Khamenei nominates Ali Akbar Velayati for prime minister, but the Majles does not approve him

Appointed Prime Minister of France

St John Stevas & Maude leave the Government

Andreas Papandreou is sworn in as Prime Minister after PASOK's election victory.

Bahonar becomes prime minister and leads the government until his assassination later in August

Bahonar takes office as prime minister before being assassinated later that month

Mahdavi-Kani serves as prime minister during the short interim government after the August bombing

Mahdavi-Kani serves as prime minister during the emergency transition after August 1981

Appointed Prime Minister of Iran after Majles approval and Khomeini's backing

Mousavi becomes Prime Minister of Iran and begins a wartime premiership lasting until 1989

Mousavi begins his premiership under President Ali Khamenei during the Iran-Iraq War

Appointed Prime Minister of Italy

Appointed Prime Minister of Norway, 1st term, Norways 1st woman Prime Minister

Appointed Prime Minister of Norway

Appointed Prime Minister of Poland

Appointed Prime Minister of Spain

Habib Thiam becomes Prime Minister under President Diouf

Keshmiri is identified by Iranian authorities as the infiltrator who carried the bomb into the prime minister's office

Announces proposals in the House of Commons to privatize British Gas. Announces proposals in the House of Commons to privatize BNOC

Unerwriting for the privatization of BNOC & British Gas is completed

The Bill to privatize British Gas & BNOC is published

Zia issues a Provisional Constitutional Order requiring judges to take a new oath.

Buys the English newspapers the Times & the Sunday Times

Bahonar becomes prime minister under President Mohammad Ali Rajai

Bahonar is appointed prime minister under President Mohammad Ali Rajai

Bahonar becomes prime minister under President Mohammad Ali Rajai

Khomeini confirms Rajai as president during the rapid transfer of power after Banisadr's dismissal

Addresses the Commons on review of the domestic rating system.

Jaruzelski makes concessions to Solidarity including the right to strike

Jaruzelski makes concessions to Solidarity including the right to strike

Polish farmers win the right to form an independent trades union

Pen Sovan is removed from the prime ministership after a short term

Resigns after top officials are linked to the "P2" masonic lodge

Gilmour, Carlisle & Soames leave the Government

Joe Gormley resigned as President of the NUM to be replaced by leftwinger Arthur Scargill

Forced to resign after 5 months of unrest

Garcia Meza resigns as military support for his dictatorship collapses.

Resigns due to ill health

Bahonar backs revolutionary cultural policy aimed at removing secular influence from universities

Israel annexes the Golan Heights, seized from Syria in 1967, Parliament approves the annexation of the Golan Heights with legislation in one day

Voyager 2 observations map fast zonal winds and persistent atmospheric features on Saturn.

Interprets Voyager observations of Saturn's moons and ring environment.

Studies Voyager observations of strange spoke-like markings in Saturn's rings.

Uses Voyager 2 imagery to examine fine structure in Saturn's rings.

Voyager 2 imagery resolves numerous narrow ringlets and changing structures within Saturn's rings.

One of the Gang of Four, former Labour ministers who found the SDP.

One of the "Gang of Four", former Labour Minister's who found the SDP

One of the "Gang of Four", former Labour Minister's who found the SDP

One of the "Gang of Four", former Labour Minister's who found the SDP

Helps launch the Social Democratic Party with other Labour defectors.

Bahonar becomes secretary general after Mohammad Beheshti is killed in the Islamic Republic Party bombing

Bahonar takes over Islamic Republic Party leadership after Beheshti is killed

Releases Shot of Love.

Iran relieves its besieged port of Abadan

A South African commando unit enters Mozambique & lays siege to a houe with ANC members

The day after Jimmy Carter leaves Office the US hostages in Iran are released

Appointed President of the Social Democratic Alliance

Helps launch the Social Democratic Party as a centrist alternative to Labour.

Solidarity agree to a 3 month moratorium on strikes. Jaruzelski makes concessions to Solidarity including the right to strike

Solidarity holds a 4 hour national strike

The militia beats up Solidarity borough council members & provokes a strike

Jaruzelski bans Solidarity. Arrests 3/4 of the Solidarity leadership

Solidarity goes underground. Jaruzelski bans Solidarity

Releases Album, "Somewhere in England"

His workers land at Leith without proper permission.

Heng Samrin becomes President of the Council of State

Solidarity holds a 4 hour national strike

The militia beats up Solidarity borough council members & provokes a strike

Strikes are banned

Clashes worsen as Sands hunger strike reaches its 52st day

Thatchers Conservative Government withdraws plans to close 23 pits in its first major u-turn since coming to power 2 years ago

Miners vote in favour of a 9.3 per cent pay rise

Solidarity holds a 4 hour national strike

Supports the Polish Communist government's suppression of Solidarity after martial law is imposed.

Syria installs Russian made surface-to-air missiles in Lebanon

FitzGerald takes office leading a coalition between Fine Gael and Labour.

The Rolling Stones release Tattoo You.

Voyager 2 images reveal the immense Ithaca Chasma canyon system crossing Tethys.

Pink Floyd play Earls Court, the performance is filmed for inclusion in the film of "The Wall"

Pink Floyd play Earls Court, the performance is filmed for inclusion in the film of "The Wall"

Paisley establishes another paramilitary group, 3rd Force

Releases Tonight I'm Yours as his sound moves toward early-1980s new wave pop.

Healey defeats Tony Benn by a narrow margin and retains the Labour deputy leadership.

Her government faces major unrest in Toxteth during inner-city riots.

Signs for Manchester Utd, for a British record transfer fee of œ1.5 million

Serves as Foreign Minister when Greece's membership of the European Communities formally begins.

Heads Greece when the accession treaty enters into force and the country becomes the tenth Community member.

Sentenced to death, suspended for 2 yrs, "Gang of Four" members recieve long sentences

Maos widow is sentenced to death, suspended for 2 yrs

Jiang Qing receives a suspended death sentence for counter-revolutionary crimes connected to the Cultural Revolution

The Reagan administration indicates willingness to make the newer Trident II D5 missile available to Britain

The Government reviews Trident after the United States decides to accelerate development of Trident II D5

The Communist Party leadership is reconfirmed after the Twenty-Sixth Congress.

Opens his final Communist Party Congress with a lengthy report on domestic and international policy.

Addresses the Twenty-Sixth Communist Party Congress before joining the party's Central Committee.

Establishe the paramilitary group Ulster Resistance

Releases Under Pressure with Queen, creating a major collaboration built around a memorable bass line.

The United States invalidates passports for travel to Libya amid worsening bilateral relations.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning vacant and under-used land.

Reveals how cortical cells organize and respond to visual stimuli.

Voyager 2 flies past Saturn and extends studies of the planet, rings and moons.

Voyager 2 begins long-range Saturn observations ahead of its August encounter.

Finishes a close second at the Warrington by-election for the new SDP.

Syria tells Israel it will not withdraw missiles in Lebanon

Breaks the indoor mile record, 3 mins 50.6 secs

Release You Better You Bet.

Dies after being shot during the annual military parade commemorating the October War.

Death of Anwar Sadat

Assassinated by extremist Muslim soldiers

Death of Berthold Konrad Hermann Albert Speer

Death of Bob Marley

Death of Bobby Sands, on 66th day of hunger strike

Death of Jaime Roldos Aguilera, killed by terrorists in an air-crash

Death of Joe Louis

Death of Mohammad Javad Bahonar after the prime minister's office bombing

Death of Mohammad Javad Bahonar after the 30 August bombing in Tehran

Death of Moshe Dayan

Death of Nargis Dutt

Death of Natalie Wood

Death of Omar Nelson Bradley

Death of William Wyler

Shot dead during a military coup