CNN becomes the world's first 24-hour television news service. Ronald Reagan becomes president. Iraq launches full-scale invasion of Iran.

Iran releases US hostages. First flight of the space shuttle "Columbia." IBM launches first PC using Microsoft operating system.

The term "Internet" is first used in the US to describe the expanding computer network formerly known as Arpanet. The compact disc is introduced.

The US invades the Caribbean island of Grenada following a Marxist coup.

The AIDS virus is first identified by French immunologist Luc Montagnier. Indian prime minister Indira Ghandi is assassinated by her bodyguard.

Mikhail Gorbachev becomes head of the Soviet Union, ushering in modernization of Soviet communism and setting the stage for the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Soviet nuclear reactor at Chernobyl explodes. The Mir space station is launched.

In a historic treaty, the US and USSR agree to limit and decomission intermediate nuclear weapons, ending the Cold War.

First fiber-optic transatlantic phone cable is laid, able to carry 40,000 calls simultaneously.

George Bush becomes president. Berlin Wall topples, bringing fall of communism. China responds with violence to democracy protests in Tiananmen Square.