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| 1981 |
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| AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) first identified and diagnosed as the cause of a deadly illness. Originally it was identified with homosexual males, but it was soon recognized that all elements of the population around the globe were susceptible. AIDS resisted all attempts at cures. | 1 |
| Drug Trade. Under the Reagan and then Bush administrations, increasing attempts were made to intercept drug traffic and shut down drug growing and processing centers in Latin America. | 2 |
| Space shuttle. The United States launched the first space shuttle, Columbia, in April, and then successfully relaunched it in November. | 3 |
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| Jan |
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| U.S. hostages were released by the Iranian government after 444 days in captivity. | 4 |
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| May |
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| The World Health Organization voted overwhelmingly to discourage the use of baby formulas in Third World countries. | 5 |
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| July |
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| The leaders of the G-7 countries held a summit in Ottowa to coordinate economic policies. | 6 |
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| Sept |
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| After 300 years of British control, Belize (former British Honduras) became independent. | 7 |
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| Oct |
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| ANWAR SADAT was killed by Muslim terrorists in Cairo because of his peace initiative and his secular policies. His successor, Hosni Mubarak, affirmed his dedication to continuing the policies of Sadat. | 8 |
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