1980 - Zimbabwe's formal independence from United Kingdom. Robert Mugabe takes his post as a Prime Minister.
1981 - UK No 1 - Making Your Mind Up - Bucks Fizz. USA No 1 - Kiss On My List Daryl Hall & John Oates. The Compact Disc player is demonstrated for the first time in Europe by Philips and Sony.
1983 - The U.S Embassy is bombed in Beirut, killing 63 people.
1987 - UK No 1 - Let it Be - Ferry Aid. USA No 1 - I Knew You Were Waiting For Me - Aretha Franklin & George Michael.
1989 - The Spanish tenor, José Carreras, gave a recital at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, his first for three years because of his leukaemia.
