- Scientists discover link between AIDS and HIV
- Famine in Ethiopia
- Major toxic gas leak from an insecticide plant in Bhopal, India
- British miners strike against pit closures
- IRA bombs Conservative Party conference hotel in Brighton
- Conservative government cuts public funding for the arts
- Bandaid records Do They Know It’s Christmas to raise funds for famine relief
- Frankie Goes to Hollywood single Relax is banned by BBC