1986

Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles.

The snap presidential election in the Philippines earlier announced by President Ferdinand Marcos is held amidst controversy, that paves the way for a chain of protests, culminating in the People Power Revolution.

The People Power Revolution begins in the Philippines to remove President Ferdinand Marcos from office.

Microsoft Corporation holds its initial public offering of stock shares.

The first child born to a non-related surrogate mother is born.

Óscar Arias is inaugurated into his first term as President of Costa Rica.

The Rogers Commission releases its report on the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

A low-pressure system moving from South Australia and redeveloping off the New South Wales coast dumps a record 328 millimetres (12.9 in) of rain in a day on Sydney.

Pan Am Flight 73, with 358 people on board, is hijacked at Karachi International Airport by four Abu Nidal terrorists.

The Phantom of the Opera, the longest running Broadway show in history, opens at Her Majesty's Theatre in London.

The National Park Passport Stamps program begins in the United States.

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake destroys most of the Bulgarian town of Strajica, killing 2 people.