Chronology year 1985

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The first commercial mobile phone call in the UK is made by comic actor Ernie Wise, on the Vodafone network.
Thousands of Ethiopian Jewish refugees are airlifted to Israel in Operation Moses.
The Japanese space probe Sakigake is launched towards Halley's Comet — the first space mission from a country other than the USA or the USSR.
A train derails in Ethiopia, killing at least 428 people.
Martina Navratilova becomes the third person to win 100 tennis tournaments.
Tancredo Neves becomes Brazil's first elected president in 21 years — but dies before taking office in April.
Ronald Reagan is sworn in for his second term as president of the United States.
We Are the World is recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa, bringing together Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper and dozens of other artists.
Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of Great Britain, is refused an honorary degree from the University of Oxford.

Twenty countries sign the UN treaty that prohibits torture.
Madonna's album Like a Virgin remains at number one on the American charts.
Whitney Houston's self-titled debut album is released, becoming one of the best-selling albums of the year.
Murray Haydon becomes the third person to receive a permanent artificial heart.

In Great Britain, the National Union of Mineworkers ends a 51-week strike without achievements.
Mikhail Gorbachev assumes leadership of the Soviet Union, replacing Konstantin Chernenko.
The domain symbolics.com is registered — considered the first domain name on the internet.
Pope John Paul II announces the creation of World Youth Day.

Coca-Cola launches New Coke, a sweeter reformulation of its original drink — negative public reaction forces the return of the original formula months later.
The West German Parliament makes it illegal to deny the Holocaust.
Death of Tancredo Neves, elected president of Brazil, before taking office. José Sarney assumes the presidency.

At the Bradford City stadium in England, 56 people die in a fire during a football match.
Crazy for You, by Madonna, reaches first place on the American charts.
Michael Jordan is named NBA Rookie of the Year.
The film A View to a Kill — the last James Bond with Roger Moore — premieres in San Francisco.
A cyclone hits Bangladesh, killing more than 10,000 people.

Coca-Cola announces the return of its original formula, after the widespread rejection of New Coke.
American, Brazilian and German pathologists confirm that remains exhumed in Brazil belonged to Nazi doctor Josef Mengele.
A bomb destroys an Air India Boeing 747 in mid-air over the Atlantic near Ireland, killing 329 people.
Route 66 is decertified as an American federal highway, after 59 years of official existence.

Andrei Gromyko is appointed president of the USSR.
Back to the Future is released in the USA, becoming an instant classic.
Two Live Aid shows take place simultaneously — at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia — broadcast to 1.9 billion people in 150 countries.
Christa McAuliffe is selected to be the first civilian teacher to travel on the space shuttle.

Michael Jackson acquires the ATV Music catalog for US$47.5 million, becoming the owner of the rights to the Beatles' songs.
520 people die when Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashes in the Ueno region, Japan — the second largest air disaster in history involving a single aircraft.
Mary Joe Fernandez, at 14 years and 8 days old, becomes the youngest player to compete in the US Open Tennis.

President Reagan imposes economic sanctions on South Africa in protest of apartheid.
Launch of the game Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Famicom/NES, created by Shigeru Miyamoto.
Mexico City is devastated by an 8.1 magnitude earthquake, killing around 10,000 people.
Walt Disney World welcomes its 200 millionth visitor.

Intel launches the 32-bit 80386 processor, revolutionizing personal computing.
Ronald Reagan bans the import of South African Krugerrands into the USA.
Palestinian terrorists hijack the Achille Lauro cruise ship in the Mediterranean.

Garry Kasparov, at age 22, becomes the youngest world chess champion in history, defeating Anatoly Karpov.
Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Geneva — the first meeting of American and Soviet leaders in six years.
Release of Microsoft Windows 1.0.

The Color Purple, based on the novel by Alice Walker and directed by Steven Spielberg, premieres in New York, with Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover.
Terrorists attack the counters of Israeli airline El Al at Rome and Vienna airports, killing 20 people and injuring 110.
Release of IBM PC DOS version 3.2.
Death of British actress and activist Ricki Fulton — note: Fulton passed away in 2004.