• USA - January 1981, 52 American hostages are released by Iran after 14 months of captivity.
• Great Britain - July 29, 1981, Prince Charles, 32, married Lady Diana Frances Spencer, 20, at Westminster Abbey in London. Over 750 million people worldwide watched the event.
• Assassination Attempts - March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. fired several shots at President Ronald Regan. May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul 11 was shot and nearly killed by a Turkish gunman as he entered St. Peters Square.
• France - Francois Mitterrand is elected President of France.
• AIDS - the first cases of AIDS are reported.
Notable Deaths -
* Vuelta a Espana Champion: Antonio Suarez (Spa), 1932-1981, the Vuelta Champion in 1959.
Anwar Sadat, 1918-1981, the Egyptian leader, whose peace effort won him the Nobel Peace Prize, was assassinated by Muslim extremists at an October 6, 1981 military parade.
