Timeline February 1986

Events in February 1986 11

• 1902 – 1986 Alva Myrdal (1902-1986) Died 1 February 1986, aged 84 Swedish sociologist and diplomat who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1982 for her work on nuclear disarmament negotiations. She served as a government minister and ambassador, and was a leading voice in international arms-control diplomacy. She died in Stockholm.
• 1902 – 1986 Brian Aherne (1902-1986) English actor of stage and film, Oscar-nominated as Emperor Maximilian in Juarez.
• 1927 – 1986 Olof Palme (1927-1986) Died 28 February 1986, aged 59 Swedish prime minister and Social Democratic leader, shot dead while walking home from a cinema in Stockholm without bodyguards. His assassination shocked Sweden, where street crime against senior politicians was almost unheard of. The killing was never conclusively solved despite decades of investigation.
• 1986 Jackson Browne releases Lives in the Balance Political turn An album against US policy in Central America.
• 1986 Halley's Comet reaches perihelion Comet's closest solar approach draws global spacecraft fleet Halley's Comet made its calculated closest approach to the sun, its first appearance since 1910. An international fleet of probes, including the European Giotto spacecraft, flew close enough to photograph the comet's nucleus for the first time. The apparition was less spectacular from Earth than in 1910 due to unfavourable positioning.
• 1986 Brian Aherne dies in Venice, Florida Brian Aherne dies aged 83.
• 1986 Single European Act signed Treaty commits the EEC to a single market by 1992 European Economic Community member states signed the Single European Act, the first major revision of the Treaty of Rome. It set a 1992 deadline for completing a single market with free movement of goods, services, capital and labour. The treaty also expanded qualified majority voting in the Council.
• 1986 Mir space station launched Soviet Union begins modular orbital station The Soviet Union launched the core module of the Mir space station into orbit from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Mir would be continuously expanded and crewed for the next fifteen years, hosting long-duration missions and later international crews. It remained the largest space station until the ISS surpassed it.
• 1986 The Legend of Zelda released Nintendo launches the action-adventure franchise in Japan Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda for the Family Computer Disk System in Japan, introducing an open, exploratory style of action-adventure game. The title and its save-game feature influenced console game design for decades afterward. It later launched internationally on the Nintendo Entertainment System.
• 1986 People Power Revolution Mass protests end the Marcos dictatorship Sustained non-violent demonstrations in Manila forced President Ferdinand Marcos to flee the Philippines after two decades in power. Corazon Aquino, widow of assassinated opposition leader Benigno Aquino, was installed as president. The uprising became a model for later peaceful pro-democracy movements.
• 1986 14th Elfstedentocht Winner: Evert van Benthem — 6h 55m Remarkably, another harsh winter allowed the Elfstedentocht to be held again just one year later on 26 February 1986. Over 17,000 participants started. Evert van Benthem retained his title in 6 hours and 55 minutes. Crown Prince Willem-Alexander completed the race under the alias W.A. van Buren.