Mikhail Gorbachev becomes President of the Soviet Union. His economic and political reforms, as well as his advocacy of free speech, strengthened pro-democracy movements in other Eastern European countries and ultimately led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.

The world's first internet domain name is registered. symbolics.com was registered by the Symbolics Computer Corporation of Massachusetts. There are over 1 billion domains today.

Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather is premiered. The gangster movie based on Mario Puzo's novel is one of the most popular films of all time.

The last emperor of Russia abdicates. Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated following the February Revolution. He was later executed together with his family and some of his servants.

Enrico Caruso makes his stage debut. The Italian tenor is arguably the most famous opera singer of all time.