The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January January 1 Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. Spain and Portugal enter the European Community, which becomes the European Union in 1993. January 11 – The Gateway Bridge in Brisbane, Australia, at this time the world's longest prestressed concrete free-cantilever bridge, is opened. January 13–24 – South Yemen Civil War. January 20 – The United Kingdom and France announce plans to construct the Channel Tunnel. January 24 – The Voyager 2 space probe makes its first encounter with Uranus. January 25 – Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Army Rebel group takes over Uganda after leading a five-year guerrilla war in which up to half a million people are believed to have been killed. They will later use January 26 as the official date to avoid a coincidence of dates with Dictator Idi Amin's 1971 coup. January 28 – Space Shuttle Challenger disaster – STS-51-L: Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates 73 seconds after launch from the United States, killing the crew of seven astronauts, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. January 29 – Yoweri Museveni is sworn in as President of Uganda. February February 3 Pixar is founded by John Lasseter along with Steve Jobs. February 7 President Jean-Claude Duvalier ("Baby Doc") flees Haiti, ending 28 years of family rule. 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. February 8 – Hinton train collision: A Canadian National train heading westbound collides with a Via Rail train in Hinton, Alberta; 23 people are killed and 71 injured in the accident. February 9 – Halley's Comet reaches its perihelion, the closest point to the Sun, during its second visit to the solar system in the 20th century (the first was in 1910). February 10 – The Maxi Trial (Italian: Maxiprocesso) begins in the bunker room of the Ucciardone prison (Palermo). It will be the largest trial against the Sicilian Mafia. February 11 – Human rights activist Natan Sharansky is released by Soviet authorities and leaves the country for Israel. February 15 – The Beechcraft Starship makes its maiden flight. February 16 The Soviet liner sinks in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. Ouadi Doum air raid: The French Air Force