1986: Soviets launch space station Mir The Soviets open a new phase in space exploration with the launch of the world's biggest space station, Mir. 1993: Two boys charged with toddler's murder Two 10-year-old boys are charged with the abduction and murder of two-year-old James Bulger in Liverpool. 1983: Hundreds die in Assam poll violence Hundreds of people are reported to have died in Assam as fi