1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). Events of 1981 January January – The subterranean Sarawak chamber is discovered in Borneo. January 1 – Greece enters the European Community, which later becomes the European Union. January 1 – Palau becomes self-governing. January 4 – Sheffield police arrest Peter Sutcliffe, a 34-year-old lorry driver, on suspicion of being the Yorkshire Ripper who has killed 13 women a… (More on 1981)