Journal logo

1990

1990

By MarkPublished 3 years ago 3 min read

1990

What happened in 1990 Major News Stories include East and West Germany reunite, Mecca Stampede kills thousands, Iraq Invades Kuwait, Hubble Space Telescope placed in orbit, Tim Berners-Lee publishes formal proposal for the WWW, Strangeways Prison Rioting, Channel Tunnel French and English sides connect together, First in-car Satellite Navigation System goes on sale, Depletion of the Ozone Layer is discovered above the North Pole.

Iraq invasion of Neighboring Kuwait

Saddam Hussein orders Iraq invasion of Neighboring Kuwait

Operation Desert Shield

Operation Desert Shield Begins as the United States and UK send troops to Kuwait

Poland Lech Walesa

Lech Walesa becomes president of Poland

U.S. Saturn Cars

The Saturn range of cars are launched by GM

Iran Earthquake

Earthquake in Iran kills 50,000

The Simpsons

Americas Favorite animated family "The Simpsons " is aired on Fox for the first time

U.S. Major Recession

The US Enters a Major Recession

Burma Elections

The National League for Democracy NLD wins free elections by a landslide majority, but the military regime has refused to hand over power.

Ban on the Trade of Ivory

A Formal Ban on the Trade of Ivory is introduced

UK Poll Tax

Poll Tax introduced in UK causing mass demonstrations who claimed the tax moved the tax burden from the rich to the poor

World

Industrialized countries agree to stop dumping waste into the oceans of the world.

John M. Poindexter

John M. Poindexter ( Former national security adviser ) is convicted on multiple felony counts

UK Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher announces her resignation as British PM after John Major is chosen to lead the country and conservative party.

Saudi Arabia stampede Mecca

A stampede of religious pilgrims in a pedestrian tunnel in Mecca on July 2 leaves 1,400 dead

U.S. Happy Land

A fire at an unlicensed social club called "Happy Land" in New York City kills 87

South Africa Nelson Mandella

Opposition Parties in South Africa are legalized Nelson Mandella released from prison and becomes leader of the African National Congress ( ANC )

East and West Germany reunite

East and West Germany reunite including currency and economies

U.S. President George Bush

President George Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sign a historic agreement to end production of chemical weapons

UK poll tax demonstrations

Throughout the year demonstrations are held in cities in the UK in protest at the new poll tax

Philippines earthquake

Philippines, an earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale kills over 1600

Russia Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to lessen Cold War tensions and reform his nation

Tim Berners-Lee

Tim Berners-Lee publishes a more formal proposal for the World Wide Web and the first web page is written

Channel Tunnel

Channel Tunnel workers from the United Kingdom and France meet 40 meters beneath the English Channel seabed, establishing the first ground connection between the United Kingdom and the mainland of Europe since the last ice age

Isabella Gardner Museum

Art thieves steal 12 works of art from the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston

Strangeways Riot

Prisoners Riot in Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England keeping control of the prison for 25 days

Namibia

Namibia Gains Independence From South Africa

Boris N. Yeltsin

Boris N. Yeltsin becomes president of the Russian republic.

1990 World Cup

West Germany Wins 1990 World Cup in Italy

Supergun

Customs officers seize the barrel ( 130 feet long )of a "Supergun" bound for Iraq

UK heat wave

Great Britain is gripped by a heat wave and the highest recorded temperatures in British History are recorded of 37.1C, or 99F in Nailstone, Leicestershire.

Please Visit My Online Store Here

feature

About the Creator

Mark

I love reading & sharing knowledge

https://bit.ly/3mJXW3a

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.