1990 News and Interesting History Tidbits


Tyrannosaurus Rex / Sue Discovered
The skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex is discovered in Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, South Dakota, It turns out to be one of the most complete skeletons of T-Rex ever found and is named after Sue Hendrickson, the paleontologist who found her. Sue ( T-Rex ) can now be seen at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois






The Gulf War
The Gulf War begins 2nd August 1990 as a result of Iraqi forces invading Kuwait. Saddam Hussein, then President of Iraq, deposed the emir of Kuwait, Jaber Al-Sabah, and installed Ali Hassan al-Majid as the new governor of Kuwait. A coalition force from 34 nations authorized by the United Nations (UN) and led primarily by the United States in order to return Kuwait to the control of the Emir of Kuwait.
The coalition force took back control of Kuwait sending Iraqi troops back to Iraq beginning in January 1991 and was quickly over and power returned to the emir of Kuwait, Jaber Al-Sabah.








Observer Journalist Farzad Bazoft Executed
The Observer journalist Farzad Bazoft is executed in Iraq after being convicted of spying, both Britain and the United Nations condemned the execution but has not cut diplomatic and trade relations with Iraq.








"Supergun" Barrel bound for Iraq Seized
Customs officers in Middlesbrough seize the barrel ( 130 feet long )of a "supergun" on a ship bound for Iraq.
During the invasion of Iraq 3 "Superguns" were found
A gun barrel of this length would give a "supergun" the range of approximately 600 miles.








UK Hostages Returned
The first 100 hostages held in the Gulf for four-and-a-half months landed at Heathrow airport today after their release by Saddam Hussein. The Foreign Office expects the other 300 held since Iraq invaded Kuwait in August to be home by the weekend.







Highest UK Recorded Temperatures
Great Britain is gripped by a heat wave and the highest recorded temperature in modern recorded history is recorded at Nailstone, Leicestershire of 37.1C, or 99F, on August 3rd.



The 1990 the record is broken during the August heat wave of 2003 when a temperature 38.5C or 101.3F was recorded Brogdale, Kent








End To Chemical Weapon Production
In a historic meeting between President George Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev they sign a historic agreement to end production of chemical weapons and begin the destruction of reserves of chemical weapons.








Hubble Space Telescope
The Space Shuttle Discovery launches the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. It is hoped that the Telescope will be able to see up to the edge of the known universe, but the Hubble Space Telescope had some problems in the beginning with the original mirror design but after repairs consisting of a series of corrective mirrors which are carried out in space, Hubble has sent back a series of stunning photographs of deep space, and revolutionized thinking about the universe.










De Klerk Lifts Ban On ANC
President De Klerk of South Africa lifts the 30-year ban on leading anti-apartheid group the African National Congress ( ANC ) . He also stated the jailed ANC leader Nelson Mandela would be released.










Pilgrims Crushed On Way To Mecca
1,426 people were crushed or suffocated to death in a long tunnel during a stampede of religious pilgrims in a pedestrian tunnel in Mecca









Nelson Mandela Released
Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years. He was the person who had lead the movement to end South African apartheid back in the mid-1940s. Mandela was a lawyer who had joined the African National Congress (ANC), which was the oldest black political organization in South Africa. For this organization, he had served as the leader of the Johannesburg youth ANC chapter, and then later he became ANC deputy national president. During his time as the president of ANC he advocated non-violence and resisted apartheid (South Africa’s system of white supremacy and segregation of races). He had changed his tune in 1960, however, when he lead a revolt against the white minority government-after the massacre of peaceful black demonstrators had taken place.









Major Art Theft
Two thieves disguised as Policemen steal 12 works of art from the
Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston including works by Rembrandt, Degas, Vermeer and others valued in excess of 300 million dollars








Twin Peaks premieres on ABC
Twin Peaks American Emmy Award winning television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost premieres on ABC . The series was set in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington. and, in its short first season, was one of the network's highest rating television programs receiving immense critical acclaim.








Strangeways Prison Riot
A thousand prisoners run amok in Strangeways Prison in Manchester in a violent riot setting fire to the chapel and gymnasium, and a number of prison cells, the inmates are protesting the primitive conditions and severe overcrowding.

The riot at Strangeways lasted 25 days the longest in British Prison history.








Happy Land Social Club Fire New York
A fire at an unlicensed social club called "Happy Land" in New York City with blocked fire escapes and no alarms or sprinkler systems kills 87 people, most of them Honduran and Dominican immigrants.








Russia Changes Leadership and Communist Party Gives Up Monopoly
The Central Committee of the Soviet Union's Communist Party agrees to endorse President Mikhail Gorbachev's recommendation that the party give up its 70-year long monopoly of political power The economy in USSR continues to worsen with more food and other items becoming scarcer and more rationing put in place. Boris N. Yeltsin elected president of the Russian republic by the Russian parliament.









Credit Card Debt 1990
In 1990, average amount in credit card debt was about $2,550 for those households that carried a balance, compared with $9,600 the average balance for families that have at least one credit card, according in 2008








Nicaragua Free Elections
On this day, the effect of allowing people to vote in free elections had been very well demonstrated. Anyone running under the Sandinistas ticket had lost. This happened after a year of opposition by the U.S., as well as Nicaragua’s own people. The Sandinista party was a form of communist rule established shortly after Daniel Ortega became president. He was the one who had eventually agreed to allow free elections in the country, after some serious conflict had occurred. He was the one that had succeeded Antastacio Somoza, who was overthrown.








Chemical Weapons Plant Libya
A Libyan plant that was allegedly used to produce chemical weapons was burned. As a result, Libya had closed its borders and maintained a high security alert. The fire started had started was reported to have occurred about 60 miles southwest of Tripoli. It was believed that this fire had been ignited by a U.S. and Israeli support team.








Namibia Gains Independence
Namibia Gains Independence from South Africa in 1990








West Germany Win 1990 World Cup
West Germany Win the 1990 World Cup beating Argentina 1-0 in the final in Italy








The Scandinavian Star Ferry Sinks Norway
The Scandinavian Star, a Danish-owned ferry, carrying 493 passengers and their cars and trucks from Oslo, Norway, to Frederikshaven, Denmark is engulfed in a fire. Most passengers make it to lifeboats, but due to panic and problems with most of the crew only speaking Portuguese 110 died, mainly from smoke inhalation.








Satanic Verses
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said the death sentence on writer Salman Rushdie for alleged blasphemy will remain in force. The fatwa on Salman Rushdie for publication of the The Satanic Verses considered offensive to the Islamic faith.








UK Poll Tax Demonstrations
The worst violence seen so far in the series of Anti Poll Tax demonstrations erupted in London during the largest rally when nearly 100,000 people take to the streets in protest at the new government levy. More than 400 were arrested and property was damaged with repairs estimated at £400,000 after the demonstration .

The Poll Tax ( Community Charge ) was introduced by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in 1989 (Scotland) and 1990 (England and Wales) and was a single flat rate per person tax on every working adult, at a rate set by the local authority. It was designed to replace the rating system of taxes ( which was based on valuation and rent value ) to fund local government. The tax was believed by many to move the tax burden from the rich to the poor, under earlier local taxes ( Rateable Value "Rates" ) those who owned the largest and most expensive property paid the most but under "Poll Tax" the tax was moved to the number of people living in the house.

The Poll Tax was formally abolished in 1993/1994 with the new The Council Tax which resembled the old rating system that the Poll Tax had replaced.








Lagos Worst City In The World
The Population Crisis Committee said that Lagos, Nigeria is the worst city in the world to live in, whereas the best cities to live in are Montreal, Melbourne, and Seattle-Tacoma. The best cities scored 100, but Lagos scored only 19. Half of Lago’s homes are without water and electricity and only one person in 100 has a telephone. This city has a density of 5.8 persons per dwelling.








Ivana Trump Files For Divorce
Ivana Trump a former Olympic athlete and fashion model filed for divorce from real estate mogul Donald Trump after he had an affair with a former beauty queen from Georgia, Marla Maples.








Tunnel links UK to Europe
Construction workers drill through the final wall of rock to join the two halves of the Channel Tunnel and link Britain to France








Robert Mapplethorpe "The Perfect Moment" Exhibition
Robert Mapplethorpe "The Perfect Moment" a traveling exhibition of his work opened at Cincinnati's Contemporary Arts Center, the center and its director were indicted on "pandering obscenity".
The area of his work that caused the controversy was his frank, erotic photography of male nudes .








Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public for the first time in 800 years due to fears it may fall over completely








John M. Poindexter Convicted of Multiple Felony Counts
Former national security adviser John M. Poindexter is convicted on multiple felony counts for conspiracy, obstruction of justice, defrauding the government, and the alteration and destruction of evidence pertaining to the Iran-Contra Affair . ( The convictions were reversed in 1991 )








Milli Vanilli
The Milli Vanilli duo's producer, Frank Farian revealed that the Grammy winning pop duo were lip syncing in the songs on the album which gained them the award.








Maggy Thatcher Quits
Margaret Thatcher formally tenders her resignation to the Queen and leaves Downing Street for the last time.








Stop Dumping Waste in Oceans
Industrialized countries of the world such as Great Britain, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, and the United States agreed to stop dumping waste into the oceans of the world. A 20-year agreement was signed, which made this pollution ban official.








Rebel Cricket Tour South Africa
The tour of South Africa by rebel British Cricketers is disrupted by angry anti apartheid demonstrators including the ANC and the mainly black National Sports Congress. The British Cricketers on the tour could well be banned from Test Cricket when they return and include Mike Gatting, David Graveney and John Emburey.








1990 when the Cicadas appear after 17 years
It is 17 years since the Cicadas last appeared and to truly understand the miracle of nature we must first think about our ability to measure just 1 week of time ( without a watch or the changing of the days using the sun and moon . So just imagine you were locked in a dark room with no human interaction no set time for feeding and no day or night ( would you know what day or time it was after 7 days ) now compound that to 17 years to realise what a wonder of nature a small insect like animal the Cicada which lives underground but not only knows 17 years have gone by but also knows it is around the end of May and it is time to come to the surface and breed for the cycle of life to begin again.










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