What happened in February 1989?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1989, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Feb 1🌍 Seoul Ends Inquiry – Prosecutors announced the end of investigations into government corruption and human rights abuses from the Chun government in South Korea.
- Feb 2🌍 Two Koreas Unite – North and South Korea agreed in principle to a joint business project, marking a significant step towards cooperation after decades of hostility.
- Feb 3🌍 Botha Resigns Party Role – P. W. Botha resigned as leader of South Africa's National Party, which has governed for 40 years, while remaining President amid health issues.
- Feb 4⚾ Bill White Elected – Bill White becomes the first black president of a major professional sports league, taking office as the National League's 13th president on April 1.
- Feb 5🌍 Brazil Accepts Rainforest Aid – Brazil's government has agreed to accept international funds to protect the Amazon rainforests, marking a significant policy shift.
- Feb 6🌍 China Hosts Gorbachev – China announced that Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev will visit from May 15 to May 18 for the first Chinese-Soviet summit in 30 years.
- Feb 7🔬 New Organ Preservation Method – A new chemical solution can preserve human livers outside the body for up to 34 hours, tripling time for transplant surgeries.
- Feb 8🏔️ New Heat Pump Innovation – A new heat pump developed by the Electric Power Research Institute is 30-40% more efficient, utilizing advanced technology for better energy savings.
- Feb 9✈️ Charter Jet Crash – An American charter jet carrying Italian vacationers to the Caribbean crashed in the Azores, killing all 144 people on board.
- Feb 10🌌 Pulsar Birth Observed – Astronomers report observing the birth of a pulsar, providing evidence for supernova theories about massive star collapse.
- Feb 11🏛️ Ron Brown Elected – Ronald H. Brown becomes the first black chairman of the Democratic National Committee, marking a significant milestone in U.S. political history.
- Feb 12🔥 Fires Leave 15,000 Homeless – Three fires in Manila destroyed 2,000 houses, leaving 15,000 people homeless. No fatalities reported, but many children are missing.
- Feb 13🛩️ NASA Clears Astronauts – NASA reportedly allowed two unfit astronauts to fly on space shuttle missions, raising concerns about safety protocols.
- Feb 14🔬 Regrowing Spinal Cord – Researchers study a South American fish that can regrow its spinal cord, aiming to improve treatments for human spinal injuries.
- Feb 15🏭 Bhopal Payments Ordered – India's Supreme Court orders Union Carbide to pay $470 million for the Bhopal gas disaster, concluding a lengthy legal battle.
- Feb 16🔬 AIDS Enzyme Structure Identified – Scientists have determined the complete three-dimensional structure of an enzyme from the AIDS virus, aiding drug design efforts.
- Feb 17🌍 U.N. Approves Namibia Plan – The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution to implement an independence plan for Namibia.
- Feb 18🌍 Arctic Ozone Threat – An Arctic expedition discovered chemicals in the stratosphere that pose a significant threat to the Arctic ozone shield.
- Feb 19🌊 Flooding Disaster Reported – Soviet reports indicate flooding in the Caucasus has devastated 870,000 acres of farmland and threatens over half a million residents.
- Feb 20🌍 Earthquake Hits Japan – A strong earthquake struck Japan's capital, killing one and injuring another, disrupting train and airline services.
- Feb 21🏛️ Museum on Kennedy Opens – The sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository, where JFK was shot, opens as a museum emphasizing the assassination events.
- Feb 22🦪 Caviar Season Begins – Howell Boone begins the domestic caviar season by turning his shrimp boat over to sturgeon fishing along the Altamaha River.
- Feb 23♟️ Kasparov Promotes Chess – World chess champion Gary Kasparov visited Washington to promote a drug prevention initiative using chess in schools.
- Feb 24🌍 Gorbachev Urges Environment Plan – Mikhail Gorbachev visited Chernobyl, calling for a new environmental protection program and public referendum on disputed projects.
- Feb 25✈️ Jet Skin Rips – A United Airlines jumbo jet lost part of its fuselage shortly after takeoff, resulting in nine missing and 23 injured passengers.
- Feb 26🌍 Brazil Indians Unite – Brazilian Indian tribes, once enemies, unite to protect the Amazon rainforest, marking a significant environmental milestone.
- Feb 27🗺️ Sinai Turnover Agreement – Israel and Egypt signed agreements returning Taba, a beach area, to Egypt after contentious negotiations lasting over seven years.
- Feb 28🔬 Diamond Coatings Developed – Scientists from the U.S. and Israel have created a method to grow diamond coatings on silicon wafers, potentially revolutionizing computer chip technology.
Happy Birthday! 1989 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1989 in real headlines. See the 1989 book →