What happened in February 1990?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1990, 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🌍 Namibia Gains Independence – Namibia's constituent assembly formally approved March 21 as the date for its long-awaited independence from South Africa.
- Feb 2🗽 Rio Restoring Christ Statue – Restoration of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro begins, with $2 million allocated for repairs by October.
- Feb 3✊ Mandela Group Unbanned – South African President F. W. de Klerk lifts a 30-year ban on the African National Congress, signaling a move towards negotiations and promising Nelson Mandela's release.
- Feb 4🌍 World's Largest Wildlife Reserve – China and Western conservationists agree to create the world's largest wildlife reserve in Tibet, covering an area the size of Colorado.
- Feb 5🕊️ 100,000 Rally for Democracy – Soviet citizens demonstrated in Moscow, urging the Communist Party to end its monopoly on power in a significant show of support for democratic reforms.
- Feb 6🌾 Bioengineering Rice Advances – Molecular biologists are making strides in genetic engineering to enhance rice production, crucial for feeding growing populations.
- Feb 7🌍 East Germany Currency Talks – Chancellor Helmut Kohl of West Germany calls for immediate talks on creating a single currency to stabilize East Germany's collapsing economy.
- Feb 8🗳️ Soviet Leaders Surrender Power – The Communist Party in the Soviet Union agreed to relinquish its monopoly on power, paving the way for a new government structure.
- Feb 9🌸 Oldest Flower Discovered – Scientists at Yale identified a tiny fossilized plant as the oldest known flower, dating back 120 million years.
- Feb 10🗳️ Namibia Adopts Constitution – Namibia's Parliament voted for a liberal democratic constitution, removing the last barrier to independence after 70 years of South African rule.
- Feb 11🕊️ Mandela Released Today – Nelson Mandela is set to be released from prison after 27 years, marking a pivotal moment in South Africa's history.
- Feb 12🕊️ Mandela Freed – Nelson Mandela is released after 27 years in prison, urging increased pressure to end apartheid in South Africa.
- Feb 13🌍 Mandela's Release – Nelson Mandela's release from prison marks a pivotal moment in South Africa's history, symbolizing hope for the end of apartheid.
- Feb 14🏠 Mandela Returns Home – Nelson Mandela returned home today to a tumultuous welcome from his people after an involuntary absence of more than 27 years.
- Feb 15🚀 Voyager 1 Signals Success – The Voyager 1 spacecraft successfully sent signals indicating it captured images of most planets, creating the first family portrait of the solar system.
- Feb 16🌋 New Eruption in Alaska – The Redoubt Volcano erupted again today, sending ash six miles high and forcing the evacuation of an oil terminal.
- Feb 17🌍 East Germany's Unity Debate – Small parties in East Berlin seek to postpone reunification with West Germany, aiming for more favorable terms.
- Feb 18🌍 Mandela Released – Nelson Mandela is released from prison, marking a significant step towards ending apartheid in South Africa and inspiring global movements for justice.
- Feb 19📡 Sky TV Progress – Sky Television, Rupert Murdoch's satellite service in Britain, shows signs of progress despite initial operating losses of $129 million.
- Feb 20🌊 Oldest Ocean Floor Sampled – Drillers successfully extracted a sample believed to be the earth's oldest ocean floor from beneath 18,652 feet of water south of Japan.
- Feb 21🌳 Genetically Engineered Trees – Scientists developed the world's first genetically engineered trees, poplars designed for energy production on large plantations.
- Feb 22🌍 Sandinistas Rally Support – Hundreds of thousands of Sandinista supporters gathered for a massive rally, potentially the largest in Nicaragua's history.
- Feb 23🛩️ Airlines Seek Baby Safety – U.S. airlines request federal regulations to require infants and toddlers to be secured in protective seats during flights.
- Feb 24🚚 Renault-Volvo Alliance – Renault and Volvo announced a partnership, creating the world's largest truck maker and enhancing their competitiveness in the auto market.
- Feb 25🚀 Pioneer 11 Leaves Solar System – Pioneer 11, the first spacecraft to visit Saturn, has exited the solar system after 17 years in space, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
- Feb 26🗺️ Lithuanians Vote for Independence – Lithuania voted strongly for independence, marking a significant shift as protesters across the Soviet Union called for power-sharing.
- Feb 27🌪️ Gale Winds Kill 30 – Gale-force winds in Western Europe caused extensive damage, disrupting transportation and resulting in at least 30 fatalities.
- Feb 28🚀 Shuttle Launch Preparations – Mission controllers prepared for another attempt to launch the space shuttle Atlantis after a weather-related delay.
Happy Birthday! 1990 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1990 in real headlines. See the 1990 book →