What happened in May 1990?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1990, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- May 1📈 Market Rebounds – The Dow Jones industrial average rose 11.71 points, ending at 2,656.76, as bargain hunters lifted the market out of a slump.
- May 2🌍 Bush Meets Lithuanian Leader – President Bush will meet with the Lithuanian Prime Minister, marking the first meeting with a Baltic leader since 1940.
- May 3🌍 Global Marshall Plan Urged – Legislators from 42 countries called for a global Marshall Plan to aid developing nations while protecting the environment.
- May 4🌍 Mother Teresa Opens Mission – Mother Teresa announced the opening of a mission in Bucharest, Romania, to provide care and support to the needy.
- May 5🌍 New Era in Europe – Mikhail Gorbachev receives praise from a Lithuanian admirer, highlighting changing political dynamics in Eastern Europe.
- May 6🌍 Gorbachev on Latvia – Gorbachev condemns Latvia's independence declaration as a violation of constitutional norms, hinting at possible retaliation.
- May 7🌍 15,000 Attend Tribute – Thousands of John Lennon fans gathered in Liverpool to celebrate his legacy, singing his iconic songs like 'Imagine' at a heartfelt tribute.
- May 8🌍 New Concorde Planned – British and French manufacturers plan a second-generation Concorde, aiming to double passenger capacity and range.
- May 9🌍 De Klerk Tours Europe – South African President F.W. de Klerk embarks on a nine-nation tour of Western Europe to promote his vision for change from apartheid.
- May 10🌍 Test-Tube Tigers Born – Zoo officials announced the birth of tigers conceived by in-vitro fertilization, aiding endangered species preservation.
- May 11🕊️ China Releases Dissidents – China announced the release of 211 dissidents from jail, aiming to improve relations with the West after the democracy movement.
- May 12🚀 Bush Targets Mars Landing – President Bush announced a goal for the U.S. to send astronauts to Mars within the next 30 years, marking a new era of exploration.
- May 13🌍 2 Germanys Merge Economies – Experts from West and East Germany completed a treaty to merge their economies and currencies, paving the way for reunification discussions.
- May 14🎨 Sistine Chapel Restored – Vatican restorers completed a decade-long project cleaning Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, revealing vibrant colors.
- May 15🌍 World Trade Body Role – Moscow expected to gain observer status in the global trade organization, linking the Soviet Union closer to the world economy.
- May 16🔭 Hubble Telescope Focuses – The Hubble Space Telescope successfully focused on guide stars, paving the way for its first image capture.
- May 17🌍 Lithuania Suspends Laws – Lithuania agreed to suspend laws passed since its independence declaration, discussing a transition to full separation from the Soviet Union.
- May 18🎨 Renoir Painting Sold – Renoir's 'At the Moulin de la Galette' sold for $78.1 million at Sotheby's, setting a record for Impressionist art.
- May 19🚀 Soviet Spacewalk Planned – Soviet astronauts aboard the Mir space station are set for an unscheduled spacewalk to repair their damaged transport ship.
- May 20🔬 Engineering Fields Flourish – Career opportunities for science and engineering graduates are rebounding due to industry demands and a shortage of technical students.
- May 21🔭 Hubble Telescope Sees – The Hubble Space Telescope opened its eye for the first time, capturing clear images of a southern constellation.
- May 22🌌 Comet Austin Approaches – Comet Austin, a new discovery, will make its closest approach to Earth on Friday, coming within 22 million miles.
- May 23🌍 Yemen Merges Nations – Pro-Western Yemen and pro-Soviet Southern Yemen merged today to form a new republic dominating the entrance to the Red Sea.
- May 24🚀 Japan Forms Space Group – Thirteen Japanese companies announced the formation of a consortium to produce rockets and compete in the international satellite-launching business.
- May 25💉 Medtronic-Soviets Deal – Medtronic Inc. received a $6 million order from the Soviet Union for 20,000 Maxima blood oxygenators for open-heart surgery.
- May 26🕊️ Bush and Gorbachev Summit – Presidents Bush and Gorbachev prepare to announce a vital treaty to reduce strategic nuclear arms at their upcoming summit in Washington.
- May 27🚀 Shuttle Mission Launch – The space shuttle Columbia is set to launch this week for its first mission in five years, focusing entirely on scientific research.
- May 28🗳️ Burmese Vote in Elections – Myanmar citizens voted in the first multiparty elections in 30 years, favoring the National League for Democracy.
- May 29🏦 Tokyo Stock Tumult – Japan's major banks reported lower profits due to tumultuous changes in financial markets, impacting their earnings for the fiscal year.
- May 30🗳️ Burmese Vote Tally – Western diplomats express concern as results from Myanmar's first multiparty elections show the opposition winning 66% of seats.
- May 31🌍 Gorbachev Arrives for Summit – Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev arrives in Washington for a summit with President Bush amid discussions on Germany and Europe.
Happy Birthday! 1990 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1990 in real headlines. See the 1990 book →