1990

Events in 1990 159

• 1898 – 1990 Irene Dunne (1898-1990) American actress and singer, equally at home in musicals, melodramas and screwball comedy, with five Oscar nominations.
• 1900 – 1990 Aaron Copland Voice of American music American composer who created a distinctly American classical sound with Appalachian Spring, Fanfare for the Common Man and Rodeo.
• 1905 – 1990 Greta Garbo (1905-1990) Died 15 April 1990, aged 84 Greta Garbo was a Swedish-American actress celebrated for silent and early sound films including "Grand Hotel" and "Ninotchka." She retired from acting in 1941 and lived reclusively for the rest of her life. She died in New York City on 15 April 1990.
• 1905 – 1990 Joel McCrea (1905-1990) American actor, a leading man of comedies and westerns, from Sullivan's Travels to Ride the High Country.
• 1907 – 1990 Barbara Stanwyck (1907-1990) Died 20 January 1990, aged 82 Barbara Stanwyck was an American actress known for films including "Double Indemnity" and "The Lady Eve" and the television series "The Big Valley." She was one of the most versatile leading actresses of Hollywood's golden age. She died in Santa Monica, California, on 20 January 1990.
• 1908 – 1990 Rex Harrison (1908-1990) Died 2 June 1990, aged 82 Rex Harrison was an English actor best known for playing Professor Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady" on stage and screen, winning an Academy Award for the film role. He had a long career on both the London and Broadway stage. He died in New York City on 2 June 1990.
• 1908 – 1990 Eve Arden (1908-1990) American actress famous for wisecracking roles and as the teacher in Our Miss Brooks.
• 1909 – 1990 Andrei Gromyko (1909-1990) Died 2 July 1990, aged 80 Andrei Gromyko was the Soviet Union's foreign minister for nearly three decades and later served as head of state. He was a central figure in Soviet diplomacy throughout the Cold War, including arms control negotiations with the United States. He died in Moscow on 2 July 1990.
• 1910 – 1990 Joan Bennett (1910-1990) American actress, a blonde ingenue turned film noir star in Fritz Lang's The Woman in the Window and Scarlet Street.
• 1910 – 1990 Paulette Goddard (1910-1990) American actress, Charlie Chaplin's co-star in Modern Times and The Great Dictator.
• 1910 – 1990 Robert Cummings (1910-1990) American actor, star of Saboteur and Dial M for Murder and of his own 1950s sitcom.
• 1913 – 1990 Mary Martin (1913-1990) American actress and singer, Broadway's first Nellie Forbush, Peter Pan and Maria von Trapp.
• 1914 – 1990 Arthur Kennedy (1914-1990) American actor with five Oscar nominations, the original Biff in Death of a Salesman.
• 1916 – 1990 Roald Dahl Writer, 1916-1990 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda Welsh-born writer of children's books and macabre short stories, and an RAF fighter pilot before that.
• 1918 – 1990 Pearl Bailey (1918-1990) American singer and actress, star of the all-Black Hello, Dolly! and later a UN envoy.
• 1918 – 1990 Thatcher resigns 1990 Iron Lady leaves Downing Street Margaret Thatcher resigned as British Prime Minister on November 22, 1990 after 11 years in power, following a leadership challenge from within her own Conservative Party.
• 1918 – 1990 Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) Died 14 October 1990, aged 72 Leonard Bernstein was an American composer and conductor who led the New York Philharmonic and composed "West Side Story." He was among the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century, equally renowned for classical and popular works. He died in New York City on 14 October 1990.
• 1919 – 1990 Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990) Died 24 February 1990, aged 70 Malcolm Forbes was an American publisher who built Forbes magazine into a leading business publication and became known for his flamboyant lifestyle. He was also an avid hot-air balloonist and motorcyclist. He died at his home in New Jersey on 24 February 1990.
• 1919 – 1990 Art Blakey (1919-1990) Died 16 October 1990, aged 71 Art Blakey was an American jazz drummer and bandleader who led the Jazz Messengers for over three decades. His group served as a training ground for generations of jazz musicians. He died in New York City on 16 October 1990.
• 1921 – 1990 Friedrich Dürrenmatt The Visit Renowned playwright and novelist whose work explored the dark comedy and morality of the 20th century.
• 1922 – 1990 Ava Gardner (1922-1990) Died 25 January 1990, aged 67 Ava Gardner was an American film actress known for roles in "The Killers," "Mogambo," and "The Night of the Iguana." She was one of the leading stars of Hollywood's studio era and was married to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra. She died in London on 25 January 1990.
• 1925 – 1990 José Napoleón Duarte (1925-1990) Died 23 February 1990, aged 64 José Napoleón Duarte was president of El Salvador from 1984 to 1989, governing during the height of the country's civil war. He sought a negotiated end to the conflict while maintaining close ties with the United States. He died of cancer in San Salvador.
• 1925 – 1990 Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990) Died 16 May 1990, aged 64 Sammy Davis Jr. was an American entertainer known as a singer, dancer, and actor, and as a member of the Rat Pack alongside Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. He broke racial barriers in American entertainment across a decades-long career. He died of throat cancer in Beverly Hills on 16 May 1990.
• 1927 – 1990 Robert Noyce (1927-1990) Died 3 June 1990, aged 62 Robert Noyce was an American engineer who co-invented the integrated circuit and co-founded both Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel. His work laid the technical foundation for the modern computer industry. He died of a heart attack in Austin, Texas.
• 1929 – 1990 Lev Yashin The Black Spider The only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d'Or (1963).
• 1931 – 1990 Osho (1931-1990) Died 19 January 1990, aged 58 Osho, born Chandra Mohan Jain and also known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, was an Indian spiritual teacher who founded a controversial international movement. His Oregon commune collapsed in 1985 amid criminal charges against its leadership. He died in Pune, India, on 19 January 1990.
• 1932 – 1990 Halston (1932-1990) Died 26 March 1990, aged 57 Halston, born Roy Halston Frowick, was an American fashion designer who dominated American style in the 1970s with minimalist designs favored by celebrities. He designed Jacqueline Kennedy's pillbox hat before launching his own label. He died of AIDS-related complications in San Francisco.
• 1934 – 1990 Del Shannon (1934-1990) Died 8 February 1990, aged 55 Del Shannon was an American singer-songwriter best known for the 1961 hit "Runaway." His falsetto vocal style influenced a generation of rock musicians. He died by suicide at his home in California on 8 February 1990.
• 1936 – 1990 Jim Henson (1936-1990) Died 16 May 1990, aged 53 Jim Henson was an American puppeteer who created the Muppets and co-created "Sesame Street." His characters, including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, became fixtures of children's television worldwide. He died suddenly of a bacterial infection in New York City.
• 1954 – 1990 Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954-1990) Died 27 August 1990, aged 35 Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American blues guitarist and singer credited with reviving interest in blues music during the 1980s. He recorded with his band Double Trouble and collaborated with artists including David Bowie. He died in a helicopter crash after a concert in Wisconsin.
• 1958 – 1990 Core trio: Marvin, Welch & Bennett Through line-up changes Despite numerous changes to the bass position over the decades, Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch and (from 1961) Brian Bennett formed the stable core of The Shadows throughout their classic era — the trio most associated with the band's identity.
• 1990 – 1991 Gulf War Operation Desert Storm A US-led coalition expelled Iraq from Kuwait in 1991. The 100-hour ground war liberated Kuwait with minimal Allied casualties.
• 1990 Hubble launched Space telescope deployed NASA's Hubble Space Telescope was deployed in April 1990, providing unprecedented images of the universe and transforming astronomy.
• 1990 – present International tribute band scene The Shadows' instrumental repertoire spawned an extensive international tribute band scene — "Shadows-style" bands performing their catalogue continue to be active across Europe decades after the band's heyday.
• 1990 – present Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor The first fifth-generation fighter The first operational fifth-generation fighter, combining stealth, supercruise and thrust vectoring. Only 195 were built, and US law bans its export.
• 1990 – 1999 Reunions for Cliff Richard anniversary tours 1990s Despite the formal split, the band periodically reunited for Cliff Richard anniversary concerts and tours throughout the 1990s, including all-star concerts marking landmark anniversaries of Cliff's career.
• 1990 – present Shakira The Latin Cross-Over Queen A global icon who successfully bridged the gap between Latin and English-speaking markets.
• 1990 – 2025 Tatiana Schlossberg (1990-2025) Died 30 December 2025, aged 35 American environmental journalist, daughter of Caroline Kennedy and granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy. She died of a rare form of leukaemia.
• 1990 The Shadows disband With Hank Marvin now based in Australia and the rest of the band relying on session players in the UK, The Shadows formally disbanded in 1990 after more than three decades together.
• 1990 Dinkins becomes NYC mayor First Black mayor of New York City David N. Dinkins was inaugurated as the first African American mayor of New York City on January 1, 1990.
• 1990 Simpsons Season 1 airs Landmark animated show launches The first full season of The Simpsons aired in January 1990, having debuted in December 1989. The show quickly became a cultural phenomenon and the longest-running American animated series.
• 1990 Pakistan train crash 200+ killed in Sangi Two trains collided near Sangi, Pakistan on January 4, 1990, killing between 200 and 300 people in one of the worst rail disasters in Pakistani history.
• 1990 Noriega surrenders Panama dictator gives himself up General Manuel Noriega, the deposed Panamanian dictator, surrendered to US forces on January 3, 1990 after taking refuge in the Vatican embassy for ten days.
• 1990 Lithuania defies USSR Declares path to independence Lithuania formally rejected a Soviet demand to renounce its declaration of independence on January 11, 1990, becoming the first Soviet republic to openly defy Moscow.
• 1990 First Black US governor Douglas Wilder takes office Douglas Wilder was inaugurated as Governor of Virginia on January 13, 1990, becoming the first elected African American governor in US history.
• 1990 AT&T network collapse Nine-hour US phone outage A software bug caused AT&T's long-distance network to collapse for nine hours on January 15, 1990, disrupting telephone service across Atlanta, St. Louis and Detroit including 911 services.
• 1990 Marion Barry arrested DC mayor caught in FBI sting Washington DC Mayor Marion Barry was arrested on January 18, 1990 during an FBI sting operation after being caught smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room.
• 1990 Kashmiri Pandits flee Kashmir Valley Mass exodus amid rising insurgency Beginning in January 1990, escalating violence and threats from militants drove hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits, a Hindu minority, out of the Kashmir Valley. The exodus followed the outbreak of an armed insurgency against Indian rule in the region. Most displaced families were never able to return to their homes.
• 1990 Soviet troops crack down in Baku "Black January" killings in Azerbaijan Soviet military forces entered Baku on the night of 19-20 January 1990 to suppress the Azerbaijani independence movement, killing well over a hundred civilians. The crackdown, remembered as Black January, deepened Azerbaijani opposition to Soviet rule. It hardened the push toward Azerbaijani independence the following year.
• 1990 – present Jennifer Lawrence Oscar-winning actress American actress born January 22, 1990 in Louisville, Kentucky. Won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and starred in The Hunger Games franchise.
• 1990 – present Peter Sagan The Tourminator Three-time consecutive World Champion and record 7-time Green Jersey winner at the Tour.
• 1990 – present Sergio Perez Checo / The Tire Whisperer Multiple race winner for Red Bull Racing; known as the "King of the Streets" for his proficiency on street circuits.
• 1990 49ers win Super Bowl XXIV Montana MVP in 55-10 rout The San Francisco 49ers crushed the Denver Broncos 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990. Joe Montana threw five touchdown passes and won his third Super Bowl MVP award.
• 1990 McDonald's opens in Moscow Fast food arrives in USSR The Soviet Union's first McDonald's restaurant opened in Moscow on January 31, 1990. Thousands of Russians queued for hours to taste Western fast food for the first time.
• 1990 De Klerk unbans ANC South Africa lifts apartheid restrictions South African President F.W. de Klerk announced on February 2, 1990 that the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid organisations would be legalised, paving the way for the end of apartheid.
• 1990 – present Nairo Quintana Nairoman Pioneer for the new generation of Colombian climbers. Winner: Giro and Vuelta.
• 1990 Buster Douglas beats Tyson Biggest boxing upset in history James "Buster" Douglas pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history by knocking out the previously undefeated Mike Tyson in the 10th round in Tokyo on February 11, 1990.
• 1990 Nelson Mandela freed After 27 years in prison Nelson Mandela walked free from Victor Verster Prison on February 11, 1990 after 27 years of imprisonment, greeted by jubilant crowds worldwide. His release marked the beginning of the end of apartheid in South Africa.
• 1990 MC Hammer album released Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em MC Hammer released his landmark album "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" on February 12, 1990. It stayed on the Billboard 200 for 21 weeks and became the best-selling rap album of all time at that point.
• 1990 Pale Blue Dot photo Voyager 1 photographs Earth from 6bn km On February 14, 1990, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft turned its camera back toward the Sun and took the famous "Pale Blue Dot" photo of Earth from a distance of 6 billion kilometres, at Carl Sagan's request.
• 1990 East Germany free elections First democratic vote since 1946 East Germany held its first free multi-party elections on March 18, 1990, with voters overwhelmingly supporting parties favouring rapid reunification with West Germany.
• 1990 Nepal's pro-democracy movement restores multi-party rule King Birendra accepts constitutional monarchy Weeks of pro-democracy protests known as the Jana Andolan pressured Nepal's King Birendra to lift the ban on political parties. On 8 April 1990 he agreed to a new constitution establishing a multi-party constitutional monarchy. The movement ended three decades of direct royal rule.
• 1990 Benin holds National Conference Marxist government cedes power peacefully Benin's National Conference of Active Forces met in Cotonou from 19 to 28 February 1990, stripping President Mathieu Kérékou of most of his powers. The peaceful conference dismantled nearly two decades of Marxist-Leninist rule. It became a model for democratic transitions across French-speaking Africa.
• 1990 Sandinistas lose Nicaragua Violeta Chamorro wins election Violeta Chamorro defeated Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua's general election on February 25, 1990, ending eleven years of Sandinista rule.
• 1990 Twin Peaks premieres Lynch's groundbreaking TV series David Lynch's mystery drama Twin Peaks premiered on ABC in April 1990, revolutionising television drama and influencing countless shows that followed.
• 1990 Lithuania declares independence First Soviet republic to break free Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to formally declare independence from the USSR on March 11, 1990, triggering a constitutional crisis in Moscow.
• 1990 Gorbachev elected president New Soviet executive role created The Congress of People's Deputies elected Mikhail Gorbachev as the first President of the Soviet Union on March 15, 1990, creating a new executive role separate from the Communist Party.
• 1990 Iraq executes journalist Farzad Bazoft British-based reporter hanged as alleged spy Iraq executed Iranian-born British journalist Farzad Bazoft on 15 March 1990 after convicting him of spying. Bazoft had been reporting for the Observer on an explosion at an Iraqi military site. His execution drew international condemnation and worsened Iraq's relations with Britain ahead of the Gulf War.
• 1990 Gardner Museum art theft Largest art heist in history Thirteen works worth up to $500 million — including Vermeer's "The Concert" and Rembrandt's "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee" — were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston on March 18, 1990. The paintings have never been recovered.
• 1990 Namibia becomes independent Free from South African rule Namibia gained independence from South Africa on March 21, 1990, ending 75 years of South African rule and the last colonial administration in Africa.
• 1990 Pretty Woman #3 film of 1990 — $463m worldwide Directed by Garry Marshall, starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. A wealthy businessman hires a vivacious prostitute to be his escort for business events.
• 1990 Hungary holds first free elections since 1945 Democratic Forum wins governing mandate Hungary's first free parliamentary elections since World War II were held in two rounds on 25 March and 8 April 1990. The Hungarian Democratic Forum won the largest share of seats and formed a coalition government. The vote completed Hungary's transition from communist rule.
• 1990 "Driving Miss Daisy" wins Best Picture 62nd Academy Awards held in Los Angeles "Driving Miss Daisy" won Best Picture at the 62nd Academy Awards, held on 26 March 1990. Jessica Tandy won Best Actress for her role in the film, becoming the oldest winner in the category at the time. The ceremony also recognized "My Left Foot" and "Born on the Fourth of July."
• 1990 Poll tax riots erupt in central London Trafalgar Square protest turns violent A demonstration of over 200,000 people against Margaret Thatcher's Community Charge, or "poll tax," turned into a riot in London's Trafalgar Square on 31 March 1990. Clashes with police left over 100 injured and dozens of vehicles and shops damaged. The unrest hastened the tax's abolition and contributed to Thatcher's fall from power later that year.
• 1990 Windows 3.0 released Microsoft transforms personal computing Microsoft released Windows 3.0 on May 22, 1990, the first commercially successful version of Windows. It transformed the personal computer market and set the stage for Windows' global dominance.
• 1990 Ryan White dies AIDS activist teenager, age 18 Ryan White, the teenager who became a symbol of the AIDS crisis after contracting HIV from a blood transfusion, died of pneumonia on April 8, 1990. His advocacy helped change public understanding of AIDS.
• 1990 1990 World Snooker Championship Hendry Rise Stephen Hendry becomes the youngest-ever world champion. Winner: Stephen Hendry; Runner-up: Jimmy White. Score: 18–12.
• 1990 Croatia holds first multi-party elections Franjo Tuđman's HDZ wins power Croatia held its first free multi-party elections since World War II in April and May 1990. Franjo Tuđman's Croatian Democratic Union won a decisive majority, ending communist rule. The result accelerated Croatia's push toward independence from Yugoslavia.
• 1990 First Earth Day in 20 years 200 million participate worldwide The 20th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 1990 mobilised 200 million people in 141 countries, launching the modern environmental movement globally.
• 1990 Zaire's Mobutu announces end of one-party rule Long-time dictator promises multi-party system President Mobutu Sese Seko announced on 24 April 1990 that Zaire would end 23 years of one-party rule and move toward a multi-party system. The announcement came amid growing domestic unrest and the end of Cold War support for his regime. Democratic reforms stalled and Mobutu remained in power for years afterward.
• 1990 Colombian presidential candidate Carlos Pizarro assassinated Former guerrilla leader shot aboard flight Carlos Pizarro, presidential candidate for the demobilized M-19 guerrilla movement, was shot and killed aboard a domestic flight on 26 April 1990. He was the third Colombian presidential candidate assassinated during that election cycle. The killings underscored the violence surrounding Colombia's drug wars.
• 1990 Latvia declares independence Second Baltic state to break from USSR Latvia formally declared the restoration of its independence from the Soviet Union on May 4, 1990, following Lithuania's lead.
• 1990 Estonia declares independence Third Baltic state breaks free Estonia declared the beginning of a transition period toward full independence from the Soviet Union on May 8, 1990.
• 1990 Van Gogh's "Portrait of Dr. Gachet" sells for record price Auction sets new high for a painting Vincent van Gogh's "Portrait of Dr. Gachet" sold at Christie's in New York on 15 May 1990 for $82.5 million, a record for any artwork at the time. The buyer was Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito. The sale highlighted the booming art market of the late 1980s.
• 1990 Yemen unified North and South Yemen merge The Yemen Arab Republic and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen merged to form the Republic of Yemen on May 22, 1990, ending decades of division.
• 1990 – present Jewel Kilcher Singer-songwriter born in 1990 American singer-songwriter known professionally as Jewel, born in Homer, Alaska.
• 1990 Yeltsin elected chairman of the Russian Supreme Soviet Reformer takes power in Russia Boris Yeltsin was elected president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on May 29, 1990, beginning his rise to power that would culminate in the dissolution of the USSR.
• 1990 Bush-Gorbachev summit Chemical weapons accord signed US President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met in Washington for a four-day summit beginning May 30, 1990, signing an accord to end chemical weapons production.
• 1990 Human Genome Project begins International effort to map DNA The Human Genome Project officially began in June 1990, a landmark international scientific collaboration to sequence and map all human genes — the complete set of human DNA.
• 1990 Pretty Woman released Julia Roberts becomes a star Pretty Woman was released in March 1990, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. It became the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time up to that point.
• 1990 1990 FIFA World Cup Notti Magiche A defensive-minded tournament that saw West Germany win their third title. Winner: West Germany.
• 1990 1990 FIFA World Cup begins Italy hosts the tournament The 1990 FIFA World Cup opened in Italy on June 8, 1990. West Germany won the tournament, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final — their third World Cup title.
• 1990 Czechoslovakia holds first free elections since 1946 Civic Forum and Public Against Violence win Czechoslovakia held its first free parliamentary elections since 1946 on 8-9 June 1990. The Civic Forum and its Slovak counterpart Public Against Violence, both born of the Velvet Revolution, won commanding majorities. Václav Havel's government gained a democratic mandate.
• 1990 Bulgaria holds first free elections Former communists win under new party name Bulgaria held its first multi-party elections since 1931 on 10 and 17 June 1990. The renamed Bulgarian Socialist Party, successor to the communists, won the largest bloc of seats. Opposition parties disputed the result but the vote set Bulgaria on a path to democratic government.
• 1990 Russia declares sovereignty Congress of People's Deputies vote The Congress of People's Deputies of Russia formally declared Russian sovereignty from the USSR on June 12, 1990, an early step toward the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union.
• 1990 Berlin Wall demolition begins Official destruction starts East Germany officially began demolishing the Berlin Wall on June 13, 1990, seven months after crowds first broke through it on November 9, 1989.
• 1990 Iran earthquake 50,000 killed in Gilan A devastating earthquake measuring 7.4 struck the Gilan and Zanjan provinces of Iran on June 21, 1990, killing approximately 50,000 people and leaving 500,000 homeless.
• 1990 Bush breaks tax pledge "Read my lips" promise broken President Bush announced on June 26, 1990 that new taxes would be needed to reduce the federal deficit, breaking his famous "Read my lips: no new taxes" campaign pledge.
• 1990 Nations strengthen ozone treaty in London London Amendment tightens CFC phase-out Parties to the Montreal Protocol meeting in London on 29 June 1990 agreed to a complete phase-out of ozone-depleting CFCs by 2000. The London Amendment strengthened the original 1987 treaty and added funding to help developing nations comply. It became a landmark in international environmental cooperation.
• 1990 Wimbledon 1990 Men: Stefan Edberg · Women: Martina Navratilova Navratilova's 9th Wimbledon title — the Open Era record.
• 1990 German economic union East and West share the Deutschmark East and West Germany entered into economic and monetary union on July 1, 1990, with the East German mark replaced by the West German Deutschmark at a 1:1 rate.
• 1990 Mecca stampede 1,426 pilgrims killed A stampede in a pedestrian tunnel near Mecca during the Hajj pilgrimage on July 2, 1990 killed 1,426 people, making it one of the deadliest disasters in the history of the pilgrimage.
• 1990 Kenya's Saba Saba pro-democracy riots Crackdown on protests demanding multi-party rule On 7 July 1990 riots erupted across Kenya after the government banned a rally demanding multi-party elections. Security forces killed dozens of protesters in the crackdown known as Saba Saba. The unrest intensified pressure that led Kenya to legalize opposition parties the following year.
• 1990 Three Tenors concert Pavarotti, Domingo, Carreras perform The Three Tenors — Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras — performed their legendary first concert on July 7, 1990 in Rome, the eve of the World Cup final, watched by 1.6 billion people worldwide.
• 1990 Ghost #2 film of 1990 — $506m worldwide Directed by Jerry Zucker, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. A murdered man uses a psychic to communicate with his grief-stricken lover.
• 1990 Luzon earthquake 1,600 killed in Philippines A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the island of Luzon in the Philippines on July 16, 1990, killing approximately 1,600 people and causing widespread devastation.
• 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act Historic US civil rights law signed President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law on July 26, 1990, prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities and mandating accessibility across the United States.
• 1990 Belarus declares sovereignty Soviet republic asserts independence The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic declared state sovereignty from the USSR on July 27, 1990.
• 1990 Jamaat al Muslimeen storms Trinidad's parliament Six-day armed siege and hostage crisis Members of the Jamaat al Muslimeen group stormed Trinidad and Tobago's parliament and a television station on 27 July 1990, taking Prime Minister A.N.R. Robinson and others hostage. The uprising triggered widespread looting and a six-day siege before the militants surrendered on 1 August. It remains the only Islamist-led coup attempt in the Western Hemisphere.
• 1990 Mongolia holds first multi-party elections Communist monopoly ends peacefully Mongolia held its first multi-party parliamentary elections on 29 July 1990 after months of pro-democracy protests. The ruling communist party retained power but the vote ended one-party rule. It marked Mongolia's peaceful transition away from Soviet-style government.
• 1990 IRA assassinates British MP Ian Gow Car bomb kills close Thatcher ally The Provisional IRA killed Conservative MP Ian Gow with a car bomb at his home in Sussex on 30 July 1990. Gow had been a close friend and former aide to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The killing was part of the IRA's continuing campaign against British political figures.
• 1990 Robert Johnson's The Complete Recordings released Bestselling box set A blues box set that sells over a million and wins a Grammy.
• 1990 US Open 1990 Men: Pete Sampras · Women: Gabriela Sabatini Pete Sampras, 19, won his first Grand Slam.
• 1990 Oil price shock Kuwait invasion doubles oil price Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990 caused oil prices to spike dramatically, doubling from around $20 to $46 per barrel within weeks, triggering fears of a global recession.
• 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait Gulf War begins Iraq's military forces invaded and occupied neighbouring Kuwait on August 2, 1990, on the orders of President Saddam Hussein. The invasion prompted an international coalition response that led to the Gulf War.
• 1990 UN sanctions on Iraq Security Council acts after Kuwait invasion The UN Security Council voted on August 6, 1990 to impose comprehensive economic sanctions on Iraq following its invasion of Kuwait, one of the most sweeping embargoes in UN history.
• 1990 Operation Desert Shield US troops deploy to Saudi Arabia The United States began deploying troops to Saudi Arabia on August 7, 1990 as part of Operation Desert Shield, the defensive buildup to protect Saudi Arabia and prepare for the eventual liberation of Kuwait.
• 1990 Magellan spacecraft enters orbit around Venus NASA probe begins radar mapping mission NASA's Magellan probe entered orbit around Venus on 10 August 1990 to map the planet's surface using radar. Over the following years it produced the most detailed maps of Venus's surface to date. The mission revealed extensive volcanic activity beneath the planet's thick clouds.
• 1990 Stevie Ray Vaughan dies in a helicopter crash East Troy, Wisconsin Killed after a show at Alpine Valley with Eric Clapton.
• 1990 Plainfield tornado F5 strikes Chicago suburbs An F5 tornado struck the towns of Plainfield and Crest Hill, Illinois on August 28, 1990, killing 29 people. It was the strongest tornado ever to hit the Chicago metropolitan area.
• 1990 First gene therapy trial Human genetic treatment begins The first approved human gene therapy trial began in September 1990 at the US National Institutes of Health, treating a four-year-old girl with a severe immune deficiency disorder.
• 1990 Goodfellas released Scorsese's gangster masterpiece Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas was released in September 1990, starring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. Widely considered one of the greatest films ever made.
• 1990 Bush-Gorbachev Helsinki summit Gulf crisis discussed President Bush and Soviet leader Gorbachev met in Helsinki on September 9, 1990 to discuss the Gulf crisis, with the Soviets backing the US position against Iraq.
• 1990 Liberian president Samuel Doe killed Captured and executed during civil war Liberian president Samuel Doe was captured and killed by rebel forces under Prince Johnson on 9 September 1990. His death, filmed and widely circulated, marked a brutal turn in the First Liberian Civil War. The country descended into years of factional fighting.
• 1990 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air debuts Will Smith's TV career launches The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered on NBC on September 10, 1990, launching Will Smith's acting career and becoming one of the most beloved sitcoms of the decade.
• 1990 Two Plus Four Treaty Germany's path to reunification signed The Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany — the "Two Plus Four Treaty" — was signed on September 12, 1990 by the two German states and the four Allied powers, clearing the legal path for reunification.
• 1990 Seinfeld season 2 begins Defining sitcom of the decade Seinfeld's second season began on NBC on September 13, 1990. Originally struggling in ratings, it would become the defining American sitcom of the 1990s.
• 1990 Sinéad O'Connor tears up Pope photo SNL protest shocks America Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live on October 3, 1992 — but her controversial album "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" dominated 1990 culture.
• 1990 Gorbachev wins Nobel Peace Prize Recognised for ending Cold War Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 15, 1990, recognised for his leading role in ending the Cold War.
• 1990 Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 4 Resolves the Borg cliffhanger (Picard rescued) and delivers consistently excellent television including "Family," "Brothers" and "The Drumhead." The show is now the most-watched drama in American syndication.
• 1990 – present Pearl Jam American rock band Seattle band of Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament and Mike McCready — the most durable of the grunge bands.
• 1990 Rwandan Civil War begins Rwandan Patriotic Front invades from Uganda On 1 October 1990 the Rwandan Patriotic Front, made up largely of Tutsi exiles, invaded Rwanda from Uganda. The invasion began a civil war between the RPF and the Hutu-led government. The conflict simmered for years before erupting into the 1994 genocide.
• 1990 Tim Berners-Lee proposes the Web HTML and HTTP invented at CERN Tim Berners-Lee at CERN formally proposed the World Wide Web in late 1990, writing the first web browser and server software and implementing HTTP and HTML for the first time.
• 1990 German reunification East & West Germany unite On October 3, 1990, East and West Germany officially reunified after 45 years of division, a defining moment of post-Cold War Europe.
• 1990 Beverly Hills 90210 debuts Defining teen drama of the decade Beverly Hills, 90210 premiered on Fox on October 4, 1990, becoming one of the defining teen dramas of the 1990s and launching the careers of several young actors.
• 1990 Home Alone released Highest-grossing film of 1990 Home Alone was released in US cinemas on November 16, 1990, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year and launching Macaulay Culkin to superstardom.
• 1990 Lebanese Civil War effectively ends Syrian-backed forces defeat General Aoun On 13 October 1990 Syrian-backed Lebanese army units overran the presidential palace at Baabda, defeating General Michel Aoun's forces. The offensive effectively ended fifteen years of civil war in Lebanon. Aoun fled into exile in France.
• 1990 Dow Jones mini-crash Wall Street falls 190 points The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 190 points on October 19, 1990 — the third anniversary of Black Monday — amid concerns about the Gulf crisis and rising oil prices.
• 1990 New Zealand elects first female PM Jenny Shipley takes power New Zealand's National Party won the general election on October 27, 1990, beginning a nine-year period of National government. Jim Bolger became PM; Jenny Shipley later became NZ's first female PM in 1997.
• 1990 Ivory Coast holds first multi-party presidential election Houphouët-Boigny wins amid new opposition Ivory Coast held its first multi-party presidential election since independence on 28 October 1990. Longtime leader Félix Houphouët-Boigny won against opposition challenger Laurent Gbagbo. The vote ended 30 years of single-party rule.
• 1990 Dances with Wolves released Costner's Oscar winner Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves was released in November 1990 and became a massive box office success, winning seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.
• 1990 US recession begins Economy contracts for first time in decade The United States entered recession in November 1990, partly caused by the oil price shock following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The recession lasted until March 1991.
• 1990 Rabbi Kahane assassinated Far-right leader shot in New York Rabbi Meir Kahane, founder of the far-right Kach movement and Israeli politician, was shot dead by El Sayyid Nosair after a speech in a New York City hotel on November 5, 1990.
• 1990 Thatcher resigns Iron Lady's political career ends Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on November 22, 1990 after losing the first round of the Conservative Party leadership contest. She had served as PM for 11 years.
• 1990 Lech Walesa wins Polish election Solidarity leader becomes president Lech Walesa, founder of the Solidarity trade union, won Poland's presidential election on November 25, 1990, becoming the first directly elected Polish head of state.
• 1990 Home Alone #1 film of 1990 — $476m worldwide Directed by Chris Columbus, starring Macaulay Culkin. An 8-year-old is accidentally left behind when his family flies to Paris for Christmas. The highest-grossing film of 1990.
• 1990 Milli Vanilli stripped of Grammy Award Lip-syncing scandal voids Best New Artist win The Recording Academy revoked Milli Vanilli's 1990 Grammy Award for Best New Artist on 19 November 1990 after it emerged the duo had not sung on their own recordings. The scandal became one of the biggest in music industry history. It remains the only Grammy ever rescinded from a winner.
• 1990 Paris Charter signed Cold War formally declared over Leaders of 34 nations signed the Paris Charter for a New Europe on November 21, 1990, formally declaring an end to the Cold War and establishing principles for a new European security order.
• 1990 Super Famicom launches in Japan Nintendo's 16-bit console debuts Nintendo released the Super Famicom in Japan on 21 November 1990, its successor to the Famicom console. It launched internationally the following year as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The console became one of the best-selling of its generation.
• 1990 John Major becomes UK PM Succeeds Margaret Thatcher John Major became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on November 28, 1990, succeeding Margaret Thatcher as leader of the Conservative Party.
• 1990 UN authorises Gulf War force Security Council Resolution 678 The UN Security Council passed Resolution 678 on November 29, 1990, authorising member states to use "all necessary means" to expel Iraq from Kuwait if it did not withdraw by January 15, 1991.
• 1990 Channel Tunnel breakthrough UK and France connected underground Workers digging from either side of the English Channel met in the middle on December 1, 1990, completing the breakthrough of the Channel Tunnel service tunnel and connecting Britain and France for the first time.
• 1990 Idriss Déby overthrows Hissène Habré Rebel offensive topples Chadian government Rebel forces led by Idriss Déby captured N'Djamena on 1-2 December 1990, overthrowing president Hissène Habré. Déby declared himself president and would rule Chad for three decades. Habré fled into exile in Senegal.
• 1990 Bangladesh president Ershad resigns amid protests Mass demonstrations end nine-year rule Bangladeshi president Hussain Muhammad Ershad resigned on 6 December 1990 after weeks of mass protests and a general strike. His resignation ended nine years of military-backed rule. Multi-party elections followed the next year.
• 1990 Lech Walesa inaugurated Poland's first directly elected president Lech Walesa was inaugurated as President of Poland on December 22, 1990, completing Poland's transition from communism to democracy.
• 1990 Aristide elected in Haiti End of three decades of military rule Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected President of Haiti on December 16, 1990 in the country's first free and fair election, ending 30 years of military rule.
• 1990 Slovenia holds independence referendum Voters overwhelmingly back leaving Yugoslavia On 23 December 1990 Slovenian voters backed independence from Yugoslavia by over 88%. The result set a six-month timetable for secession that led to Slovenia declaring independence in June 1991. It was the first Yugoslav republic to formally break away.
• 1990 Suriname's Christmas coup Military ousts elected government Surinamese military commander Dési Bouterse's forces overthrew the elected government of President Ramsewak Shankar on 24 December 1990. The bloodless takeover became known as the Christmas coup. It was the third coup Bouterse had staged since 1980.
• 1990 Home Alone tops box office Christmas No.1 film worldwide Home Alone dominated the Christmas box office in December 1990, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year worldwide and one of the most successful comedies ever made.