1989
US planes shoot down two Libyan fighters over international waters in Mediterranean (Jan. 4).
Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini declares author Salman Rushdie's book The Satanic Verses offensive and sentences him to death (Feb. 14).
Tens of thousands of Chinese students take over Beijing's Tiananmen Square in rally for democracy (April 19 et seq.). More than one million in Beijing demonstrate for democracy; chaos spreads across nation (mid-May et seq.). Thousands killed in Tiananmen Square as Chinese leaders take hard line toward demonstrators (June 4 et seq.).
Mikhail S. Gorbachev named Soviet President (May 25).
P. W. Botha quits as South Africa's President (Aug. 14).
Deng Xiaoping resigns from China's leadership (Nov. 9).
After 28 years, Berlin Wall is open to West (Nov. 11).
Czech Parliament ends Communists' dominant role (Nov. 30).
Romanian uprising overthrows Communist government (Dec. 15 et seq.); President Ceausescu and wife executed (Dec. 25).
US troops invade Panama, seeking capture of General Manuel Noriega (Dec. 20).
US planes shoot down two Libyan fighters over international waters in Mediterranean (Jan. 4).
Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini declares author Salman Rushdie's book The Satanic Verses offensive and sentences him to death (Feb. 14).
Tens of thousands of Chinese students take over Beijing's Tiananmen Square in rally for democracy (April 19 et seq.). More than one million in Beijing demonstrate for democracy; chaos spreads across nation (mid-May et seq.). Thousands killed in Tiananmen Square as Chinese leaders take hard line toward demonstrators (June 4 et seq.).
Mikhail S. Gorbachev named Soviet President (May 25).
P. W. Botha quits as South Africa's President (Aug. 14).
Deng Xiaoping resigns from China's leadership (Nov. 9).
After 28 years, Berlin Wall is open to West (Nov. 11).
Czech Parliament ends Communists' dominant role (Nov. 30).
Romanian uprising overthrows Communist government (Dec. 15 et seq.); President Ceausescu and wife executed (Dec. 25).
US troops invade Panama, seeking capture of General Manuel Noriega (Dec. 20).
