WHAT ALL HAPPENED FEBRUARY TO MAY 1989
Find out what all happened February to May 1989

Iran-Contra Affair: Former White House aide Oliver North is convicted of three crimes and acquitted of nine other charges. The convictions, however, are later overturned on appeal. (4. May 1989)

An IRA bomb destroys a section of a British Army barracks in Ternhill, England. (20. February 1989)

Cedar Point opens Magnum XL-200, the first roller coaster to break the 200 ft height barrier, therefore spawning what is known as the "coaster wars". (6. May 1989)

The Egyptian Flag is raised on Taba, Egypt announcing the end of the Israeli occupation after the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and the peace negotiations in 1979. (19. March 1989)

Ron Hextall becomes the first goaltender in NHL history to score a goal in the playoffs. (11. April 1989)

Exxon Valdez oil spill: In Prince William Sound in Alaska, the Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 barrels (38,000 m3) of petroleum after running aground. (24. March 1989)

The San Bernardino train disaster kills 4 people. A week later an underground gasoline pipeline explodes killing 2 more people. (12. May 1989)

Soviet submarine Komsomolets sinks in the Barents Sea off the coast of Norway killing 42 sailors. (7. April 1989)

Iran and the United Kingdom break diplomatic relations after a row over Salman Rushdie and his controversial novel, The Satanic Verses. (7. March 1989)

The United States becomes a member of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. (1. March 1989)

Soviet war in Afghanistan: The Soviet Union officially announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan. (15. February 1989)

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini offers a US$3 million bounty for the death of The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie. (24. February 1989)

The April 9 tragedy in Tbilisi, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, an anti-Soviet peaceful demonstration and hunger strikes, demanding restoration of Georgian independence is dispersed by the Soviet army, resulting in 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries. (9. April 1989)

People's Daily publishes the People's Daily editorial of April 26 which inflames the nascent Tiananmen Square protests (26. April 1989)

United Airlines Flight 811, bound for New Zealand from Honolulu, Hawaii, rips open during flight, blowing 9 passengers out of the business-class section. (24. February 1989)

Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989: In Beijing, around 100,000 students gather in Tiananmen Square to commemorate Chinese reform leader Hu Yaobang. (21. April 1989)

Financially troubled Eastern Air Lines filed for bankruptcy. (9. March 1989)

Hillsborough disaster: A human crush occurs at Hillsborough Stadium, home of Sheffield Wednesday, in the FA Cup Semi-final, resulting in the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans. (15. April 1989)

In Egypt, a 4,400-year-old mummy was found near the Pyramid of Cheops. (18. March 1989)

Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini issues a fatwa encouraging Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses. (14. February 1989)