August 1990

Thursday 02:

Iraq invades Kuwait, eventually leading to the Gulf War.

Friday 03:

37.1°C (98.8°F) at Cheltenham in Gloucestershire

Monday 06:

Gulf War: The United Nations Security Council orders a global trade embargo against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait

Tuesday 07:

1990 - At 12:34:56 (both AM and PM) the time and date by British reckoning was 12:34:56 7/8/90 i.e. 1234567890.

Friday 10:

The Magellan space probe reaches Venus.

Sunday 12:

Sue, the most complete skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex, was discovered near Faith, South Dakota.

Sunday 19:

Leonard Bernstein conducts his final concert, ending with Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7.

Thursday 23:

West Germany and East Germany announce that they will unite on October 3.

Friday 24:

Sinéad O'Connor refuses to perform at the Garden State Arts Plaza in Holmdel, New Jersey if "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played before her show, as is customary.

Monday 27:

The British Broadcasting Corporation launches BBC Radio Five Live at 9am GMT with a mixture of sports, news, and children's programming. The station broadcasts for eighteen hours per day.

Tuesday 28:

The Plainfield Tornado: An F5 tornado hits in Plainfield, Illinois, and Joliet, Illinois, killing 28 people.

Thursday 30:

Tatarstan declares independence from the RSFSR.