- Nelson Mandela is released from prison in South Africa after twenty-seven years
- Iraq invades Kuwait
- Margaret Thatcher resigns as Prime Minister and is replaced by John Major
- Poll Tax riots in central London
- Footballer Paul Gascoigne ‘Gazza’ bursts into tears at World Cup in Italy
- Robert Mapplethorpe’s retrospective causes outrage in America
- Anish Kapoor represents Britain at the Venice Bienniale
- Vivienne Westwood wins British Designer of the Year award
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