Germany, divided since the end of World War II in 1945, is reunited as the barriers between East and West Germany disappear. Also that year:

• The United States faces a military crisis when Iraq invades Kuwait. President George Bush attempts diplomatic resolutions but also dispatches approx. 400,000 U.S. military personnel to the Persian Gulf.

• Discrimination against the disabled is banned under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• President Bush, whose campaign slogan had been “Read my lips — no new taxes,” upsets supports by acknowledging that reducing the federal budget deficit would require “tax revenue increases.” The legislation he signs includes higher taxes on the wealthy and higher excise taxes on airline tickets, gasoline and alcohol.

• Margaret Thatcher resigns as Great Britain’s Prime Minister and is succeeded by John Major.

• Nelson Mandela, South African black nationalist leader, is freed after almost three decades in prison. South African President F.W. de Klerk lifts the 30-year ban on Mandela’s African National Congress, the main group seeking black majority rule, and begins talks with Mandela.

• Mikhail Gorbachev is elected to a five-year term as Soviet President.

• NASA reports a major manufacturing flaw in the main mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope that renders its pictures fuzzy.