This Week in History: The Soviet “seductive bear”, Amazon’s Chernobyl, and the fall of a golfing icon

Explore how major events between 16 and 22 February were captured on The Independent’s front pages LifestyleHistoryThis Week in History: The Soviet “seductive bear”, Amazon’s Chernobyl, and the fall of a golfing iconExplore how major events between 16 and 22 February were captured on The Independent’s front pagesTizane Navea-Rogers Monday 16 February 2026 04:35 ESTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoveropen image in galleryRetrospective: a week of turning points that shaped the world (The Independent)Your support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreScandal and tension run through the week’s headlines. Margaret Thatcher warns the West against the “seductive” Soviet “bear”, striking a cautious note as relations with Moscow begin to thaw. In the Middle East, Iranian leaders demand that novelist Salman Rushdie seek pardon in the fallout from the fatwa against him, while fresh IRA attacks raise fears of a return to violence in Northern Ireland. Environmental catastrophe also dominates, as Chevron (which acquired Texaco) faces accusations of a toxic dumping disaster in Ecuador, dubbed “Amazon’s Chernobyl”, and scientists in the mid-2000s present compelling evidence linking global warming to human activity. Meanwhile, in the world of sport, a very public scandal sees Tiger Woods “humbled” before the world’s press. Explore these stories and more through the historic front pages of The Independent.22 February 1988 – Thatcher warns against ‘seductive’ Soviet thawMargaret Thatcher cautions Nato allies against being swayed by Mikhail Gorbachev’s popularity, warning of the “sophisticated” and “seductive” advances of the Soviet “bear” as Moscow pushes proposals for a nuclear-free Europe. The prime minister signals a harder line after earlier engagement with the Soviet leader, reflecting Western uncertainty over whether reforms in the USSR mark genuine change or strategic manoeuvre near the end of the Cold War.open image in gallery(The Independent)18 February 1989 – Iran orders Rushdie to seek pardonNovelist Salman Rushdie continues to dominate headlines this week. Iranian president Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the death sentence against Rushdie could be lifted if he asks forgiveness from Muslims, days after the fatwa over The Satanic Verses is issued. The remarks suggest unease within Iran’s leadership about the international fallout as protests and diplomatic tensions intensify. Rushdie remains under long-term police protection, and the dispute continues to strain relations between Iran and Western countries for years afterwards.open image in gallery(The Independent)21 February 1991 – Deadline looms for Saddam over KuwaitIt’s 1991 and Kuwait is occupied. The US-led coalition sets out terms to halt a planned ground offensive in the Gulf War as Iraq weighs a Soviet-brokered peace proposal. Moscow signals optimism that a withdrawal could avert invasion, but the allies reject conditions allowing a delayed or negotiated pull-out. Within days, coalition forces launch their offensive, rapidly liberating Kuwait and bringing the conflict to a close later that month.open image in gallery(The Independent)20 February 1996 – String of IRA attacks in LondonFresh IRA bomb attacks in London raise fears the Northern Ireland peace process is collapsing, with warnings of a renewed cycle of violence between republicans and loyalists after the end of the 1994 ceasefire. The explosions mark a tense return to uncertainty as negotiations stall and security is tightened across Britain and Northern Ireland. Despite the setback, talks resume the following year and culminate in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.open image in gallery(The Independent)19 February 2005 – ‘Final proof’ that global warming is man-madeMore than 20 years ago, The Independent leads with research that finds a clear connection between rising ocean temperatures and greenhouse gas pollution. “The final proof: global warming is a man-made disaster”, runs the headline, as scientists report an “unequivocal” correlation between four decades of ocean heating and atmospheric emissions. The findings add momentum to growing international pressure for