1988 dpa buys the Globus Kartendienst GmbH and expands its range of graphic material. dpa stops using partner agencies to help supply its international customers. From now on worldwide coverage is provided exclusively via dpa's own foreign correspondent network 1989 The start of unrestricted reporting from the German Democratic Republic. dpa and the East German "ADN Allgemeiner Deutscher Nachrichtendienst" Berlin, agree to cooperate on distribution and technology dpa and five other agencies set up "mecom Medien Communikationsgesellschaft mbH" to undertake satellite transmission of their services 1990 The "Thueringer Allgemeine" newspaper in Erfurt becomes the first paper in East Germany to subscribe directly to the German Service. By the end of the year 41 newspapers along with radio stations and television in the new federal states have signed up as customers of dpa Setting up of 100-per-cent dpa subsidiary "dpa-Agenturdienste GmbH", Berlin to take charge of activities in eastern Germany. Services are set up in the five new federal states with 14 regional bureaux and a central office in Berlin 1991 dpa acquires a 75-per-cent holding in the "ZB-Fotoagentur Zentralbild GmbH", Berlin 1987 German amateur flier Mathias Rust, 19, lands light plane in Red Square, Moscow Former Schleswig-Holstein state premier Uwe Barschel found dead in Geneva hotel room 1988 Soviet Union begins reducing number of medium-range missiles in GDR and Czechoslovakia Explosion of U.S. airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland with loss of 270 lives 1989 Massacre of students in Tiananmen Square, Beijing GDR opens border to West Germany and West Berlin 1990 Nelson Mandela released from prison GDR unifies with West Germany. Unified Germany achieves full sovereignty 1991 End of Gulf War German parliament chooses Berlin as capital