1988 - The world’s best-known brand names went on sale at the newly-built duty-free shopping complex at Sharjah International Airport. The 1,200-square-metre duty-free complex built and managed by the Witnaur group of Switzerland on behalf of the Sharjah airport is expected to draw a large number of international travellers. Popular brands from Sweden and Italy besides locally-made handicrafts attracted shoppers when the duty-free facility opened for business. Designed to go with the distinct architecture of the airport, the duty-free shop is built in a half-moon shape and is located between the departure and arrival domes of the airport. The shops will be open to all passengers using the airport — departure, arriving and transit. The duty-free is designed and the items arranged in such a way so as to let passengers do their shopping as conveniently as possible even if they are short of time.
Other important events
1796 - Edward Jenner administers the first smallpox inoculation in England.
1811 - Paraguay gains independence from Spain.
1814 - Mayon Volcano erupts in the Philippines, approximately 1,200 people killed.
1904 - The first Olympic Games to be held in the United States open in St Louis, Missouri.
1913 - American philanthropist John D. Rockefeller establishes the Rockefeller Foundation to promote the worldwide well-being of mankind.
1921 - Fascists gain in Italian elections and bolster Benito Mussolini’s dictatorship.
1963 - Kuwait joins United Nations.
1964 - Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev opens Aswan Dam in Egypt.
1968 - The Beatles establish Apple Records.
1973 - United States launches Skylab 1, its first manned space station.
1989 - Carlos Saul Menem wins the presidential election in Argentina.
1996 - A severe tornado tears through the northern Bangladesh district of Tangail, killing more than 450.
2011 - Manchester City ends its 35-year trophy drought, beating Stoke 1-0 to clinch the FA Cup final at Wembley.
2015 - Blues legend BB King dies at the age of 89.
2017 - North Korea tests a newly-developed mid/long-range strategic ballistic rocket.
