First tourism expo opens in Dubai
1993 - The first Middle East Tourism and Resorts Expo was inaugurated by Dubai Director of Information Shaikh Hasher Maktoum. The large number of Egyptian participants offered competitive investment and travel opportunities. Some 33 Egyptian travel, tourism and real estate companies, in addition to one exhibitor each from Malaysia, Germany and France, set up their counters at the Metropolitan Hotel in Dubai to receive holiday-goers and real estate investors. Shaikh Hasher said about the importance of tourism exhibitions that they convey a more vivid and detailed picture for travellers than travel guides and brochures. He also urged UAE travel agencies to participate in such events in Egypt.
April 20
1792 - France declares war on Austria, marking the start of the French Revolutionary wars.
1854 - Austria and Prussia conclude defensive alliance against Russia.
1902 - Scientists Marie and Pierre Curie isolate the radioactive element radium.
1908 - Some 44 people die when trains collide at Sunshine, Victoria, Australia.
1920 - Tornadoes kill 219 in Alabama and Mississippi.
1923 - Egyptian constitution is adopted.
1945 - Soviet forces penetrate Berlin defences in Second World War.
1957 - Japan protests to Soviet Union over nuclear tests.
1968 - Pierre Elliott Trudeau is sworn in as Canada’s Prime Minister.
1970 - Bruno Kreisky becomes first socialist chancellor of Austria.
1972 - US Apollo 16 astronauts make safe landing on Moon.
1978 - Soviet fighter planes force off-course South Korean airliner down in Soviet Union near Arctic Circle.
1980 - The first Cubans sailing to the United States as part of the massive Mariel boatlift reach Florida.
1986 - Giant irrigation reservoir bursts and floods Sri Lanka town, killing at least 100.
1987 - Palestine Liberation Organisation Chairman Yasser Arafat calls for a sovereign Palestinian state.
1991 - Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the first Soviet leader to visit South Korea.
1994 - Israeli and Palestine Liberation Organisation wrap up an agreement transferring civilian government powers to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and Jericho.
1995 - Egyptian aircraft begin a UN-approved shuttle service for Muslim pilgrims from Libya to Saudi Arabia.
1998 - An Ecuadorean airliner slams into a mountainside in Colombia, killing all 53 people aboard.
2012 - A passenger plane belonging to Bhoja Air crashes near Islamabad, Pakistan, while trying to land, killing all 127 people on board.
2017 - Pakistan’s Supreme Court reprieves Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Papers case.
