Thatcher, Mandela make headway
1990 - Nelson Mandela and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher made progress in patching up their long-standing differences over South Africa and agreed to work together to end apartheid. Their three hours of talks established a warm rapport and boosted hopes of a peaceful settlement. The meeting is the first between Thatcher and Mandela, deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC). Mandela, who praised Thatcher’s integrity and sincerity, said that while they differed in their attitudes to economic sanctions and the use of violence by the ANC, he accepted she was “an enemy of apartheid”. He said Thatcher, who three years ago described the ANC as a “typical terrorist organisation”, had been “warm and gentle” during their talks.
July 4
1776 - American Declaration of Independence is approved in Philadelphia.
1824 - Turks capture island of Ispara in war with Greeks.
1884 - France presents the US with the Statue of Liberty, commemorating the French and American revolutions.
1894 - Republic of Hawaii is proclaimed with Sanford Dole as President
1903 - The first transpacific telegraph cable is inaugurated, running between Honolulu, Midway, Guam and Manila.
1906 - Ethiopia is granted independence by Britain, France and Italy.
1938 - Suzanne Lenglen, French tennis player and six-time winner of Wimbledon, dies.
1946 - Republic of the Philippines is founded after 47 years of US rule.
1987 - Emirates airline takes delivery of first Airbus A310-300 at Dubai International Airport.
1991 - Former Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze renounces his membership in the Communist Party.
1992 - At least 50 people are killed in Kabul and Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani narrowly escapes injury.
1997 - Pathfinder lands on Mars, the first visit to the planet in more than 20 years.
2003 - Three suspected Muslim militants attack a Shiite mosque in Quetta, Pakistan, opening fire during Friday prayers and killing 53 people.
2005 - The UAE Cabinet approves membership in the UN Convention against Corruption.
2007 - Yuriko Koike is sworn in as Japan’s first female defence minister.
2013 - Egypt’s chief justice Adly Mansour is sworn in as Interim President.
