• 1707 GREAT BRITAIN IS CREATED

The parliaments of England and Scotland meet and decide on the union of their regions, thus forming Great Britain.

  • 1913 THE ZIPPER

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Swedish engineer Gideon Sudback manufactures and patents the zipper.

  • 1933 KONSTANTINOS KAVAFIS DIES

Konstantinos Cavafis was born and died on the same day in April, 70 years apart. He writes in his autobiography: “I am a native of Constantinople, but I was born in Alexandria – in a house in Sheriff Street; I left very young, and spent a good part of my childhood in England. Then he visited this country at large, but for a short time. I also lived in France. In my teenage years I lived in Istanbul for over two years. I haven’t been to Greece for many years. My last job was as an employee in a government office under the Egyptian Ministry of Public Works. I know English, French and a little Italian.”

  • 1992 LOS ANGELES RIOTS

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The mayor of Los Angeles is declaring a state of emergency in the city because of the wave of violence that broke out after the acquittal of four police officers who were accused by strong evidence of beating to death Rodney Keigh, a black man. The riots, which will end two days later with the intervention of the army and the decision to repeat the trial, leave 31 dead in Los Angeles.