Kuwait declares independence from the United Kingdom.

Kuwait’s declaration of independence from the United Kingdom in 1961 marked a significant milestone in the country’s history. Prior to gaining independence, Kuwait had been a British protectorate since 1899, which provided it with a degree of political and military protection.

The push for independence began to gain momentum in the late 1950s when various political groups and leaders in Kuwait started advocating for self-rule. In 1959, the National Union Committee was formed, representing a diverse range of Kuwaiti political parties and interest groups, and it played a crucial role in the independence movement.

The declaration of independence was made on June 19, 1961. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the ruler of Kuwait at the time, announced Kuwait’s separation from British rule. This declaration was widely supported by the Kuwaiti people, who had been seeking greater autonomy and control over their own affairs.

The United Kingdom recognized Kuwait’s independence and subsequently withdrew its military forces from the country. Kuwait then transitioned into a fully independent state, with Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah becoming Kuwait’s first ruler after independence.

The newfound independence of Kuwait opened the door for the country to further develop its own political, economic, and social systems. Kuwait experienced significant growth and prosperity in the following years, driven primarily by its vast oil reserves.

It’s worth mentioning that Kuwait’s independence was not without challenges. Shortly after declaring independence, Kuwait faced territorial claims from Iraq, which led to a brief military conflict in 1961. However, Kuwait successfully defended its sovereignty, with the support of regional and international allies.

Since gaining independence, Kuwait has emerged as a sovereign nation, playing an active role in regional and global affairs. The country has made notable advancements in various sectors, including finance, commerce, infrastructure, education, and healthcare, making it one of the most developed nations in the Middle East.

Garfield’s first comic strip, originally published locally as Jon in 1976, goes into nationwide syndication

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange requested asylum in London’s Ecuadorian Embassy for fear of extradition to the US after publication of previously classified documents including footage of civilian killings by the US army.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is approved after surviving an 83-day filibuster in the United States Senate.

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The Soviet occupation of Hungary ends.

The Natives Land Act, 1913 in South Africa implemented.

The Natives Land Act of 1913 was the first major piece of segregation legislation passed by the Union Parliament. It was replaced by the current policy of land restitution. The act decreed that whites were not allowed to buy land from natives and vice versa. That stopped white farmers from buying more native land. Exceptions had to be approved by the Governor-General. The native areas left initially totaled less than 10% of the entire land mass of the Union, which was later expanded to 13%.

The Act further prohibited the practice of serfdom or sharecropping. It also protected existing agreements or arrangement of land hired or leased by both parties.

This land was in “native reserve” areas, which meant it was under “communal” tenure vested in African chiefs: it could not be bought, sold or used as surety. Outside such areas, perhaps of even greater significance for black farming was that the Act forbade black tenant farming on white-owned land. Since so many black farmers were sharecroppers or labor tenants, that had a devastating effect, but its full implementation was not immediate. The Act strengthened the chiefs, who were part of the state administration, but it forced many blacks into the “white” areas into wage labour.

Father’s Day is celebrated for the first time in Spokane, Washington.

The Garfield cartoon strip makes its debut.

The very first Father’s Day is celebrated locally in Spokane, Washington.