KUWAIT, May 17 (KUNA) -- 1896 -- Sheikh Mohammad Bin Sabah II, the sixth ruler of Kuwait, passes away. During his rule, he protected Kuwait from foreign attacks, strengthened relations with neighbors and established public facilities, like markets.
1896 -- Sheikh Mubarak Sabah Bin Jaber (Mubarak Al-Kabeer) becomes the seventh ruler of Kuwait, during which he played an important role in boosting Kuwait's trade and providing security for trade routes. He also restored the country's security. He was named "Lion of the Arabian Peninsula". He also signed the Treaty with Great Britain on November 23, 1899, pledging himself and his successors not to receive foreign agents or representatives or to cede or sell territory without the approval of the British government. With this agreement, and the guarantee it represented for Kuwait and the Al-Sabah family, Mubarak Al-Kabeer is regarded as the founder of modern day Kuwait.
1961 -- Kuwait ends the use of the Indian currency (Rupee), after 120 years.
1963 -- Kuwait establishes diplomatic relations with Poland. Kuwaiti Embassy was officially opened in Warsaw.
1964 -- An Amiri decree was issued over endorsing the revised provisions of the United Nations on achieving a balanced representation in the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, which was issued by the UN General Secretariat on December 17, 1963.
1970 -- The Central Bank of Kuwait puts into circulation the second issue of Kuwaiti currency, which carried the picture of the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
1993 -- Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) re-operates Al-Shuaiba refinery, which was destroyed by the Iraqi troops during the 1990 occupation. The cost of its reconstruction stood at nearly KD 26 million.
2002 -- WHO General Assembly elects Kuwait as member in the executive council in respect to its leading role in the field of health.
2004 -- Al-Oula Petrol Company was established, in the aim of operating petrol stations and developing service centers for customers.
2006 -- MPs Ahmad Al-Saadoun, Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, Faisal Al-Mislim present an official request to grill His Highness the Premier Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in accordance with article 100 of the Kuwaiti constitution, the first grilling of a Premier in Kuwait's history.
2009 -- National Council for Culture, Arts and letters announces winners of the 2009 honorary award in the field of arts, literature, social and humanitarian science; Dr. Mohammad Al-Rumaihi, Dr. Sulaiman Al-Askari and Ahmad Abdulal.
2010 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah exchanges memorial shields with Jordanian Monarch King Abdullah II in Amman. (end) hb