On July 1, Kuwait commemorates several historical events that shaped its development across cultural, political, legal, and economic domains. In 1948, Kuwait launched its first magazine, “Kathma,” edited by Ahmad Al-Saqqaf. Though it ceased publication in 1949, it marked the beginning of Kuwait’s media history. In 1961, British forces entered Kuwait under a mutual defense agreement to counter Iraqi territorial claims. In 1968, Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah ratified a treaty promoting peaceful nuclear energy cooperation among Arab nations. In 1974, the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) saw an increase in franchise fees from 12.5 percent to 14.5 percent, based on a 55 percent income tax on revenue. The same year also saw the establishment of the Public Authority for Housing Welfare. In 1979, the Civil Service Commission implemented the civil service law. In 1981, Kuwait became a party to two international maritime pollution conventions. In 1995, free trade zones were established by law. In 1997, customs raised tobacco taxes from 50 percent to 70 percent. In 2001, the GCC joint defense treaty was ratified. In 2006, a national security college was established under the Interior Ministry. In 2009, the National Assembly reaffirmed confidence in the Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, with 30 MPs voting against a no-confidence motion, 16 in favor, and two abstentions. In 2010, a major produce market opened in Al-Sulaibiya, covering 300,000 square meters and capable of handling 600 trucks daily. In 2013, Kuwait provided Sudan with a KD 25 million (USD 85 million) loan for an irrigation project. In 2014, the Ministry of Social Affairs created a society for people with special needs. In 2016, the Ministry of Electricity and Water received a prestigious GIS award from ESRI. In 2019, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) signed an offshore drilling contract with Halliburton International worth KD 181 million. In 2021, Munira Al-Mutawa passed away at the age of 82. She was a pioneering advocate for people with disabilities, instrumental in founding the Kuwaiti society for the disabled in 1971 and shaping the country’s first disability law in 1996.
— News Original —
KUWAIT, July 1 (KUNA) —
1948 — The monthly literary-social magazine “Kathma” was issued, with Ahmad Al-Saqqaf as the chief editor. It was the first magazine to be published in Kuwait. Its publication stopped in 1949, nine months after it hit the stands for the first time.
1961 — British forces arrived in Kuwait in response to a request by the Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, according to the Kuwaiti-British friendship treaty, to stand against Iraqi threats.
1968 — Kuwait Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah issued a law approving the Arab cooperation treaty for employing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
1974 — The franchise fees for the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) was increased from the 1955 treaty’s 12.5 percent to 14.5 percent based on income tax of 55 percent from spending revenues.
1974 — Kuwait Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah issued a decree establishing the Public Authority for Housing Welfare.
1979 — The civil service law was put into effect via the Civil Service Commission.
1981 — Kuwait joined the 1969 International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties and the 1971 International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage.
1995 — Kuwait Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah signed a law for establishing free trade zones.
1997 — Kuwait’s customs initiated a 70-percent tax on all tabaco and cigarette products. The last tax rate was at 50 percent in December of 1995.
2001 — Kuwait Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah signed a law approving the GCC joint defense treaty.
2006 — Kuwait Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah signed a decree to establish a national security college in the Interior Ministry to prepare members for leading positions.
2009 — The National Assembly renewed confidence in Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled Al-Sabah after concluding the vote of no-confidence session. A number of 30 MPs vote against the motion, 16 voted in favor, and two abstained.
2010 — A central produce market was established in Al-Sulaibiya area at an area of 300,000 square meters with a capacity to receive 600 trucks.
2013 — Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development loaned Sudan KD 25 million (USD 85 million) for an irrigation project.
2014 — The Ministry of Social Affairs issued decision to establish the Kuwaiti creative society for people with special needs.
2016 — The Ministry of Electricity and Water won the Special Achievement in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Award for 2016 by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) during the ESRI annual conference in San Diego, California 2019 — Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) signed an offshore drilling contract with Halliburton International worth KD 181 million.
2021 — Munira Al-Mutawa died at age 82. She was known for her activism towards the rights of people with special needs and had an integral role in establishing the Kuwaiti society for the disabled in 1971. She also helped in formulating the first Kuwait law for the disabled in 1996. (end) gta