VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Today In History from RRI World Service in Jakarta.

I’ll start with 19 June 194, the battle in the Philippine Sea between the United States Navy and the Japanese Navy begins. The battle of the Philippine Sea took place on 19 to 20 June 1944 near the Mariana Islands. This battle is a major defeat of the Japanese Navy, which lost 3 aircraft carriers and about 600 aircraft during the two days. This happens because the Japanese aircraft was old and poorly trained, compared to the more modern and refine American Navy. After this battle, the Japanese Navy was almost completely destroyed. This Allied victory opens the door for an attack on Iwo Jima.

Turning to 19 June 1961 Kuwait declares its independence from the United Kingdom.

In the 1800s Kuwait became part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. To break away from Ottoman rule, the great Sheikh Mubarak ruling in Kuwait then signed a treaty with the British state in 1899 that defined the state of Kuwait as "an independent State under British protection". Under the agreement Britain had control over Kuwait's foreign policy, and in return Kuwait got annual protection and subsidies from the UK. On June 19, 1961, Kuwait became independent with the end of British protectorate and Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah to Amir. But the National Day of Kuwait, celebrated on February 25, is the commemoration of the coronation of Sheikh Abdullah.

I’ll End Today In History with 19 June 2008 John Ario Katili passed away.

Former Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly Professor John Ario Katili passed away on June 19, 2008 in Jakarta. John Ario Katili had served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1992 to 1997. Previously served as Director General of Geology and Mineral Resources Department of Mining and Energy 1984 to 1989. In addition to his career in the legislature and government, John Katili also served as Vice Rector of the Institute of Technology Bandung and the Dean of the Department of Mineral Technology Bandung Institute of Technology. Professor of Bandung Institute of Technology has written about 11 books and 250 papers. His expertise in geology is highly respected in the international world. John Katili has been the Chair of the South East Asia of Geological Societies and a member of The National Geographyc Society. For his various devotions, John Katili was awarded the Star of Mahaputra, the Honors Medal of the Commandeur de L'Ordre National du Merite of the French government. A number of awards were also obtained from the governments of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, Sweden and Russia.