Today in Kuwait''s History

A French warship anchors into Kuwait port and its captain meets with Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, the seventh ruler of Kuwait, and takes his first photograph. 1979 -- Kuwait Finance House is officially inaugurated by the Crown Prince and Premier Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. 1980 -- The Central Bank of Kuwait issues the third edition of the Kuwaiti currency, illustrating the Kuwaiti national emblem and historical landmarks. 1984 -- Al-Razi Hospital, specialized in orthopedics, is opened. 1985 -- Kuwaitis cast their ballots to choose 50 members of parliament out of 231 candidates, in the National Assembly's sixth legislative term. 1997 -- Fawzi Ahmad Al-Sultan is elected chairman of the International Fund for Agricultural Development for a four-year term. 2006 -- The National Assembly holds a special session to pledge allegiance to His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait. 2008 -- Customs activities begin at Umm Al-Maradim Island, as one of Kuwait's sea ports