Indonesia’s declaration of independence
On this day in 1945, Sukarno declared Indonesia‘s independence from the Netherlands, and, after the Dutch transferred sovereignty four years later, he served as the country’s first president (1949–67).1945.
At the Olympics in Beijing, American swimmer Michael Phelps helped his team win the 4 × 100-metre medley relay, becoming the first athlete to win eight medals at a single Games. 2008.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck near İzmit, Turkey, killing more than 17,000 people and leaving some 500,000 homeless. 1999.
The final boundary demarcating the borders between India and Pakistan, known as the Radcliffe Line, was officially published. 1947.
English author George Orwell published Animal Farm, an anti-utopian satire that became a classic. 1945.
