Trinidad and Tobago Independence Day

Trinidad and Tobago is a dual-island Caribbean nation near Venezuela, in North America.

The Trinidad and Tobago Independence Day is marked on August 31 every year as a day to commemorate the freedom of the nation. The southernmost Caribbean nation gained Independence from the United Kingdom on August 31, 1962. At midnight on 30th August, 1962, the Union Jack (British flag) was lowered and the Trinidad and Tobago flag was raised for the first time. Bells tolled and sirens rang out to herald the birth of the newly independent nation.

Malaysia National Day

On this day, August 31 in 1957, Malaysia's predecessor, the Federation of Malaya, declared independence and became free from British colonial rule. Over 20,000 people gathered to hear the national anthem and watch government officials raise the Malayan flag.

The first Prime Minister shouted "Merdeka" seven times, which means "free" in Malay.

Though the public holiday falls on August 31, Merdeka celebrations are seen throughout the whole month and extends to Malaysia Day on September 16.

Kyrgyzstan Independence Day

Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia, lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir Mountain ranges. Bishkek is the capital and largest city of the country.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union; on 31 August, 1991, an extraordinary session of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan adopted a resolution on the "Declaration on State Independence of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan". This meant the Kyrgyz Republic was declared a sovereign state, with the country gaining independent statehood for the first time in history.