Faso) becomes independent from France. August 6 – In the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) (later the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Albert Kalonji declares the independence of the Autonomous State of South Kasai. August 7 The Ivory Coast becomes independent from France. The world's first standard gauge passenger preserved railway, the Bluebell Railway, opens to the public in southern England. August 9 – The government of Laos is overthrown in a coup. August 11 – Chad becomes independent from France. August 13 – Ubangi-Shari becomes independent from France, as the Central African Republic. It later becomes the Central African Empire. August 15 – Middle Congo becomes independent from France, as the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). August 16 The Mediterranean island of Cyprus receives its independence from the United Kingdom. Joseph Kittinger parachutes from a balloon over New Mexico at an altitude of about . Kittinger sets world records for: high-altitude jump; free-fall by falling 16.0 miles (25.7 kilometers) before opening his parachute; first space dive, and fastest speed attained by a human being without mechanical or chemical assistance, about 982 k.p.h (614 m.p.h.). Kittinger survives more or less uninjured. He is also the first man to make a solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a gas balloon, and the first man fully to witness the spherical curvature of the Earth. (Felix Baumgartner breaks his space diving record in 2012.) August 17 The newly named Beatles begin a 48-night residency at the Indra Club in Hamburg, West Germany. Gabon becomes independent from France. The trial of American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers begins in Moscow. August 19 Cold War: Moscow, American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers is sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage. Sputnik program: The Soviet Union launches the satellite Sputnik 5, with the dogs Belka and Strelka (the Russian for "Squirrel" and "Little Arrow"), 40 mice, two rats and a variety of plants. This satellite returns to Earth the next day and all animals are recovered safely. August 20 – Senegal breaks away from the Mali Federation, declaring its independence. August 25 – The 1960 Summer Olympic Games begin in Rome. August 29 – Hurricane Donna kills 50 people in Florida and New England. September September 1 Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah, Sultan of Selangor and 2nd Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Tuanku Syed Putra, Raja of Perlis. Disgruntled