BITS OF HISTORY

1918: Iceland was proclaimed a sovereign state in full agreement with Denmark.

1925: The Locarno Treaties, guaranteeing peace and frontiers in Europe, were signed by France, Belgium and Germany and their terms guaranteed by Britain and Italy.

1959: Twelve nations signed the Antarctic Treaty preserving the area for peaceful purposes and scientific research.

1973: David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, died.

1988: Benazir Bhutto became the first woman elected to govern a Muslim nation.