BITS OF HISTORY

1946: US President Harry Truman formally declared an end to all hostilities in World War Two.

1999: Russian President Boris Yeltsin stunned the world by announcing his resignation and naming Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as acting president.

1999: Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso formally took back control of the Panama Canal from the United States.

2001: The last day for national currencies in 12 European Union member states as the biggest monetary changeover in history takes place at midnight.