Canadian prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau resigns from office and calls for national elections.

3 Aug.

The African nation of Upper Volta changes its name to Burkina Faso.

4 Sept.

In Canadian national elections, the Progressive Conservative Party enjoys a sweep of the House of Commons, winning 211 of 282 seats. Corporate lawyer Brian Mulroney becomes prime minister.

14 Sept.

Because no political party has earned a majority of votes in recent elections, the Israeli Knesset agrees to a coalition government headed first by Labor leader Shimon Peres, followed by a government headed by Likud head Yitzhak Shamir.

1 Oct.

Sikh extremists among her own bodyguards assassinate Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, 66. She is succeeded by her son Rajiv, who wins the ministry in his own right by year's end.

19 Oct.

Members of the Polish security police murder pro-Solidarity priest Jerzy Popieluszko. Public outcry results in the arrest and trial of the murderers, who are...