Giinter Grass's novel Der Butt is published.

Margaret Drabble's novel The Ice Age is published.

John le Carre's novel The Honourable Schoolboy is published.

Hugh Leonard's play Da premieres.

Kenji Mizoguchi's film A Geisha premieres.

Andrej Wajda's film Man of Marble premieres.

Great Britain grants independence to the Solomon Islands.

Brazil moves toward military rule.

The Soviet Union begins a round of diplomatic overtures in black Africa.

Djibouti becomes an independent republic.

Political violence and instability plague Turkey.

6 Jan.

In Czechoslovakia 240 prominent intellectuals sign Charter 77, demanding human rights as spelled out in the Helsinki accords of 1975.

18 Jan.

Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi announces parliamentary elections in March, the first held since a state of emergency was declared in 1975.

24 Jan.

Discussions over black majority rule in Rhodesia break down.

9 Feb.

Spain and the Soviet Union resume diplomatic relations, suspended since the Spanish Civil War.

23 Feb.

Following President Carter's criticism...