A daily pick of news events that happened on this day in history from the pages of Gulf News dated October 2, 1978.
Dubai Police College opened
The opening yesterday of the Dubai Police College of Technology has made the Emirate a focal point for all the Gulf states' forces.
In three years time students who enrolled for the first of the courses will return to their respective forces able to handle machinery that will put them on a par with their western counterparts.
Rockets pound Beirut
Syrian troops pounded Christian districts of Beirut with heavy artillery and rocket fire early today, and right-wing officials said Lebanese militias were fighting back with every weapon they had.
The bombardment began at 2.45 am (0045 GMT) and within minutes the night sky was illuminated by flares and the flashes of exploding shells.
Book banned
A book by Britain's Sir John Glubb, better known as Glubb Pasha, creator of Jordan's Arab Legion, is to be banned in the United Arab Emirates because it is considered unfair to Moslem.
The official Emirates News Agency said the move was recommended by the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs which found that the work, The Empire of the Arabs, contained "allegations contrary to the true history of our Islamic nation."
Non-stop working at Port Khalid
Just one day in the non-stop operations at Sharjah's Port Khalid shows how the port managed to handle its own record tonnage of 225,000 tonnes during Ramadan.
The port is continuing to grow alongside the unique "intermodal transportation" system, which will soon be fully operational.
The intermodal system links Port Khalid, Port Khor Fakkan and Sharjah International Airport and means that shippers will be able to move freight through any combination of the land, sea and airfreight facilities which are offered.
