A daily pick of news events that happened on this day in history from the pages of Gulf News dated October 5, 1978.
Pope John Paul's last journey
Three long volleys of applause from people who hardly knew him, but seemed intent on not forgetting him, accompanied John Paul I on his final journey up the steps of St. Peter's Basilica.
Click here to view the Gulf News page on October 5, 1978(pdf)
His death came so quickly after installation, he never got to say mass on the nearby Altar Of The Popes. So great was the spontaneous clapping it almost drowned out the mournful voice of the great 10-ton funeral bell as the rain-glistening Cypress coffin disappeared through the massive bronze doors on the shoulders of 12 pall bearers.
Rome's affection for a Pope of 33 days, who never wrote an encyclical, issued a papal bull, handed a new Cardinal his saphire ring or even basked in the summer splendor of Castel Gandolfo was affirmed when the crowd of 50,000 stayed through the two-hour outdoor funeral mass despite two prolonged downpours.
Indian flood relief fund tops Dh100,000
The Indian flood relief fund, launched in Dubai and Sharjah earlier this week to help Indian nationals in their flood stricken homeland, has already reached the DH 100,000 mark.
Cash, clothes and medical supplies have been continuing to pour in and already the Indian Association in Dubai, which launched the appeal, is well on the way to reaching its Dh 1 million target.
Diplomat told to get out
An Iraqi diplomat has been expelled from Oman after being accused of trying to engage in subversive activities.
According to reports reaching Dubai from the Oman capital of Muscat, Mr Tariq Hamandi, a third secretary at Iraq's Muscat Embassy was yesterday given 48 hours to leave the country.
Worst day in life of Beirut
The intense shell and rocket bombardment which pounded the Christian eastern area of Beirut in the worst battle of the city's troubled history subsided during the night with only sporadic explosions from big field guns and multiple rocket launchers.
But machine guns still rattled across the city, and residents said the fire power used in fighting between Syrian troops and Lebanese Christian militia was greater than that of any single action during the 1975-76 civil war.
New cabinet
The first Egyptian government committed to peace with Israel since the formation of the Jewish state was being sworn in today by President Sadat.
"Egypt is passing through a very important turn in its history," said Mr Sadat in a letter to Prime Minister Mustapha Khalil entrusting him with the formation of the new cabinet. The country was "facing the challenges of peace, a stage which requires a comprehensive rebuilding of all aspects of our life," he said.
