Gulf News Report Published: October 25, 2007, 23:36
A daily pick of news events that happened on this day in history from the pages of Gulf News dated October 24, 1978. dated October 26, 1978.
Osibisa banned
Top pop group Osibisa have been banned from appearing at Sharjah's Holiday Inn hotel just five days before they were to stage two highly publicised concerts.
The ban is the latest in a series of bombshells to hit the group as they prepared for what would have been the rock group's first tour of the Gulf. It follows a similar ban by authorities in Kuwait and Bahrain and could lead to cancellation of the tour. Talks are taking place to see if the group will be allowed to stage planned concerts in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Egyptian coup plot smashed
Egyptian security forces have smashed a communist plot to overthrow President Anwar Sadat and seize power.
The semi-official Al-Ahram said that 16 alleged conspirators belonging to a secret communist organisation had appeared in court after being arrested. The group was named as "The Organisation Of The Egyptian Communist Party - January 8" which Al-Ahram said aimed at seizing power by force and imposing Communist rule in Egypt.
Nilsson funeral
Gunnar Nilsson, Swedish Grand Prix racing driver who died of cancer last week, was buried in Sweden with scores of his former colleagues attending the funeral.
Hundreds of people filled the Santa Maria church in Nilsson's home town to say a last farewell to the driver many experts tipped as a future world champion.
Japan retain title
Japan held on to the men's team title at the World Gymnastics Championships beating the Soviet Union into second place for the fifth time in succession.
The reigning champions produced superb performances after having had a seemingly disastrous start in the floor exercise. Going for very difficult routines, both Eizo Kenmotsu and Hiroji Kajiyama fell and were severely marked down.
