From the pages of Gulf News dated October 7 to 12, 1978

October 7

Second test tube baby doing well
THE WORLD'S second test-tube baby, a seven-pound, six- ounce girl, whose birth was announced dramatically on a local television programme in India, is normal and doing fine, her doctors reported last night. The mother was identified only as a 31-year old housewife from Calcutta.

October 8

Beirut guns fall silent
THE BIG guns fell silent in Beirut last night after eight days of savage fighting between Syrian troops and Lebanese Christians.

The ceasefire followed urgent talks in Damascus between Lebanese President Elias Sarkis and Syrian President Hafez Al Assad.

Forest smash Revie's record
YET ANOTHER link between UAE football supremo Don Revie and English soccer was severed yesterday when Nottingham Forest stretched their unbeaten run in the English football league to 35 matches.

Forest never looked in danger against struggling Wolves as they racked up a 3-1 win to eclipse the unbeaten record held by Leeds United during Revie's reign at Elland Road.

October 9

Gilles makes race history in Montreal
GILLES VILLENEUVE scored a fairytale triumph in Montreal yesterday gaining the first ever Formula One victory by a Canadian driver in his country's own Grand Prix. Before a delighted crowd, Villeneuve crossed the finishing line in his Ferrari far ahead of Jody Scheckter of South Africa, with his Ferrari teammate, Carlos Reutemann of Argentina, in third place.

October 10

World ban on Best
DR HELMUT Kaeser, general secretary of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), said the world body would honour a request from the English F.A. and ban soccer star George Best from playing anywhere in the world. Kaeser said the ban would be for "breach of contract" with English Second Division club Fulham, with whom Best is registered as a player.

October 11

More UAE troops for Lebanon?
MORE TROOPS from the United Arab Emirates may be sent to war stricken Beirut in an effort to ease the tension in the city.

The plan to send more soldiers from the Emirates to Lebanon was put to the UAE Government by Lebanese President Elias Sarkis during talks in Abu Dhabi. Mr Sarkis wants the troops to replace Syrian soldiers in sensitive areas of Beirut in an effort to bring an end to fighting between Christian militia and the Syrians.

October 12

Defector to get a new identity
THE US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) says it plans to provide a new identity for Soviet defector Arkady Shevchenko, whose cover was blown by an attractive escort girl who said he had paid her large sums to be his girlfriend. Shevchenko, 47, was the top Soviet officer at the United Nations Secretariat until he was granted political asylum in the United States six months ago and went into hiding.

Middle East peace talks begin today
American President Jimmy Carter will make a short speech in the White House to signal the formal opening of historic peace talks between Egypt and Israel. Following the speech the delegations from Egypt and Israel will walk together across the street to the heavily guarded Blair House where the talks will be conducted. Even before the talks begin, American diplomatic sources are predicting a successful outcome.