Today's other stories in brief
Alzheimer's drugs 'can be restricted'
LONDON - A court ruled yesterday that Britain's drugs cost-effectiveness watchdog could restrict access to medicines for Alzheimer's disease to the neediest patients, after an appeal by drugmakers and charities.
Although the court said the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) had breached its duties towards some patients, both sides in the case said this would only affect very few people.
The agency that decides which medicines can be offered in the state health system sparked fury among drug companies and care groups by restricting access to some drugs to a minority of patients with moderate or severe forms of Alzheimer's disease. - (Reuters)
Manchester hit by small earthquake
MANCHESTER - The city of Manchester was shaken yesterday by an earthquake measuring 2.5 on the Richter scale.
There were no reports of any injuries in the city, which was hit by a series of small tremors in 2002.
A spokesman for the British Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at about 11.50am. - (PA)
Fire rages through Rome studios
ROME - Firefighters battled flames 40 metres high early yesterday as fire raged through Rome's Cinecitta film studios.
The fire, possibly triggered by an electrical short circuit, started in a warehouse before burning through 3,000 square metres of the complex. It was kept away from statues and sets dating back to the glory days of Italian cinema when director Federico Fellini was a mainstay on the lot and Hollywood epics such as Ben-Hur, Roman Holiday and Cleopatra were made there. - (Guardian service)
Disease battle after floods
SOUTH ASIA - Authorities across south Asia fought outbreaks of diarrhoea and cholera yesterday as international aid began to flow into the region after the worst floods in decades.
Thousands of displaced people returned to their wrecked homes as the death toll south of the Himalayas since the monsoon began in June rose above 2,000.
- ( Guardian service)
14 killed as aircraft plunges into sea
PAPEETE - An aircraft plunged into the sea in French Polynesia on Thursday, killing 14, with six still missing when a search was suspended, authorities said. - (Reuters)