Duchenne drug 'nears approval' in EU

24 May 2014 Last updated at 01:55 A new drug could be used to treat children in the UK with Duchenne in 2015 A drug to treat a particular form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been given the green light by the European Medicines Agency and could be available in the UK in six months.Translarna is only relevant to patients with a 'nonsense mutation', who make up 10-15% of those affected by Duchenne.The EMA decided not to pass the drug in January, but they have since re-examined the evidence.A campaign group said the drug must reach the right children without delay.There are currently no approved therapies available for this life-threatening condition.The patients who will benefit the most are those aged five years and over who are still able...

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Deadly attack on Djibouti restaurant

24 May 2014 Last updated at 22:16 At least two people have been killed in an attack on a restaurant popular with Westerners in Djibouti, police say.Grenades were thrown at La Chaumiere restaurant in the capital of the Horn of Africa country, officials said. At least another 11 people were wounded.Unconfirmed reports said that two employees had been killed and several foreigners wounded.No group has said it carried out the attack and the motive was not immediately clear.Colonel Omar Hassan, head of police in Djibouti City, told Reuters: "It's a criminal act. We have two people dead and 11 wounded. It was grenades."Djibouti's ADI news agency reported several explosions around 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT) and said that the area was quickly sealed...

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VIDEO: Film Review - the week's new films

Film critic Mark Kermode reviews the week's film releases, including X-Men: Days Of Future Past, Heli and Fading Gigolo.View the original article h...

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Pope praises Jordan as tour begins

24 May 2014 Last updated at 16:13 The Pope greets reporters on his plane to the Middle East, including the BBC's Jeremy BowenPope Francis has praised Jordan for its "generous welcome" to Syrian refugees at the start of a three-day visit to the Middle East.The Pope was welcomed by King Abdullah II and in a speech at the royal palace, he stressed the need for an "urgent" solution to the Syrian conflict.He went on to celebrate Mass at a stadium in the capital Amman and will later meet Syrian refugees.The tour's official purpose is to improve ties with the Orthodox Church.However, correspondents say many will expect Pope Francis to use his influence to try to ease tensions in the Middle East.His highlighting of Jordan's role in accepting Syrian...

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NI21's McKenzie quitting politics

24 May 2014 Last updated at 09:17 Tina McKenzie is quitting active politics NI21's European election candidate Tina McKenzie is quitting politics. The party is in disarray, amid calls on its leader Basil McCrea to step aside while allegations of sexual impropriety are investigated. Mr McCrea has denied the claims that emerged on polling day.Ms McKenzie told the Irish News she was "disillusioned and no longer interested in politics". She confirmed to the BBC that while she would remain an NI21 member and still supported its concept, she wanted to step back from active politics to concentrate on her family and business. While the European election result will not be known until Monday, Ms McKenzie also stood in the council election but was...

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VIDEO: Should more UK pupils learn Mandarin?

Thousands of pupils across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to sit their Mandarin GCSE exams on Friday.The number of students make up only fraction of those studying European languages and many argue that is a wasted opportunity which could be costing our economy billions. The BBC's China editor Carrie Gracie reports.View the original article h...

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Miliband: Labour 'can win in 2015'

24 May 2014 Last updated at 23:07 Ed Miliband has said his party's local election performance shows it can win at Westminster in 2015.The Labour leader insisted the party was ahead in its target seats.The claim came despite complaints from some Labour figures about him personally, and its local election campaign.While it won more than 330 extra councillors in Thursday's poll, projections suggested Labour only secured a 2% lead over its Tory rivals. Mr Miliband is due to visit Thurrock where his party lost control of the council after a surge in support for UKIP.He had hailed the Essex town as evidence Labour was "winning back trust" when it took the town hall last year.But it was left with no one party in control after UKIP took two Labour...

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Day in pictures: 21 May 2014

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Neighbours from hell - with style

25 May 2014 Last updated at 01:03 By Joanna Robertson Paris Neighbours' Day happens every May across France. It is a time for people to make peace with the people next door. But in the apartment blocks of Paris, bitterness and hostility are thriving.The people upstairs are having breakfast. I know because there is a particular scraping of chairs and the blunt thud of slippered feet crossing to and fro from kitchen to dining room. He talks, she hums. A pause. They must be pouring the coffee. Our apartment building, like many in Paris, dates from the late 19th Century. The floors are echoing, antique parquet and there is absolutely no sound insulation. A sneeze on the fourth floor can be heard on the second.My neighbour, Madame Joliot, an unabashed...

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Bahraini rights activist released

24 May 2014 Last updated at 20:50 Nabeel Rajab is a fierce critic of the Bahraini authorities Prominent Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab has been freed after serving two years in prison for his involvement in illegal protests.Rajab, who heads the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), was convicted in 2012 of taking part in illegal gatherings and disturbing public order. An appeals court later reduced his original three-year term by a year.He was one of several leading activists arrested by the authorities after pro-democracy protests erupted in 2011.Appeal Soon after his release on Saturday, Rajab told the Associated Press news agency that he was happy to be out after spending more than 600 days in prison. He also appealed for...

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Art school library destroyed in fire

24 May 2014 Last updated at 18:54 The library was recognised as being one of the finest examples of art nouveau in the world The iconic library at Glasgow School of Art has been lost in the fire which swept through the Charles Rennie Mackintosh building on Friday.The library was recognised as being one of the finest examples of art nouveau in the world.Broadcaster Muriel Gray, who is the art school's chairwoman, said: "This is an enormous blow and we are understandably devastated." However, she revealed that the art school's archives were safe.Ms Gray, a former student at the school, confirmed that most of the building was still standing."The most amazing, almost miraculous news is that the majority of the building is still intact," she said....

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House prices 'soar' in seaside towns

BBC News - Aberdeenshire seaside house prices soar, Halifax finds /**/ .bbccom_display_none{display:none;} Accessibility links Skip to content Skip to local navigation Accessibility Help BBC iD BBC iD Settings Sign out BBC navigation News Sport Weather iPlayer TV Radio More… Search term: Scotland business Home World UK England N. Ireland Scotland Wales Business Politics Health Education Sci/Environment Technology Entertainment & Arts Scotland Politics Scotland Business Edinburgh, Fife & East Glasgow & West...

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Week in pictures: 17-23 May 2014

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Day in pictures: 23 May 2014

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Land ownership mapping plan unveiled

25 May 2014 Last updated at 00:28 The environment minister said the project would ensure that "everyone will know who owns Scotland" A mapping project to work out who owns every part of Scotland is to be completed within 10 years.Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse announced the project, days after an expert group published a major report on land reform.He said he agreed with the group that "a fundamental step on this journey must be having a clear understanding" of who owns land in Scotland.He added that the move would benefit everyone.He argued that land transactions were "more difficult and expensive" if land was not already registered.Mr Wheelhouse added: "This is a vital underpinning step in Scotland's land reform journey and will ensure...

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'Murder probe' as Briton dies in Bali

24 May 2014 Last updated at 20:47 Anne-Marie Drozdz is believed to be in her forties The Foreign Office has confirmed the death of a British national on the Indonesian island of Bali.Reports have named her as Anne-Marie Drozdz, who is thought to be in her forties.Indonesian police suspect the woman was murdered, according to the AFP news agency. The agency quoted police as saying she was found dead by the owner of a villa where she was staying in the tourist district of Ubud.Police say the door to the property the woman was damaged and she had a black cloth over her face, said AFP. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Bali on 22 May."We are providing consular assistance to the family."...

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Day in pictures: 22 May 2014

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VIDEO: From chocolate billionaire to president?

Violence has continued in eastern Ukraine, which is due to hold its presidential election on Sunday. Clashes, particularly in Donetsk and Luhansk, have seriously disrupted preparations for the polls.The frontrunner in opinion polls is billionaire chocolate tycoon Petro Poroshenko.Daniel Sandford reports on the man who could be set to take on the current crisis.View the original article h...

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VIDEO: Conchita praises 'tolerant' Europe

The winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest has spoken of her performance as a "political statement", as countries across Europe vote in elections for the European Parliament.Conchita Wurst sparked controversy in some countries, with Russia threatening to withdraw from the competition if she took part.Speaking to BBC Newsnight, she praised the "tolerance" of the audiences across Europe who voted for her.View the original article h...

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Polls and cheap holidays - front pages

BBC News - Election fall-out and cheap holidays feature on Sunday's front pages /**/ .bbccom_display_none{display:none;} Accessibility links Skip to content Skip to local navigation Accessibility Help BBC iD BBC iD Settings Sign out BBC navigation News Sport Weather iPlayer TV Radio More… Search term: The Papers Home World UK England N. Ireland Scotland Wales Business Politics Health Education Sci/Environment Technology Entertainment & Arts 25 May 2014Last updated at 00:01 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook ...

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