Isis rebels declare 'Islamic state'

30 June 2014 Last updated at 10:35

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Footage aired on Iraqi state TV apparently shows troops undertaking a flash operation to weed out insurgents, as the BBC's Paul Adams reports

Jihadist militant group Isis has said it is establishing a caliphate, or Islamic state, on the territories it controls in Iraq and Syria.

It also proclaimed the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as caliph and "leader for Muslims everywhere".

Setting up a state governed under strict Islamic law has long been a goal of many jihadists.

Meanwhile, Iraq's army continued an offensive to retake the northern city of Tikrit from the Isis-led rebels.

The city was seized by the insurgents on 11 June as they swept across large parts of northern-western Iraq.

In a separate development, Israel called for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in response to the gain made by the Sunni rebels in Iraq.

Allegiance demand

The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) announced the establishment of the caliphate in an audio recording posted on the internet on Sunday.

Isis also said that from now on it would be known simply as "the Islamic State".

The BBC's Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, says the declaration harks back to the rise of Islam, when the Prophet Muhammad's followers conquered vast territories in the Middle Ages.

The Sunni-Shia split has its origins in a dispute over the succession to Muhammad.

Analysis: The BBC's Paul Adams in Baghdad

It's easy to dismiss the latest crop of Isis videos and statements as mere propaganda (however well produced), but the announcement of the establishment of a caliphate is rich with religious, cultural and historic significance.

Generations of Sunni radicals have dreamt of a moment when, in the words of Isis spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, Muslims "shake off the dust of humiliation and disgrace" and a new caliphate rises out of the chaos, confusion and despair of the modern Middle East.

Many Sunnis, and all Shia, will recoil in horror from the barbarism that has accompanied this moment, but the sight of old colonial-era boundaries being erased is a powerful statement, designed to attract new recruits to this whirlwind jihad.

In one of the Isis videos uploaded on Sunday, a bearded fighter called Abu Safiyya guides the viewer around a newly demolished border post. The video, with its arresting imagery and impressive production values, is designed to electrify the group's followers.

The fact that Abu Safiyya is described as being from Chile merely adds to what the authors hope is now the organisation's global appeal.

Isis said the Islamic state would extend from Aleppo in northern Syria to Diyala province in eastern Iraq.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group said, would become the leader of the state and would be known as "Caliph Ibrahim".

In the recording, the rebels also demanded that all Muslims "pledge allegiance" to the new ruler and "reject democracy and other garbage from the West".

What is a caliphate?

• An Islamic state ruled by a single political and religious leader, or Caliph

• Caliphs are regarded by their followers as successors to Muhammad and sovereign over all Muslims

• First caliphate came into being after Prophet Muhammad's death in 632

• In the centuries which followed, caliphates had dominion in the Middle East and North Africa

• The last widely accepted caliphate was abolished in 1924 by Turkish leader Kemal Ataturk after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire

• The Ahmadiyya sect of Islam has recognised a caliphate for the last century, but it is only this group that does so

On Sunday, Iraqi government jets struck at rebel positions and clashes broke out in various parts of Tikrit, witnesses and officials said.

"The security forces are advancing from different areas", Lt-Gen Qassem Atta told journalists. "There are ongoing clashes."

Troops had reportedly pulled back to the nearby town of Dijla as Saturday's initial offensive met stiff resistance.

The heavy fighting over the two days caused many casualties on both sides, eyewitnesses and journalists told the BBC.

Insurgents were reported to have shot down a helicopter and captured the pilot.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in response to gains made by Sunni insurgents in Iraq.

In a speech in Tel Aviv, he said the Kurds were "a nation of fighters and have proved political commitment and are worthy of independence".

The Kurds have long striven for an independent state but they remain divided between Syria and Turkey, Iran and Iraq.

The international community, including neighbouring Turkey and the US, remains opposed to the breakup of Iraq.

Are you in the area? What is your reaction to the current situation? Email your views to haveyoursay@bbc.o.uk with the word 'Iraq' in the subject heading.

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UK leaving EU 'would be bad news'

30 June 2014 Last updated at 09:32

The vice-president of the European Commission has said "it would be very bad news" if the UK left the EU.

Joaquin Almunia also predicted that David Cameron would be able to work with the in-coming European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker.

He told the BBC Mr Juncker was "a committed pro-European" but also "a pragmatic politician" and the UK "was an important member of the EU".

The PM faces MPs later, after failing to stop Mr Juncker's appointment.

The prime minister forced a vote of EU states on Friday on the selection of Mr Juncker - but lost it 26-2.

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Joaquin Almunia, Vice-President of the EU Commission, said a UK exit from the EU would be "very bad news"

Downing Street said the defeat would only "redouble the prime minister's resolve".

In Monday's Daily Telegraph, the PM said he would "work with" Mr Juncker, adding: "There is business we can do."

He said he was still determined to renegotiate the UK-EU relationship and then put the changes to a referendum on whether the UK should stay in, or leave, the EU - but accepted that was now "harder".

And defending his decision to demand Friday's vote, he said he was right to stand up for the principle that the president of the European Council should be chosen by "consensus".

"Sometimes it is possible to be isolated and to be right," he added.

Only Britain and Hungary voted to block the appointment of Mr Juncker, a former prime minister of Luxembourg, who is seen as a backer of closer political union in the EU.

'Benefit of the doubt'

Although Germany was on the opposite side over Mr Juncker, its finance minister told the Financial Times a British exit from the EU was "unimaginable" and "absolutely not acceptable".

Wolfgang Schauble said his country would do everything in its power to keep Britain in the union

"Clearly, we have in many economic questions and regulatory questions a broad consensus," he said.

"Historically, politically, democratically, culturally, Great Britain is entirely indispensable for Europe."

Mr Cameron is likely to face criticism from Labour in the Commons later.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has said the PM's strategy "totally failed", and shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the bid to block Mr Juncker's appointment was a "catastrophe for Britain and the British national interest".

'Fair deal'

But the Labour ex-European Commissioner Lord Mandelson, who met Mr Juncker in Berlin last week, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We should give him the benefit of the doubt.

"He explicitly said he does not advocate a united states of Europe - he's not a green-eyed federalist minister as some in Britain have portrayed him.

"Mr Juncker has the experience and the knowledge to be an effective president of the European Commission."

But prominent Conservative Eurosceptic MP David Davis said while Mr Juncker was a "bad candidate", Mr Cameron had to turn his opposition to the EC president into a "tactical advantage" to secure constitutional changes that allow Britain to protect "our national interests".

Mr Cameron phoned Mr Juncker on Sunday, "congratulated" him on his new job and they spoke about a "fair deal for Britain", a Downing Street spokesman said.

In his article on the situation, the PM said: "If by a fair deal, we can agree that we are not heading, at different speeds, to the same place - as some have assumed up to now - then there is business we can do."

He said further integration in Europe was "inevitable" - and he did not oppose it - but the UK wanted "no part of it".

Britain still had allies in the EU and Friday's vote was not a "fatal blow to our renegotiation strategy in Europe", he said.

"I do not deny that it has made the task harder and the stakes higher," Mr Cameron added

"But it is not in our nature as a country to give up."

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Pistorius 'had no mental disorder'

30 June 2014 Last updated at 11:55

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LIVE: Watch coverage of the murder trial of athlete Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius did not have a mental disorder when he killed his girlfriend, a psychological report said as his murder trial resumed.

This means the Olympic athlete was criminally responsible for his actions when he shot her, the prosecution said.

The defence team argued Mr Pistorius was suffering from an anxiety disorder.

The athlete denies deliberately killing Reeva Steenkamp. He says he shot her accidentally in a state of panic after mistaking her for an intruder.

The prosecution says Mr Pistorius deliberately killed Ms Steenkamp following an argument.

Both prosecution and defence have accepted the results of the psychological report.

Continue reading the main story

The defence has called acoustic expert Ivan Lin to give evidence in the hope of discrediting prosecution witnesses who said they heard the scream of a woman on the night Ms Steenkamp was killed.

Earlier, the court heard from Dr Gerry Versfeld, who amputated Mr Pistorius' legs when he was just 11 months old. He was born without the fibulas in both of his legs but went on to become an Olympic athlete.

Dr Versfeld testified about the impact of the disability on Mr Pistorius, 27, and to what extent he can walk without his prosthetic legs.

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State prosecutor Gerrie Nel: Oscar Pistorius ''did not suffer from a mental illness or defect'' at the time of the shooting

The defence is expected to finish presenting its evidence in the next few days.

Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was shot through a toilet door at Mr Pistorius' house in Pretoria on Valentine's Day last year.

The couple had been dating for three months.

"Mr Pistorius did not suffer from a mental illness or defect that would have rendered him criminally not responsible for the offence charged," said state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, reading from the psychologist report.

The prosecution requested the evaluation after a defence witness said the double amputee was suffering from Generalised Anxiety Disorder (Gad).

Mr Pistorius, 27, underwent a month of tests as an outpatient at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria.

He has often displayed his emotions during the trial, and has sobbed and vomited in court.

There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.

If found guilty of murder, Mr Pistorius, who went on trial on 3 March this year, could face life imprisonment. If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

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The BBC's Michelle Roberts explains Generalised Anxiety Disorder

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder is a medically-recognised, long-term condition
• People with Gad feel anxious on most days and worry about a wide range of issues
• It is thought to affect around one in 25 people at some point in their lives and is more common in women than in men
• Symptoms vary - making it tricky to diagnose
• People with Gad may have difficulty concentrating, feel tired and irritable, feel sick, dizzy or sweaty and experience aches and pains
• Gad tends to run in families, can follow stressful events, and may be linked to chemical imbalances in the brain
• The main treatments include using talking therapies, relaxation techniques and medication

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Hacking retrial over corrupt payments

30 June 2014 Last updated at 12:42

Ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson and its former royal editor Clive Goodman are to face a retrial on a charge of buying royal telephone directories from police officers.

An Old Bailey jury failed to reach a verdict on the charges last week.

Coulson was found guilty last week of conspiracy to hack phones and faces a maximum of two years in prison.

He is due to be sentenced later this week for plotting to hack phones at the NoW between 2000 and 2006.

Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC said: "The CPS has taken the position to proceed with the retrial."

He also described the list of phone hacking victims as reading "like a Who's Who to Britain for the first five years of the century", adding that "what occurred was the routine invasion of privacy and that has the capacity to do serious harm".

And Justice Saunders agreed with Mr Edis that the public should be told how two years is the maximum term the convicted men can be sentenced to serve in prison, so that public expectations around their sentencing would be "based on what is lawful".

'Utterly corrupted'

Coulson appeared on Monday at the Old Bailey as the sentencing process began, alongside former colleagues Neville Thurlbeck, Greg Miskiw and James Weatherup who have all admitted their part in what the court heard was "systemic misconduct".

Private detective Glenn Mulcaire also appeared, for his part in the hacking plot. Former NoW reporter Dan Evans, who has also admitted phone hacking, will be sentenced separately in late July.

Mr Edis also told the court on Monday that the Crown would make an application for costs against Miskiw, Thurlbeck, Weatherup and Coulson totalling £750,000.

Those four men had "utterly corrupted" the NoW, which "became at the very highest level a criminal enterprise", the court heard.

The court also heard Miskiw was the most heavily implicated in phone hacking, making some 1,500 requests to Mulcaire between 1999 and 2006, even after he had left the News of the World.

In July 2004 he asked Mulcaire to target Spectator publisher Kimberly Quinn because of her involvement with former home secretary David Blunkett.

And he and Thurlbeck were also responsible for instructing Mulcaire over the hacking of voicemails on a mobile phone belonging to murdered Surrey teenager Milly Dowler in 2002.

Robin Brant, BBC political correspondent

It is quite a scene - the News of the World hackers reunited.

Behind the Perspex screen shielding the dock sat six men who have pleaded guilty to, or have been convicted of, what's been described yet again as intercepting voicemails on an "industrial scale".

Left to right sat Greg Miskiw, Dan Evans, James Weatherup, Neville Thurlbeck, Andy Coulson and Glen Mulcaire.

The man who did most of the hacking - Mulcaire - sat alongside the editor who agreed to it. Coulson and Thurlbeck, once the NoW's chief reporter, chatted before all six were asked to stand and confirm their names.

Arms behind his back, suit button done up, Coulson simply answered: "Yes". The court was packed with barristers - 20 at my count - and some of the media sitting in the seats reserved for the jury.

It was a reminder that this is no longer a trial but the last phase of the process, where the judge alone decides what sentences to pass on these men.

The News of the World was closed by its parent company, News International, in July 2011 after the incident involving Milly Dowler's phone emerged.

Police say thousands of people's phones were also targeted by the newspaper's hackers.

After leaving the News of the World, Coulson, 46, of Charing in Kent, later became director of communications for Prime Minister David Cameron.

Clive Goodman, 56, of Addlestone, Surrey, is the newspaper's former royal editor and pleaded guilty to phone hacking in 2006.

Coulson was News of the World editor from 2003-07 then worked for the Conservative Party from 2007 and became the PM's director of communications after the 2010 election.

Following Coulson's conviction Mr Cameron apologised for hiring him and said it had been "the wrong decision".

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Tornado jet crewman 'feared flying'

30 June 2014 Last updated at 12:55

One of three airmen who died when two RAF Tornado GR4s collided had a fear of flying at medium level, air accident investigators have said.

The weapon systems operator was in the rear seat of a jet with a student pilot when it collided with another aircraft over the Moray Firth in 2012.

A report said the airman's condition did not directly cause the accident, but was probably a factor.

Another factor was the lack of anti-collision equipment on the jets.

In its report, the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) said there was "much opportunity for this mid-air collision to be prevented".

It noted that there was no collision warning system (CWS) on board the Tornado fleet.

A system has been recommended for many years but installation was repeatedly delayed.

The report said it was unfortunate that this "final safety barrier" which would have made the crews aware of their close proximity did not exist.

The MAA indentified 17 contributory factors and seven other factors in the accident on 3 July 2012.

Contributory factors included poor weather conditions, "ineffective supervision" at squadron level of the aircraft involved and "shortcomings in the management process".

Another factor was that there had not been a formalised and effective care plan for the weapon systems operator (WSO) with the fear of flying at medium level.

He had sought help for his condition, the MAA report said.

In April 2012, the WSO said he had reached a "crisis point" and "could not face flying".

He was diagnosed with a phobic anxiety disorder. The WSO stopped flying for a time, before returning to the cockpit.

The report said on the day of the accident, the jet he was in made a "rushed" descent to low level and this was done in "marginal weather" conditions.

While there was no evidence that the WSO's anxiety affected his decision-making, the report said his decisions were "not commensurate with his recognised experience and professional standing".

• Between 1979 and 2001 there were 42 separate mid-air collisions involving RAF aircraft.
• 40 lives were lost and 47 aircraft - including 12 Tornados - destroyed.
• Since 2001, there have been nine mid-air collisions involving UK military aircraft.
• Among the 17 people who died in those incident, three were air cadets.

An onboard collision warning system would have helped to prevent the Tornado GR4s from colliding, air accident investigators said.

Equipment designed to help fast jet pilots avoid mid-air collisions was recommended in the late 1990s.

A system with a total cost of £53.46m was approved for installation in October 2012 and a contract for the work was awarded in December that year.

The rollout of the equipment is due to be completed by this year.

The MAA said, at the time its report was written, there was no requirement for the RAF's new Typhoon and F-35B to be fitted with CWS.

The Ministry of Defence said the recommendations contained in the MAA report were being implemented.

The crash happened over the Moray Firth, off the coast of Sutherland, near Helmsdale.

The crews were on separate training missions at the time and were headed for a firing range at Tain in Easter Ross when they collided.

Bangor-born Flt Lt Hywel Poole, 28, Sqn Ldr Samuel Bailey, 36, from Nottingham, and Flt Lt Adam Sanders, 27, who grew up in Lancashire, died.

Sqd Ldr Paul Evans, from RAF Lossiemouth, survived but was badly injured.

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GPs who miss cancer could be named

29 June 2014 Last updated at 12:47

GPs with a poor record in spotting signs of cancer could be publicly named under new government plans.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt wants to expose doctors whose failure to spot cancer may delay sending patients for potentially life-saving scans.

Labour called the idea "desperate" and accused Mr Hunt of attacking doctors.

The Royal College of GPs said it would be a "crude" system and one that could lead to GPs sending people to specialists indiscriminately.

It warned this could result in flooding hospitals with healthy people.

The move is part of the health secretary's plans to make the NHS more transparent.

Ranking GP surgeries on how quickly they spot cases of cancer and refer patients for treatment is among proposals being considered.

The information could eventually be published on the NHS website.

This follows a survey for the NHS last year, which suggested that more than a quarter of people eventually diagnosed with cancer had seen their GP at least three times before being sent to a specialist.

"We need to do much better," the health secretary told the Mail on Sunday.

"Cancer diagnosis levels around the country vary significantly and we must do much more to improve both the level of diagnosis and to bring those GP practices with poor referral rates up to the standards of the best."

Continue reading the main story

If you simply name and shame GPs, the tendency would be for us to refer everyone"

End Quote Chaand Nagpaul BMA

Doctors found to be missing too many cases of cancer or with patients who are forced to make repeated visits before being referred for tests would be marked with a red flag.

Those found with quick referral times for patients would be given a green rating.

Shadow health minister Jamie Reed said the government would not take responsibility for problems it had created in the NHS.

"David Cameron wasted billions on a re-organisation nobody wanted and left cancer patients waiting longer for tests and treatment. He should be ashamed of his own record - not attacking doctors," he said.

"This government has thrown away progress made on cancer care. It is proof of why the Tories can't be trusted with the NHS."

'Clog up clinics'

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the British Medical Association general practitioners committee, said to name and shame doctors would not help patients.

He said it was important to understand why there were delays in making referrals and to raise public awareness about the signs and symptoms of cancer.

"We need to look at the whole system and if you simply name and shame GPs, the tendency would be for us to refer everyone," he told the BBC.

"And that can be a disadvantage because if we clog up hospital outpatient clinics, we'll get patients who need to see their specialist actually having to wait longer."

Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, a former GP who chairs the Commons health select committee, said the government needed to be careful not to wrongly label people as "poor doctors".

She too warned there was a danger of automatically referring everyone to a specialist and creating "impossibly long waiting lists", which could harm those needing to be seen urgently.

Rising demand

Dr Wollaston added that she could not see how GPs could maintain current levels of service amid rising demand without a funding injection.

"The NHS budget has been protected in line with background inflation but that does not keep pace with inflation in health costs from rising demand and demographic changes," she said.

"I don't want to see any reduction in services. I would like to see further improvements and that will require an increase in funding."

Dr Wollaston joined Conservative former health secretary Stephen Dorrell and Lib Dem former health minister Paul Burstow in calling for increased funding for the NHS.

Mr Burstow warned that the NHS was in danger of collapse within five years without extra spending. He said the health service needed an extra £15bn over that period in order to function properly.

Mr Dorrell said he would be ashamed if the government failed to increase NHS funding at a time when the economy was growing.

"I am in favour of the government not denying what 5,000 years of history tells us is true, which is that every time a society gets richer it spends a rising share of its income on looking after the sick and the vulnerable," he told The Observer.

Have you or has someone you know been diagnosed with cancer? Do you think doctors who miss too many cases should be named? If you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist about these issues please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the word 'cancer' in the subject heading.

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Prince 'wanted more grammar schools'

29 June 2014 Last updated at 07:21

The Prince of Wales tried to persuade Tony Blair's government to expand grammar schools, former education secretary David Blunkett has said.

In a BBC Radio 4 documentary examining the constitutional role of the prince, Mr Blunkett said Prince Charles "didn't like" it when his request was refused.

He discussed complementary medicine and climate with other Labour ministers.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Sir John Major revealed he changed policies after discussing them with the Queen.

Mr Blunkett is one of three former cabinet ministers interviewed for the documentary, The Royal Activist.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

If you are waiting to be the king of the United Kingdom... you genuinely have to engage with something or you'd go spare"

End Quote David Blunkett

'Constantly frustrated'

Recalling his conversations, Mr Blunkett, who was education secretary for four years between 1997 and 2001, said: "I would explain that our policy was not to expand grammar schools, and he didn't like that.

"He was very keen that we should go back to a different era where youngsters had what he would have seen as the opportunity to escape from their background, whereas I wanted to change their background."

"I can see constitutionally that there's an argument that the heir to the throne should not get involved in controversy; the honest truth is I didn't mind," added Mr Blunkett.

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David Blunkett: "I would explain that our policy was not to expand grammar schools and he didn't like that"

"If you are waiting to be the king of the United Kingdom, and you've waited a very long time, you genuinely have to engage with something or you'd go spare."

But Graham Smith, chief executive of the group Republic which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy, said it was wrong for any member of the Royal Family to try to shape the decisions of the elected.

"The deal with the monarchy is that the royals stay out of politics completely and these revelations just kind of prove what we've been saying all along which is that they are involving themselves, influencing public policy and that is completely unacceptable in a democratic society," Mr Smith said.

Former environment minister Michael Meacher recalled that he and the Prince "would consort together quietly" to affect policy on climate change and genetically modified crops.

He said they worked together "to try and ensure that we increased our influence within government".

"I knew that he largely agreed with me and he knew that I largely agreed with him," said Mr Meacher. "We were together in trying to persuade Tony Blair to change course."

Asked if there might be a constitutional problem in the Prince taking a political opinion, Mr Meacher replied: "Well, over GM I suppose you could well say that. Maybe he was pushing it a bit. I was delighted, of course."

Prince Charles has been a well-known supporter of complementary medicine. According to another former Labour cabinet minister, Peter Hain, it was a topic they shared an interest in.

"He had been constantly frustrated at his inability to persuade any health ministers anywhere that that was a good idea, and so he, as he once described it to me, found me unique from this point of view, in being somebody that actually agreed with him on this, and might want to deliver it."

Mr Hain added: "When I was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 2005-7, he was delighted when I told him that since I was running the place I could more or less do what I wanted to do.

"I was able to introduce a trial for complementary medicine on the NHS, and it had spectacularly good results, that people's well-being and health was vastly improved.

"And when he learnt about this he was really enthusiastic and tried to persuade the Welsh government to do the same thing and the government in Whitehall to do the same thing for England, but not successfully," added Mr Hain.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

I can recall occasions where the Queen in discussion put a gloss upon something that made one think and reflect upon whether it was being done in the right fashion"

End Quote Sir John Major

The Prince's policy interventions are also supported by Sir John Major.

The former prime minister said: "I think it is encouraging that the Prince of Wales is entirely free from his unique perspective to write to ministers or the prime minister in a way that is invariably intended to be helpful, and I think to cut that off, or to make sure those letters are much more bland than they otherwise might be, would be a loss."

Sir John also revealed that he occasionally changed policy as a result of discussions with the Queen - although he would not be drawn on the specific times this took place.

Asked if he remembered being influenced by the Queen, Sir John said : "I think every prime minister can think that, and can think of occasions where that happened...

"But the answer is yes of course. It would be very foolish indeed not to be influenced."

"I can recall occasions where the Queen in discussion put a gloss upon something that made one think and reflect upon whether it was being done in the right fashion at the right time, or perhaps reflect upon what the impact of it would be," Sir John said.

The Royal Activist is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 13:30 BST on Sunday, 29 June.

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'Scores trapped' in India collapse

29 June 2014 Last updated at 10:08

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Most of those trapped under the rubble are thought to be workers from a neighbouring province

More than 100 people are still feared trapped after a building collapsed in southern India, an official has said.

At least nine people died and several were hurt when the 12-storey building under construction toppled in Chennai in heavy rain late on Saturday.

Hours earlier, a four-storey building came down in the capital Delhi killing 10 people including five children.

India has seen frequent building collapses, many blamed on lax safety and substandard materials.

Rescue teams with cutters and shovels are continuing to search for survivors in the rubble in Chennai, Tamil Nadu state.

"There are approximately 132 labourers who are under the debris and approximately 100 of them belong to southern Andhra Pradesh province," joint collector Rekha Rani told Reuters news agency.

At least 26 people have so far been rescued. It is not clear whether Mr Rani was speaking before the rescues took place.

A police investigation has also been launched.

By Yogita Limaye, BBC News, Mumbai

Building collapses have become an almost common occurrence in India, with numerous such accidents taking place across large cities over the past year. The latest incidents have once again put the spotlight on the need for better regulation of construction in the country.

While some collapses have occurred because poor quality material was used, others, have been because the buildings were simply too old and residents refused to leave despite them being labelled as dangerous to live in.

Corruption is also a factor, because in many cases, changes to the building's structure, such as adding extra floors, or breaking down walls, which might make it vulnerable are permitted by authorities that have been found to have accepted bribes.

Soaring property prices in Indian cities have also meant that finding a flat that fits your budget is so hard, that people very often tend to compromise on safety.

In pictures: India building collapses

Police said larger pieces of rubble would have to be moved before rescuers could search for more survivors, adding that access to the building was difficult because of a narrow lane leading to it.

Fire service official Vijay Shekar told the Times of India newspaper that it could take two days to reach the ground floor of the building, adding that it would be a "massive operation".

While the cause of the latest collapse is still under investigation, a lack of construction codes, leading to lax safety, is one reason for frequent collapses of buildings and other infrastructure projects in India.

There is also a high demand for housing, pushing up costs and forcing less affluent people to risk their lives in decrepit or badly constructed buildings.

In January, at least 14 people died when a building under construction came crashing down in the western state of Goa.

At least 42 people died after a four-storey building collapsed in Mumbai last September.

Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Please share your comments with us. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'India Building Collapse'.

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Metallica: Glastonbury 'sensational'

29 June 2014 Last updated at 10:21 By Mark Savage BBC News entertainment reporter

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There have been mixed reactions to headline act Metallica at the Glastonbury Festival, as Lizo Mzimba reports

Heavy metal band Metallica won over new fans as they headlined on Glastonbury's famous Pyramid Stage on Saturday.

The band played for 90 minutes, with highlights including One, Cyanide and an extended version of Master Of Puppets.

The quartet are the first metal act to headline the festival since its inception in 1970.

Drummer Lars Ulrich said: "That was sensational. I don't remember much of it... the energy was fantastic."

Speaking to the BBC's Jo Whiley backstage after their set, Ulrich said he had been at Glastonbury since Friday and wanted to immerse himself in the experience.

"We have one shot, you never know if you'll be invited back," he said.

"I want to soak up every second of this thing. We would love to come back."

He added that he was looking forward to Sunday's acts, including Dolly Parton and Kasabian.

"I'll be the last one (here)... the one walking round with a garbage bag on Tuesday."

Asked to describe his Glastonbury experience in one sentence, Ulrich simply said: "Other-worldly."

Even the band's detractors would have been hard-pushed to deny their musicianship.

Fans and supporters lined the back of the stage as they ended the main set with Nothing Else Matters and Enter Sandman.

"Metallica. Glastonbury. Together at last," declared songwriter James Hetfield. "That felt good."

Returning for an encore of Whiskey in the Jar and Seek and Destroy, the band launched dozens of black Metallica-branded weather balloons into the audience, triggering a giant game of dodgeball between the audience and security guards.

"Metallica loves you, Glastonbury," said Hetfield as the band took their final bow.

"You made us feel so good. Thank you for having us."

Taking the microphone, Ulrich added: "There's no place on this earth like this beautiful Glastonbury Festival. Thank you for letting us be part of your experience and we hope to see you one more time."

Formed 33 years ago, the group's best-known songs include Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters and Master of Puppets.

Prior to their arrival on the Pyramid Stage, the band played a clip of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, in tribute to actor Eli Wallach, who died this week.

Ennio Morricone's Ecstasy of Gold, which features in the classic Western, has been Metallica's introduction music for many years.

The band also addressed criticism of Hetfield's involvement with pro-hunting groups head-on, showing an extended clip of an English fox hunt, soundtracked by Sweet's glam rock classic Fox on the Run.

At the climax of the hunt, four men in bear costumes shot the riders from their horses.

The bear's heads were removed to reveal the four grinning members of Metallica.

In the field

Metallica rocked Glastonbury with a strange mix of arrogance and humility.

Continue reading the main story

• Creeping Death
• For Whom the Bell Tolls
• Wherever I May Roam
• Sad But True
• Fade to Black
• Cyanide
• The Unforgiven
• The Memory Remains
• One
• Master of Puppets
• Nothing Else Matters
• Enter Sandman

Encore:

• Whiskey in the Jar
• Seek and Destroy

Speaking to the crowd 15 minutes into the set, Hetfield said: "Glasto - Metallica is grateful to be invited to such an event.

They knew they had something to prove - but they were also representing a genre of music that, they feel, has been unfairly maligned.

"We're very proud to be representing the heavier side of music," said Hetfield, dedicating a song to "all the UK bands dreaming of playing this stage and uttering the cry: 'Do you want heavy?'"

The answer was a definitive "yes".

The band didn't hold back, delivering a sensory assault of punchy power riffs from the outset.

But it wasn't just, as one critic suggested "loud one, loud one, loud one, encore" - with moments of acoustic reflection and supple musicianship amidst the double kick drums.

In the end, Metallica did what they came to do - win over new fans.

And for metalheads, the show will have been much more resonant than the Rolling Stones' headline set was for their audience last year.

Jack White, who played the Pyramid Stage immediately before Metallica, jammed on the riff to Enter Sandman during his set, prompting a surge towards the stage.

The musician ran through two dozen hits - including Hotel Yorba and Seven Nation Army - each delivered with the urgency of a band playing their encore.

But the effect was dampened slightly when, leaving the stage, he fell over his drum kit.

The audience had endured heavy showers throughout Saturday, and large swathes of the 900-acre site have become a swamp - but there was no sign of the thunder and lightning that had been forecast.

Sunday is due to be dry.

Famous faces spotted at the festival include Stella McCartney, Downton Abbey actresses Laura Carmichael and Lily James, film star Bradley Cooper and new Culture Secretary Sajid Javid.

As of midday on Saturday 138,152 ticket-holders were on site - a few thousand below capacity, suggesting some had been put off by the weather.

Singer-songwriter Nick Mulvey opened proceedings on the main Pyramid Stage, telling fans: "I know you're going to have the best day of your lives."

The musician, whose hits include Cucurrucu and Meet Me There, later confessed he only had "10 minutes to get things together, because Metallica were soundchecking right up until our stage time."

But his uplifting acoustic-pop was perfect for the early morning revellers, who swayed and bobbed in time to the music.

Mulvey later played at a special event curated by folk-pop band Mumford and Sons in the Avalon Field, on the very outskirts of the site.

Rock group Haim also joined the low-key show, playing Fleetwood Mac's Oh Well and the Rolling Stones' Honky Tonk Woman with Marcus Mumford and his band, who headlined the festival last year.

Lana Del Rey drew an adoring crowd to the Pyramid Stage, making a dramatic appearance in kohl-smudged eyes and a tie-dye dress.

Her louche, darkly romantic hits National Anthem, Video Game and West Coast were suitably dramatic as the sun played hide-and-seek in a stormy sky, but some fans felt the singer lacked charisma and drifted away towards the end of her set.

Thousands turned up to watch rock newcomers Royal Blood at the smaller John Peel tent, spilling out into the fields and nearby campsites.

"We couldn't see any grass, it was all just hair and eyes," said frontman Mike Kerr after the show.

"We always felt [Glastonbury] was going to be a bit of a milestone for us, but that show blew us out of the water. The response still hasn't registered."

Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant played one of the most musically diverse sets of the day, with hits like Black Dog given drastic West African and South East Asian overhauls.

Preceding him on the Pyramid Stage, R&B star Kelis also re-tooled some of her most famous songs, giving a jazzy big-band treatment to tracks like Milkshake and A Capella.

Dressed in a neon pink dress, the US star spread positive vibes in the midday sun, signing off saying: "Live well. Treat each other well. Cheers!"

"I feel like I'm on a winning streak," she told the BBC backstage.

"This is my third Glastonbury and it's been sunny every time. I'm very happy about that."

Over on the Other Stage, Jake Bugg played a headline set, above more experienced acts like Manic Street Preachers and The Pixies.

The 20-year-old admitted that topping the bill had given him a case of the nerves.

"I get apprehensive, certainly," he told the BBC. "It's a big deal for me.

"If people are going to come and spend their evening watching my set, I've got to make sure I perform well and play the songs they want."

The festival continues on Sunday with Dolly Parton, Ed Sheeran and Kasabian on the bill.

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Tikrit rebels 'push back Iraq army'

29 June 2014 Last updated at 10:49

Iraqi government forces trying to retake the city of Tikrit from Sunni insurgents have pulled back to a nearby town amid fierce clashes, reports say.

Government troops launched an assault on the city on Saturday with tanks, armoured vehicles and air support.

Eyewitnesses say both sides suffered heavy losses and that the army had to pull back to Dijla, 25km to the south.

The city of Tikrit was captured by Sunni rebels on 11 June as they swept across large parts of northern Iraq.

Heavy fighting took place on Saturday between the Iraqi security forces and armed men from different factions controlling Tikrit, eyewitnesses and journalists told the BBC.

The security forces launched a major attack using tanks and armoured military vehicles supported by air cover and there were many casualties from both sides, the sources said.

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Foreign Secretary William Hague: "I don't think it would be wise to have a British military intervention"

Insurgents, led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis), were reported to have shot down a helicopter and captured the pilot.

The witnesses said the Iraqi forces had been hampered in their bid to retake the city by the large number of improvised explosive devices laid on the approaches to the city.

Earlier in the week Iraqi special forces had been inserted into a position near Tikrit's university to establish a foothold in the city, but it is not clear whether they have remained.

Fear inside Tikrit

"We cannot live here another day. The entire night we have only heard bombs bursting all around the hospital" - Marina Jose, one of 46 stranded Indian nurses at a Tikrit teaching hospital, tells BBC

'No-one wants to stay here'

On Sunday the city was said to be quiet, but witnesses have reported shelling by the security forces.

Earlier the Iraqi government claimed to have recaptured the city and to have killed 60 militants.

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Iraq "receives Russian attack jets" to fight rebels

Meanwhile, Iraq said it had received the first batch of military jets ordered from Russia in order to help fight the militants.

The defence ministry said five Sukhoi aircraft would enter service in "three to four days".

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, British Secretary of State William Hague called for political unity in Iraq to help fight what he called the "mortal threat" to the state.

"Security operations will only work with strong political support from all elements in Iraq" he said.

Mr Hague's intervention will add to the pressure on Iraq's leaders to form a national unity government, correspondents say.

It follows a call from Iraq's most influential Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Sistani for a prime minister to be appointed by Tuesday - when the new parliament meets - to try to defuse the country's political crisis.

Prime Minister Nouri Maliki wants a third term, though correspondents say he is seen by many as having precipitated the crisis through sectarian policies that have pushed Iraq's Sunni minority into the hands of Isis extremists.

Are you in the area? What is your reaction to the current situation? Email your views to haveyoursay@bbc.o.ukwith the word 'Iraq' in the subject heading.

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Bosnia marks centenary of WWI spark

28 June 2014 Last updated at 09:10

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Allan Little looks at how the assassin is remembered in Sarajevo

Bosnia is commemorating 100 years since the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, the act that triggered World War One.

Cultural and sporting events, including a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic, are marking the occasion in the city.

Gavrilo Princip, who shot the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, continues to be a divisive figure in Bosnia.

The shots fired by the Bosnian Serb on 28 June 1914 sucked Europe's great powers into four years of warfare.

Bosnia's Serbs, Croats and Muslim Bosniaks are still divided over the role Princip played in bringing tensions to a head in Europe in 1914, with counter-commemorations planned by Bosnian Serbs.

In Austria, Franz Ferdinand's great-granddaughter and family will be holding events at the family castle at Artstetten, near Vienna, where he is buried.

Countdown to WW1

The World War One Centenary

Differing interpretations

Leaders of Serbia and some Bosnian Serbs are boycotting official events, which they say are designed to incriminate Serbs.

On Friday, Serbs in eastern Sarajevo unveiled a statue of Princip, seen by them as a national hero who ended years of occupation of the Balkans by the Austro-Hungarian empire.

In the eastern town of Visegrad, actors will re-enact the murder of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, and the Belgrade Philharmonic will play music by Vivaldi.

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Anita Hohenberg speaks about her great-grandfather Franz Ferdinand

The commemorations in central Sarajevo will take on a completely different tone to those in the east of the city, says the BBC's Guy De Launey.

The Vienna Philharmonic will play a selection harking back to Hapsburg days, including Haydn's Emperor Quartet, he adds.

The concert is being held at the newly-restored national library, which was destroyed during the 1992 siege of the city by Bosnian Serb forces in the Bosnian War.

Austrian President Heinz Fischer will be attending the concert, which is the centrepiece of official events marking the anniversary.

Commemorations are due to close with an open-air musical memorial event in Sarajevo.

Twenty-eight European Union leaders gathered on Thursday to mark 100 years since the beginning of World War One at Ypres in Belgium.

Princip and the shot that sparked WWI

• Gavrilo Princip, one of seven members of Mlada Bosnia (Young Bosnia), a Bosnian Serb militant organisation which wanted independence from Austria-Hungary
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife Sophie shot dead in their car by Princip on 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo
• Austria responds angrily and declares war on Serbia, securing unconditional support from Germany
• Russia announces mobilisation of its troops
• Germany declares war on Russia, 1 August
• Britain declares war on Germany, 4 August

Gavrilo Princip's living legacy

Ten interpretations of who started WW1

Gavrilo Princip: Remembering an assassin

Meanwhile, the UN cultural organisation Unesco has asked all vessels at sea to fly their flags at half-mast on Saturday to mark the assassination anniversary.

The organisation is trying to highlight its convention on underwater cultural heritage, designed to increase safeguards for thousands of sunken ships vulnerable to deliberate destruction and looting.

The agreement only applies to century-old wrecks so over the next four years, thousands of British, German and other ships lost in World War One will be added to the list.

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Ukraine truce holds despite attacks

28 June 2014 Last updated at 10:46

A Ukrainian government ceasefire in the conflict in the east of the country appears to be holding, despite attacks by pro-Russia rebels.

Several government-held sites came under fire overnight and in the morning but no casualties were reported.

President Petro Poroshenko extended the week-long ceasefire on Friday for three days, saying he was hoping for progress on his peace plan.

Some rebel leaders said they would match the truce but others oppose it.

Mr Poroshenko's announcement came hours after he had signed a landmark EU trade pact - the issue that has been the trigger of the recent crisis.

He said it was a "historic" moment and Ukraine's most important day since independence.

The refusal of Mr Poroshenko's predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, to sign the EU deal - under pressure from Russia - led to protests in Kiev and his eventual overthrow this year.

Russia has since warned it will hit Ukraine with punishing trade restrictions if the pact has a negative effect on its economy.

But speaking on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian TV that it would be easier to solve the Ukrainian crisis if the United States was not involved.

"Our American colleagues... prefer to push the Ukrainian leadership along a confrontational path," he said.

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President Poroshenko said the EU deal "marks a historic day for Ukraine"

Key steps

In the latest fighting, separatists opened fire with mortars on the airfield in the town of Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian forces base near Kryva Luka and another base in Donetsk region, military reporter Dmytro Tymchuk said on his Facebook page (in Russian).

Later the Defence Ministry reported more attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and said the Ukrainian army had regained control of a checkpoint outside Sloviansk.

No casualties have been reported.

A gas distribution station was also targeted in the third attack. There were no casualties on the government side.

One of the leaders of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic" in the east, Aleksander Boroday, said the new truce would be observed until 30 June.

However, two other senior rebels in the Donetsk region, Pavlo Gubarev and Igor Girkin, were quoted by local media as saying they rejected the truce.

Mr Poroshenko agreed to extend the truce after meeting top security and defence officials on his return from Brussels.

It will continue until 22:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Monday.

A statement on the Ukrainian presidential website pointed to a policy statement on Ukraine, issued by the European Council on Friday which set out key steps it expected to happen by Monday.

They include the return of three key checkpoints to Ukrainian forces and the "launch of substantial negotiations on the implementation of President Poroshenko's peace plan".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted on a long-term ceasefire to allow for negotiations between the Ukrainian government and separatists, urging Mr Poroshenko to embark on a "path of peace, dialogue and accord".

Mr Poroshenko set out a 15-point peace plan on 20 June. It involves decentralising power and holding early local and parliamentary elections.

It also proposes the creation of a 10km (six-mile) buffer zone on the Ukrainian-Russian border, and a safe corridor for pro-Russian separatists to leave the conflict areas.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Russia the EU was prepared for "drastic measures" if there was no speedy progress on the plan.

More than 420 people have been killed in fighting between pro-Russia rebels and government forces in eastern Ukraine since mid-April, the UN estimates.

The separatists have declared independence, claiming that extremists have taken power in Kiev. Their move followed Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.

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Funeral for Guildford Four's Conlon

28 June 2014 Last updated at 11:54

The funeral has taken place in Belfast for Gerry Conlon, who was wrongly convicted of the 1974 Guildford IRA pub bombings in Surrey, England.

His funeral was carried into St Peter's Cathedral in west Belfast by four members of the Birmingham Six.

Mr Conlon died at home in west Belfast on 21 June, after an illness. He was 60-years-old.

He was one of the Guildford Four, who spent 15 years in prison before their convictions were quashed in 1989.

Lawyer Gareth Pierce who represented both the Guildford Four and the Birmingham Six was also at the funeral, as was Irish deputy prime minister Eamon Gilmore and a number of politicians.

His memoirs, Proved Innocent, were used as a basis for the Hollywood film In the Name of the Father, in which his part was played by Daniel Day-Lewis.

In a statement issued through his lawyer Gareth Peirce, Mr Conlon's family said: "He brought life, love, intelligence, wit and strength to our family through its darkest hours.

"We thank him for his life and we thank all his many friends for their love."

The Guildford Four were convicted amid the backdrop of an IRA bombing campaign targeting pubs in England.

Gerry Conlon, Paddy Armstrong, Paul Hill and Carole Richardson were jailed for life in 1975 for an attack on the Horse and Groom pub in Guildford which killed four soldiers and a civilian, as well as injuring scores more.

All those involved vigorously protested their innocence.

The Court of Appeal quashed their sentences in October 1989, amid doubts raised about the police evidence against them.

An investigation into the case by Avon and Somerset Police found serious flaws in the way Surrey Police handled the investigation.

It is considered to be one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in Britain.

The perpetrators of the Guildford bomb attack have never been brought to justice.

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Cameron under fire after EU defeat

28 June 2014 Last updated at 12:20

David Cameron has been criticised by Labour leader Ed Miliband after his defeat in a row over the appointment of a new European Commission president.

While Sweden and Germany offered the prime minister encouragement, Mr Miliband said Mr Cameron was taking the UK "closer to the exit door" of the EU, which posed a threat to the economy.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Europe saw the UK as a "damned nuisance".

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the PM had been "brave" to take on Europe.

Britain forced a vote in an attempt to block the selection of Jean-Claude Juncker, seen as a backer of closer political union.

But EU states voted 26-2 to appoint him president of the Commission in what Mr Cameron described as "a bad day for Europe".

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Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt: ''David Cameron is the only political leader who has said he will give the British people a say''

Mr Miliband said the prime minister now posed "a clear and present danger" to the UK's future.

"David Cameron, by his own admission, is taking us closer to the exit door of the European Union, which would threaten three million jobs across the United Kingdom," he said.

Mr Miliband said European leaders questioned the prime minister's true intentions, which had prevented them from allying with him and was "bad for Britain".

He said Mr Cameron's strategy had "totally failed" and that he had been "comprehensively and humiliatingly" outvoted.

'Always complaining'

He said Mr Cameron had become "toxic" and was not the man for the job of reforming Europe.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said there was a mood within the EU that it would rather get rid of the "friendless" UK than allow it to start "picking apart treaties".

Continue reading the main story

Among the leaders there is anxiety that this defeat will hasten the exit of Britain from the EU"

End Quote

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that leaders viewed Britain as "a damned nuisance" that was "always complaining".

Mr Farage added that while German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would address British concerns, ultimately, when she "puts her foot down" everybody fell into line.

"She said countries can move at different paces, while some can get there more quickly than others, but she wasn't for a moment suggesting that Britain can opt out of the principle of an ever closer union."

Despite being one of the UK's closest allies in Europe, Sweden backed the appointment of Mr Juncker. But the country's prime minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, said after the vote that he knew closer union was not "for everyone".

Mr Reinfeldt pointed to a document issued by EU leaders after the vote which accepted that the idea of an ever-closer union should not apply to all member states.

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Jean-Claude Juncker: Career insider or committed European?

"Just look into what we have written in our conclusions," he said.

"You will find references with text, which I think is very important for David Cameron, saying this ever-closer union perception is maybe not the best for everyone."

He highlighted that this had "never been stated" by the EU before.

Germany also supported Mr Juncker's appointment, but Mrs Merkel said she was "ready to address British concerns".

She said there would be a review of how the president was nominated and said she shared Britain's ideas about what the EU should be like.

Mr Juncker was the preferred candidate of the European People's Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, and his appointment must now be endorsed by the parliament.

The appointment of the European Commission president has previously been by consensus but Mr Cameron opposed the choice and his demand for a vote was granted.

Mr Cameron tried to convince other countries to oppose Mr Juncker, a former leader of Luxembourg, but in the end only the UK and Hungary did so.

He warned the appointment would hand more power to the European Parliament and take it away from the heads of government.

The BBC's Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt, said the prime minister needed a shift in power back to national parliaments in order to sell the idea of a reformed Europe to the British public.

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Soul legend Bobby Womack dead at 70

28 June 2014 Last updated at 12:39

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Bobby Womack's career spanned more than 50 years

Legendary soul singer and songwriter Bobby Womack, who penned hits for many of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century, has died at the age of 70.

The cause of death was not announced, but Womack had suffered from cancer and Alzheimer's disease and battled with drug addiction.

His hits included It's All Over Now, performed by the Rolling Stones, and Lookin' for Love.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

Survivor

Womack was born in 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio and began singing in a gospel group in the 1950s with his brothers.

He later gained attention after the siblings signed to SAR Records in 1960.

The brothers, including Cecil, Curtis, Harry and Friendly Jr, cut two R&B albums as the Valentinos.

Later the group broke up and Womack turned to song writing and a solo career.

He outlived many of the acts with whom he played and with whom he was friendly, including Jimi Hendrix and Wilson Pickett.

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DJ Tony Blackburn: ''He was one of the greatest soul singers of all time"

His songs were recorded by Janis Joplin, Wilson Pickett and many others. His friend Sam Cooke persuaded him to let the Rolling Stones record It's All Over Now.

"He said, 'One day you'll be part of history, this group is gonna be huge,'" Womack told BBC Newsnight in 2012. "I said, 'Why don't they get their own songs?'"

He also worked as a session guitarist, appearing on recordings by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Dusty Springfield, and Pickett.

From 1970-90, Womack charted 36 singles including That's the Way I Feel About Cha and Woman's Gotta Have It.

A series of personal tragedies including the deaths of two sons led him to drug abuse, according to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

'My worst critic'

After a long musical hiatus, in 2009 he was tapped by Gorillaz co-founder Damon Albarn to record a song for the group's third album.

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In 2012, Womack talked to Newsnight's Stephen Smith about his career

In 2012, Womack released his first album in more than ten years, entitled The Bravest Man in the Universe.

Womack told the BBC in 2013 "drugs had a lot to do with" a period spent away from the music industry prior to 2009.

"I've always been my worst critic," he said. "I think that keeps me reaching... I never take the audience for granted."

Just two weeks before his death, Womack performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

Musicians who worked with the star paid tribute to his career and contribution to music.

Gospel singer Candi Staton, who knew Womack since childhood, said he had "a style that nobody else could ever capture".

"I loved him and I will miss him so, so very much" said the singer, who also toured with him.

Jason Newman from Rolling Stone Magazine said that he was one of the biggest soul acts of the day in the 1970s.

"Some of his albums and tracks are classics.. He was doing it for seven decades", he told the BBC.

Twitter reaction

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Carney: 2.5% 'new normal' for rates

27 June 2014 Last updated at 09:37

Bank of England governor Mark Carney has suggested the "new normal" for interest rates is likely to be about 2.5% when rates start to increase.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme he also suggested the rates could reach this level in early 2017.

Mr Carney suggested a return to "normal" interest rates of 5% was unlikely in the medium term.

He said things had changed to the point that it was almost impossible to raise rates to their pre-recession level.

He also added that rate rises would be more gradual and limited than in the past.

The Bank governor said the timing of an interest rate rise was less important than the average level at which they would settle in the future.

Continue reading the main story

The old normal is not the new normal"

End Quote Mark Carney Bank of England governor

"The big picture," he said "Is not whether the Bank Rate goes from 0.5% to slightly above that lowest ever level.

"That's not the big picture, the big picture is where interest rates go in the medium term, because if I am taking out a mortgage and if I am thinking of investing in a new plant, if I'm thinking about taking on new people. That's what I'm thinking about."

Mr Carney added: "The guidance we are giving is... the time will come to raise interest rates... but when we raise interest rates we expect to do so in a gradual and limited fashion,"

Constraints

The Bank governor explained the reason for a more gradual increase in interest rates was that rate movements were likely to have a much bigger impact on household spending than in the past.

And he said household debt levels and a fundamentally altered financial system also meant it was virtually impossible to raise interest rates much above 2.5%.

He said: "What I am telling you is that the old normal is not the new normal."

"Normal was a much higher level than we will get to in order to bring the economy back to full employment and inflation at target.

"So the Bank of England [rate], which is at half a percentage point would have historically moved to somewhere akin to 5%.

"If you look at financial markets their estimation about the next three years is around... let's call it 2.5% - slightly lower or it can be slightly higher - we see that as not inconsistent with returning the economy to where it was before."

Mr Carney added: "Why is that the case? Because things have changed. Households have a lot of debt, the government is still consolidating its financial position, Europe is weak, the pound is strong and the financial system has been fundamentally changed.

Mortgage cap

"[The financial system] has to carry a lot more capital, it has to carry a lot more of what is called liquidity insurance and it will pass on those costs to borrowers.

"And as a consequence of those factors, in order to bring the economy back to full employment, in order to get inflation back to target, the new normal is materially lower than the old normal."

His comments came a day after the Bank of England announced plans to cap riskier mortgage lending.

Under the proposals, lenders will not be allowed to lend any more than 15% of residential mortgages at more than 4.5 times a borrower's income.

Lenders will also have to check that mortgage applicants can cope with a three percentage point rise in interest rates - slightly tougher than current affordability checks.

The Bank said that the plans would not have an immediate effect on the current housing market, and would not suddenly harm a potential buyer's ability to get on the property ladder.

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Summit set to snub UK over Juncker

27 June 2014 Last updated at 09:56

EU leaders meeting in Brussels are expected to confirm former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission.

The move comes despite strong opposition from Britain.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said "the odds are stacked against me" over Mr Juncker, but stressed that he would stick to his principles.

He believes Mr Juncker is too much in favour of closer political union and might block EU reform.

He also objects to the way Mr Juncker, a 59-year-old veteran of Brussels deal-making, was put forward. He was lead candidate of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which won last month's European elections.

The UK Conservatives - who pulled out of the EPP - suspect that the Commission is being politicised in a power grab by the European Parliament. But Mr Juncker's supporters value his record of consensus-building and commitment to EU integration.

Under new EU treaty rules the leaders have to take account of the European election result when nominating a Commission chief. The parliament will vote on the nominee next month.

Mr Cameron is seeking an unprecedented summit vote on the appointment, which is usually made by consensus.

But his bid to block Mr Juncker suffered a major setback this week when his allies changed tack.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had given Mr Cameron hope after agreeing to a vote on the issue if there was no consensus.

But both the Netherlands and Sweden - normally close to UK positions in Europe - have since said they will back Mr Juncker.

Jean-Claude Juncker: A man for Europe?

Arguments for and against Juncker

In the past such sensitive appointments have been decided through informal negotiations in the European Council.

With Hungary now Mr Cameron's only supporter, analysts say Mr Juncker is likely to be overwhelmingly backed, even if it does go to a vote.

The BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says many European diplomats feel that Mr Cameron's approach in the EU is too confrontational, going against the grain of consensus decision-making in the union.

There is speculation that the UK may get a powerful seat on the Commission as a "consolation prize", he says - for example, commissioner for the internal market. But UK officials say they are not negotiating for something else as a trade-off.

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David Cameron: "Juncker not right person to take organisation forward"

Mr Cameron vowed to "insist" on a vote on Mr Juncker, so that EU leaders would have to justify their support for the veteran politician in public.

Mr Cameron says he is determined to press ahead with renegotiation of Britain's EU membership, followed by an in/out referendum in the UK in 2017, if his Conservative Party wins next year's general election.

"It is the opening step in a longer campaign to secure change in Europe, a better position for Britain in Europe, and a referendum that will be held before the end of 2017," he said.

The row comes a month after anti-EU parties made sweeping gains in European elections. They won nearly a third of the parliamentary seats.

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In 60 seconds: What does UK have against Jean-Claude Juncker?

In a landmark move on Friday the summit leaders signed far-reaching trade partnership deals with three former Soviet republics - Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

The "association agreements" commit the countries to EU standards, including new customs regulations, quality controls and free market competition.

Russia is suspicious of these agreements and is trying to draw ex-Soviet republics into its own customs union. A senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin told the BBC the deal was in breach of the Ukrainian constitution.

"What [Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko is doing is illegitimate thing," Sergei Glazyev said.

On the first day of the summit on Thursday, prime ministers and presidents of the 28 EU states set aside their differences to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One in a ceremony at Ypres, Belgium.

Next steps

27 June - European Council expected to nominate Mr Juncker

1-3 July - First post-election session of new European Parliament

14-17 July - European Parliament votes on nominee for Commission president - expected to back Mr Juncker

September - Parliament grills each nominee for 28-member Commission (one from each member state)

October - Parliament votes on new Commission team

November - New Commission should take office, as should new EU foreign policy chief and new European Council president.

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