Barack Obama in emergency talks to secure US debt deal

US President Barack Obama has held an emergency meeting with congressional leaders in a last-ditch bid to avert an economically catastrophic debt default.

Mr Obama called the meeting after talks with Republican House Speaker John Boehner broke down on Friday.
Both Democrats and Republicans are divided on how to control future spending.
Congress must approve a plan to raise America's debt ceiling before the 2 August default deadline.
If the US fails to meet the deadline to raise the $14.3tn limit on US borrowing, the Treasury could run out of money to pay all of its bills - which could lead to interest rate rises, threaten the US economic recovery and in turn the global recovery.
Mr Obama was joined at the negotiating table on Saturday by his Vice-President Joe Biden, Mr Boehner, House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
The Associated Press reported that they were unsmiling as the meeting began and most of them avoided reporters when they left the White House.
The White House afterwards urged Congress to "refrain from playing reckless political games with our economy... and do its job, avoiding default and cutting the deficit".

Both Mr McConnell and Mr Boehner issued statements saying they intended "to find a bipartisan solution to significantly reduce Washington spending and preserve the full faith and credit of the United States".

Aides said they expected to work through the weekend to come up with bill that would be acceptable to both sides for Monday.
On Friday, Mr Boehner accused the president of moving "the goal posts", saying they had been close to a deal until Mr Obama demanded $400bn in tax increases on top of about $800bn in revenues that would have been reaped through a comprehensive rewrite of the tax code.
Mr Obama had declared his deal as "extraordinarily fair", offering to cut $650bn from Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements, as well as slashing $1tr in discretionary spending.
Republicans have been unwilling to consider raising new taxes to counter the growing budget deficits.
The Democrats have been opposed to cutting popular healthcare and welfare programmes for pensioners and the poor.

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'Five dead' at Texas skating rink party shooting

At least five people have been killed and three injured in a shooting at a roller-skating rink birthday party in Texas, police say.

The shooting happened after an argument erupted at the party in the city of Grand Prairie, close to Dallas.
The gunman is among the dead, having shot himself after opening fire on fellow guests, police say.
Details about the incident are sketchy but police say the row was a "domestic disturbance between husband and wife".
"It appears to be a domestic situation, at this point," Reuters news agency quoted police spokesman Steve Dye as saying. "That is our initial finding. And it appears the suspect did die from a self-inflicted gun wound."
Police said they first received a call about the shootings at Forum Roller World shortly after 1900 local time (0200 GMT) and responded immediately.
The shootings unfolded at a private family event at the skating rink, local media reported.
Witnesses described seeing people fleeing the rink in panic after the gunman opened fire.
The injured party guests were taken to hospital and there is no information yet about their condition.

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Fifa bans Mohamed Bin Hammam for life over attempted bribery claims

Former Fifa presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam has been banned from football for life after being found guilty of attempted bribery.

The governing body's ethics committee made the decision on Saturday after a two-day hearing.
Bin Hammam was accused of attempting to buy votes ahead of last month's Fifa presidential election.
The 62-year-old Qatari withdrew from the election, leaving Sepp Blatter to be re-elected unopposed.
The decision makes Bin Hammam the most senior figure to be banned by Fifa in its 107-year history.

The former head of the Asian Football Confederation is now unable to be involved "in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level for life", Fifa ethics committee deputy chairman Petrus Damaseb said on Saturday.
In a statement, Bin Hammam's legal council said he will continue to fight the case through every legal route available to him.
The statement added: "The Fifa ethics committee has apparently based its decision upon so called 'circumstantial' evidence which our case has clearly demonstrated was bogus and founded on lies told by a senior Fifa official.
"We have strictly observed the legal rules regarding the confidentiality of these proceedings and not shared our evidence, which is compelling, with the media.
"Fifa, either directly or through third parties, appears to have done the opposite with selective and continual leaking of documentation that has been part of these proceedings to the media in order to influence public opinion and create bias.
"We are confident of the strength of our case and invite Fifa to make available now to the media a full transcript of these proceedings."
Bin Hammam, along with former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, was suspended after a leaked report revealed four Caribbean Football Union (CFU) associations were either offered money, or saw the offence occur, during a meeting in May.
It was alleged that cash-stuffed envelopes containing up to $40,000 (£25,000) were handed to the delegates during the meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The report said there was "comprehensive, convincing and overwhelming" proof that bribes had been paid to officials to support Bin Hammam's campaign for the Fifa presidency, and that Warner had facilitated this.
Warner's resignation from Fifa last month meant he did not have to face the ethics committee.
Two further officials from the CFU, Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester, were each banned from football-related activity for a year for their involvement in the bribery attempt.
In a blog post on Friday, Bin Hammam raised fears that he would not recieve a fair trial at the hearing.
"It seems likely that Fifa has already made its decision weeks ago," he wrote.
"So none of us should be completely surprised if a guilty verdict is returned."
Before the hearing, Bin Hammam suggested he would be compelled to appeal if the committee found him guilty of the charges.
"Rest assured that justice will eventually prevail whether through the Fifa ethics committee, the Court of Arbitration for Sport or if necessary, through other courts or legal proceedings in courts where we will be equal and no special privileges will be granted to either party," he wrote.
The ethics committee has now asked Fifa's legal department to prepare cases against Caribbean football leaders who are suspected to have knowingly covered up the instances of Bin Hammam's bribery attempts.

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China: Dozens die as bullet trains collide in Zhejiang

The two high-speed trains collided in eastern China, state media reports

At least 32 people have died and more than 100 are hurt after two high-speed trains crashed into each other in eastern China, state media reports.

Two train coaches fell off a bridge after derailing close to Wenzhou in Zhejiang province.
Chinese media report that one of the trains came to a halt after being struck by lightning and was then hit by the second train.
Rescue workers are at the scene, near Shuangyu town in Wenzhou.
It is not known how many people were on the trains at the time, but Xinhua news agency says each carriage can carry 100 people.
Initial reports suggested one bullet train had derailed at about 2030 (1230 GMT) - the D3115 travelling from the provincial capital Hangzhou.
But local television later said the first train had been forced to stop after losing power due to a lightning strike, and was then rear-ended by another train, the D301, causing two of its carriages to fall off an elevated section of track.

TV pictures showed one carriage lying on its side under the bridge, and the other standing on its end leaning up against the bridge. There were reports that four carriages from the other train had also derailed, but it is not known if that led to further casualties.
"D" trains are the first generation of bullet trains in China, with an average speed of just short of 100mph (160km/h).
"The train suddenly shook violently, casting luggage all around," one survivor, Liu Hongtao, was quoted by Xinhua as saying. "Passengers cried for help but no crew responded."
China is spending billions on constructing a high-speed rail network.
Last month China inaugurated its Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail link. The 300 km/h (190mph) train halves the journey time to under five hours.
But the project has come under fire for its high cost - the Beijing-Shanghai line cost 215bn yuan ($33bn; £21bn). It has also been blighted by power outages and other problems.
China is planning to roll out high-speed lines across the country.
The BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing says there are also fears corruption has compromised safety in the network's construction.

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Amy Winehouse found dead, aged 27

The BBC's David Sillito: "Her private life was something of a mess."

Singer Amy Winehouse, 27, has been found dead at her north London home.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed that a 27-year-old woman had died in Camden and that the cause of death was as yet unexplained.
The Brit and Grammy award-winner had struggled with drink and drug addiction and had recently spent time in rehab.
Her record label Universal called her "a gifted musician, artist and performer", adding: "Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans."
She pulled out of a comeback tour last month after a disastrous appearance at her first gig.
Jeered at gig Winehouse cancelled the European tour after being jeered at the show in Serbia, when she appeared too drunk to perform.
For 90 minutes, she mumbled through parts of songs and at times left the stage - leaving her band to fill in.

She had recently finished a course of alcohol rehabilitation in London and at the time was under strict instructions not to drink.

A section of the road where the singer lived was cordoned off on Saturday evening, as journalists, local residents and fans gathered at the police tapes.
Forensic officers were seen going in and out of the building.
In a statement - police spokesman Superintendent Raj Kohli said Winehouse's death was being treated as "unexplained."
It had been reported that Winehouse died of a drugs overdose but Superintendent Kohli said "it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of death."
He added: "My sympathy extends not just to her immediate family but clearly to the thousands and millions of fans across the world."
Winehouse won widespread acclaim with her 2003 debut album, Frank - which was nominated for the Mercury prize.
But it was 2006's Back to Black which brought her worldwide stardom, winning five Grammy Awards.
The record's producer Mark Ronson said in a statement: "She was my musical soulmate and like a sister to me.
"This is one of the saddest days of my life."
Hip-hop producer Salaam Remi, who also worked on Winehouse's albums Frank and Back To Black, paid tribute to her on Twitter saying: "Very Very Sad Day. Just lost a Great Friend and a Sister."
He added: "RIP my baby SiS Cherry Winehouse. Love ya always."
News of her death has also prompted other tributes from other celebrity friends.

Fans have left floral tributes to Winehouse at Camden Square

TV presenter Kelly Osbourne tweeted: "i cant even breath right now im crying so hard i just lost 1 of my best friends. i love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!"
Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood announced he is to dedicate his Saturday night show on Absolute Radio to Winehouse. He said: "It's a very sad loss of a very good friend I spent many great times with".
He added a reunion performance by his former group The Faces in Hurtwood, Surrey, would also be dedicated to the singer.
BBC Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton wrote: "Can not believe the news. Amy was a special girl. The saddest news."
Daily Telegraph rock critic Neil McCormick said he was "utterly shocked" at her death.
Last appearance He said she had appeared focused when giving an "incredible performance" for a recent studio recording of a duet with Tony Bennett.
"It's deeply sad. It's the most completely tragic waste of talent that I can remember," he added.
Doug Charles-Ridler, co-owner of Winehouse's favourite Camden pub The Hawley Arms, called her "a special person with a good soul," adding, "this should not have happened".

Winehouse made her last public appearance on Wednesday night when she joined her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield on stage at The Roundhouse in Camden.
The singer danced with Bromfield and encouraged the audience to buy her album in the impromptu appearance before leaving the stage.
At the time she pulled out of the tour, her spokesman had said everyone wanted to do everything to "help her return to her best".

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