Freeman, Streisand get national honour

Barbara Streisand and Morgan Freeman have received the highest recognition for work in the arts in America.

The Kennedy Centre Honours were presented at the weekend to six artists considered to have influenced US culture.

Country singer George Jones, dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp, and Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who were also recognised.

Entering a reception for recipients at the White House hosted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Townshend said he was "touched" to have been selected.