Syrian strikes on Islamic State stronghold kill 25

Syria launched a series of airstrikes targeting a stronghold of the Islamic State extremist group on Saturday, killing at least 25 people, most of whom died when one of the missiles slammed into a crowded bakery, activists said.

The eight airstrikes smashed parts of buildings, set cars alight and crushed people under rubble in the northeastern city of Raqqa, which is ruled by the extremist group, according to video of the aftermath uploaded to social media networks.

At least 16 civilians were killed, alongside nine Islamic State fighters, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Most of the civilians were killed after at least one strike hit a bakery on a busy street, and the death toll was likely to rise, said the Observatory, which obtains its information from a network of activists on the ground.

The airstrikes were also reported by a Moscow-based activist who uses the name Abu Ibrahim and is a member of a media collective called "Raqqa is being silently slaughtered." Another group, the Raqqa Media Center, uploaded video of the aftermath which appeared to be genuine and was consistent with AP reporting of the event.

Activist Abu Ibrahim said the local morgue was packed with charred bodies, making identification difficult. He said the dead included at least eight members of one family.

Other strikes hit a government finance building that the Islamic State used as its headquarters and another building used as a jail, Abu Ibrahim said.

It has been virtually impossible for journalists to visit Raqqa, a city of some 500,000 people on the banks of the Euphrates river, since the town fell to the Islamic State group earlier this year. The group routinely abducts reporters and recently beheaded two American journalists in response to U.S. airstrikes against the militants in Iraq.

The Syrian government strikes were part of an uptick of military action against the Islamic State group since it swept into neighboring Iraq, seizing northern and western swaths of that country and declaring a proto-state straddling the border.

Syrian President Bashar Assad's government has also suffered heavy losses against the Islamic State group, which killed hundreds of soldiers and pro-government fighters in recent months as it overran oil fields and military bases. There was no immediate government comment on the airstrikes.

Iraq Isis Crisis: Al-Baghdadi's Top Aide 'Killed' in US Airstrike

Abu Hajar al-Sufi, a top lieutenant of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been killed in a US airstrike.

Iraq's defence ministry announced the killing of al-Sufi along with two other senior Sunni insurgents in the Isis-controlled northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

One of them was said to have been an explosives expert and the other a military strategist.

Pentagon spokesperson Colonel Steve Warren could not confirm the death of the Isis commander but told NBC News that the senior figures could have been killed if they had been "inside troop formations".

Speculation in the Iraqi social media suggested that al-Baghdadi himself may have been killed in the attack but the Iraqi defence ministry clarified that it was his suspected right-hand man who was killed.

The fallout of the death of al-Sufi, if confirmed, is still unclear as analysts are yet to get a clearpicture of the organisational structure of the Isis.

In another development, the Sunni insurgents are said to have abducted dozens of men in northern Iraq.

The abductions took place in Tal Ali village, about 240kms north of the capital Baghdad, reports quoting residents said.

At least 50 men were believed to have been rounded up before being loaded onto cars and trucks and taken to a secret location.

The abductions took place after the residents set Isis flags on fire as the militants were retreating in the face of the Iraqi offensive.

Lamar Sally rejects Sherri Shepherd’s divorce settlement

Apparently, a one time payment $100,000  and $3,000 a month in child support isn’t enough for Sherri’s Shepherd’s estranged husband Lamar Sally who’s reportedly rejected that financial settlement from the former “The View” co-host.

The two are working out the details of a custody and divorce settlement after their brief three-year marriage. In addition to the one-time $100,000 payment, Sherri also offered to provide $3,000 in monthly child support for Lamar’s son, who is not biologically hers, RadarOnline.com reports.

Sherri and Lamar wed in 2011 with what sources described as “an ironclad prenup;” however, he is contesting the agreement.

According to sources, Lamar wants Sherri to increase that number by $7,000.

“Lamar rejected the offer and countered that he wanted $10,000 child support, which Sherri thinks is ridiculous and absolutely won’t pay,” said the anonymous source. “At this point, the divorce isn’t likely to settle without a trial.”

Though Lamar is seeking more financial assistance from Sherri, their prenuptial agreement doesn’t require that she pay spousal support. With that in mind, some might consider Sherri’s offer generous, but following Lamar’s rejection, the two are expected to head to court.

“She has excellent lawyers in California and will let the process decide what if any financial obligation she has in regards to child support,” the source told RadarOnline.com.

Prince drops new futuristic slow jam 'U Know'

After taking a rare four-year hiatus from releasing studio albums, Prince will drop a pair of new LPs on Sept. 30: One a collaborative disc with his group 3rdEyeGirl called "Plectrumelectrum" and the other a solo album dubbed "Art Official Age." Both mark Prince's first releases since 2010's 20Ten was given away with select European publications. Prince has already unveiled a couple tracks from both albums, like "Art Official Age's" "Breakdown" and Plectrumelectrum's kinky "Breakfast Can Wait," and today the rocker debuted another new track, "U Know," on his SoundCloud page.
This futuristic slow jam is taken from "Art Official Age" and, as promised, it recaptures the sound of "classic Prince," since it could be the singer's catchiest cut since 3121's "Black Sweat." "Feminine rising, not surprising, recognizing that the power of the breast is just a test that you be winning," Prince sing-speaks on "U Know," which sounds like Parliament tackling the mellower moments of Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience" thanks to its bouncy piano and funky beat. "You know how much I want you, you know much I care, you gonna know I'm gonna flaunt you," Prince sings in falsetto on the track's chorus.

"Art Official Age" and "Plectrumelectrum" mark that first time Prince has teamed with Warner Bros. since his infamous split with the label back in the early-Nineties, when the artist was forced to refer to himself both as "The Artist" and that "love symbol." As Rolling Stone previously reported, "Art Official Age" also features an "aggressive and menacing" rap song with Rita Ora, a "wild and rude" track called "The Gold Standard," and a ballad titled "This Could Be Us" that was inspired by Prince's Purple Rain co-star Apollonia Kotero. By preordering the albums at Prince's official site, you'll receive some "instant gratification" downloads.

As for that 30th anniversary reissue of "Purple Rain" that was announced earlier this year, a release date still has not yet been revealed.

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Joan Rivers’ Fight For Life: She Faces ‘Years-Long Rehab Process’ That Will End Her Career

Joan Rivers remained on life support at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital Wednesday, her daughter Melissa said, as reports indicated the comedy legend could be facing years of rehab as the next hurdle in her recovery process.

Insiders told the NY Daily News that the 81-year-old Fashion Police personality — who was rushed to the hospital last week after suffering cardiac and respiratory arrest during a procedure on her vocal cords — could face a years-long rehab process that would effectively sideline her show biz career.

Despite the dark time, the comic’s daughter remained compassionate and friendly as she kept vigil at the hospital, according to a family member of a patient being treated on the same floor as Rivers.

“It really affects her, what she’s going through,” the woman told the paper. “She’s hurting, and yet she took the time to really care for us — and she doesn't even know us.”

Echoing said sentiment, an insider told the NY Post that Melissa, 46, remained “a rock” during her mother’s fight for her life.

“She is calmer than I’ve ever seen her: All these reports about doomsday are not true,” the source said. “She is her mother’s daughter and she’s tough as nails.

“She’s the person keeping everyone together.”

As we previously reported, Melissa said in a brief statement Tuesday, “On behalf of my mother and our family, we are extremely grateful for all the love and support we have received. At this time, she does remain on life support.

“I know my mother would be overwhelmed by the continued outpouring of kindness and I want to thank everyone for keeping us in their prayers.”

Pope to Iraqi Christians: You are church's heart

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has sought to encourage Iraq's beleaguered Christians under threat from Islamic militants, saying they are the "heart" of the church and that the church is proud of them.
In comments translated into Arabic during his weekly Wednesday general audience,Francis said the Catholic Church is like a mother, and like any mother will "defend her defenseless and persecuted children."

Thousands of Christians have been forced from their homes by Islamic State militants who have carved out a self-styled caliphate in the large area straddling the Iraqi-Syrian border that it now controls.

Francis has said it was legitimate to use force to stop the militants, but that the international community should decide how to do so.

He said: "The church suffers with you and is proud of you."

Detroit-Area Man Gets 17 Years in Porch Shooting of Renisha McBride: Race was hardly mentioned at all

A suburban Detroit man was sentenced Wednesday to at least 17 years in prison for killing an unarmed woman who appeared on his porch before dawn.

Theodore Wafer was convicted of second-degree murder in the Nov. 2 death of 19-year-old Renisha McBride. Before he was sentenced, the Dearborn Heights man apologized to McBride's family, saying he killed a woman who was "too young to leave this world."

"I will carry that guilt and sorrow forever," said Wafer, often pausing to control his emotions.

Wafer was convicted last month after a nine-day trial that centered on whether the 55-year-old had a reasonable and honest belief that he was in peril. He testified that he was awakened by pounding on his doors and shot McBride because he feared for his life. A jury rejected his claim of self-defense.

Prosecutors recommended at least 17 years in prison for Wafer, the low end of the guidelines, including two years for unlawful use of a gun. Defense attorney Cheryl Carpenter asked for as few as six years in prison.

Noting Wafer's age, Carpenter told Judge Dana Hathaway that anything more than 10 years in prison would be a "life sentence." The judge declined to go below the guidelines.

No one knows why McBride ended up at Wafer's home about 4:30 a.m., though prosecutors speculated she may have been seeking help. She had crashed her car into a parked car about a half-mile away in Detroit around 1 a.m. An autopsy found she was extremely drunk.

Wafer opened the front door and shot McBride in the face, firing through a screen door. He first suggested to police that it was an accident but later admitted to intentionally pulling the trigger.

The judge said McBride had made "some terrible choices" but that she didn't deserve to be killed.

Hathaway described the case as "one life gone and one life ruined."

The jury convicted Wafer of murder, manslaughter and a gun-related charge on Aug. 7. His maximum sentence is 32 years in prison, although he'll be eligible for parole after serving the minimum of 17.

Wafer is white and McBride was black, and some wondered in the aftermath of the shooting whether race was a factor, likening it to the shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. But race was hardly mentioned at trial.

Putin: Ukraine must withdraw, rebels must halt

A day ahead of a NATO summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued his own peace plan for eastern Ukraine, calling on the Russian-backed insurgents there to "stop advancing" and urging Ukraine to withdraw its troops from the region.

Hours earlier, Ukraine had issued a vague statement about agreeing with Putin on cease-fire steps. The separatists rejected the move, saying no cease-fire was possible without a pullback by Ukraine, while Putin's spokesman claimed that Moscow was not in a position to agree to a cease-fire because it was not a party to the conflict.

The back-and-forth came as President Barack Obama arrived in Estonia in a show of solidarity with NATO allies who fear they could be the next target of Russia's aggression. NATO is holding a summit in Wales on Thursday, with plans to approve a rapid-response team to counter the Russian threat.

Putin, speaking in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator, said he came up with a 7-point peace plan on the plane trip there in which Kiev must withdraw its troops and stop its artillery strikes.

"The warring parties should immediately coordinate and do the following things together," Putin said in televised comments. "The first thing is for the armed forces and insurgents of the south-east of Ukraine to stop active advancing in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"Second is for the Ukrainian military to withdraw their troops at a safe distance that will make artillery and other strikes on populated areas impossible," he added.

Putin also urged an unconditional exchange of prisoners and said he expected a final agreement between Kiev and the rebels to be reached Friday at peace talks in Minsk, Belarus.

The Interfax news agency later carried remarks from top rebel commander Miroslav Rudenko, who said "there'll be no sense in a military solution to the conflict" if Kiev was to withdraw its troops.

Stock markets jumped on first reports of a possible cease-fire deal, but later eased back slightly. By early afternoon in Europe, Russia's MICEX benchmark was up 2.7 percent, while the ruble rose 1.4 percent against the U.S. dollar.

Germany's DAX index, which has been particularly sensitive to news regarding the Ukrainian crisis because of the country's economic ties with Russia, was up 1.2 percent.

Rebel leader said earlier this week that they would respect Ukraine's sovereignty in exchange for autonomy. The rebels previously have called for full independence for their regions or possible absorption into Russia. Putin has ignored their calls for annexation — unlike in March, when Russia annexed Crimea.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has spoken in favor of devolving some of the central government's power to regions, but that is far short of autonomy for the rebel regions.

Obama said it was too early to tell what the announcements Wednesday from Ukraine and Russia meant. He noted previous unsuccessful cease-fire attempts and questioned whether the separatists would abide by a new cease-fire.

"We haven't seen a lot of follow-up on so-called announced cease-fires," Obama said. "Having said that, if in fact Russia is prepared to stop financing, arming, training, in many cases joining with Russian troops activities in Ukraine and is serious about a political settlement, that is something we all hope for."

Ukraine, NATO and the West have accused Russia of sending its troops and weapons to support the insurgents. Moscow has denied the charge. AP reporters on the ground have run into numerous Russian fighters among the rebels and have seen large convoys of heavy military equipment driving in eastern Ukraine from the direction of Russia.

Over the weekend, the European Union leaders agreed to prepare a new round of sanctions that could be enacted in a week, after NATO accused Russia of sending tanks and troops into southeastern Ukraine.

Fighting in eastern Ukraine has killed nearly 2,600 people and forced over 340,000 to flee their homes, according to the U.N.

Late actress Brittany Murphy's dad is cyberbullying Lifetime's biopic star Amanda Fuller

Late actress Brittany Murphy's father, Angelo Bertolotti, has turned his anger over Lifetime's upcoming biopic about his daughter on the actress portraying her, Amanda Fuller.

Angelo Bertolotti has taken to Twitter, tweeting and retweeting dozens of tweets referring to Fuller as being too fat to play his daughter and calling the actress a "floozy."

"My daughter #brittanymurphy would be horrified to know who they chose to play her and how cheap it all is," he tweeted.

Fuller spoke with TheTVPage.com and addressed Bertolotti's cyber-bullying.

"He can say what he wants," she told the site. "He has already gone and attacked me on Twitter and I have had to block him and that is fine. He can do what he wants. But I just think it is interesting that the minute she is back in the press he is all about, 'I am going to sue' and all that stuff. If he really respected his daughter's memory then I don't know if he would be trying to make all this controversy about it. Let her rest in peace."

She revealed that "The Brittany Murphy Story" was produced independently, not by Lifetime, and was meant as a tribute to Murphy. Directed by Joe Menendez, the film was shot over 16 days on a very small budget. Lifetime bought the rights to air it.

"It is what it is," Fuller said. "All of our hearts were in the right place. I had two days to prepare."

"I would have loved to have months of preparation and time to get down to a really skinny [body] so I could portray her physically better," she continued. "And we would have loved to have had more money and more time for vocal lessons and stuff like that. But in the end, I think it became less of it being a look-alike piece and more about just trying to capture the essence of who she was."

Fuller stars in the movie alongside Sherilyn Fenn as her mother, Sharon, who is not connected to the movie either.

Murphy first made a big splash in "Clueless," which led to starring roles in "Just Married," "Little Black Book," "Girl, Interrupted" and "8 Mile."

She died in 2009 from what the coroner ruled as an accident caused by a combination of pneumonia, an iron deficiency and "multiple drug intoxication." Four years later, Bertolotti, Murphy's off-and-on estranged father, came forward with his evidence stating that his daughter had been poisoned.