The new IS attack is propelling Kobane's plight back into the spotlight
Islamic State fighters have attacked the Syrian city of Kobane, months after being driven out in a symbolic battle that made international headlines.
Two car bombs and clashes with Kurdish defenders left up to 30 people dead and scores injured. IS shot dead 20 others in a village nearby, activists say.
IS has recently suffered a string of defeats to Kurdish forces.
But in another attack on Thursday, it seized parts of the key north-eastern city of Hassakeh.
The apparent two-pronged IS offensive came as Kurdish fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) cut a major supply line for IS near Raqqa.
Raqqa is the de facto capital of the caliphate whose creation IS announced a year ago after it captured large swathes of northern and western Iraq.
Analysis: Quentin Sommerville, BBC Middle East correspondent:
Kobane still matters to IS. It was never important strategically, but this latest attack shows that its loss, after five months of heavy street-to-street fighting and coalition aerial bombardment, still hurts IS.
As was the case last November when a huge vehicle bomb exploded at the same spot, questions are being asked if the attackers made it in from the Turkish side, and if so, why Turkey didn't stop them.
Thursday's assault is a reminder, too, that IS, despite recent losses in the area, is still very much active and capable of offensives. Overnight they also attacked Hassakeh to the east, a far bigger prize.
Despite the narrative of the last few weeks, IS is far from being on the back foot.
The casualties include a large number of civilians, activists say
The IS attack on Kobane began with militants detonating a car bomb - followed by an assault from dozens of IS fighters from a number of directions.
Some may have hidden themselves among returning refugees - there are also reports that they disguised themselves by wearing Kurdish militia uniforms, says the BBC's Middle East correspondent Quentin Sommerville.
A reporter with Kurdish news agency Rudaw reports from inside Kobane that he had seen "a wounded woman whose entire family were killed inside their home after IS gunmen entered their house".
Hours later another car bomb exploded in the city.
A senior local official told BBC Persian that the situation in Kobane itself was "under control" but clashes were continuing on its eastern and northern outskirts.
Suggestions by Syrian state television that the militants had entered Kobane from Turkey were refuted in the Turkish media.
The governor's office in the Turkish province of Sanliurfa, bordering Kobane, was quoted by Hurriyet newspaper as saying that evidence suggested they entered from the west, via the Syrian town of Jarablus.
Hassakeh, about 270km (180 miles) east of Kobane, has been under the control of both government forces and Kurdish fighters, and IS militants have been trying to capture it for months.
The militants reportedly struck at government-held neighbourhoods and captured two districts. Syrian state TV said local people were being forced from their homes and that there had been killings.
Hassakeh is the largest city in north-eastern Syria. An estimated 500,000 people live there, in addition to thousands who have fled violence elsewhere.
Between 30,000 and 35,000 people from a population of about 400,000 have returned to Kobane following the IS defeat in January.
Some people have returned to Kobane despite the ruins
More than 200,000 Syrians have lost their lives in four years of armed conflict - more than 11 million others have been forced from their homes.
Jennifer Love Hewitt, 36, and her husband of two years, Brian Hallisay, also 36, just welcomed their second baby. The couple had a son whom they named Atticus James. Atticus joins his sister, Autumn James, 18 months. That’s cute that they used James as the second name for both of their children, I’ve never heard of a family doing that before.
The last time we covered Hewitt, she spoke to People Magazine as part of her new promotional duties for Palmer’s stretch mark cream. She said that she and her Hallisay chose not to learn the sex of their second baby ahead of time, which drove their family and friends “crazy”. Hallisay had the strong feeling that he was having another girl, as he’s close to his sister and mother, but was said to be “prepared either way“. This new baby’s gender must have been a pleasant surprise.
As for the name, I like it and wonder if it was picked out ahead of time. It’s a rare combination of a unique name that isn’t stigmatizing at all. Atticus is of course the father and civil rights lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s listed as a boy’s name but I think it could also work for a girl. Kaiser disagrees and says it’s a “straight up boy’s name.” (I’ve never met anyone named Atticus, but she has.) The name is rising in popularity and will only become more common now. Casey Affleck has a son named Atticus and Mary-Louise Parker used Atticus as her son William’s middle name.
Despite the fact that Hewitt used to be so open about her private life that she would use the press to trollfor dates and pressure boyfriends to propose, she’s never shown a photo of her daughter Autumn’s face. Hewitt hasn’t held the baby up for the paparazzi, nor has she opted to post any hand or foot photos of her daughter to social media. So we’re unlikely to see a photo of the new baby, which is Hewitt’s choice and is somewhat admirable to me considering she’s never made a point of it. (I know I say this every time I cover her lately, but the press hasn’t picked up on it yet and I’m hoping they will.) I’m glad that Hewitt let us know the baby’s name, though. Congratulations to Hewitt and Hallisay on their new arrival!
Photo credit: FameFlynet, Palmer’s and American Baby
Sergio Ramos will not have any arguments from his family if he decides to leave Real Madrid for Old Trafford this summer – because his father is a Manchester United fan.
Before a Champions League meeting between the two sides in 2013, Ramos revealed his father’s love for English football.
He told the Sunday Times: ‘My dad used to watch a lot of football and he would say to me when I was a kid: “So and so is playing today. You have to watch this player or that player”.
Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos revealed his father (back, second left) is a fan of Manchester United
Ramos says his family are fans of his first club Sevilla but have a soft spot for Manchester United
Ramos (centre) revealed his love of English football and Man United before a Champions League clash in 2013
Liverpool are watching Roberto Firmino, Carlos Bacca and Salomon Rondon at the Copa America with a view to bolstering their attacking options this summer.
A collection of scouts are in South America for Brendan Rodgers keeping tabs on the trio.
The Reds have held talks with Firmino, who scored in Brazil’s win against Venezuela on Sunday.
Roberto Firmino scored in Brazil's win against Venezuela on Sunday and Liverpool are tracking him
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Brazil's forward Firmino (left) celebrates with midfielder Willian during their victory at the Copa America
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Colombia's Carlos Bacca leaves the field with a ripped shirt after their fierce match against Brazil
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Salomon Rondon of Venezuela heads the ball during their match at Copa America, where Liverpool scouts are
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The 23-year-old has attracted plenty of interest this summer and looks likely to leave Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in the coming weeks.
Reports in Brazil suggested that an £18million deal had been agreed between Liverpool and the German club, but Sportsmail understands no agreement has been reached.
Colombian Bacca is a wanted man after a stellar season for Sevilla, during which he netted 28 goals – including two in the Europa League final victory against Dnipro.
Rondon, meanwhile, is with Venezuela and impressed for Zenit as they clinched the Russian Premier League title last season.
Following a lot of smack-talk about her dating an old -sponsor, Kenya’s numero uno socialite Huddah Monroe decided to hush the critics by tagging her new boyfriend, before promptly pulling down the post.
Before she pulled it down, we learned that her new man is named Apocalypse Bella who calls himself a ‘Self made, self paid’ millionaire.
From observation, Huddah’s ‘sponsor’ looks like someone in his late thirties or early forties not super-old unlike what many expected.
He likes to work out and just like Huddah he likes to live large and has a penchant for Instagram.He is also not shy about what he owns and where he travels to as he shared a photo of his car a Mercedes, photos at Emirates first class lounge and chilling at the famous luxury, five-star hotel Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
If Instagram is anything to go by, Huddah hit the jackpot
Hello everyone, My name is Alex and I have never been suicidal but these last 3 weeks have changed me. I have gone from being engaged to being suicidal. I have NEVER had anything in my life depress me, I mean, I have two pending court cases lots of other stuff that really stresses me but not to the point of being suicidal. Why you ask? Not love. Lies, betrayal, more lies and lastly regret. Here’s my story. I have been in a serious relationship for 6 years now. Doing everything together … shopping … finances…etc until March 2015 just after we got engaged. After that weekend, I got cheated on the next week Tue. I believe in dialogue. I asked why. Quite frankly she said she doesn’t know why. And since she’s slept with 4 other guys, I said enough is enough. I ended that. Moved on. Now what really got me is that since our engagement was in Mombasa Southern Palms, we bought some gifts for friends and all that. So she said, “Swirie, I want you to buy a hand beaded bracelet for my friend Martin” which I did. It’s like the one attached. Now after I have come to learn that Martin is this guy, I have never been able to let that slide. Walai nimejaribu but f*ck! I bought a present for the same guy who WAS/IS f*ucking her! That really messed me up. It crushed me. It’s one thing to sleep with her but it’s another for me to fund it and buy a gift for him. Think about it. That has broken me up psychologically. Now while still trying to deal with that, this is what happened today. When we broke up, we were mature. No need for the tantrums and all that. And since we used to live together [We were supposed to get married this year], she had to move out so I said okay fine, I will help you move out. Buy new house stuff and all. So she looked for a house, I paid the rent [12,500] and today was the moving in. So I bought a bed, mattress, cooker, gas etc… All that stuff. Rem, I am doing this to help her. So there is me and some hired guys with Mkokotenis and running up and doing TRM. By 7 pm, she had everything. Now here is the part that has just landed the last blow. She had forgotten her one handbag at my place so we agreed I bring it as the last item. I drove to Roysambu and when I got back, here is Martin at the gate! I mean after doing everything for her, and when the house is ready, that f*cker appears! Man I just felt like crap! Up to now I still do feel that. I know the love is not there but I felt so disrespected. Couldn’t even wait I drop the hand bag and go. It felt to me like the ni madharau. After everything I just did. What has really driven me down… That guy is not like Usher Raymond/CB/…etc. I mean I know for sure I am more handsome. Doesn’t the general rule say that we only f*ck upwards not downwards?! That has really perplexed me. Makes me wonder nina shida gani! I have done everything for this girl…paid her school fees…applied jobs for her [even did the aptitude tests] till she got one…bought her a car…gave her money [In tunes of millions] but yet she isn’t satisfied. I have even asked her and she has no answer! Yea cheating I can live with that. But all this? Disrespect afterwards…even after all my sacrifice? No. Lessons to everyone else. Don’t end up like me. A whore is a whore…No matter what. Never invest in a relationship – Moneywise. Family first, always. To my family, I love you guys. I will always do. I’m sorry. Hope you understand. And please try to forgive me. Delvine murdered me. Not by her cheating. That I could live with [I have lived with it]. It’s what she did after that I can’t bear. I wish I had lessons on how to handle this. Maybe it would be different. My will is on the table.
Accused: Anna Michalowska allegedly ripped the woman's clothes off and held her down
A woman is accused of ripping the clothes off another female and then holding her down while a friend raped her.
Konrad Gimowicz and Anna Michalowska are both accused of raping the woman after a drinking session at a home in Cardiff.
Fimowicz, 32, and Michalowska, 34, both deny two counts of rape while Michalowska also denies sexually assaulting the same woman.
Barrister Roger Griffiths told a jury at Cardiff Crown Court the prosecution case is that Michalowska "actively participated" in the rape by removing the alleged victim's clothes and encouraging Fimowicz to have sex with her.
On the first day of the trial jurors were told Michalowska, of Adamsdown, Cardiff, and the woman had been drinking vodka together when the woman fell asleep.
Trial: Konrad Fimowicz is said to have forced himself on the woman with the help of Michalowska
The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said she woke to "sex noises" and believed the defendants were having sex together.
During a video interview with police, which was played in court, the alleged victim said Michalowska became violent and began ripping her clothes off.
She claimed Michalowska pushed her down by her shoulders.
"I was trying to get her off me but she wouldn't get off. I was trying to push her away," she said.
She described how Fimowicz, from Ninian Park Road in Grangetown, began trying to force himself on her before having sex with her.
"I didn't want to do this," she said.
"I was sort of unconscious," she added.
"I think Anna was helping him do that to me. I was so unconscious and tried but I couldn't get him off me. I felt I didn't have the strength and power.”
When asked to explain what she meant by feeling "unconscious" she replied: "It felt like everything blacked out. I didn't feel normal at that time. I felt like I'd been drugged or something.”
The woman told police she believed Michalowska had been telling Fimowicz what to do.
"She was the one who took off my clothes. Why she would do this I don't know," the woman said.
She described how Fimowicz and Michalowska both left the room and went downstairs but they later returned and at that point, she alleged, Michalowska forced her to perform a sex act on Fimowicz.
The alleged victim described how Fimowicz left the room again but Michalowska remained in the room and began watching pornography.
Trial: The pair are appearing at Cardiff Crown Court
The woman said she then fell asleep but woke about 7am the following morning.
She said she did not leave at that point and went back to sleep until around noon.
In her video interview a police officer asked why she did not leave.
"I was just really tired and felt like I couldn't go back home at this time. I didn't feel like I could walk," she told the officer.
"I didn't have the strength to walk home. I felt like I needed to go back to sleep. Even walking to the toilet was a struggle.”
Before she left, the woman said, she asked Michalowska why she had woken up naked and Michalowska replied she had removed her clothes.
Mr Griffiths told the jury that in her interview Michalowska had admitted each of the acts had happened but said they were consensual.
She said the acts were part of the "sexual fun" that took place that night.
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