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Israel escalates bombardment as defence minister says ‘Gaza is burning’

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Israel escalates bombardment as defence minister says ‘Gaza is burning’

Israel has heavily bombed Gaza City overnight with unconfirmed reports from the US news site Axios and the Jerusalem Post that the military has now launched its ground offensive to occupy the entire city.

Israeli strikes are also reported in central Gaza, in the direction in which thousands of people are fleeing. Palestinian officials say there are rising numbers of deaths and injuries.

The intensification came ahead of a long-threatened full-scale ground invasion of the city, which is home to hundreds of thousands of people.

It came hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of unwavering US support during a trip to Jerusalem on Monday.

Early on Tuesday morning, Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, wrote on X, “Gaza is burning” and threatened that Israel, “will not relent and we will not go back – until the completion of the mission.”

Local journalists in Gaza say there have been almost constant Israeli air strikes and artillery and gunfire in Gaza City. Homes are said to have been destroyed, with people trapped in the rubble. There has been no official confirmation of a new ground incursion from the Israeli military.

Israel has demanded that Gaza City’s residents leave and head south to a central area of the strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimate about 250,000 Palestinians have fled, though hundreds of thousands are believed to remain in the area.

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Some say they cannot afford to go south, while others say southern Gaza is not safe as Israel has carried out air strikes there too. Some have said they attempted to go south but were unable to pitch their tents, so returned to Gaza City.

Rubio meanwhile was heading to visit Qatar next, where Arab leaders on Monday condemned Israel’s attack last week on the capital Doha targeting, but reportedly failing to kill, Hamas leaders.

Speaking from the tarmac at Ben Gurion airport, Rubio said Qatar was still the only country able to mediate on Gaza. Pressed by the BBC on the condemnation of Israel from Arab and Muslim countries in Doha on Monday, he said the US prefers that war ends in a negotiated settlement and hoped partners in the region “stay engaged”.

Rubio also said that there was “a very short window” in which a deal on Gaza could be made, Reuters and AFP reported. He added that Hamas had to “cease to exist as an armed group”.

In Israel, hostage families camped outside the Israeli prime minister’s house overnight because they believe the current military strategy is putting their loved ones in danger. Some 48 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza with 20 believed to be alive.

The escalation in bombardment on Gaza also comes after Netanyahu refused to rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders abroad despite international criticism of the attack on Qatar.

Days earlier the White House said Trump had assured Qatar “that such a thing will not happen again on their soil” – an assertion that he repeated on Monday night.

Qatar hosts a major US airbase and has played a key role in brokering diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza, serving as a mediator of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel. It has hosted the Hamas political bureau since 2012.

As Rubio and Netanyahu met, leaders of Arab and Islamic countries were lining up in Qatar to denounce Israel over its mounting offensive in Gaza City and last week’s strike in Doha.

Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

More than 64,500 people have been killed by Israel during its campaign since then – almost half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

With famine having already been declared in the area by a UN-backed body, the UN has warmed an intensification of the offensive will push civilians into “even deeper catastrophe”.

Israel escalates bombardment as defence minister says ‘Gaza is burning’

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Trump Rules Out Ceasefire Extension With Iran

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US President Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump

Trump Rules Out Ceasefire Extension With Iran

US President Donald Trump has ruled out extending the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran beyond its current deadline, warning that failure in ongoing negotiations could lead to renewed military confrontation.

Speaking in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box, Trump said he was not in favour of prolonging the truce, stressing that both sides must move quickly to reach a binding agreement.

“I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time,” he said, indicating that the situation remains time-sensitive as diplomatic talks continue under pressure.

The ceasefire, which is expected to expire on Wednesday evening, has temporarily eased tensions between Washington and Tehran, allowing both sides to regroup following weeks of heightened conflict and military escalation concerns.

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Trump noted that both countries had used the pause to “restock,” describing the truce as fragile and warning that it could collapse if negotiations fail to produce results.

He further suggested that the breakdown of talks could trigger a return to military operations, stating that he “expects bombing” to resume if diplomacy fails. According to him, the U.S. military remains fully prepared for any required action.

“I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” he said, defending a strong negotiating posture.

The president also reiterated earlier warnings about targeting Iranian infrastructure, including strategic facilities such as transport routes and power installations, arguing that such measures would weaken Iran’s military logistics and operational capacity.

Despite his hardline position, Trump acknowledged that Iran’s population is “incredible,” while describing its leadership as resistant to compromise. He insisted that a negotiated deal could still allow Iran to “become a strong nation again” if it agrees to terms acceptable to Washington.

The comments come as senior U.S. officials prepare for further diplomatic engagements, with Vice President JD Vance expected to participate in upcoming discussions aimed at extending the ceasefire and reducing tensions in the region.

Trump also criticised Iran’s internal handling of unrest, referencing reports of violent crackdowns on protests, which he said further complicate efforts toward lasting peace.

The latest remarks highlight continued uncertainty surrounding the U.S.–Iran ceasefire negotiations, with global observers closely watching whether diplomacy or renewed conflict will define the next phase of relations between both countries.

Trump Rules Out Ceasefire Extension With Iran

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Man Gets Three Life Sentences for Killing Couple, Drowning Their 1-Year-Old Son in US

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Jose Luis Rodriguez and the victims
Jose Luis Rodriguez and the victims

Man Gets Three Life Sentences for Killing Couple, Drowning Their 1-Year-Old Son in US

A man in the United States has been sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison after pleading guilty to the brutal killing of a couple and their 1-year-old son in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The convict, identified as Jose Luis Rodriguez, admitted to three counts of first-degree murder, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said the case began on September 13, 2025, when 31-year-old Junior Cabrera-Colon was found shot dead. Days later, authorities discovered that his wife, Geraldina Peguero-Mancebo, and their infant son, Jeyden Peguero, were missing, triggering a wider investigation.

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A week after the discovery of Cabrera-Colon’s body, police located the bodies of the missing mother and child in a wooded area. Prosecutors revealed that the toddler was found “partially submerged in a marshy area,” a detail that shocked investigators and the local community.

During court proceedings, prosecutors said Rodriguez confessed to killing all three victims. He allegedly picked up Peguero-Mancebo and her son, shot the woman, drowned the child, and later killed Cabrera-Colon.

The prosecution described the killings as premeditated and deliberate, stating that each act was carried out with intent and malice.

According to court records and reports by local media, Rodriguez claimed he had a personal relationship with Peguero-Mancebo and referenced financial disputes as a possible motive behind the killings.

The sentencing judge handed down three consecutive life sentences without parole, effectively ensuring Rodriguez will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Family members of the victims described the outcome as painful but necessary for closure, with relatives expressing gratitude that the case has reached a conclusion after months of emotional distress.

The case has drawn widespread attention in Pennsylvania due to its violent nature and the involvement of a young child, with prosecutors calling it one of the most disturbing family-related homicide cases in the region in recent years.

Man Gets Three Life Sentences for Killing Couple, Drowning Their 1-Year-Old Son in US

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US Singer D4vd Faces Murder Charges Over Teen’s Death in Los Angeles

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American singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke
American singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke

US Singer D4vd Faces Murder Charges Over Teen’s Death in Los Angeles

American singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, has been charged in connection with the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, in a case that prosecutors have described as one of the most serious and disturbing in recent years.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, led by District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman, confirmed that the 21-year-old faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a minor, and mutilation of human remains.

According to investigators, the teenager was last seen on April 23, 2025, after visiting Burke at his residence in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles. She was reported missing shortly after she failed to return home.

Months later, on September 8, 2025, authorities made a gruesome discovery when her decomposed and dismembered remains were found inside the front trunk of a Tesla vehicle linked to the singer. Police reportedly traced the vehicle after receiving complaints about a strong odour, leading to the recovery of body parts stored in a cadaver bag.

Prosecutors say the case includes several special circumstance allegations, such as murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. They also allege that Burke used a sharp instrument to carry out the killing.

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“This is a parent’s nightmare,” Hochman said during a press briefing, describing the case as “brutal and horrific.” He added that the charges represent the most severe offences his office can prosecute.

Jim McDonnell, chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, stated that authorities remain committed to ensuring justice for the victim and her family.

Burke was arrested on April 16, 2026, and is currently being held without bail. He is expected to be arraigned at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

If convicted, he faces either the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole, although prosecutors have yet to decide whether capital punishment will be pursued.

The singer’s legal team, led by Blair Berk, alongside Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, has denied all allegations. In a statement, they said evidence will show that Burke “did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and was not the cause of her death.”

The case has already had major consequences for Burke’s career. He cancelled his planned “D4VD Withered” world tour and was dropped from brand partnerships with Hollister Co. and Crocs.

D4vd rose to prominence in 2022 with his hit Here With Me and later released Romantic Homicide, a track whose title he previously described as metaphorical rather than literal.

The case remains ongoing, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

US Singer D4vd Faces Murder Charges Over Teen’s Death in Los Angeles

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