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Turkish authorities have detained 48 people, including Hasan Mutlu, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) mayor of Istanbul’s Bayrampaşa district, as part of a wide-ranging corruption investigation. Early morning raids were conducted at 72 locations, targeting embezzlement, bribery, and tender-rigging, Reuters reported.

Mutlu denied the allegations, describing the probe as politically motivated. This action is part of a broader, year-long crackdown on the CHP, which has already seen hundreds of party members arrested.

A court ruling expected on Monday could further impact the party’s leadership, raising concerns about the balance between democratic institutions and centralized power in Turkey, according to Reuters.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza intensified, hitting a UN school sheltering displaced families and flattening a multi-story residential building in Gaza City. Local authorities say more than 1.3m Palestinians, including 350,000 children, remain trapped in Gaza City and the north despite ongoing bombardment and evacuation orders, Al Jazeera reported.

The conflict has killed at least 64,756 Palestinians and injured more than 164,000 since October 2023, with thousands still buried under rubble. In Israel, 1,139 people were killed and about 200 taken captive during the October 7 attacks.

Amid the crisis, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met US President Donald Trump in New York following Israel’s deadly strike on Doha earlier this week. Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a resolution calling for a two-state solution, with 142 nations voting in favor and 10 against, according to Al Jazeera.

Prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday. Authorities on Friday announced the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, identified after his father recognized him in security camera images and alerted police, Reuters reported.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed the capture, calling it a turning point in the case that has gripped national attention. Kirk, 31, was a close ally of President Donald Trump and a polarizing figure whose outspoken views drew both fervent support and sharp criticism.

His widow has vowed to continue his work, while Trump ordered flags flown at half-mast in his honor. The killing has reignited debate over the rise of political violence in the United States. Governor Cox urged Americans, especially young people, to seek common ground instead of resorting to violence, according to Reuters.

US appeals court has upheld President Donald Trump’s move to end temporary legal status for about 430,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, Reuters reported. 

The 1st Circuit Court ruled that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acted within her authority when she revoked the Biden-era humanitarian parole program, overturning a lower court’s decision.

Judge Gustavo Gelpi, writing for the panel, admitted the ruling brings severe consequences for many families but stressed the law gave the secretary discretion.

Immigrant groups condemned the decision as devastating and vowed to keep fighting in court, according to BBC.

The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a declaration urging concrete steps toward a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. The motion passed with 142 votes in favor, 10 against and 12 abstentions, Reuters reported.

Drafted at a Saudi-French conference in July, the text condemns Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel while also denouncing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian crisis. It calls for an immediate ceasefire and proposes a temporary UN stabilization mission to protect civilians.

France hailed the outcome as a blow to Hamas, urging its disarmament. But the US rejected the resolution as a “misguided stunt,” while Israel dismissed it as one-sided and accused the UN of aiding terrorists instead of peace.

NATO moved to strengthen its eastern defenses on Friday after Poland shot down Russian drones that breached its airspace — the first such action by a NATO member during the Ukraine war, Reuters reported.

US called the violation “alarming” and vowed to defend alliance territory, while President Donald Trump suggested the drones may have strayed by mistake. Poland dismissed that, saying Moscow was testing NATO’s response, and urged Washington to show clear solidarity.

NATO chief Mark Rutte condemned the incursions as “reckless and unacceptable” and announced Operation Eastern Sentry, a mission deploying additional fighter jets, ships, and air policing across the alliance’s eastern flank. Denmark, France, Germany, Britain, and Spain are among contributors.

Russia denied targeting Poland, insisting its drones could not have reached Polish territory. Germany and France summoned Russian envoys, while Trump said his patience with Vladimir Putin was “running out fast,” though he held back on new sanctions, according to Reuters.

A new UN report warns that North Korea is increasingly using the death penalty, including against citizens caught watching or sharing foreign films and TV dramas. The regime has also expanded forced labour and tightened control over daily life, aided by modern surveillance technologies, according to BBC.

Based on interviews with over 300 escapees from the past decade, the report finds public executions are used to instil fear, food shortages are widespread, and informal markets that helped families survive have been restricted. Political prison camps remain operational, with detainees facing torture, malnutrition, and death, though minor improvements in guard violence were noted.

Since Kim Jong Un shifted focus from diplomacy to nuclear weapons in 2019, living conditions have worsened, and attempts to escape the country are heavily restricted. Forced labour now includes children and orphans in hazardous work, often glorified as sacrifices to the regime, BBC reported.

The UN urges North Korea to abolish political prison camps, end the death penalty, and promote human rights education. UN High Commissioner Volker Turk highlighted the strong desire for change, especially among young North Koreans, and called for international action despite repeated blocks by China and Russia at the UN Security Council.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met US President Donald Trump in New York after Israel’s strike on Doha killed a Qatari security officer and five Hamas members. The group had been discussing Trump’s proposed Gaza ceasefire plan, Al Jazeera reported.

Before the dinner meeting, Sheikh Mohammed spoke with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the attack and US-Qatar security ties. Washington considers Qatar, host of the Al Udeid airbase, a key Gulf partner.

Trump said he was “very unhappy” with Israel’s move, calling it an attempt to derail ceasefire talks. According to Al Jazeera, his meeting with Sheikh Mohammed is expected to focus on the strike and ways to push forward efforts to end the Gaza war.