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Twelve Pakistani soldiers were killed on Saturday when militants ambushed a military convoy in South Waziristan near the Afghan border, Reuters reported.

The army said 13 militants were also killed in the ensuing clash, while four others were injured. Helicopters were later deployed to evacuate the wounded.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility, saying its fighters seized weapons and drones. Islamabad accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering the group, an allegation Kabul denies.

Militant violence in Pakistan has surged since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, according to Reuters.

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.