US President Donald Trump reportedly made a secret plane switch after leaving a NATO summit in Turkey last month. According to US media reports, Trump boarded Air Force One in front of cameras before being moved to a smaller military aircraft. A catering truck was reportedly used to hide the transfer. The move came after US intelligence detected a possible Iranian missile threat against his plane. Journalists and some White House staff on Air Force One were reportedly unaware of the switch. Trump later returned to the presidential jet in the UK. The White House has not confirmed the reported operation but said security measures protect the president.

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia’s coffee-growing heartland on Monday, killing 224 people and leaving more than 3,000 missing, while over 900 were injured. More than 1,500 homes were damaged or destroyed, with deaths concentrated in Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo. Rescue operations entered a second day as emergency teams searched collapsed buildings using excavators and bare hands. Cali reported at least 85 deaths, while Pereira recorded 66. Parts of a hospital in Cali collapsed, trapping patients and forcing around 600 people to receive treatment outdoors. Tremors were also felt in Venezuela. The disaster has revived memories of the devastating 1999 earthquake, which killed more than 1,000 people in the region.

The UK Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into the Al-Khair Foundation following allegations that the prominent Muslim-registered charity and some of its partners may have links to Hamas. The regulator said it received a complaint last month alleging connections to Hamas and possible funding for the group. The commission initially assessed the concerns and gathered additional information before escalating the matter to a formal investigation. The development follows the arrest of a senior figure in a US terror-related case, raising further scrutiny around the charity. The inquiry will examine the allegations and the organisation’s activities and partnerships. The claims remain allegations, and the Charity Commission’s investigation is ongoing. (PC: Times Now)

Baloch separatist leader Mir Yar Baloch called on the international community to recognise what he described as the “Republic of Balochistan” as an independent country, as supporters marked August 11 as Balochistan’s Independence Day. In a message on X, he urged countries and international organisations to stop referring to Balochistan as a province of Pakistan and thanked media, Indian outlets, researchers and think tanks for highlighting the issue. The group claimed Balochistan declared independence on August 11, 1947, and said its campaign seeks international recognition. It outlined plans for foreign policy, defence, currency, passports and diplomatic missions. Pakistan and the international community do not recognise the claim. Security allegations remain unverified. (PC: AFP)

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake has killed at least 132 people in western Colombia, with rescuers racing to find survivors trapped under collapsed buildings. Cali and Pereira are among the worst-hit areas, while the remote Choco region is also facing heavy damage. Authorities said around 1,600 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, while more than 700 people were injured in Valle del Cauca alone. Over 2,700 people were reported missing on citizen-run websites, although the figure has not been officially confirmed. Soldiers, firefighters, volunteers and search dogs are working through the rubble as authorities warn the death toll could rise. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Former Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has been sentenced to death in absentia by a Syrian court over charges linked to war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country’s long civil war. His brother Maher Al-Assad and cousin Atef Najib were also sentenced to death in the same case. The court accused Najib of involvement in the deadly crackdown in Daraa in 2011, including torture and the killing of children. Bashar Al-Assad fled Syria for Moscow in December 2024 after opposition forces captured Damascus and ended his rule. The verdict marks the first major trial of former government figures under Syria’s transitional authorities. (PC: NDTV)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of using North Korean ballistic missiles in a deadly overnight attack on Zaporizhzhia. At least 6 people were killed and 19 injured, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes also damaged industrial facilities, infrastructure and civilian buildings. Kyiv said Russia launched about 120 drones along with several types of missiles across Ukraine. One person was injured in Kyiv, while strikes caused damage and power outages in Kherson and Kharkiv. The attacks came a day after Ukrainian drones killed at least 13 people in Russia’s Tatarstan region. Zelensky warned that growing North Korean military support for Moscow poses a wider security threat. (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump reportedly made a secret plane switch after leaving a NATO summit in Turkey last month amid a potential Iranian threat. According to US media reports, Trump boarded the old Air Force One in front of cameras before secretly being moved to a smaller C-32A military aircraft using a catering truck. Journalists and some White House staff reportedly remained unaware of the switch. Officials told CBS News that US intelligence had detected a credible Iranian threat against the aircraft, though the White House has not confirmed the report. Trump had earlier described himself as Iran’s “number one” target. (PC: BBC)

Iran has said it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States ends its naval blockade of Iranian ports, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said. Tehran is demanding that Washington lift the blockade, compensate Iran for months of war-related damage, remove economic sanctions and release Iranian assets frozen abroad. The demands come amid ongoing efforts to resolve the standoff over the strategically important waterway. Iran’s position could prolong uncertainty surrounding shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy supplies. Tehran has tied any reopening to concessions from Washington, making the blockade, sanctions relief, compensation and frozen assets key issues in negotiations between the two sides.

US President Donald Trump secretly flew from Turkey to Britain on an Air Force C-32A after an Iranian assassination threat, The Washington Post reported. Trump had arrived in Ankara aboard a newly renovated Boeing 747 donated by Qatar for the NATO summit but publicly boarded an older Air Force One before being secretly moved by an airport catering truck to the smaller aircraft. The older Air Force One, carrying journalists who believed Trump was aboard, reportedly served as a decoy. The C-32A carrying Trump arrived in Britain around 10:20 p.m., while the older Air Force One landed minutes later. The White House said Trump faces threats from America’s enemies and security measures were used to protect him.