Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of using North Korean ballistic missiles in recent strikes on Ukraine, saying Moscow increasingly depends on Pyongyang for military support. Zelensky did not provide evidence for the claim. Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia killed 7 people and injured at least 24, while attacks also hit Kyiv, Sumy, Kherson and Kharkiv. Russia also faced Ukrainian drone strikes, including an attack on Wildberries facilities in Voronezh. The latest escalation comes after deadly Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s Tatarstan region. Both sides continue to launch overnight drone and missile attacks as the war continues. (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump’s secret departure from Turkey has revived memories of a similar security deception used by Bill Clinton during his 2000 Pakistan visit. Trump was reportedly moved from a presidential Boeing 747 to a smaller C-32A military aircraft using an airport catering truck, following an alleged Iranian assassination threat. The larger aircraft remained as a decoy while reporters aboard apparently believed Trump was still travelling with them. Clinton’s 2000 operation also involved a decoy Air Force One, but a White House reporter had been briefed about the plan beforehand. The key difference was how the press pool was informed. (PC: India Today)

Lebanon’s parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty, a move that could make the country the first in the Middle East to formally end capital punishment. A majority of lawmakers in the 128-seat parliament supported the legislation, while Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc opposed it. The bill will now go to the cabinet before being sent to President Joseph Aoun for approval. Lebanon has not carried out an execution since 2004, although courts have continued to issue death sentences. Under the proposed law, capital punishment would be replaced with life imprisonment with hard labour. Rights groups welcomed the move after decades of campaigning. (PC: BBC)

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)