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President Donald Trump has confirmed that he secretly swapped planes as he left a Nato summit in Turkey last month due to a possible threat.

“I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go in a different flight, different plane,” Trump told reporters. “I just have to do what they say.”

The revelation comes after reports that Trump boarded Air Force One on 8 July in view of television cameras, before hiding in a catering truck to be transported to a military aircraft.

The last-minute switch has raised questions about whether those left on the decoy plane were in danger, but Trump said on Tuesday the jet he boarded instead could have been at “greater risk… because that would be the plane, I think, that they would be more likely to go for.”

Officials told the BBC’s US partner CBS News that the US had detected a credible Iranian threat to fire a missile at the plane. The New York Time

மக்களவை தொகுதிகளின் எண்ணிக்கை 543 என்றே தொடரவேண்டும் என மத்திய அரசை வலியுறுத்தும் தீர்மானத்தை முதலமைச்சர் விஜய் சட்டப்பேரவையில் தாக்கல் செய்தார்.

Today (Aug. 12) marks World Elephant Day.

The day is observed to raise awareness of the conservation and protection of elephants worldwide.

The day was officially designated in 2012 to highlight the urgent challenges facing Asian and African elephants, including illegal poaching, habitat loss and the welfare of captive elephants.

More than 100 countries have since recognised and observed World Elephant Day.

According to the IUCN Red List, Asian elephants have been classified as endangered since 1986.

Globally, an estimated 400,000 African elephants and nearly 50,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild.

Sri Lanka is home to approximately 7,500 wild Asian elephants.

However, the situation for elephants in Sri Lanka remains dire.

The recent death of the tame elephant “Randeniya Bandara”, which sustained fatal injuries after being struck by a sand transport lorry in the Omaragolla area of Melsiripura on

Traffic restrictions will be imposed on several roads from Aug. 13 – 15 in connection with the annual Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya Esala Maha Perahera in Boralesgamuwa Police Division, police said.

Motorists have been advised to use alternative routes during procession hours to avoid delays

.Pawada Perahera – Aug. 13

The first traffic restriction will be imposed tomorrow (Aug. 13) from 7.00 a.m. to around 10.00 a.m.

During this period, traffic along Route 119 (Maharagama–Dehiwala) between Boralesgamuwa Junction and Bellanthara Junction will be restricted.

Vehicles travelling from Maharagama or Piliyandala towards Dehiwala can use Pepiliyana Junction, turn left towards Bellanthara via the Spar Roundabout and continue through Nedimala.

Vehicles travelling from Werahera Junction towards Boral

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s former private secretary, Sugeeshwara Bandara, was brought before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court by prison officials a short while ago.

Bandara has been in remand custody since June 18, and the case relating to the incident is scheduled to be taken up today (Aug. 12).

Gunshots have been fired today morning (Aug. 12) at a house belonging to a fisheries boat owner in the Kudawella area of Tangalle, police said.

According to police, two persons on a motorcycle had opened fire at the house before fleeing the scene.

The shooting was carried out using a 9mm firearm, police said.

No injuries have been reported in the incident.

The Kap Planting ceremony of the historic Sri Dalada Maligawa Esala Perahera will be held at an auspicious time tomorrow (Aug. 13), Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela announced.

He made this announcement at a meeting held yesterday at the Sri Dalada Maligawa premises to discuss coordination and security arrangements for the Perahera.

The 2026 Kandy Esala Perahera is scheduled to be held in Kandy from Aug. 18 to 28.

Accordingly, at 6.17 a.m. tomorrow, a branch of the sacred ‘Panasa’ (jack) tree, prepared according to ancient traditions and positioned facing the North, will be taken to the Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini Devalayas in Kandy for the traditional Kap Planting ceremony.

The Kap Planting ceremony, conducted according to ancient customs, marks the beginning of the religious and cultural rituals of the Kandy Esala Perahera.

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has married his longtime partner – model and influencer Georgina Rodríguez – in a civil ceremony in Portugal.

The Portuguese striker posted an image on his Instagram account showing two hands – presumed to be his on top of his wife’s – both wearing wedding rings.

Calling it the wedding of the year, Portuguese media say the couple tied the knot on 11 August in the coastal town of Cascais near Lisbon – and that their five children attended.

The Instagram entry had more than 3m likes within 30 minutes of being posted.

The couple have been together for 10 years, after they met at a Gucci shop in Madrid where Rodríguez was working. He was playing at the Spanish club Real Madrid at the time.

They announced their engagement on 11 August last year.

At the time, Rodríguez posted a picture of a large ring, writing “Yes I do. In this and in all my lives