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The US military carried out a strike on a Venezuelan vessel linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, killing 11 people. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, sharing a video on Truth Social showing the boat exploding at sea, according to Reuters.

The Pentagon has not disclosed details on the type or quantity of drugs involved. Human rights advocates have questioned the legality and proportionality of the strike, while Venezuela’s government disputed the video’s authenticity, though Reuters found no evidence of manipulation.

This marks the first military action since the US increased its naval presence in the southern Caribbean, deploying at least seven warships and a nuclear submarine to combat narcotics trafficking. The escalation comes amid heightened tensions, as the US recently raised its reward for information leading to President Nicolas Maduro’s arrest to $50m, Reuters reported.

A bomb exploded at a rally in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, killing 11 people and injuring around 30. The event marked the anniversary of nationalist leader Sardar Ataullah Mengal. His son, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, who attended the rally, was unharmed.

The explosion occurred in a parking area as attendees were leaving, and authorities suspect a suicide attack. No group has claimed responsibility. Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, has a history of unrest involving Islamist militants and separatist insurgents. Investigations are ongoing, according to Reuters.

President Donald Trump has dismissed recent rumors about his health as “fake,” emphasizing his active schedule over the Labor Day weekend, including media interviews and a visit to his Virginia golf course. The speculation followed his brief absence from public events and comments from Vice President JD Vance, who affirmed confidence in Trump’s health but noted readiness to assume leadership if needed, Reuters reported.

Trump, 79, had a full physical in April showing no major issues. Doctors attributed minor leg swelling and hand bruising to age-related conditions and routine factors, which the White House described as not serious.

President Xi Jinping oversaw China’s largest military parade in Tiananmen Square, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. Before a crowd of more than 50,000, Xi warned the world stands at a crossroads of “peace or war,” urging dialogue over confrontation.

The parade showcased China’s expanding military power, featuring hypersonic missiles, advanced drones, fighter jets and other cutting-edge weapons. The event underscored Beijing’s drive to project strength on the global stage, according to Reuters.

Xi was joined by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, highlighting closer ties among leaders who share growing tensions with the West. Analysts said the gathering was as much a geopolitical statement as a display of force.

President Donald Trump has downplayed fears of closer ties between China, Russia and North Korea, saying Beijing “needs us more than we need them” and stressing his strong rapport with President Xi Jinping. He rejected claims the bloc is forming an alliance against the US, adding that America’s military power remains unmatched, BBC reported.

Trump voiced disappointment with Vladimir Putin after their Alaska meeting failed to secure a peace deal for Ukraine, hinting at new US steps to support Ukrainians but offering no specifics.

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned of fresh Russian troop buildups along the frontline, accusing Putin of resisting peace efforts. China has faced Western criticism for buying Russian oil and supplying dual-use goods, though it denies aiding Moscow’s war.

US House Committee has released over 33,000 pages of documents from the federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, including flight logs, court records, emails, audio, and jail surveillance footage, BBC reported.

Chairman James Comer, who subpoenaed the Justice Department for the files, admitted they offer little new information. Democrats said nearly all the material was already public, with no evidence of a “client list.” The only fresh detail was customs records of Epstein’s flights to and from his private island.

The files include extended jail video from the night of Epstein’s 2019 death, but the unexplained “missing minute” remains unresolved. Other records feature blurred victim interviews and police searches of his Florida home.

Lawmakers from both parties continue to press for full transparency. A bipartisan bill seeks to force the Justice Department to release all Epstein files within 30 days. Survivors, who met privately with congressional leaders, will join lawmakers at a press conference on Capitol Hill this week, according to BBC.

The UK’s National Audit Office (NAO) says the Ministry of Defence (MoD) cannot accurately calculate the cost of a secret Afghan relocation scheme set up after a major data breach, BBC reported.

The MoD estimates the bill at £850m, but the NAO found no clear evidence to support this, noting costs were mixed in with wider resettlement spending. Legal fees and compensation are also excluded.

The 2022 leak exposed details of nearly 19,000 Afghans who aided British forces, leading to the creation of the Afghanistan Response Route in 2024 to resettle 7,000 more people. Overall costs are forecast to exceed £2bn.

The MoD said it remains committed to transparency and to honouring its obligations to Afghans who stood with the UK, according to BBC.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, emphasizing the importance of Pakistan as a “traditional partner” in Asia, Firstpost reported.

The leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. Sharif highlighted a proposed trade corridor linking Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, aimed at boosting regional prosperity.

Both sides stressed continued dialogue to foster mutual growth and stability. Putin invited Sharif to the next SCO summit in Russia this November, an invitation the Pakistani Prime Minister welcomed.

The meeting marks a key step toward a more robust and multifaceted partnership between Pakistan and Russia, according to Firstpost.