Morning Brief: Kim Jong Un Heads to Beijing to Join Xi and Putin at Military Parade, Gaza Aid Flotilla Departs Barcelona Again After Weather Delay

· Guy D. McCardle

Kim Jong Un arrives in Beijing by train to attend China’s Largest Military Parade. (KCNA/X)

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Workers filled the streets on Labor Day, demanding higher wages and railing against Trump. In Florida, the man accused of trying to assassinate Trump heads to court, determined to represent himself. The US locks in more drones and a missile system in Japan as tensions rise in the Pacific. A Gaza aid flotilla sets sail again from Barcelona while Ukraine’s drones hit Russia’s Rostov region. France prepares security talks for Kyiv as EU defense spending surges. All eyes turn to Beijing, where Xi readies the biggest military parade yet with Putin and Kim at his side. Vietnam celebrates independence with its largest parade in decades, Indonesia’s protests intensify, and Sydney dockworkers face charges after a massive cocaine bust.

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Labor Day Protests Across US Target Trump and Demand Living Wage

Protesters marched in several US cities on Labor Day, calling for higher wages and criticizing President Donald Trump.

Demonstrations in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and other cities featured chants of “Trump must go now” and demands for a living wage above the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour.

Organized by One Fair Wage and joined by labor groups, the rallies also focused on immigrant rights and opposition to what protesters described as a “billionaire takeover.”

In Chicago, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss urged crowds to defend workers and democracy, while in Seattle, King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda emphasized that workers should hold more power than the wealthy elite.

The events drew large, diverse crowds, with signs denouncing militarization, anti-immigrant policies, and economic inequality.

 

Man Accused of Trump Assassination Attempt to Represent Himself at Trial

Ryan Routh, a 59-year-old accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, will represent himself at a pretrial conference Tuesday in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Prosecutors say Routh spent weeks planning to kill Trump before aiming a rifle at him as he played golf on September 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach.

A Secret Service agent spotted Routh, who then aimed at the agent before being fired upon and fleeing without firing a shot. He was later arrested with the help of a witness.

Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and firearms violations.

A North Carolina native with a history of criminal activity, Routh also faces state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

 

US to Station MQ-9 Reapers in Okinawa Indefinitely, Deploy Typhon Missile System for Japan Exercise

The US Marine Corps will indefinitely station six MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drones at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan’s Ministry of Defense announced.

The drones, operated by Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3, have been in Okinawa since August 2024 under a US-Japan agreement to expand intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) cooperation.

Officials said the extension reflects the need to monitor regional activities by Russia, China, and North Korea. The drones will remain unarmed and used solely for ISR missions.

Separately, the US Army will temporarily deploy a Typhon missile system to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni during Exercise Resolute Dragon 2025, running September 11-25. The deployment, the first of its kind in Japan, will involve anti-ship drills but no live missile firing.

Japanese officials confirmed the system will leave after the exercise and will not be permanently based in the country.

The exercise spans multiple regions of Japan, testing interoperability and deterrence capabilities amid growing security challenges in the East China Sea and surrounding areas.

 

Gaza Aid Flotilla Departs Barcelona Again After Weather Delay

The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona on Monday evening, a day after stormy weather forced the activist-led mission to turn back shortly after its initial departure.

Organizers said around 20 vessels with participants from 44 countries are taking part, with more boats expected to join from across the Mediterranean, making it the largest attempt yet to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau are among those on board, with public support from actress Susan Sarandon and actor Liam Cunningham.

The mission comes as Israel intensifies its offensive in Gaza City and restricts food deliveries, with aid groups warning of famine.

Past flotillas have been intercepted by Israeli forces, and organizers expect similar attempts to block this convoy.

 

Over 300 Evacuated After Ukrainian Drone Attack Hits Rostov Region

More than 300 residents were evacuated overnight in Rostov-on-Don after a Ukrainian drone attack damaged several apartment buildings, regional officials said Tuesday.

Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that air defenses destroyed 13 drones over the Rostov region but did not specify how many were launched.

An unexploded shell was found in one apartment, prompting the evacuation of 320 people. Three people, including a child, suffered minor injuries.

Residents were relocated to a local school while bomb disposal teams worked at the site.

Kyiv has not commented on the incident, and both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians.

 

France to Host Security Talks on Post-War Ukraine Amid Russia’s Refusal to Negotiate

France will host a largely virtual meeting Thursday with about 30 countries to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine once a peace agreement with Russia is reached, the French presidency said.

The session, building on talks in Washington last month, will assess military planning and underscore Moscow’s refusal to negotiate.

The coalition of willing nations, led by France and Britain since February, has been working on plans for training, equipping, and financing Ukraine’s military, as well as creating a potential reassurance force and support units in neighboring states.

Progress has stalled as many governments say any European role depends on US security backing, which the Trump administration has not committed to despite recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend in Paris, thanking President Emmanuel Macron for his support and urging stronger positions against Russia.

The coalition includes mostly European Union members, plus Turkey, Canada, and Australia.

 

European Union Defense Spending Hits Record €343 Billion in 2024, Surpassing China and Russia

The European Union spent 343 billion euros ($402 billion) on defense in 2024, a record high and 19 percent increase from the previous year, according to the European Defense Agency.

Spending is expected to rise further to 381 billion euros ($446 billion) in 2025. The bloc’s defense budget now exceeds China’s by 1.5 times and is more than triple Russia’s, though still behind the United States.

Investment in equipment and research accounted for 31 percent of total spending, with equipment purchases up 39 percent and R&D up 20 percent year over year.

Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania led in defense spending relative to GDP, with Poland near 4 percent.

The surge reflects rising budgets across nearly all member states, driven by security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said Europe must make defense a priority, stressing the need for cross-border cooperation in procurement and research to strengthen collective security.

 

Xi to Host China’s Largest Military Parade with Putin and Kim in Show of Power

Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over the country’s largest-ever military parade on September 3 in Beijing, marking 80 years since Japan’s World War II surrender.

The event, featuring advanced weapons such as hypersonic missiles and drones, will showcase China’s military strength and growing diplomatic influence.

More than 20 world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, are attending, highlighting what analysts call Beijing’s effort to position itself as leader of a post-US international order.

For Kim, it is his first major multilateral appearance and the first time a North Korean leader has joined a Chinese military parade in 66 years.

Leaders from Central Asia, West Asia, and Southeast Asia are also present, though Slovakia’s Robert Fico and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic are the only Western attendees.

The parade, part of what observers describe as a “memory war” against Western narratives of WWII, comes as China enforces heavy security measures in Beijing and spends an estimated $5 billion on the display.

 

Xi and Putin Hail ‘Unprecedented’ Ties Ahead of Beijing Military Parade

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin as an “old friend” Tuesday as they began a series of meetings in Beijing, underscoring deepening ties between the two countries amid shared tensions with the United States.

Putin described relations as being at an “unprecedentedly high level.” Their talks follow the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin and precede a major Chinese military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

China maintains it is neutral in the Ukraine war but continues trade with Russia despite Western sanctions.

Both leaders also held a trilateral meeting with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, emphasizing regional cooperation. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi met separately with Xi and Putin during the SCO summit but will not attend the parade.

 

Kim Jong Un Heads to Beijing to Join Xi and Putin at Military Parade

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled by train to Beijing on Tuesday to attend a Chinese military parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean state media reported.

The event, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, marks Kim’s first participation in a major multilateral gathering during his 14 years in power and the first time all three leaders will appear together at the same venue.

South Korean intelligence said Kim is expected to receive protocol equal to Putin’s and may stand with Xi and Putin at Tiananmen Square. Bilateral meetings with both leaders are likely, with a potential trilateral session under consideration.

Kim, who has strengthened ties with Russia by sending troops and ammunition for the Ukraine war, is also seeking to restore relations with China, North Korea’s main trading partner. His visit underscores efforts to expand diplomatic influence and position North Korea within a united front against the US.

 

Vietnam Stages Largest Military Parade in Decades to Mark 80 Years of Independence

Vietnam celebrated its National Day on Tuesday with its biggest military parade in decades, drawing massive crowds to Hanoi’s Ba Dinh Square, where Ho Chi Minh declared independence in 1945.

Nearly 16,000 troops marched alongside tanks, missile systems, artillery, and aircraft, while a separate naval parade featuring warships and submarines was held off Cam Ranh.

Honor guards from China, Russia, Laos, and Cambodia also participated, highlighting Vietnam’s international ties.

Communist Party leader To Lam paid tribute to those who fought for independence and reaffirmed the goal of building a “powerful, prosperous and happy nation” by 2045.


The event, widely shared on social media, underscored national pride and Vietnam’s transformation into a fast-growing manufacturing hub, even as it faces challenges balancing economic growth, demographic change, climate risks, and sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea.

 

Indonesian Police Fire Tear Gas at Bandung Campuses as Protests Spread Nationwide

Indonesian police fired tear gas near two universities in Bandung on Tuesday as nationwide protests against government spending and inequality entered their second week.

The demonstrations, which began in Jakarta over lawmakers’ perks, have turned violent, causing looting, $3.4 million in damage, and at least eight deaths.

Authorities said they targeted non-student protesters seeking refuge on campuses, but student groups accused security forces of attacking university grounds, traditionally seen as safe zones for dissent.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, facing his first major test in office, met labor unions demanding wage hikes and labor reforms while warning against violent escalation.

Police have detained more than 1,200 people, including a legal aid director accused of inciting riots.

Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and the United Nations, condemned the security response and called for investigations into alleged abuses.

 

Three Sydney Dockworkers Charged Over $107 Million Cocaine Shipment

Australian authorities charged three Sydney dockworkers after 506 kilograms (1,116 pounds) of cocaine worth more than AU$164 million ($107 million) was found hidden in a shipping container on the city’s waterfront.

The men, aged 25, 38, and 42, were arrested by a multi-agency strike team targeting insider smuggling operations.

Police also seized AU$330,000 ($216,240) in suspected crime proceeds. Two of the accused were forklift drivers for a global shipping and logistics company. The container arrived from Europe, though the cocaine’s source remains under investigation.

The men face potential life sentences if convicted and are due back in court on October 29.

 

Sources: News Agencies