A catastrophic derailment occurred on September 3, 2025, when Lisbon’s iconic Elevador da Glória funicular—a national monument and tourist favorite—veered off course, crashing into a building around 6 p.m. Fifteen people were killed, and eighteen were injured, with five in critical condition and a child among the casualties. Emergency crews extracted all victims within two hours. Preliminary reports point to a loose cable as the likely cause; the operator Carris affirmed that scheduled maintenance had been performed. The government declared a national day of mourning, and an investigation into the incident has been launched. (PC: AP)  

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 3, 2025, that he would be willing to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—but only if Zelenskyy travels to Moscow. Speaking in Beijing after a Victory Day parade, Putin stated he "never ruled out" such a meeting but questioned, "is there any point?" and insisted it be “well prepared” with concrete results. He stressed Ukraine must lift martial law, hold elections, and conduct a territorial referendum first. Ukraine’s foreign minister rejected Moscow as a venue, saying seven neutral countries have already offered locations. (PC: AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia will achieve its goals in Ukraine through military action if no deal is reached. Speaking in China after a military parade, Putin said he welcomed dialogue but stressed Russia would not give up Donbas. He repeated demands for Ukraine to drop NATO plans and end alleged discrimination against ethnic Russians. US President Donald Trump recently urged him to consider peace, but Putin rejected a ceasefire. UK Defence Secretary John Healey said allies will increase aid and pressure on Moscow. Russia launched 500 drones and 24 missiles on Ukraine overnight. (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump said the military struck a drug-carrying boat in the southern Caribbean, killing 11 alleged “narcoterrorists.” The vessel, linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, was reportedly transporting drugs to the US. Trump shared a video of the boat bursting into flames, though Venezuelan officials claimed it was fake. US officials confirmed no American troops were hurt. Trump warned others against smuggling drugs, saying, “Beware.” The strike follows rising US pressure on President Nicolás Maduro, including a $50 million reward for his arrest. Venezuela condemned the action, accusing Washington of aggression and threatening strong retaliation. (PC: BBC)

At Beijing’s military parade on September 3, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of WWII’s end, China unveiled four-legged, gun-toting “robot wolves” capable of maneuvering rough terrain, coordinating in packs, climbing stairs, and delivering precise strikes up to 100 m . The contingent marched alongside tanks, as global leaders, including Russia’s Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, and Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif, looked on . The robots symbolize a push toward more automated, high-tech warfare to inspire national pride and send deterrent signals internationally, marking China's growing edge in battlefield robotics.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Ukraine conflict could end if Kyiv and the West act with “common sense.” He added he has not ruled out meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but questioned if talks would be meaningful. Putin argued Ukraine’s leadership is “illegitimate” under martial law and constitutional limits. He insisted Russia is fighting for cultural and linguistic rights, not land. Putin also repeated his opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, calling it a security threat. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Putin and promised steps to reduce Ukraine’s suffering. (PC: News18)

On September 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces carried out a strike in international waters of the southern Caribbean, targeting a vessel allegedly transporting narcotics for the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, resulting in 11 deaths. Trump shared night-vision footage on his platform, calling it a warning to would-be traffickers. The U.S. labelled Tren de Aragua a "narco-terrorist" group operating under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a claim Caracas rejected and denounced the video as potentially AI-generated. This occurred amid a heightened U.S. naval deployment in the Caribbean intended to combat drug trafficking—a move that Maduro criticized as imperialist and provocative. (PC: Sky News)

China held a massive military parade in Beijing to mark 80 years since victory over Japan in World War Two. President Xi Jinping unveiled new weapons, including nuclear missiles, giant underwater drones and a powerful laser system. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined Xi at the event, along with dozens of other world leaders. It was the first time the three leaders appeared together. On the sidelines, Kim told Putin it was North Korea’s “fraternal duty” to help Russia in Ukraine. Donald Trump reacted online, accusing them of plotting against the US. (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump again claimed that India offered him a “no tariffs” deal after he placed a 50% levy on Indian goods. Speaking on The Scott Jennings Radio Show, Trump called India the “most tariffed nation” in the world. He said his tariff strategy forced New Delhi to change its stance. “India kills us with tariffs,” Trump said, adding that his decision led India to make a big offer. Trump also compared India with China and Brazil, saying all three countries used high tariffs. He stressed tariffs were his key tool to secure better trade terms. (PC: HT)

Hundreds of women clad in pink assembled outside Indonesia’s parliament in Jakarta on September 3, 2025, brandishing brooms to “sweep away” governmental corruption and police repression. Organized by the Alliance of Indonesian Women, the demonstration called for reforms to police brutality and excessive perks granted to lawmakers. The protest follows recent unrest triggered by a police vehicle striking and killing a motorcycle taxi driver, which has led to at least 10 deaths and incidents of looting and rioting. President Prabowo Subianto, who labeled the unrest as tantamount to terrorism or treason, left for a military parade in China. Both Indonesia’s human rights commission and the UN have urged investigations into security force conduct during the unrest. (PC: Reuters)