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What We Know with Max Foster

CNN Portugal: At Least 15 Killed In Funicular Train Crash; Epstein Survivors Hold A Rally, May Release Their Own List; Xi, Putin & Kim Show Unity In First Joint Public Appearance; Trump Accuses Xi, Putin and Kim Of Conspiring Against U.S.; Russia Launches New Aerial Attacks On Ukraine; U.S. Strike On Alleged Venezuelan Drug Boat Kills 11; Protesters In Jerusalem Demand End To War. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired September 03, 2025 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:00:20]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

MAX FOSTER, CNN HOST: A deadly derailment in the heart of Lisbon.

This is WHAT WE KNOW.

At least three people have been killed, 20 or so injured in the Portuguese capital after the city's famous funicular derailed.

These are live images for you. We're getting the information from Lisbon's emergency services. Funiculars, of course. An iconic tourist attraction,

really.

Isa's with me. I mean, you know it really well, don't you?

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah.

FOSTER: It's -- just describe what the funicular is.

SOARES: I mean, this is -- joins the old part of Lisbon. Goes up the steep hills, really up the steep hills. The mode of transport for those who don't

know. Imagine if it's a tram. Like a tram. But this is going mostly uphill. And this, this one, the Gloria one funicular connects, downtown Lisbon all

the way to the Miradouro de Alcantara, which is right at the top.

And is the steepest hills, as you will know, as visitors who visit Lisbon, they will know how steep those hills are to climb. So this funicular

provides that service.

FOSTER: Yeah.

SOARES: Now, over the years, Max, it has been, you know, many, many years ago. And this -- this was opened in 1885, this particular of the glottis.

So, it is iconic. It's historic, was used primarily for transportation or many Portuguese and many still use it. But it's become a huge tourist

attraction.

FOSTER: Well, it's a hilly city.

SOARES: It is incredible.

FOSTER: But we're looking at the scene there. So, as we understand the emergency services, until very recently, were still pulling people out.

SOARES: Yeah.

FOSTER: So, it looks completely destroyed. It would have come, as you say, this is a steep hill. It would have come if it came loose, derailed. It

would have come thundering down the hill into a very busy area.

SOARES: Absolutely. And the Calcada da Gloria, which is the walkway we're talking about, is one of the steepest hills in kind of the center of

Lisbon. It's important, and it does seem like it's on its side. It's very, you know, we can't see it clearly, but it looks like its derailed. We do

not know what has happened, but what I am hearing is not only three dead, but many injured. According to CNN Portugal.

We are also hearing from a reporter on the ground from CNN Portugal that the death toll could rise to a dozen, Max.

FOSTER: How many have they typically hold? I mean, I've been --

SOARES: But hold on a sec, they're not normally packed. It's not something, you see, like in San Francisco.

FOSTER: No.

SOARES: I think, capacity 42.

FOSTER: Okay.

SOARES: Roughly 42.

FOSTER: But then we're concerned about people on the ground as well because it goes through this very busy area.

SOARES: And we do not know. And this is not only very tourist. This is a very commercial area as well, these roads. And it's still -- it's

September. It would be incredibly busy still.

I'm not clear what time that actually occurred. That's not clear. But this will be a -- very, very worrying. The president asking for a full

investigation to what has unfolded, but report on the ground for CNN Portugal saying that the death toll could rise to a dozen.

FOSTER: This appears to have happened sometime around rush hour. We'll get more.

SOARES: Yeah. So, I'll stay across this for you as well, Max.

FOSTER: Thank you, Isa.

Now, elsewhere, survivors of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal speaking publicly for the first time. Victims of the late convicted sex offender are

demanding the release of the full Epstein case files. A short while ago, survivors of Epstein held a rally in Washington. They spoke about what

happened to them and the need for full transparency.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANOUSKA DE GEORGIOU, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: I have to use my voice, the voice that had been silenced by fear and shame for so many years. Make no

mistake, my polished exterior is a shield hiding a wound that still bleeds.

ANNIE FARMER, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: For so many years, it felt like Epstein's criminal behavior was an open secret. Not only did many others participate

in the abuse, it is clear that many were aware of his interest in girls and very young women, and chose to look the other way because it benefited them

to do so.

MARINA LACERDA, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: I was only 14 years old when I met Jeffrey. It was the summer of high school. I was working three jobs to try

to support my mom and my sister, when a friend of mine in the neighborhood told me that I could make $300 to give an older guy a massage. It went from

a dream job to the worst nightmare.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: The victims were joined by Republicans -- Republican politicians such as Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Democrat Ro Khanna. They

are urging their colleagues to vote to release the Epstein files.

Stephen Collinson joins us now.

I mean, there's a frustration here, isn't there? There's even talk about them putting together their own sort of Epstein list. They're really fed up

with the information not coming out, Stephen.

[15:05:02]

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Yeah. And I think what the White House hoped was that over the August holiday, this would just simply

go away. But this was a very powerful and emotional news conference full of searing testimony from the victims, as you saw there. And I think the

question now becomes, does that change the maths in the House? The proponents of this effort to get the House to require the release of

Epstein documents by the Justice Department needs a few more votes. Most of the Democrats are going to vote for it. It needs a few more Republicans to

get it across the line. And was this the thing that builds momentum to allow that to happen?

President Trump, he is effectively using the same defense that he used all throughout the summer that didn't make this go away. He's saying it's all a

Democratic hoax, and that the White House has tried to show some transparency. Listen to what he said moments after that news conference on

Capitol Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I understand we've given thousands of pages of files, and I know that no matter what you do, it's

going to keep going. And I think it's -- I think -- really, I think it's enough because I think we should talk about the greatness of our country

and the success that we're having.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINSON: You can see, Max, the frustration of the president there, that this is overshadowing a lot of the other things that he's trying to do,

including his crime crackdowns. But he's not being completely truthful there, because although the White House has released some information or

the Justice Department has to the House Oversight Committee that has been released publicly, almost all of that was already in the public domain.

So, you have this build up and build up of pressure. And the question keeps being asked, why doesn't Donald Trump, who was a friend of Jeffrey Epstein

in the 1990s and 2000s, even though there's no evidence that there was any personal wrongdoing by the president, why does he continue to prevent the

release of more material into the entire Epstein saga?

FOSTER: Yeah, I think there's a real frustration there, where there's talk from Trump's team that they're trying to be -- they're the ones pushing for

transparency. But the feeling amongst many of the survivors is they're actually the block.

COLLINSON: Yeah. And they've taken a lot of steps that make it look like they're interested in transparency. For example, asking a judge to release

some of the grand jury material in this case. But that, for example, is a step that they knew was likely to fail. So therefore, it looks more like a

political device than a real effort at transparency.

The deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, who happens to be Trump's, former personal lawyer, he went to talk to Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine

Maxwell, who is in jail. They released the transcript of that, but obviously she has a great incentive to make the president look good. She

said she never heard anything about any wrongdoing by Donald Trump in relation to Jeffrey Epstein.

But then she was moved to a much more lax prison. So that raised all sorts of questions of whether there was some corrupt quid pro quo going on here.

So, attempts to make it look like they're transparent but not real steps to true transparency.

FOSTER: Stephen Collinson, as ever, thank you.

Now in Beijing, an extraordinary display of pomp and power. China marking the end of World War II by showing off its military might, unveiling

advanced weaponry. Chinese leader Xi Jinping calling his country's rise unstoppable.

In what appeared to be a message of defiance to the West, the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea stood together for the first time in an

authoritarian show of strength.

Straight to Beijing now, our Marc Stewart is there? I mean, it really was spectacular, wasn't it? But, you know, there was a response from the White

House, and it felt in many ways that this was a message to the West.

MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No question, Max. In fact, I think I saw one of your social media posts and you were talking about just how

extraordinary of a show this was. And that is really the truth. What we saw today was an attempt at visual validation by Beijing to show that it is a

force to be reckoned with to the United States, but also to the West as a whole, at a time when Xi Jinping has been very explicit, almost, about

discrediting some of these established alliances, such as NATO, where you are in Europe, such as American dominance.

This was really a chance for him to put the -- to put the West on notice as he tries to develop this coalition and the weapons that we saw are very

fierce war machines.

[15:10:03]

Of course, we saw soldiers. Of course, we saw tanks, but we saw these hypersonic drones. There were lasers that could be used on aircraft or

attached to warships that would use microwaves to disable different devices. Thats how it's being described by Chinese state media.

Not only did we see these war machines, but we also saw, as you alluded to earlier, this coalition, this was a safe group of people for Xi Jinping to

outline his vision for the future. While he didn't necessarily say anything too out of the box, he did stick to message. Let's take a brief listen to

some of his remarks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

XI JINPING, CHINESE LEADER: Today, humanity once again faces the choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation? Win, win cooperation over

a zero sum game. The Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history and the progress of human civilization. We adhere to the path of

peaceful development and work hand in hand with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: At one point, we saw a post by President Trump on Truth Social, kind of making fun of it, saying, tell Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un from

North Carolina that I -- from North Korea that I said, hello, and hinted at a conspiracy. But then we heard Vladimir Putin respond, saying that he

thought this was just, a way for the president of the United States to show a sense of humor.

But, Max, you know, looking forward, there are some real, tangible takeaways in the sense that some relationships were really strengthened.

For example, we saw Kim Jong Un of North Korea meet with Vladimir Putin. Of course, North Korea has helped Russia in supporting its war machine by

providing troops. We saw Vladimir Putin then invite Kim Jong Un to Russia.

These are meetings that where this face-to-face contact could really matter. The one meeting which we have not seen yet, which I'm really

curious to see if it happens, Max, is some kind of meeting between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un. Thus far, it has not happened, but it's something

that we will be watching in the hours ahead, at least here from China.

FOSTER: Yeah, absolutely. Marc, thank you so much for staying up for us to bring us those extraordinary scenes.

Now, U.S. President Donald Trump was keeping an eye on those festivities in Beijing as they unfolded. In earlier social media posts, he wrote, "Please

give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America." The Kremlin says in its words, "No

one's plotting any conspiracies."

Later, Mr. Trump had this to say from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I thought it was a beautiful ceremony. I thought it was very, very impressive. But I understood the

reason they were doing it, and they were hoping I was watching, and I was watching. My relationship with all of them is very good. We're going to

find out how good it is over the next week or two.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Well, from the White House now, we are joined by CNN's Kristen Holmes.

You know, these were the strongmen appearing. Donald Trump also sees himself like a strongman. Some people suggesting, you know, in Asia, that

he wanted to be there. It certainly riled him up to some extent.

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. I mean, I think we'd have to guess if we were saying if he wanted to be there or not, it

would probably not be a good look for a U.S. president to be there among those authoritarians. But I will say overall, he does know what is going on

here. And he understands that China is trying to create a new world order.

And from that standpoint, he would want to be included. You have to remember that Vladimir Putin and the leader of China both represent

something that President Trump promised that he would get when he came back into office, but still has been unable to achieve one being a deal with

China on trade and having the strongest economy.

He knows he is fighting Xi on that. He also wants peace in Ukraine, something that Putin had essentially promised him, or at least he believed

had promised him, but has not done, has not stopped bombing in Ukraine. And those peace talks seem to have stalled.

The other part of this is him watching closely is what we saw the day before, which was the Indian Prime Minister Modi being a part of this

group. The reason why that is so notable is, of course, Modi is not an authoritarian leader. Instead, what we're seeing is India coming to the

table with China, because what likely seems to be a roadblock put in place by the U.S. when it comes to growing the Indian economy, something that

Modi drives to continue to do, all countries do.

So, we're seeing here a shift in alignment. And I think that is worrisome to the White House itself. Now, it was interesting. President Trump was

asked if he had a message to Putin, and he said he didn't. He was going to see what they were going to do moving forward.

[15:15:01]

Again, something to note here is that President Trump, just two weeks ago, was talking about how these peace talks were well underway. He had met with

Putin. He had met with European leaders here at the White House. They talked to Putin, or he had talked to Putin on the phone. They thought the

next step was setting up this meeting, and that seems to have completely dissipated at this point.

So there's a lot going on here when it comes to geopolitics. And it is clear that these leaders, including the prime minister of India, are

sending a message to the West, as we know that, again, China is trying to realign the current situation for foreign politics.

FOSTER: Yeah, it's interesting as well. The military might that was on display, some really high tech kit was there. America still got the biggest

military, but there's a real sign here that this, you know, new world order has a military to back it up as well against, you know, it would have to be

America in theory, even though Xi was talking about peace today.

HOLMES: Yeah. I don't think that we're looking at some kind of, you know, escalation in military fronts as of now. But one thing that you note is

that they're flexing a muscle. They're flexing a muscle on a lot of different fronts.

Modi represents them flexing a muscle on the economy. The parade, they're flexing a muscle on the military. And then the relationship with Putin and

Kim Jong Un, they're flexing a muscle on the geopolitical landscape, showing that they can get these two leaders, these two authoritarian

leaders, there, to be present at this event.

So, I think you're seeing China really here trying to flex all around on different aspects. And a lot of this is aimed, of course, at the United

States.

FOSTER: Okay, Kristen, thank you so much for that. We're tracking the latest talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian

counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

A short while ago, Mr. Macron announced security guarantees for Ukraine are now ready. On Thursday, they expect the move to be endorsed by the

Coalition of the Willing, backing Kyiv.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): My only message this evening is the extremely intense work of the last few weeks. And to

tell you, indeed, that we are ready for the security guarantees that Europe is stepping up for the first time with this level of commitment and

intensity, because the security of Ukraine and Ukrainians, for today and for tomorrow, is also ours and that of Europe. Thank you to President

Zelenskyy for being here this evening.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Overnight, Moscow launched a sweeping air attack on Ukraine.

That familiar sound of air raid sirens filling the night sky across a number of cities, including Kyiv. Ukraine says its air defenses shot down

most of the Russian drones and missiles, though some managed to hit their targets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is willing to meet with Mr. Zelenskyy in Moscow. The Kyiv government calls this offer, quote,

unacceptable.

Now the rift, meanwhile, between the U.S. and Venezuela, deepening this after the U.S. struck a boat it alleges was coming from Venezuela carrying

drugs. The U.S. says 11 people were killed by the strike in international waters in the southern Caribbean. The Trump administration has recently

deployed warships to the region, it says, aimed at curbing drug trafficking, it alleges, stems from Venezuela.

A short while ago, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will wage war on drug traffickers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: If you're on a boat full of cocaine or fentanyl or whatever headed to the United States, you're an immediate

threat to the United States. And the president, under his authority as commander in chief, has a right under exigent circumstances to eliminate

imminent threats to the United States. And that's what he did yesterday in international waters. And that's what he intends to do. We're not going to

sit back anymore and watch these people sail up and down the Caribbean like a cruise ship.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Jennifer Hansler is with me.

It's going to be a popular message, isn't it, amongst many people in America worried about the drug problem. But also, there's a big risk with

taking this sort of military action in that region.

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: Absolutely, Max. This is a significant escalation in the U.S.'s policy to combat these drug cartels.

These transnational organizations. Now, typically, what would happen if they were tracking some sort of drug boat being smuggled to the United

States is the military would watch it and make it stop from coming to the United States shores. They would interdict it, potentially confiscate the

cargo that was on board. They might arrest the crew.

We have never, as far as experts said, seen such a military strike on an alleged drug ship like we saw yesterday that killed 11 people. Now, the

U.S. has argued that these are narco terrorists. They say the boat yesterday was affiliated with Tren de Aragua.

And Secretary Rubio, just a little while ago, said that interdiction doesn't work. He argued that that policy, which has been the longstanding

policy in combating drug trafficking, simply does not work. Take a listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUBIO: Let me say this, the United States has long for many, many years, established intelligence that allow us to interdict and stop drug boats.

[15:20:02]

And we did that. And it doesn't work. Interdiction doesn't work because these drug cartels, what they do is they know they're going to lose, you

know, 2 percent of their cargo. They bake it into their economics.

What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANSLER: So, we heard there, of course, that this is going to be sort of a policy moving forward because they do not believe that this works. This is

the argument that they are making.

However, there are a lot of questions here about potential risks. What if you strike the wrong boat? What if this takes out civilians? There are a

lot of legal questions to be considered. Yesterday, Rubio was asked about the legal authorization for taking that deadly strike.

He pointed to the White House Counsel's Office, and he also again pointed to this argument that they had designated these groups as terrorists, and

therefore they are protecting U.S. national security -- Max.

FOSTER: Jennifer Hansler, appreciate it. Thank you.

For the next four days, these sounds will fill the streets of Israel.

Nearly two years into the war in Gaza, these Israelis are demanding it come to an end. Their story after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Israel pressing ahead with plans to expand the war in Gaza despite new protests in Jerusalem. Demonstrators are demanding the government end

the war and accept a ceasefire deal to bring hostages home. They kicked off four days of protests earlier, marching outside parliament and near the

home of Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Hamas to immediately release all the hostages. He wrote on social media that things would change rapidly

if that happens.

All this as Israels military advances on Gaza City as it prepares for a massive assault. One woman says the neighborhood of Sheikh Radwan is being

burnt upside down. She adds, Israeli forces are destroying homes, burning tents and sending drones with audio messages, ordering people to leave.

[15:25:05]

A senior Israeli official says only 70,000 Palestinians have left Gaza City, so far, out of a million. Families of Israeli hostages believe

expanding the war in Gaza would be a death sentence for their loved ones.

Our Jeremy Diamond was on the streets of Jerusalem for the protest today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Thousands of Israelis have come out into the streets of Jerusalem tonight to protest against this

current Israeli government, arguing for a deal to free the Israeli hostages and against this military offensive that is gearing up in Gaza City. You

can see behind me thousands of people who are beginning to march towards the Israeli prime minister's residence. That is who so many of the calls

tonight have been directed against, directly towards the Israeli prime minister, who so many here hold responsible for the current situation, for

the fact that the hostages still are not home, and for the fact that more Israeli troops are likely to die in this military offensive.

And so, you're seeing people here who are getting ready to march. You can see a lot of Israeli flags, as well as these yellow flags that represent --

that have come to represent the plight of the Israeli hostages over the course of this war. I want to pause here as well, to talk about what an

extraordinary moment this is right now in Israel, and why so many people have showed up. They have showed up because they feel like this is the last

opportunity to try and stop what is about to happen. And that is this massive Israeli military offensive to take Gaza city and perhaps eventually

to take Israel down a path of occupying the entirety of the Gaza Strip.

So many here have been parroting the words not just of other activists and protesters, but of the Israeli security establishment, Israel's military

chief of staff, the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, and the head of Israel's internal security service, all of them in recent security cabinet

meetings, have been arguing against this military offensive. Concern that it will risk more soldiers' lives, that it will risk the lives of the

hostages as well, and that it won't get Israel any closer to defeating Hamas. But against the advice of Israels security cabinet -- of Israel's

security establishment, I should say the Israeli prime minister has chosen to move forward with that military offensive.

Tens of thousands of Israeli reservists have been called up already. And so many here are trying to stop that from actually taking effect. Concern

about the lives of soldiers, but also, critically, the lives of the hostages. And of course, many here also talking about concerns for the

lives of Palestinians in Gaza City, nearly a million of whom could be displaced by this Israeli military operation. And already in recent days,

we have seen hundreds of Palestinians who have been killed by Israels intensified bombardment and artillery shelling in preparation for that all

out ground offensive.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: In the U.S., the man charged with murder in the shooting to death of a young boy playing a prank is a veteran, according to a U.S. Army

spokesman. Forty-two-year-old Gonzalo Leon Jr. appeared before a judge in Texas today who said his bond at $1 million. Police say Leon opened fire on

11-year-old Julian Guzman and his cousin late on Saturday. The two were playing a ding dong ditch prank when Guzman was killed.

CNN's Ed Lavandera joins us now from Dallas, Texas, with the details.

I mean, it's such a common game. That ended in death is just horrifying. But what more are we learning about exactly what happened, Ed?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a tragic situation all the way around. What we have learned, and this is coming from

arrest warrant court documents, as well as an interview we did with the lead prosecutor in Houston, is that this shooting took place just before

11:00 Saturday night.

And according to the court documents, the young victim's cousin, there were two kids together. They had been at a birthday party at their family home

just a block away. They got bored being there. They started venturing out into the neighborhood "ding dong ditch", knocking on doors, ringing

doorbells and running away as a prank.

And according to those documents, they had been to this particular house several times, and it was the last time that they knocked on the door and

they started running away when they noticed that the suspect who has been arrested, came out from the side of the house with a firearm, fired once,

and then fired a second time. And it was that second shot that hit the young boy, 11-year-old Julian Guzman, in the back.

His cousin described the police trying to drag him away. Quote, army style, to get him away and to get him to safety. But what is key here is that

prosecutors and in these documents suggest that the shot was fired as the suspect was on the edge of his property, had basically come out to the

street, from what we've been able to gather.

[15:30:04]

And because of that, the lead prosecutor says that this is not a self- defense case, that this is simply cold-blooded murder.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN TEARE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: An 11-year-old boy should not be murdered for playing a prank. He just shouldn't. This was a

cold-blooded murder of a child. And so, it's unacceptable. The fact that we have individuals amongst us who think that this is in any way right is

shocking to me. And as someone who's been in the criminal justice system for 20 years, it never ceases to amaze me that people think that firearms

are the answer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: There were some 20 firearms confiscated from the suspects home after, as they conducted the investigation over the course of the next day.

As I mentioned, that young victim was shot in the back, which is another factor that plays into this being a -- murder charges being brought against

him as well. We've also learned that the suspect is a veteran of the U.S. Army, had served a tour of duty in in Afghanistan and also served three

years. But right now, he is being held on a $1 million bond. And prosecutors say that more criminal charges could be forthcoming -- Max.

FOSTER: Ed, thank you.

We'll be back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: A few more details on that breaking news tonight. A horrific picture emerging from Lisbon, Portugal. At least three people have been

killed there. Some people remain trapped.

One of the city's funicular trains derailed.

[15:35:02]

This is according to CNN Portugal.

Live pictures show the funicular goes up. It's a tram that goes up a very steep hill, the Gloria funicular. And from what we understand, it derailed.

So, it came off the tracks and tumbled down the hill into the scene that you see there, utterly destroyed. They carry about 40, we think these

carriages, we don't know how many people were inside, but it is an iconic part of Lisbon life, very popular with tourists, but also locals, as Isa

was explaining earlier, he knows the area well, who just, you know, struggle to get up and down those very steep hills, particularly the

elderly.

It would, of course, have happened at a busy time of day as well. In the last few hours, so we're obviously concerned about the number of injuries

that may have taken place on the street, as well as anyone that might have been on board. We just don't have the information yet. But we are expecting

to hear from officials anytime now because it's still a rescue operation.

As you can see, that's a live image as, the evening sets in in Lisbon, as a tragedy is unfolding there. And we await to hear the latest numbers. But at

least three people dead.

A massive military parade in Beijing today, not only showing off Chinas military might, meanwhile, but also appearing to present a challenge to the

U.S. China marked 80 years since the end of the Second World War with a stunning display of high tech weaponry, flanked by some 10,000 troops.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un standing shoulder to shoulder in public for the first

time. Mr. Xi's vision of a new world order, perhaps a topic that was probably not on the agenda in Beijing immortality. Although you could say

it was Chinese leader Xi and Russian President Putin were caught on a hot mic discussing longevity and the possibility of living to the age of 150.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

XI (translated): In the past, we used to say that very rarely people lived past 70, but these days, at 70 years (you are) still a child.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (translated): Those who are 75, 65, they have better in a few years, with the development of biotechnology, human

organs can be constantly transplanted so that people can live younger and younger, and even become immortal.

XI: The prediction is that in this century, humans may live to 150 years old.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: So, what we want to know is how pivotal will this moment be for Xi Jinping?

Joining us now, Nicholas Burns, the former U.S. ambassador to China. He also previously served as U.S. ambassador to NATO.

Thank you so much for joining us.

I mean, it is that image that we just saw away from the hot mic moment, isn't it, of those three autocrats, can I call them that, walking together,

intentionally in front of the cameras?

NICHOLAS BURNS, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA: Well, this is an axis of authoritarians, and they chose to mark the end of the Second World War by

trying to denigrate Japan, modern Japan, the great democratic country of Japan, and of course, excluding the United States, Australia, Britain and

other countries that were pivotal to the success of the fight 80 years ago in the war in the Pacific.

And it was designed to showcase China's expanding military power, to try to convince the rest of the world that President Xi and President Putin are in

a close strategic alliance. And to denigrate the United States and other democratic countries and try to diminish their influence in the world.

So, it was quite an event, didn't convince me. But it obviously had an impact on the people of China and Russia who are not privy to free

information.

FOSTER: But also on Donald Trump. He was triggered by it, wasn't he? He posted about it being some sort of conspiracy against the U.S.

BURNS: One of the points he made, President Trump made, he was correct in making it, is that these leaders tried to rewrite the history of the Second

World War. They said that the main victors were China and the USSR completely denying the role that Australia, Britain, the United States

giving massive military support to nationalist China during the Second World War from the late 1930s all the way through to the victory of

September 1945. This is only -- this can only be done in authoritarian countries when they blatantly deny the truth and twist it and create

another reality.

So, it was quite a spectacle, and I think that the United States has the upper hand in one sense, in NATO, in Japan and South Korea, we have allies

that together, all of us are more powerful than China and Russia. And I hope that President Trump will pay more attention to American allies and to

make sure that were working very closely, particularly with the Japanese and South Koreans, but also with the Indians, who have been a major

strategic partner of the U.S. for the last three decades.

[15:40:15]

FOSTER: Yeah, it was interesting, wasn't it, having India. Well, Modi was at the earlier economic talks. He wasn't at the military parade. Presumably

that's because there's military tension between India and China.

But the idea that India could move or look east rather than west in future is, you know, quite frightening prospect for the West.

BURNS: Well, I think President Trump's emphasis on tariffs currently 50 percent tariffs on Indian products coming into the United States has been a

major miscalculation. Theres something more important than tariffs. And that is a close strategic partnership that we have had. If you think about

us, India, naval and air cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and the Western Pacific, it's made a terrific difference, a positive difference for the

democratic countries of the world that seek to limit China's military influence in the region.

And so, I really do hope that the Trump administration will reconsider this policy and put our national security interests, our military and political

interests ahead of these tariffs, because India and the outreach to India has been a major bipartisan priority of our country, of Australia, of

Japan, of the United Kingdom and other others since the 1990s.

FOSTER: Can I just ask you about the China-Russia relationship because it's complex, isn't it? To those to the untrained eye, you'd see these two

leaders, coming together, working together, but it's a completely unbalanced relationship, isn't it? China may well be using Russia just for

these purposes. They're not necessarily the partnership that we appear to see today. And certainly, you know, Kim Jong Un is nowhere near the status

of the other two.

BURNS: It appears that the personal relationship between President Xi and President Putin is quite strong. They've met, I think, now 53 times, if I'm

not mistaken, since 2012, when President Xi became president of China. And of course, China has been given giving very important military assistance,

prosecuted (VIDEO GAP) relations, as you say, Max, there's no question that China has become the senior partner in this relationship, given strength of

China's military, but particularly the strength. And Russia desperately needs a continued relationship with China, which is why President Putin, I

think, has been in Beijing for the last four days.

And there are some historical grievances that you still hear from China, from some Chinese about the unequal treaties between the Qing Dynasty and

the Romanov Empire. So I don't think its going to be an alliance that will last forever. But right now, this is a solid embrace of Russia, China. You

saw the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un at this spectacle, this parade of authoritarian dictators in Beijing today. And we have to pay attention to

this.

And the best way for the United States to counteract this authoritarian axis is to -- is to celebrate the strong military alliances and political

alliances we have with our East Asian allies, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, as well as our partnership with India and the

relationship with NATO is very important. And the European Union, because those countries in Europe have a strong interest in the future of democracy

and limiting Chinese power in Asia as well.

And if we pay attention to these alliances, we will be, I think, successful in limiting the expansion of Chinese and Russian power in both Asia and

Europe. But we've got to pay attention to the allies. And I think President Trump has not been doing that since he took office.

FOSTER: Yeah, Nicholas Burns, appreciate your analysis. Thank you.

An update on the breaking news out of Lisbon. Weve got some grim update for you. So, the funicular that came thundering down that hill in Lisbon, the

Gloria funicular, and created the wreckage you can see there these are live pictures. At least 15 people have now been killed in that, disaster,

rapidly turning into a national disaster.

We'll get you an update after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:47:38]

FOSTER: A grim update from Lisbon. Isa is with us.

SOARES: We're looking at the pictures out of Lisbon this hour. As you and I were talking, Max, we're now hearing from CNN, Portugal, 15, killed after

this derailment that happened in downtown Lisbon. We know 18 injured. According to CNN Portugal, five in serious condition, 13 lightly injured.

I'm translating here and that includes a child. So very concerning, this has escalated very quickly.

We do not know what caused the reports circulating suggest that a cable came loose and then that it collided. The tram, the funicular collided with

a different -- with a building. So, we do not know from authorities.

And there are many in this, as you can see right now from these live pictures, we know there's three days of mourning that have been declared,

but we do not know from authorities if there were Portuguese, the nationalities, or of course, tourists.

As you and I were talking about this earlier, it is a cable car that is very traditional, very old, iconic.

(CROSSTALK)

FOSTER: It was a tram you described it as, which goes up a very steep hill.

SOARES: Incredibly steep hill. One of the steepest, that takes you from downtown Lisbon to Batalha, which is --

FOSTER: Pulled by a wire, as we understand.

SOARES: Pulled by a wire, but we do not understand if it was the cable car or there's some other something else that.

FOSTER: Would have come -- if it came loose and derailed, it would have come down a very steep hill.

SOARES: It would have sunk and then distance it travels just this might be important for viewers as well to get a sense, it travels 275 meters. That's

not a lot --

FOSTER: No.

SOARES: -- when you think about it and it takes about three minutes to make that journey. But just the -- how -- the steepness of it. And then

colliding potentially --

FOSTER: Yes.

SOARES: -- hitting a building then that I think that would explain why we're seeing such a high death toll right now with Gloria Funicular.

FOSTER: Dare I say it felt quite rickety when I was on it. But this is part of the charm.

SOARES: It is. Look, it is rickety. It is old. It's very old. I think from looking at some of the numbers, 1885, it was first opened. It has evolved.

It is used mostly by tourists, but some of the elderly.

I know my grandmother loved it as well.

[15:50:01]

She used it and it's never jampacked, by the way. It's not something that you see, for example, in San Francisco, this is mostly people take photos,

but some locals do use it, Max, and I think the capacity is 42. So, what we don't know at this stage is of those killed nationalities, was that inside

the funicular or was that, as we're hearing, potentially the crashing with other buildings. So very, very concerned.

FOSTER: This is a really busy area. It would have been sort of around rush hour. So wherever it crashed, it would have crashed very lightly, crashed

into people.

SOARES: Well, this area is incredibly busy. It's not just touristy. It is downtown Lisbon. It would been packed with very commercial lots of

businesses around this area. And remember, tourists, you know, still early September will be quite busy with tourists.

I was in Lisbon, what, three weeks? Less than three weeks ago. And it was buzzing. The city was buzzing, especially this part of Lisbon, because the

funicular takes you all the way up to one of the greatest views of the castles at the top of the hill. And, you know, you're very welcome to do

that. But look at the cobblestones and many people will struggle with that and would want to take the route and the view.

Iconic. But, of course, the concern is what we don't know this hour is not just the nationalities, but also how this unfolded, critically. We have

been hearing from Ursula von der Leyen. I think we've got a statement. I think she put a statement out in Portuguese. Just bear with me as I try to

find word.

FOSTER: From the president as well. Deeply regrets what happened. Obviously.

SOARES: The president has spoken. And I'm just looking at Ursula von der Leyen tweeting in Portuguese. It was with sadness that I found out. And I'm

just translating here. Of the derailment of the famous elevator, the Gloria. My -- send my heartfelt sentiments to the families of all the

victims.

So, we are starting to get some response from members of the European Union, but incredibly concerning. You know, last time you and I spoke,

what, less than 25 minutes or so ago. Didn't think it would be this bad.

FOSTER: We will keep updating people, but it's looking really grim.

SOARES: Yeah.

FOSTER: Isa, thank you. We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Our breaking news out of Lisbon.

[15:55:01]

CNN Portugal reporting the death toll from the funicular train crash has now risen to 15. Live images from the crash site. The funicular traveling

up a short but very steep hill, appears to have come loose in some way and careered down, causing this horrendous scene. And until very recently,

there were still pulling out survivors from the crash site there.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, posted on X, offering her condolences to the victims, had an update as well from the

Lisbon mayor talking about a tragic day for the city, tough for everyone. We're all on site trying to help the victims of this tragic, tragic

accident in the city of Lisbon.

Obviously, it's an accident that shouldn't have happened. It happened around 6:00 in the evening, as we understand it. So, it would have been a

very busy time of day. The funicular, effectively a tram going up and down the hill, very popular with tourists. But as Isa was explaining to us, some

locals who struggled to get up and down the hill, too.

We'll get updates for you. But the numbers are going up pretty sharply.

I'm Max Foster. That's WHAT WE KNOW.

"QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" up next.

END

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