World News
High-Speed Train Collision Claims 39 Lives, Dozens Injured in Spain
At least 39 people have been confirmed dead and more than 120 others injured following a devastating high-speed train collision in southern Spain, in what authorities have described as the country’s worst rail disaster in more than a decade.
The accident occurred on Sunday evening near Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba, when a high-speed train operated by private rail company Iryo derailed while travelling from Málaga to Madrid. The train veered onto an adjacent track, where it collided head-on with an oncoming passenger service, causing both trains to derail.
Spain’s Interior Ministry said the death toll rose from an initial figure of 21 announced late Sunday, while 123 passengers sustained injuries, including five listed in critical condition and 24 with serious injuries. Emergency responders worked through the night amid chaotic scenes, as twisted metal and overturned carriages complicated rescue efforts.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente described the incident as “extremely strange,” noting that the crash occurred on a straight section of track that had been fully renovated and involved a train that was “practically new.” He said rail experts were deeply surprised by the circumstances and that investigations were underway to determine the cause.
Rail operator Iryo confirmed that about 300 passengers were on board its Málaga–Madrid service at the time of the crash. The operator of the second train, state-owned Renfe, has yet to disclose the number of passengers it was carrying.
Emergency officials said the presence of hundreds of trapped passengers severely hampered rescue operations. Francisco Carmona, head of firefighters in Córdoba, said rescuers were forced to cut through mangled carriages, adding that in some cases, bodies had to be removed to reach survivors. Several carriages reportedly plunged down a four-metre embankment following the collision.
Survivors recounted terrifying moments during the crash. A passenger identified as Montse, who was travelling on the second train, told Spanish television that the train came to a sudden halt amid darkness and panic, with passengers thrown about as luggage fell from overhead racks. Another survivor, Lucas Meriako, who was on the derailed Iryo train, described the scene as “like a horror movie,” recalling a powerful impact and shattered glass that left many injured.
High-speed rail services between Madrid and several Andalusian cities, including Córdoba, Seville, Málaga and Huelva, were suspended on Monday as safety checks and investigations continued.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the tragedy as a “night of deep pain” for Spain, expressing solidarity with the victims and their families. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also conveyed their condolences, while messages of sympathy poured in from international leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Spain operates Europe’s largest high-speed rail network, spanning more than 3,000 kilometres and linking major cities across the country. The Adamuz collision is the deadliest rail accident since 2013, when 80 people lost their lives in a derailment near Santiago de Compostela.
North Korea fired at least two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, Japanese and South Korean authorities confirmed, marking the country’s second missile test this month.
The launch came a day after a senior Pentagon official visited Seoul and praised South Korea as Washington’s “model ally.”
The Japanese Coast Guard, citing the Ministry of Defence, reported that the missiles were detected heading toward the Sea of Japan and landed outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff similarly confirmed that multiple ballistic missiles were fired toward the East Sea.
Analysts say Pyongyang has stepped up missile testing in recent years to enhance its precision strike capabilities, challenge Washington and Seoul, and evaluate weapons for potential export to Russia.
The tests follow increased military tensions on the peninsula, including joint US-South Korea exercises, which North Korea regularly condemns as preparations for invasion. Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticized South Korea’s plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines with US support, describing it as a “threat” that must be countered.
The missile launches underscore ongoing regional security concerns, as the United States continues to station approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea to deter aggression from the nuclear-armed North.
United States President Donald Trump has warned Canada that it will face a sweeping 100 per cent tariff on all exports to the United States if it proceeds with a proposed trade agreement with China, escalating already strained relations between the two North American neighbours.
The warning followed recent comments by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who during a visit to Beijing last week announced what he described as a “new strategic partnership” with China, resulting in a preliminary trade agreement aimed at reducing tariffs. Trump reacted sharply, cautioning that any move positioning Canada as a gateway for Chinese goods into the US market would attract severe economic consequences.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Canada would be “sorely mistaken” if it believed it could serve as a transit hub for Chinese products entering the United States. He further claimed that China would “completely devour” Canada’s economy, businesses and social fabric if such a deal were pursued. According to him, the conclusion of a Canada–China trade pact would trigger an immediate 100 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods crossing into the US.
Trump also referred to Carney as “Governor,” a recurring jibe reflecting his repeated suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States. The US president recently amplified that rhetoric by sharing a social media image depicting Canada, Greenland and Venezuela covered by the American flag.
Diplomatic tensions have intensified in recent days following Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he warned of a “rupture” in the US-led global order, remarks widely interpreted as a veiled criticism of Trump’s foreign policy posture. Trump responded a day later with a speech of his own and subsequently withdrew an invitation previously extended to Carney to join his so-called “Board of Peace,” an initiative initially framed around post-war Gaza but now seen as having broader ambitions.
Trump went further by asserting that Canada’s survival depends on the United States, telling Carney to “remember that” when making public statements. The Canadian prime minister rejected the claim, responding that Canada does not exist because of the United States but thrives because of its own national identity, while still acknowledging the longstanding partnership between both countries.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of deep economic interdependence. More than 75 per cent of Canadian exports are destined for the US market, making Canada particularly vulnerable to trade disruptions. Key sectors such as automobiles, aluminum and steel have already been affected by Trump’s global tariffs, though the impact has been partially softened by existing North American free trade arrangements.
Negotiations to revise the current trade framework are expected to begin later this year, with Trump repeatedly insisting that the United States does not require Canadian products—an assertion that analysts warn could have far-reaching consequences for Canada’s economy.
Despite the rising tensions, the United States, Canada and Mexico are jointly scheduled to host the World Cup later this year, underscoring the complexity of a relationship increasingly defined by sharp rhetoric alongside enduring economic and logistical cooperation.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and several other predominantly Muslim nations have agreed to join the United States–backed Gaza “Board of Peace,” following an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Turkey and Saudi Arabia, alongside their counterparts from Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, confirmed their countries’ collective decision to participate in the initiative. Egypt and Pakistan had earlier announced their involvement separately.
The ministers reiterated their commitment to supporting the mandate of the Board of Peace as a transitional administrative authority for the Gaza Strip. They said the board’s mission is outlined in the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and has received backing through United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.
So far, invitations have been extended to 60 countries as part of what is described as the second phase of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, much of which has been devastated by the prolonged conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
However, several European countries, including Germany and France, have adopted a cautious stance toward the initiative.
Diplomats familiar with the board’s charter have described it as a direct challenge to the United Nations, an institution President Trump has frequently criticised as ineffective. There are also indications that the U.S. administration may seek to broaden the board’s scope beyond Gaza to address global crises and conflicts.