Global Update
Death Toll Rises to 39 After High-Speed Train Collision in Spain
The death toll from a devastating collision involving two high-speed trains in southern Spain has risen to 39, with 152 people injured, according to Spain’s state broadcaster RTVE, citing police sources.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:45 p.m. local time on Sunday near Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba, about 360 kilometres south of Madrid. One of the trains reportedly derailed before colliding with an oncoming service, triggering a large-scale emergency response.
Major Disruptions to Rail Services
In the aftermath of the tragedy, rail travel across large parts of southern Spain has been severely disrupted. RTVE reported that more than 200 train services linking Madrid with the Andalucía region, including key routes to Córdoba, Seville and Granada, were cancelled throughout Monday as authorities worked to secure the rail network and assist with rescue and recovery efforts.
Government Response
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cleared his schedule on Monday in response to the incident, according to an official statement from his office, underscoring the seriousness of the disaster and the government’s focus on the unfolding situation.
Rescue Efforts and Passenger Impact
Emergency teams worked through the night at the crash site. Video footage shared on social media showed rescuers assisting passengers from damaged carriages under powerful floodlights. Several passengers were treated and transported to hospitals in the region.
Authorities estimate that around 400 passengers were onboard the two trains at the time of the collision. Most were Spanish nationals travelling to or from Madrid after the weekend. It remains unclear how many foreign tourists may have been affected, as January is not peak tourist season in Spain.
Investigation Underway
Spain’s Transport Minister, Óscar Puente, said the cause of the crash is still unknown. Speaking at a press conference at Madrid’s Atocha Station on Sunday, he confirmed that a full investigation has been launched to determine what led to the collision and whether technical failure, human error or infrastructure issues played a role.
The incident marks one of Spain’s deadliest rail accidents in recent years, raising renewed questions about rail safety and emergency preparedness in one of Europe’s most extensive high-speed rail networks.
Global Update
Influential Foreign Policy Group Sends Direct Message to Trump Warning of Global Risks From His Actions in Iran
An Indonesian foreign policy group has released a video message addressed directly to Donald Trump, warning that recent U.S. and Israeli actions in the Middle East could destabilize global security and violate international norms.
The message was shared by Indonesian diplomat and foreign policy analyst Dino Patti Djalal on social media, where he called on viewers to share the video with policymakers and political leaders in the United States.
Djalal said he was speaking on behalf of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia, which he described as one of the largest grassroots foreign policy groups in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.
“We hope that you will listen and hear our view,” Djalal said in the video, addressing Trump directly. “This message represents the concern of the overwhelming majority of the Indonesian people.”
Criticism Over Military Escalation
In the video, Djalal criticized what he described as growing U.S. militarism and warned that actions taken by Washington and Israel could escalate tensions across the Middle East.
The message referenced the reported killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, arguing that targeting a foreign head of state would violate international law and global norms.
“No leader of any country, no matter how powerful, has the right to plan and execute the murder of another country’s leader,” Djalal said.
He added that such actions would contradict the principles of the United Nations Charter and could set a dangerous precedent for international relations.
Concerns Over Global Stability
The video also warned that escalating conflict could spread across the Middle East, citing countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey and Lebanon as potentially affected by regional instability.
According to Djalal, rising tensions could undermine previous diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region, including reconciliation initiatives between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
He warned that the international system could face consequences similar to those that preceded major global conflicts.
“If direct military action to kill foreign leaders is considered fair game, then any of the world’s 193 countries could see it the same way,” he said.
Economic Impact on Indonesia
The message also highlighted potential economic consequences for Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous country.
Djalal said escalating conflict could push up global oil prices, putting pressure on Indonesia’s national budget and potentially leading to higher inflation, rising food prices, increased unemployment and slower economic growth.
Civil Society Appeal
Djalal framed the video as a message from civil society rather than the Indonesian government, noting that governments must often remain cautious in their diplomatic communications.
The group encouraged viewers to circulate the message widely and engage in public discussion about global security and the role of major powers in maintaining international peace.
The video adds to a growing number of international voices calling for restraint and diplomacy as tensions in the Middle East continue to draw global attention.
Global Update
US Defence Stockpiles of Rare Earth Elements Down to Just Two Months as Iran Conflict Escalates
The United States faces a critical vulnerability in its military capabilities, with defence stockpiles of rare earth elements reportedly sufficient for only about two months of sustained operations, according to sources cited by the South China Morning Post and echoed across industry analyses.
The alarming depletion has gained urgency amid the ongoing US-led strikes on Iran, which began on February 28, 2026. Pentagon estimates indicate that the initial days of the campaign alone consumed roughly $5.6 billion in munitions, rapidly drawing down inventories of precision-guided weapons and interceptors that rely heavily on these strategic minerals.
Rare earth elements — such as dysprosium, terbium, neodymium and others — are vital for key defence technologies, including missile guidance systems, fighter jet components, radar arrays, phased-array systems, secure communications and advanced actuators. Without reliable access to these materials, replenishing depleted stocks of systems like THAAD interceptors, Patriot missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles becomes severely constrained, potentially limiting the duration of high-intensity operations.

The shortage stems in large part from China’s near-monopoly on global processing and export of rare earths. Industry assessments suggest Chinese-controlled supply chains feature in more than 75% of US defence platforms. Beijing has periodically imposed export restrictions on dual-use minerals critical to US military contractors, amplifying concerns over supply-chain resilience during extended conflict.
The situation has handed China potential indirect leverage: analysts note that any tightening of exports could influence how long Washington can sustain its campaign against Iran. A high-level meeting on rare earth export policies is reportedly scheduled for next month, adding to the uncertainty.
The Pentagon has responded by urgently seeking fresh domestic and allied supplies of 13 critical minerals (including rare earths), issuing requests to mining companies just before the Iran strikes escalated. The Trump administration has also invested in US-based producers like MP Materials and explored partnerships to build resilient “mine-to-magnet” chains, though scaling to meet defence needs could take years.
As domestic buffers dwindle, attention is shifting toward alternative global sources, including Africa’s substantial untapped reserves. Nations such as Botswana (with a newly announced high-grade rare earth deposit containing all 15 elements plus copper, cobalt, nickel and vanadium), South Africa (rich in manganese, platinum group metals and antimony) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (over 70% of global cobalt) are positioned as strategic options to help diversify away from China-dependent chains.
The two-month stockpile window underscores a broader strategic challenge: prolonged military engagements risk exhausting not just munitions but the foundational materials needed to rebuild them, exposing vulnerabilities in US defence readiness at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
Global Update
Iran’s New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Reportedly Suffered Fractured Foot and Facial Injuries in Opening Airstrikes of US-Israel War
Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, sustained a fractured foot, a bruised left eye, and facial lacerations during the initial wave of US and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026, according to multiple international media reports citing Iranian officials and diplomatic sources.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was named supreme leader earlier this week following his father’s death in the same February 28 strike. Iranian officials told The New York Times that the new leader was sheltering in a highly secure location when the attack occurred, suffering only “minor” injuries.
He remains conscious and reportedly stable, though no public statement or appearance has been made since his appointment.
The strike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also claimed the lives of his daughter, a grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law, according to Iran’s ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian, who spoke to The Guardian. Salarian indicated that Mojtaba Khamenei’s injuries — particularly the facial bruising and lacerations — have left him uncomfortable and unwilling to deliver a public address.
“I don’t think he is comfortable (in any condition) to give a speech,” Salarian told the Guardian, suggesting the physical and psychological impact of the attack and succession has delayed any televised or recorded statement from the new supreme leader.
Earlier speculation from Israeli media outlets had claimed Khamenei suffered a serious leg injury in the opening hours of the conflict, with CNN later reporting details of the eye bruise and facial cuts. The full extent of his injuries and current medical condition remains unconfirmed by Iranian state media, which has released no images or video of Mojtaba Khamenei since his appointment.
Notably, Khamenei was absent from his own succession rally in Tehran on Monday, where thousands of supporters gathered. State media footage showed only a large portrait of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dominating the stage, with a smaller image of Mojtaba placed to the side — an arrangement some observers described as symbolically overshadowing the new leader.
The rapid ascension of Mojtaba Khamenei — widely viewed as a continuation of dynastic rule within the clerical establishment — has drawn sharp international criticism. US President Donald Trump has publicly rejected the succession, calling the heir an “unacceptable” choice and warning that without American approval, “Iran’s new leader is not going to last long.”
The reported injuries come amid an intensifying US-Israel military campaign against Iranian targets, raising questions about command continuity, internal stability, and the Islamic Republic’s ability to project unified leadership during the ongoing conflict.
Iranian authorities have yet to issue an official medical bulletin or visual confirmation of Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition, leaving open speculation about his capacity to exercise full authority in the early days of his leadership.
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