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Channel Tunnel Chaos Enters Day Two as Power Fault Drags On

The disruption, caused by a fault in the system's overhead power supply, on Tuesday upended plans for thousands of passengers in London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Rail passengers travelling between the UK and mainland Europe are enduring a second day of major disruption after a power failure shut down the Channel Tunnel, halting both Eurostar and LeShuttle services. The fault, linked to the overhead power supply, brought traffic to a standstill and left thousands of travellers stranded on both sides of the Channel. Although some services have begun to move again, operators warn that delays and cancellations will continue while engineers work to stabilise the system. Eurostar has urged passengers to avoid travelling unless essential, as many trains remain suspended or heavily delayed. LeShuttle customers are also facing long queues, with significant backlogs reported at both Folkestone and Calais. The timing has added to the frustration, hitting one of the busiest travel per...

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Hopes for a swift resumption of peace talks to resolve Cyprus’ long-standing ethnic division were dashed as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution. Speaking ahead of a military parade commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion that split the island, Erdogan dismissed the United Nations-endorsed plan for a federated Cyprus, which Greek Cypriots have long supported.

Erdogan’s remarks came as a blow to those advocating for a unified Cyprus. The Turkish president emphasized that a federal solution is not feasible, insisting that the rights of Turkish Cypriots must be recognized through a two-state arrangement. This stance complicates efforts by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his envoy, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, who have been working to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.

The anniversary of the invasion is marked differently across the island. In the north, Turkish Cypriots celebrate what they view as liberation from Greek Cypriot dominance, while in the south, Greek Cypriots mourn the invasion’s devastating impact, which left thousands dead or missing and displaced a significant portion of the population.

Erdogan’s firm position underscores the deep-seated divisions that continue to hinder peace efforts. As both sides remain entrenched in their views, the path to reconciliation appears increasingly uncertain.


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