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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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Global Powers Rally for Lebanon: Aid and Ceasefire Amidst Crisis

 

In a bid to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, world powers convened in Paris to push for urgent aid and a ceasefire. The conference, attended by 70 government delegations and 15 international organizations, aimed to raise at least 500 million euros in humanitarian aid and support Lebanon’s security forces.

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati emphasized the dire situation, stating, "The storm we are currently witnessing is unlike any other, because it carries the seeds of total destruction, not only for our country, but for all human values as well". The conflict, primarily between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, has resulted in over 2,000 deaths and displaced at least 1.2 million people.

Despite the significant turnout, expectations for concrete progress were low. The U.S., focused on its own diplomatic efforts, sent a low-level delegation, and key regional players like Saudi Arabia were represented by junior ministers. France, leveraging its historical ties with Lebanon, pledged 100 million euros in aid, while Germany committed 96 million euros.

The conference underscored the need to implement the 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which calls for southern Lebanon to be free of any troops or weapons other than those of the Lebanese state. However, with ongoing hostilities and a complex geopolitical landscape, achieving a lasting ceasefire remains a formidable challenge.


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