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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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Tariffs, Trade & Ties: Modi’s Diplomatic ‘Gift’ to Trump

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington with a well-calculated strategy aimed at strengthening the U.S.-India relationship while averting new tariff threats from the Trump administration. In a visit marked by a series of high-level meetings, Modi is expected to offer concessions ranging from increased purchases of U.S. defense equipment—including combat vehicles and jet engines—to greater imports of liquefied natural gas and American agricultural products.

The Indian leader’s visit comes at a critical juncture. Trump, still in the early days of his presidency, has been vocally critical of India’s high tariffs—often branding the country as a “tariff king”—and has indicated plans for reciprocal measures that could affect American consumers and global trade balances. In response, New Delhi has made adjustments, reducing duties on select goods such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles and opening doors to deeper negotiations on key sectors like electronics, medical supplies, and chemicals.

Both leaders appear to be leveraging their established rapport—built during Modi’s previous interactions in Washington—to navigate these contentious issues. While Trump is looking to reshape trade dynamics and bolster U.S. economic interests, Modi’s visit is equally focused on cementing a strategic partnership that balances economic imperatives with broader geopolitical concerns, especially in countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

This diplomatic engagement highlights the complex interplay of trade, tariff negotiations, and strategic alliances at a time when both nations are seeking to recalibrate their relationship amidst global economic uncertainties.


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