A lifeline for Havana - Second Mexican shipment delivers 1,200 tonnes of aid amid US blockade crisis

A lifeline for Havana - Second Mexican shipment delivers 1,200 tonnes of aid amid US blockade crisis

"A second shipment of humanitarian aid from Mexico to Cuba docked at the port of Havana on Saturday. The cargo, weighing almost 1,200 tonnes, arrived aboard the Mexican Navy’s logistical support vessels Papaloapan and Huasteco. Footage shows port workers unloading supplies from the ships, totalling more than 1,000 tonnes of basic food items, including beans and powdered milk. The vessels departed from Veracruz on Tuesday, 24 February, carrying humanitarian aid collected by various social organisations in Mexico City. The donations were gathered at a collection centre set up in the Historic Centre. The shipment follows an earlier consignment sent in mid-February, which delivered more than 800 tonnes of supplies to the island. Cuban Vice Minister Josefina Vidal publicly welcomed the arrival on social media. The Mexican government said the aid was sent in response to the fuel crisis in Cuba, amid reduced fuel imports and ongoing US sanctions, which have contributed to widespread shortages and prolonged power outages. According to figures submitted by Cuba to the United Nations, the sanctions resulted in losses exceeding $7.5 billion between 2023 and 2024, affecting imports, financial flows, and key sectors such as food, energy, and healthcare."

Investment in AI-resistant ‘Halo’ companies helps push UK and EU markets to record highs

Investment in AI-resistant ‘Halo’ companies helps push UK and EU markets to record highs

Investors are shifting toward physical assets that are partially insulated from disruption, says Goldman Sachs Investors have a new mantra as they prepare for AI to shake up the global economy – the Halo trade. Interest in Halo – short for “heavy assets, low obsolescence” - has risen as investors seek out companies with tangible, productive assets, which might be insulated from AI disruption, such as energy and transport infrastructure companies. Continue reading...

Jess Cartner-Morley’s March style essentials: bouncy trainers, spring-ready jackets and a pop of red

Jess Cartner-Morley’s March style essentials: bouncy trainers, spring-ready jackets and a pop of red

Spring is (almost) in the air and our fashion expert is celebrating with everything from vintage brooches to a smile-when-you-see-it card case • How to have a guilt-free wardrobe clearout Spring is coming. It’s not here yet, but on a good day, you can feel it. Magnolia buds on the trees. A sliver of daylight on the evening commute. Taking your gloves out of your handbag. (Not the umbrella , though. That would be reckless.) From a chic and bouncy new pair of trainers to a classic spring jacket – or the vintage accessory that could revamp the jacket you’re wearing right now – read on. Continue reading...

Nihal, Child of the Moon: how she lives with extreme UV sensitivity

Nihal, Child of the Moon: how she lives with extreme UV sensitivity

Diagnosed with a rare and incurable condition, Nihal is estimated to be 4,000 times more likely to develop skin cancer than unaffected people. Despite this, she remains determined to live an active, fulfilling life. Photojournalist Paul-Louis Godier has been documenting her daily struggles Nihal walks into the large building that is the HQ the French national television network. She pulls a small black monitor from her pocket and points it toward the large glass windows covering the broadcast office lobby. The readout tells her the ultraviolet levels have dropped to zero, which means it is safe to lift off her helmet. Minutes later, she steps forward to tell her story before millions. Continue reading...