US drought pushes cotton prices to ten-year high

NEW YORK, March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cotton prices rose to their highest level in more than a decade on Monday, due to a prolonged drought in parts of the central United States.    The plant fiber reached $1.3171 per pound (about 453 grams) on the key US futures contract, the…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Oil extends rally on Russia embargo talk, stocks rise

PARIS, March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Oil prices extended their rally Tuesday on supply worries as European leaders debated banning imports from Russia, though equities stood their ground despite a tepid Wall Street lead and the prospect of a sharper hike in US interest rates.    Both main crude contracts started…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russia announced first prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine; nine Russian soldiers for Mayor of Melitopol

MOSCOW, March 22 (NNN-TASS) — Russia and Ukraine exchanged the first prisoners of war, nine Russian servicemen were released, according to Human Rights Commissioner in Russia Tatyana Moskalkova.   “The first exchange happened. We returned nine of our boys,” she said in an interview with RT, confirming that Russian servicemen…

Colombia: Clash between army & illegal migrants leaves one person dead

BOGOTA, March 22 (NNN-TELESUR) — One person died and 17 people were injured in a clash between the Colombian army and undocumented migrants who trespassed the La Esperanza military base in the department of North Santander. So far, local media have not been able to clearly locate why the migrants…

UK: Corporal punishment of children banned by law in Wales

CARDIFF (Wales, UK), March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Effective Monday, Wales has banned all sorts of bodily punishment on children, which are still legal in England and Northern Ireland. Slapping or even shaking a child is tantamount to assault perpetrated against an adult, according to the new rules in force. Until…

Peru: President Castillo vows to push forward with Second Agrarian Reform as Peruvians demonstrate for and against him

LIMA, March 22 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Peru’s President Pedro Castillo Terrones announced his Government’s upcoming actions will be aimed at strengthening the Second Agrarian Reform, because, after all, “our lands give us all the food and our brother farmers deserve to be supported in a comprehensive and rapid manner.” “We have…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: British soldier arrested after unauthorized trip to join Ukraine’s foreign legion

LONDON, March 22 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — An elite British serviceman has been arrested after returning from Ukraine, where he allegedly went to join the so-called International Legion of Territorial Defense, which brings together foreign fighters wishing to engage Russian troops, it was reported. The 19-year-old member of the Coldstream Guard had…

US names investigator as representative to China Boeing 737-800 crash probe

WASHINGTON, March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it had appointed a senior air safety investigator as a US accredited representative to the investigation of the crash of a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 near Wuzhou, China. Representatives from Boeing, CFM, a joint venture of General Electric and Safran…

2 women employees killed in knife attack at Swedish school, student arrested: Police

Emergency services arrived at the school shortly after 17:00 MALMO (Sweden) March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two women died after being stabbed at a high school in southern Sweden on Monday, police said, adding that an 18-year-old student had been arrested. The two women, both in their 50s, “were employees of…

US imposes sanctions on Sudan police for rights abuses

Protesters in Khartoum have been calling for a civilian government following a military coup on Oct 25 WASHINGTON, March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed sanctions on Sudan’s Central Reserve Police (CRP) force for human rights abuses. The Treasury Departrment accused the CRP of being “at the forefont” of…