NATO allies are experiencing an undersupply of cotton linters, a crucial component for producing nitrocellulose (guncotton) used in artillery shell gunpowder, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. European nations, historically reliant on China, are now seeking to boost domestic production and explore alternatives.
Ghana hosted a reparations conference where Caricom presented its 10-point plan, adopting a global framework for reparative justice. A key demand was compensation for gender-based violence against enslaved African women, highlighting historical amnesia and the ongoing legacies of misogynoir.
Utah declared a state of emergency and imposed fireworks restrictions due to spreading wildfires, including the Cottonwood Fire, which has burned over 112 sq miles. Extreme dry and windy conditions are exacerbating fire risks across the western U.S., leading to evacuations and damage to a ski resort.
NASA's TESS satellite has identified two exoplanets, TOI-791 b and TOI-791 c, described as the "puffiest" ever found, with densities similar to cotton candy despite their Jupiter-like size. Discovered in the same star system, these rare finds offer new insights into planetary formation.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig noted significant differences between traditional commodity markets and the cryptocurrency industry. He stated that 24-7 trading and perpetual contracts are not suitable for agricultural products, despite recent approvals for crypto-related products.
Benin, Africa's largest cotton producer, is improving its infrastructure with a new 184km road connecting the northern cotton-growing regions to the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) near Cotonou, easing a major transport bottleneck.
La biostatisticienne Christine Cotton, connue pour ses prises de position antivax, a annoncé son décès, déclenchant des théories du complot sur son empoisonnement. Son travail critiquant l'efficacité des vaccins a été relayé par les mouvances sceptiques, bien que ses conclusions n'aient pas été validées scientifiquement.
Chinese researchers have developed a novel method to transform cotton waste into a highly effective catalyst for water purification. This innovation significantly enhances ozone-based water treatment, particularly for persistent pollutants like DEET, and promotes a circular economy by upcycling agricultural byproducts.
Genetically modified cotton shows 23.8% yield increase and improved resistance to Verticillium wilt, a devastating fungal disease.
King's College School Wimbledon, a top global educational institution, plans to open a campus in Ho Chi Minh City in August 2027, offering its nearly 200-year-old educational model.
China's National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Finance announced the cotton target price for Xinjiang for 2026-2028 will be 18,600 yuan per ton. The policy aims to protect farmers' income and stabilize cotton production, with subsidies based on a fixed output of 5.1 million tons.
India's government is in advanced talks to potentially remove an 11% customs duty on raw cotton imports to ease cost pressures on the domestic textile industry, which faces a significant supply-demand gap.
美國參議員提出《2026年阻止中共間諜技術法案》，要求強制審查DeepSeek、遊戲科學等6家中國科技公司，以評估其產品或服務是否威脅美國國安。若確認構成威脅，相關產品將被列入FCC的管制清單。
Indian textile manufacturers are demanding the abolition of an 11% import duty on raw cotton due to a 25% price surge and a projected 10% production shortfall. They face competition from countries with duty-free imports.
Members of minority communities in Birmingham and elsewhere fear results could lead to rise in hostile rhetoricConceding defeat at the election count at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on Friday, the outgoing Labour leader of the city council, John Cotton, made a plea. “What I would encourage the next administration in this city to do, whatever form that administration takes, is that it ensures it champions the diversity of this city,” he said.Labour’s 14-year rule of the local authority had come to a crashing end, with Reform emerging as the largest party with 22 councillors so far, followed by the Greens on 19, albeit both parties a long way off the 51 needed for a majority. Continue reading...
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, through the Bezos Earth Fund, have committed $34 million to research sustainable fashion materials. This funding will support universities and institutions in developing biodegradable and plastic-free alternatives to polyester and cotton, aiming to reduce the industry's environmental impact and bring these innovations to market.
India's government has approved a Rs 5,659.22 crore, five-year mission to significantly increase cotton crop productivity, aiming to enhance yield, quality, and exports by developing high-yielding seeds and promoting advanced technologies.
Birmingham city council leader John Cotton says a year-long bin strike is 'within sight' of resolution after committing to an improved offer for refuse workers. The strike began in January 2025 over proposed pay cuts and role changes, leading to 17,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish and a major incident declaration. The new offer includes a two-month salary reduction cushion, permanent jobs for agency workers over 12 months, and quashed disciplinary issues. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham blamed government commissioners sent after the council went bankrupt in 2023 for blocking the deal. The announcement comes a week before local elections.
Indian cotton yarn factories, particularly in Gujarat, are increasing production to meet unprecedented demand from China. The Middle East war has disrupted global trade routes, making India a preferred sourcing point. Combined with a 7% rupee depreciation against the yuan and tight global cotton supplies, Indian exports have jumped five-fold to 1,500 containers monthly since November. Orders are booked through June.
