Author: France 24

Japan’s new agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi vowed to bring down prices of rice, after his predecessor was forced to resign over a gaffe. Taku Eto had caused an uproar after joking he never had to buy rice thanks to donations from his supporters, touching many a raw nerve . But why is the country facing a crisis? Some analysts blame longrunning government policy for the shortage. Plus, Marks and Spencer says a recent cyberattack will wipe out nearly a third of its annual profits. 

Israel’s supreme court on Wednesday ruled as “unlawful” the government’s decision in March to fire domestic security chief Ronen Bar, a move which had triggered mass protests in the country. 

Scarlett Johansson joins the growing wave of actresses stepping behind the camera with her Cannes directorial debut “Eleanor the Great”, a touching tale of grief and reinvention. Jodie Foster also impresses in “A Private Life”, playing a wine-sipping, chain-smoking psychiatrist in her first lead French-speaking role. 

The government of French President Emmanuel Macron covered up decisions over the illegal treatment of mineral water by food industry giant Nestle, including the world-famous Perrier brand, a Senate inquiry commission said Monday. Its report focused on Nestle’s years of use of treatments to avoid bacterial or chemical contamination of water labeled as “natural mineral water” or “spring water” for brands also including Contrex, Vittel and Hépar. Such treatments are prohibited under French and European regulations. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24’s Eve Irvine welcomes Dr. Davide Staedler, Tenured Professor at Université de Lausanne, and CEO /…

Lyon sealed the French women’s league title on Friday with a comfortable 3-0 win in the playoff final against PSG. Goals from Melchie Dumornay, Kadidiatou Diani and Wendie Renard wrapped up the 18th league title in the history of the club.

One of Europe’s largest cruise operators, MSC Cruise, has ordered two new giant ships to be built at France’s Saint-Nazaire shipyard. It’s set to boost the local economy, though cruise ships often draw criticism for their environmental impact. Plus, Sesame Street’s creators have struck a deal with Netflix for the new season to be streamed on the platform, after a recent decision by Donald Trump to cut funding for PBS threatened the future of the iconic children’s programme. 

A spokesman for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) said its members should not be forced into exile as a result of any future peace deal with the Turkish government. Imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan on May 12 called for the group to disarm and disband after a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state that cost more than 40,000 lives.

The Cannes screening of “My Father’s Shadow” by director Akinola Davies Jr marks a milestone for Nigeria’s frantically prolific film industry, nicknamed Nollywood, which is counting on the French Riviera festival showcase to scale new heights on the international stage.

Brighton claimed a famous 3–2 win over Premier League champions Liverpool after fighting back twice.

Emmanuel Macron announced a record 20 billion euros worth of new investments at the 8th edition of his flagship “Choose France” investment summit on Monday. More than 200 business leaders attended the gathering.  Yuka Royer spoke with one of them, Anindya Bakrie, Chair of the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, about how Indonesia is trying to navigate Donald Trump’s global trade war and to expand its trade opportunities.