♪ >> hello, evereryone. thisis is "france 24." here are the headlines. spain's trial of the century gets underway today. 12 leaders in court over the failed bid to bring independent to the northern region of catalonia. number inocking france. the anti-semitic acts jumped 27% lastst year.

what the government calls the poison of hate. and donald trump charges ahehe with his plan to build a wall on the u.s.-mexico border, despite a tentative deal from u.s. lawmakers that would mean far less money for the wall to avoid a new w government shutdown. also coming up in business, how french winemakers are hoping a new industry even in paris will help boost their sales abrbroad. you will see some of thousands of different likes lit up at the international lantern festival in china. but first, our top stories from paris. ♪ >> we will start with what has been described as the trial of the century in madrid.

12 separatists are in court today charged with their role in the region's failure for independence, turning it into spain's worst political crisis in years. the leader weighed in on the trial earlier today from berlin. in madrid this for the wholeess system. [indiscernible] our political --ders on trial [indiscernible] we had been keeping and i on the trial in madrid. sarah, what is been happening in court?

sarah: there have been preliminary questions and preliminary matters for the defense lawyers. we heard from the defense lawyer, who was the former deputy president of catalonia. his lawyer told the court, this was a political trial. he said he was annoyed he had many witnesses rejected. he said he wanted to see international observe its in the court -- international observance in the court. they said it is limited space and the trial will be televised all three months. it is available through streaming. will beve the defense making those applications today. potentially upis to 25 -- his clients faces potentially up to 25 years. >> sarah, there are different

charges here. some of the defendant are being charged with rebellion, others with -- talk us through the difference. sarah: that is right. the public prosecutor thinks nine of the 12 defendants were guilty of rebellion. that involves an element of violence. some jurists say they don't think that test will be met in .he prosecutor's evidence many of the defendants also face charges of abusing public money, using taxpayer's money for that referendum. there are charges of disobedience. lawyer, which is for the far right, and that is a private prosecution. they will be able to ask questions alongside the state

prosecutors. they are actually asking for 74 years for one of them. >> sarah, thank you. let's come back to france with that shocking report on anti-semitism. the french interior minister said attacks on the jewish population skyrocketed last year by 74%. we have more on that report in the string of anti-semitic incidences that have struck france. >> so many acts of anti-semitism in so many days. squirreled over images. jewsord german for spray-painted on a shop. one was a chopped down tree. that i reminded many of france's darkest hours

under not see occupation. anti-semitism spreads likee , robs the it attacks mind, and it kills. >> a according to the interior ministry, the number of incidences and france have skyrocketed. some 5412018 with reported anti-semitic acts. traveling figures, some the treated to far right ideologies with o others questioning g the yellow vest movement hasn''t emboldened these demonststratio. for a rabbi, everyone must be vigilant. who are the anti-semites and how do they act? today, when people stop talking about the elite and the rich, we can see the conspiracies of the

rich. the are associated without word anti-semitism being mentioned. police have opened investigations in relation to each of the anti-semitic acts, but despite in religious hatred has shaken the country. phililip, we are talking about a 74% and anti-semitic attacks. do we know what is behind that jump? >> france has s always had a problem with anti-semitism since the end of the second worldld w. anti-semiticporadic attacks in france. andexample, in cemeteries going all the way back to the 1990's, when there was an atattk against a cemetery, which shocked the nation.

since then, they have unfortunately y have had that oa regular basis. until further studies are made into what is behind it is difficult to pinpoint. what -- one thing being put forward is the fact that the yellow vests movement -- yellow vests movement may have given some right wing extremist movements, the feeling that the hasdom of protest in france been liberated, and therefore, they can do what they like. and they are hiding behind the yellow vest movement to ride out these insulting phrases we have seen. intohat has to be taken context of what is happening in france at the moment, and it has to be proven, but it is one of the ideas being put forward. but as the prime minister said, determinesnot come

with the anti-semitic sentiment since the world war. >> there was a story about online harassment, coming from a boys' club. the journalist that targeted other web users with sexist and racist w words. l law, was the league of lol, which beans laughing out loud in internet jargon -- which means laughing out loud in internet jargon, and was greeted by men in their 30's that got together via twitter, and used misogynistic comments against women, and particularly, fememinists. that was thehe target of mt t of their hatred.. ththis went on for a couple of years, and was not detected or sanctioned. after the french newspaper did a

fact check on some of its own journalists in their own report, saying several were involved in the group and were suspended. that had mushroomed out with other same they were victims of this group, leak of law, for rude, cyber bullying. the group also included public relation offices, and other journalists from another newspaper, people who you would never, ever suspect of being involved in this kind of cyber bullying. >> it is always easier to insult someone from behind a screen. what does french law say about this online harassment and what to these people risk now? >> they can risk three years in jail and a fine of up to 45,000 euros. being updatedtly with the progress of online systems, the internet, and social media -- the law is constantly being updated with

the progress of online systems, the internet, social media. it was updated in 2018, with different people who got together to attack via severable in could be sanctioned -- attack via cyber bullying could be sanctioned. in many cases, people take many years to come forward. now the government is looking into prolonging it for 10 years. under french law, it is too late for those people to come forward. >> thank you. next to the united states where there hasas been a possible d dl to avoid another government shutdown. republican lawmakers say they have agreed to far less funny for donald trump's border wall in exchange for 55 miles of new fencing, but the precedent has

he at to sign off -- but the president has yet to sisign offn it and continues to push for the wall. changed, but has the message has remade the same. the rally in a apostle, texas, president trump championed to build the border wall and to finish it. the u.s. president has insured the issue will remain a focus in the 2020 elections. pres. trump: we need the wall and it has to be built and we want to build a fast. there is no place better to talk about border security, whether they like it or not, because i about the lawing not making a difference. you know where it made a difference? in el paso. >> but it has treated push back from democrats and republicans. in thehe state of the union address, president trump said the state was made safer by the wall.

the mayor said that is not true. >> we were safe before. we are safe after. >> el paso residents protested president trump's visit and his immigration policy. the former representatives of the city rose to stardom in his bid for -- thousands came out to his counter rally just a mile down the road from trump. >> we stand for america, and we stand against walls. >> more c cmunities h have been pushshing back a against trump's insistence on building more .alls building the wall or finishing it remains a popular imperative, so much so, for him, it is worth another government shutdown. >> nigeria is gearing up for its

presidential election this saturday, and it is looking to be a tight race between the incumbent and the former vice president. the questions -- questions have been raiaised about how free and fair this election will be? our nigeria correspondent has more now, locals are hoping to get out of the boat. -- out of the vote. [indiscernible] children, she flfled violence. her husband was killlled. security is what she wants from whoever is elected as nigeria's president. >> we are expecting the leader nigeria.s our will in >> electoral commission wants to

ensusure people can vote, but it will be easy for the 1.8 million citizens. [indiscernible] on the roadside, mechanics repair cars for the rich. the talk here is about whether they havee succeededed in tacklg corruption? >> why did they not find any corruption? [indiscernible] -- the u.k.k., u.s., , au have heleld statatem- the u.k., u.s., and e.u. have made statatements about ththe

eltionons. >> i i do't think thehe electios will be ee a and fair. theyey have nenever been free ad fair. i don't think these elections will be the ones that are free and fair. >> international election observers will be monitoring polling stations. this is the one thing nigeria is talking about. >> opposition supporters and venezuela percent to protest this tuesday, keeping the heat on embattled president nicolas maduro, and amending he get international aid. u.s. cargo trucks have been stuck on the border. -- but thelition opposition leader one cueto -- juan guaido said shipment has gotten through. in on amitted some aid small scale.

being, we the time delivered 80,000 supplements needed for the most wonderful diversity since today. we delivered more than 4500 supplements for pregnant mothers. and i say this because for the humanitarian aid to enter for those 300,000 venezuelans at risk of losing their lives, we will need the support of all of you. >> on a lighter note out of china, were over 10,000 different kinds of flightsts hae lit up for the international lantern festival. it is in the city of central china. the lanterns come from all over the world. fish-shaped ones from north korerea, ones from the united states, and there are ones with candles inside.

the international lantern festival goes on from now until february 24. let's look at today's top stories on "france 24." the trial of the century in france kicks off today with many separatists in court. a shocking number in france. anti-semitic acts jumped 70% last year. what the government calls the poison of hate. aheadnald trump chaharges with his plan to build a wall on the u.u.s.-mexico border, despie a tentative deal from lawmakers that would mean far less money for the wall to avovoid a new governrnment shutdown. time for your busisiness update wiwith stephen carroll. you are starting with nissan and ththeir first reresultss since y arrested carlos goetsch and -- carlrl cohen. >> it is painting a a gloomy outlook.

the compmpany sasaid they difffd payment to the chairman -- they differed payment t to the chairman. they r revised down n their r ft for the year. we have that story. cohen's arrest, the fallout looms largege. payments at the center of the allegations accused of failing to report them of the past eight years. over the auto alliance. key toerim ceo was express his support. >> the alliance is our biggest asset. mutualld stand on

respect ofof our independence to build a win-win relationship. >> global saleses do not reflect hihis upbeat attitude. in january, nissan's u.s. sales fell, exacerbated by u.s. tax or forms in new state sales and profits. another major market, china. another layer to the struggle can be found in europe, where like its rivals, stricter emissions test have hurt sales. with brexit looming, the impact that it will have on the plant is unclear, and with carlos ghosn in detention, the next quararter is full of c challengs for r the auto giaiant. >> we will look to what is happening in the markets. some optimism amamong investorsn new york. paris are up over 1%.

is one of theelin stars in france, up over 11%. the euro trading just under $1.13 and almost 88 pounds sterling. >> there are more recacalls of >> it is an effort to stop fake news. regulators should oversee the tech companies to ensure their new content and reliable. the review also called for a new institute for public news in the u.k. let's take a look at m more business headlines for you now. shares in european car part manufacturers are seeing gains after michelin says it's profits would increase this year -- its profits would increrease this year, despite the economic

environment. sales of a french luxury group jujumped by almost a quarter a d the last three months of 2018. expectations, finishing off with the company's chief financial officer calls the remarkable year. the economy inis china, despite their slowdown. electronic art is seeing their shares rise again. users andds hit -- its first week. up after after hoururs tradiding. > no comment on n video game. a new shohowcase for french win. >> this one claimims to be the

first to have almost all french wine producing territories representing. it has a strong emphasis on boosting frenchh wine sales abroad. >> france, a country synonymous with culture and a wine that goes with it. wine producers felt there was a need for a wine event to showcase the lining market. >-- wine market. >> there is an international trade fair in germany. france was missising. frfrce remains thehe land of epicureanism. here, we want to find the french lines -- french w wines. >> the goal is to make the wine market more accessible to consumers. >> we are able to serve more consumers.

even the ultra-elite wines best-known all over the world. it is important that cononsumer tries french wine. >> and 2017, global wine exports were worth 6.5 billion euros. france accounts a third -- france accounts for third of those exports. consumes 40% of french wine. the wine market is competitive. salon winine in paris hopes to stay at the foforefront of thiss shifting market. "friends" may not always be there for r you. >> the sitcom on netflix could be coming to an end this year.

they have suggested that they show may leave its rivals on the new platform gets up and running. you can expect the crown jewels of warner that will end up on the new service. netflix reportedly paid $100 millllion to keep "friends" on s platform. that deal will expire at the end of 2019. other shows could be effected, like "the big bang. ." ." >> thank you for that business news. you have probably heard of valentine's day. day?about gallontines more on that coming up lateter after the news. ♪

[speaking french] >> i like the coverage with the news of the politics, but i like the cold troll aspect because -- but i like the cultural aspect because i get to learn a lot. [speaking foreign language] you all the4," with time, everywhere.. >> i am a "france 24" correspondent in india. catch me on our newews bulletin.

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