pelosi taiwan. taipei scrambling jets as chinese planes enter its zone. a ship carrying vital ukrainian grain makes progress towards lebanon after successful inspection in turkey. and joe biden signs an executive order to make it easier for women to cross state lines for an abortion. this in the aftermath of a

pro-abortion vote in kansas. those are the headlines on france 24, join us. i am nadia. our top story, nancy pelosi, the speaker of the u.s. house of representatives has left taiwan after a brief but controversial visit. it angered the government in beijing, which sees taiwan as a breakaway province of china in the chinese military is planning drills close to the island in retaliation for her visit. in taipei itself, the president thanked pelosi for making the trip and says her staunch support for taiwan was welcome. antonio reports. >> in the weeks leading up t nay pelosi's visit to taiwan, china threaning military action if a trip were to go ahead. mere hours after the speaker of the house left taipei, china lost no time in preparing military drills, both in air and on see that will encircle the island. they are to last from thursday

to sunday. some as close as 20 kilometers from the taiwan coast. this will improve missile tests and live fire drills. china says pelosi's visit was provocation, there will be repercussions. >> after this visit, i think the chinese government is fully justified in taking the necessary measures to defend ourselves. the consequences of our measures were borne by the american authorities and secessionist forces that want taiwanese independence. >> taiwanese authorities point out that this channel is one of the busiest in the region and that these exercises could amount to a blockade of ports. resolute in the face of chinese brinksmanship, taiwan's president sent a message of defiance. >> facing military threats, taiwan will not back down.

we will continue the defense of democracy. >> taipei has scrambled aircraft to ward off 27 chinese jets. claiming that 22 of them crossed the line of separation between china and taiwan. >> staying with this story earlier on i spoke to taiwan's diplomatic presented of to france. and i started by asking him how concerned he was with china's military. >> i need to say, it is not only taiwan that needs to be worried, but the world needs to be worried. because, as you know, taiwan has the production of the majority of semi conductors, so of course we are worried. but if china would take taiwan it would be the end of the world. everyone needs to be worried about the military exercise of china.

>> you're talking aut potential economic ramifications of these tensions. saying as well that the tensions are going the other way as well, aren't they, because china is importing food products coming out of taiwan and that apparently has imposed economic pressure on taiwan. how bad could that be for the economy in taiwan? >> for this action, it is concerning. food production, i think it is a very small action from china. for the moment, my understanding is that china is not ready to go to war. we are just talking about military exercises. it will begin tomorrow after the departure of nancy pelosi. this span of our food production , i think it is a very, very small part from china and just

wanted to show the big concern. just wanted to show the ability to punish th. >> you don't think china is looking for war at the moment? does that mean that you think that they are in the future? >> we -- if we don't stop the ambition of china, if we do not send them a clear message that the world will be very concerned , then we need to work together. especially a big democracy, among big powers, because at the same time, i have seen the taiwan now. we are a model of a chinese speaking society. we have proved that democracy works, even in a chinese speaking society. d the best proof is during the

covid-19 crisis, we were very successful to manage the crisis. we have these values and it deserves more support. >> taiwan's top representatives speaking to me earlier. >> voting on sweden's entrance into nato. all 30 nato members need to greenlight their memberships before they can be finalized. if they do pass, the addition of sweden and finland would represent the most significant expansion to the alliance since the 1990's. the first ship carrying idle grain out of ukraine since the beginning of the war is making progress today, having sailed through the state -- straight of istanbul bound for lebanon. it's journey has been watched by world leaders and humanitarian groups who hope more ships can be dispatched to ease the global food crisis.

>> as it makes its way through the bosporus strait, the ships set sail for lebanon. russian, ukrainian, turkish and you and officials have given it the green light to continue the journey after carrying out a three hour inspection in >> it will go rough the sea, the mediterranean sea. there, it will be safe, because it will be international waters, where there is no russian aggression, warships or mines. >> this is the first cargo ship to leave ukraine since the outbreak of the war. -- maize to be unloade of main the grain is set to be stopped imports across the black sea, it puts a gmmer of hope for soaring global food prices.

our goal now is regularity. when one ship leaves the port, another will return. >> the agreement signed between moscow and kyiv allows for the safe passage of cargo ships leaving ukraine on condition that they are expected in -- inspected in istanbul. russia can resume grain and fertilizer exports, despite international sanctions. ukraine says 16 other ships are loaded and waiting to depart for the port city of odessa. >> next, in the u.s. state of kansas, voters dended an amendment to the states constitution that would have imposed abortion restrictions. it was a resounding win for the abortion rights movement in the united states, as joe reports. >> jubilation as the results of tuesday's vote in kansas came through. voters elected to reject efforts to remove abortion protections from the midwest states constitution. >> i am super proud to be from kansas tonight and i feel like my state just showed up and told

me that they're going to take care of me and female friends. we are protected tonight. >> after the u.s. supreme court's decision to overturn roe v. wade, a kansas poll is the first of many asking american voters to weigh in on abortion rights this year. the vote campaign could offer a blueprint for abortion rights group looking to harness voter unity in the wake of roe v. wade's reversal. kentucky, vermont and michigan will have abortion on the ballot. kansas allows abortion up to 22 weeks of pregnancy, a more lenient policy than its conservative neighbors. the result has let the democrats hopes that the issue of abortion rights will energize voters in novembers midterms. >> following that vote in kansas, today, washington, president joe biden signed an executive order which is intended to make it easier for women to travel from one state to another to obtain an abortion. to discuss the guardians u.s.

correspondent david joins us live from washington. david, how effective is this order likely to be? >> it is incremental. it is chipping away at at the edges ter the fall of rov. wade. women in states where abortions are banned are able to travel across state borders to other states, where they can get the procedure. it is very important and this does try to shore that up, potentially provide some funding for low income women in that situation, who might find it hard to travel. the government's health care program, medicaid, would essentially make exceptions for them. and give them access to the health department to look into this and take steps, but it is somewhat vague. this order six to clarify the law -- seeks to clarify the law. it's a patchwork of different laws around the country and it

will formalize the collection of health data. the bottom line is joe biden or any president can only do so much. and roe v. wade has been overturned and he will be the first to say it's down to the voters to elect members of congress who can actually formalize the constitutional rights to abortion. >> well, you heard voters in kansas in that report sending something of a resounding message about their desire to protect abortion rights in that state. were you surprised by the extent to which that vote was one? in what was firmly a republican state? >> i think everyone is quite taken aback today. the phrase you keep hearing is political earthquake, because we are talking about kansas here, one of the most conservative states in the u.s.. donald trump won it by 15 percentage points in the 2020 election.

and yet, it was an absolutely resounding vote of abortion rights, clearly not just democrats, but independents and some republicans as well. joe biden said this demonstrates that people believe this decision should be left to women, not to politicians. and it really underscores what many opinion polls have suggested, that the supreme court was out of step with the people on the roe v. wade decision. so, it will be fascinating to see whether other states follow suit and tap into this public anger over this issue. then also, democrats are seeing it as a very good sign of a potential game changer for the midterm elections. so they are expected to struggle against republicans, but i think you will see a lot of democratic candidates now again saying

abortion rights on the ballots. republicans will maybe even try to ban abortion nationally. it could become a very galvanizing issue in november. >> indeed. for now, david schmidt in washington. next in the news from france, where today there has been an explosion at a factory that produces a compound used in gunpowder. the blast occurred in burger rack in the southwest of the region. eight people have been injured, one of them critically. the factory makes it highly flammable compound and the site itself is considered high risk by the european union in the event of an industrial accident. the european union is urging consumers across the continent to reuse water this summer as temperatures soar. here in france, some areas are in the middle of their third heatwave this season and restrictions on homes and businesses have been imposed.

we have the report. >> this resident on the french riviera has stched to drinking bottled water to keep his taps closed as much as possible. the use of water has been limited to 200 liters per day per household and locals are having to change their habits. >> we turn to the top off, but we use the soap. we do not want to use any water. >> the region is experiencing low rainfalls. 70% below normal levels in some areas. businesses are having to cut down water use by half in the case of this restaurant. tens of thousands are facing increasingly strict water rationing. >> it may be tough when you have children. we are retired, so it is ok. we are not too worried. >> plants and flowers are getting watered, we would turn water from the well. >> in the council of paris, authorities have's decided to stop watering public parks

during the day. after the third driest spring on record and a prolonged dry spell since then, rivers and reservoirs are running low nationwide. they may have to reduce output at nuclear power stations as rising water temperatures are reducing the capacity to cool the plants. >> that is about for this news bulletin. thank you for watching.

>> i have a wish. >> since then, we have been through many changes. what are you so afraid of? one thing that put us through those changes was carnal knowledge. >> how about sin? >> the genie out of the bottle, iran and modern classics back on the big screen. that is coming up in today's film show and i am joined by lisa. hi, lisa. a film coming out late august in the u.s. and france, it comes from george miller, it's called 3000 years of longing. it stars tilda swinton and idris elba. it would be hard to make about them without casket you saw it in may, what did you think? >> i think 3000 years is an

acceptable timeframe for a narrative arc, so long as the movie itself does not feel as if it lasts that long. and we are in luck because the director is australia's george miller, who brought us mad max films and they are the polar opposite. miller and his daughter adopted this from a story called the djinn in the ip to -- in the eye. it would've taken me 3000 years to forgive my parents had they named me that. a scholar who is contempt -- content living and traveling on her own peer she buys a souvenir in instant bolt which turns out to contain a genie. who offers three wishes in exchange or his freedom. alethea is a storyteller who tells stories about stories. telling us that is roughly the equivalent of showing a gun at

the start of the movie, you expect it to be used at some point. sure enough, stories about stories are in ample supply. >> ok, this is an epic tale, although it mostly takes place in a hotel room in istanbul. a room that is big enough to accommodate that rather large genie. let's take a look. >> there is no sto about wishing that is not a cautionary tale. >> we all have desires, even if they remain hidden from us. tell us your story and i cannot wait to see where it goes. >> or how it might end. ♪ >> hello. >> hello. >> he will be staying for a while. >> apparently this was a passion project for the director, he might have wished for a better reception. it got quite mixed reviews i believe. >> it did.

this is a strange, visually splendid tale about patients in the passage of time and being careful what you wish for. it both celebrates and mak fun of approaching everying with logic and reason, after all, if you buy a misshapen glass bottle at the bizarre because you like the way it looks and it turns out to have an individual inside who learns her language in a jiffy, tre is no point in saying clearly, this cannot be happening, because it is not possible. it is rather silly, and yet the artistry of those two beads goes a long way. not 3000 years worth though. it is interesting rather than captivating much of the time. admirable rather than enthralling. we should not keep things bottled up, this is true good we all have a kindred spirit out there somewhere. does that point to companionship or something else? this is a nice try with some visually impressive components, but not as satisfying as i would have wished. >> it did not grant your wish is there. we've got another film do out

here in france later this summer. it is the iranian drama layla's brothers written and directed by a director who is only 32 years old. i love this. i believe you are a fan as well. >> oh yeah, there were 21 films competing for the golden palm at the cans film festival. this would've been my top choice, the jury did not agree with me. i've seen it twice and the almost three hours blue bible times. this is a gripping, brilliantly layered story of a poor family who managed not to answer the door every time opportunity knocks. this film cap side swiping me with unforeseen development. i have been marveling, did that just happen? followed a while later by weight, not that, come on, you've got to be kidding me. that's what's going on? the illiterate patriarch lives in a ramshackle house in a crummy neighborhood with his put upon wife and their adult children, layla, the smartest of the bunch. but a woman in a patriarchal society and four sons.

layla's job in an office at a prosperous mall, is the only steady income. the oldest brother works as an attendant in the malls restrooms. odd as it sounds, a public toilet just may be the families one chance at escaping poverty and the precariousness that accompanies it. >> it's those small details and then family saga style sprawling scope like a 19th century novel from russia or france. let's take a look at layla's brothers. >> layla. [speaking foreign language] >> this film has absolutely everything. a dazzling action-packed beginning, suspense to burn, family dynamics you would not

wish on your worst enemy, bad decisions that will have you gasping when you learn just how bad they really were. and it is all wrapped in geopolitical reality. this director, who has under seen just 6.5 released in france last year, the sleeper hit, was an absolutely riveting portrait of drug addicts, drug dealers and cops. he is so talented, i can barely sit still when i talk about him. youeard it here first, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and you will almost certainly get the short end of the stick if you are not only poor but female. >> it is indeed a biting commentary of society and it is worth pointing out that in late june, the head of the ministry of culture and islamic guidance there is that the film was officially banned. ostensibly because it had been screened without government approval. now onto a director who had an outstanding track record on the stage and screen until his death in 2014 for he was age 83. mike nichols.

two of his films have been restored, they are going to be out here in france. one of those, carnal knowledge. tell us more about that film and the man who made it. >> as france commemorates the summer the roundups and deportations of french jews 80 years ago, it is sobering to think how many european jews became the creative background of hollywood could have been victims of the nazi extermination machine, had they not left europe in time. igor mikhail known as mike nichols left berlin for the u.s. in april of 1939, when he was seven years old. that is why we have been privileged to enjoy his satirical standup routines with the great elaine may, his legendary stage where, and his films, such as who is afraid of virginia wolf and the graduate. carnal knowledge has always been a fashioning portrait of the american male psyche penned by jules pfeiffer. but boy, is it interesting a half-century later when we

revise ideas about what is it is not acceptable for a man to do in his pursuit of female companionship and what women should tolerate while being pursued. it spans the 1940's to the early 1970's. following the sex lives of two college roommates played by jack nicholson and -- >> two names that are known quite well. here is a close of carnal knowledge. >> women judge you very quickly. ♪ >> i don't want to get over my head, i got in over my head. you have to be a real [expletive]. i think we could be good together. >> i'm dating your best friend. >> i think i can make out. >> he won't mind. >> incredibly except for the director, the cast are still with us. jack nicholson, art garfunkel, who at the time was known mostly

for his successful folk duo with paul simon. candace bergen and even rita marano. the day of the dolphin is being released in france, adapted from the cold war's entire by dutch satire. the film involves the kidnapping of change to talk dolphins with an eye toward a political assassination. it is science-fiction. >> sounds worth checking out. we are wrapping up the show with another underwater creature. in a way, let's say. the exhibition on it this summer in paris which takes a look at the films of jean. he's not well known outside of france. tell us about him. >> he was born in 1902 and died in 1989. he saw the potential immediately for recording the aquatic and other lifeforms on film. seahorses, octopus, vampire bats. this is in an art museum because it is scientific, historical and unquestionably art. these animal documentaries

with their scientific rigor and today musicians love to write scores for his arresting silent films. probably his most famous is seahorses from the early 1930's, in which he discovered that it is the female who has her way with the mail and makes him carry the eggs in his pouch, which unbalances him. the vampire shows there are scary bats, sucking blood from a rodent set to duke ellington's music. he loved filming octopus and liquid crystals. the show pot lights -- spotlights his companion, and essential collaborative with merchandising ideas like wallpaper and jewelry inspired by seahorse imagery they captured. she also invented a way to stabilize the camera. at least 200 films definitely live on. >> sounds timeless indeed. lisa, thank you for the round up of those movies and that fascinating nature of hybrid

show is on at the photographer you museum in paris. we have a look of some of his underwater scenes. do remember, you can get movie news on our website and we are on social media two. there is more news coming up on france 24, just after this. ♪ roooo

08/03/22 08/03/22 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy: from new york, this is democracy now! >> we want to have freedom and we are not backing away from that. amy: u.s. house speaker nancy pelosi becomes a high striking official to visit taiwan in quarter of a century. china responds with military drills. we'll go to taipe