Japan's government to release emergency rice as prices surge

Japan's government has announced plans to release 210,000 tonnes of emergency rice in response to the staple food's soaring prices. Previously, such a move was reserved for times of emergency, such as major earthquakes, but last month the country's agriculture ministry allowed the release with distribution deemed stagnant. The latest average retail price for a five-kilogram bag was $24, up from $13 last year.