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The article discusses allegations of price-fixing in France. The nation's Autorité de la Concurrence fined consumer-products companies Procter & Gamble Co., Henkel AG, and Colgate-Palmolive Co. a collective $484 million for allegedly colluding on soap prices between 1997 and 2004. Unilever PLC was also complicit in the scheme but received immunity in exchange for cooperating with government investigators.

The article discusses the Association for the Mutual Assistance of the French Nobility, an organization in France that aims to assist persons of noble lineage. Nobility confers no formal benefits in France, and some nobles find themselves financially strained to maintain old castles and such. Association vice president Pierre de Raffin says some nobles need help elevating their social status.

The article reports that the sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp. (CIC) has agreed to purchase a 30% stake in the energy-exploration-and-production operations of French energy-exploration-and-utility company GDF Suez SA. The proposed sale, yet to be approved by the GDF Suez board, would be the latest in a string of acquisitions by CIC in Western energy and natural resources.

The article discusses dissension within the ranks of OuBaPo, a French experimental-comic-book movement. Former OuBaPo member Gilles Climent says the group has not succeeded in its initial goal of rethinking the comic book. Jean-Christophe Menu and Lewis Trondheim, who have both quit OuBaPo, argued over whether the organization had gotten too commercial.

The article discusses an antipiracy law in France under which an agency reporting to the Ministry of Culture seeks to identify those who download from the Internet copyrighted music and films. Perpetrators are sent warning letters, and after three incidents risk losing their Internet access for one year.

The article discusses concerns among independent book stores in France over electronic books. A 1981 French law the specifies no printed book can sell for less than 95% of its cover price does not apply to digital media. Senator Jacques Legendre has introduced a bill aimed at preventing a price war for electronic books similar to that which occurred in the U.S.

The article discusses French comedian Stéphane Guillon. Several political figures including French President Nicolas Sarkozy were the targets of Guillon's caustic humor during his broadcasts on a government-financed radio station in France. Guillon's dismissal following his ridicule of station manager Philippe Val has generated protests from listeners.

The article discusses efforts by the General Commission of Terminology and Neology in France to settle on a French equivalent for the English term "cloud computing." A phrase that translates to "computing in cloud" in English drew opposition from several Commission members including Jean Saint-Geours and Etienne Guyon.

The article discusses frayed relations between the town of Luxeuil-les-Bains, France and Wallingford, England. Thirty years ago the two agreed to become "twin towns" for the purpose of promoting cultural understanding. Wallingford would like to terminate that arrangement, though, claiming their French counterpart seldom reciprocates expressions of goodwill.

The article discusses consultant Xavier Renou of France, who teaches demonstrators how to chain themselves to trees, endure police interrogations, and engage in other actions related to protest. Amid a global economic crisis his services are in great demand. However, he still finds protest a difficult way to make a living.

The article focuses on the plans of French President François Hollande to update and expand his political powers under the state-of-emergency statute in France, and to overhaul the security policies of the country following the terrorist attacks in Paris.

The article discusses Jean d'Orleans, Duke of Vendome. Known by some as Prince Jean, d'Orleans can trace his lineage back to the French monarchy that was overthrown in 1789. Prince Jean is ready to position himself on the throne should France decide it needs a king. In 2004, however, fewer than 1% of voters indicated a desire to pick a king by referendum.

The article discusses modern-day jousting. According to the International Jousting Association, about 1000 jousters participate worldwide, with 200 of those competitively. Fred Piraux of Belgium is considered by some to be among the world's top jousters, as is Tino Lombardi of France. Rivalry exists between the two men.

The article reports that authorities in France and Switzerland are investigating charges that the French engineering company Alstom SA paid hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to acquire contracts in Asia and South America between 1995-2003. The investigation indicates the more stringent attitude European governments have adopted towards bribery by their international business enterprises, a practice which has long been illegal in the U.S.

The article reports that Frenchman Bruno Le Boursicaud was crowned the new king of the sport of Pétanque, or lawn bowling. Le Boursicaud has become so famous for his lawn bowling accomplishments that he has gotten his own website, t-shirt line, and even sells G-strings with his initials. He will represent France at the sports world championship in Thailand in September 2007.

The article reports that beginning in June 2012 French expatriates in each of 11 regions of the world will elect a representative to the French Parliament, and presents commentary on campaigning by candidates including Julien Balkany, who is seeking election as the representative from the U.S. and Canada.

The article discusses a plan for reorganization announced by French company Alcatel-Lucent SA.

The article features the French weekly newspaper "Le Canard Enchainé," including its philosophy and circulation.

The article reports on the decision of France Télécom SA to end the Minitel, a text-only service that was introduced in France before the Internet did, by June 30, 2012 because the software architecture that it runs on is now obsolete.

The article reports on the assertion of allies of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), that he will return to politics in France despite the sexual-assault case against him.

This article reports on the move by France to raise its spending to secure its research and development related to safety of its nuclear installations.

The article reveals a plan by Bolloré SA to launch several electric cars in the Paris, France market.

The article reports on the protests by Muslims driven by the implementation of a French law on April 11, 2011 that bans people from covering their face in public.

The article reports on a five-course banquet hosted by academic Jean-Robert Pitte at the Château de Versailles in France as part of a fund-raising effort for a project aimed at constructing a grand Cité de la Gastronomie.

The article reports that France has resurrected its border with Italy in response to the surge in migration unleashed by North African unrest.

The article reports on strikes held by labor unions in France on October 12, 2010 to protest a bill seeking to increase the retirement age.

The article discusses the increase of halal food available to Muslims in France.

The article reports on the deportation plans of the French government for hundreds of foreign Gypsies who are staying in the country illegally.

The article reports on the ruling of the competition authority of France, the Authorité de la Concurrence, on June 30, 2010 stating that the Adwords online advertising service of Google Inc. has discriminated against French firm Navx.

The article reports on the plan of French telecommunications operator France Télécom SA to bid alongside French magazine owner Groupe SFA PAR for a controlling stake in the newspaper "Le Monde."

The article reports on the decision by France to allow its online horse-racing and sports-betting industry to engage in competition.

The article reports on the plan of the management of French daily newspaper Le Monde to sell a majority stake in the company, ending almost 60 years of control by journalists who hold a majority stake in publishing firm Le Monde SA.

The article reports on the extension of the tenure of Maurice Lévy as chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman at the French advertising company Publicis Groupe SA after the expiration of his contract on December 31, 2011.

The article reports that former Vivendi SA chief executive officer (CEO) Jean-Marie Messier will face trial in France on June 2, 2010 on charge of misleading investors about the financial condition of the company.

The article reports on the challenges facing the French and British governments as they implement antipiracy laws, one of which the costs involved in the campaign.

The article reports that the shareholders of the French defense-to-media conglomerate Lagardère SCA will vote in April 2010 on a proposed shake up of its corporate structure.

The article reports on a preliminary investigation ordered by French prosecutors in April 2010 into allegations that management practices at telecommunications company France Télécom SA led several of its employees to commit suicide in recent years.

The article reports on the decline in full-year profit posted by media and telecommunications conglomerate Vivendi SA based in Paris, France in 2009, which is said to stem from the money it set aside for legal damages.

The article reports on the decline in sales and profit posted by the French advertising group Publicis Groupe SA in 2009, but a rebound in revenue is expected by the company in 2010 as the conditions of the economy improve.

The article reports that a court in Paris, France has ordered eBay Inc. to pay Louis Vuitton 200,000 euros in damages as it found that the online auctioneer harmed the image of the luxury brand after it paid to have Internet searches directed to its site.

The article reports on the plan of the French government to grant a loan of about 2 billion euros, aimed at enhancing the Internet networks in the country in 2010.

The article reports that chief executive Jeffrey Immelt of General Electric Co. (GE) was in Paris, France on November 25, 2009 trying to accelerate talks to acquire the minority stake of Vivendi SA in NBC Universal. It notes that GE has settled a deal to give cable firm Comcast Corp. control over NBC Universal. It cites that GE and Vivendi have been in a state of disagreement over the valuation of the stake. One of the issues that need to be resolved is the desire of Vivendi to be paid at least part of its share before a deal with Comcast would close.

The article reports that Vivendi SA of France beat an offer of Telefónica SA of Spain for a majority stake in telecommunication operator Global Village Telecom (GVT) of Brazil. According to Vivendi, it had acquired 37.9% of GVT and had irrevocable options to purchase another 19.6% of the firm. Chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy of Vivendi mentions the plan of the company to be present in Brazil for the long term.

The article reports on the efforts of French police to find Toni Musulin, the driver of an armored van who had disappeared along with a cash of about 11 million euros that was loaded from a branch of Bank of France in Lyon. Police officers cited their suspicion that Musulin had alleged participation in the robbery. They also mentioned that the global positioning system (GPS) installed on the Loomis truck had been removed. They said that the banknotes' register numbers serve as their primary lead.