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The article discusses relations between Russia and Western oil companies at a time when some Western nations have sanctioned Russia for its military incursion into the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014. Particular attention is paid to BP PLC, whose chief executive Bob Dudley sits on the board of Russian oil company OAO Rosneft. Igor Sechin, the president of Rosneft and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been sanctioned by the U.S.

The article reports that conglomerate General Electric Co. (GE) is negotiating to buy the transmission-grid and power-generation units of French firm Alstom SA. GE chief executive Jeff Immelt has sought to reduce his company's reliance on its finance business by strengthening its industrial assets. It is believed any deal between GE and Alstom would undergo antitrust review by the European Union.

The article discusses difficulties that have plagued an oil project in Kazakhstan involving state-owned energy company Kaz MunaiGas and Western oil companies including Eni SpA, Total SA, Royal Dutch Shell PLC and others. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev saw the project as a means of modernizing his nation's economy. Instead, it has suffered from cost overruns and faulty pipelines, and as of March 2014 has produced no oil.

The article discusses the economic performance of U.S. household consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G) as of June 21, 2012. According to the article, the company warned that sales and profits would be lower than previously estimated. It also states that many P&G investors were frustrated with the company's inability to gain market share from rival consumer goods firms such as Unilever PLC and Colgate-Palmolive Co. and with P&G chief executive Bob McDonald.

The article reports that Socialist Party candidate François Hollande defeated incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy of France in the runoff election for President held May 6, 2012. Hollande's election is discussed as an indication of increased voter dissatisfaction within the European Union (EU) countries of the euro area with the austerity economic policies supported by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The article discusses the actions being taken by automobile manufacturers and energy companies to limit the impact on their businesses from 2014 U.S. and European Union (EU) economic sanctions against Russia, including oil company Total SA, Ford Motor Co., and oil and gas company BP PLC.

The article reports that French bank BNP Paribas SA may have to pay to settle probes on if the bank violated U.S. sanctions on Iran and other nations in excess of three billion dollars and mentions the French government voiced concerns the U.S. government is imposing its rules beyond U.S. borders.

The article reports that on February 27, 2014 French energy company GDF Suez SA said it had recorded a $20.4 billion impairment charge on assets, a development chief executive Gérard Mestrallet attributed to competition from wind power and other subsidized sources of renewable energy.

The article discusses an earnings report for 2013 from luxury-goods producer Kering SA, with a particular emphasis on how declining sales at its Gucci brand, notably in China, contributed to a 95% drop in net income for the year.

The article examines a trend in the petroleum industry in which major international corporations are purchasing and expanding service stations in Africa due to the increase in automobile ownership there, using French company Total SA as the primary example.

The article reports that executives from French corporations including energy industries firms GDF Suez SA and Alstrom SA will travel to Tehran, Iran to seek business opportunities created by a relaxation of the international economic sanctions on that country.

The article reports on ticket availability for the National Football League (NHL) playoff game between the Green Bay Packers of Green Bay, Wisconsin and the San Francisco 49ers of San Francisco, California as of January 2, 2013, and that race car driver Michael Schumacher's condition is stable.

News briefs on sports are presented including a critical skiing injury suffered by automobile racing driver Michael Schumacher, the dismissal of five National Football League (NFL) coaches and the hiring of football player Tim Tebow as a sportscaster for cable television network ESPN.

The article reports that seven-time Formula One automobile racing champion Michael Schumacher was in critical condition following a skiing accident at the French luxury resort of Meribel on December 29, 2013, in which he suffered a serious head injury.

The article discusses efforts by a consortium of energy companies including Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Eni SpA to identify the source of leaks from a pipeline running from Kazakhstan's Kashagan oil field, with microscopic cracks having emerged as a focus of inquiry.

The article, citing anonymous sources, states that production of petroleum at the Kashagan oil field in Kazakhstan will not resume before 2014 following its closure in October 2013 due to a dangerous natural gas leak.

The article states Électricité de France SA has an agreement with the British government to build two nuclear reactors in England for $26 billion, according to an October 21, 2013 announcement from the French utility company.

The article discusses Great Britain's announcement in October 2013 which invited Chinese companies to invest in British nuclear-power projects and to have a potential majority stake in them. The article notes the British government's deal with Électricité de France SA for the construction of two reactors. It also notes the uncertain role China National Nuclear Corp. and China General Nuclear Power Group would have in the operation of the reactors.

The article reports that executives at ten European energy production firms including E.ON AG, GDF Suez SA, and Eni SpA have publicly asked politicians to end subsidies for wind and solar power, claiming that the subsidies have led to higher household utilities bills and could lead to blackouts.

The article looks at a deal between British authorities and French firm Electricité de France (EDF) SA as of October 2013 that would allow EDF to build and operate a pair of nuclear reactors on the west coast of England

World news briefs are presented as of July 16, 2013 including preparations for the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, British lawmakers' crackdown on Prince Charles of Wales' taxes, and an attack on a rebel-held village in Syria that killed 29.

News briefs on corporations are presented including the acquittal in France of energy industries firm Total SA on bribery charges, an announcement by baby food manufacturer Danone SA that it will cut prices of infant formula in China and the return after a medical leave of absence of John C. Lechleiter, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of pharmaceutical industry firm Eli Lilly & Co.

The article reports that on May 23, 2013 separate attacks by suicide bombers believed connected to the militant group Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao) killed 20 people at a uranium mine and military base in Niger.

The article discusses oil firm Total SA's plans project to extract natural gas from the Laggan-Tormore region of North Sea near the Shetland Islands, Scotland to meet British and European energy demands.

The article discusses the growing resistance of France and Great Britain and their respective prime ministers, François Hollande and David Cameron, against the European Union's (EU) embargo on transferring weapons to rebels in Syria against regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad..

The article discusses plans by the administration of French President François Hollande to lower its forecast for growth in French gross domestic product for 2013,.

The article examines the policies of European Union countries regarding nuclear power plants, noting that the French government plans to close a plant owned by Electricité de France SA (EDF) in 2016 to promote renewable energy despite potentially increasing dependencies on fossil-fuel imports.

The article discusses the exploration of a corporate merger between the two French water and waste utility companies Veolia Environnement SA and Suez Environnement SA in October 2012.

The article discusses economic austerity measures proposed by French President François Hollande in September 2012, with a focus on economic conditions in France and Hollande's plan to reduce the national budget deficit through tax increases and spending cuts.

This article reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy describes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a liar during a conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama at a summit of the Group of 20 in Cannes in November 2011.

The article reports that Saudi Arabia has pledged to donate 3 billion dollars to the armed forces of Lebanon in an attempt to resist the Hezbollah militia as of December 2013. Topics include the comments of the Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, the implications of the aid package for the region, and foreign relations between Lebanon and the U.S.

The article looks at politics and government in France as of July 2014, reporting former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is an official suspect in a corruption investigation and discussing the implications for his prospects of regaining the leadership of the UMP political party.

The article presents world news briefs as of June 17, 2014 on topics which involve a reported misappropriation of electricity grid system funds in China, the sentencing of three people to death for their role in a car crash in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China in 2013, and the departure of the racing driver Michael Schumacher from a hospital.

The article discusses a political and social crisis in the aftermath of the Russian government's intervention in Ukraine in 2014, focusing on a push for Europe to develop its own shale oil industry so that the region can protect its energy supply and discontinue its reliance on Russia for gas.

The article presents news briefs on several topics including semiconductor producer Entegris Inc.'s proposed buyout of rival ATMI Inc., a new plant in Mexico that German car maker BMW AG is considering, and plans by retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to invest $451 million in its Canadian business.

The article reports that French prosecutors have launched a formal investigation into the practices of France Télécom SA's chief executive officer (CEO) Stéphane Richard for his alleged role in a conspiracy to commit fraud after an arbitration ruling that awarded a prominent French businessman in 2008.

This section offers world news briefs including the trade deficit recorded by Japan in October 2011, the decision of Prairie Bible Institute to contract the Royal Canadian Mounted Police over alleged sexual abuse committed by the institution's former employees, and the electoral alliance between opposition Green and Socialist parties in France.

The article discusses complications to conglomerate General Electric Co.'s (GE's) plans to acquire the energy assets of French company Alstom SA. On April 27, 2014 Siemens AG, a German rival of GE's, issued a counteroffer. Information is presented about the involvement of French Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg, who considers it his duty to protect French jobs and otherwise safeguard France's economic sovereignty.

The article discusses the kidnapping of approximately 40 foreigners, including U.S. citizens, at a natural-gas field in Algeria, with information on the militant Islamist group claiming responsibility in retaliation for airstrikes by the French military in Mali. Topics include the group's possible links to the terrorist organization al Qaeda and the U.S. response to the hostage situation.

The article reports that French police surrounded the apartment building in Toulouse, France that is the residence of Mohamed Merah, a 24-year old they have identified as the suspect in the murders of seven people, including soldiers and schoolchildren. Law enforcement officials said that Merah had claimed responsibility for the murders when talking to a police negotiator.