France

Investors are increasingly interested in whether this temporary boost can offset weak demand and the mounting competition of Asian producers. The Middle East conflict has tightened supply conditions, which have helped to support pricing. This has given breathing space to Europe's chemical sector. However, weak demand, overcapacity globally and increasing competition from Asia are still weighing on the long-term outlook of the industry. Investors are also interested in whether the companies have reported sustained volume gains or only temporary price increases, as well their outlooks for second half of the calendar year. Brenntag, BASF, and Evonik are among the chemical...

Clariant announced on Friday that it is rejecting the damages claim of 1.1 billion euros ($1.26 billion) filed by Dow 'Europe against four companies. The claim was made for an alleged violation of competition law in the ethylene buying market. In the past, Swiss specialty chemical manufacturers have received similar claims from OMV BASF and TotalEnergies. Dow announced in a letter to? that it filed a claim for "significant losses" sustained by its European operations, claiming the defendants' anticompetitive conduct lowered ethylene prices. The European Commission fined Clariant in 2020, Orbia of Mexico, and Celanese of the United States 260...

The Mediterranean Sea's high temperatures, which have limited the availability of cooling water for gas plants in southern France, could lead to a gas plant going offline on Thursday evening. This would add further pressure to an energy system that is already under stress due to reduced nuclear output. Early summer heatwaves have caused temperatures to rise to unheard of levels in Europe, leading water shortages, fires and even deaths. The French utility EDF has issued a?restriction? notice for its 930 megawatt Martigues power plant. This is the first time in this summer that an electricity plant powered by gas...

The operator of Kazakhstan's Kashagan Oilfield announced?on Thursday? that an international arbitral tribunal has issued a restraining order prohibiting Kazakhstan from enforcing an environmental fine. The Kazakh Justice Ministry announced on Tuesday that Kashagan's operator must pay a fine of $4.90 billion ($2.3 trillion tenge) by July 20, 2012. The country is involved in arbitration with oil companies that work on its oilfields. It accuses them of environmental violations and corrupt practices. The North Caspian Operating Company, Kashagan’s operator, stated in a statement: "The Arbitral Tribunal has issued a Restraining Order which prohibits the Republic to take any measures to...

China said on Friday that it would increase cooperation with Namibia, particularly in the energy, agriculture, infrastructure and minerals sectors. This was during talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Namibian president Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah, which took place?in Beijing. Nandi-Ndaitwah is on a 7-day trip to China, since Sunday. He's seeking investment from China, the second-largest country in the world and the top lender. The goal of the trip is to implement the election promises to create jobs and diversify Namibia's economy. "In Namibia we affirm an unwavering commitment (to) this longstanding friendship" between Namibia and China, said Nandi Ndaitwah....

The International Energy Agency said that the recent escalation of hostilities between the U.S., and 'Iran, could change its 'forecast of an 'important oi l market surplus next year. The global oil market received some relief last'month, as a peace deal between the U.S.A. and the 'Iran opened the Strait. Its closure had effectively cut off 'as much as 14 million barrels of crude oil per day during the height of the biggest oil supply crisis ever. The agency reported that global oil production rose by 4.1 mbpd in June but was still 9.4 mbpd lower than pre-war levels. The...

DAMASCUS/PARIS 7 July - Patrick Pouyanne, the Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, will meet with his syrian counterparts to discuss signing a contract for exploration on Tuesday, he said. Pouyanne, a member of a French delegation accompanying French president Emmanuel Macron to Syria on Tuesday was 'overshadowed' by bomb attacks that took place in Damascus. Total and the Syrian Petroleum Company signed a "memorandum" of understanding (MOU) in May to explore an offshore block off the Mediterranean. In the wake of U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, it has recently talked about the need for pipelines to be built through...

ADNOC Distribution is a subsidiary owned by Abu Dhabi’s state oil giant. It announced on Tuesday that it had signed a definitive agreement to purchase 100% of Shell’s downstream business in South Africa, as the company pursues its expansion abroad. The company stated that the implied enterprise value for 100% of the shares capital was about $1 billion, before adjustments for working capital and net debt at closing. ADNOC Distribution announced that the deal for Shell Downstream South Africa, which includes wholesale fuel, aviation, and lubricants operations as well as 580 company and dealer owned fuel stations, will close in...

The Syrian state news agency said that French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Syria Monday. This was the 'first visit by a European Union Head of State to Damascus'since rebels led President Ahmed al-Sharaa overthrew Bashar al-Assad 2024. The visit highlights Syria's geopolitical change under Sharaa. A former al Qaeda leader, Sharaa has built close ties to Western and Middle Eastern countries that shunned Assad as he tries to rebuild a nation shattered after 13 years of war. "I'm here to affirm France’s commitment to the Syrian People. "I am here to affirm France's commitment to the Syrian people. Let's...

These are the most popular?stories from the Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy. Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate oil companies that have not reduced gasoline prices in line with the falling crude cost, accusing them of "gouging". The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for up to 35 billion dollars worth of Thaad interceptors?to replenish U.S. stocks after the 'Iran War. SK Hynix, a memory-chip giant, plans to raise more than $29 billion via a Nasdaq IPO to fund its expansion...

The U.S.-Iran diplomatic relationship has resulted in a reduction of gasoline prices for Americans. This is the sixth consecutive 'weekly drop, and a 15% decrease from the peak reached in May. According to GasBuddy, the?national average gasoline price fell by 14.1 cents per gallon in the past week. It was $3.85 a gallon on Sunday. Prices fell in the majority of states. GasBuddy data revealed that gasoline prices dropped by 25 cents per gallon over the last week in Colorado, 22 cents in Arizona, and 21 cents (per gallon) in Ohio. This drop could ease the pressure on 'U.S. Donald...

The French economy is set to grow modestly in '2026, as a spike in oil prices squeezes consumers. This will only be partially offset by a recovery in industrial production, according to the national statistics agency INSEE. INSEE's latest outlook forecast that the euro zone's 2nd-largest economy will grow?0.7% in this year following a 0.9% growth last year. The oil price spike caused by the Iran War would be a 0.2 to 0.3 point drag on the economy. INSEE stated that as companies pass higher costs on to consumers, the households will 'bear the brunt' of the energy crisis due...

Local authorities reported that a wildfire spread rapidly through several towns near Frejus, France, on Sunday. It threatened homes and forced the evacuation of several hamlets due to'strong winds' and drought conditions. BFM TV reported that local prefect Simon Babre said, "The fire spread very quickly in this heatwave and extreme dryness." Prefect's Office said that the fire had burned about 180 hectares (445 acres), by Sunday evening. Television images showed large flames behind hillside villas that are typical of the French Riviera. Thick black smoke billowed over pine and cypress trees. The fire forced the suspension of train services...

F irefighters, backed by 30 planes, struggled to contain a fire in northeastern Spain that has destroyed an area as large as San Francisco. The wildfire forced the evacuation of over 1,000 people. Recent heatwaves have left the vegetation tinder dry across most of Europe. The recent heatwaves in Europe have caused temperatures to reach unprecedented levels, which scientists attribute to climate change. They are also causing crop damage, wildfires and thousands of deaths. According to Climate Monitor, on Friday the average high temperature across Western Europe was predicted to be 28.5 degrees Celsius (81.5 degree Fahrenheit), a 4.2 C...

Authorities announced on Monday that six victims of one of Spain's most deadly wildfires in recorded history have been identified. Meanwhile, forensic teams continued to work on confirming the identities of six other people through DNA analysis. Authorities said that the victims included a married Spanish and British couple. Other victims identified include a British woman and man, a French woman, and a Belgian. All of the victims were adults. The death toll now stands at 13. A 93-year old British woman died from burn injuries in hospital Sunday. Seven people were also?injured by the fire, which scorched approximately 7,000...

Officials said that strong winds will exacerbate the fires. The European Union announced on Monday that it would be sending four waterbombing planes from Sweden and Cyprus to France, as well as more than 100 firefighters to assist emergency teams near Perpignan. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said on X that "Europe stands with France". In a post to?X, Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, the local prefect, said that the fire had injured 16 people including four firefighters and burned 4,600 hectares (11,367 acres) of land in the foothills near the French Pyrenees. The early summer...

The heatwave in June that sent temperatures soaring across Europe has'recorded 3700 deaths over the normal number. Authorities have warned that the figures are preliminary, and may rise. Experts say that the heatwave which lasted between June 20 and 28 was the worst ever recorded in Europe. It caused disruptions to the power generation system, damaged infrastructure, and overwhelmed the healthcare systems. Scientists said that climate change was most likely to blame for the extreme heat. Stephanie Rist, French Health Minister, told local TV on Friday that there were 2,025 excess death in France due to the heatwave. The increase...

Undertaker Zouhaier Hertelli has received frantic?calls? from families, retirement communities, and the police, all desperate to find space in a refrigerated morgue for those who have died due to the heatwave that is sweeping France. France's Public Health Agency said that there were at least 1,000 extra deaths between last Wednesday and Sunday. The numbers are not final, however, as they will likely increase. Hertelli’s funeral home, located in Orly near Paris, can store 32 bodies. All are currently occupied. Hertelli pointed to the compartments with labels indicating the name of deceased, date of arrival at the funeral home, and...

The public health agency announced on Sunday that France had recorded 1,000 "excess" deaths due to the heatwave sweeping Europe. It warned, however, that the true number was likely higher. Sante Publique, which has compiled a preliminary list of deaths, said that the majority of deaths involved elderly people. It also predicted that the mortality rate would rise as more information becomes available on deaths in residential care and homes. Europeans are suffering through a scorching heatwave, which has been linked to at least dozens of deaths. The heatwave has also caused power disruptions and damaged infrastructure. Scientists said that...

The heatwave in France this week was one of the worst ever recorded. Many city dwellers sought any refuge they could find. They checked into hotels for air conditioning and pools. On Wednesday, temperatures in 'Paris' reached a record of?40.9° Celsius (105.62° Fahrenheit), a day after France had its hottest recorded day since records began. Few private apartments, especially in the capital with its dense population, have air conditioning. Around three-quarters (75%) of Paris roofs are made of sheets of zinc. This material is a heat-absorber and conductor. This has caused a rush for hotels in both cities and outside....

The French development minister made an 11th-hour appeal to the World Bank, Thursday. He urged?it not to give in to pressure from the United States, its largest shareholder, and to stick to the climate finance target that is due to expire at the end this month. The U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has asked the World Bank to abandon its target to dedicate 45% to climate-related lending and instead focus on core development, including a returning to fossil fuels projects. Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) has been extended for an additional year, but it is likely to expire without...

Ulysse Zackary, a 21-year-old Parisian woman who lives in an attic apartment beneath zinc roofs, has melted soap bars and the pressure inside wine bottles is pushing the corks out. She sleeps with wet towels in order to deal with the record-breaking heatwave. He said that the 9-square metre (97-square foot) apartment became "an oven" within a few sunny hours. This highlights the challenges facing residents in Paris and London, as rising temperatures reveal the shortcomings of homes designed to retain heat rather than reflect it. Western Europe is gripped by a heatwave which has caused power outages, closed schools...

The French development minister made an 11th-hour appeal to the World Bank on Thursday. He urged it to "resist the pressure of its largest shareholder, the United States, and stick to a climate financing target that is due to expire at the end this month. The U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has asked the World Bank to abandon its target to dedicate 45% to climate-related lending and instead focus on core development, including a resurgence in fossil fuel projects. CCAP (Climate Change Action Plan) has been extended for a year, but many Europeans and other World Bank investors are...

On Thursday, the mayor of Paris warned busy Parisians that they should slow down as large parts Western Europe remain in the grips of a deadly, heatwave which has killed dozens of people, caused power outages, and closed schools and cultural landmarks. In the face of a heatwave in France, Sebastien lecornu activated the highest health service mobilisation level. This meant that non-urgent procedures could be cancelled so as to concentrate on those who are affected by the weather. Paris experienced another scorching day on Wednesday after temperatures in France's capital reached a record high of 40.9 degrees Celsius (105.6...