Country profile: France Sep 13, 2009
It is further divided into 100 departements, four of which - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and R;union - are geographically distant from Europe. Government in France is known for its high degree of centralisation but in March 2003 parliament approved amendments to the constitution allowing for the devolution of quite wide-ranging powers to the regions and departements. (BBC News -- Europe)
* World News Quick Take Jun 30, 2009
Frenchwoman Eugenie Blanchard is actually several weeks older than Lauria, but lives in Guadeloupe, an overseas department of France in the Caribbean. The crown of oldest living person in Europe now passes to an Englishwoman, 113-year-old Florrie Baldwin, who was born on March 31, 1896, according to a ranking compiled by the Gerontology Research Group. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
In France, Rue89 brings readers into the newsroom Mar 6, 2009
It also reported unrest that has hit the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe well before most of the mainland press. With a handful of journalists and no major investor to provide financial backing, Rue89 tries to make a virtue out of necessity, reacting quickly and staying much closer to its readership than big papers can. (International Herald Tribune)
Sarkozy fears island revolt could spread to France Feb 20, 2009
PARIS: The public revolt on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe has claimed its first victim as an increasingly embattled Nicolas Sarkozy staked his presidency on efforts to calm social unrest caused by the economic crisis ... Burning roadblocks reportedly manned by armed bands were erected around Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe's biggest city, where 70 per cent of people live in social housing ... But as the Guadeloupe crisis heats up and shows signs of spreading to Martinique and French... (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
