The French overseas territories, including French Polynesia and the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, will lead the festivities at this year's Bastille Day military parade.
France tries to protect its citizens living in Ivory Coast as the country plunges into civil war. Also, the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte becomes France’s 101st department. Finally, the first ever film about a president in office is set to be released, and it is all about Nicolas Sarkozy’s rise to power.
Food and wine receive extensive coverage in this morning’s French papers. How can small bistros be kept open? Should fast food chains sell halal burgers? How did French wine exporters get away with selling fake pinot noir to the American market? These and other stories in today’s French press review… THURSDAY, 18th FEBRUARY 2010
Voters in the overseas French departments of Guiana and Martinique have rejected greater autonomy from France in Sunday’s referendum polls. Nearly 70 percent of people in Guiana and 79 percent of Martinique voters favoured the “no” ballot.
Voting has begun in French Guiana and in the Caribbean island of Martinique in a referendum to determine whether the two French departments should have a greater say in how they run their own affairs.
Paul Girot de Langlade, the coordinator of a political peace process on the French island of Reunion, in the Indian Ocean, has been suspended pending an inquiry into charges that he directed racist abuse at airport security personnel.
The USTKE trade union and Aircal leadership have reached a draft agreement in New Caledonia, after clashes between security forces and protesters flared up again in the French Pacific territory, injuring two policemen and four activists.
The French government has decided to send police reinforcements to New Caledonia as clashes between security forces and protesters flared up again in the French Pacific territory, causing injuries to two policemen and four activists.
The pro-independence union USTKE has blocked industrial zones in New Caledonia, in the Pacific, in protest against layoffs at the local airline, Aircal. Violence flared at the blockade causing injuries to dozens of police and resulting in 11 arrests.
Overseas France 
