#France

#France

IKEA is well known for its monster-sized warehouses in major cities, but bosses have a plan to open new format stores in smaller towns in 2026, as it seeks to expand its footprint in France. The Swedish furniture brand is planning to open a new generation of smaller stores in medium-sized towns and cities across France, "where [they are not] yet present (...) in existing spaces and buildings that [they could] rent rather than build."

A French homeowner has unearthed a staggering 700,000 ($800,000) fortune in gold bars and coins while excavating for a new swimming pool in his garden, local officials have confirmed. The unnamed individual stumbled upon the valuable hoard at his property in Neuville-sur-Saone, a town near Lyon, back in May. He promptly reported the discovery to the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs.

Two French policemen have been charged for allegedly raping a young woman while she was in custody, with one of the suspects apparently filming the act on his phone. The officers were initially suspended after the woman accused them of assaulting her earlier this week while she was in custody at a court in Bobigny, a town in the northeastern suburbs of Paris.

If your vehicle is missing, the first step is to check if it has been towed. Here's how to do so online in France. If you find that your car is missing, before filing a police report, you might want to check to see if it has been towed. Helpfully, the French government has a dedicated online service via the Service-Public website that allows you to do just that.

Four Bulgarians went on trial in France Wednesday accused of desecrating a Jewish memorial with red handprints last year, which prosecutors think may have been foreign interference linked to Russia. The vandalism was staged during heightened tensions in France over the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas that broke out in October 2023. The trial is the first of its kind in France, one of a series of similar cases suspected of having been orchestrated by a foreign power

French criminal law currently defines rape as any kind of sexual penetration committed using violence, coercion, threat or surprise. It does not specifically mention consent. But after the change the criminal code will define rape or sexual assault as any non-consensual act. It states consent must be informed, specific, prior and revocable and cannot be inferred solely from the silence or lack of reaction of the victim.

Most garden tasks are just about making the place look aesthetically pleasing - but there's one that is a legal obligation and could even be a matter of life or death. This is débroussaillement (pronounced day-broo-say-eh-mon) - the French term for clearing away brush, vegetation and dead leaves. The reason that this is important is related to wildfires - and in fact, homeowners in some parts of France, where wildfires are common, have a legal obligation to do this every year.

England have booked their place at the 2026 World Cup and so attention turns to how they might fare in North America next summer - and how some of their rivals are looking. Thomas Tuchel's contract runs to the end of the tournament and the feeling has been that England have gone all out to get to this point.

Morocco topped Group C before getting past South Korea and then the USA in the knockout rounds. France, meanwhile, only finished third in Group E but squeezed into the knockouts and have continued to squeeze their way through the tournament, beating Japan 1-0 and then Norway 2-1. It should be a tight game with the opportunity to check out some future stars, so read on for all the information on how to watch Morocco vs France online, on TV, and from anywhere today.

In France, there are several types of speed cameras, but arguably the most discreet type is the mobile 'radar' car ( les radars mobiles or voitures-radars). These are speed cameras installed in police and private vehicles, and they drive on French roads. Normally, these vehicles can be recognised if they are operated by gendarmes or police (and are therefore marked), but many are run by private companies that operate unmarked cars.

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina reportedly left the country on Sunday amid growing public discontent with his leadership. Rajoelina's departure was confirmed on Monday and comes after he lost the backing of a key faction of the military, members of whom he accused of instigating a coup aganst him. News of the president's departure was confirmed by opposition leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, who cited conversations with presidency staff in comments made to Reuters.

This covers any types of short-term (less than 90 days at a time) rentals to tourists - that would include renting out on Airbnb or similar online platforms, renting as a gite or rentals organised through other means. Any property listed as a maison secondaire (second home) that is rented out to tourists, even just for a couple of weeks of the year, now needs to be registered with local authorities as a meuble de tourisme.

After living in New York and Berlin, I moved to France four years ago with my French husband. At first, I experienced some culture shock, but my daily habits ended up changing for the better. Living here has made me more organized and intentional when it comes to chores, errands, and meals. As someone who's spent most of her adult life in major cities like New York and Berlin, I never thought I'd be able to live without the conveniences of a fast-paced, populous environment.

"I went to the Esplanade restaurant with my American friend. It was my second time going there, and I wanted to show her this wonderful restaurant! We were charged for menu items we did not order (twice...). "The markup was huge... it was a shame because the first time, I'd had such a lovely experience with my husband. "When you want to share the beauty of France with someone and it turns ugly, it's like watching a loved one fail at something they're typically good at," Taurie said.