Entertainment
Madagascar receives skull of beheaded king returned by France

Madagascar held a ceremony Tuesday marking the return of three skulls kept by France for 128 years, including one believed to be that of a Malagasy king decapitated by French troops in the 19th century.
France handed over the skulls in Paris on August 27 in the first such restitution since it passed a law in 2023 facilitating the return of human remains taken during its colonial conquests.
The skulls are believed to belong to King Toera, leader of the Sakalava people, who was beheaded by French troops in 1897, and two of his warriors.
They arrived in Madagascar late Monday and were received at the airport by members of the Sakalava group dressed in traditional robes.
Held in three boxes draped with the flag of the Indian Ocean nation, the skulls were driven through the capital Antananarivo to the city’s mausoleum Tuesday, where they were received by President Andry Rajoelina and a gathering of government and Sakalava dignitaries.
They will continue their journey by road to the west coast area of Belo Tsiribihina, about 320 kilometres (200 miles) from the capital, where they are expected to be buried later this week.
The skulls were taken to France as trophies and kept in Paris’s national history museum alongside hundreds of other remains from Madagascar, which declared independence in 1960 after more than 60 years of French colonial rule.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said at the Paris event that a joint scientific committee confirmed they were from the Sakalava people but said it could only “presume” that one belonged to King Toera.
France has in recent years sent back various artefacts taken during its imperial conquests, but each time required special legislation until parliament adopted the law simplifying the repatriation of human remains.
Thumbnail image by Reuters — File image of a skull of Namibian genocide victim
Entertainment
Louis Tomlinson gets honest about grieving Liam Payne

Louis Tomlinson has opened up about the emotional aftermath of Liam Payne’s tragic untimely death.
Louis’ former One Direction bandmate died aged 31 in Buenos Aires after falling from a third floor balcony at the Casa Sur Palmero Hotel on October 16, 2024.
Toxicology report revealed that he had alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his system.
In a new interview with The Independent, Louis shared that he has a hard time accepting that Liam is dead.
“I naively thought that, at this point, I’d unfortunately be a little bit more well versed with grief than other people my age,” he reflected, having lost his mother to leukemia in 2016, and his sister to an accidental overdose in 2019.
“I thought that might mean something, but it didn’t at all. It’s something I’ll never really accept. I don’t think,” he added of Liam’s death.
On Thursday, October 16, tributes poured in for the late singer. His girlfriend Kate Cassidy shared a sweet video of Liam attempting to lift her up and failing.
Liam’s sister Ruth penned a heartbreaking note, writing, “1year, 12months, 52weeks, 365days… whichever way I say it, it still means the most heartbreaking truth that you’re not here any more.”
She added, “When you used to go away on tour, and l’d cry that you’d be gone for a while, I always knew you’d come back, but now I can’t get you home, I can’t meet up with you somewhere in the world, I can’t facetime or text to see how you’re doing, it’s an eternal homesick feeling because we can’t go back.”
Entertainment
PCB confirms tri-nation series to go ahead despite Afghanistan’s pullout

- Final decision to be announced soon, says PCB spokesperson.
- Zimbabwe approached as potential replacement: sources
- Tri-series set to be held in Pakistan from November 17 to 29.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday confirmed that the Tri-Nation T20I series will take place as per schedule, despite Afghanistan pulling out of the tournament amid the recent tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
A PCB spokesperson told Geo News that the event, set to be held in Pakistan from November 17 to 29, will proceed according to the original schedule, as the cricket board is considering options for the third team.
The spokesperson added that the final decision would be announced soon.
Sources privy to the developments indicated that the PCB has approached the Zimbabwe Cricket Board as a potential replacement for Afghanistan. The tri-nation series was originally slated to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, with the final scheduled at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Islamabad and Kabul witnessed heightened tensions since October 12, when the Taliban forces and India-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), alias Fitna al-Khawarij, resorted to an unprovoked attack on Pakistan.
The Pakistan Armed Forces gave a befitting response to the aggression, killing over 200 Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants in a self-defence action. The military’s media wing said that 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom in the clashes with the Taliban forces and the terrorists.
Entertainment
Pakistan to hold Qatar-mediated talks with Afghan Taliban in Doha today: FO

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that a high-level delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will hold talks with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha today (Saturday).
The foreign ministry said that the talks will primarily focus on “immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan” and on restoring “peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border.”
“Pakistan does not seek escalation, urges the Afghan Taliban authorities to honour their commitments to the international community and address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by taking verifiable action against terrorist entities, including the FAK/TTP and FAH/BLA,” the Foreign Office posted on X.
The ministry also appreciated the mediation efforts of Qatar and hopes these discussions contribute to peace and stability in the region.
This is a developing story and is being updated with the latest information.
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