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Madagascar receives skull of beheaded king returned by France

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Madagascar receives skull of beheaded king returned by France


Men carry the three Sakalava skulls as descendants of the Sakalava King Toera bow during a welcome ceremony for their restitution to Madagascar from France at the Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo on September 1, 2025. — AFP

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





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‘The Voice’ star Dylan Carter died at 24: Cause of death revealed

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‘The Voice’ star Dylan Carter died at 24: Cause of death revealed


‘The Voice’ star Dylan Carter died at 24: Cause of death revealed

Dylan Carter, the singer who captivated all four judges with his audition on The Voice season 24, has died at the age of 24 following a car crash in Colleton County, South Carolina. 

The Colleton County coroner has ruled his death accidental, caused by blunt force injuries sustained in the collision.

According to TMZ, Carter was driving a 2026 Tesla sedan alone just after 11pm when the vehicle veered off the road, struck a pole and a fence, and rolled. 

He was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. He was taken to hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Carter made a lasting impression on The Voice in 2023 when, at just 20 years old, he auditioned with a rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Look to You, a performance he dedicated to his late mother. 

It prompted all four coaches to turn their chairs: Gwen Stefani, John Legend, Reba McEntire and Niall Horan. 

Carter chose McEntire as his coach but was eliminated during the Battle Rounds.

His family confirmed the news of his passing on Sunday in a Facebook statement, describing their grief and celebrating the mark he had left on his community. 

“As a gifted singer, he frequently entertained our community with his performances at Town events. His kindness and charm earned him immense respect, and his absence will be deeply felt,” the statement read. 

The family concluded simply: “He was much more to our family than an entertainer, he was our friend and we are deeply saddened.”





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‘Euphoria’ star Jessica Blair Herman unveils truth about feud amongst cast

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‘Euphoria’ star Jessica Blair Herman unveils truth about feud amongst cast


‘Euphoria’ star Jessica Blair Herman unveils truth about feud amongst cast

Euphoria star Jessica Blair Herman has officially dismissed long-standing rumours of a feud among the cast, insisting that the atmosphere on the set of the hit HBO show was actually pure bliss. 

Speaking on the 27 April episode of Good Day NY, the 39-year-old actress, who joined the cast for season three, told host Rosanna Scotto that the actors genuinely got along and were focused on creating a professional environment. 

She was particularly keen to shut down talk of a rift between the show’s biggest stars, Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, stating firmly that there was “no drama” and that everyone was simply there to do the job.

Herman, who plays the judgmental neighbour to Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi’s characters, explained that the perceived distance between some cast members likely comes down to the way the show is filmed rather than any personal animosity. 

She admitted that Zendaya’s Rue and Sweeney’s Cassie don’t actually share many scenes, meaning their storylines are quite separate and they often shoot on entirely different days. 

According to Herman, the cast has built a “beautiful working relationship” despite the fact that they aren’t always physically on set together at the same time.

The actress had nothing but praise for her own experience working with Sweeney, describing her as a “real artist” who is both generous and vulnerable as a performer. 

Even when filming the more difficult and intense scenes that Euphoria is known for, Herman noted that she felt a beautiful and open heart from her co-star. 

She also called working with the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, a “dream come true,” painting a picture of a set that was far more harmonious than the internet gossip would suggest.

However, this positive update stands in stark contrast to the recent and very public departure of the show’s composer, Labrinth. 

The Emmy winner announced his exit in March and later took to social media to vent his frustrations with the creative team. 

In a series of candid Instagram posts, Labrinth claimed that people in the industry “comfortably lie” and stated that he chose to remove his music because he refused to let people treat him poorly. 

While he noted that he remains on good terms with HBO, he made it clear that while a director’s vision is paramount, he wouldn’t compromise his own self-respect to stay on the project.





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Josh Duhamel provides relationship update with ex-wife Fergie

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Josh Duhamel provides relationship update with ex-wife Fergie


Josh Duhamel provides relationship update with ex-wife Fergie

Josh Duhamel has confirmed that he and his ex-wife Fergie are in a fantastic place, describing their current relationship as being as good as it could possibly be. 

Speaking on the Tomi Lahren Is Fearless podcast on Thursday, 23 April, the Ransom Canyon actor praised the singer for being a “good person” and an excellent mother. 

Perhaps most importantly for their modern family dynamic, Duhamel shared that Fergie also gets on well with his wife, Audra Mari, ensuring there is no hostility between the households.

The 53-year-old actor, who was married to the former Black Eyed Peas star between 2009 and 2019, explained that keeping things civil is his main priority. 

The pair share a 12-year-old son, Axl, and have worked hard to provide him with a comfortable upbringing that avoids the “awkward or uncomfortable” atmosphere they both experienced with their own parents’ divorces. 

Duhamel noted that since their split was finalised with a 50-50 joint custody agreement, they have focused on being positive examples for their son, rather than falling into the traps of a contentious breakup.

Reflecting on their decade-long marriage, Duhamel admitted it took some time to adjust to Fergie’s level of fame, particularly when she was a “giant star” selling out stadiums across the globe. 

He revealed that their eventual separation wasn’t due to a specific conflict, but rather a case of outgrowing one another as their interests shifted. 

While Fergie’s career was rooted in the global pop scene, Duhamel felt a growing pull to return to his roots in North Dakota. 

He insisted there are no hard feelings, remarking that they simply had different paths to follow as they got older.

Today, life looks quite different for the actor, who married Audra Mari in 2022. 

The couple already shares a young son named Shepherd and recently announced they are expecting their second child together. 

Despite the new additions to his family, Duhamel remains grateful that his relationship with Fergie has remained respectful and kind. 

By prioritising a pressure-free environment for Axl and maintaining a friendship with his ex-wife, he believes they have successfully navigated the complexities of co-parenting in the public eye.





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