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Holes in the ground, clods of earth next to headstones, dislocated concrete outlines: the Thiaroye military cemetery near Dakar bears the marks of recent excavations meant to unearth the truth behind a WWII-era massacre by French colonial forces. In November 1944, around 1,600 soldiers from several west African countries were sent to the Thiaroye camp after being captured by Germany while fighting for France. Discontent soon mounted over unpaid back pay and unmet demands that they be treated on a par with white soldiers. On December 1, French forces opened fire on them. The circumstances surrounding the massacre, the number ofIsl riflemen killed and their place of burial all remain unclear. An AFP team recently visited the camp's cemetery, where archaeologists are conducting landmark excavations to find and examine the remains of those interred there. **media[382436]** Rows of 202 graves, marked with white headstones and cement demarcations, are covered with shells. It is not known who exactly is in all the graves, or if there are even bodies at each marker. The researchers have so far only been able to excavate a very small percentage of them. The cemetery was created in 1926 by colonial France to bury African soldiers. Some researchers believe that riflemen killed in the Thiaroye massacre were buried there. Unearthed burial containers, since covered in blue plastic, bear testament to the archaeologists' work. Senegal alleges it was difficult to access the French colonial archives to study the massacre in full. This is why Colonel Saliou Ngom, the director of the Senegalese army's archives and historical heritage, believes it was necessary to "make the underground" speak. The archaeologists have so far carried out their initial excavations under one of two large baobabs, enormous trees that can indicate the site of buried bodies. The baobab is "a calcareous tree, that is one that likes limestone", history and geography professor Mamadou Kone, technical adviser to the Armed Forces Museum, told AFP. "Where there are bones, there are often baobabs", he said. The researchers submitted an official report on October 16 to Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye describing the massacre as "premeditated" and covered up, with a death toll that had been grossly underestimated. The French colonial authorities at the time of the massacre said up to 70 World War II riflemen were killed. But the researchers said the most credible estimates put the figure closer to 300 to 400, with some of the men buried in the Thiaroye cemetery. One of the archaeologists who led the dig, Moustapha Sall, explained that seven graves were excavated out of a first group of 34. "Archaeologists found seven skeletons. This is a very important step in the search for historical truth," Colonel Ngom said. According to Sall, "one skeleton contains a bullet in its left side in the location of the heart." "Others lack a spine, ribs or skull. Some individuals are buried with iron chains on their shins," he added. "This means they suffered violence." The graves where the bodies are located are more recent than the remains themselves, Sall added. "One hypothesis is that the graves were made after the (initial) burials or that it was staged to make it appear they had been properly buried," Sall said. The next key step, Sall explained, will be taking DNA samples to help determine the individuals' origins. "The preliminary results do not allow us to answer all the questions," he said. Ballistics experts will additionally provide information on the military equipment, he added. Meanwhile, the Senegalese government has ordered ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to better explore the depths of the cemetery's subsoil. "We have been searching for the historical truth for 81 years," Colonel Ngom said. "If the subsoil provides us with (this truth) there is nothing more significant." President Faye, who has committed to preserving the soldiers' memory, has announced he has approved "the continuation of archaeological excavations at all sites likely to contain mass graves". In November 2024, as the atrocity's 80th anniversary approached, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that French colonial forces had committed a "massacre" in Thiaroye.

Geneva confirmed her quality and consistency with a hard-fought success in the Gr.1 (PA) French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Classic – Wathba Stallions at Toulouse.The race, run over 2200m for four-year-old and older Purebred Arabians, featured a field of six, and the talented filly finally earned the Group 1 (PA) title that had previously eluded her.Trained by François Rohaut, ridden by Alexandre Gavilan, and carrying the colours of Abdulla bin Fahad al-Attiyah, the four-year-old came into the race on the back of a strong third-place finish in the Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments at ParisLongchamp.Last year, she had also crossed the line first in the Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches at Saint-Cloud, before being disqualified due to her jockey exceeding the permitted number of whip strikes. This time, justice was firmly served as Geneva officially became a Gr.1 (PA) winner.She fired slightly left coming out of the stalls and soon settled in fourth in a race led by Almurjanah. Still travelling behind Kanti de Bozouls, the pace steadied down the back straight, with the filly always moving comfortably. When the tempo lifted entering the final bend, Geneva momentarily looked outpaced as the leaders kicked on, but she soon found her rhythm again.Inside the final 400m, the leader had opened up a few lengths on the field, but Geneva began to close in, moving into third and challenging Molfit.In the last 200 metres, she produced a determined effort to sweep past both rivals, though Wala’a emerged with a strong late run on the outside. In a thrilling finish, Geneva held on gamely to win by half a length, with Wala’a finishing second and Molfit taking third.Bred by Patrick Lombrail, Geneva is by Azadi out of Theeba, a dual winner over 1600m at four and 1700m at five, as well as twice third in Gr.1 (PA) company over 2000m at five.She is a half-sister to Fleur du Soleil, a Listed winner over 1750m at four; to Eclipse du Soleil (Munjiz), a winner over 2000m at four; to Al Theeb (Azadi), a winner over 2100m at four; and to Kiaora du Soleil (Mahabb), runner-up in a Gr.3 (PA) over 1900m at three.

His Excellency Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie met with a visiting delegation from the French Employers' Organization (MEDEF), which included a number of senior officials representing French companies and institutions operating in the fields of environment, energy, transport, banking, and investment. During the meeting, the two sides discussed aspects of cooperation between the State of Qatar and the French Republic in the areas of environment, climate change, and sustainable development. They also reviewed ways to enhance collaboration and exchange expertise, in addition to exploring potential opportunities for joint environmental initiatives and projects.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has stepped down just weeks after taking office. The French Presidency said in a statement on Monday that President Emmanuel Macron has accepted Lecornu's resignation. Lecornu, appointed on September 9, faced strong criticism from opposition parties and right-wing politicians after unveiling part of his new Cabinet on Sunday evening. He was due to present his government's general policy statement before the National Assembly on Tuesday. The two previous governments, led by Michel Barnier and Francois Bayrou, fell after parliamentary votes of no confidence over their proposed austerity budgets. France has been experiencing a prolonged political crisis since President Macron called early legislative elections last year in an effort to consolidate his authority. However, the move resulted in a deeply divided parliament, split among three rival blocs.

The Kuwaiti and French Air Forces have carried out the joint air exercise "Swift Falcon" at the Ahmad Al-Jaber Air Base, attended by Kuwait's Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General (Pilot) Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, French Ambassador to Kuwait Olivier Gauvin, and senior military officers from both countries.In a statement carried by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Kuwait's General Staff said the exercise reflects the deepening military cooperation and exchange of field expertise between the two nations. The drill aims to strengthen combat readiness and enhance the ability to conduct joint operations with greater efficiency.Maj. Gen. Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah stressed the importance of advancing training and qualification programs, while reinforcing partnerships with friendly countries. He praised the participating forces for their high level of preparedness and coordination in implementing the training scenarios.

The French presidency announced Friday that 10 countries, including France, will recognize the State of Palestine during a conference to be held in New York next Monday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings.French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a speech at the conference, officially announcing the recognition of the Palestinian state.These countries are France, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malta, Andorra, and San Marino.On the other hand, the French presidency warned that the Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank is a "clear red line" and would be "the worst violation of international law."The French presidency said in a statement: "We, along with our partners, will demand immediate measures from Israel to ensure that the Palestinian Authority does not collapse," explaining that "the future borders of the Palestinian state are the 1967 borders."It added, "Our agenda is positive. It is not an agenda of responses and counter-responses. We are making an effort for peace." However, "annexing the West Bank is a clear red line" for France and would be "the worst possible violation of UN resolutions."The French presidency added, "The most important thing is to take all possible measures today to maintain the two-state solution. Of course, annexing the West Bank would be one of the steps that would most threaten this."

Paris Saint-Germain earned a fourth consecutive win with a 2-0 triumph over Lens in the fourth round of the French Football League (Ligue 1) season. French international Bradley Barcola netted both goals for PSG in the 15th and 51st minutes, bringing his season tally to three league goals.With the win, PSG tops the table with 12 points, while Lens suffered its second defeat of the season, slipping to seventh place with six points after two wins.Meanwhile, Lille secured a 2-1 victory over Toulouse. Algerian international Nabil Bentaleb converted a penalty in the 90th minute, before Ethan Mbappe added a second one into stoppage time (90+8). Franck Magri had earlier opened the scoring for Toulouse in the 50th minute.

Madagascar marked at a ceremony Tuesday the return from France of the skulls of three men killed by French troops 128 years ago, including one believed to be that of a decapitated king. 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 seized during its colonial conquests.They are believed to belong to King Toera of the Sakalava people, who was beheaded by French troops in 1897, and two of his warriors. The remains 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, they were driven through the capital Antananarivo to the city's mausoleum Tuesday, where they were welcomed by President Andry Rajoelina and a gathering of government and Sakalava dignitaries. "If we want to move forward, we must know our past, our history," Rajoelina told the gathering. "We are proud to have had a king and his soldiers who protected the nation," he said, praising a people who rose against French colonial troops "with courage and daring".King Toera's great-grandson, the newly enthroned Sakalava king Georges Harea Kamamy, sprinkled water from the sacred Tsiribihina River to welcome home his ancestor's remains. "We Sakalava are relieved. Today is a day of joy," Kamamy said.He however regretted that the skulls were handed to Madagascar's government instead of the royal family. The skulls will take a four-day, 800-kilometre journey by road to the west coast area of Menabe, where they are expected to be buried later this week.The skull believed to be the king's will rejoin the rest of his skeleton in a tomb in Ambiky, where he was killed in 1897. "It is a source of pride and immense inner peace that my ancestor is back among us," a royal descendant and leader of the second Sakalava clan, Joe Kamamy, told AFP.He hinted at disagreements within the royal family about the final resting place of the artefact. "I have only one regret: that the skulls are not kept in Mitsinjo (in the centre-west), with the relics of the other (Sakalava) kings," he said. Following the 1897 Ambiky massacre, the skulls were taken to France as trophies.They were 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. France has in recent years sent back various artefacts plundered during its imperial campaigns. Yet each return required special legislation, until parliament adopted the 2023 law simplifying the repatriation of human remains.