A picture taken on May 29, 2016 shows a French flag floating next to the Verdun Memorial in Douaumont, northeastern France, during a remembrance ceremony to mark the centenary of the battle of Verdun. The battle of Verdun, in 1916, was one of the bloodiest episodes of World War I. The offensive which lasted 300 days claimed more than 300,000 lives. / AFP PHOTO / FREDERICK FLORIN