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French-Moroccan Karim Bouamrane Eyed for Prime Minister Role

Karim Bouamrane delivering a speech at the opening of “Socrates Street” in the Olympic Village, March 2024 (Getty)
Karim Bouamrane delivering a speech at the opening of “Socrates Street” in the Olympic Village, March 2024 (Getty)
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French-Moroccan Karim Bouamrane Eyed for Prime Minister Role

Karim Bouamrane delivering a speech at the opening of “Socrates Street” in the Olympic Village, March 2024 (Getty)
Karim Bouamrane delivering a speech at the opening of “Socrates Street” in the Olympic Village, March 2024 (Getty)

If French President Emmanuel Macron chooses Karim Bouamrane, born to Moroccan parents, to form the new government, he will follow a precedent of foreign-born politicians reaching high positions in France.
Former President Nicolas Sarkozy had Hungarian heritage, and former Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who served under President François Hollande, was of Spanish origin from Catalonia.
Outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s grandfather was born in Tunisia. Among Moroccans, Rachida Dati and Najat Vallaud-Belkacem have also held significant positions, such as Minister of Culture and Minister of Education, respectively.
The potential appointment of a Maghreb-born politician reflects a significant change in French politics, especially given the recent strong showing of the far-right in elections. Macron is expected to announce the new Prime Minister after consulting with parliamentary leaders on Friday and Monday.
The Élysée Palace has not set a deadline for this decision, emphasizing that Macron wants a thorough and respectful consultation to ensure the new Prime Minister can build a stable majority. Macron aims to honor the Constitution and voters’ choices in this selection.
Macron has not yet confirmed whether Karim Bouamrane will be appointed as the new Prime Minister.
Bouamrane is a serious candidate, but others are also being considered. Macron might also choose an unexpected candidate.
Bouamrane’s profile has risen recently due to the parliamentary election results announced on July 7, which failed to produce a clear majority. This has delayed the appointment of a new Prime Minister.
It is noteworthy that Attal resigned on August 16, but his government is still in place.
Bouamrane, once relatively unknown, has gained significant media attention both in France and internationally. Major outlets like Der Spiegel, The New York Times, and El País have covered him.
The French media is keen to see how Macron addresses the delay in forming a new government, especially as the focus shifts from the successful Olympics to urgent political, economic, and social issues.

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World

USS Gerald Ford, World’s Largest Aircraft Carrier, at US Base on Crete 

Aircraft are on the deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier at Souda Bay on the island of Crete, Greece, February 24, 2026. (Reuters) 
Aircraft are on the deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier at Souda Bay on the island of Crete, Greece, February 24, 2026. (Reuters) 
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USS Gerald Ford, World’s Largest Aircraft Carrier, at US Base on Crete 

Aircraft are on the deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier at Souda Bay on the island of Crete, Greece, February 24, 2026. (Reuters) 
Aircraft are on the deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier at Souda Bay on the island of Crete, Greece, February 24, 2026. (Reuters) 

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, has reached the US naval base of Souda Bay on Crete, en route to joining a massive military build-up in the Middle East.

President Donald Trump, who ordered strikes on Iran last year, has repeatedly threatened Tehran with fresh military action if it does not cut a new deal on its contentious nuclear program, which the West fears is aimed at building an atomic weapon.

The Ford reached the Greek island on Monday, according to an AFP photographer.

The Greek defense ministry declined to comment on the aircraft carrier's arrival, and the US embassy in Athens did not immediately respond to questions from AFP.

US Naval Support Activity Souda Bay is home to approximately 1,000 people, including active duty military, US civilian employees, local national employees, contractors, and family members.

Washington currently has more than a dozen warships in the Middle East: one aircraft carrier -- the USS Abraham Lincoln -- nine destroyers and three littoral combat ships.

It is rare for there to be two US aircraft carriers -- which carry dozens of warplanes and are crewed by thousands of sailors -- in the Middle East.

The United States had two of the massive warships in the region in June last year when it bombed three Iranian nuclear sites during Israel's 12-day war with Iran.

In his first term in office, Trump abandoned a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran that placed curbs on its atomic activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

Following the United States' withdrawal, Iran began enriching uranium at higher levels -- up to 60 percent, near the 90 percent needed for a bomb -- though it has always maintained its program is strictly peaceful.

A previous round of nuclear diplomacy last year fell apart when Israel launched its surprise campaign against the country.

World

Air Ambulance Plunges into Eastern India Forest, Killing 7

People watch wreckage of a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance aircraft after it crashed Monday into a forest near Ranchi, the capital of Indian state of Jharkhand, Tuesday, Feb.24, 2026. (AP Photo/Saikat Chatterjee)
People watch wreckage of a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance aircraft after it crashed Monday into a forest near Ranchi, the capital of Indian state of Jharkhand, Tuesday, Feb.24, 2026. (AP Photo/Saikat Chatterjee)
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Air Ambulance Plunges into Eastern India Forest, Killing 7

People watch wreckage of a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance aircraft after it crashed Monday into a forest near Ranchi, the capital of Indian state of Jharkhand, Tuesday, Feb.24, 2026. (AP Photo/Saikat Chatterjee)
People watch wreckage of a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance aircraft after it crashed Monday into a forest near Ranchi, the capital of Indian state of Jharkhand, Tuesday, Feb.24, 2026. (AP Photo/Saikat Chatterjee)

An air ambulance crashed into a dense forest in eastern India, killing all seven people on board, authorities said.

The Beechcraft C90 aircraft operated by Redbird Airways Pvt. Ltd. lost control minutes after taking off from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state, on Monday, the country’s aviation watchdog said in a statement.

The plane was carrying a critically ill burn patient to New Delhi for advanced medical treatment. He was accompanied by a doctor, a paramedic and two family members. The other two people on board were the pilot and co-pilot.

“All seven persons on board the air ambulance are dead and their bodies sent for postmortem,” senior local official Keerthishree G. told The Associated Press from the accident site Tuesday.

State officials suspect the aircraft lost control after passing through turbulence caused by bad weather.

A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is being dispatched to investigate the cause of the accident, according to a statement from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Local media cited eyewitnesses as saying they heard a loud explosion before seeing smoke rise from a heavily forested area, prompting local authorities to rush to the scene.

Air ambulances are frequently used in India to transport critically ill patients from smaller cities to major medical centers.

The crash adds to concerns over aviation safety during adverse weather conditions, especially in regions with challenging terrain.

It comes weeks after a private plane carrying a senior state official crashed in western India, killing all five people on board.

World

Iran Says Students Have Right to Protest but Must Know ‘Red Lines’ 

This video grab taken from UGC images posted on social media on February 23, 2026, and verified by AFPTV teams in Paris, shows students gathering for an anti-government rally at the all-female Alzahra university in Tehran. (UGC / AFP)
This video grab taken from UGC images posted on social media on February 23, 2026, and verified by AFPTV teams in Paris, shows students gathering for an anti-government rally at the all-female Alzahra university in Tehran. (UGC / AFP)
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Iran Says Students Have Right to Protest but Must Know ‘Red Lines’ 

This video grab taken from UGC images posted on social media on February 23, 2026, and verified by AFPTV teams in Paris, shows students gathering for an anti-government rally at the all-female Alzahra university in Tehran. (UGC / AFP)
This video grab taken from UGC images posted on social media on February 23, 2026, and verified by AFPTV teams in Paris, shows students gathering for an anti-government rally at the all-female Alzahra university in Tehran. (UGC / AFP)

University students have the right to protest but everyone must "understand the red lines", the Iranian government's spokeswoman said Tuesday, in the first official reaction to renewed rallies on campuses since the weekend.

"Sacred things and the flag are two examples of these red lines that we must protect and not cross or deviate from, even at the height of anger," Fatemeh Mohajerani said.

She said Iran's students "have wounds in their hearts and have seen scenes that may upset and anger them; this anger is understandable".

University students in Iran started a new semester Saturday with pro- and anti-government rallies, according to local media, reviving slogans from nationwide demonstrations that peaked in January and led to thousands of deaths.

Protests first began in December sparked by economic woes in the sanctions-hit country but grew into nationwide demonstrations on January 8 and 9.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has recorded more than 7,000 deaths, while warning the full toll is likely far higher.

Iranian officials acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by "terrorist acts" fueled by the United States and Israel.

Mohajerani on Tuesday said a fact-finding mission is investigating "the causes and factors" of the protests and will provide reports.