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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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Türkiye Evaluating Potential Measures in Event of Iran-US Conflict, Source Says 

US aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford is pictured docked at Souda Bay in the Greek Mediterranean island of Crete, on February 24, 2026. (AFP)
US aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford is pictured docked at Souda Bay in the Greek Mediterranean island of Crete, on February 24, 2026. (AFP)
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Türkiye Evaluating Potential Measures in Event of Iran-US Conflict, Source Says 

US aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford is pictured docked at Souda Bay in the Greek Mediterranean island of Crete, on February 24, 2026. (AFP)
US aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford is pictured docked at Souda Bay in the Greek Mediterranean island of Crete, on February 24, 2026. (AFP)

Türkiye is ‌evaluating all aspects of potential measures that may be taken in the event of a conflict between its neighbor Iran and the United States, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Iran and the United States resumed negotiations earlier this month as Washington builds up military capability in the Middle East.

Iran has threatened to strike ‌US bases in ‌the region if it is ‌attacked, ⁠but Tehran's top ⁠diplomat said on Tuesday that a deal with the US was "within reach" if diplomacy is prioritized.

NATO member Türkiye, which shares a border with Iran to its east, has said it opposes any military intervention on ⁠Iran and does not want destabilization ‌in the region.

‌Ankara has been in contact with both sides to ‌de-escalate tensions and called for a resolution ‌of issues through diplomacy.

"Naturally, all aspects of the measures that could be taken in the event of a negative development are being evaluated," ‌the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"All scenarios are being ⁠considered; ⁠and steps that can be taken to ensure the safety of our citizens are being worked on," the person said, but added any steps that would "violate Iran's sovereignty" were "out of the question".

The source did not provide details on what measures Türkiye was evaluating.

Earlier, the Turkish presidency's office for countering disinformation denied media reports that Türkiye was planning to enter Iranian territory to stop a potential influx of refugees.

World

Zelensky Announces Ukraine-US Talks in Geneva Thursday 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he attends a joint press conference following his meeting with Nordic and Baltic states leaders in Kyiv on February 24, 2026, as Ukraine marks the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion. (AFP)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he attends a joint press conference following his meeting with Nordic and Baltic states leaders in Kyiv on February 24, 2026, as Ukraine marks the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion. (AFP)
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Zelensky Announces Ukraine-US Talks in Geneva Thursday 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he attends a joint press conference following his meeting with Nordic and Baltic states leaders in Kyiv on February 24, 2026, as Ukraine marks the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion. (AFP)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he attends a joint press conference following his meeting with Nordic and Baltic states leaders in Kyiv on February 24, 2026, as Ukraine marks the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion. (AFP)

Lead Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov will meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday, Kyiv has announced, ahead of fresh trilateral talks with Russia expected in early March.

The meetings are the latest round of negotiations spearheaded by US President Donald Trump that so far have failed to make meaningful progress on ending the Kremlin's four-year invasion of Ukraine.

"Tomorrow he will meet with American negotiators Witkoff and (Jared) Kushner," Ukrainian President Zelensky told a group of reporters, including from AFP.

He added that the meeting was part of "preparations for a trilateral meeting with Russia, which we believe will take place in early March".

Umerov's adviser told reporters separately that the meeting on Thursday will be in Geneva, which hosted talks with Russian, Ukrainian, and US officials earlier this month.

Other issues on the agenda for Thursday are prisoner-of-war exchanges and a "prosperity package" for the reconstruction of Ukraine, Zelensky said.

Witkoff confirmed the talks earlier this week saying the aim was to "explore different iterations about how we might get to a peace deal."

United States has been pushing for an end to the war that has entered its fifth year and which has killed tens of thousands and destroyed much of eastern and southern Ukraine.

Moscow and Kyiv remain at odds over who gets what land in a post-war settlement.

Russia is pushing for full control of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, and has threatened to take it by force if Kyiv does not cave at the negotiating table.

But Ukraine has rejected the demand and signaled it would not sign a deal without security guarantees that deter Russia from invading again.

World

Israel Committed Two-Thirds of Record Press Killings in 2025, Says CPJ 

Tents of displaced Palestinian families at sunset as they prepare to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, near the beach in Gaza City, 24 February 2026. (EPA)
Tents of displaced Palestinian families at sunset as they prepare to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, near the beach in Gaza City, 24 February 2026. (EPA)
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Israel Committed Two-Thirds of Record Press Killings in 2025, Says CPJ 

Tents of displaced Palestinian families at sunset as they prepare to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, near the beach in Gaza City, 24 February 2026. (EPA)
Tents of displaced Palestinian families at sunset as they prepare to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, near the beach in Gaza City, 24 February 2026. (EPA)

A record 129 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday, blaming Israel for two-thirds of the deaths.

It was the second consecutive annual record for press deaths and the deadliest year since the CPJ began collecting data more than three decades ago.

"Journalists are being killed in record numbers at a time when access to information is more important than ever," CEO Jodie Ginsberg said in a statement.

"We are all at risk when journalists are killed for reporting the news."

Over three-quarters of all the fatalities in 2025 were in conflict settings, the CPJ said in its report.

More than 60 percent of the 86 members of the press killed by Israeli fire in 2025 were Palestinians reporting from Gaza, it added.

The Israeli military maintains that it never deliberately targets journalists.

The number of journalists killed in Ukraine and Sudan also increased in 2025 compared to a year earlier.

The CPJ highlighted a rise in drones being used, with 39 cases documented, including 28 killings by Israel in Gaza and five by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.

In Ukraine, four journalists were killed by Russian military drones, the highest annual number of journalist deaths in the war since 15 were killed in 2022.

Journalists are increasingly vulnerable due to a persistent culture of impunity, the CPJ said, noting a lack of transparent investigations into killings.

In Mexico, six journalists were killed in 2025 and all the cases remain unsolved. The Philippines saw three journalists shot dead.

Others were killed following their reporting on corruption, such as a Bangladeshi reporter hacked to death by suspects linked to a fraud ring, according to the CPJ report.

Similar organized crime-related deaths were recorded in India and Peru.