PRESS REVIEW - Thursday, July 31: We look at reactions to a call by Arab nations for Hamas to disarm in order to establish peace in the Palestinian territories. Also: French Olympic champion Léon Marchand smashes a record at the world championships in Singapore. And: is a new celebrity couple on the horizon? Speculation is rife after singer Katy Perry was seen dining with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau!
Reactions are pouring in to the French–Saudi summit on a two-state solution for Palestine. The UN General Assembly hosted high-level officials earlier this week for the summit, co-chaired by the French and Saudi foreign ministers. Notably absent were Israel and the US, both of which boycotted the event. The summit concluded with a seven-page document signed by attending dignitaries. Among the key outcomes: Arab nations – including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt – called on Hamas to disarm and relinquish control of Gaza, in a bid to end the devastating war in the territory. The Independent described the move as unprecedented and a major shift in policy from Arab nations. It also followed calls by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canada’s Mark Carney to recognise Palestinian statehood.
The Lebanese newspaper L’Orient le Jour looks at the details of this statement signed by those present at the summit. It includes a 15-month timeline for the creation of a Palestinian state, returning control of the enclaves to the Palestinian authority and upon Egypt’s suggestion, a plan to reboot the economy with the injection of international funds to rebuild Gaza.
The Saudi daily Arab News leads with a quote from Jordan’s King Abdullah, who calls the Gaza crisis “the worst in modern history.” In its editorial, the paper argues that recognising a Palestinian state should not be viewed as an act of defiance, but as a moral imperative to uphold human dignity and end decades of suffering. Inside its edition, the paper also features comments from Hollywood celebrities condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza – including Angelina Jolie, Susan Sarandon, and British-Kosovan singer Dua Lipa.
Here in France, the sports pages are celebrating the latest exploits of star swimmer Léon Marchand. The 23-year-old swim champion smashed a world record in world swimming championship semi finals in Singapore on Wednesday. He beat the record in the 200m medley by more than a second. That previous record was set by US swimmer Ryan Lochte in 2011. "Leonissme", Le Parisien newspaper says admiringly on its front page. The paper’s editor noting that sometimes the hardest thing is not reaching the top, but staying there. It adds that Léon Marchand has consolidated his Olympic sweep with these new exploits in Singapore. Le Figaro Sport calls it a fabulous world record while L'Equipe says all eyes are now on on Marchand as he prepares for Thursday’s final.
All eyes also on Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry, whose recent dinner date is raising eyebrows and some speculation! As the New York Times reports, the former Canadian prime minister who separated from his wife a few years ago and Katy Perry, currently single after her split form Orlando Bloom, were spotted dining at an upscale restaurant in Montreal on Monday right before Perry’s concert that Trudeau also attended. Their dinner came with a "serving of speculation" about a new unlikely celebrity couple. Cynics have called it a photo op to rehabilitate their public images: Perry’s reputation has taken hits recently, following a cringeworthy space-related PR stunt with Jeff Bezos’ wife and sluggish tour sales. Trudeau, meanwhile, stepped down after internal party chaos and plunging approval ratings. According to PR experts quoted by the Canadian national broadcaster, the couple "clearly wanted to be seen" – they sat right by the window, rather than tucked away in the back.
You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.
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