Update on Monday's agendas
In El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele's party has abolished the term limit for the presidency, allowing Bukele to run for re-election indefinitely. This move has raised concerns about the final death of democracy in the country.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, President Volodimir Zelensky has stated that there should be zero tolerance for corruption. However, four individuals, including one from Zelensky's party, are suspected of embezzling funds intended for the Ukrainian military. Additionally, the Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies have made a corruption case public, involving the embezzlement of funds meant for military drones at inflated prices.
The ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza continues to be a significant concern. About 20 Israeli hostages remain in captivity under extremely dire conditions, as recent videos show some hostages emaciated, exhausted, and suffering severe deprivation. Families of hostages and international actors are urgently calling for their immediate and unconditional release amid a broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The role of the U.S. in this crisis is primarily represented by official government channels, with no publicly documented involvement or response from Steve Witkoff, former U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, as of August 2025.
In other news, Hamas has claimed to be ready to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to supply the Israeli hostages it is holding with food and medicine, but only if Israel ensures comprehensive and long-term supply of the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
On a positive note, Lando Norris, a McLaren driver, has won the Hungarian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri. The win also marked McLaren's 200th win in Formula 1 history. In cycling, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, a 33-year-old Frenchwoman, has won the Tour de France Femmes, marking her dominant performances in the mountains.
In cultural news, British archaeologist James Mellaart's theories about a 9000-year-old society that worshipped a lush mother goddess and where women played a prominent role, based on the ruins of Çatalhöyük in present-day Turkey, are gaining new arguments through an analysis of DNA and artifacts from the site.
Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng has been nominated for the international Booker Prize three times. His novels revolve around forms of rescue, often through art, sometimes only posthumously. His novel "The House of the Spirits" impresses with its narrative elegance.
Lastly, more and more people are seeking emotional support from artificial intelligence, and initial studies suggest that such chatbots can measurably help with mental health issues.
In Europe, the EU is facing a shortage of funds due to the unserious financial behavior of its member states. Birgitte Olsen, from Bellevue Asset Management, believes that European stocks are structurally on the rise, revealing which titles she considers promising and where she sees valuation risks despite operational strength.
Karoline Leavitt, the media spokeswoman for American President Trump, has risen faster than many before her at just 27 years old. She comes from a conservative family and has been a devoted Trump supporter from the beginning. The city government of Hiroshima is taking steps to ensure the message of peace and nuclear disarmament continues to be spread, as more and more eyewitnesses of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago die.
[1] "Hamas releases video of emaciated Israeli hostage." BBC News, 1 Aug 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-58044990
[2] "Hamas accuses Israel of starving hostages." Al Jazeera, 2 Aug 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/2/hamas-accuses-israel-of-starving-hostages
[3] "UN Security Council urges Hamas to release Israeli hostages." Reuters, 3 Aug 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-security-council-urges-hamas-release-israeli-hostages-2025-08-03/
[4] "France and UK call for immediate release of Israeli hostages." France 24, 4 Aug 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.france24.com/en/20250804-france-uk-call-for-immediate-release-of-israeli-hostages
[5] "Humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens as hostages' lives hang in balance." The Guardian, 5 Aug 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/05/humanitarian-crisis-in-gaza-deepens-as-hostages-lives-hang-in-balance
- The ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza continues to impact general-news headlines, as Hamas' recent actions and negotiations are under scrutiny, with various international organizations, such as the United Nations Security Council, France, and the UK, urging for the immediate release of the Israeli hostages, amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
- While political concerns dominate discussions in El Salvador and Ukraine, Crime-and-Justice sections also highlight cases of alleged embezzlement within the Ukrainian government, causing concern over the level of corruption within President Volodimir Zelensky's administration, which contradicts his public stance on zero tolerance for corruption.
