U.S. National Debt Hits Historical High at Alaska Summit; Serbian President Vucic Declines Participation in Next Presidential Election - Summary for August 13 Evening News, featuring Irina Kuksenkova.
In the world of politics and beyond, several significant developments have taken place over the past month. Here's a roundup of some key events:
Alaska Summit
Friedrich Merz, a prominent German politician, has called for US President Donald Trump to negotiate in Alaska as part of a shared "transatlantic strategy." This strategy involves continued support for Ukraine and exerting "necessary pressure" on Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is also set to participate in the Alaska summit. Trump has promised to share the results of his negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders immediately upon their completion.
European Events
A tragic incident occurred near the Italian island of Lampedusa, where a migrant boat crash resulted in about 20 deaths and left 27 people missing. Thousands of people remain unable to return home due to forest fires in Spain, which have also caused casualties and injuries.
Serbian Politics
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has announced that he will not run for the next Serbian presidential election and will not change the Constitution. No information was provided regarding his involvement in the Alaska summit.
Cultural Shifts in Russia
By March 1, 2026, the Russian Ministry of Culture will expand its staff to include additional experts responsible for checking films for compliance with "traditional Russian spiritual and moral values." This move is part of a broader tightening of state control over cultural content, but the identities and qualifications of these experts remain undisclosed.
Global Developments
The US federal Government's Office for Efficiency Improvement (DOGE) has been granted access to confidential American data from ministries, including the Ministries of Finance and Education, according to The Washington Post. The US national debt has reached a record $37 trillion, as reported by the US Treasury Department.
In other news, a criminal case on bribery in the execution of a state defense order for the construction of facilities in the Kaliningrad region for 800 million rubles has been opened by military investigators of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. The Estonian Foreign Ministry has expelled a Russian diplomat.
Lastly, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed a "real" chance of deploying "security forces in Ukraine" after the ceasefire, according to reports. The Russian Foreign Ministry has responded to this statement, noting that it is not the first hostile action and that retaliatory steps will be worked out.
- The US President Donald Trump, along with German politician Friedrich Merz and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, are expected to discuss a shared "transatlantic strategy" in the upcoming Alaska summit, which includes continued support for Ukraine and putting pressure on Russia.
- There have been developments in global news related to crime and justice, with military investigators in Russia opening a criminal case on bribery in the execution of a state defense order, and the Estonian Foreign Ministry expelling a Russian diplomat.
