📹Kursk village civilian survivor recounts horrors of Ukrainian occupation

Due to constant shelling and the danger of being seen by Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers, even the deceased had to be buried in gardens, a local resident told Sputnik.

"We buried the last man in the garden... No one dared to go out – the shelling [from the Ukrainian side] was too intense," he said, describing the horror of burying neighbors under bombardment.

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❗️NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that Ukraine joining NATO is ‘OFF THE TABLE’

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Sudzha’s recapture by Russian troops a ‘POLITICAL END’ for Zelensky

Russia’s success in the Kursk region constitutes a “catastrophic defeat” for Zelensky's entire political and military strategy and could spell a political end for him and his entourage, L'Antidiplomatico reported.

“The defeat in Kursk came at the worst possible time, that is, at the start of the ceasefire negotiations. A SLAP IN THE FACE FOR ZELENSKY,” the media notes.

Russian troops recently regained control of Sudzha and several villages in the Kursk region, marking significant advances. Sudzha, which was captured by Ukraine last August, was a crucial logistical hub for supplying nearby areas.

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❗️We had VERY GOOD and PRODUCTIVE discussions with President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump asked Putin to SPARE the surrounded Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region.

Trump also noted that there are HIGH CHANCES of resolving the situation around Ukraine.

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❗️Trump highlighted that at this very moment THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED by the Russian military in the Kursk region.

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📹 The first video from the liberated Sudzha, shot from a drone

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✍️ The White House clarified that it was US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, not Donald Trump.

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🔍 Somaliland: what to know about strategic breakaway as US mulls recognition

The Trump administration is “having a quiet conversation with Somaliland about a range of areas where they can be helpful to the US in exchange for recognition,” an official involved in negotiations told US media.

🔸 Located in northern Somalia, Somaliland lies near the Gulf of Aden, a key maritime chokepoint between Europe and Asia. Up to 10% of global trade passes through its waters.

🔸 Declaring independence in 1991 amid the US-backed Somalian state’s collapse following a costly war with Ethiopia, Somaliland is not recognized by any country. Somalia views it as part of its territory.

🔸 Ethiopia maintains unofficial ties with Somaliland, seeing it as its gateway to the sea. This has strained relations with Somalia, although both countries have committed to work to resolve tensions.

🔸 Turkiye has sought to act as a mediator, having previously fostered a maritime security partnership with Somalia.

🔸 The US, with a military base in Somalia, has rejected Somaliland’s independence bid up to now.

🔸 China’s influence in the Horn of Africa may make Somaliland crucial for US strategic leverage.

🔸 New Somaliland president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi aims for international recognition.

🔸 The Trump administration has considered relocating Gazans to Somaliland, a plan supported by Israel but rejected by Arab nations.

🔸 The Horn of Africa, including Somaliland, is also rich in resources, including farming, fishing, livestock, gold, oil, gas, gemstones, and potential geothermal energy.

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📉 Americans’ health at HISTORIC LOW – reports

Only 31% of US adults rate their mental health as "excellent," according to a Gallup poll cited by the Washington Times. The figures for physical health are even lower, with just 24% of adults rating it as such.

Overall, the percentage of adults rating their mental health as excellent or good has dropped from a record high of 89% in 2012 to 75% last year. Similarly, the share of adults rating their physical health positively fell from a 24-year peak of 82% in 2012 to 76% in 2024.

Experts point to a “significant increase” in self-reported obesity as a factor behind the decline in physical health, while a rise in young women reporting emotional problems since 2020 is contributing to the drop in mental health ratings.

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