📉 More than 150 pubs have shut down since the beginning of 2023 in England and Wales due to soaring energy expenses, media reported on Tuesday, citing a survey by the commercial property firm Altus Group.

📊 According to the data, over the first quarter of the year 51 pub has been closed each month, or almost two pubs a day. This number far exceeds that of the previous year, when an average of 32 pubs shut per month. Now, a total number of pubs in England and Wales including vacant places and those put up for rent is 39,634, media reported.

📍 Speed of the shutdowns will only accelerate since the UK government's support with paying energy bills has significantly decreased in the beginning of April, the newspaper said. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, an average energy bill for a year will grow by 18,400 pounds ($22.9 thousand) by the end of 2023.

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❗️ Latest statements by Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️ Publications about plans for a "secret" supply of Russian missiles by Egypt look like more disinformation ploys;

▪️ Peskov slams Tokyo's remark claiming the Kurils are ‘illegal occupied": this sort of language is unacceptable, since these islands are an integral part of Russia;

▪️ Putin’s regular contacts with the Turkish president until March 2024 have been unveiled;

▪️ Work on the development of drones in Russia is underway, the Kremlin will announce a possible meeting with the president on this matter;

▪️ As artificial intelligence advances, regulation here will be required, but it is essential not to make decisions that hinder progress.

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❗️Russian MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️In the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces destroyed up to 30 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, as well as one Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzer;

▪️In the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, Ukrainian losses during the day amounted to 30 servicemen, one Msta-B howitzer, and one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer during the day;

▪️In the Donetsk direction, the Russian Army destroyed more than 450 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, six armored fighting vehicles, as well as a D-20 and Msta-B howitzer, and two US-made AN/TPQ-50 radar systems;

▪️In the Krasny Liman direction, Ukrainian losses amounted to 90 servicemen, one D-20 howitzer, one D-30 howitzer, and three armored fighting vehicles;

▪️In the Kherson direction, Russian troops neutralized up to 10 Ukrainian servicemen, two Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers, one D-30 howitzer, and a Grad MLRS combat vehicle;

▪️Russian air defense systems also intercepted one HIMARS missile, a US-made GLSDB missile, as well as nine Ukrainian UAVs in the LPR, DPR, and Kharkov region.

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Catch our Fault Lines show where we provide updates and analysis on all the most vital stories! Here's our line-up for today:

🔺To kick things off, we’ll be discussing the situation in Ukraine especially in connection with the latest leak claiming that the Ukrainian air defenses are about to run out of ammo
🔺Next, we’ll cover major changes in vaccination requirements in Europe against COVID-19
🔺Finally, we’ll speak about the Twitter Files scandal and mainstream attacks on Matt Taibbi

More trending stories coming your way! Tune in to Radio Sputnik at 7am EST|4am PST|12pm CET via the website or app!

📻Also in the United States at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

India balks at hosting Ukraine's Zelensky at G20 in New Delhi: media

🇮🇳 According to media reports, "despite a subtle hint from Kiev", New Delhi has not yet sent an invitation to Volodymyr Zelensky to speak at the G20 summit in the Indian capital on 9-10 September. Similarly, India has also not yet agreed on the visit of PM Modi to Kiev.

🌐 In January, Indian MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi noted that Ukraine was not among the countries invited to the G20 summit.

India assumed the G20 presidency in December last year.

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📹 A video on social media appears to show pro-Kiev regime thugs attacking an Orthodox Christian priest in western Ukraine

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Ukrainian Ex-President’s Wife Owns Giant Champagne Factory in Embattled Artemovsk, DPR Chief Reveals

Maryna Poroshenko, the wife of former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, is the main shareholder of a massive sparkling wine factory in Artemovsk, Donetsk People’s Republic head Denis Pushilin has revealed.

“Commercial histories of the Ukrainian regime are emerging. For me it was a surprise – our guys found documents, told me [that] the main founder and shareholder of the champagne factory in Artemovsk is Poroshenko’s wife,” Pushilin said in an interview with Russian media.

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Dan Kovalik, professor of international human rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, joined us to discuss US Republican Senator Marco Rubio’s statements commenting on recent remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron on Europe’s role in the dispute over Taiwan and Ukraine

🎧Listen to more of Kovalik’s analysis in our podcast The Critical Hour

🇮🇹About 3,000 undocumented migrants have arrived in Italy via the Mediterranean Sea over the past three days, an Italian broadcaster reported on Tuesday, citing the coast guard.

The previous significant influx of migrants was registered at the end of March, when over 6,500 refugees from Asia and Africa reached the Italian coast within five days, which is equal to the number of migrants recorded in the Apennines in the first three months of 2022. Since the beginning of this year, the migration influx has quadrupled, with almost 30,000 migrants having already arrived in the country.

The Italian island of Lampedusa is now experiencing the most serious aggravation of the migration problem, as up to 1,800 refugees rescued in the Mediterranean Sea remain in its local temporary accommodation center for migrants, initially designed for 400 people. About 400 more people picked up by Italian rescuers currently reside on various ships in the Ionian Sea.

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Esteban Carrillo, journalist and editor of The Cradle, joined us to discuss Macron’s moves towards China

🎧Listen to more of Carrillo’s analysis in our podcast Fault Lines

🌋Roscosmos has released footage from a satellite showing the spread of an ash cloud after the eruption of the Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka.

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Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst and co-founder and veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, joined us to discuss the alleged intelligence leak that exposed US spying on adversaries and allies

🎧Listen to more of McGevern’s analysis in our podcast The Critical Hour

🇺🇸 🇵🇭The US and the Philippines have commenced their largest joint military exercise in over 30 years, which is scheduled to take place from April 11 to 28. However, some people in the Philippines have taken to the streets of Quezon City to protest against the drills.

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Smart, Swift, Secure: What is Russia's Digital Ruble?

In December 2021, the creation of a prototype of the digital ruble platform was completed, and 12 banks expressed their desire to take part in its testing. Based on the results, a strategy for ushering in the digital currency will be developed.

The digital ruble is a proposed digital version of Russia's national currency. The Central Bank of Russia believes that the digital ruble can become a more accessible means of payment for citizens and businesses than cash or traditional bank transfers.

The digital ruble is expected to integrate with existing payment systems and be available for use by individuals and businesses alike.

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Buchenwald Resistance: Liberation of Nazi Death Camps

The UN designated April 11 as the International Day of the Liberation of Nazi Concentration Camps to honor the memory of the courageous inmates who rebelled against their captors at Buchenwald, one of the largest death camps in Nazi Germany.

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🐢Every year, olive ridley turtles crawl from the Bay of Bengal 🇮🇳 onto Gahirmatha Beach to lay their ping-pong ball-sized eggs.

Learn more in our video.

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🇿🇼 🇷🇺💧Zimbabwe interested in Russia's help with water security – water resources agency

▪️Zimbabwe has expressed its interest in Russia's experience in resolving issues of water deficit, river recovery and ecological education, the Russian Federal Agency of Water Resources (Rosvodoresursy) said on Tuesday.

▪️The agency said its head, Dmitry Kirillov, has met with Zimbabwean Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbara Rwodzi.

▪️Kirillov said that Russia was open to an exchange of experience and knowledge, and noted that Russia had state-level "mechanisms and programs for protecting and recovering water bodies, solving water deficit problems and stimulating economic entities to lower water consumption and use water saving technologies"

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Global Thunder 23: What Message Do US’ Latest Nuclear Drills Send Russia?

The United States Strategic Command has begun its annual command and control drills, Global Thunder 23, to enhance nuclear readiness and assess operational readiness in coordination with allies. The drills involve US forces responsible for launching nuclear weapons against adversaries and typically include Britain, Canada, Denmark, Australia, and South Korea.

The drills aim to send a message to Washington's adversaries about its preparedness for nuclear warfare. The danger of such exercises is evident from history, with the Able Archer drills in 1983 nearly sparking a global nuclear holocaust.

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