Biden says he "can't do much" about skyrocketing gas prices, shifts blame on Russia

🇻🇪😮 Cracks in the anti-Maduro US consensus?

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Monday a ‘vigorous reactivation’ of discussions with the country’s opposition.

In what was apparently a sign of success of the talks between Caracas and Washington, Maduro's announcement was followed by a release of US citizen Gustavo Cardenas, one of six Exxon executives detained in Venezuela on corruption and embezzlement charges charges, media reported.

Read the full story on our website and subscrube to @sputniknewsus !

❗️🇺🇸🇲🇨 US is redeploying two Patriot air defense system units to Poland, the Pentagon tells Sputnik

🍕🍕Papa John’s founder John Schnatter is adamant that his famous pizza franchise never would’ve found its footing in today's economic climate, he told Fox News Digital at CPAC 2022.

"Could I do Papa John’s today in 2022? No way," he said. "No way."

Schnatter shared that he’s "thankful" to have built his brand during Reaganomics in 1984 under a president like Ronald Reagan who bolstered support for small business and entrepreneurship.

Biden’s economy has seen inflation hit decades-high records with consumer prices surging 7.5% in January. Schnatter reiterated the scale at which government money-pumping is causing an inverse effect on the economy, as the devaluation of the dollar occurs behind the backs of the American people.

Subscribe to @sputniknewsus

📞😁Hello?

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 🇸🇦 and UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan 🇦🇪 both ignored Biden when the US president tried to reach out to them on the surging gas prices.

“There was some expectation of a phone call, but it didn’t happen. It was part of turning on the spigot [of Saudi oil],” an unnamed official told The Wall Street Journal.

Well, things seem to be getting complicated between them...

🇺🇦🇷🇺The situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is under the full control of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya), the station staff are working normally, Ukrainian soldiers who guarded the facility laid down their weapons and were allowed to go home, a Rosgvardiya spokesman told reporters.

💥Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock have FINALLY settled their bitter divorce case, and Kelly's walking away with the lion's share of assets, although he's getting a pretty penny in support.

L.A. Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon has just signed off on the terms. Kelly will have primary custody of their 2 kids. Brandon, who lives in Montana, will have the kids one weekend a month ... at least for now.

Speaking of Montana, as we reported, Kelly will keep the Montana ranch, but Brandon is allowed to live there until June 1. He must, however, pay her rent -- $12,500 a month.

🇺🇸🇺🇦The State Dept is advising Americans traveling to Ukraine (for what?) to draft a will 📃and leave DNA samples 🧬

Americans leaving the US for Ukraine are also advised to designate a power of attorney and discuss with their loved ones custody of children 👶, care of pets 🐶 & “funeral wishes” 😐

Subscribe to @sputniknewsus

🚨Desmonies, Iowa authorities arrested six teenagers accused of shooting into a group that had gathered outside an Iowa high school, killing a 15-year-old boy and seriously wounding two teenage girls, police said Tuesday.

The suspects are each charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in the Monday afternoon shooting on the grounds of East High School, near Des Moines’ downtown, about a half-mile (0.8 kilometers) from the Capitol. Police said gunshots fired outside the school came from several shooters from multiple vehicles.

The district said in a news release that the school was immediately put into lockdown and students were kept inside while police investigated. They were dismissed around 3:30 p.m. after law enforcement gave an all clear.

Subscribe to @sputniknewsus

❗️🇷🇺🇺🇸The claims against the head of the Russian Community Coordinating Council are an element of a large-scale anti-Russian campaign, the Russian embassy in the US says

Check out the highlights of the night in our latest updates:

▪️ According to Under-Secretary of State Nuland, the US is working with Ukraine to prevent biological research material from reaching Russian forces;

▪️ The United States Department of Commerce is threatening Chinese companies with restrictive measures if they don't support a Russian export ban, media report

▪️ Britain has made it a criminal offense for any Russian aircraft to enter its airspace;

▪️ Zelensky said again that it is necessary to sit down at the negotiating table. Also, according to him, Ukraine expects the European Union to make "tough sanctions decisions" targeting Russia

Subscribe to @sputniknewsus

⚡️ The Russian Embassy in the United States has demanded an end to the persecution of Russians

❗️ The White House has reportedly failed to organize Biden's talks with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the President of the United Arab Emirates;

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have reportedly refused to increase oil production and adhere to the plan approved by OPEC

Subscribe to @sputniknewsus

The US ban on energy imports from Russia does not apply to uranium, according to US media

⚡️ Lavrov is scheduled to fly to Turkey for the Antalya Forum on Wednesday, where he plans to get in touch with Ukrainian FM Kuleba, the Russian Foreign Ministry says

⚡️ At 7:50 a.m. local time, Ukrainian troops fired two 120mm caliber mortars at Donetsk, according to the DPR representative in the JCCC

⚡️ Russian National Guard says situation at Zaporozhskaya NPP is under its full control

⚡️ Ukrainian troops shelled Panteleymonovka, fired fifteen 120-mm projectiles - DPR

❗️ Russian Defense Ministry:

▪️ The formations of Ukrainian troops, which were planned to be used in the Donbass, were trained by American and British instructors in Lvov;

▪️ Documents of the National Guard of Ukraine confirming the preparation by Kiev of an offensive operation in the Donbass for March came into the possession of the Russian military;

▪️ The special operation conducted by the Russian military preempted and disrupted a large-scale offensive by strike groups of Ukrainian troops in the LPR and DPR

Subscribe to @sputniknewsus