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Here are the top business stories making the headlines in the morning newspapers.

Two of the big four accounting giants act on Russia

Two of the big four accounting firms, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers, say they will no longer have a member firm in Russia due to the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Reuters reports that KPMG's Russia and Belarus firm will leave the KPMG network - a move that will affect over 4,500 partners and staff in Russia and Belarus.

Separately, PwC agreed PwC Russia will leave its network. The firm has operated in Russia for more than 30 years, and has 3,700 partners and staff there.

Sanctions imposed by the UK, EU and the U.S. on Russia are forcing firms globally to consider whether they should continue working with Russian clients who are state-owned.

Drop in North Sea flaring

Flaring in the UK North Sea fell by 19% in 2021, building on a 22% decrease the previous year.

Energy Voice says that, according to research from the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), production facilities cut their flaring by six billion cubic feet (bcf) to 26 bcf.

That's a drop equivalent to the annual gas demand of 130,000 UK homes.

It means that offshore flaring volumes dipped to their lowest annual level on OGA records, while an all-time monthly low was set in June 2021.

Industry is expected to achieve zero routine flaring and venting by 2030 or sooner. The OGA has the ability to halt new field development plans and existing production if flaring reaches an excessive level.

Shell defends buying Russian oil

Shell has defended its decision to purchase Russian crude, despite the invasion of Ukraine.

The energy giant said in a statement that the decision to buy the fuel at a discounted price was "difficult".

It confirmed that it had bought a cargo of Russian crude oil on Friday, but it had "no alternative".

Shell said it was forced to buy oil from Russia in order to maintain timely supplies of fuel to Europe.

The firm also said that it will try to choose alternatives to Russian crude "wherever possible", and that profits from Russian oil will go to a dedicated fund aimed at helping people in Ukraine.

Surge in fruit and veg prices expected

The family shop for fruit and veg faces a big price rise after the UK Government increased foreign pickers' basic wages by up to 38% to bring them in line with skilled workers.

The Home Office is requiring all foreign seasonal agriculture employees to be paid at least £25,600 per year in line with skilled workers' wages, as part of an attempt to drive up pay and make the jobs more attractive to recruit home-grown British staff.

However, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) has warned that this will mean a rise of up to 38% in their hourly pay when translated into the amount of work that foreign staff typically do every week.

Ali Capper, chairman of the NFU's horticulture and potatoes board, told The Telegraph it would drive wage inflation through the whole of the food industry at a time when families were struggling with the cost of living.

The new pay rate will take effect on April 6 and will affect up to 30,000 foreign seasonal workers.

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