It everywhere. Farmers may not get fertilizer or it’s so expensive some can’t afford it. Russia is the main exporter of fertilizer. The cost of wheat is going to skyrocket because of the shortage. It’s already up. Wheat is the biggest concern because of the numerous products made fr9m it. Buy flour now, prices and availability might be a big issue from reports coming out. Do a search.
So far the flour I buy has not only not gone up in price, but it was even on sale this week. I believe it's entirely produced in the U.S.
More horrific news... Saudi Arabia puts 81 to death in its largest mass execution By JON GAMBRELLMarch 12, 2022 GMT https://apnews.com/article/islamic-...rab-emirates-a1984eab0faadefa0152d5c138525d80 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Saturday executed 81 people convicted of crimes ranging from killings to belonging to militant groups, the largest known mass execution carried out in the kingdom in its modern history. The number of executed surpassed even the toll of a January 1980 mass execution for the 63 militants convicted of seizing the Grand Mosque in Mecca in 1979, the worst-ever militant attack to target the kingdom and Islam’s holiest site. It wasn’t clear why the kingdom choose Saturday for the executions, though they came as much of the world’s attention remained focused on Russia’s war on Ukraine — and as the U.S. hopes to lower record-high gasoline prices as energy prices spike worldwide. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly plans a trip to Saudi Arabia next week over oil prices as well. The number of death penalty cases being carried out in Saudi Arabia had dropped during the coronavirus pandemic, though the kingdom continued to behead convicts under King Salman and his assertive son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The state-run Saudi Press Agency announced Saturday’s executions, saying they included those “convicted of various crimes, including the murdering of innocent men, women and children.” The kingdom also said some of those executed were members of al-Qaida, the Islamic State group and also backers of Yemen’s Houthi rebels. A Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Iran-backed Houthis since 2015 in neighboring Yemen in an effort to restore the internationally recognized government to power. Those executed included 73 Saudis, seven Yemenis and one Syrian. The report did not say where the executions took place. “The accused were provided with the right to an attorney and were guaranteed their full rights under Saudi law during the judicial process, which found them guilty of committing multiple heinous crimes that left a large number of civilians and law enforcement officers dead,” the Saudi Press Agency said. “The kingdom will continue to take a strict and unwavering stance against terrorism and extremist ideologies that threaten the stability of the entire world,” the report added. It did not say how the prisoners were executed, though death-row inmates typically are beheaded in Saudi Arabia. An announcement by Saudi state television described those executed as having “followed the footsteps of Satan” in carrying out their crimes. The executions drew immediate international criticism. “The world should know by now that when Mohammed bin Salman promises reform, bloodshed is bound to follow,” said Soraya Bauwens, the deputy director of Reprieve, a London-based advocacy group. Ali Adubusi, the director of the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights, alleged that some of those executed had been tortured and faced trials “carried out in secret.” “These executions are the opposite of justice,” he said. The kingdom’s last mass execution came in January 2016, when the kingdom executed 47 people, including a prominent opposition Shiite cleric who had rallied demonstrations in the kingdom. In 2019, the kingdom beheaded 37 Saudi citizens, most of them minority Shiites, in a mass execution across the country for alleged terrorism-related crimes. It also publicly nailed the severed body and head of a convicted extremist to a pole as a warning to others. Such crucifixions after execution, while rare, do occur in the kingdom. Activists, including Ali al-Ahmed of the U.S.-based Institute for Gulf Affairs, and the group Democracy for the Arab World Now said they believe that over three dozen of those executed Saturday also were Shiites. The Saudi statement, however, did not identify the faiths of those killed. Shiites, who live primarily in the kingdom’s oil-rich east, have long complained of being treated as second-class citizens. Executions of Shiites in the past have stirred regional unrest. Saudi Arabia meanwhile remains engaged in diplomatic talks with its Shiite regional rival Iran to try to ease yearslong tensions. Sporadic protests erupted Saturday night in the island kingdom of Bahrain — which has a majority Shiite population but is ruled by a Sunni monarchy, a Saudi ally — over the mass execution. The 1979 seizure of the Grand Mosque remains a crucial moment in the history of the oil-rich kingdom. A band of ultraconservative Saudi Sunni militants took the Grand Mosque, home to the cube-shaped Kaaba that Muslims pray toward five times a day, demanding the Al Saud royal family abdicate. A two-week siege that followed ended with an official death toll of 229 killed. The kingdom’s rulers soon further embraced Wahhabism, an ultraconservative Islamic doctrine. Since taking power, Crown Prince Mohammed under his father has increasingly liberalized life in the kingdom, opening movie theaters, allowing women to drive and defanging the country’s once-feared religious police. However, U.S. intelligence agencies believe the crown prince also ordered the slaying and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, while overseeing airstrikes in Yemen that killed hundreds of civilians. In excerpts of an interview with The Atlantic magazine, the crown prince discussed the death penalty, saying a “high percentage” of executions had been halted through the payment of so-called “blood money” settlements to grieving families. “Well about the death penalty, we got rid of all of it, except for one category, and this one is written in the Quran, and we cannot do anything about it, even if we wished to do something, because it is clear teaching in the Quran,” the prince said, according to a transcript later published by the Saudi-owned satellite news channel Al-Arabiya. “If someone killed someone, another person, the family of that person has the right, after going to the court, to apply capital punishment, unless they forgive him. Or if someone threatens the life of many people, that means he has to be punished by the death penalty.” He added: “Regardless if I like it or not, I don’t have the power to change it.”
Shortages won’t show up until after this growing season … if farmers don’t get fertilizer this year according to reports, we still have plenty now in my market. It’s next year from what I’m seeing. Might want to buy it now.
You might have seen that the earthquake caused power outages but thankfully the tsunami warning has been lifted. Every time I see that Japan is affected by something like this I think of Our Lady of Akita.+ Late-Night Quake in Japan Knocks Several Power Plants Offline More than 5 gigawatts worth of coal- and gas-fired power shut Magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits northeastern Japan Wed. evening A policeman directs traffic during a power outage in Tokyo early on March 17. Photographer: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images By Shoko Oda | March 16, 2022, 12:35 PM EDT A magnitude 7.3 earthquake in northeastern Japan late on Wednesday knocked several thermal power plants offline and resulted in widespread blackouts. About 5.4 gigawatts worth of natural gas- and coal-fired power capacity was shut after the earthquake, which struck off the coast of Fukushima prefecture and shook buildings in Tokyo, according to data from the Japan Electric Power Exchange. It isn’t immediately clear when the facilities will restart. People walk through a residential area during a power outage in the Koto district of Tokyo after the powerful earthquake. Photographer: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images Related story: Strong Quake Hits Northern Japan, Tsunami Warning Issued Jera Co.’s Hirono No. 5 and No. 6 coal power plants were among the facilities halted due to the quake, according to data from JEPX. Several of Tohoku Electric Power Co.’s thermal power units were also halted, along with a generation facility at oil refiner Eneos Holdings’ Negishi refinery, according to the data. Prolonged outages could put upward pressure on Japan’s wholesale power prices, which have been trading near a seasonal high due to expensive fuel costs. A power outage in the Koto district in Tokyo after the quake. Photographer: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images The quake caused blackouts across Tokyo and also the northeastern Tohoku region. Roughly 2 million buildings in the Tokyo area are without power, according to Tokyo Electric Power Co. About 157,000 buildings in the Tohoku region are without power as of 12:50 a.m. local time, according to Tohoku Electric. *** Basto, I remember someone posting about a similar event in the past but I definitely do not remember that it affected the UK. Prayers for those dealing with these natural disasters.+
Scoop: U.S. weighs deal to remove Iran's IRGC from terror blacklist Barak Ravid, author of Axios from Tel Aviv Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with leaders of the IRGC last January. Photo: Handout via Getty The Biden administration is considering removing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from a terror blacklist in return for a public commitment from Iran to de-escalation in the region, three Israeli officials and two U.S. sources tell me. Why it matters: An agreement to restore the 2015 nuclear deal is nearly complete, but Iran's demand that President Biden reverse Donald Trump's decision to designate the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization is a key remaining sticking point. The IRGC is not only Iran's most feared military branch, it's also a powerful political and economic player. The terror designation means that even if Biden lifts nuclear sanctions to return to compliance with the deal, criminal penalties could still be imposed on anyone doing business with individuals or businesses connected to the IRGC. But removing the designation is a political hot potato for Biden. It would create an uproar from Republicans and likely several Democrats in the Senate. Between the lines: The IRGC designation is not directly related to the nuclear deal, and any decision would take the form of a separate bilateral understanding between the U.S. and Iran, according to the U.S. and Israeli sources. One idea being discussed by the Biden administration would be a public announcement that the U.S. reserves the right to redesignate the IRGC if it determines that Iran did not follow through on its pledge to de-escalate in the region. The Israeli officials say the Biden administration briefed the Israeli government that such possibilities are being considered but stressed that no decisions have been made. The Israeli government is concerned about the idea, and in particular, the fact that the U.S. didn't demand specific commitments from Iran not to target the U.S. and its allies in the region, two senior Israeli officials tell me. Behind the scenes: When former Vice President Mike Pence visited Israel last week, he claimed in meetings with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid that Biden planned to delist the IRGC in return for a more narrow commitment not to target Americans, two Israeli officials said. When the Israelis checked this in Washington, they were told the Biden administration had discussed this possibility but ruled it out. Asked about Pence's description, a senior State Department official told Axios: “It should not be a surprise to anyone that descriptions of our talks from critics not involved in the process are inaccurate." Pence’s team declined to comment. State of play: The State Department official said no decision has been made on the IRGC designation and “any speculation to the contrary is simply uninformed." Nevertheless, the official stressed that regardless, the IRGC will remain on a separate terror list and subject to numerous sanctions, and the U.S. will still have a "panoply of tools to counter Iran’s destabilizing activities." Another senior U.S. official claimed that it would be "pure speculation" to talk about details of a deal that isn't complete yet, but added, "It’s clear that President Trump and Vice President Pence’s withdrawal and maximum pressure campaign have been a clear failure" because Iran has only increased its nuclear activity and regional aggression. Worth noting: Trump's 2019 designation of the IRGC as an FTO was the first time a state entity was added to the list. https://www.axios.com/us-weighs-dea...ist-c4aa21ed-5b57-4be7-bce6-3670a5dac453.html
Not a single mention, not a word regarding the consecration of Russia in the news in my home country. How sad. On the other hand, for a few days they have been publishing articles trying to promote surrogacy. Just because it is considered legal in Ukraine, and "bad guy Russia" is persecuting "good guy Ukraine", so whatever the bad Russian are fighting against should be considered de facto as a "human right" It is so easy to make people believe anything with the whole Russia-Ukraine situation: "If you don't agree with what we say, you're not standing together with the poor Ukrainian people and you're a bad person". Seems like that's all it takes. The country I'm living in right now has a really small number of Christians, but the Pope willing to consecrate Russia on March 25th made it in the news.
A Pair Of Abortion Bills Pass The Maryland House Of Delegates March 15, 2022 - 6:02 am Delegate Neil Parrott They must now pass the Senate. Annapolis, Md. (NS) – Two pieces of legislation regarding abortion passed the House of Delegates on Friday. District 2A Delegate Neil Parrott called WFMD to give his thoughts. “Two bad bills passed on Friday in the Maryland House of Delegates. HB 937 and HB 1171. 937 is a bill that’s going to take $3.5 million of our taxpayer money, put it into a fund that’s going to train abortionists every single year,” said Parrott. He added that under this piece of legislation, those trained do not need to be a doctor. House Bill 11-71 would attempt to legalize abortion, including late-term abortions, in the Maryland State Constitution. “You know, I’m very hopeful that Roe v. Wade is overturned this coming June in the great case, but even if it is overturned, the abortion decisions go back to the states and Maryland already has the most liberal laws when it comes to abortions anywhere in the country. So, there’s nothing that will change in the state of Maryland regarding abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned,” Parrott explained. A super majority would be required to remove any part of the Maryland State Constitution. The bills have passed in the House and now head to the Senate. added by me: The pro-choice politicians in Maryland are scared that Roe v. Wade will be overturned by the Supreme Court soon. So they are rushing to get these bills passed so that states' rights will be protected. What about unborn babies' rights? Woe to you, those who do wicked acts and promote wicked laws.
Still have to pass State Senate and be signed by Gov Larry Hogan. I can’t believe it, either. BTW, I wouldn’t be surprised if Larry Hogan ran for President on Republican ticket. He’s pro-choice watch that space
I've not mentioned this before, as it hadn't occurred to me to do so until now. I've kept you all under the impression that I'm childless; well, my marriage has been. I am also a mother. Now I am NOT trying to equate myself with other ladies here. Not at all. YOU are the ones who've changed plenty of diapers, did the 2:00 a.m. feedings, chased after toddlers, etc., etc. NOT me. At age 19, I (Protestant then) became pregnant out of wedlock. Miscarried late in the 2nd month. During that time I was very upset with myself for having gotten pregnant, but abortion was ABSOLUTELY out of the question. The father was out of the picture. I immediately bonded with the unborn child (who I am certain was female), and named her. Once she died, I wrote poetry in mourning (and I wasn't officially a poet then!), and also planted a flower garden in her honor. There was so much pain and grief; poetry and that garden helped me to heal from the loss of my daughter. SO, that said: I absolutely cannot EVER comprehend abortion, and the ease of it for many. If we see full-blown infanticide in this country, meaning the baby has been BORN and is ENTIRELY separate from the mother (traditional abortionists CANNOT justify this!), frankly... I'm at a loss.
DS, I am so sorry for your loss. I know Blessed Mother is very close to you. I miscarried a pregnancy also and felt it was a girl. There will be reunions in Heaven.
