Dear Reader, I have come to a crossroad. I’m turning 70 in a couple of weeks, and I’ve been writing the Surfnetkids reviews for 27 years. It’s time to figure out what’s next for me, and what’s next for Surfnetkids.com. […]

The post [Surnetkids] Sudoku Tips appeared first on Newsletters » Surfnetkids.

موجز:

قدمة تستعرض هذه المذكرة المشهد السياسي المعاصر في السودان،وكيفية تأثيرهعلى جدوى الاستثماراتفي القطاع الزراعيالتي تشتد الحاجة إليها لتحقيق التحول الزراعي في البلاد. ت ركزالمذكرة بشكل خاص على سلاسل القيمة في قطاعي الثروة الحيوانية والبستنة فيولاية الخرطوم،وإدارة الموارد الطبيعية في ولايتي النيل الأزرق وجنوب كردفان. أهملت الحكومات المتعاقبة إلى حد كبير قطاع الزراعة على الرغم من أنه أكبر قطاع توظيف في السودان ويساهم بنحو 56في المئة من إجمالي الصادرات (بنك السودان المركزي، 2020).

وجز :

استمرت المواجهة في السودان بين القوات المسلحة السودانية وقوات الدعم السريع لعدة أشهر قبل أن تتصاعد إلى نزاع مسلح في 15 أبريل 2023. بالإضافة ة إلى جانب الكارثة الإنسانية، عطل النزاع العديد من الخدمات العامة مثل الكهرباء والمياه والخدمات الصحية والخدمات المصرفية، بينما تعطل أيضا الوصول إلى الأسواق، مما أدى إلى ندرة كبيرة في السلع والخدمات. وقد دمر الصراع البنية التحتية الرئيسية، وقيد التجارة المحلية والدولية وعطل أنشطة الإنتاج وسلاسل الموردين.

بنية القطاع الزراعي السوداني ومساهمته في الاقتصاد بين عامي 1990 و2021

دخل النزاع المسلح بين القوات المسلحة السودانية وقوات الدعم السريع في السودان شهره السادس منذ اندلاعه في 15 أبريل 2023، دون أي مؤشرات على انتهائه قريبا. تسببت الحرب في كارثة إنسانية حادة، دمرت البنية التحتية الرئيسية، وقيدت أنشطة التجارة والإنتاج. علاوة على ذلك، أدى ذلك إلى تعطيل الوصول إلى المرافق العامة والخدمات المالية والأسواق، مما أدى إلى ندرة كبيرة في السلع والخدمات. في هذه الورقة، نستخدم إطار نمذجة مضاعف مصفوفة المحاسبة الاجتماعية لتقييم الآثار الاقتصادية على مستوى الاقتصاد لهذه الاضطرابات في النشاط الاقتصادي والموارد الإنتاجية وسبل العيش.

Keith Attle 700258 : Addie May was in many ways before her time. She was strong willed, not afraid to speak her mind, and could distinguish between right and wrong with good common sense. For her, there was no middle ground. This became evident at a very early age as she was born with two strikes against her. First, one leg was shorter than the other, which caused her to limp all of her life and subjecting her to be ridiculed as a child. Secondly, she was left-handed. Today this is not an issue, but for thousands of years, this attribute was associated with witchcraft and devil possession. Addie May's mother tried everything she could to change her but to no avail. Even a sore and blistered hand and punishment by her first-grade teacher did not dissuade her. Her formal education finished at eighth grade, yet she became a court deputy, a bookkeeper for her husband's hugely successful business, a practical nurse, mother, and grandmother. It was the later when I came to know her. Death was a frequent visitor throughout her life. Somehow she was able to mask her inner emotions while smiling and comforting others facing pain, distress, and death. She was a decent, honorable, and compassionate human being who never thought of herself as anything special. This book is a tribute to a woman who never received the recognition she deserved. It is my desire to correct this. It's unfortunate she will never know.

Ce document présente une analyse des chaînes de valeur agroalimentaires de manioc, de riz, de lait et de poisson le long du corridor économique entre les capitales provinciales de Bukavu (Sud-Kivu) et Kalemie (Tanganyika) situées dans la partie orientale de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC). Les principales données utilisées pour cette étude proviennent d’enquêtes menées en 2021 auprès d’environ 3000 acteurs conomiques familiaux, y compris des agriculteurs, des transformateurs et des intermédiaires, actifs dans une ou plusieurs des quatre filières ciblées.

The Socio-Economic Impact of Armed Conflict on Sudanese Urban Households

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has been concentrated in cities, with major impacts on urban households. Large numbers of families are displaced, employment is down dramatically, and most children are unable to go to school. A comprehensive survey conducted earlier this year by IFPRI’ Sudan Strategy Support Program and the United Nations Development Programme provides […]

The post The Socio-Economic Impact of Armed Conflict on Sudanese Urban Households appeared first on IFPRI.

More than 20 million face acute food insecurity.

Satellite images show devastation in Sudan 1 year since conflict began (ABC News)

"Satellite imagery shows the reduction in green vegetation cover, the increased aridity points to the neglect or destruction of previously irrigated fields” Oliver Kirui told ABC News.

The post Satellite images show devastation in Sudan 1 year since conflict began (ABC News) appeared first on IFPRI.

Sudan is now confronting its most severe food security crisis on record (The Conversation Africa)

An op-ed by IFPRI’s Khalid Siddig and Rob Vos analyses Sudan’s ongoing severe food crisis: “After 14 months of escalating internal conflict, Sudan is now confronting its most severe food security crisis on record. The latest situation report, released on 27 June, reveals a grim picture: more than half the population of 47.2 million is […]

The post Sudan is now confronting its most severe food security crisis on record (The Conversation Africa) appeared first on IFPRI.

Sudan’s catastrophe: farmers could offer quick post-war recovery, if peace is found

Despite the stark reality, there is a potential path forward for Sudan, believe IFPRI experts.

The post Sudan’s catastrophe: farmers could offer quick post-war recovery, if peace is found appeared first on IFPRI.

Andy Suderman, CTO of Fairwinds, joins host Robert Blumen to talk about standing up a kubernetes cluster. Their discussion covers build-your-own versus managed clusters provided by cloud services, and how to determine the number of kubernetes clusters an organization needs. Andy describes best practices for automating cluster provisioning, and offers recommendations about customizations and opinionation of cloud service providers, choice of container registry, and whether you should run complementary services such as CI and monitoring on the same cluster. The episode also examines the day 0/day 1/day 2 lifecycle, cluster auto-scaling at the cloud service level, integrating stateful services and other cloud services into your cluster, and kubernetes secrets and alternatives. Finally, they consider the container-network interface (CNI), ingress and load balancers, and provisioning external DNS and TLS certificates for cluster services.

Two Sudanese nationals have been indicted for allegedly leading Anonymous Sudan, a cybercriminal group responsible for over 35,000 Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks targeting critical infrastructure worldwide.

Location: Main Media Collection - Video record 42406 DVD

Genetically Rescued Organism: Toward A Solution For Sudden Oak Death

The board of Pidilite -- maker of Fevicol, Dr Fixit, Fevikwik and M-Seal -- at its meeting held on Thursday approved the appointment of Vats as Managing Director Designate, who is currently Deputy Managing Director of Pidilite Industries.

Millions have been impacted by Hurricane Helene, yet another tragic natural disaster that the world faced in 2024. Does the Bible say anything that can help us understand why? And how can God’s people help?

En este episodio de El Alargue analizamos el empate a uno de la Selección Colombia con Brasil en el Sudamericano Sub-20. Hablamos también sobre el regreso de la Liga.

Analizamos la derrota de Colombia en el inicio del hexagonal final 0-1 ante Uruguay, en el Sudamericano Sub-20 del país. Así mismo hablamos del cierre de la segunda fecha del fútbol colombiano.

Brayan León, una de las figuras del Deportivo Independiente Medellín en la actualidad y goleador del club en la Copa Sudamericana, dialogó con El Alargue de Caracol Radio. El delantero sueña en grande y cree que el Poderoso puede ganar su primer título continental.

Eva Frazzoni, the Bermuda women’s national football team captain, scored in AFC Sudbury’s 3-0 win at home to Bowers & Pitsea Ladies in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup first round today [November 3]. The midfielder opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a well-taken header. AFC Sudbury Women have reached the second-round proper of […]

Eva Frazzoni scored in AFC Sudbury’s 2-1 win away to Dulwich Hamlet in the FA Women’s National League Division One South East today [November 10]. The Bermuda women’s national team captain netted her side’s second goal to make it 2-0 in the first half. Related Stories Kenni Thompson Scores For Bournemouth Kenni Thompson Scores For […]

Osud České pirátské strany, která v několika volbách za sebou dostala výprask, je příkladem selhání progresivistického politického modelu. Když pak nedávno premiér Petr Fiala vyhodil z vlády Ivana Bartoše za nezvládnutou digitalizaci stavebního řízení, prezentovali se Piráti sérií emotivních a dětinských prohlášení. Uraženě opustili koaliční kabinet a naivně si myslí, že je to zachrání před dalším propadem. Za předsedu si teď zvolili Zdeňka Hřiba, kterého Pražané v pozici náměstka a předtím primátora hlavního města skutečně nemusí.

Sportem ku zdraví, říká se. A k trvalé invaliditě, dodávají jiní. V případě horolezectví to ale může dopadnout mnohem hůř. Všechny ty světově známé vrcholky mají svůj smutný seznam těch, kteří padli při jejich zdolávání. A pochopitelně mezi nimi nechybí ani ženy. Hannelore Schmatz se měla stát první Němkou, která zdolala Mount Everest. Na vrchol se dostala i se svým manželem Gerhardem, jakožto nejstarším pokořitelem hory. Jenže u Everestu je pořádně zrádná i cesta dolů. Hannelore se nakonec stala osudnou.

By Keegan Kelly Published: November 12th, 2024

One of the worst famines in decades could be underway in Sudan, aid workers warn.

Americans will only achieve healthy public discourse when we agree on basic principles and start telling the truth. As it stands, however, too many elected officials engage in hypocrisy by […]

The post Dem Lawmaker Says the Quiet Part Out Loud as She Suddenly Changes Her Tune on the Senate Filibuster appeared first on The Western Journal.

Civilian priorities for ending the war in Sudan 31 October 2024 — 12:30PM TO 1:30PM Anonymous (not verified) 8 October 2024 Chatham House and Online

Dr Abdalla Hamdok, former prime minister of Sudan and chairperson of the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Tagadum), will discuss the prospects for conflict resolution in Sudan.

The intensification of fighting across Sudan demonstrates that both warring parties and their allies are continuing to pursue an outright military victory in the war, with little regard for the human cost. Diplomatic efforts, including the US-led Geneva talks in August, have produced little progress towards a ceasefire.  Meanwhile, the conflict has resulted in widespread devastation, mass displacement, and an escalating hunger crisis.

Civilian perspectives on ending the war, their vital efforts in providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance, and the aspiration of many Sudanese for a more inclusive and democratic Sudan, have been sidelined by the interests and actions of the belligerent parties.

At this event, Dr Abdalla Hamdok will discuss options for reaching a ceasefire and seeking a peaceful political resolution to the conflict. He will also address the urgent need for an international response to what has become the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

Please note that in-person attendance for this event will be balloted. Guests looking to join in-person must ‘register interest’ in joining. Full confirmations to successful applicants will be sent on Monday 28 October at 15:00.

14 September 2020

Africa Aware: Relations between Ethiopia and Sudan Audio bhorton.drupal 9 April 2022

This episode of Africa Aware examines the relationship between Ethiopia and Sudan.

Ahmed Soliman provides an overview of the Africa Programme’s work on cross-border conflict as part of the XCEPT project.

First, we speak to Kholood Khair on the steady deterioration in relations between Sudan and Ethiopia. Then Abel Abate Demissie discusses how recent political developments in Ethiopia and Sudan have impacted relations between the two countries.

This podcast was produced with support from the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) project, funded by UK Aid from the UK government. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.

It is also part of a series of outputs on Ethiopia’s political transition.

Towards democracy in Sudan: Reflections on the transitional period 20 September 2022 — 2:00PM TO 4:00PM Anonymous (not verified) 31 August 2022 Online

In this webinar, panellists discuss the key outcomes of the evaluation workshop and reflect on how the experience of the transition to date should inform the realization of Sudan’s democratic aspirations going forward.

The military coup on 25 October 2021 halted Sudan’s transition to democracy and prospects for sustainable peace. Since then, members of the former regime have regained political influence, with many reinstated to senior positions.

The coup has provoked a strong reaction from the country’s pro-democracy movement and youth-led resistance committees who have led continuous peaceful protests demanding civilian democratic transition, despite a brutal crackdown by state security forces.

Those supportive of the coup have blamed the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), a wide coalition of pro-democracy political and civilian groups, for the mistakes of the transitional government.

However, the country’s political, security and economic situation has sharply deteriorated since the military’s action, and the progress achieved by the transitional government has been reversed, leading to an accelerating economic crisis, increased food insecurity and political instability.

The FFC, which played a key role in appointing the transitional government, has acknowledged its errors. In July 2022, it held a workshop in Khartoum, which was broadcast on social media, to evaluate its performance and identify lessons learned, in discussion with civil society actors and activists.

In this webinar, leading pro-democracy movement figures and independent experts discuss the key outcomes of the evaluation workshop and reflect on how the experience of the transition to date should inform the realization of Sudan’s democratic aspirations going forward.

This event is part of a Chatham House Africa programme project on supporting Sudan’s civilian-led democratic transition.

Sudan’s gold boom: Connections to conflict and transnational impacts 7 December 2022 — 2:00PM TO 3:30PM Anonymous (not verified) 24 November 2022 Online

At this event, experts will discuss Sudan’s gold sector, its connections to conflict, and transnational impacts. 

At this webinar panellists will discuss Sudan’s gold sector, its connections to conflict, and transnational impacts.

Sudan is one of the largest gold producers on the continent, with the industry constituting Sudan’s foremost source of hard currency since the secession of South Sudan in 2011 and resulting loss of oilfields.

The gold rush that has ensued has had important implications for domestic and transnational conflict dynamics. Military actors and armed groups have sought control of gold-producing areas in the peripheries and to capitalize on the flow of labour migrants, against a wider backdrop of conflict partly stemming from contestation for control between central and local actors.

International interests are prominent, including increased Russian involvement in the sector, while gold smuggling has also interlaced with mercenary activity in neighbouring CAR, Chad and Libya.
 
At this event, panellists will discuss Sudan’s gold trade, its connections to conflict, and transnational impacts, including the international politics of Sudan’s gold extraction and role of armed groups. It will also explore the environmental and socio-economic dimensions of gold in Sudan’s border areas. 
 
This roundtable is an output of the Cross-Border Conflict: Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, funded by UK Aid from the UK government.
 

A critical juncture for Sudan’s democratic transition Expert comment LJefferson 28 March 2023

International pressure is essential to reach an agreement that establishes a credible civilian government.

The signing of the Framework Agreement (FA) on 5 December 2022 between Sudan’s military leaders and its leading pro-democracy parties is a major step to reversing the damage done by the disastrous military coup in October 2021.

The FA removes any formal role for the military in Sudan’s politics. A civilian head of state and prime minister will select the cabinet and chair the Defence and Security Council. The armed forces will be prohibited from non-military business activities and security sector reform will lead to a unified, professional and non-partisan national army. Elections are due to take place at the end of a two-year transitional period. 

Signatories included General Abdel Fatah Al Burhan, chair of the Sovereign Council and head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), his deputy and Commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and more than 40 civilian entities, including the Forces of Freedom and Change- Central Council (FFC-CC), a few other political parties, former armed movements, civil society organizations and professional associations. However, the agreement has faced criticism from the street for not being sufficiently radical, has been overshadowed at times by heightened tension between the two military leaders, and has seen sabotage attempts by supporters of the Bashir regime.

Building consensus on the Framework Agreement

The agreement meets most of the demands of the anti-coup camp, at least on paper. Yet doubts persist as to whether the military are genuine about handing over power, particularly among the neighbourhood-based resistance committees – the heart of the youth-led mobilization that forced the military to recognize the failure of their power grab. Peaceful protests against the coup have seen 125 killed and over 8,000 injured by government security forces. Many want to see Burhan and Hemedti held accountable.

Recognizing the need to expand popular support, FFC-CC leaders have been reaching out to other pro-democracy forces to build a united civilian front. They report increased buy-in from some resistance committees in the last few months, recognizing that street protests alone were not sufficient to overthrow the coup, and that engagement with the military is necessary to find a way out of the impasse.

The FA offers the only currently available path to embedding civilian politics in Sudan and has received active diplomatic support from UNITAMS, AU and IGAD (who form the Tripartite Mechanism), the Troika of the US, UK and Norway, alongside the EU, as well as Saudi Arabia and the UAE (who are members of ‘the Quad’ with the US and UK).

Broader public participation has also been developed through a series of conferences, facilitated by the Tripartite Mechanism, on five contentious issues – dismantling the old regime, the Juba Peace Agreement, Eastern Sudan, Transitional Justice and Security Sector Reform. Recommendations will be incorporated in a final political agreement. 

The political process has been overshadowed by increasingly visible tension between Burhan and Hemedti, seen in parallel foreign visits, conflicting public statements, and a heavy military presence in Khartoum. But concerns that SAF and the RSF were heading towards confrontation appear to have been assuaged thanks to international pressure and preliminary agreements reached between military and civilian signatories of the FA on security sector reform and integration. In a significant breakthrough, both sides have now agreed to draft the final agreement and transitional constitution, with the aim of forming a civilian government by 11 April.  

Potential spoilers and interests from Sudan’s regions

Progress has been made, but significant challenges remain, notably from supporters of the former Bashir regime in ‘the deep state’ and from Sudan’s historically marginalized peripheries. Old regime elements have been intensifying social media campaigns to derail the agreement and drive a wedge between the SAF and RSF, and have been accused of deliberately inciting instability in the peripheries to undermine the democratic transition. 

The Popular Defence Forces, established by the National Islamic Front in the 1990s, have been reactivated under different names in several parts of the country and there are reports of mobilization and recruitment of armed militias in Darfur. The recent public appearance of Ali Karti, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Movement, who has close relations with Islamists in SAF, has also caused renewed concern.

Two Darfuri armed movement leaders who signed the October 2020 Juba Peace Agreement (JPA) and are members of the current military-led government, have not signed the FA, allegedly due to concerns about their representation in the next government.

Despite intensive efforts to bring them on board, there is continuing disagreement over the inclusion of other members of ‘the Democratic Bloc’, a political alliance backed by Sudan’s influential neighbour Egypt, which is reportedly angry at being excluded from the Quad. The FFC-CC say that the door is open for the two Darfuri leaders and some other political parties, but they will not allow the agreement to be ‘diluted’ with political forces who intend to torpedo the transition, including by imposing a weak prime minister.

Both Burhan and Hemedti have courted support from the regions. Burhan used the 2020 SAF takeover of Al Fashaga in the contested eastern border region with Ethiopia to boost his national standing and secure backing from local tribal leaders; while Hemedti has sought to position himself as a champion of the peripheries, particularly in his Darfur heartlands, while simultaneously advancing his business interests.

Competition between them in building domestic powerbases, as well as alliances with neighbouring states, risks reigniting tensions, particularly given deep grievances and contrasting ambitions between and among Sudan’s diverse regional leaders and communities.