"Sudan is a priority for this administration, particularly at a time when it cries out for peace and for justice," Obama said in a statement announcing Gration's appointment. "The worsening humanitarian crisis there makes our task all the more urgent.

Russia has banned baby seal hunting after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called it a "bloody industry." "The bloody sight of the hunting of seals, the slaughter of these defenseless animals which you cannot even call a real hunt, is banned in our country."

Witch doctors and security forces in Gambia have detained up to 1,000 people on suspicion of being witches, Amnesty International said. Victims were held in secret detention camps for up to five days and forced to drink hallucinogenic substances.

The humanitarian situation in Darfur continues to deteriorate in the wake of Sudan's decision to expel major foreign aid organizations from the country. A majority of UN Council members sharply criticized Khartoum for refusing to reverse its edict.

The leader of Darfur's main rebel group says it has pulled out of peace talks with the Sudanese government until President Omar al-Bashir reconsiders his decision to expel international aid groups from the nation.

Ezra Klein has a post up about recognizing that whatever the intention behind the killing of civilians in the Israel/Palestine conflict, it is overwhelmingly Palestinian civilians that are being killed.

A complex masala of gender, caste, tradition and politics keeps babies hungry. After 15 years of rapid growth, India has made no progress on childhood malnutrition, unlike many poorer nations. Its culture poses many special obstacles.

A Toxic triangle of alliances is supplying insurgents with guns and cash. Corrupt politicians are safeguarding traffickers who then help the Taliban. The deputy minister is taking a major cut of dealers' profits, ranking him among the biggest players.

Nine years ago, Zimbabwe had more than 4,000 white-owned commercial farms. In a fresh wave of invasions, farmers keep their guns close at hand as ZANU-PF thugs lay siege to many of the 300 that remain.

The future of the planet is at stake. Nuclear disarmament cannot remain on the back burner. Tell President Obama to dramatically improve our relations with Russia and make major progress toward achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.