Washington -- A North-South peace agreement in Sudan is now "within our grasp" as a result of U.S.-facilitated peace talks in Kenya, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Chester Crocker told faculty and students at Georgetown University October 21.

Speaking at the conference "Sudan in Crisis: Conflict and Possibilities for Resolution," sponsored by the university's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies and the African Studies Department, Crocker cited landmark compromises made between Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Taha and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) leader John Garang as key steps to a final agreement being worked on in Naivasha, Kenya. (complete text)

Hundreds of thousands of refugee children and residents of Africa's Great Lakes Region -- Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania -- are learning that the world is still open to them to live better lives through "Ejo Bite?" Radio, a unique Voice of America program that helps refugee youth explore their future.

"Ejo Bite?" -- which literally means "How about the future?" -- broadcasts news, feature stories and radio dramas that are produced by young refugees in the camps in their local languages, Kirundi and Kinyarwanda. The Voice of America (VOA) has taught the youngsters journalism techniques so they can prepare weekly programs with special interest for youth of the region. (complete text)

Washington -- The State Department is using remote sensing technology on board satellites in an increasing number of nonmilitary applications to support U.S. foreign policy objectives, and humanitarian assistance may be one of the fastest-growing applications.

This is part two of a two-part article on the Department of State's use of satellite imagery in humanitarian efforts. (complete text)