Sudan Envoy: President Obama will appoint Air Force Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration (ret.) as U.S. special envoy to Sudan today, the New York Times reports. A Swahili-speaking son of missionaries who grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gration accompanied Obama on a five-nation trip to Africa in 2006 and was a national security advisor to his campaign.

Track 1 ½: Former U.S. Mideast peace negotiator Martin Indyk is leading discussions between Israeli and Palestinian advisors and officials at a three-day, off-record Brookings event that got underway last night. Among those said to be attending are longtime Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.