President Obama on Thursday authorized the release of up to $10 million in emergency aid to help deal with the worsening refugee crisis in the West African nation of Mali.

Almost 400,000 people from the northern half of the country have been internally displaced or sought refuge in neighboring countries following an insurgency by Islamists and semi-nomadic Tuareg tribesmen that has cleaved the country in two. In a statement Thursday, the White House said it was authorizing the release of the funds to help respond to “the unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs resulting from the conflict in northern Mali."

“The emergency funds will be used to support the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide lifesaving protection and assistance to those fleeing the conflict,” National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement. “Currently, almost 230,000 Malian refugees have fled to Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger, while an additional 155,000 Malians are internally displaced.”

The Senate majority leader said U.S. athletes would be better off wearing crude singlets made in America.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) released a staff report Thursday urging Mexican President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto to reform the country's justice system and police forces in order to reduce drug-related violence. Read more...

Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), issued a statement late Wednesday slamming Russia for passing a bill that would allow the government to blacklist certain websites.

He said the country had moved in a "troubling and dangerous direction."

"The world’s experience with the Internet provides a clear lesson: a free and open Internet promotes economic growth and freedom; restricting the free flow of information is bad for consumers, businesses, and societies," he said.

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Your morning global affairs speed-read

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee this morning weighs U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which the advocacy community hopes can be passed in the Senate this month. The treaty covers rights such as equal treatment and non-discrimination in access to justice, health, education, employment and rehabilitation.

Advocates argue it wouldn't create substantial new burdens for the United States but rather would reaffirm the nation's commitment to the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) while expanding its protections and opportunities worldwide. “Increasing access in the global community for people with disabilities is particularly important because of the increasingly global marketplace in which workers must compete,” the United Spinal Association said in calling for Senate passage in time for the ADA's anniversary on July 26. “Without international commitment to equal access, wheelchair users, disabled veterans and other U.S. citizens with disabilities may be unable to travel, live, work or study abroad.”

The treaty has bipartisan support. Later in the morning, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) will hold a press conference with advocates for people with disabilities to urge ratification. The two senators will also testify before the Senate panel, along with officials from the departments of State and Justice and several others.

Spotlight on Africa: U.S. policy in Africa comes under the microscope in the Senate today as the Foreign Relations panel considers four of President Obama's nominees for ambassadorships. 

The campaign said Republicans are "scared" of the Venezuelan president and "acting like he's 10 feet tall."

The National Rifle Association said there will be "no compromise" on excluding civilian arms from the international agreement.

Thirty senators have pledged to oppose the treaty. Thirty-four no votes could kill it. 

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