Top stories from DAWNS Digest
US Backs New Pacific Climate Change Plan
The US has announced its support for a regional plan to fight climate change. “The Majuro Declaration, endorsed by the 15-nation Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) at their summit last week, contains specific pledges on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The PIF nations, some of which are barely a metre (three feet) above sea level and risk being swamped by rising waters, have since received wide support led by the United States after presenting the document to more than two dozen countries at a post-forum dialogue. US Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced during the session a new climate change fund for Pacific islands vulnerable to rising sea levels.” (AFP http://bit.ly/1fNvgHI)
US Lifts Aid Restrictions on Mali
A new, democratically elected president is now in office, so US aid money can resume. “Following Wednesday’s inauguration, Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns signed a determination that a democratically elected government has taken office in Mali. The determination has been transmitted to Congress, thereby lifting the restriction on assistance to the Government of Mali, in place since the March 2012 military coup. The United States will therefore resume bilateral development assistance immediately, but will continue to assess when and how to reengage with Malian security institutions.” (State Dept http://1.usa.gov/1fNupXu)