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Wednesday's global agenda: Egypt votes, Iran negotiates
Your morning global affairs speed-read
Egyptians vote in the first round of their first-ever competitive presidential elections in modern times today and Thursday. The elections are being watched closely by Arab and other countries in transition around the world as 13 secular and Islamist candidates duke it out even as the ruling military council has yet to reveal just how much power it is willing to give up. [The New York Times]
Five candidates — two Islamists, two former Mubarak officials and a secular nationalist with no ties to the former government — are seen as the main challengers. [The Washington Post]
Iran: Iranian leaders may be facing their last best hope to avoid a military strike when they meet with the international community in Baghdad today for the renewal of talks about the country's nuclear program. The United States and its five partners — China, Russia, France, Great Britain and Germany — are expected to unveil a detailed package of “confidence building measures” at the summit [The Wall Street Journal].
One day before the summit, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog on Tuesday announced a deal that should allow access to Iranian scientists and facilities [The Washington Post].
Maritime law: The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee holds a hearing this morning on accession to the Law of the Sea Treaty. Testimony by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey will drive home that this is a priority for the White House.
China: In the afternoon, the Senate banking committee's panel on international trade and finance meets to review the U.S.- China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. The hearing follows Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's visit to Beijing for the annual high-level meeting earlier this month.
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