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Friday's global agenda: Currency crisis creates opening for Iran concessions
Your morning global affairs speed-read
Iran has proposed a nine-step plan to gradually suspend the production of uranium that could be used for a nuclear weapon in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions, The New York Times reports. While the Obama administration has rejected the proposal as unworkable, it's further proof that the record spike in food prices over the past few days is creating openings for a deal with Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons program. [The Washington Post]
Under pressure to fix the dismal economy, the Iranian government arrested 16 people for alleged currency manipulation. [CNN]
Netherlands on notice: Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on human rights, is calling on the Netherlands to conduct a thorough investigation of allegations that the secretary-general of the Dutch Ministry of Justice, Joris Demmink, was involved in child sex trafficking offenses involving Turkish children.
Free speech in the Middle East: The Congressional International Religious Freedom Caucus is sponsoring a Capitol Hill briefing at 11:30 this morning on “Freedom of Speech vs. Freedom of Religion in the Islamic World and Western Democracies:A Clash of Civilizations?” Speakers include Andrew Rabens, special adviser for Youth Engagement at the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. The event is hosted by the American Islamic Congress.
In other news:
Territorial disputes in the Pacific are driving a wedge between U.S. allies Japan and South Korea at a time of increasing tensions with China. [The Washington Post]
The FBI has accused Russians of smuggling American microchips. [The New York Times]
What you might have missed on Global Affairs:
House Republicans ask Hillary Clinton if she's gunning for Egypt's Islamists
State Department downplays failure to secure Benghazi crime scene
US officials bristle as Palestinians prepare statehood bid in Nov.
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