Wednesday’s global agenda: Afghan debate heats up

{mosads}Focus on Africa: The Brookings Institution’s Africa Growth Initiative hosts a live webcast at 10:30 a.m. with leading experts for a discussion on the most pressing challenges for Africa in 2013. You can watch it here.

Joining forces: The left-leaning Truman National Security Project today will announce a new partnership with the Center for National Policy (CNP), a well-established national and economic-security think tank.

In other news: 

The Obama administration is accusing Iran of hacking U.S. banks. [The New York Times]

U.S. foe Hugo Chavez won’t attend his swearing-in ceremony for a new term as Venezuela‘s president Thursday because he is ailing from cancer. [Bloomberg]

U.S. troops deployed to Turkey on Wednesday in support of NATO’s Patriot-armed missile defense mission at the border with Syria. [American Forces Press Service]

Are you smarter than a U.S. diplomat? asks The Christian Science Monitor. 

Lobbying and regulations:

The U.S. State Department waived the provisions of the 1987 Anti-Terrorism Act for the Palestine Liberation Organization Office.

Global Affairs news you might have missed: 

Pro-Israel hawk gets top spot on House Foreign Affairs new Middle East panel

Clinton expected to testify on Benghazi attack in two weeks, sources say

US puts $10 million bounty on accused killers of USAID employees

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