Morning Brief, Thursday, January 3

Iowa Caucuses

SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Voters in Iowa trudge to the polls to pick their Democratic and Republican favorites today. The latest Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby tracking poll has Obama leading Edwards by three points, followed by Clinton. On the Republican side, Huckabee holds a six-point edge on Romney. Last night, Huckabee jammed with Jay Leno's band and Clinton taped a cameo for the Letterman show. Karen Breslau asks, What happens if Hillary loses?

Asia

Pakistan's major opposition parties denounced the government's decision to postpone the elections for six weeks, but said they would participate.

China downplayed North Korea's failure to meet a Dec. 31 deadline for disclosing its nuclear activities, calling the delay "natural."

The word "stocks" surpassed "sex" as a search term on Google China.

Europe

An oil spill in the Black Sea has caused an "environmental catastrophe."

Vatican officials announced an upcoming dialogue between Christian and Muslim leaders.

Frustrated residents of Naples, Italy, are setting fire to piles of garbage. 

Middle East

Adam Nagourney observes that U.S. presidential candidates are spending less time talking about Iraq these days.

Israel is accusing Egypt of failing to screen "terrorist operatives" returning to Gaza from the hajj; Egypt says they were pilgrims.

Iraq's oil exports increased dramatically in the final quarter of 2007.

Elsewhere

The violence and chaos continues in Kenya, where the attorney general is now calling for an independent inquiry into the disputed election.

The U.S. Department of Justice is launching a criminal investigation into the CIA's destruction of tapes that showed harsh interrogation techniques.

With oil prices still hovering near the triple-digit mark, Andrew Revkin asks, "Is $100-a barrel oil good or bad?"

Gold and platinum prices hit new records.

Today's Agenda

• Rumor has it something is happening in Iowa. 

Yesterday on Passport

• Sign of the impending yuppie apocalypse?
• Benazir Bhutto was a friend of mine...
• Two unsolved mysteries

Web Exclusive

Seven Questions: Gen. David Petraeus on Winding down the Surge
By the end of July, 25 percent of American combat troops are due to come home from Iraq. FP sat down with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, to find out how he plans to draw down without leaving chaos behind.