Morning Brief, Tuesday, January 15

Middle East

Sabah Arar-Pool/Getty Images

Iraq's defense minister says that U.S. security assistance will be necessary through 2018. 

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise trip to Baghdad, where her visit is fueling speculation that U.S. President George W. Bush would follow. The United States is pushing Iraqi leaders to make more progress toward political reconciliation.

For now, Bush is busy urging Saudi Arabia and OPEC to put more oil on the market, thereby reducing prices.

South Asia

Afghan officials say they've already arrested one of the three men who attacked a luxury hotel in Kabul that was frequented by Westerners.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said that rioters seeking to disrupt February's parliamentary elections will be shot on sight. 

Pakistan has lost control of its militant proxy forces, anonymous Pakistani intelligence officials say. 

East Asia 

A skills shortage in Asia could soon bring higher wages for scientists, IT specialists, and engineers, according to a U.S. staffing company.

Japan is considering deploying a missile shield in Tokyo.

The head of U.S. Pacific Command called for China to be more transparent about its military.

Europe

Britain's biofuels lobby says it shares the concerns of the European environment commissioner, arguing, "it makes no sense... to support those biofuels that lead to deforestation and habitat destruction."

The 10-year-old son of French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been receiving death threats.

France signed an agreement to permanently base French troops in the United Arab Emirates. 

2008 U.S. Election

It's a tight Republican primary race in Michigan, where John McCain and Mitt Romney are more or less tied. The Democrats aren't competing due to Michigan's violation of party rules.

Elsewhere

Food from cloned animals is safe, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Living standards will suffer in developed countries if productivity doesn't rise faster, a new report warns.

Citigroup posted a quarterly loss of nearly $10 billion from subprime mortgages.

A new and deadly type of staph infection is spreading among gay men in San Francisco, Boston, New York and Los Angeles.

Today's Agenda

• Michigan's primary is today, as is a Democratic candidates' debate in Nevada.
• Spain and Turkey sponsored an "Alliance of Civilizations," a forum for interfaith dialogue to be held in Madrid and headlined by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Yesterday on Passport

• He kisses for thee
• What We're Reading
• The 10 Commandments of Punditry