Some odds and ends to look for in 2007

The amazing race

Look for the longest, costliest and, quite likely, nastiest presidential contest in history to roll out in 2007. The early favorites (Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz.) square off against phenomena such as Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Add to those names Al Gore and Newt Gingrich possibly looking for resurrection.

Apple on the line

Apple, the company that revolutionized the personal computer and gave music lovers the iPod, will launch what is, for it, an entirely new product — a cellphone. The iPod-styled phone may be released as early as next week, reshaping the industry landscape and creating a tough new rival for Motorola.

A new way

President Bush will start the New Year by announcing "a new way forward" in Iraq, but whatever strategy he announces will be based on maintaining U.S. military support for the Iraqi government until it is able to sustain, govern and defend itself.

Meet Raul

Cuban authorities say Fidel Castro, 80, is recovering from major surgery, but his younger brother, Defense Minister Raul Castro, appears increasingly in control and may implement reforms that could reshape the Western Hemisphere's only communist nation.

Long division

Progress toward Arab-Israeli peace in 2007 largely will depend on how effectively Palestinians manage their deepening internal divisions, which have complicated efforts to restart negotiations with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will try to bolster Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas with goodwill gestures, but negotiations on substantive issues seem a long way off. So do talks with Syria, with Olmert reluctant to respond to overtures from President Bashar Assad while the Bush administration is shunning Damascus.

Immigration fix

A Democratic Congress may give Bush what Republicans did not — an overhaul of the immigration system. But there will be resistance both from Republicans, who don't want to legalize any illegal immigrants, and from pro-labor Democrats, who don't want to import temporary foreign workers.

Poison

British detectives will find it increasingly difficult to pin down the truth behind former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko's death. Russian prosecutors have told British investigators they can only sit in on witness interviews and are not allowed to ask questions. Russia also has said it will not extradite suspects who are Russian citizens.

Item of interest

One or two interest-rate reductions by the Federal Reserve could be in the cards if, as expected, economic growth is subpar and inflation appears under control. Higher oil prices could nix this prospect.

Sure thing

Something bad will happen in the personal lives of one or more of the following: Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Mary-Kate Olsen, Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Courtney Love. The resultant uproar will include much self-flagellation regarding the media's and public's complicity in following every move of immature, self-destructive celebrities. Nothing bad will happen to Paris Hilton.

Chicago Tribune