Tough hurdles for re-elected Obama; China's Communist Party to work against corruption; cost of cleaning up Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant estimated at $63 billion; Thailand and Burma support Dawei Economic Zone; suicide bomber strikes market in Peshawar; Israel opposes enhanced UN status for Palestine; and more
Top of the Agenda: A Reelected Obama Faces Tough Hurdles
President Barack Obama was reelected to a second term (WashPost), winning a majority of both the electoral vote and the popular vote. In CNN exit polls, 60 percent of voters named the economy as their top issue. The U.S. House will continue to have a Republican majority, while Democrats retained control of the Senate, complicating prospects of reaching a deal on the so-called "fiscal cliff" (Politico). Obama also could face a number of near-term challenges on Iran and Syria (CS). In his acceptance speech last night, the president said he would seek to work with leaders of both parties on reducing the deficit, reforming the tax code, fixing the country's immigration system, and "freeing ourselves from foreign oil."
Analysis
What faces President Obama next is not "overinflated expectations of partisan, racial and global healing, but granular negotiations over spending cuts and tax increases plus a looming showdown with Iran," writes Peter Baker in the New York Times.
"President Barack Obama's reelection will provide him with little time to celebrate in the face of an array of global problems that include challenges posed by Iran's nuclear program and widening political instability in the Middle East, which is fueling sectarian conflict and chaos from Syria to North Africa. Behind these front-burner problems, Mr. Obama in his second term likely will have to refine U.S. policies toward China, in light of its growing economic might and military power in the Pacific," writes Jay Solomon in the Wall Street Journal.
Foreign Policy asked fourteen top analysts to peer ahead at the longer-term issues confronting the United States, noting that the incoming president faces "a daunting list," including Europe's debt morass, North Korea's nuclear program, sagging U.S. competitiveness, and worsening climate change.
BBC correspondents around the world give their thoughts on what an Obama victory means for nations from Iran to China to Pakistan.
PACIFIC RIM
China Party Vows Campaign Against Corruption
China's ruling Communist Party will redouble efforts against corruption (Xinhua) after learning "profound" lessons from the case of former top official Bo Xilai, a party spokesman said Wednesday. The comments came on the eve of the party Congress that will choose new leadership.
JAPAN: The operator of Japan's tsunami-damaged nuclear plant said Wednesday that the cost of cleaning up the site could double beyond the $63 billion allocated (AP) so far and has appealed for more government financial support.
SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA
Thailand and Burma Show Support for Dawei Economic Zone
Ministers from Thailand and Burma convened in Bangkok to demonstrate their support for the struggling Dawei economic zone (Reuters) in Burma. The meeting aimed to find ways to gather greater private sector interest in the initiative.
PAKISTAN: A suicide bomber struck a market in the northwestern city of Peshawar (CNN), killing five others and wounding more than thirty.
ELSEWHERE:
Greece protests grow in face of latest austerity measures
Israel opposes enhanced UN status for Palestine
This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org.