Dear ST reader,
Will America have Donald Trump or Ms Kamala Harris as the commander-in-chief? There is a chance we may not get the answer on election night. The reasons for this delay are manifold – some unique to the circumstances of this election, and some are just long-standing quirks of how the US picks its leaders – as Associate Editor Jeremy Au Yong explains.
America’s position on the world stage is top of mind for many young voters, US Bureau Chief Bhagyashree Garekar says, as she explores what drives them. Together with our bureaus in Asia, she also examines the likely impact on trade and security in the region under a prospective Harris or second Trump administration.
A leader who is on shaky ground despite being recently voted head of the ruling party is Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Mr Ishiba, who took office only on Oct 1, is smarting from the Liberal Democratic Party’s worst showing in a general election since 2009. Japan Correspondent Walter Sim says a minority government would be chaotic for many reasons.
North Korea has meanwhile allowed its soldiers to be deployed near the front line with Russian forces in the latter’s invasion of Ukraine. Global Affairs Correspondent Jonathan Eyal says that the arrival of the North Koreans is the clearest indication that the war is morphing into a broader confrontation with global ramifications.
Also on the move are India’s young and educated - but for a more positive reason. Younger Indians are venturing to non-English-speaking lands, upskilling for previously unattainable jobs, and leaving the familiarity of their home towns to forge new career paths.
We wish all readers who celebrate the festival a Happy Deepavali!
What drives America’s young voters?
Speaking to five young voters of different ethnicities, ST found a striking clarity in their views.
More on the US presidential election:
Don’t expect to know the winner on election night
Harris v Trump: Who is better for Asia?
Podcast: 10,000 miles in Trump country
Podcast: How will Singapore fare under a Harris or Trump administration?
Two small opposition parties may give Japan’s Ishiba stability to govern
To Pune, to Trichy, to Germany: India’s young and educated hunt for better jobs
In Manila, the world’s customer service capital, using AI is a sign of things to come
How a Singaporean doctor-scientist is transforming healthcare in China
For Sydney folk far from Bondi, there’s now the riverside ‘Pondi’
