OPINION: Trump's pick of Marco Rubio for foreign policy might be hopeful sign for NATO

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - Almost all of Donald Trump's nominees for critical positions within his presidential administration have been non-traditional. Fox News presenter Pete Hegseth was just named as Trump's possible defense secretary. Alongside Elon Musk, pharmaceutical company entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has been tapped to lead a newly named Department of Government Efficiency. With little background in border protection, South Dakota governor Kristi Noem has been nom

November 15, 2024

OPINION: What Trump's reelection means for relations between regional rivals China and Japan

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Donald Trump was declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 6, sealing a historic and improbable return to the White House. His reelection has triggered speculation as to the state of world affairs once he assumes office in January. One of the relationships most speculated on is between the U.S. and China. Trump waged a trade war against China during his first term as president and has now promised higher tariffs on Chinese goods –

November 14, 2024

OPINION: The Republican election sweep – beyond the headlines

KENOSHA, November 13 (AJP) - If there was a single strategic turning point in the 2024 presidential election, it could have been the disastrous decision of the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris to take a pass on the Al Smith Dinner in New York. Since the now-legendary 1960 race between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon, this singular event has generally been considered obligatory. The only other presidential nominee to duck the dinner was ill-fated W

November 13, 2024

OPINION: Three reasons why Trump White House might not be disaster for Ukraine − in fact, it might tighten screws on Russia

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Among the first world leaders to speak with Donald Trump following his election victory on Nov. 5, 2024 was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Congratulating the U.S. president-elect, Zelenskyy expressed confidence in the "potential for stronger cooperation" between the two nations. Others are less sure. For many foreign policy observers, Trump's victory – together with his lukewarm attitude toward NATO, criticism of the amount of

November 13, 2024

OPINION: COP29 climate talks are about to kick off in Baku, Azerbaijan. Here's what to expect

SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - The next major United Nations meeting on climate change, known as COP29, is about to get underway in Baku, Azerbaijan. These annual meetings are the key international summits as the world attempts to address the unfolding climate crisis. The talks this year are crucial as climate change worsens. In recent years, a series of climate-fueled disasters and extreme events, from Australia's bushfires to Spain's floods, have wrought havoc around the world

November 12, 2024

OPINION: Why German government collapsed and what to expect now

SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has sacked his finance minister Christian Lindner escalating a long conflict in the German government and ultimately causing the fragile coalition between Social Democrats, Greens, and the Free Democratic Party to collapse. For once, Scholz, often mocked as a robotic speaker without emotion, appeared to be angry – even resentful. In a speech, Scholz blamed Lindner for the government's collapse, and portrayed hi

November 11, 2024

OPINION: How Trump's presidency might change global economy

SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election – and his threat to impose tariffs on all imports to the United States – highlights an important problem for the global economy. The U.S. is a technological powerhouse, spending more than any other country on research and development and winning more Nobel prizes in the last five years than every other country combined. Its inventions and economic successes are the envy of the globe. But the rest o

November 7, 2024

OPINION: What to expect on US election day. History could be made, or we're in for long wait

SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - As Americans vote in one of the most important presidential elections in generations, the country teeters on a knife edge. In the battleground states that will likely decide the result, the polling margins between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are razor thin. These tiny margins, and the general confusion around American politics today, make it impossible to predict the outcome. The polls might well be wrong: the electorate may have s

November 6, 2024

OPINION: How does electoral college voting system work in US election?

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - On Nov. 5, millions of Americans will cast their votes for president, with the vast majority deciding between Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump. This historic election, however, is not determined by a singular national poll, but rather a state-by-state contest. Many people outside the US, and some inside, do not understand how this complicated system works. Here are five things to know about the electoral college system: 1. It's not o

November 5, 2024

OPINION: Massachusetts could be next state to get rid of 'subminimum wage' for tipped workers

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - The federal minimum wage for tipped workers has stood at US$2.13 an hour since 1991. Back then, it amounted to half the $4.25 regular minimum wage. But Congress has failed to increase the tipped minimum while periodically raising the regular wage floor. Today, the tipped rate is less than one-third of the $7.25 federal full minimum wage. As of Oct. 2024, 30 states and Washington, D.C., had instituted their own, higher, regular minimum wages. The number of

November 5, 2024