World waits for US election result

A man reads the headlines about the US election in Paris on Wednesday Picture: Michel Euler/AP

From Ford Model T cars that popped off the assembly line in just 90 minutes to 60-second service for burgers, the United States has long had a reputation for having things done swiftly.

So the world’s realisation on Wednesday that the US election winner might not be known for days or longer came as somewhat jarring news.