Top 10 world news events in 2008

8. Obama wins U.S. presidential election

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (L) celebrates with his family after he won the U.S. presidential election in Chicago on Tuesday night, Nov. 4, 2008.

On Nov. 4, Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama defeated his Republican rival John McCain by a substantial margin to be elected the next president, the 56th, of the United States, also the first African-American to be elected to the White House.

Obama highlighted the need for "change" during his campaign. He pledged to end the Iraq war, realize energy self-sufficiency, implement tax polices to protect the interests of middle and low income groups and ensure universal health care. He also promised to strengthen the consolidation of the parties, rebuild U.S. alliances in the international community and restore the United States' leading global role.

As the United States reels under its most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression and remains deeply caught up in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, promoting economic growth and safeguarding national security will be the two main challenges for Obama after he takes office in January.