Elected as 44th President of United States of America by garnering over 52 per cent of popular vote, Barack Hussein Obama is the first African-American elected to the highest office in the 224-year history of the country.

Having warmed the cockles of the hearts of all peoples across the world, Obama now faces daunting tasks as he steps into the White House after his inauguration on January 20, 2009. He has pledged to recall the American troops stationed in Iraq within 16 months and take firm steps to curb terrorism in various conflicts area of the world, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has also promised to play a conciliatory role in solving the contentious Kashmir issue that has bedeviled the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan for the last six decades.

His greatest challenge, however, will be to bring back the battered American economy on the rails and arrest its effect on the global economic meltdown in its wake. The first six months of his presidency, as said by his Vice-President Joe Biden, are going to be tough. We hope that Obama is able to sail through and uphold the high hopes the world has placed on him. One wishes him Godspeed in his endeavours.