Winners and losers

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The most distinguished winner of 2008 was US President-elect Barack Obama. US President George Bush, in sharp contrast, was the world's biggest loser having had a pair of shoes hurled at him at a press conference in Baghdad.

The US Democratic Party was a winner, while the Republics were big losers. The trend would have tremendous repercussions on the international political scene.

The epicentre of world power is fast shifting from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Therefore, we can safely say that the Atlantic was a loser even as the Pacific was a winner. Meanwhile, there were several winners in 2008 including Ingrid Betancourt, released by leftist armed opposition Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC). Of course, FARC was a loser. Other Latin American winners include Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and his Venezuelan counterpart and chief adversary Hugo Chavez. Bolivian President Evo Morales, champion of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva, whose country is one of the world's most anticipated superpowers in the two decades to come along with China, India and Russia. All three, in spite of the Mumbai disaster, were considered among the winners of 2008.

President Raul Castro of Cuba, yet another Latin American winner in 2008, took over officially the leadership of his country from his ailing brother Fidel.

In Africa, Robert Mugabe, is considered a winner for hanging on tenaciously to power in spite of being demonised by the West. The Somali pirates are all time favourites for the accolade of Africa's most daring braves, while South Africa's ex- president Thabo Mbeki is the most lovable loser.