Living in Europe, I’m awake before most of you so I just thought you’d like to see/hear what the rest of the world is saying 😉
Translations are all mine when applicable:
Spain – Obama culmina el sueno de cambio (El Pais) – Obama achieves the dream of change
France – Barack Obama est elu president des Etats-Unis: Le changement est la!” – (Le Monde) – Barack Obama is elected president of the United States: The change is here
Germany – Obama wird Prasident der Vereingten Statten: “Der Wandel hat Amerika erreicht” – (FAZ) – Obama reaches the presidency of the United States – American has change
Kenya – Obama captures historic White House win – E. Africa Standard
Russia – Цвета флага против цвета кожи (Kommersant) – Colors of flag against colors of skin
Russia – Впервые в истории Америка выбрала темнокожего президента – (RIAN) – For the first time in history, America elects a dark-skinned president
Brazil – Obama: “A mudanca chegou a America” – (O Globo) – Obama: A change has come to America
Italy – Obama: Il cambiamento e arrivato – (Corriere della Sera) – Obama: The change has come
Argentina – Obama: “El Cambio llego a Estados Unidos” – (Clarin) – Obama: The change has come to the United States
China – U.S. media: Obama wins U.S. presidential elections – (Xinhua)
Iran – Nothing yet (via state run media)
Iceland – Obama kjörinn forseti – (Morgunbladid)
Hungary – A változás eljött: Barack Obama nyert + Képriport – Magyar Nemzet
Japan – Obama scores historic victory – (Japan Times)
Armenia – Obama re-affirms pledges to recognize Armenian genocide – (AZG)
Qatar – Obama sweeps to US presidency – (Al-Jazeera)
Venezeula – Barack Obama es primer presidente negro de Estados Unidos – (El Nacional) – Barack Obama is the first black president of the United States
Ecuador – EE.UU. vota por el cambio – (Diario La Hora) – The United States votes for change
Uganda – What if Uganda had the American-style elections? – (Monitor Online) – Note: this is an op-ed but quite interesting to read (and in English)
Philippines – Arroyo congratulates Obama – (ABS-CBN)
Indonesia – Menteng students overjoyed with Obama’s win – (Jakarta Post) – Note: this is Obama’s former elementary school
Yemen – Historic election electrifies Americans – (Yemen Times)
Poland – Noc amerykańska – (Zycie Warszawy)
Holland/Netherlands – Verandering op komst – (Telegraaf) – Change on arrival
Greece – Ιστορική επικράτηση Ομπάμα στην προεδρία των ΗΠΑ – (Kathimerini) – Obama’s historical win of the presidency of the USA
Turkey – ABD’nin yeni başkanı Obama – (Hurriyet)
South Africa – Obama “Another Nelson Mandela” – (News 24) – Note: quote is from SA speaker of the parliament
Australia – Obama has realised King’s dream: Rudd – (The Age)
India – He (Obama) considers Bill Clinton as special envoy on Kashmir – (Indian Express)
Pakistan – Next US leader must stop attacks – (Daily Times) – Note: this story is from Tuesday before the election
Now for a few oddities:
Hezbollah – Obama: First Black President in the White House (English and Arabic)
Abkhazia – (No mention)
Chechen rebels – New U.S. president to face tough choices – (Kavkaz center)
North Korea – Kim Jong Il Inspects Drill Ground of Sub-Unit of KPA – (DPRK official news)
Kosovo – Barak Obama zgjidhet president i SHBA-ve – ((Albanian) Kosovo Press) – Barack Obama wins the presidency of the USA
Cuba – Site isn’t updated for Nov 5 yet but here’s a few thoughts from the state-run press (in English) on the election
Well that’s a brief run-through and of course I skipped all the big British and American media as that’s easy enough to find elsewhere.
A lot of websites such as the ones in Africa and the western Hemisphere haven’t been updated yet.
From scanning all these headlines it seems there are three main topics –
- A change has arrived with Obama’s win
- Wow, he’s a black guy and hey that’s pretty amazing/history making
- We sure hope he will do X, Y and Z in regards to issues we care about
I haven’t seen ONE, not a single one, negative comment anywhere on any news site anywhere in any language I speak or can understand in the slightest. My impression is that 99.9% of the world is now incredibly hopeful and thinking quite positive in this moment.
Since it’s been literally 7 years and a month or so ago since I’ve seen such worldwide hopefulness, I must say I’m overwhelmed by a positive spirit I really hadn’t expected!
Pax