It was a year of extremes, starting with the aftermath of the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto and ending with a global financial crisis that engulfed millions across the world.
The year 2008 saw the eruption of the war in Georgia just as the Olympics opened with a glittering ceremony in Beijing. It saw the 10- year death toll in the Democratic Republic of Congo's bloody war rise above 5 million. The UN claimed that for the first time fewer people were dying of AIDS - while US researchers shut down a major vaccine trial that had held out much hope.
And, of course, 2008 saw the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States - a vote that was hailed not only for bringing the first black person into the White House but also because it was seen as bringing new momentum in efforts to resolve international conflicts such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Marking the developments and looking ahead to the new year, dpa English Service is offering a comprehensive yearender production, including regional and thematic packages.
Moving on the wire shortly is the dpa package "The World Economy in 2008." Please note that further economy-related features can be found in various regional packages in this series.
dpa package: The World Economy in 2008
Washington - YEARENDER: From US financial centre, world economy unravelled. By Chris Cermak (863 words/US-Economy/Yearender/)
Berlin - YEARENDER: For Europs'e economy the worst is yet to come. By Andrew McCathie (825 words/Europe-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
Berlin - YEARENDER: The euro emerges as a winner from the financial crisis By Tony Czuczka and Andrew McCathie (925 words/Europe-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
Bangkok - YEARENDER: Asia's export-driven economies face slowdown on 2009 By dpa Correspondents (850 words/Asia-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
London - YEARENDER: Britain throws caution to the wind in anti-recession fight By Anna Tomforde (650 words/Britain-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
Reykjavik - YEARENDER: Ordinary Icelanders in spirit of revolt over bank mania. By Thomas Borchert (625 words/Iceland-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
Moscow - YEARENDER: Russia pursues ambitious goals despite the financial crisis. By Alissa de Carbonnel (750 words/Russia-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
Amman - YEARENDER: Islamic finance rises on ruins of conventional banks By Abdul Jalil Mustafa (800 words/Mideast-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
Amman - YEARENDER: What role Arab funds play in the global bail-out By Abdul Jalil Mustafa (900 words/World-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
Hanoi - YEARENDER: How Vietnam escaped its own financial crisis - and got hit anyway. By Matt Steinglass (1,000 words/Vietnam-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
Tokyo - YEARENDER: Japan's temp workers face gloomy holidays with no jobs By Chie Matsumoto (770 words/Japan-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
New Delhi - YEARENDER: Economic conservatism cushions India from world recession. By Sunrita Sen (825 words/India-Economy/Yearender, after 0500)
Washington - CHRONOLOGY: Anatomy of a financial disaster By Anne Walters (915 words/US-Economy/Yearender/after 0500)
The subsequent packages from December 16 include:
Tuesday, December 16 dpa package: The US - From Bush to Obama
Wednesday, December 17 dpa package: Mideast, Arab Region, South Asia - Conflicts of Political Islam around the World
Thursday, December 18 dpa package: Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and the West
Friday, December 19 dpa package: Africa - More woes but one party
Saturday, December 20 dpa package: The World of Sports in 2008
Sunday, December 21 dpa package: Latin America
Monday, December 22 dpa package: Across Borders - The International Agencies in 2008
Packages already moved on the wire:
Wednesday, December 10 dpa package - The European Union
Thursday, December 11 dpa package - Europe: National Reviews
Friday, December 12 dpa package - Conflicts and Change in Asia
Saturday, December 13
