The year 2008 saw the election of what many refer to as the "first truly global" (ie, Hawaiian-born, partly schooled in Indonesia, elected senator in Illinois, and of biracial African-American descent) in US President Barack Obama. The Obama presidency has provided a fresh perspective and a game change in the American political landscape.

Which brings us to see how the age of the 44th US president compares with that of the leaders of other countries of the world - both big and small alike.

For example, President Obama, who as part of America's First Family lives in the White House, is 47 years old while his partner US Vice President Joe Biden is 66.  Likewise in the high 40s is Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is 49. Russia's leaders are also young - Vladimir Putin is in his mid-50s while the current president Dmitry Medvedev is 43. The leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, and France are in their 50s: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is 57, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is 54, while French president Nicolas Sarkozy is 53. The leaders of both Japan and China are in their 60's: China's Paramount Leader Hu Jintao is 66 while Japanese premier Taro Aso is 68. And so is the President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is 61. India's Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is 76.

Whatever the age of the world's leaders may be, the most important thing is that they continue to be blessed with good health in guiding their respective countries and by extension the world to a better future.

(Video from youtube.com; posted by WeCan08 02.02.08)