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Nov. 4: Democratic senator Barack Obama wins the presidential election against Sen. John McCain, taking 338 electoral votes to McCain's 161. Obama becomes the first African American to be elected president of the United States. Also in the election, Democrats increase their majority in the House and pick up five seats in the Senate.
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First of 33 trapped Chilean miners is rescued after spending 68 days trapped in a mine half a mile underground.
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U.S. troops and CIA operatives shoot and kill Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, a city of 500,000 people that houses a military base and a military academy.
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North Korea successfully launches a rocket into orbit.
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gives birth to a baby boy.
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Despite threats of terrorist attacks, complaints about poor preparation
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Summer Olympics are held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the first time in a South American nation.
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compete at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea and win 9 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze medals.
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