Chicago - A humble, 19th-century brick house nestled within a modern university campus just west of downtown Chicago stands as the only physical legacy of social activist Jane Addams' work with the immigrant communities that gave the city its ethnic flavour.

Washington - Even in bitter defeat, Republicans joined Democrats in celebrating Barack Obama's historic achievement of becoming the first African American to become president of the United States.

President George W Bush, whose vast unpopularity coupled with the falling economy prompted the voter backlash against Republicans that likely cost John McCain the election, couldn't help but praise Obama on Wednesday for breaking the racial barrier and overcoming more than two centuries of discrimination.

New York/Los Angeles - She was one of his earliest and most prominent supporters.

So when Barack Obama's final moment of victory came, it was no real surprise that Oprah Winfrey, the hugely influential cultural arbiter and queen of daytime television, let the tears stream down her face.

Washington/Chicago - A steady flow of well-wishes came in from around the world Wednesday after Democratic candidate Barack Obama's historic victory made him the first African American ever to be elected president of the United States.

Obama, 47, stormed to victory Tuesday night over Republican rival John McCain, 72, capturing a series of reliable Republican states that voted for President George W Bush in the last two elections, including Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Colorado and Nevada.

But there was little time for the president-elect to rest. Transition talks have already been well underway and Obama planned to meet with his top advisors later Wednesday to discuss their next moves, US media reported.

Miami - The victory of Democratic candidate Barack Obama in Tuesday's US presidential election was so solid that he even scored a clear win in Florida - one of the toughest states - as he made his way to the White House.

Obama obtained 3.99 million votes in the state, 50.9 per cent, to rival Republican John McCain's 3.79 million votes, 48.3 per cent of the total cast.

Republican John McCain has accepted the victory of Dem