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This monthly
recap of February 2007 worldwide public holidays news and updates, covers all the countries
of the world, and is based on our daily review
of hundreds of online newspapers, government sites, and institutional sources,
and over a decade of experience following
worldwide public holidays, to place current events in context, and anticipate on
possible future changes.
Available as
free weekly
or monthly email newsletters.
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Date |
Country |
News Item Summary
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28-Feb-2007 |
Australia |
 Australia Restricting APEC Public Holiday To Sydney (Source: Sydney Morning Herald) - Summary: The New South Wales Government says that the September 7, one-off, public holiday for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit will only apply to Sydney (residents in the Sydney metropolitan and surrounding areas, including suburbs as far as Penrith in the west and Camden in the south-west). Links: other Australia news and updates.
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28-Feb-2007 |
USA |
 (Source: Microsoft) - Summary: Daylight saving time (DST) will start on March 11, 2007, which is three weeks earlier than usual, and it will end on November 4, 2007, which is one week later than usual. Links: other USA (United States) news and updates.
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28-Feb-2007 |
Russia |
 Russia Not Declaring March 9 Bridge Public Holiday (Source: NEWSru.com) - Summary: International Womens' Day: The Government of the Russian Federation has not made any decisions about the traditional shift of a workday to the weekend. Links: full story and other Russia news and updates.
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28-Feb-2007 |
Ghana |
 Ghana Declares Additional Public Holiday On March 7 (Source: Ghana News Agency) - Summary: President John Agyekum Kufuor has declared Wednesday March 7 as an additional public holiday (recall that Tuesday, March 6, which is Independence Day is a statutory public holiday). Links: other Ghana news and updates.
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28-Feb-2007 |
UK |
 (Source: All Headline News) - Summary: Proposed Public Holiday Reportedly Set For Queen Elizabeth's 60th Wedding Anniversary. Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to announce plans to recognize the queen's achievement in becoming the first monarch in history to achieve 60 years of marriage with a commemorative day. Links: full story and other UK news and updates.
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25-Feb-2007 |
Chad |
 (Source: Reuters) - Summary: Chad's President Idriss Deby declared seven days of national mourning late on Friday after the central African country's prime minister died from a brain haemorrhage in a Paris hospital. Links: other Chad news and updates.
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25-Feb-2007 |
Latvia |
 Latvia Declares February 28 Day Of Mourning (Source: Gulf Daily News) - Summary: Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis has declared Wednesday, February 28, a day of national mourning, following the worst fire in the country's history, in which at least 25 people died. Links: other Latvia news and updates.
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23-Feb-2007 |
Morocco |
 Morocco Declares September 7 Public Holiday (Source: Reuters South Africa) - Summary: Morocco will hold a parliamentary election on Friday September 7. Links: full story and other Morocco news and updates.
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23-Feb-2007 |
New Zealand |
 (Source: newswire.co.nz) - Summary: A move to have Waitangi Day renamed New Zealand Day, to be observed on the Monday of the week in which February 6 occurs, has failed after a parliamentary select committee rejected it. Links: full story and other New Zealand news and updates.
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22-Feb-2007 |
El Salvador |
 El Salvador Declares 3-Day National Mourning (Source: International Herald Tribune + The Associated Press) - Summary: The government declared three days of mourning, following the grisly killings of Eduardo D'Abuisson and two other little-known Salvadoran politicians.
Links: full story and other El Salvador news and updates.
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22-Feb-2007 |
India |
 India February 24 Public Holiday In Punjab State (Source: IBN) - Summary: By virtue of section 25 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881, a public holiday was declared for most government institutions in Valtoha Assembly Constituency of Punjab, on February 24, on account of election in the constituency, which include state corporations, boards and educational institutions. Links: other India news and updates.
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21-Feb-2007 |
Spain |
 Spain's Baleares Islands 5-Day School Holiday (Source: Ultima Hora) - Summary: More than 50% of all public and private schools in the Baleares Islands, will be closed for 5 days, from Wednesday February 28 to Monday March 5, inclusively, in what is being called a small white week (una pequeña semana blanca). Links: other Spain news and updates.
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21-Feb-2007 |
Switzerland |
 Switzerland's Aargau To Keep Catholic Public Holidays (Source: AZ Online) - Summary: After protests from its Catholic regions, the government of the Canton of Aargau, has reversed itself on an earlier plan to stop observing the following public holidays: Fronleichnam, All Saints, Assumption und Immaculate Conception, as of January 1, 2008. Links: other Switzerland news and updates.
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21-Feb-2007 |
Bangladesh |
 Bangladesh Observes Shaheed Public Holiday (Source: The Daily Star) - Summary: February 21 is Shaheed Day, also known locally as the Bangla Language Martyrs' Day in Bangladesh, and is also being observed internationally as International Mother Language Day (UNESCO declaration in 2000). Links: other Bangladesh news and updates.
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21-Feb-2007 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis Declares March 14 Public Holiday (Source: The Sun-St.Kitts and Nevis) - Summary: Wednesday, March 14, 2007, has been designated a one-off public holiday in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Links: full story and other Saint Kitts and Nevis news and updates.
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21-Feb-2007 |
Fiji |
 Fiji Elections Possible In 2010 (Source: BBC News) - Summary: Fiji's military ruler, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says he plans to call parliamentary elections in 2010. Links: other Fiji news and updates.
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18-Feb-2007 |
Venezuela |
 Venezuela State Public Sector Holiday On February 19-20 (Source: El Tiempo de Venezuela) - Summary: According to the Urepanz, the Civil Servants Union of the State of Anzoátegui (Unión Regional de Empleados Públicos del estado Anzoátegui), the State Governor, Tarek William Saab, decreed the upcoming Monday and Tuesday of Carnival (February 19-20) as días no laborables. Links: full story and other Venezuela news and updates.
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18-Feb-2007 |
Nepal |
 Nepal Declares Public Holiday For Sherpa Community (Source: The Rising Nepal) - Summary: On the occasion of the Me Mo Phaklo 2134 (Lhosar 2007), Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Pradip Kumar Gyawali, extended best wishes to the Sherpa community, and disclosed a recent decision taken by the Government of Nepal, by which a public holiday would be given to the Sherpa community during their festivals. Links: other Nepal news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
Spain |
Spain's Murcia Announces 2008 Public Holidays Changes (Source: El Faro de Murcia) - Summary: Next year, the autonomous community of Murcia, will replace January 7th (the day after Epiphany) with the anniversary of the proclamation of the autonomy of the region (June 9), as one of the 4 regional public holidays. Links: full story and other Spain news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
Peru |
 Peru February 19 Regional Public Holiday (Source: Diario Metro) - Summary: Many cities of the high Andes (Cajamarca, Junín, Cuzco, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Arequipa, and Huancavelica) have declared Monday February 19 a public holiday. Links: full story and other Peru news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
Ecuador |
 Ecuador Changes Dates Of Carnival Public Holidays' Recuperation (Source: El Diario) - Summary: This year's 2 compensation Saturdays set as recuperation for the 2 Carnival public holidays, were changed to March 10 and 17, by President Rafael Correa, through the Executive Decree 113 of February 14, amending article 2 of Executive Decree 2369 of January 12, 2007. Links: full story and other Ecuador news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
Canada |
 Canada Bill To Make February 15 A Public Holiday (Source: The Province) - Summary: New Democrat MP (Member of Parliament), Peggy Nash, will introduce a private member's bill to declare Flag Day, Feb. 15, a federal holiday. Links: full story and other Canada news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
Algeria |
 Algeria Announces Legislative Elections Date (Source: The Associated Press) - Summary: Algeria will hold parliamentary elections on May 17. Links: full story and other Algeria news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
Argentina |
 Argentina's Jujuy Provincial Public Holidays (Source: Jujuy al Día) - Summary: The province of Jujuy, northwestern Argentina has declared Monday February 19 as a provincial public holiday (compulsory rest for both public and private sectors) and Tuesday February 20> as a día no laborable (compulsory for the public sector, but optional for the private sector). Links: full story and other Argentina news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
Bahrain |
 Bahrain Pressure To Declare March 8 Public Holiday (Source: Gulf News-Manama) - Summary: Bahrain's Women Union has called for International Women's Day on March 8 to be made a public holiday in the kingdom. Links: full story and other Bahrain news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
China |
 China Considering Lunar New Year's Eve Public Holiday (Source: Xinhua News Agency) - Summary: The National People's Congress will be asked, next month, to consider making New Year's Eve the last day in Chinese lunar calendar and one of the most important for families a public holiday. Links: full story and other China news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
Jordan |
 Jordan Considering Non-Working Status Of Various Public Holidays (Source: Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit's Office) - Summary: Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit this week identified official holidays (religious and national) during which public institutions and ministries will remain closed, as well as events which will be observed without a holiday. Links: other Jordan news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
Jordan |
Jordan will introduce daylight saving time, beginning in 2011 (Source: Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit's Office) - Summary: Clocks will move forward by 60 minutes (GMT + 3) at midnight on the last Thursday in March. Links: full story and other Jordan news and updates.
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17-Feb-2007 |
Congo (DRC) |
 (Source: Le Potentiel) - Summary: Christian organizations have renewed their calls to add February 16, to the list of official public holidays, in rememberance of February 16, 1992, when President Mobutu's personal guard shot and killed peaceful marchers. This requested new public holiday would be akin, but not the same, as the January 4 public holiday, commemorating the 1959 insurrection. Links: other Congo (Dem. Rep.) news and updates.
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16-Feb-2007 |
Jordan |
Jordan Announces Public Holidays For 2007-2011 (Source: The Jordan Times-Amman) - Summary: Earlier this week, Jordan's Prime Minister, Marouf Bakhit, identified official holidays (religious and national) during which public institutions and ministries will remain closed, for the period from 2007-2011. Links: full story and other Jordan news and updates.
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15-Feb-2007 |
North Korea |
 North Korea Extends Lunar New Year Public Holidays For 5 Days (Source: The Daily NK) - Summary: North Korean authorities have decided to extend and joint the annual public holidays for the anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s birthday (February 16-17) with the upcoming, February 18-20 Lunar New Year public holidays. Links: full story and other North Korea news and updates.
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15-Feb-2007 |
UAE |
 UAE Revises Public Holidays Legislation (Source: Al Jarida Al Rasmiyah) - Summary: The UAE has gazetted the "Federal Law No. 14 of 2007 regarding Official Holidays" which specifies the officials public holidays for the Ministries and the general institutions in the UAE. Links: other UAE (United Arab Emirates) news and updates.
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14-Feb-2007 |
Guatemala |
 (Source: Office of the Press Secretary, the White House) - Summary: US President, George W. Bush, and First Lady, Mrs. Bush, will travel to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico (in that order) from March 8-14, 2007. One can expect major disturbances in these countries' capitals due to heightened security and anti-American demonstrations. Links: other Guatemala news and updates.
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14-Feb-2007 |
Afghanistan |
 Afghanistan Adds February 15 Annual Public Holiday (Source: Pajhwok Afghan News-Kabul) - Summary: The government, on the recommendation of the lower house of parliament, on Wednesday declared the 26th day of Dalwo (around February 15) as a new annual public holiday to commemorate the victory of mujahidin against the invading Soviet troops eighteen years ago. Links: full story and other Afghanistan news and updates.
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14-Feb-2007 |
Brazil |
 (Source: Jornal Folha de Boa Vista) - Summary: The Febraban, Federação Brasileira dos Bancos (Brazilian Banking Federation), has decided that all banks in Brazil would close on Carnival Monday and Tuesday (February 19 and 20), and only reopen from 10-13 on Ash Wednesday, February 21. Links: other Brazil news and updates.
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14-Feb-2007 |
Brazil |
(Source: Jornal Folha de Boa Vista) - Summary: The Minister of Planning, Organization and Management (Ministério do Planejamento, Orçamento e Gestão) has issued decree 740 giving a Carnaval ponto facultativo to all federal civil servants on Monday and Tuesday February 19 and 20, and on Wednesday the 21st, until 14:00. Links: other Brazil news and updates.
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14-Feb-2007 |
Colombia |
 (Source: Office of the Press Secretary, the White House) - Summary: US President, George W. Bush, and First Lady, Mrs. Bush, will travel to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico (in that order) from March 8-14, 2007. One can expect major disturbances in these countries' capitals due to heightened security and anti-American demonstrations. Links: other Colombia news and updates.
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13-Feb-2007 |
Lebanon |
 Lebanon Declares February 14 Public Holiday (Source: Middle East Online) - Summary: Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, has declared tomorrow, February 14, a public holiday in Lebanon, to commemorate the second anniversary of the assasination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Links: other Lebanon news and updates.
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12-Feb-2007 |
Ecuador |
Ecuador Extends Carnival Public Holidays To Private Sector (Source: El Universo) - Summary: Although officially restricted to banks and civil servants, the upcoming Carnival public holidays (February 19 and 20, beginning on Sunday the 18th) will be observed by workers in the private sector as well. Links: full story and other Ecuador news and updates.
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11-Feb-2007 |
Brazil |
(Source: Maracaju News) - Summary: Over the last few days, many state, local and municipal governments have re-affirmed the status of ponto facultativo, for their civil servants, on the occasion of Carnival (February 19 to 21). Links: full story and other Brazil news and updates.
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11-Feb-2007 |
Argentina |
Argentina Carnival Public Holiday Status Update (Source: El Tribuno) - Summary: Although abolished since 1976 in Argentina, the movement to re-instate Carnival (February 19 and 20, this year) has grown to the point where many municipalities and states will now be observing it in some way or another (usually, at the very least, by giving civil servants the 2 days off). Links: full story and other Argentina news and updates.
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8-Feb-2007 |
Macedonia |
 Macedonia Revamps Official Public Holidays List (Source: Makfax Vesnik-Skopje) - Summary: The Macedonian Parliament adopted, today, the Bill on Amending the Law on State Holidays. Links: full story and other Macedonia news and updates.
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7-Feb-2007 |
Czech Republic |
 (Source: Radio Praha) - Summary: Further to our news story of November 6, 2006, yesterday, the senatorial amendment to add Good Friday to the list of Czech public holidays was not voted upon, and provoked heated debatres in the lower house, yesterday, as opponents of the proposal tried to torpedo it, by adding an amendment which would cancel Women's Day as a public holiday. Links: other Czech Republic news and updates.
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7-Feb-2007 |
Switzerland |
Switzerland Referendum On January 2 Public Holiday (Source: 20 Minutes) - Summary: The Grand Conseil has voted that the Canton of Vaud will hold a referendum as to whether January 2 and Whit Monday are to be added to the list of official cantonal public holidays (currently these 2 days are often taken, unofficially, as public holidays). Links: other Switzerland news and updates.
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7-Feb-2007 |
Portugal |
 (Source: Rádio Lumena) - Summary: Municipal and regional civil servants in the Azores will get a tolerância de ponto on the occasion of the Carnival public holiday (Tuesday February 20), allowing them to be on holidays from February 17-21, inclusively. Links: other Portugal news and updates.
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6-Feb-2007 |
India |
India's Punjab State Moves February Public Holiday (Source: Punjab Newsline) - Summary: The Punjab Government has declared that Tuesday, February 13, 2007 shall be a closed day for all shops and commercial establishments, in lieu of any close day falling on any day between February 14 and 20. Links: full story and other India news and updates.
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6-Feb-2007 |
India |
India Nationwide Banking Strike Expected On February 23 - Summary: The United Forum of Bank Union has made a preliminary call for a nation-wide banking strike on February 23, 2007. Links: other India news and updates.
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6-Feb-2007 |
China |
China Confirms Lunar New Year Public Holidays Dates (Source: China Daily) - Summary: The General Office of the State Council confirmed that the Chinese New Year holiday this year would begin on February 18. Links: full story and other China news and updates.
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5-Feb-2007 |
Equatorial Guinea |
 Equatorial Guinea Amends Official Public Holidays List (Source: Sitio oficial de la República de Guinea Ecuatorial-Malabo) - Summary: Last Friday, Equatorial Guinea's Council of Ministers, with President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo present, approved the "Decreto por el que se fijan los Días Feriados en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial" which replaces the current official list of public holidays (Calendario Oficial del 19 de Abril de 1989). Links: full story and other Equatorial Guinea news and updates.
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4-Feb-2007 |
Brazil |
(Source: MS Notícias) - Summary: The prefect of Mato Groso, José Garibaldi da Rosa Neto, has decreed a municipal public holiday, Dia Municipal de Combate a Dengue, on Wednesday February 7, in the city of Bela Vista (south-west of Sao Paulo) to combat the spread of Dengue fever from neighbooring Paraguay (see our story for Pargaguay on January 26). Links: other Brazil news and updates.
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4-Feb-2007 |
East Timor |
 (Source: TV NZ) - Summary: East Timor will hold presidential elections on April 9. Links: full story and other East Timor news and updates.
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3-Feb-2007 |
Peru |
Peru Celebrates Pisco Sour Day (Source: La República) - Summary: For the 4th year in a row, Lima and its surrounding communes will be celebrating Picso Sour Day (Día del Pisco Sour), from Friday February 2, until Sunday February 4. Links: full story and other Peru news and updates.
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2-Feb-2007 |
Tonga |
 Tonga Heilala Festival On New Public Holiday (Source: Matangi Tonga) - Summary: The Tonga Visitors Bureau Office yesterday confirmed that the 2007 Heilala Festival would run from June 30 to July 13. Links: full story and other Tonga news and updates.
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2-Feb-2007 |
South Africa |
 South Africa Not Declaring a Public Holiday For Adelaide Tambo (Source: On-Site Reporting) - Summary: As of today, there have been no reports of any official public holiday mourning the passing away, on January 31st, of Adelaide Tambo, the widow of African National Congress' anti-apartheid movement hero, Oliver Tambo (after whom the Johannesburg airport was recently renamed). Links: other South Africa news and updates.
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2-Feb-2007 |
Vietnam |
 Vietnam Considering New Historical Public Holiday (Source: Tranh Nien Daily) - Summary: The government is contemplating a new annual public holiday on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, the death anniversary of the Hung Kings who, according to legend, ruled over what is now modern Vietnam. Links: full story and other Vietnam news and updates.
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2-Feb-2007 |
Vietnam |
Vietnam Extended Bank And Financial Holiday - Summary: In addition to the public holidays declared from February 16 to 21, 2007, the Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi Securities Trading Centres as well as the Vietnam Securities Depository (VSD) will be closed on February 22 and 23, 2007. Links: full story and other Vietnam news and updates.
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1-Feb-2007 |
Guinea |
 (Source: Radio-Kankan) - Summary: Following the recent end to the 18-day general strike, the Dyama Party has proposed the creation of a new national public holiday on January 22 every year. Links: other Guinea news and updates.
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1-Feb-2007 |
Morocco |
Morocco To Consider Election Day Public Holiday (Source: Magharebia) - Summary: A report released to the public last week by Transparency Maroc and Democracy Reporting International (DRI), concerning the organisational framework for elections in Morocco, recommended that election day be declared a public holiday. Links: full story and other Morocco news and updates.
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1-Feb-2007 |
Ghana |
Ghana Urged To Declare September 21 Public Holiday (Source: The Statesman) - Summary: Edmund Delle, the National Chairman of the Convention People’s Party, has described as a must-do his view that September 21, the birthday of the late Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of the Republic of Ghana, be declared an official public holiday. Links: full story and other Ghana news and updates.
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