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This monthly
recap of January 2008 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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31-Jan-2008 |
Israel |
 Israel Adds Ethiopian Sigd Festival To List Of National Holidays (Source: Israel News Network-Jerusalem) - Summary: Yesterday, Israel's Parliament voted in favor of recognizing the Ethiopian Sigd festival as a national holiday in the State of Israel. The holiday will henceforth be celebrated on the 29th of the Hebrew month of Heshvan, and those observing it will, by law, be granted a vacation day. Links: other Israel news and updates.
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31-Jan-2008 |
Jordan |
 Jordan Extends Snow And Ice Public Holiday (Source: The Jordan Times-Amman) - Summary: Government agencies and official organization would be closed for a second day, on Thursday, January 31, 2008. The private sector is expected to follow. Universities will also be closed, and schools are currently on school term holidays. Links: full story and other Jordan news and updates.
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30-Jan-2008 |
Jordan |
Jordan Declares Ice And Snow Public Holiday Today (Source: Agence France Presse-Amman) - Summary: The Government of Jordan has declared today, Wednesday, January 30, 2008, a public holiday, due to the current snow and ice storms that have battered many countries of the Middle East, and have closed access roads to Amman, the capital of Jordan. Links: other Jordan news and updates.
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30-Jan-2008 |
Mongolia |
 Mongolia 2008 Tsagaan Sar Public Holidays Confusion (Source: Newswire-Ulaanbaatar) - Summary: Mongolia's general public has recently been confused as to whether Mongolia should celebrate the new year public holiday of Tsagaan Sar (White Moon or White Month) on February 7 or 8, 2008. Links: full story and other Mongolia news and updates.
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29-Jan-2008 |
Belgium |
 Belgium Announces May 2 and November 10 Bridge Public Holidays (Source: Het Laatste Nieuws + RTL Info + Le Vif) - Summary: Labour Minister, Josly Piette, announced that May 2, 2008, will be the official day off to compensate for the conjunction of Labour Day and Ascension Day in 2008, unless a specific other date is agreed to. Links: full story and other Belgium news and updates.
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29-Jan-2008 |
France |
 France Restores Whit Monday Public Holiday (Source: Agence France Presse + La Tribune) - Summary: Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand, confirmed that Whit Monday would be restored as a fully national public holiday in France, starting this year, in 2008. Links: full story and other France news and updates.
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29-Jan-2008 |
Greece |
 Greece Declares January 31 Public Sector Holiday (Source: Kathimerini-Athens) - Summary: The government of Greece has declared Thursday, January 31, 2008, a one-off public sector holiday for the funeral of Archbishop Christodoulos. Links: full story and other Greece news and updates.
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29-Jan-2008 |
Samoa |
 Samoa Gazettes Public Holidays Act 2008 (Source: Legislative Assembly of Samoa) - Summary: The Legislative Assembly of Samoa, assembled in Parliament, has passed the Public Holidays Act 2008 (An act to amend and set up the law relating to public holidays). Links: full story and other Samoa news and updates.
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28-Jan-2008 |
Lebanon |
 Lebanon Declares Monday National Day Of Mourning (Source: The New York Times) - Summary: Prime Minister Fouad Siniora declared Monday, January 28, 2008, a national day of mourning, closing schools and universities for the day. Links: other Lebanon news and updates.
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27-Jan-2008 |
Ecuador |
 Ecuador Announces Carnival Public Holiday Compensation Days (Source: El Mercurio) - Summary: Saturday February 9 and Saturday February 16 will be normal working days for all sectors of the economy, both private and public, in compensation for the February 4 and February 5 Carnival public holidays. Links: full story and other Ecuador news and updates.
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27-Jan-2008 |
Thailand |
 Thailand: No Public Holiday On March 3 (Source: The Nation-Bangkok) - Summary: Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that, contrary to recent practice, it would not ask the government to declare a public holiday on Monday, March 3, 2008, the day after the senatorial election day. Links: full story and other Thailand news and updates.
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26-Jan-2008 |
Argentina |
 Argentine Bill To Make International Women's Day A Public Holiday (Source: Argentina's Parliamentary News Agency) - Summary: A bill has recently been introduced to the Argentine Legislature which would make March 8, International Women's Day a new public holiday in Argentina. Links: other Argentina news and updates.
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24-Jan-2008 |
The Gambia |
 Gambia Election Public Holiday Today (Source: The Gambian Journal-Banjul) - Summary: A public holiday has been declared in The Gambia, on the occasion of today's Local Government Elections, in a move intended to discourage any voter apathy. Links: other The Gambia news and updates.
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24-Jan-2008 |
Turkmenistan |
 Turkmenistan Cancels Niyazov Birthday Public Holiday (Source: International Herald Tribune-Ashgabad) - Summary: The president of Turkmenistan has abolished a public holiday honoring the birthday of his predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, whose February 19 birthday was one of Turkmenistan's most important public holidays. Links: full story and other Turkmenistan news and updates.
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20-Jan-2008 |
Malaysia |
 Malaysia Adds Thaipusam To State Public Holidays Of Kuala Lumpur And Putrajaya (Source: Bernama) - Summary: Malaysia's Government has declared Thaipusam, which will occur on Wednesday, January 23, this year, a public holiday in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, from this year onward. Links: full story and other Malaysia news and updates.
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20-Jan-2008 |
Malaysia |
Malaysia Considers Making Upcoming Thaipusam A Full National Public Holiday (Source: Malaysia Star) - Summary: Yesterday, Malaysia's Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said that he would consider making Thaipusam, into a full national public holiday. Links: other Malaysia news and updates.
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19-Jan-2008 |
Turkmenistan |
Turkmenistan Restores Women's Day Public Holiday (Source: Izvestiya-Kazakhstan-Almaty) - Summary: Turkmenistan's President, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, has signed into law recent changes made by the national parliament to the Labour Code of Turkmenistan, thus restoring the March 8, International Women's Day, to the list of official public holidays. Links: full story and other Turkmenistan news and updates.
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19-Jan-2008 |
Bhutan |
 Bhutan Declares March 24 General Elections Public Holiday (Source: Kuensel-Thimpu) - Summary: The date for Bhutan's upcoming General Elections has been set for Monday, March 24, 2008. Links: full story and other Bhutan news and updates.
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18-Jan-2008 |
The Bahamas |
 Bahamas 2008 Public Holidays Announced (Source: The Government of the Bahamas-Nassau) - Summary: The Bahamas' Cabinet Office has issued a communique announcing the official Bahamas public holidays for the calendar year 2008. Links: full story and other The Bahamas news and updates.
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17-Jan-2008 |
Barbados |
 Barbados One-Off Public Holiday On January 18 (Source: Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation) - Summary: Following his victory in Tuesday's elections, Barbados Prime Minister, David Thompson, has declared a one-off public holiday on Friday, January 18, 2008. Links: full story and other Barbados news and updates.
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16-Jan-2008 |
Madagascar |
 Madagascar 2008 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Porte Parole du Gouvernement) - Summary: Following yesterday's Conseil des Ministres chaired by President Marc Ravalomanana, the official list of 2008 public holidays in Madagascar was announced, as per the Décret fixant la liste des jours fériés, chômés et payés au titre de l’an,née 2008. Links: full story and other Madagascar news and updates.
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16-Jan-2008 |
India |
 India Changes Upcoming Muharram Public Holiday Date (Source: Press Information Bureau Government of India) - Summary: The Government of India has moved its observance of the upcoming Muharram public holiday, from Saturday, January 19, to Sunday, January 20, 2008. This change is expected to be the norm throughout the parts of India where Muharram is a public holiday Links: other India news and updates.
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16-Jan-2008 |
Nepal |
 Nepal Considering Edmund Hilllary Public Holiday (Source: National News Agency Nepal) - Summary: Two influential voices in Nepal have recently gone on record, in favor of an Edmund Hillary public holiday in Nepal. The Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation stated that he would also make effort to give one day public holiday for the late Hillary (presumably on the occasion of the January 22, State Funeral). Links: full story and other Nepal news and updates.
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15-Jan-2008 |
UAE |
 UAE Considering Another One-Off Public Holiday On January 16 (Source: Gulf News) - Summary: There are reports that the UAE government is considering declaring a one-off public holiday, for Wednesday January 16. Links: full story and other UAE (United Arab Emirates) news and updates.
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14-Jan-2008 |
Bangladesh |
 Bangladesh Changes Ashura Public Holiday Date (Source: United News of Bangladesh-Dhaka) - Summary: The government of Bangladesh has declared January 20 as a public holiday on the occasion of the upcoming Ashura Muslim festival. Links: full story and other Bangladesh news and updates.
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13-Jan-2008 |
Bahrain |
 Bahrain Declares January 20-21 Government Holiday (Source: Bahrain News Agency-Manama) - Summary: Earlier today, the Prime Minister issued a circular that confirms the Ashura dates of Friday and Saturday, January 18-19, 2008. Links: full story and other Bahrain news and updates.
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13-Jan-2008 |
Switzerland |
 Switzerland's Zurich Canton Considering Scrapping May 1st Public Holiday (Source: Tages Anzeiger-Zürich) - Summary: The leader of the SVP parliamentary group, Alfred Heer, has steered a bill through that would remove May 1st from the list of public holidays in the Canton of Zürich. Links: full story and other Switzerland news and updates.
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13-Jan-2008 |
UAE |
UAE Declares One-Off Public Holiday On January 14 (Source: Arabian Business) - Summary: A public holiday has been declared for all businesses in Dubai on Monday, January 14, as authorities tighten security for US president George W. Bush’s visit to the emirate. Links: full story and other UAE (United Arab Emirates) news and updates.
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13-Jan-2008 |
New Zealand |
 New Zealand Urged To Declare Edmund Hillary Public Holiday (Source: New Zealand Herald) - Summary: Following the death of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to reach the top of Mount Everest, there have been calls for a public holiday in his honour. Some of the ideas floated about are a new public holiday on May 29 (the anniversary of his 1953 climb), or renaming the existing Waitangi Day public holiday. Prime Minister Helen Clark said she had given "no consideration", yet. Links: other New Zealand news and updates.
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12-Jan-2008 |
Nepal |
Nepal Sets New Date For Constituent Assembly Elections (Source: Nepal News) - Summary: The Constituent Assembly Elections have been rescheduled for Thursday, April 10, 2008. As a public holiday was planned on previous election dates, and the 13th and 14th of April are already public holidays, we think that it is quite likely that Nepal will declare a public holiday on April 10, 2008. Links: other Nepal news and updates.
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11-Jan-2008 |
UK |
 UK's PM In Favour Of New Public Holiday (Source: The Daily Mail-UK) - Summary: The UK's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said he would look at ideas for an extra public holiday. At this time, the most likely option would be to make the Monday nearest to November 11 a public holiday. Links: other UK news and updates.
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11-Jan-2008 |
Bulgaria |
 Bulgaria Announces Public Holidays From May 1 To May 6 (Source: Journey Bulgaria) - Summary: The government of Bulgaria announced that it had declared 2 bridge public holidays, one on Friday, May 2, and one on Monday, May 5, 2008. Links: full story and other Bulgaria news and updates.
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11-Jan-2008 |
Philippines |
 Philippines Declares January 15-16 Regional Public Holidays (Source: Philippine Information Agency) - Summary: Through Proclamations No. 1441 and 1443, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared January 15 and 16, 2008, as special non-working days in San Pablo City in Laguna, and in Batangas City, respectively. Links: other Philippines news and updates.
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10-Jan-2008 |
Belgium |
Belgium Cancels Upcoming May 2 Public Holiday (Source: De Standaard) - Summary: Belgium's interim Federal Minister of Labor, Josly Piette, announced yesterday that May 2, 2008, will not be an official public holiday, thereby cancelling last April's decision by his predecessor, Peter Vanvelthoven, taken to compensate for the fact that, in 2008, both May Day and Ascension fall on the same date. May 2, 2008, Ascension Friday, will therefore revert to its usual status as a banks-only holiday. Links: other Belgium news and updates.
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10-Jan-2008 |
Togo |
 Togo Cancels January 13th Public Holiday (Source: Ghanaian Chronicle-Accra) - Summary: A press statement released last night from the office of government Spokesman, Pascal Bodjona, in Lome announced that the government has suspended the celebration of the 13th of January as a national holiday. Links: full story and other Togo news and updates.
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9-Jan-2008 |
Belarus |
 Belarus Asked To Declare March 25 Public Holiday (Source: Belapan-Minsk) - Summary: A committee for organizing the festivities marking the 90th anniversary of the 1918 short-lived nationalist Belarusian People's Republic (BPR) has asked the government of Belarus to declare the day when BPR independence was proclaimed, March 25th, a public holiday. Links: other Belarus news and updates.
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9-Jan-2008 |
Angola |
 Angola's National Culture Day Suggested As Public Holiday (Source: Angola Press) - Summary: Yesterday, Luanda's regional culture minister, Manuel Sebastião, was quoted as saying that he was in favor of adding January 8th (National Culture Day) to the list of Angola's public holidays. Links: other Angola news and updates.
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9-Jan-2008 |
West Bank and Gaza |
Palestine's Gaza Strip Government Announces Christmas Public Holiday (Source: Ikhwanweb-Gaza) - Summary: The Hamas government of the Gaza Strip has declared that the Christmas days will henceforth be public and official holiday in the Gaza Strip. Links: other West Bank and Gaza news and updates.
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9-Jan-2008 |
Sudan |
 Sudan Extends New Weekends To Entire Country (Source: El Watan) - Summary: The government of Sudan, under the Presidency of Omar al Bachir, announced that, beginning on January 26, 2008, weekends in Sudan will be Fridays and Saturdays. Links: full story and other Sudan news and updates.
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9-Jan-2008 |
Philippines |
Philippines Declares January 10 Regional Public Holiday In Koronadal City (Source: Philippine Information Agency) - Summary: Through Proclamation No. 1440, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) declared January 10, 2008, as a special non-working day in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, to mark its Foundation Day. Links: other Philippines news and updates.
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8-Jan-2008 |
Iraq |
 Iraq Moves Islamic New Year To January 9 (Source: Iraq's Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) - Summary: Late tonight, the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers announced that tomorrow, Wednesday, January 9, 2008, will be the first day of the new Hijri year 1429, and as such an official public holiday in Iraq. Links: other Iraq news and updates.
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8-Jan-2008 |
Oman |
 Oman Announces Different Islamic New Year Holiday For Private And Public Sectors (Source: Khaleej Times) - Summary: Wednesday, January 9, 2008, has been declared a holiday for government employees, on the occasion of the Hijra New Year. Private sector workers, on the other hand will retain the previously announced date of Thursday, January 10, for their holiday. Links: other Oman news and updates.
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8-Jan-2008 |
Azerbaijan |
 Azerbaijan School Holidays Extended 3 Days Due To Cold Weather (Source: Azeri Press Agency-APA) - Summary: In an announcement similar to that of Iran (our post of January 6), the Minister of Education, has signed an order to extend the holiday period for schools and preschools by 3 days, so that there would be no school on January 7, 8 and 9. Links: full story and other Azerbaijan news and updates.
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8-Jan-2008 |
Venezuela |
 Venezuela Declares Public Sector Holidays For 2008 (Source: Gaceta Oficial de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela-Caracas) - Summary: The list of official public sector holidays in Venezuela has been gazetted for the calendar year 2008. Links: full story and other Venezuela news and updates.
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8-Jan-2008 |
Philippines |
Philippines Declares January 9 Regional Public Holidays (Source: Philippines Information Agency) - Summary: Wednesday, January 9 has been proclaimed as a legal Muslim holiday in Region 12. All city government employees (muslims and non-muslims) will be excused from work on that day on the occasion of the Islamic New Year. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.
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6-Jan-2008 |
Iran |
 Iran's Capital Declares 2-Day Bad Weather Public Holiday (Source: Press TV) - Summary: All government offices, schools and universities will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, January 7 and 8, 2008, as the temperature is expected to fall as low as minus 11 degrees Celsius in the Iranian capital of Tehran. Links: full story and other Iran news and updates.
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5-Jan-2008 |
Sudan |
Sudan's Capital State Extends Weekends To Fridays And Saturdays (Source: New Sudan Vision) - Summary: Starting on January 12, 2008, Khartoum State weekends for both public and private sectors will be 2-day long; Fridays and Saturdays. Links: other Sudan news and updates.
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4-Jan-2008 |
Belize |
 Belize Announces Sovereign's Day Public Holiday Day In Lieu (Source: Government of Belize Press Office-Belmopan) - Summary: The Government of Belize has recently amended the list of 2008 public holidays that were originally specified in the Government Gazette of May 26, 2007. Links: full story and other Belize news and updates.
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4-Jan-2008 |
Maldives |
 Maldives 2008 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Maldives Department of Information-Male) - Summary: The government of the Maldives has released its official list of public holidays for the calendar year 2008. Links: full story and other Maldives news and updates.
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4-Jan-2008 |
Jordan |
Jordan Moves Upcoming Islamic New Year Date (Source: Jordan Foreign Ministry-Amman) - Summary: Prime Minister Nader Dahabi announced yesterday that despite last February's Royal decree, setting the Hijra New Year public holiday for Wednesday, January 9, this year's Islamic New Year would in fact be celebrated on Thursday, January 10, 2008. Links: full story and other Jordan news and updates.
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4-Jan-2008 |
Liberia |
 Liberia Information Minister Calls For Adding Muslim Public Holidays (Source: The Analyst-Monrovia) - Summary: Liberia's Information Minister, Rev. Dr. Lawrence Bropleh, recently declared that he would support a move to add Muslim public holidays to the list of Liberia public holidays. Links: full story and other Liberia news and updates.
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3-Jan-2008 |
Virgin Islands |
 US Virgin Islands Re-Affirms Its Public Holidays Day In Lieu Policy (Source: The Governor's Office) - Summary: Responding to numerous inquiries received at Government House, due to the fact that this year, January 6 falls on a Sunday, Governor John P. de Jongh. Jr. reaffirmed today that Monday, January 7, 2008 is not a holiday in the Virgin Islands. Links: other Virgin Islands, U.S. news and updates.
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3-Jan-2008 |
Kenya |
 Kenya Bank Holiday Today (Source: Reuters) - Summary: Due to continued civil unrest and lack of transportation to get staff on premises, the banks and financial institutions of Kenya have declared today, Thursday, January 3, 2008, a bank holiday in Kenya. Links: other Kenya news and updates.
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2-Jan-2008 |
Tanzania |
 Tanzanian 2008 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Benki Kuu ya Tanzania-Dar es Salaam) - Summary: The Bank of Tanzania has published the list of official non-working public holidays dates in Tanzania for the calendar year 2008, as compiled by the government of the United Republic Of Tanzania. Links: full story and other Tanzania news and updates.
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