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This monthly
recap of May 2009 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-May-2009 |
Australia |
 Australia To Review NSW Public Holidays (Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation-Sydney) - Summary: Australia's New South Wales Industrial Relations Minister, John Hatzistergos, has announced a review into public holidays that fall on a weekend. The review will be headed by law Professor, Joellen Riley, and the report is due in October 2009. Links: full story and other Australia news and updates.
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30-May-2009 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis National Day Of Prayer On June 1st Public Holiday (Source: Caribbean Net News-Charlestown) - Summary: Acting Premier of Nevis, Robelto Hector, has announced that the Nevis Island Administration had declared June 1st, 2009, a national day of prayer for protection during the June 1-November 30 hurricane season. Links: full story and other Saint Kitts and Nevis news and updates.
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29-May-2009 |
Chile |
 Chile Considering September 17-20 Public Holidays in 2010 (Source: Chile.com-Santiago) - Summary: A group of Chilean parliamentarians from the UDI, PPD, as well as some independents, has introduced legislation that would make Friday, September 17, and Monday, September 20, 2010, one-off public holidays. Links: full story and other Chile news and updates.
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29-May-2009 |
Lebanon |
 Lebanon Declares June 8 Public Holiday (Source: Reuters-Beirut) - Summary: The government of Lebanon has declared that Monday, June 8, 2009, would be a one-off public holiday, to coincide with the coming parliamentary elections. Links: full story and other Lebanon news and updates.
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29-May-2009 |
Brazil |
 Brazil Now Considering Moving Mid-Week Public Holidays To Mondays (Source: Agência Senado Federal-Brasilia) - Summary: Brazilian senator, Roberto Cavalcanti (PRB-PB), has introduced new legislation that would move all mid-week public holidays (civil and religious) to the nearest Monday. Links: full story and other Brazil news and updates.
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29-May-2009 |
Trinidad and Tobago |
 Trinidad and Tobago Renames Indian Arrival Day (Source: The Trinidad Guardian-Port of Spain) - Summary: Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, has announced that, given the multi-racial composition of the country, the government had seen it fit to rename tomorrow's public holiday from "Indian Arrival Day" to, simply, "Arrival Day". Links: full story and other Trinidad and Tobago news and updates.
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29-May-2009 |
Fiji |
 Fiji's Capital Open For Business Despite Public Holiday (Source: Fiji Daily Post-Suva) - Summary: The president of Suva Retailers Association, Himmat Lodhia, has announced that despite Friday, May 29, 2009, being an official public holiday in Fiji, stores in Fiji's capital, Suva, would be open all day. Links: full story and other Fiji news and updates.
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28-May-2009 |
Bulgaria |
 Bulgaria Declares May 29 National Day Of Mourning (Source: Bulgarian News Network-BNN) - Summary: The Bulgarian Cabinet has declared a national day of mourning, tomorrow, Friday, May 29th, 2009, following an accident in southern Bulgaria, where 16 people were mowed by a bus, earlier today. Links: full story and other Bulgaria news and updates.
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27-May-2009 |
Nigeria |
 Nigeria May 29 Public Holiday Cancelled In Edo State (Source: This Day Online-Abuja) - Summary: he Governor of Nigeria's State of Edo, Adams Oshiomhole, has announced that Edo State would not be observing the upcoming May 29, Democracy Day public holiday. Links: full story and other Nigeria news and updates.
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24-May-2009 |
Bermuda |
 Bermuda Parliament Restores June Public Holiday (Source: The Royal Gazette-Hamilton) - Summary: Bermuda's House of Assembly passed the Public Holidays Amendment (No. 2) Act 2009 in its third and final reading, thus officializing the move of the National Heroes' Day public holiday from October to June. Links: full story and other Bermuda news and updates.
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23-May-2009 |
Namibia |
 Namibia Considers Changes To Public Holidays' Scope (Source: New Era-Windhoek) - Summary: Under pressure from the tourism industry, Namibia's Minister of Labour and Social Services (MoLSS) is to consider 6 variations to the Labour Act of 2007, which regulates the observance of public holidays in Namibia. Links: full story and other Namibia news and updates.
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22-May-2009 |
Dominican Republic |
 Dominican Republic May Cancel Election Day Public Holidays (Source: Stabroek News-Georgetown) - Summary: The Dominican Republic legislature is considering a measure aimed at cutting costs by holding all elections on a single day, and which would effectively cancel the Election Day public holidays by stipulating that election day should always be a Sunday. Links: full story and other Dominican Republic news and updates.
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22-May-2009 |
Lebanon |
Lebanon Declares May 25 Public Holiday (Source: Ya Libnan-Beirut) - Summary: The office of Lebanon's prime minister’s announced that Monday, May 25, 2009, had been declared an official public holiday on the occasion of Liberation Day. As such, all public and private institutions, schools and universities will be closed. Links: full story and other Lebanon news and updates.
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21-May-2009 |
Netherlands Antilles |
 Netherlands Antilles Public Sector Holiday Tomorrow (Source: The Daily Herald-Philipsburg) - Summary: The Netherlands Antilles government has confirmed that tomorrow, Friday, May 22, 2009, the day after the Ascension general public holiday, would be a public sector holiday for all civil servants and government offices. Links: full story and other Netherlands Antilles news and updates.
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21-May-2009 |
Bhutan |
 Bhutan To Host 2010 SAARC Summit (Source: Kuensel Newspaper-Thimphu) - Summary: Bhutan prime minister, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley, has announced that Bhutan would host the 2010 SAARC Summit, tentatively scheduled for April 28 and 29, 2010. Links: full story and other Bhutan news and updates.
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21-May-2009 |
Ghana |
 Ghana Confirms May 25 Public Holiday (Source: Ghana News Agency-GNA) - Summary: Ghana's Minister of the Interior, Cletus Avoka, has announced that the government of Ghana had confirmed Monday, May 25, 2009, African Union Day, as a statutory public holiday. Links: full story and other Ghana news and updates.
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21-May-2009 |
Latvia |
 Latvia Confirms June 20-24 Public Holidays (Source: The Baltic Course-Riga) - Summary: Latvia's Welfare Ministry has announced that, in accordance with the government resolution adopted last year, Monday, June 22, 2009, would be a one-off bridge public holiday, creating a 5-day period of public holidays, from Saturday, June 20, to Wednesday, June 24, 2009. Links: full story and other Latvia news and updates.
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20-May-2009 |
Madagascar |
 Madagascar Declares May 22 Bridge Public Holiday (Source: Haute Autorité de la Transition-HAT) - Summary: Madagascar's transitional government (Haute autorité de la transition, aka. HAT) has declared Friday, May 22, 2009, a one-off bridge public holiday. Links: full story and other Madagascar news and updates.
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20-May-2009 |
Lebanon |
Lebanon Pressured To Declare May 25 Public Holiday (Source: iLoubnan-Beirut) - Summary: Yesterday, Lebanon's Development and Liberation bloc MP, Anwar al-Khalil, called for the cabinet to announce May 25 as a national public holiday to be called the "Resistance and Liberation Day". Links: full story and other Lebanon news and updates.
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19-May-2009 |
Sri Lanka |
 Sri Lanka Public Holiday Confirmed For May 20 (Source: NIDAHASA News-Colombo) - Summary: Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has declared tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2009, as a national public holiday to celebrate the end of the LTTE rebellion. Links: full story and other Sri Lanka news and updates.
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19-May-2009 |
Jordan |
 Jordan Clarifies May 24 Public Holiday Status (Source: The Jordan Times-Amman) - Summary: A follow-up communiqué issued by Jordan's Prime Minister's office has clarified the status of the public holiday announced last week for Sunday, May 24, 2009. This date will be a general public holiday, not only limited to public servants, but Monday, May 25, 2009, will be a regular working day. Links: full story and other Jordan news and updates.
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18-May-2009 |
Sri Lanka |
Sri Lanka End Of Rebellion Public Holiday Likely On May 22 (Source: Times Online-Colombo) - Summary: Sri Lanka's Government Information Department has announced that Parliament had been prorogued and would be reconvened on Tuesday, at which time it is reported that Friday, May 22, 2009, would be declared a national public holiday, to celebrate the end of the LTTE rebellion. Links: full story and other Sri Lanka news and updates.
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17-May-2009 |
Malawi |
 Malawi Declares May 19 Public Holiday (Source: Nyasa Times-Lilongwe) - Summary: Malawi's Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Patrick Kabambe, has announced that the government of Malawi had declared Tuesday, May 19, 2009, a public holiday on the occasion of this year's Parliamentary and Presidential Elections. Links: full story and other Malawi news and updates.
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17-May-2009 |
Malawi |
Malawi Denies May 18 Public Holiday Rumours (Source: Capital Radio-Blantyre) - Summary: In a radio interview this morning, Malawi's former minister of local government and rural development, George Chaponda, denied reports that 18 May has been declared a public holiday. Links: full story and other Malawi news and updates.
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17-May-2009 |
Sri Lanka |
Sri Lanka Public Holiday Announcement Expected Tomorrow (Source: The Sunday Times-Colombo) - Summary: During next Tuesday's ceremonial address to the nation from Parliament, Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is expected to announce a new national public holiday, to be designated National Liberation Day. Links: full story and other Sri Lanka news and updates.
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17-May-2009 |
Belgium |
 Belgium's Unlikely To Adopt Floating Public Holidays (Source: Conseil National Belge Du Travail-Brussels) - Summary: The Conseil National Belge Du Travail (CNT) has released an opinion paper (avis n° 1687 du 6 mai 2009) rejecting a mandatory floating public holiday whereby each individual could choose one public holiday to match his/her religious or philosophical views. Links: full story and other Belgium news and updates.
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16-May-2009 |
Argentina |
 Argentina Senate Approves October 30 National Holiday (Source: Perfil-Buenos Aires) - Summary: Argentina's Senate has voted in final reading a bill that would make October 30, an annual national holiday called "Día Nacional de la Democracia", commemorating the date of the 1983 elections that marked Argentina's return to democracy. Links: full story and other Argentina news and updates.
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15-May-2009 |
Jordan |
Jordan Announces May 24 Bridge Public Holiday (Source: The Jordan Times-Amman) - Summary: A communiqué issued today by Jordan's Prime Minister, Nader Dahabi, has announced a public sector bridge holiday for Sunday, May 24, 2009, to coincide with the May 25 Independence Day public holiday. Links: full story and other Jordan news and updates.
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14-May-2009 |
Nigeria |
Nigeria Enugu State Public Holiday Tomorrow (Source: Vanguard Online-Enugu) - Summary: The governor of Nigeria's State of Enugu, Sullivan Chime, has declared a state public holiday, tomorrow, Friday, May 15, 2009, in honour of the former governor, Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh, who died on May 5th. Links: full story and other Nigeria news and updates.
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14-May-2009 |
Sri Lanka |
Sri Lanka Half-Day Bank Holiday Tomorrow (Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka-Colombo) - Summary: Sri Lanka's banks, and its stock market (the Colombo Stock Exchange), will be closed tomorrow afternoon, Friday, May 15, 2009. Links: full story and other Sri Lanka news and updates.
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14-May-2009 |
Philippines |
 Philippines Votes Chinese New Year Public Holiday (Source: Manila Bulletin-Manila) - Summary: The Committee on Revision of Laws of the Philippines' House of Representatives has approved 10 bills proposing additional annual public holidays, most notably, House Bill (HB) 5881, which would make Chinese New Year a special non-working public holiday. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.
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12-May-2009 |
India |
 India Declares May 13 Public Holiday In Punjab (Source: Punjab Newsline-Chandigarh) - Summary: The Chief Electoral Officer of India's State of Punjab, Kusumjit Sidhu, has announced that Wednesday, May 13, 2009, would be a state public holiday "for the voters of the nine Parliamentary Constituencies of the state to go out in full strength". Links: full story and other India news and updates.
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12-May-2009 |
Bangladesh |
 Bangladesh Schools To Remain Open On Some Public Holidays (Source: BDE News 24-Dhaka) - Summary: Bangladesh's education minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, has announced that Madrasas and secondary schools will henceforth remain open on the public holidays of February 21, March 26, and December 16. Links: full story and other Bangladesh news and updates.
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12-May-2009 |
Chad |
 Chad Declares Victory Public Holiday (Source: AFP-Ndjamena) - Summary: Chad's President, Idriss Deby Itno, has announced that tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13, 2009, would be a national public holiday to celebrate the government's recent victory over Sudanese-based rebels. Links: full story and other Chad news and updates.
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11-May-2009 |
Australia |
Australia Agfest Public Holiday Update (Source: The Examiner-Hobart) - Summary: The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) has come out against a, recently discussed, Tasmania-wide, state public holiday for Agfest. Links: full story and other Australia news and updates.
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11-May-2009 |
Bolivia |
 Bolivia Announces Staggered Nationwide Public Holidays (Source: Agencia Boliviana de Información-ABI) - Summary: Bolivian President, Evo Morales, has announced that the government would soon declare staggered public holidays, state-by-state, to coincide with each of the 9 states' day of biometric census to be conducted as preparation to the upcoming December 6, 2009, general elections. Links: full story and other Bolivia news and updates.
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10-May-2009 |
Philippines |
Philippines Pacman Celebration Day On May 11 (Source: ABS-CBN News-Manila) - Summary: Philippines' President, Glorai Macapagal-Arroyo, has declared Monday, May 11, 2009, as the new national day of celebration for boxing champion Manny "Pacman” Pacquiao. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.
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10-May-2009 |
Jordan |
Jordan Sectorial Public Holiday Today (Source: BBC Mundo-Amman) - Summary: The authorities in Jordan have declared a public holiday today for all Christians so that they may attend the mass given by Pope Benedict XVI. Links: full story and other Jordan news and updates.
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9-May-2009 |
Bermuda |
Bermuda Moves Heroes' Day Public Holiday To June (Source: The Royal Gazette-Hamilton) - Summary: Bermuda's Culture and Social Rehabilitation Minister, Dale Butler, told the Parliament that the government of Bermuda had decided to move the recently created Heroes' Day public holiday from October to June, effective in 2009 (next month). Links: full story and other Bermuda news and updates.
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9-May-2009 |
Pakistan |
 Pakistan Declares May 12 Sindh Public Holiday (Source: The Nation-Karachi) - Summary: The Chief Minister of Pakistan's Province of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, has declared a day of mourning public holiday throughout the state on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives for the restoration of Chief Justice of Pakistan, on that day, two years ago. Links: full story and other Pakistan news and updates.
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9-May-2009 |
Argentina |
Argentina Petitioned For June Sectorial Public Holiday (Source: Prensa Latina-Montevideo) - Summary: In his upcoming visit to Argentina's President, Cristina Fernández Kirchner, Uruguayan presidential candidate, José Mujica, is expected to repeat his request that Argentina give 2 days of public holidays to all Uruguayans living in Argentina, so that they may return to Uruguay and vote in the June 28 Uruguayan presidential elections. Links: full story and other Argentina news and updates.
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9-May-2009 |
Pakistan |
Pakistan May 12 Sindh Public Holiday Still Possible (Source: Daily Times-Karachi) - Summary: At yesterday's meeting of the Coordination Committee (CC) of Pakistan's three ruling coalition parties, the PPP, MQM and ANP, the Sindh government hinted at the possibility of a public holiday being announced on May 12. Links: full story and other Pakistan news and updates.
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7-May-2009 |
Liberia |
 Liberia To Consider May Day Public Holiday (Source: Liberia Broadcasting System-Monrovia) - Summary: The Liberia Labor Congress has petitioned the Liberian National Legislature to pass a law declaring May 1st, as a national public holiday. Links: full story and other Liberia news and updates.
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6-May-2009 |
Philippines |
Philippines Postpones Pacquiao National Holiday (Source: The Philippine Star-Manila) - Summary: Following a WHO (World Health Organization) advisory, Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has decided to postpone the May 8 (working) National Holiday until next week. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.
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6-May-2009 |
Brazil |
Brazil's Senate Rejects Mid-Week Public Holiday Bill (Source: Agência Senado Notícias-Senado Federal) - Summary: Brazil's Senate commission on education, culture and sport (Comissão de Educação, Cultura e Esporte-CE) has rejected a bill that would have moved some of Brazil's mid-week, fixed-date, public holidays to the adjoining Friday. Links: full story and other Brazil news and updates.
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5-May-2009 |
Gibraltar |
 Gibraltar To Consider March 8 Public Holiday (Source: Gibraltar Chronicle-Gibraltar) - Summary: Gibraltar's main trade union confederation, TGWU/Unite, has announced that it will be campaigning to make International Women’s Day (March 8) an annual paid public holiday. Links: full story and other Gibraltar news and updates.
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5-May-2009 |
Malta |
 Malta National Day Public Holiday Selection Update (Source: The Times of Malta-Valletta) - Summary: Yesterday, Malta's Prime Minister, Lawrence Gonzi, has reiterated his suggestion that the September 21 Independence Day public holiday should be declared the National Day holiday of Malta. Links: full story and other Malta news and updates.
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5-May-2009 |
Philippines |
Philippines Declares May 8 National Holiday (Source: GMA News TV-Manila) - Summary: Philippines President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has issued Proclamation No. 1764 which declares Friday, May 8, 2009, as a national day of celebration to honor boxing champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.
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5-May-2009 |
Pakistan |
Pakistan May 12 Public Holiday Or Strike Update (Source: The News-Karachi) - Summary: Pakistan's Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakhtoon Action Committee (PAC) have called for a general strike on May 12, unless the government agrees to declare a public holiday on May 12. Links: other Pakistan news and updates.
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5-May-2009 |
Algeria |
 Algeria Business Pursues Move To Semi-Universal Weekends (Source: TSA-Algiers) - Summary: Another large Algerian company, Afia (subsidiary of the Saudi group Savola), has implemented, effective May 3, 2009, the semi-universal Friday-Saturday weekend, instead of the official Algerian Thursday-Friday weekend. Links: full story and other Algeria news and updates.
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5-May-2009 |
Malaysia |
 Malaysia 2011 Islamic Public Holidays Announced (Source: Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia-Jakim) - Summary: Malaysia's governmental Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia, aka. JAKIM) has published its Islamic calendar for 2011 (corresponding to 1432-1433 AH). Links: full story and other Malaysia news and updates.
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4-May-2009 |
Philippines |
Philippines Planning May 8 Public Holiday (Source: The Philippine Star-Manila) - Summary: In a GMA-7 interview, today, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao announced that he had received a personal telephone call from Philippines' President Arroyo, who told him that Friday, May 8, 2009, the day he arrives in Manila, had been declared a non-working public holiday. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.
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1-May-2009 |
Namibia |
Namibia Public Holidays Not For Enjoyment (Source: New Era-Windhoek) - Summary: Yesterday, Namibia's SWAPO ruling party Secretary for Information and Publicity, Jerry Ekandjo, castigated those who "opt to spend the [holi]days engaging in socially pleasurable activities", and reminded Namibians that "these are days for remembrance and not for enjoyment". Links: full story and other Namibia news and updates.
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1-May-2009 |
UAE |
 UAE Considering May Day Public Holiday From 2010 (Source: The National-Dubai) - Summary: The United Arab Emirates' acting director general of the Ministry of Labour, Humaid bin Demas, is reported to have said yesterday that a non-working public holiday to mark the May 1st International Labour Day could be introduced starting in 2010. Links: full story and other UAE (United Arab Emirates) news and updates.
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