Montenegro Announces January Public Holidays

Sources: The Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Welfare of Montenegro (Podgorica) and Montenegro bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Montenegro's Ministry of Labor has announced that January 1 and 2 as well as January 6, 7 and 8, 2010, would be non-working public holidays in Montenegro.

Zambian President Calls For December 29 Public Holiday

Sources: The Lusaka Times (Lusaka) and Zambia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Earlier this week, Zambian President, Rupiah Banda, said that the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation should be retained in the Republican Constitution and that December 29th should be marked as an annual public holiday.

Swaziland Incwala Main Day On January 3

Sources: The Swazi Observer (Mbabane) and Swaziland bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Swaziland's Home Affairs Minister, Chief Mgwagwa Gamadze, has announced that the the main day of the upcoming Incwala would on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010.

Dominica Declares January 4 Public Holiday

Sources: Government Information Services (GIS) and Dominica bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Dominica's Government Information Services has issued a press release announcing that Monday, January 4, 2010, had been declared a one-off, post-election, public holiday.

Pakistan Confirms January 1st Bank Holiday

Sources: State Bank of Pakistan (Karachi) and Pakistan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The State Bank of Pakistan has confirmed that it, and all offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, inclusive of Public Debt Offices, would remain closed for public dealing on Friday, January 1, 2010, which as per tradition, has been declared as bank holiday.

UAE Rules-Out New Year Day In Lieu Public Holiday

Sources: Emirates News Agency (WAM) and UAE bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The UAE's Minister of Education and Chairman of the Human Resources Authority, Humaid Mohammad al-Qutami, has issued a circular confirming that the UAE's federal government ministries, departments and establishments will resume their duty on Sunday, January 3, 2010, after the January 1st Gregorian year public holiday.

Bahrain Announces Gregorian New Year Public Holidays

Sources: Bahrain News Agency (Manama) and Bahrain bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Bahrain's Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa, has issued a circular concerning non-working public holidays associated with the upcoming Gregorian New Year.

Kazakhstan Declares January 8 Public Holiday

Sources: Gazeta (Astana) and Kazakhstan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The government of Kazakhstan has declared a one-off bridge public holiday on Friday, January 8, 2010.

Pakistan Declares Sindh Public Holiday Tomorrow

Sources: The News (Karachi) and Pakistan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Chief Minister of Pakistan's Province of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, has announced a one-off regional public holiday throughout the Province of Sindh, on Tuesday, December 29, 2009, to mourn the deaths of Karachi's recent blast victims.

Lithuania Announces 2010 Public Holidays Dates

Sources: Bank of Lithuania (Vilnius) and Lithuania bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Government of Lithuania has announced the dates of official public holidays in 2010 in Lithuania.

UK Votes Queen's 2012 Diamond Jubilee Public Holiday

Sources: Mail on Sunday (London) and UK bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Last night, the UK Parliament approved a bill creating an additional one-off public holiday to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, in 2012.

Portugal's December 1st Public Holiday Under Fire

Sources: Correio da Manhã (Lisbon) and Portugal bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Vice-President of Portugal's employers' association (Associação Empresarial de Portugal or AEP) has called on the government of Portugal to cancel the December 1st annual public holiday.

Kuwait Approves New Labour Law

Sources: Kuwait Times (Kuwait City) and Kuwait bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Kuwait's National Assembly has unanimously passed the long-debated new labour law giving the private sector much improved rights and benefits, including an increased number of public holidays.

Russia Considers Renaming January 7 Public Holiday

Sources: News.Az (Baku) and Russia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Russian Orthodox Church has proposed declaring January 7, the anniversary of Napoleon’s expulsion from Russia in 1812, as a national holiday.

BVI Confirms December 28 Public Holiday

Sources: BVI News (Road Town) and British Virgin Islands bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Deputy Governor’s Office of the British Virgin Islands has announced that Monday, December 28, 2009, would be a public holiday to be observed as Boxing Day in lieu of Saturday, December 26.

Pakistan Announces Official 2010 Public Holidays List

Sources: Associated Press Of Pakistan (Islamabad) and Pakistan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Earlier today, Pakistan's Ministry of Interior, in consultation with Karachi's Meteorological Department, issued the expected dates for public and optional holidays for the calendar year 2010.

Cayman Islands Confirm December 28 Public Holiday

Sources: Cayman 27 (Grand Cayman) and Cayman Islands bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Cayman Islands' Governor–in–Cabinet amended the Schedule to the Law on holidays, yesterday, thus officially making Monday, December 28, 2009, this year's public holiday associated with Boxing Day.

Paraguay Declares Year-End Public Sector Holidays

Sources: Última Hora (Asunción) and Paraguay bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Paraguay's presidential office has released Decreto Presidencial Nº 3.693, which declares public sector holidays for the afternoon of Thursday, December 24, and Thursday, December 31, 2009, starting at 11:00.

Philippines Year-End Bank Holidays Update

Sources: Business World (Manila) and Philippines bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Most of the largest banks in the Philippines have announced that select branches would remain open to the public over the coming holidays period.

Malta Year-End Bank Holidays Update

Sources: Gozo News (Valetta) and Malta bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Malta Bankers’ Association has announced that Saturday, December 26, 2009, and Saturday, January 2, 2010, had been declared bank holidays and that, as such, all commercial banks would be closed for business on both those days.

Ecuador Rules-Out Additional Year-End Public Holidays

Sources: El Universo (Guayaquil) and Ecuador bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Ecuador's President, Rafael Correa, has put an end to persistent rumours that the government was getting ready to declare both Thursday, December 24, and Thursday, December 31, 2009, as additional one-off non-working public holidays.

Malawi Declares 10-Day Public Sector Holidays

Sources: Nyasa Times (Lilongwe) and Malawi bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Malawi's State President, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, in his capacity as Minister responsible for the Civil Service, has granted an additional 3-day period of public holidays, from Tuesday, December 29, to Thursday, December 31, 2009.

Argentina Declares Year-End Public Sector Holidays

Sources: Telam (Buenos Aires) and Argentina bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Argentina's President, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and Interior Minister, Florencio Randazzo, have co-signed Decree 2090/2009 which declares public sector holidays on Thursday, December 24, and Thursday, December 31, 2009.

Honduras Announces Year-End Public Sector Holidays

Sources: La Tribuna (Tegucigalpa) and Honduras bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Honduras' Interior Minister (ministro de Gobernación y Justicia), Oscar Raúl Matute, has declared public sector holidays for the afternoon of Thursday, December 24, and Thursday, December 31, 2009.

Costa Rica Announces Year-End Financial Holidays

Sources: Banco Central de Costa Rica (San José) Costa Rica bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Costa Rica's Central Bank has announced that it will be closed on Wednesday, December 30, 2009, and that as such, on that date, there would be no trading, foreign exchange, clearing or settlement activity.

Nigeria Declares Year-End Public Holidays

Sources: Punch (Lagos) and Nigeria bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Nigeria's Minister of the Interior, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, acting on behalf of President Umaru Yar’Adua, has declared Thursday and Friday, December 24 and 25, 2009, as well as Friday, January 1, 2010 as nationwide public holidays.

Jersey Bill Would Declare May 10 Public Holiday

Sources: BBC News (Saint Helier) and Jersey bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Jersey's Chief Minister Senator, Terry Le Sueur, has introduced legislation that would make Monday, May 10, 2010, a one-off day in lieu public holiday, to compensate the fact that next year's Liberation Day public holiday falls on a Sunday.

Guinea Declares December 23 Public Holiday

Sources: Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) and Guinea Conakry bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The "Council for Democracy and Development" government of Guinea Conakry has declared Wednesday, December 23, 2009, as a one-off public holiday to commemorate the 1st anniversary of its arrival in power.

Dominica Announces January Post-Election Public Holiday

Sources: Dominica News (Roseau) and Dominica bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Following his re-election to a 3rd term in office, last night, Dominica's Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, announced that his government would declare a public holiday in the month of January, "to celebrate and savor the achievement of our having conducted a peaceful and conclusive process of electing a new government".

Pakistan Considering 4-Day Public Holidays

Sources: The Nation (Lahore) and Pakistan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The government of Pakistan has announced that it was considering linking this year's December 25 public holiday with the upcoming Ashura public holiday on December 28, 2009, to create a 4-day period of public sector holidays.

Slovenia Announces Year-End Financial Markets Holidays

Sources: Ljubljana Stock Exchange (LJSE) and Slovenia bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Ljubljana Stock Exchange has announced that it would be closed for trading on both Thursday, December 24, and Thursday, December 31, 2009.

Romania Announces Year-End Financial Markets Holidays

Sources: Bucharest Stock Exchange (BSE) and Romania bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BSE) has announced that would be closed from December 25, 2009, until January 3, 2010, inclusively.

Philippines Announces ARMM Islamic New Year Public Holiday

Sources: Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Philippines bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The acting Governor of the Philippines' Autonomous Region Muslim Mindao (ARMM), Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong, has declared Friday, December 18, 2009, as a non-working public holiday on account of the Islamic New Year (Amon Jadid).

Ukraine Declares Additional January 2010 Bank Holidays

Sources: National Bank of Ukraine (Kiev) and Ukraine bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Ukraine's Central Bank, the National Bank of Ukraine, has declared January 1-3 and January 7-10, 2010, as periods of bank holidays.

Bahrain Declares December 20 Financial An Public Sector Holiday

Sources: Central Bank of Bahrain (Manama) and Bahrain bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Bahrain's Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, has released a communique declaring Sunday, December 20, as a day in lieu public sector holiday.

Kuwait Declares 2 New Year Day In Lieu Public Holidays

Sources: Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs (Kuwait) and Kuwait bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The President of Kuwait's Civil Service Bureau, Abdulaziz Al-Zabin, has announced that Sunday, December 20, 2009, would be a day in lieu public holiday to compensate this year's New Hijri Year occurring on Friday, December 18, 2009, which is a weekend day.

Swaziland Little Incwala On December 17 or 18

Sources: The Swazi Observer (Mbabane) and Swaziland bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The acting Governor of the Ludzidzini Royal Residence, Timothy Velabo Mthethwa, has announced that the Little Incwala, attended by King Mswati III, will take place on tomorrow or Friday.

Bulgaria Announces 2010 Bridge Public Holidays

Sources: Sofia News Agency (Novinite) and Bulgaria bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). In its last weekly meeting, earlier today, the Bulgarian Cabinet declared 2 additional non-working public holidays for next year; the first on Friday, May 7, and the second on Friday, December 31st, 2010.

Lebanon Confirms December 18 Public Holiday

Sources: El Nashra (Beirut) and Lebanon bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The Presidency of Lebanon's Council of Ministers has confirmed that the date of the upcoming "Nouvel An islamique" public holiday would be Friday, December 18, 2009.

Kuwait December 20 Public Holiday

Sources: National NCS and Kuwait bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). We have received unconfirmed reports that Kuwait had declared a day in lieu public holiday on Sunday, December 20, 2009, in conjunction with the Islamic new year 1431.

Oman Extends Scope Of Islamic New Year Public Holiday

Sources: Oman News Agency (ONA) and Oman bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Oman's Manpower Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al Bakri, has issued a ministerial decision declaring a non-working public holiday at private sector companies and establishments on Saturday, December 19th, 2009, on the occasion of the new Hijri year 1431 A.H.

UAE Announces Islamic New Year Private Sector Holidays

Sources: Emirates News Agency (WAM) and UAE bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Earlier today, the UAE's Ministry of Labour announced that, as per Article 74 of Federal Law No. 8/ 1980, Friday, December 18, 2009 (the first day of Muharram, 1431 Hijri, which marks the start of the new Hijri calendar year), would be a paid public holiday for all workers at companies and establishments of the UAE's private sector.

Thailand Declares 2 Additional Public Holidays

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bangkok) and Thailand bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Thailand's deputy government spokesman, Phumin Leethiraprasert, has announced that, earlier today, the Thai Cabinet had decided to declare 2 additional bridge public holidays in 2010, one to extend the April Songkran public holidays and the other for Her Majesty the Queen's birthday public holiday.

Oman Announce Islamic New Year Public Holiday

Sources : Oman News Agency (ONA) and Oman bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Oman's Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court and Chairman of the Civil Service Council, Sayyid Ali bin Hamoud al-Busaidi, has issued a circular declaring a day in lieu public sector holiday at ministries, public authorities and other departments of the State administrative apparatus, on Saturday, December 19, 2009, on the occasion of the "Holy Prophet's Hijra Anniversary" [sic] and advent of the New Hijiri year 1431 AH.

UAE Rules Out Islamic New Year Day In Lieu Public Holiday

Sources: Gulf News (Kuwait City) and Kuwait bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The UAE's Minister of Education and Chairman of the Federal Human Resources Authority, Humaid Mohammad Al Qutami, has announced that the Islamic New Year would begin on Friday, December 18, 2009, and that federal and government organisations would remain open on Thursday, December 17, 2009.

Myanmar Confirms Upcoming Kayin New Year Public Holiday Date

Sources: Myanmar Government Site (Yangoon) and Myanmar bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The government of Myanmar has confirmed the date of the upcoming Kayin New Year public holiday, as Wednesday, December 16, 2009.

Qatar Changes Date Of National Day Public Holiday

Sources: Qatari News Agency (QNA) and Qatar bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Qatar's Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sheikh Nasser bin Mohamed bin Abdul Aziz al-Thani, has announced that the date of the upcoming National Day public holiday had been moved from Friday, December 18, to Thursday, December 17, 2009.

Azerbaijan Confirms December 23 Electoral Public Holiday

Sources: Trend News Agency (Baku) and Azerbaijan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission Spokesman, Azar Sariyev, has confirmed that the date of the upcoming municipal elections, December 23, 2009, will be a one-off, non-working, electoral public holiday in Azerbaijan.

Kyrgyzstan Declares 10-Day Public Holidays In January

Sources: News Agency AKIpress (Bishkek) and Kyrgyzstan bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The government of Kyrgyzstan has declared the period of January 1, to January 10, 2010, inclusively, as non-working public holidays throughout Kyrgyzstan.

Cameroon Confirms Islamic New Year Holiday Status

Sources: Prime Minister's Office Republic of Cameroon (Yaoundé) and Cameroon bank holidays and public holidays (qppstudio.net). The government of Cameroon has confirmed that the upcoming Islamic New Year (aka. Al-Hijra, or simply, Muharram) would be observed on Friday, December 18, 2009, in Cameroon.