Portal:Current events/2009 December 1

December 1, 2009 (Tuesday)

Porfirio Lobo Sosa is elected President of Honduras. Turnout increases dramatically despite ousted former President Manuel Zelaya's plea for a boycott. (Huffington Post)
In a major policy speech, South African President Jacob Zuma announces the country will treat all HIV positive babies and expand testing. (IOL) (AP) (Al Jazeera)
U.S. President Barack Obama announces that he will send 30,000 extra American troops to Afghanistan within the next six months and start withdrawal in 19 months. (The New York Times)
U.S. golfer Tiger Woods announces that he will not be attending his own charity golf tournament, the Chevron World Challenge, or any other tournaments in 2009. (AP via Google News)
Maurice Clemmons, suspect in the 2009 shooting of Lakewood, Washington, police officers, is shot dead by police in Seattle. (BBC)
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office says efforts are continuing to secure the release of sailors captured by the Iranian Navy on November 25, while Iran warns it will deal with them seriously if it exposes "malicious intent". (BBC) (Press TV) (Al Jazeera)
The International Court of Justice begins hearings into the legality of the Kosovan declaration of independence from Serbia. (AFP) (BBC)
North Korea raises the value of its currency for the first time in 17 years. (Chosun Ilbo) (Yonhap) (Financial Times)
Tony Abbott becomes the leader of the Federal Liberal Party of Australia and Leader of the Opposition defeating Malcolm Turnbull by 42 votes to 41 following a party revolt over its position on the Rudd government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. (ABC News Australia) (BBC)
The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force:
- The European Union now has legal personality and has acquired the competences previously conferred on the European Community. Community law therefore becomes European Union law. (ECJ)
- The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union enters into force. (AFP via Google News)
- The European Court of Justice acquires general jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings in the area of freedom, security and justice. (ECJ)
- The first permanent President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, officially takes office. (AFP via Google News)
- The first EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, officially takes office. (AFP via Google News)