"December 2009 events"

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1 December
The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force:
Common legislation is being introduced for EU countries. (ECJ)
The Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU enters into force. (AFP via Google News)
The European Court of Justice shall have general jurisdiction to decide on matters relating to freedom, security and justice. (ECJ)
Officially, the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy and High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, take office. Today
North Korea has been increasing its coin value for the first time in 17 years. (Chosun Ilbo) (Yonhap)
Australia: President of the Australian Federal Liberal Party and opposition leader is elected Tony Abbott by defeating Malcolm Turnbull by one vote (42-41) following a mutiny in the party over his positions regarding reducing gas emission pollution. (ABC News Australia) (BBC)
New head of the IAEA is assumed by Yukiya Amano from Japan. After 12 years Egyptian Mohammed El Baraday departs. Antenna
Uruguay: New president elected José Muhika former Tupamar rebel in the years of dictatorship that received 53% of the vote against his opponent Luis Alberto Lakaye. zougla. gr
Rwanda becomes the world's first land without mines, having completed mine clearance, with an announcement made during a conference in Colombia. Allafrica. com
Scientists discovered in Ecuador the smallest orchid in the world, 2.1 mm wide. Daily Mail

2 December
Indonesia bans the Australian film Balibo , which tells the story of a group of journalists killed during the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975. (Jakarta Post)
Nigeria: President Umaru Yar Antua's resignation calls for more than 50 personalities, citing the deterioration of his health.(NEXT) (BBC) (Xinhua)
A group of northern Caucasus Islamists say the recent bombing on a Russian train was done by order of the "Emir of the Caucasus Emirate", Doka Umarov. (Al Jazeera) (RIA Novosti)
Germany: The trial of the accused war criminal, John Demianyuk, is adjourned due to his own illness. (Deutsche Welle)
Greece: The OSCE summit is completed in Athens. For the first time since 2002 a single political declaration text has been drawn up. in.gr

3 December
People’s Republic of China: Five others are sentenced to death for their participation in the July riots in Urumchi, Singhyang Province, in the northwest of the country. (Global Times)
Somalia: Tens of people, including three Somali ministers, are killed by a bomb explosion at a hotel in Mogadishu, marring the university graduation ceremony. (Al Jazeera)
Syria: In a bus bombing while at a petrol station in Damascus