2007 Macau labour protest, Protest to riot
On May 1, 2007, about 2,400 demonstrators turned out to decry official corruption and rail against illegal immigrants working in Macau's construction industry. Though some sources point to the event as having 5,000 participants and eventually grew to 10,000. Witnesses said scuffles erupted when protesters hurled water bottles at police and tried to break through police line. Local television stations showed police beating back protesters with batons and dragging away a number of them.


2007 Macau labour protest, Protest to riot
The protest then turned into a riot. Public Security Police Force of Macau fired warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd. A passing motorcyclist was struck in the neck by one of the bullets. The 50-year-old man Leung Ngai-keong (梁毅強) survived, but this affected the reputation of the police. Riot police later confirmed five shots were fired into the air during the protest. The police chief said 10 people were arrested and 21 police officers were injured. Protesters carried banners calling for better labour protection. Some demanded the resignation of Edmund Ho, the Chief Executive of Macau, who was appointed by Beijing. The protest lasted about six hours.


2007 Macau labour protest, Hong Kong response
HK politician Leung Kwok-hung staged a protest in Macau Friday calling on Ho to punish the police officer who opened fire. Leung, accompanied by four members of the April Fifth Action group, marched from the Macau-Hong Kong Ferry Terminal to the Macau government headquarters at Avenida da Praia Grande. He and other Macau labor union representatives read out a statement asking the government to apologize for the incident and review its handling of protests.


2007 Macau transfer of sovereignty anniversary protest
The 2007 Macau transfer of sovereignty anniversary protest (2007年澳門民主回歸大遊行) was an anti-government protest that took place on December 20, 2007 in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. The event coincided with the 8th anniversary of the Transfer of sovereignty of Macau that took place on the same date in 1999.


2007 Macau transfer of sovereignty anniversary protest, Protest
Earlier in the year a large scale labour protest turned violent in May. This protest also followed one of the largest corruption case involving Ao Man-long of the Macau public works just a month before in November. Macau's leaders in 2007 were chosen by a 300-member committee of mostly Beijing loyalists. Only 12 of the city's 29 legislators are directly elected, while the rest are chosen by the leader and interest groups.


2007 Macau transfer of sovereignty anniversary protest, Protest
The December protest used the slogan "oppose corrupt government, fight for democracy, protect people's livelihood, rebuild Macau's values, reestablish the memory of this generation." (反貪腐、爭民主、保民生，重建澳門的價值，共創我們這一代的集體記憶). About 1,000 residents of Macau held a march to demand full democracy and protest against corruption. Police blocked off roads and kept close tabs on the protesters.


2007 Macclesfield Borough Council election
Elections to Macclesfield Borough Council in England were held on 3 May 2007. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party kept overall control of the council with a majority of 16 seats. Overall turnout was 35.9%.


2007 Machap by-election
The 2007 Machap by-election was held on 12 April 2007. The seat in the state assembly of Malacca, Malaysia, fell vacant after the incumbent, Datuk Wira Poh Ah Tiam of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), died on 15 March that year. On 21 March 2007, the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) announced 3 April 2007 as the nomination day and 12 April 2007 the election date. The MCA candidate, Lai Meng Chong eventually defeated the opposition candidate of Liou Chen Kuang, with a reduced majority compared to the previous 2004 election.


2007 Machap by-election, Background
State assembly seat N.08 Machap lies in parliamentary seat P.135 Alor Gajah. As of the 2004 General Elections, Machap was a majority Chinese seat (45.6%), followed by Malays (38.3%), Indians (15.3%) and others (0.7%). In the 2004 election, the late Datuk Wira Poh Ah Tiam of the MCA, a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, garnered 5,847 votes, defeating Liou Chen Kuang of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) (1,285 votes) by a majority of 4,562 votes.


2007 Machap by-election, Candidates, Pre-nomination speculation
The English language daily The Star reported on 17 March 2007 that the opposition People's Justice Party (PKR) was the first to express interest in contesting the seat, with its information chief Tian Chua as the likely candidate. Meanwhile, on 20 March 2007, the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) declared it would not field a candidate in the by-election, citing the fact that the seat has traditionally been a DAP versus BN contest. The DAP and the ruling BN declined to comment on their plans until after Poh's funeral on 21 March 2007.


2007 Machap by-election, Candidates, Pre-nomination speculation
Nonetheless, this did not stop the media from speculating. Those linked to Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, the Malaysian Minister of Human Resources, MP for Alor Gajah and MCA vice-president, were named as possible BN candidates. The list included Fong's special assistant Ngow Dow Soon, his political secretary Lai Meng Chong and his private secretary Chew Chong Lin. From the opposition camp, besides PKR's Tian Chua, potential candidates from the DAP include Liou Chen Kuang, whom Poh had beaten in the last general election, or Tey Kok Kiew, special assistant to the party's secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.


2007 Machap by-election, Candidates, Pre-nomination speculation
On 22 March 2007, PKR and DAP reached an agreement, whereby PKR will yield the seat to DAP in the by-election, but will contest the seat in the next General Elections. PKR has also agreed to provide support to DAP but will not be directly involved in campaigning. Meanwhile, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting announced on 26 March 2007 that an MCA Presidential Council meeting on 27 March 2007 will choose the BN's candidate. The chosen candidate will be revealed after obtaining formal approval from the BN chairman, incumbent Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.


2007 Machap by-election, Candidates, Nominated candidates
On 30 March 2007, the DAP announced its candidate for the seat in the 2004 General Elections, 33-year-old Liou Chen Kuang, will contest in the by-election. Liou, a businessman, was chosen again despite losing in the last election. He was chosen due to his  "knowledge of the local terrain", grassroots support, and his willingness "to serve Machap constituents". The DAP also announced it would use the slogan Machap Demokrasi (Machap Democracy) to raise awareness among voters on the importance of democracy in Malaysia.


2007 Machap by-election, Candidates, Nominated candidates
Three days later, on 2 April 2007, the BN deputy chairman and incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak named a local MCA politician, 56-year-old Lai Meng Chong as the coalition's candidate for the by-election.


2007 Machap by-election, Candidates, Nomination day scuffle
During nomination day on 3 April 2007, a scuffle occurred between DAP and BN supporters. Two DAP supporters were injured in the scuffle, which erupted after some name-calling and sloganeering. Following the incident, police arrested a man after receiving four reports, two from the injured man, and two each from a journalist and a photographer from the Tamil dailies Malaysian Nanban and Makkal Osai, respectively.


2007 Machap by-election, Issues, Election irregularities
The opposition parties had alleged that the country's election process was not transparent and could be manipulated. However, the EC chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman on 21 March 2007 denied the allegations and challenged political parties to take the commission to court on the matter. Despite the denial, the DAP described the EC's move of not fixing the elections on a weekend as an "act of biasness to benefit the BN".


2007 Machap by-election, Issues, Election irregularities
On 27 March 2007, as an attempt to counter the opposition's grievances on the transparency of the election process, the EC announced that new, translucent plastic ballot boxes will be used in the by-elections, replacing the black metal ballot boxes used in previous elections. According to the EC, the new box is also lighter at only 500 grams, as compared to the metal box, which weighed 1.5 kg.


2007 Machap by-election, Issues, Opposition boycott
Due to alleged irregularities in the Malaysian election process, two major opposition parties, PAS and DAP, boycotted the January 2007 Batu Talam State by-election in Pahang, which the BN won after defeating an independent candidate. DAP's decision to now contest in Machap has led the BN to accuse opposition parties of being "inconsistent" with regards to boycotting elections.


2007 Machap by-election, Issues, Chinese support for the BN
Some pundits opine that the Machap by-election, given the constituency's ethnic composition, may reflect support from the Chinese community for the ruling BN. Many Chinese voters abandoned the BN in the 2006 Sarawak state elections, BN's worst showing in a long time in the traditionally safe state, whereby nine seats, seven of which were predominantly Chinese, went to the opposition. The dissatisfaction was because of economic issues and a renewed push by some Malay BN politicians for more privileges under the Malaysian New Economic Policy. A December 2006 survey by independent social research outfit the Merdeka Centre, found that 60% of Chinese voters nationwide were open to voting for the opposition.


2007 Machap by-election, Issues, Chinese support for the BN
Some pundits argue the by-election might not reflect the purported general sentiments of the Chinese. They believe that the DAP faces an uphill battle against the incumbent BN, as Machap is a rural constituency whereby local concerns predominate national issues and constituents are more conservative and less receptive to change. Furthermore, the deceased Datuk Wira Poh Ah Tiam was popular and had a good service record in Machap, having served for three consecutive terms and bringing tangible development in the constituency.


2007 Machap by-election, Issues, Alleged DAP-PAS secret co-operation pact
The day before the election, Malaysiakini reported that BN had distributed 1,000 VCDs containing a video clip of a campaigner from the PKR stating that a vote for the DAP would be a vote for the Barisan Alternatif, a coalition comprising PKR and PAS. The DAP was a former member of the coalition, but pulled out after disagreement on PAS' advocacy of an Islamic state. MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn alleged the video was proof of the DAP's covert co-operation with PAS, and stated that BN had "to let the people in Machap know that voting for DAP will help realise PAS' plan to turn Malaysia into a theocratic state".


2007 Machap by-election, Issues, Alleged DAP-PAS secret co-operation pact
The EC also stated that 50 PAS party flags had been removed, as PAS was not contesting the by-election. The DAP alleged that the flags had not been put up by PAS, and claimed that BN supporters had raised them. Confronted by the media on the DAP's claims, Fong denied any knowledge of such actions, calling it "just speculation".


2007 Machap by-election, Election day
Voter turnout was low in the morning, reaching only 23% by 11.00 am. However, turnout picked up at lunchtime, hitting 59.2% by 3.00pm. Weather conditions were generally favorable throughout the day with only scattered showers in late afternoon, which resulted in the relatively high turnout of 74.4% at the 5.00 pm close.


2007 Machap by-election, Election day
However, the day was marred by allegations of vote-buying against the BN made by the DAP. According to a DAP party worker, a tip-off was received by the party at around 12.00 pm that a vacant house was used to disburse vote-buying money. Voters were alleged to have received as much as RM200 (ca. US$58) from BN operatives. However, in an immediate reaction, MCA president Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting brushed off the allegation, calling the DAP's allegations baseless and made for "political mileage".


2007 Machap by-election, Post-election controversy
In a post-election analysis, senior DAP leader Tony Pua alleged that although BN and Lai had been caught in the act offering to renovate houses and passing out free food and drinks, in direct contravention of electoral laws, the Election Commission had taken no action.


2007 Machap by-election, Post-election controversy
The DAP later filed a complaint with the EC over the alleged vote-buying incidents, including claims that the government had announced development projects to secure support. The EC chairman rejected the latter allegation, stating that such actions were legal and within the government's discretion. MCA president Ong also rejected the claims, saying it was common for the opposition to make such allegations after electoral defeats, and accused the DAP of being contradictory in first blaming the government for not developing Machap, but later saying the development was vote-buying.


2007 Madeiran regional election
A regional election was held in Madeira on 6 May 2007, to determine the composition of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The election was a snap election, as it was original schedule to only happen in October 2008. The election was called after the President of the Regional Government, Alberto João Jardim, resigned after his government clashed with the Socialist Prime Minister José Sócrates due to the new regional finance law approved by the Sócrates government. Jardim defended that the new law was harmful for Madeira's interests. By this time, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) had been in power, nonstop, since 1976.


2007 Madeiran regional election
The election was a huge landslide for the PSD and Alberto João Jardim. He won one of the biggest landslides in Madeira electoral history, winning more than 64% of the votes and 70% of the members of the regional parliament. The PSD won, once again, in all 11 municipalities of the region. The Socialists suffered a huge setback in these elections winning just 15% of the votes and 7 seats, although the number of total members was reduced to 47 due to a new electoral system.


2007 Madeiran regional election
The smaller parties, CDS, CDU and BE, also saw their shares decrease and CDU, led by the Portuguese Communist Party, was able to pull ahead of the People's Party (CDS-PP). The Left Bloc (BE) had, like CDU, minor losses and was able to hold on to their sole seat. But other smaller parties gained representation for the first time. The Earth Party (MPT) and the New Democracy Party (PND) gained, both, one seat and polled above 2%


2007 Madeiran regional election
Turnout in these elections increased very slightly compared with 3 years ago, with 60.8% of voters casting a ballot.


2007 Madeiran regional election, Electoral system
Before this election, members of the regional parliament were elected in 11 constituencies, representing the 11 municipalities of Madeira, that were awarded a determined number of member to elect according with the number of registered voters in those constituencies. The method used to elect the members was the D'Hondt method. For the 2007 elections, the system changed and members of the regional parliament would now be elected by a single constituency, coinciding with the territory of the Region. The method used, to elect members, would continue to be the D'Hondt method. The total number of members was also reduced from the 68, in the 2004 elections, to 47 in the 2007 elections.


2007 Madeiran regional election, Parties
The parties that partook in the election, and their leaders, were:


2007 Madrid City Council election
The 2007 Madrid City Council election, also the 2007 Madrid municipal election, was held on Sunday, 27 May 2007, to elect the 8th City Council of the municipality of Madrid. All 57 seats in the City Council were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in thirteen autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.


2007 Madrid City Council election
Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón's People's Party (PP) went on to win the largest victory achieved by a candidate in a municipal election in Madrid to date, with over 55% of the votes and nearly 60% of the seats. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) plummeted barely above 1995 levels, while United Left (IU) recovered from its negative result in 2003 and gained support for the first time since 1995.


2007 Madrid City Council election, Electoral system
The City Council of Madrid (Spanish: Ayuntamiento de Madrid) was the top-tier administrative and governing body of the municipality of Madrid, composed of the mayor, the government council and the elected plenary assembly. Elections to the local councils in Spain were fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years.


2007 Madrid City Council election, Electoral system
Voting for the local assembly was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered in the municipality of Madrid and in full enjoyment of their political rights, as well as resident non-national European citizens and those whose country of origin allowed Spanish nationals to vote in their own elections by virtue of a treaty. Local councillors were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of five percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each local council. Councillors were allocated to municipal councils based on the following scale:


2007 Madrid City Council election, Electoral system
The mayor was indirectly elected by the plenary assembly. A legal clause required that mayoral candidates earned the vote of an absolute majority of councillors, or else the candidate of the most-voted party in the assembly was to be automatically appointed to the post. In the event of a tie, the appointee would be determined by lot.


2007 Madrid City Council election, Electoral system
The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of a determined amount of the electors registered in the municipality for which they were seeking election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates. For the case of Madrid, as its population was over 1,000,001, at least 8,000 signatures were required.


2007 Madrid City Council election, Opinion polls
The table below lists voting intention estimates in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a given poll. When available, seat projections are also displayed below the voting estimates in a smaller font. 29 seats were required for an absolute majority in the City Council of Madrid.


2007 Madrilenian regional election
The 2007 Madrilenian regional election was held on Sunday, 27 May 2007, to elect the 8th Assembly of the Community of Madrid. All 120 seats in the Assembly were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain. Because regional elections in the Community of Madrid were mandated for the fourth Sunday of May every four years, the October 2003 snap election did not alter the term of the four-year legislature starting in May 2003.


2007 Madrilenian regional election
Esperanza Aguirre was re-elected for a second term in office, with the People's Party (PP) winning a record absolute majority comprising almost 56% of the seats in the Assembly. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) obtained one of the worst party results since 1995, resulting in Rafael Simancas resigning as Secretary-General of the Socialist Party of Madrid shortly thereafter. United Left (IU) continued on its rising trend and won 2 additional seats.


2007 Madrilenian regional election, Overview, Electoral system
The Assembly of Madrid was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of Madrid, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Madrilenian Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a President of the Community.


2007 Madrilenian regional election, Overview, Electoral system
Voting for the Assembly was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered in the Community of Madrid and in full enjoyment of their political rights. All members of the Assembly of Madrid were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of five percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied regionally. The Assembly was entitled to one member per each 50,000 inhabitants or fraction greater than 25,000.


2007 Madrilenian regional election, Overview, Election date
The term of the Assembly of Madrid expired four years after the date of its previous election. Elections to the Assembly were fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years. The previous ordinary election was held on 25 May 2003, setting the election date for the Assembly on Sunday, 27 May 2007.


2007 Madrilenian regional election, Overview, Election date
The president had the prerogative to dissolve the Assembly of Madrid and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process, no nationwide election was due and some time requirements were met: namely, that dissolution did not occur either during the first legislative session or within the legislature's last year ahead of its scheduled expiry, nor before one year had elapsed since a previous dissolution.


2007 Madrilenian regional election, Overview, Election date
In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional president within a two-month period from the first ballot, the Assembly was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called. Any snap election held as a result of these circumstances would not alter the period to the next ordinary election, with elected deputies merely serving out what remained of their four-year terms.


2007 Madrilenian regional election, Parties and candidates
The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least 0.5 percent of the electorate in the Community of Madrid, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.


2007 Madrilenian regional election, Parties and candidates
Below is a list of the main parties and electoral alliances which contested the election:


2007 Madrilenian regional election, Opinion polls
The table below lists voting intention estimates in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a given poll. When available, seat projections are also displayed below the voting estimates in a smaller font. 61 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Assembly of Madrid (56 until 21 November 2006).


2007 Madrilenian regional election, Results, Elected legislators
The following table lists the elected legislators sorted by order of election.


2007 Madrilenian regional election, Aftermath
Investiture processes to elect the President of the Community of Madrid required for an absolute majority—more than half the votes cast—to be obtained in the first ballot. If unsuccessful, a new ballot would be held 48 hours later requiring of a simple majority—more affirmative than negative votes—to succeed. If none of such majorities were achieved, successive candidate proposals could be processed under the same procedure. In the event of the investiture process failing to elect a regional President within a two-month period from the first ballot, the Assembly would be automatically dissolved and a snap election called.


2007 Magny-Cours GP2 Series round
2007 Magny-Cours GP2 Series round was a GP2 Series motor race held on June 30 and July 1, 2007 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in Magny-Cours, France. It was the fourth race of the 2007 GP2 Series season. The race was used to support the 2007 French Grand Prix.


2007 Magny-Cours Superbike World Championship round
The 2007 Magny-Cours Superbike World Championship round was the final round of the 2007 Superbike World Championship season. It took place on the weekend of October 5–7, 2007, at the 4.411 km Magny-Cours circuit in France.


2007 Magyar Kupa (men's water polo)
The 2007 Magyar Kupa, known as (Hungarian: vodafone Férfi Magyar Kupa for sponsorship reasons), is the 81st edition of the tournament.


2007 Magyar Kupa (men's water polo), Final four
The final four was held on 29 and 30 December 2007 at the Szőnyi úti uszoda in Budapest.


2007 Maidstone Borough Council election
The 2007 Maidstone Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Maidstone Borough Council in Kent, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.


2007 Maidstone Borough Council election, Background
Before the election the Conservatives were the largest party on the council with 27 seats, compared to 20 Liberal Democrats, 4 Labour and 4 independent councillors. 20 seats were up for election, with 2 of these in Bridge and South wards being by-elections after the resignation of the previous councillors.


2007 Maidstone Borough Council election, Background
The Conservatives held the seats of Detling and Thurnham and Sutton Valence and Langley without a contest after no other candidates stood in those seats. In total 64 candidates stood in the election, comprising 20 Conservatives, 16 Liberal Democrats, 11 Green party, 10 Labour, 5 independents and 2 British National Party. As well as the by-elections, 2 sitting councillors did not stand in the election, Liberal Democrat John Williams from Coxheath and Hunton ward and independent Janetta Sams from Harrietsham and Lenham ward.


2007 Maidstone Borough Council election, Election result
The results saw no party win a majority on the council after the Liberal Democrats made a net gain of 1 seat from the Conservatives. This reduced the Conservatives to 26 seats and was a disappointment for them as Maidstone had been one of the party's top 10 targets in the 2007 local elections. Overall turnout in the election was 37.68%.


2007 Maine Black Bears football team
The 2007 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2007 NCAA Division I FCS football season. In their 15th season under head coach Jack Cosgrove, the Black Bears compiled a 4–7 record (3–5 against conference opponents) and finished fourth in the CAA's North Division. John Wormuth, Patrick McCrossan, and Bruno Dorismond were the team captains.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 78th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 10, 2007, at AT&T Park, the home of the NL's San Francisco Giants. It marked the third time that the Giants hosted the All Star Game since moving to San Francisco for the 1958 season. The 1961 and 1984 All Star Games were played at the Giants former home Candlestick Park, and the fourth overall in the Bay Area, with the Giants bay area rivals the Oakland Athletics hosting once back in 1987, and the second straight held in an NL ballpark.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The American League defeated the National League by a score of 5–4. Ichiro Suzuki won the MVP award for the game for hitting the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star history. As per the 2006 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the American League champion (which eventually came to be the Boston Red Sox) received home field advantage in the 2007 World Series. The victory was the 10th consecutive (excluding the 2002 tie) for the AL, and their 11-game unbeaten streak is only beaten by the NL's 11-game winning streak from 1972 to 1982 in All-Star history.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Background
As with each All-Star Game since 1970, the eight starting position players (with no designated hitter due to playing in an NL stadium) of each league were elected by fan balloting. The remaining players were selected by a players' vote, each league's team manager, and a second fan balloting to add one more player to each roster. In all, 32 players were selected to each league's team, not including players who decline to play due to injuries or personal reasons.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Background
The Giants were awarded the game on February 9, 2005. The game marked the first time since 1962 that one league hosted consecutive All-Star Games, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted the game in 2006.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Background
The game was the fifth straight All-Star Game to decide home-field advantage in the World Series. The AL entered the game on a ten-game unbeaten streak (nine wins, with one tie in 2002). The NL was looking for their first win since the 1996 game in Philadelphia.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Fan balloting, Starters
Balloting for the 2007 All-Star Game starters (excluding pitchers) began on April 27 and continued through June 28. The top vote-getters at each position and the top three among outfielders are named the starters for their respective leagues. The results were announced on July 1. About 18.5 million votes were cast by close to 12 million fans. Alex Rodriguez was the leading vote-getter with 3,890,515 votes, easily outpacing his Yankees teammate Derek Jeter by over 700,000 votes. Ken Griffey, Jr., was the top vote-getter in the National League, with 2,986,818 votes.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Fan balloting, Final roster spot
After the rosters were announced, a second round of fan voting, the Monster All-Star Final Vote, was commenced to determine the occupant of the final roster spot for each team. This round lasted until July 5. Chris Young and Hideki Okajima were elected to represent the National League and American League, respectively, in the All-Star Game as first time All-Stars. All ten players included in the balloting were pitchers, a first for the event.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Rosters
Players in italics have since been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Rosters, National League
These players did not see action in the game. Voted onto the roster through the All-Star Final Vote. Unable to play due to injury. Brandon Webb took his roster spot. Unable to play due to injury. Roy Oswalt took his roster spot.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game
O Canada was played by members of the San Francisco Symphony. The Star-Spangled Banner was sung by Chris Isaak. Before the game, there was a tribute to former San Francisco Giants slugger Willie Mays. Mays threw the ceremonial first pitch to New York Mets shortstop José Reyes. Paula Cole sang God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch. The first pitch was thrown by the National League's starter, Jake Peavy at 8:54 EDT  The game was completed in 3 hours, 6 minutes under an overcast sky and a gametime temperature of 68 °F (20 °C).


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game, Umpires
Umpires for the game were announced on June 14. Bruce Froemming, the most tenured current umpire in Major League Baseball, was named crew chief for the game. It was also revealed that day that Froemming would retire following the 2007 season.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game, Game summary
The National League got things started in the bottom of the first when José Reyes led off with a base hit off American League starter Dan Haren and proceeded to steal second. He scored on an RBI single by Ken Griffey, Jr. to give the NL a 1–0 lead. Barry Bonds nearly gave his hometown fans something to cheer for in the bottom of the third when, with Reyes on second, he lofted a high fly ball to left field, but it was snared at the warning track by Magglio Ordóñez.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game, Game summary
The AL nearly tied the game in the fourth when Alex Rodriguez attempted to score on a two-out single by Iván Rodríguez. However, the throw to home plate by Griffey allowed Russell Martin to tag Rodriguez out at the plate to end the inning. The AL would score one inning later when, after Chris Young issued a leadoff walk to Brian Roberts, Ichiro Suzuki hit a long fly ball off the right field wall. Instead of caroming straight to Griffey, the ball took an unusual bounce off a sign and ricocheted to Griffey's right. This allowed Ichiro to score on what is still the only inside-the-park home run in All-Star Game history. The homer gave the AL a 2–1 lead and resulted in Ichiro's MVP win.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game, Game summary
The lead would be augmented in the sixth when Carl Crawford hit a line drive that just cleared the right field wall for a home run. Though it appeared a fan may have reached over the wall to catch it, NL manager Tony La Russa did not challenge the umpires' call. The NL got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Carlos Beltrán led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Griffey. The AL added some insurance runs in the eighth when Víctor Martínez hit a two-run home run just inside the left field foul pole to give the AL a 5–2 lead.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game, Game summary
The American League's closers then entered the game, with Jonathan Papelbon pitching a scoreless bottom of the eighth. In the ninth, J. J. Putz tried to earn the save and began by inducing a weak pop-up and striking out Brian McCann. Pinch-hitter Dmitri Young rolled a ground ball deep in the hole to Brian Roberts, but he could not come up with it. Alfonso Soriano followed with a two-run home run to right field to cut the NL's deficit to one. After Putz walked J. J. Hardy, AL manager Jim Leyland replaced him with Francisco Rodríguez.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game, Game summary
However, Rodriguez had trouble consistently locating his pitches and walked Derrek Lee on a check-swing 3–2 pitch and then Orlando Hudson to load the bases. In a move that drew criticism, La Russa elected not to pinch-hit his last player on the bench, Albert Pujols, and instead let Aaron Rowand hit. Rowand lofted a fly ball to right field that was caught by Alex Ríos to close the game, earning the American League their tenth consecutive victory.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Home Run Derby
The State Farm Home Run Derby was held the night before the All-Star Game, July 9, and broadcast on ESPN. Four players from each league competed to hit as many home runs as they could in each round to advance and eventually win the contest. This year, a five-swing swing-off would be used to break ties occurring in any round. This became necessary when Albert Pujols and Justin Morneau tied for fourth in the first round. The champion of last year's Derby, Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies, competed even though he was not named to the NL All-Star roster.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Home Run Derby
In the finals, Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeated Alex Ríos of the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 3–2. Guerrero hit 17 home runs in all, second only to Ríos' 19. Guerrero also hit the longest blast of the competition, a 503-foot (153 m) drive to left field that just missed hitting a giant replica glove and baseball set up on the concourse beyond the left field bleachers.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Home Run Derby
AT&T Park is distinguished by having the San Francisco Bay beyond its right field bleachers. The body of water located adjacent to the ballpark is known as McCovey Cove, named for legendary Giants slugger Willie McCovey. McCovey Cove is known for having many fans sitting in the water in kayaks and boats hoping to retrieve a long home run ball hit there.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Home Run Derby
Though dozens of fans waited in the cove during the Derby, no home runs were actually hit into the water, either on the fly or off the promenade next to the right field seats, though, one foul ball hit by Prince Fielder did reach the water. This was largely due to the three left-handed competitors all exiting in the first round, as well as wind currents blowing toward left field. Prior to the All-Star break, a total of 58 home runs were hit into the cove on the fly during the park's history.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Home Run Derby
Gold balls were utilized whenever any player had one out remaining during his round. Any home runs hit with the balls meant Major League Baseball and State Farm would pledge to donate money to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Due to the change in sponsors from Century 21 to State Farm, each ball's value was reduced to US$17,000 to reflect the 17,000 State Farm agents in the United States and Canada. In all, twelve gold ball home runs were hit, which, along with a $50,000 "bonus" constituted $254,000 raised for charity.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Home Run Derby
Recorded only seven of ten outs before hitting winning home run. Advanced after defeating Morneau 2–1 in a swing-off.


2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Futures Game
The 2007 XM All-Star Futures Game took place on July 8, showcasing the top minor league prospects from all thirty teams' farm systems. The contest is seven innings regardless of the score with pitchers limited to no more than one inning of work. The World team defeated the United States by a score of 7–2. Chin-Lung Hu of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization won the Larry Doby MVP award after driving in two runs on a single and double, plus a stolen base and a run.


2007 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby
The 2007 State Farm Home Run Derby was a 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game event. The Home Run Derby was held on July 9 at AT&T Park, the home field of the San Francisco Giants. As usual, the competition had eight competitors, seven of whom were eliminated over three rounds. The Home Run Derby was seen July 9 on ESPN at 8 p.m. EST. Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat Alex Ríos of the Toronto Blue Jays 3–2 in the final.


2007 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Competitors
The eight competitors were 2006 winner Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies, Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins, Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers,  Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels, Magglio Ordóñez of the Detroit Tigers, Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals (who last participated in  2003), Alex Ríos of the Toronto Blue Jays and Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies, who replaced the Florida Marlins' Miguel Cabrera, who was injured in a game on July 7 after being announced as a participant.


2007 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Rules
Any ball that is swung at by the batter must be hit over the outfield fence in fair territory to be ruled a home run. A swing and a miss is an out, but if the batter doesn't swing, no out is recorded. In the event of a tie, a swing-off will be held. The contestant with the most home runs in five swings advances. If there is still a tie after five swings, each contestant will be given three swings to break the tie.


2007 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Rules, Round One
Each contestant gets ten outs. The top four home run hitters advance on to the next round.


2007 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Rules, Round Two
Totals from the first round carry over. Each batter again receives ten outs. The top two advance to the final round.


2007 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Rules, Round Three
Home run totals do not carry over for this round. As in the first two rounds, both hitters have ten outs. The competitor who has the most home runs at the end of the round is the winner.


2007 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Competition
Recorded only seven of ten outs before hitting winning home run. Advanced after defeating Morneau 2-1 in a swing-off.


2007 Major League Baseball draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players and was held on June 7, 2007 and June 8, 2007. The first day session of the draft included the first 25 rounds and was scheduled to be broadcast "live" from Orlando, Florida on television for the first time, on ESPN2 from 2:00pm to 6:00pm Eastern Daylight Time (1800–2200 UTC). Previously the conference call format draft was broadcast live, along with commentary, on both draft days exclusively from the MLB.com website as streaming audio. In total, the draft featured 50 rounds and 1453 selections.


2007 Major League Baseball draft, Background
Ross Detwiler was the first 2007 draftee to play in the major leagues.


2007 Major League Baseball draft, Background
David Price became the first player from the 2007 draft to be the starting pitcher of an All-Star Game in 2010. He was also the first pitcher to pitch in the Post-Season and World Series pitching in relief for the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 World Series. He was also the first player in this draft to win a Cy Young Award (which he won in 2012).


2007 Major League Baseball draft, Background
Jason Heyward became the first position player from the 2007 draft to be a starter of an All-Star Game in 2010.


2007 Major League Baseball draft, Background
Rick Porcello was the first player from the 2007 draft to be named as a starter at the outset of the season from Spring training. He initially started the 2009 season in the 5th rotation spot for the Detroit Tigers but by mid-season was promoted to the 3rd starter.


2007 Major League Baseball draft, Background
Madison Bumgarner was the first 2007 draftee to win the World Series and did so in the World Series with the San Francisco Giants in 2010. He also was the first player to win the World Series MVP award (which he won in 2014).


2007 Major League Baseball season
The 2007 Major League Baseball season began on April 1 with a rematch of the 2006 National League Championship Series; the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets played the first game of the season at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, which was won by the Mets, 6–1.


2007 Major League Baseball season
The regular season concluded with seven teams entering the postseason who had failed to reach the 2006 playoffs including all National League teams, with only the New York Yankees returning; a dramatic one-game playoff between the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres; and the largest September collapse for a leading team in baseball history, with the Mets squandering a 7-game lead with 17 to play, losing on the final day of the regular season, and the Philadelphia Phillies capturing the National League East for the first time since 1993. The season ended on October 28, with the Boston Red Sox sweeping the World Series over the Rockies, four games to none.


2007 Major League Baseball season
A special exhibition game known as the "Civil Rights Game" was played on March 31 in AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee, between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians to celebrate the history of civil rights in the United States. The 2007 season commemorates the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's entry into the game, breaking the color barrier.


2007 Major League Baseball season
For the fourth consecutive season, MLB regular season attendance increased by comparison with the previous year. In 2007, an all-time attendance record of 79,502,524 (32,785 per game) was set.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Postseason, Bracket
Note: Two teams in the same division could not meet in the division series.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Accomplishments, Barry Bonds surpasses Hank Aaron
Barry Bonds, left fielder for the San Francisco Giants, surpassed Hank Aaron as the all-time home run leader in Major League Baseball history with his 756th career home run off Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning of their game August 7 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. The 3–2 pitch with one out and nobody on base was hit at 8:51 PM US PDT and according to  was estimated to have gone 422 feet. However, the Nationals came back and won the game, 8–6. Through his final home game (and last game of the season), on September 26, Bonds has hit 762 home runs.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Accomplishments, Barry Bonds surpasses Hank Aaron
The baseball that was hit for the record was caught by Mets fan Matt Murphy, who put the ball up for auction online. The winning bidder was fashion designer Marc Ecko, who purchased the baseball for $752,467 (US) and let fans decide what to do with it in an internet poll. Options included donating the ball to the Baseball Hall of Fame as-is, donating it marked with an asterisk (reflecting the widely held belief that Bonds used performance-enhancing drugs to break the record), or sending the baseball into space.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Accomplishments, Barry Bonds surpasses Hank Aaron
The vote decided that an asterisk would be added, and the ball donated to Cooperstown. In an interview that aired on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann on November 1 and 2, Bonds stated to interviewer Jim Gray that if the ball were to be put on display with the asterisk, he would boycott his own Hall of Fame induction if he were elected.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Accomplishments, Other accomplishments, No-hitters
Three no-hitters were pitched during the 2007 regular season. This is the most in a single season since the three pitched in 2001. All three no-hitters in 2007 were in the American League, which is the most in a single league since the record-tying 1991 season when the two leagues combined for seven no-hitters (4 AL, 3 NL).


2007 Major League Baseball season, All-Star game
On July 10, 2007, at AT&T Park in San Francisco, the American League defeated the National League by a score of 5–4. The victory was the tenth consecutive (excluding the 2002 tie) for the AL, and their eleven-game unbeaten streak matches only the NL's streak from 1972 to 1982 in All-Star history.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Ceremonial games, Jackie Robinson
On April 15, Major League Baseball celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the debut of Jackie Robinson at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, breaking the color barrier. Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. asked Robinson's widow, Rachel, and commissioner Bud Selig for permission to wear Robinson's number 42 in honor of him. He was granted permission, and Selig later said that any player who wanted to wear number 42 on his jersey could. The jersey was worn without the players' name on the back, as was the case when Robinson played with the Brooklyn Dodgers. All jerseys that were worn were auctioned off with all the proceeds donated to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, an organization which awards scholarships to African-American high school graduates to further themselves in colleges academically.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Ceremonial games, Jackie Robinson
The Dodgers, Cardinals, and Brewers elected to have the entire team wear number 42 in his honor. The Pittsburgh Pirates, Phillies, and Astros were also scheduled to share that honor, but their games were postponed due to rain. The Phillies and Astros honored Robinson on April 23 when they made up their postponed game as originally planned, while the Pirates waited until April 27 to honor Robinson by wearing #42 as a team against the Reds.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Ceremonial games, Larry Doby
On August 10, the Cleveland Indians paid tribute to Larry Doby, the first African-American to play in the American League at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Every player on the Indians wore number 14, the number Doby wore during his career with the Indians.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Farewells
The Nationals played their final game at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on September 23, beating the Phillies 5–3. The team's new home, Nationals Park, formally opened on March 30, 2008.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Farewells
The Tampa Bay franchise played its last season as the Devil Rays. In 2008, the name was shortened to Tampa Bay Rays.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Josh Hancock
Josh Hancock, a relief pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, died on April 29 in a car accident outside St. Louis, Missouri. The 29-year-old pitcher was killed within a couple of minutes after impact when the SUV he was driving crashed into a towing vehicle on Interstate 64. This marks the second time in five years that a Cardinals pitcher lost his life before a game, the other being Darryl Kile, who died suddenly on June 22, 2002. The team postponed their game scheduled for later that day against the Chicago Cubs to pay respect to Hancock.


2007 Major League Baseball season, Josh Hancock
A police report revealed that Hancock was intoxicated at the time of his fatal accident with a blood-alcohol level of 0.157, nearly double the legal limit in Missouri. Police also found 8.55 grams of marijuana along with a glass smoking pipe in his vehicle, although toxicology tests later proved no drugs were in his system except alcohol. In addition, Hancock was talking on a cell phone when the accident occurred and was not wearing a seatbelt. An accident reconstruction team determined that Hancock was driving 68 mph in a 55 mph zone.


2007 Major League Lacrosse season
The 2007 Major League Lacrosse season was the seventh season of the league. The season began on May 12 and concluded with the championship game on August 26, 2007.


2007 Major League Lacrosse season, General information
In November 2006, the Baltimore Bayhawks relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Bayhawks. They played 5 of their 6 games at Multi-Sport Field and 1 at George Mason Stadium.


2007 Major League Lacrosse season, General information
Chicago won for the first time in franchise history on June 2 defeating Denver. The Machine had lost a league record 13 consecutive games (including all 12 games in 2006).


2007 Major League Lacrosse season, Regular season
W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = Winning Percentage, GF = Goals For, 2ptGF = 2 point Goals For, GA = Goals Against, 2ptGA = 2 point Goals Against


2007 Major League Lacrosse season, Regular season
Philadelphia finished first in the East over Rochester based on a better conference record (8–2 vs. 7–3).


2007 Major League Lacrosse season, Regular season
Boston finished 3rd in the East based on combine record against Long Island and Washington: 3–1 (2–0 against Washington, and 1–1 against Long Island). Long Island finished 4th based on combine record against Boston and Washington: 2–2 (1–1 against Washington 1–1 against Boston) and Washington finished 5th based on combine record against Boston and Long Island: 1–3 (1–1 against Long Island and 0–2 against Boston).


2007 Major League Lacrosse season, All Star Game
July 8 at Harvard Stadium in BostonEastern Conference All Stars 19–12 Western Conference All StarsMVP Matt Poskay (Boston) for the Eastern Conference


2007 Major League Lacrosse season, Playoffs
The 2007 NB Zip Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend took place August 25–26 at PAETEC Park in Rochester, New York


2007 Major League Lacrosse season, Playoffs
Semi FinalsAugust 25 @PAETEC Park, Rochester, New YorkPhiladelphia 13–12(OT) DenverLos Angeles 15–14 Rochester


2007 Major League Lacrosse season, Playoffs
Championship August 27@PAETEC Park, Rochester, New YorkPhiladelphia 16–13 Los Angeles


2007 Major League Soccer season
The 2007 Major League Soccer season was the 12th season in the history of Major League Soccer. The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18, 2007 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.


2007 Major League Soccer season
For the first time in MLS history, the same two clubs consecutively won the MLS Cup title and the MLS Supporters' Shield honor. The 2007 MLS Cup champions were Houston Dynamo who defeated New England Revolution in the final. D.C. United won the MLS Supporters' Shield edging Chivas USA by two points for the regular season honor.


2007 Major League Soccer season
New England, Houston, and D.C. United earned berths into the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League for their performances in the regular season and playoffs.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Changes from the 2006 Season
The 2007 season was often cited as the first season in the modern-era of Major League Soccer. Most notably, the regular season decreased from 32 matches to 30, emphasizing the importance of matches during this time window, as well as boosting the credibility for the MLS Supporters' Shield. This year marked the inaugural season for expansion franchise, Toronto FC who began play in the Eastern Conference.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Changes from the 2006 Season
For the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, the top two clubs in each conference automatically qualified for the playoffs, down from four. Additionally, the next four highest remaining point totals regardless of conference qualified via wild-card berth. The change allowed a single table to determine the entire playoff field.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Changes from the 2006 Season
Starting this season, MLS clubs were allowed to sell advertisements on the front of their jerseys. Six MLS clubs took advantage of the opportunity. Local corporations XanGo and Amigo Energy became the kit sponsors of Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo, respectively. More national brands such as BMO, Comex and Herbalife became the sponsors of Toronto FC, Chivas USA and Los Angeles Galaxy, respectively. The international recognized brand, Red Bull became the shirt sponsor of New York Red Bulls, whom they owned.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Changes from the 2006 Season
Two new soccer-specific stadiums opened this season. The Colorado Rapids moved into Dick's Sporting Goods Park in the Denver-suburb of Commerce City, Colorado. Before the season began, BMO Field opened for expansion side, Toronto FC.


2007 Major League Soccer season, 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs
1 The Kansas City Wizards earned the eighth and final playoff berth, despite finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference. They represent the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket, as only three teams in the Western Conference qualified for the playoffs.


2007 Major League Soccer season, International competitions, CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2007
D.C. UnitedDefeated  Club Deportivo Olimpia in the QuarterfinalsLost   Club Deportivo Guadalajara in the Semifinals.


2007 Major League Soccer season, International competitions, CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2007
Houston DynamoDefeated  Puntarenas FC in the Quarterfinals.Lost  C.F. Pachuca in the Semifinals.


2007 Major League Soccer season, International competitions, SuperLiga 2007
FC DallasFinished in fourth place and did not advance fromGroup A after going 0-1-2 in group play.


2007 Major League Soccer season, International competitions, SuperLiga 2007
D.C. UnitedRunner-up of Group B after going 1-1-1 in group play. Lost to Los Angeles Galaxy in Semifinals.


2007 Major League Soccer season, International competitions, SuperLiga 2007
Houston DynamoWinner of Group B after going 2-0-1 in group play. Lost to C.F. Pachuca on penalty kicks in the Semifinals.


2007 Major League Soccer season, International competitions, SuperLiga 2007
Los Angeles GalaxyWinner of Group A after going 2-1-0 in group play.Defeated D.C. United in the SemifinalsLost to C.F. Pachuca on penalty kicks in the Final.


2007 Major League Soccer season, International competitions, Copa Sudamericana 2007
D.C. UnitedLost to Club Deportivo Guadalajara on away goals in the Round of 16.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Other competitions, 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Eight of the twelve U.S.-based MLS teams entered the tournament in the Third Round.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Other competitions, 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
D.C. UnitedLost to Harrisburg City Islanders in the Third Round.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Other competitions, 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Los Angeles GalaxyLost to Richmond Kickers in the Third Round.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Other competitions, 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Chivas USALost to Seattle Sounders (USL) in the Third Round


2007 Major League Soccer season, Other competitions, 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Colorado RapidsDefeated California Victory in the Third Round. Lost to Seattle Sounders (USL) in the Quarterfinals.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Other competitions, 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
FC DallasDefeated Atlanta Silverbacks on penalty kicks in the Third Round,Defeated Charleston Battery after extra time in the Quarterfinals,Defeated Seattle Sounders (USL) after extra time in the Semifinals,Lost to New England Revolution in the Final.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Other competitions, 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
New England RevolutionDefeated Rochester Raging Rhinos in the Third Round.Defeated Harrisburg City Islanders in the Quarterfinals.Defeated Carolina RailHawks after extra time in the Semifinals.Defeated FC Dallas in the Final.


2007 Major League Soccer season, Other competitions, All-Star game
The 2007 MLS All-Star Game was held at Dick's Sporting Goods Parkin Commerce City, Colorado, home of the Colorado Rapids on July 19.The opponent was Celtic F.C. of the Scottish Premier League.


2007 Makhmour bombing
The 13 May 2007 Makhmoor bombing was of suicide attack using a truck bomb that occurred on 13 May 2007, in the northern Iraqi town of Makhmour. At least 50 people were killed and about 70 people were injured.


2007 Malagasy constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum was held in Madagascar on 4 April 2007. The proposed changes, which voters were asked to approve or reject as a whole, included:


2007 Malagasy constitutional referendum
Early results, with 73.18% of the vote counted, showed that turnout was around 42.43%. The referendum appeared likely to be passed because 74.93% of the voters in Antananarivo were in favour of the amendments, even though it seemed likely that in four of the five other provinces the "no" vote might have won. According to results released on 7 April, with votes from 85.47% of polling stations counted, 75.24% were in favor of the proposed changes. Roland Ratsiraka, who placed third in the 2006 presidential election and opposed the proposed changes, alleged fraud.


2007 Malagasy constitutional referendum
Official results were released on 11 April, but it was necessary for the Constitutional High Court to validate the results in order for them to be final, and this happened on 27 April.


2007 Malagasy constitutional referendum
The Judged By Your Work Party (AVI) chose to boycott the referendum, saying that it was deceitful for the referendum to describe a "yes" vote as being a vote for national development.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Madagascar on 23 September 2007, with the vote to be repeated in two constituencies on 14 November 2007. 637 candidates contested the election, in which the 127 seats in the National Assembly were at stake.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Background
In Toliara Province on 20 July 2007, President Marc Ravalomanana announced he would soon dissolve the National Assembly, leading to an early parliamentary election. Speaking to the press on July 24, Ravalomanana cited the need to adapt to the situation under the constitutional changes passed earlier this year as grounds for dissolving parliament before the end of its term in May 2008. The decision was finally announced on 26 July 2007 after a Council of Ministers meeting; the ministers had agreed to reduce the number of parliamentarians from 160 to 127 to be elected in the 119 districts of Madagascar across the country.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Campaign
All candidacies had to be submitted by August 14. The High Constitutional Court released its official list of 1,542 validated candidates on August 23. The ruling Tiako I Madagasikara (TIM) was the only party with candidates in all constituencies; these candidates included only about a fifth of the TIM deputies in the previous National Assembly. About 20 of the deputies not nominated by TIM as candidates ran as independents instead; TIM President Razoarimihaja Solofonantenaina described them as "not serious challengers".


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Campaign
Seven ministers in the government were nominated as TIM candidates: Yvan Randriasandratriniony, Minister near the Presidency in charge of Decentralization, in Fianarantsoa I; Koto Bernard, Minister of the Environment, in Ifanadiana; Robinson Jean Louis, Minister of Health, in Alaotra-Mangoro; Patrick Ramiaramanana, Minister of Energy, in Antananarivo I; Andriamparany Radavidson, Minister of Finance, in Antananarivo IV; Donat Olivier Andriamahefamparany, Minister of Mines, in Antananarivo V; and Harifidy Ramilison, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, in Fort-Dauphin. Many criticized the candidacies of these ministers because they were expected to remain in the government after the election, leaving their National Assembly seats to their substitutes. Another notable TIM candidate was former Prime Minister Jacques Sylla on Île Sainte-Marie.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Campaign
An alliance of opposition parties agreed to nominate a single candidate for each constituency, but although they reached a consensus on single candidates in some constituencies, in most cases they did not. One notable opposition candidate is Jean Lahiniriko, who was elected as a TIM candidate in the December 2002 parliamentary election and became President of the National Assembly before having a falling out with the ruling party and running against Ravalomanana in the December 2006 presidential election. He stood as a candidate in the parliamentary election for his new party, the Socialist and Democratic Party for the Unity of Madagascar (PSDUM), in the Betioky South constituency.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Campaign
The former ruling party AREMA was divided on whether to contest the election. The faction of the party associated with former president Didier Ratsiraka chose not to participate, unlike the faction associated with Pierrot Rajaonarivelo. The Ratsiraka faction sought to prevent the Rajaonarivelo faction's participation, but on August 23 the High Constitutional Court ruled that it could participate.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Campaign
The election campaign began on September 8 and continued for two weeks.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Campaign
There were about 7.5 million registered voters in this election and 17,586 polling stations across the country.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Conduct
Observers from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Union gave a positive appraisal of the election.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Conduct
Voter turnout was low, particularly in urban areas; in some of the Antananarivo constituencies it was as low as 20%, and there were similarly low numbers in some other cities.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Results
Provisional results on September 24 showed TIM winning all six of the constituencies in Antananarivo, the capital, where each constituency is represented by two deputies. In the city of Toamasina, considered an opposition stronghold, TIM candidate Pierrot Botozaza was victorious. TIM also won in the cities of Fianarantsoa and Antsiranana, but in one of the main cities it suffered a defeat, with its candidate losing to an independent candidate, Harinjatovo Rakotondramanana ("Hary Kalizy"), in the Mahajanga I constituency.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Results
Complete provisional results were released by the Ministry of the Interior and Administrative Reform on September 28. These results showed TIM winning 106 of the 127 seats; the remaining seats were won by independent candidates or regional parties, except for that of Befandriana-Avaratra constituency, which was won by LEADER-Fanilo candidate Jonah Parfait Prezaly, and that of Benenitra constituency, which was won by Liaraike candidate Gaston Rakotobezanahary.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Results
The High Constitutional Court confirmed the results on October 13, making them official. It annulled the election in two constituencies, Bealanana and Mananara Avaratra, requiring the election to be held over again there. In Bealanana, TIM candidate Julien Ramanandray had won with 42.90% of the vote according to the provisional results, while in Mananara Avaratra, opposition independent candidate Boniface Zakahely had won with 44.68% of the vote according to the provisional results. Zakahely said that the government was trying to keep him out of the National Assembly, but he vowed to win the revote regardless. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison for assault and battery by the Court of Appeal of Toamasina on November 7. The vote was repeated in the two annulled constituencies on 14 November 2007.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Aftermath
The new National Assembly began sitting on October 23, having been delayed by one week. When the new session of the National Assembly began, Jacques Sylla was elected as the President of the National Assembly; he was the only candidate and received 123 votes from the 124 participating deputies. Ravalomanana named a new government on October 27. Ministers Donat Andriamahefamparany and Koto Bernard, who were elected to the National Assembly, left their posts; Deputy Minister Harifidy Ramilison, the only one of the seven ministers running in the election to be defeated, was also excluded from the government on this occasion.


2007 Malagasy parliamentary election, Aftermath
On November 21, the High Constitutional Court announced the final results of the partial election: in Mananara Avaratra, Boniface Zakahely won again in the rerun with 62.75% of the vote, while in Bealanana, TIM was defeated by Antoko Miombona Ezaka candidate Lazafeno, who won 52.61% of the vote. The Court ordered candidates who received at least 10% of the vote to be compensated for the expense of printing ballot papers.


2007 Malawian political crisis
The 2007 Malawian political crisis was started when the Supreme Court of Malawi ruled on 15 June 2007 that the speaker of the National Assembly of Malawi, Louis Chimango, had the power to expel MPs who had changed their party affiliation since their election.


2007 Malawian political crisis
This ruling was set to have an enormous impact because the incumbent President of Malawi Bingu wa Mutharika formed his Democratic Progressive Party as a split from the United Democratic Front after the last election, meaning that if Chimango expelled most of the DPP lawmakers, Mutharika would lose his majority in the National Assembly, making a move to impeach him very likely.


2007 Malawian political crisis
When the possible impeachment was very close in the session of 3 July 2007, about 41 parliamentarians who would have been victim of this so-called Section 65 clause obtained an injunction against the speaker to prevent him from impeaching them; as chaos erupted in parliament, the speaker postponed the session sine die. On 23 July, parliament got together again to tackle the impeachment issue as well as next year's budget; President Mutharika threatened with early general elections. The injunction also expired on that date.


2007 Malawian political crisis
Parliament was then suspended indefinitely as there was no agreement reached on 24 July as to how to proceed regarding the 2007/2008 budget; as the interim budget had only been passed until 31 July 2007, however, it remains to be seen whether the suspension is kept up. In another turn, concerned citizens sued the National Assembly for violating their right to development by failing to pass a budget; according to the chairman of the Malawi Law Society, the suit has good chances of being acted on by the High Court.


2007 Malawian political crisis
The president started ruling by decree on 1 August, ordering the allocation of funds in lieu of an actual budget. The SADC Parliamentary Forum has suggested it would be willing to mediate in the crisis. On August 7, the chief justice of the Supreme Court issued an injunction allowing the opposition MPs to continue blocking the budget. Critics have asserted that it would take half a year to organise the large number of by-elections which would ensue if all MPs who had crossed the floor were expelled. The injunction was lifted on 8 August, after public protests ensued.


2007 Malawian political crisis
On 14 August, Mutharika set a deadline of two days for the parliament to discuss the budget, threatening to "close down parliament" otherwise. The crisis finally stopped on 23 August, when the opposition parties agreed to stop their fight for section 65, stating that it had been misinterpreted as a fight against the budget.


2007 Malaysia FA Cup
The 2007 Malaysia FA Cup was the 18th season of the Malaysia FA Cup. The competition began on 6 February 2007, and ended with the final on 30 June 2007. Batu Kawan Stadium hosted the final match. A record 22 teams competed in the competition.


2007 Malaysia FA Cup
The tournament was won by Kedah, who defeated Perlis 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out.


2007 Malaysia FA Cup, Quarter-finals
The first legs were played on 15 May and 22 May. The second legs were played on 29 May 2007.


2007 Malaysia FA Cup, Semi-finals
The semi-final matches were played on 16 June and 23 June 2007.


2007 Malaysia FA Cup, Final
The final was held at Batu Kawan Stadium, Penang on the June 30, 2007.


2007 Malaysia Super Series
The 2007 Malaysia Open Super Series (officially known as the Proton Malaysia Super Series 2007 for sponsorship reasons) was a badminton tournament which took place at Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 16 to 21 January 2007 and had a total purse of $200,000.


2007 Malaysia Super Series, Tournament
The 2007 Malaysia Open Super Series was the inaugural tournament of the 2007 BWF Super Series and also part of the Malaysia Open championships, which had been held since 1937.


2007 Malaysia Super Series, Tournament, Venue
This international tournament was held at Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


2007 Malaysia Super Series, Tournament, Point distribution
Below is the point distribution for each phase of the tournament based on the BWF points system for the BWF Super Series event.


2007 Malaysia Super Series, Tournament, Prize money
The total prize money for this tournament was US$200,000. Distribution of prize money was in accordance with BWF regulations.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix
The 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix (formally the 2007 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race, held on 8 April 2007 at the Sepang International Circuit and the second race of the 2007 Formula One World Championship. Reigning world champion Fernando Alonso won the race from second on the grid, with McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton finishing second. This marked McLaren's first one-two finish since the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix. Previous race winner Kimi Räikkönen finished third. Räikkönen's Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa started the race from pole position, but was passed by both McLarens in the first two corners of the first lap, eventually finishing in fifth place behind BMW's Nick Heidfeld.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix
The Malaysian race was the first at which the two different tyre types used during the race were differentiated by a white stripe painted into the tread of the softer type, helping spectators to understand the race strategy of each driver.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix was held at the Sepang International Circuit near Kuala Lumpur on 8 April, with practice and qualification for the race held on the two preceding days. It was preceded by a test session at the Sepang circuit attended by all the teams except the small Dutch team Spyker, who believed that it would not be possible to try upgrades on their car in time for the race. The test was scheduled to begin on 27 March 2007 and last for three days.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The teams, which are all based in Europe, arrived at the test directly from the Australian Grand Prix, held nine days previously. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber), Kimi Räikkönen (Scuderia Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) set the fastest times on the first, second and third days of the test, respectively; the final day saw partly wet conditions. Due to the poor weather, the teams agreed to extend the testing by one day, with Heikki Kovalainen (Renault F1) fastest.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The issue of teams using 'customer cars', that is cars obtained from other teams, surfaced before the race when Spyker protested the Scuderia Toro Rosso (STR) team's use of cars they claimed had been designed by STR's sister team, Red Bull Racing. The Concorde Agreement, which dictates the terms by which the teams compete in the Formula One world championship, requires teams to design their own cars.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The Malaysian stewards rejected the protest, with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA, the sport's governing body) stating that "it would be entirely inappropriate for the Stewards to involve themselves in a matter being dealt with at the instigation and election of the Protestor, Spyker". Red Bull threatened legal action over Spyker's possession of their car designs to use as evidence against STR, but nothing materialised. The FIA did not investigate how Spyker obtained Red Bull's car designs.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The FIA introduced more stringent tests on the cars at the Malaysian race to ensure floor mounting systems used by Ferrari and BMW Sauber were not in breach of the regulations. After the first race of the season in Australia, the McLaren team had requested clarification of the rules regarding systems that allowed the front of the car's undertray to move upwards under aerodynamic loading at high speed. Autosport magazine reported that this movement would potentially increase straight line speed. Massa and Räikkönen said the performance of the Ferrari F2007 car would not be compromised in any way by the required modifications.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The Malaysian race was the first at which the tyre compounds used on the cars were differentiated by a white stripe painted in the tyre treads. Since the beginning of the 2007 Formula One season, teams had been obliged to use two different kinds of tyre on each car during the race: a 'prime' tyre and an 'option' tyre. The prime tyre has a harder rubber compound and the option tyre a softer one. In general terms, a softer tyre is likely to grip better and provide a higher cornering speed.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Conversely, a harder tyre will often be slower, but may last longer. Formula One cars typically use between two and four sets of tyres during a race and using harder tyres may allow fewer pit stops to change tyres. Track conditions, the car characteristics or driving style can reduce or even reverse these differences. In Australia two weeks earlier, the softer tyres were marked with a small white circle to facilitate understanding of each driver's tyre strategy, but commentators and spectators were unable to distinguish the two compounds even at slow speeds.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The idea of the white stripe was tested during the test session a week before the Malaysian round of the season. The white stripe was applied with paint marker pens. Over the weekend 160 pens were used. Overall reaction to this system was positive, with the Williams team's technical director Sam Michael, who came up with the initial idea, calling it a "pretty good solution".


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
The race was preceded by three practice sessions. Ferrari's Felipe Massa set the pace in the first of two 90-minute practice sessions on Friday, with a time of 1:34.972, edging out McLaren's Fernando Alonso by three-tenths of a second. Alonso's teammate Hamilton was third, with Ferrari's other driver, Räikkönen, just behind in fourth. Nico Rosberg, Mark Webber, Jarno Trulli, Kazuki Nakajima, Ralf Schumacher, and Robert Kubica rounded out the top ten.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
Massa was comfortably fastest in Friday's second practice, setting a time of 1:35.780. The Renault team improved dramatically from first practice, with Giancarlo Fisichella second and Kovalainen third. Räikkönen was again fourth, followed by Rosberg, Alexander Wurz, Kubica and Schumacher. The McLarens of Hamilton and Alonso dropped to ninth and 12th respectively. McLaren boss Ron Dennis played down the times, saying the team was concentrating on tyre evaluation.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Practice
Dennis's lack of concern was vindicated on Saturday, with Hamilton setting the fastest time in practice with a lap of 1:34.811. Massa finished the session a tenth of a second behind, with third placed Alonso a further half second behind. Kubica, Räikkönen, Rosberg and Heidfeld followed, with Super Aguri driver Anthony Davidson eighth fastest. Super Aguri are regarded as a sister team to the Honda F1 works team, who set only the 17th and 19th fastest times. The 2007 Super Aguri is widely thought to be an updated version of Honda's 2006 car.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The qualifying session to determine the starting order for the race is held in three parts, six cars are eliminated after each of the first two parts. In the first part, the Spykers of Christijan Albers and Adrian Sutil set the slowest times of all. Spyker technical director Mike Gascoyne admitted that the team had "made a mistake" in missing the test at Sepang a week earlier. Scott Speed (STR), Anthony Davidson (Super Aguri), Rubens Barrichello (Honda) and Alex Wurz (Williams) were also eliminated.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Davidson blamed STR driver Vitantonio Liuzzi for obstructing his qualifying lap, stating "he was pretty aware I was behind him". Wurz was slowed by gear-selection problems in his Williams. At the front, McLaren driver Alonso set the fastest time with a 1:34.942. His teammate Hamilton was second fastest, with the Ferraris third and fifth, split by Kubica's BMW.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Rain threatened during the second part. Although it did not materialise, all the drivers posted quick laps early on to avoid having to set a time on a wet track. Alonso was again fastest with a 1:34.057. Hamilton, both Ferraris, BMW Saubers, and Toyotas, as well as Rosberg (Williams) and Webber (Red Bull) also passed through to the final part. Kovalainen (Renault), Fisichella (Renault), Coulthard (Red Bull), Sato (Super Aguri), Button (Honda) and Liuzzi (STR) were eliminated. 2006 champions Renault failed to get either car into the final part. Team engineering director Pat Symonds noted that "...the overall level of performance is disappointing, but we now have to knuckle down and make the most of the situation we find ourselves in." Button claimed Honda's grid position of 15th was the "maximum we could possibly get".


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
In the final part of qualifying, Massa set the fastest time, taking pole position from second placed Alonso in the last few seconds as rain began to fall, with Räikkönen completing the top three. Massa's lap of 1:35.043 marked tyre company Bridgestone's 100th pole position in Formula One. Hamilton came fourth, over half a second behind the leading three. He conceded inexperience was to blame, saying that there were "some spots of rain on my visor, so I had to sort of let off". Heidfeld qualified fifth, ahead of Nico Rosberg in sixth and teammate Kubica in seventh. The Toyotas of Trulli and Schumacher were eighth and ninth, with Webber completing the top ten.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Race stewards initially imposed a 10-place penalty on Coulthard and Barrichello, for changing their engines prior to qualification. Since 2006, the engines of Formula One cars are required to last for two races. However, after further investigation they rescinded Coulthard's penalty, as he had retired from the previous race and his change had been made before the start of the race weekend. Barrichello's penalty stood.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
In contrast to the rain-affected practice and qualifying sessions, the track was dry for the duration of the race. All of the drivers except Jenson Button, Jarno Trulli and the two Red Bull drivers started on the softer option tyre. The first lap was eventful: Alonso started better than polesitter Massa and was able to take the inside line into turn one and gain the lead. Hamilton passed Räikkönen for third into the first corner, then drove round the outside of Massa into turn two to take second place.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Meanwhile, the suspension on Adrian Sutil's Spyker failed at turn four, causing it to collide with Button's Honda and retire from the race. Button continued after making an early pitstop to repair the damage. Liuzzi and Sato also collided at turn four, causing Liuzzi to pit for a new front wing. After the race the drivers blamed each other for the incident.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
During the early laps, Massa appeared to have a faster car than Hamilton, and repeatedly tried to pass the McLaren on the inside of turn four. His first attempt was on lap three, but Hamilton braked late and kept ahead of Massa into the following corner. Massa tried again at the same place on the next two laps. He passed Hamilton briefly into the turn on lap five, but overshot the corner and ran wide onto the grass. He dropped to fifth, behind teammate Räikkönen and BMW's Nick Heidfeld. Hamilton apologised after the race for 'tricking' Massa into the move. Albers, in the sole remaining Spyker, retired on lap nine with a gearbox fire.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
While the two Ferraris were delayed behind Hamilton, Alonso was pulling away at the front, setting fastest laps on laps seven and fifteen. On lap 12, Robert Kubica was the first man to pit for fuel and fresh tyres, however he reported traction control problems four laps later and lost places. Alonso had extended his lead over Hamilton to 15 seconds by the first round of pitstops. He had experienced radio problems before refuelling, but these were fixed during the stop. The Renaults were circulating in eighth and tenth by the pit stops, with Fisichella ahead of Kovalainen.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Button was one of the few drivers who started on the slower harder tyre and was dropping down the field, as Takuma Sato passed the Briton. All of the front runners were on the same tyre strategy, with Räikkönen being the first front runner to pit. He found himself behind Fisichella as he exited. A short pit stop by Hamilton enabled him to come out of the pits ahead of the Renault, leaving a car between himself and Räikkönen during the pit window. Heidfeld's late stop on lap 22 helped him stay ahead of Massa. The top five positions remained unchanged, however Hamilton's different strategy enabled him to escape Räikkönen and close in on leader Alonso at a second per lap. Despite pitting on lap 20, he set the fastest lap of the race on lap 22 in 1:36.701.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Kubica dropped to 13th as his traction control fault worsened, and a train of cars that wanted to pass developed behind him. Kovalainen's performance was much better than at the previous round in Melbourne, and he attempted to pass Jarno Trulli for eighth. The top five again remained the same after the second round of stops. However, Hamilton's short first stop necessitated a relatively early second stop, allowing Räikkönen to reduce the gap and Alonso to extend his lead to 18 seconds. Nico Rosberg, running in sixth place after the stops, was forced to retire with hydraulic problems on lap 43. David Coulthard also retired after problems with his brake pedal, the same problem that he experienced in the Friday practice session.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Alonso was able to extend his advantage in the closing stages, winning the race by 17 seconds. Although experiencing pressure from Räikkönen who was faster on the harder tyres, Hamilton was able to maintain second place behind Alonso, with Räikkönen claiming the final podium position. This was McLaren's first victory since the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix, and the team's first one-two since the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix. Heidfeld and Massa secured fourth and fifth places respectively, 15 seconds behind Räikkönen. Heidfeld said later that beating Massa was "a fantastic experience".


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Fisichella finished sixth, and claimed it felt like a podium given the performance of the car. Trulli was seventh, and rookie Kovalainen scored his first F1 point in eighth. Wurz managed to come through from 19th to ninth, with his opening stint elevating him to 11th place by his first pit stop. Although he claimed no points, he said later "it bodes well for Williams's chances in the rest of the season". tenth placed Mark Webber was the final driver to finish on the same lap as the leaders. Honda finished outside the points in 11th and 12th, with Barrichello ahead of Button. Despite the problems Button said he believed the team had made "a small step forward". The Hondas were followed by Sato, Speed, Schumacher, Davidson and Liuzzi.


2007 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Alonso admitted he was surprised to win a race so early in his McLaren career, adding that winning for two different teams was very special. Hamilton said afterwards that this was his hardest race to date, while Räikkönen admitted he "did not have enough speed on the straight line to try to challenge either [Hamilton or Alonso]". Räikkönen also had to protect his engine from overheating, caused by a water-leak in the closing stages of the Melbourne race, with Räikkönen stating Ferrari had to "play on the safe side of that engine". After their disappointing Malaysian race, Ferrari boss Jean Todt stated that they "will try to do a better job" in the next round in Bahrain.


2007 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2007 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix was the seventeenth round of the 2007 MotoGP championship. It was held on 19–21 October at the Sepang International Circuit, Sepang, Selangor.


2007 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix, Championship standings after the race (MotoGP)
Below are the standings for the top five riders and constructors after round seventeen has concluded.


2007 Maldives FA Cup
The 2007 Maldives FA Cup, was the 20th edition of the Maldives FA Cup.


2007 Maldives FA Cup, Preliminary Rounds
S.C. Veloxia, Red Line Club, Huraa, 8 Degree, Mifaharu, VB Sports Club, B.G. Sports Club, Hithadhoo Youth Wing, Club Teenage, Club Eagles, Vyansa and Hurriyya SC played in the preliminary rounds.


2007 Maldivian Second Division Football Tournament
The 2007 Second Division Football Tournament was the 2nd edition of the Second Division Football Tournament in the Maldives. Club All Youth Linkage won the tournament after defeating Vyansa on penalties.


2007 Maldivian constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum was held in the Maldives on 18 August 2007 to decide on whether the country should have a presidential system or a parliamentary system. President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom supported a presidential system while the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party favored a parliamentary system.


2007 Maldivian constitutional referendum
Official results showed the presidential system winning over 60% support. Gayoom called the result a "massive endorsement" and confirmed that he would be a candidate in the 2008 presidential election. The opposition alleged that the referendum was rigged.


2007 Maldon District Council election
Elections to Maldon District Council were held on 3 May 2007 as part of the wider elections across the United Kingdom. The Conservative Party remained in control of the council, winning 25 of the 30 seats.


2007 Malian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Mali on 1 July 2007, with a second round on 22 July. In the first round, there were about 1,400 candidates for 147 seats in the National Assembly.


2007 Malian parliamentary election
The elections followed the April 2007 presidential elections, in which President Amadou Toumani Touré won a second term with 71% of the vote.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Background
The elections were conducted on the basis of candidate lists for each electoral district. 535 lists were deposited with the Constitutional Court in May: 125 joint lists for parties running candidates on the same list, another 278 lists for individual parties, and a further 132 independent lists.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Background
Five lists were rejected by the Constitutional Court on May 31: three independent lists (one in Tominian and two in Goundam), one joint list for the Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA), the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD), and the Party for National Rebirth (PARENA) in Nioro du Sahel, and one joint list for the Patriotic Movement for Renewal (MPR) and URD in Mopti.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Background
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta of the Rally for Mali (RPM) and Oumar Mariko of the African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI), both of whom were defeated in the 2007 presidential election, stood as candidates in the parliamentary election: Keïta in Commune IV in Bamako, where 17 lists competed for the two available seats in the first round, and Mariko at the head of a list in Kolondieba. PARENA leader and 2007 presidential candidate Tiébilé Dramé was running on the ADEMA-URD-PARENA list in Nioro du Sahel that was rejected by the Constitutional Court on May 31. In rejecting this list, the Court said that one of the candidates on the list, Cheickna Hamala Bathily, had multiple birthplaces recorded.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Campaign
The campaign for the election began on June 10 and continued until June 29.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Campaign
The opposition sought a new voter file and new voter registration cards for the election, but this did not occur. 900 observers were accredited for the election, 700 of whom were Malian and 200 of whom were international observers.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Campaign
The campaign for the second round began on July 15. Although Touré urged people to vote, voter turnout in the second round was reportedly low.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Conduct
The first round of the election on July 1 reportedly proceeded without incident, although voting was extended by four hours in Ségou due to heavy rain. Voter turnout was reportedly low. President Touré attributed this to Mali's system of automatic voter registration and uninspiring politicians, while Keïta argued that the voters were disillusioned, pointing to the April presidential election, which he alleged was fraudulent.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Conduct
Observers from the West African Economic and Monetary Union praised the organization of the second round on July 24, but criticized low voter turnout. A few arrests for fraud were reported, mostly of people with multiple voter cards.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Results
Final first round results from the Constitutional Court were announced on July 14, confirming provisional results released on July 6. 13 seats were won in the first round, all of them by parties included in the pro-Touré Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP) coalition: nine seats for the Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA), three for the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD), and one for the National Rally for Democracy (RND). Out of 55 districts, eight were decided in the first round, leaving 47 districts (and 134 seats) to be decided in the second round.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Results
In the eight districts won in the first round, an ADEMA-RND list won three seats in Mopti District, a URD list (including former prime minister Younoussi Touré) won two seats in Niafunké District, an ADEMA list won one seat in Diré District, an ADEMA list won three seats in Gao District, an ADEMA list won one seat in Ménaka District, an ADEMA list won one seat in Abeibara District, a URD list won one seat in Téssalit District, and an ADEMA list won one seat in Tin-Essako District. Voter turnout in the first round was placed at 33.39%.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Results
Provisional second round results showed the ADP had won a total of 116 seats (in both rounds). Of the ADP parties, ADEMA had the most seats with a total of 55, followed by URD with a total of 35. The opposition parties grouped into the Front for Democracy and the Republic (FDR) had 15 seats, 11 for the RPM and four for PARENA. SADI, which is not part of the ADP or the FDR, had four seats. Independents had 13 seats.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Results
Final results announced by the Constitutional Court on August 11 showed the ADP with 113 seats (including 51 for ADEMA and 34 for the URD), the FDR with 15 seats, independents with 15 seats, and SADI with four seats. ADEMA lost four of the seats it had in the provisional results due to the court's ruling that electoral fraud occurred in three districts: Koulikoro, Goundam and Tombouctou. 15 parties won seats.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Results
A number of important politicians failed to win seats in the first round and faced the second round: Keïta, Mariko, National Congress for Democratic Initiative President Mountaga Tall in Ségou, and ADEMA President Dioncounda Traoré in Nara. All of them were successful in the second round. Second round turnout was estimated at about 12% in Bamako and 33% in the countryside.


2007 Malian parliamentary election, Aftermath
The new National Assembly began its new term on September 3. On this date it voted on a new President of the National Assembly, choosing between two ADP candidates: ADEMA's Dioncounda Traoré (who is also President of the ADP) and CNID's Mountaga Tall. Traoré prevailed, receiving 111 votes against 31 for Tall. There were five invalidated votes.


2007 Malian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Mali on 29 April 2007. Incumbent president Amadou Toumani Touré ran for re-election against seven other candidates and won in the first round with about 71% of the vote.


2007 Malian presidential election, Background, Nominations
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, the President of the National Assembly, was nominated as the presidential candidate of the Rally for Mali on 28 January 2007. On 18 February former Foreign Minister Tiébilé Dramé was nominated as the candidate of the Party for National Rebirth (PARENA), and on 24 February Oumar Mariko was nominated as the candidate of African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence. Sidibé Aminata Diallo, a female professor, announced on 12 March that she intended to stand as the candidate of the Rally for Sustainable Education and Development.


2007 Malian presidential election, Background, Nominations
The former ruling party, the Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA), opted to support the incumbent president, Amadou Toumani Touré. Former Defense Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maiga, the Vice-President of ADEMA, was expelled from the party for opposing the decision as he intended to run for president himself. He was subsequently designated as the candidate of his movement, Convergences 2007, on 24 March. The National Union for the Republic (UNPR) nominated Modibo Sangaré as its candidate on 26 March. President Touré announced he would run for re-election in the town of Nioro du Sahel on 27 March. On the same day, the Social Democratic Convention nominated Mamadou Blaise Sangaré as its candidate.