Africa seeks permanent seats on UN Security Council News
Africa seeks permanent seats on UN Security Council

[JURIST] African leaders Tuesday approved a resolution at the fifth African Union Summit [official website] seeking two permanent seats on the expanding UN Security Council [official website]. The AU is calling for the number of Council seats be increased from 15 to 26, with six of the new members granted permanent seats with veto rights; two of the other permanent seats to go to Asia, one to Latin America and Caribbean and one to Western Europe and the remaining non-permanent seats will go to Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Caribbean. No African country currently holds a Council seat. Japan, Brazil, India, and Germany, aka the G-4 nations, are seeking four permanent seats for themselves on the Security Council and have requested that their resolution [PDF, draft], which also offers Africa two permanent seats, be voted on in July [JURIST report]. The US supports expanding the Security Council [JURIST report] by "two or so" permanent members, saying any more may hinder the Council's efficiency. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.