EU ministers back data retention, new security measures at meeting News
EU ministers back data retention, new security measures at meeting

[JURIST] European Union Interior and Justice ministers Wednesday voiced support for new security measures [JURIST report] proposed at a meeting called in the wake of last Thursday's London bomings. The new rules would require telecommunications companies to retain and allow access to up to year-old communications data [AFP report]. The ministers' meeting is also expected to produce a joint mission statement in which EU ministers will commit to improving police cooperation and information sharing, studying terror recruitment, and overhauling shipping and aviation security. AFP has more.

8:45 PM ET – The joint statement of EU ministers condenming the London bombings and setting tighter EU security measures in motion is now online from the Home Office.

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.