UK politicians question broad new anti-terror proposal News
UK politicians question broad new anti-terror proposal

[JURIST] British politicians on Tuesday questioned a proposal that would allow the government to hold terrorism suspects for up to three months without charge [JURIST report]. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) [official website] has asked that the period be extended [press release] from the current maximum of 14 days to 90 days as part of new initiatives to fight terrorism. Members of both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties expressed doubts about the proposed extension, with Conservative leader Michael Howard telling reporters that he felt three months was "a long time to hold someone without charge, and possibly just release them after that." The opposition leaders also said that they were willing to work out differences and reaffirmed their solidarity in combatting terrorism. CBC News 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.