Abbas signs Basic Law amendments, sets date for postponed Palestianian elections News
Abbas signs Basic Law amendments, sets date for postponed Palestianian elections

[JURIST] After signing amended provisions of the Palestinian Basic Law [text] relating to elections over the weekend, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced Monday that parliamentary elections delayed in July [JURIST report] because of problems with the electoral law are now set for January 21, 2006. Palestinian Islamic resistance group Hamas had objected to the delay, and Abbas has expressed hope that a election date will lessen the chances that Hamas supporters will attempt to disrupt Israel's withdrawal from Gaza [JURIST news archive]. AP has more. The Palestinian Authority information service provides this press release.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.