UK jury selection begins in transatlantic airplane bombing plot trial News
UK jury selection begins in transatlantic airplane bombing plot trial

[JURIST] Jury selection began Wednesday for the UK trial of eight men accused of plotting to blow up US-bound jetliners [JURIST report] over the Atlantic. In August 2006, prosecutors charged [press release; JURIST report] the eight with conspiracy to commit murder and endangering aircraft bound for the United States and Canada. The trial, which will begin Thursday [Telegraph report], is expected to last up to eight months. Reuters has more. BBC News has local coverage.

The foiled bomb plot prompted calls to extend the Terrorism Act 2006 [PDF text; official backgrounder], which permits British law enforcement officials to detain and question suspected terrorists for up to 28 days before suspects must be charged with a crime or released. Then UK Home Secretary John Reid told cabinet colleagues in February last year that the complexity of the airplane bombing investigation warranted extension [JURIST report] of the detention period. Parliament is currently considering a new bill [BBC report] that would give authorities the option of imposing up to 42 days detention on terror suspects.

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.