Australia announces proposed tightening of anti-terror laws News
Australia announces proposed tightening of anti-terror laws

[JURIST] Australian Prime Minister John Howard [official profile] on Thursday outlined tough new anti-terror laws that would give police great power to electronically track suspects and detain them for up to 48 hours. Howard offered details on the proposal at a news conference [full transcript] ahead of a meeting [JURIST report] of the Council of Australian Governments [official website] later this month to discuss methods to combat terrorism. In addition to increasing police powers, the proposed law would make it a crime to incite violence in the community or against Australian soldiers overseas, Howard said. The law would also tighten citizenship requirements in Australia [JURIST news archive], establishing a three-year period instead of two years for immigrants to gain citizenship. Civil rights groups in the country have criticized the proposals, arguing that they grant too much power to police to detain people without charge and to track people. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Hitler and Nazis attempt failed coup in Beer Hall Putsch

Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party attempted an ill-faited coup in Munich, Germany on November 8, 1923. Instead of seizing power, the conspirators suffered 15 casualties and their leaders were arrested, including Hitler. The future dictator would spend a year in prison as a result, where he would write his infamous Mein Kampf. Learn more about the Beer Hall Putsch.

Oregon legalized physician-assisted suicide

On November 8, 1994, Oregon passed the Death With Dignity Act by voter initiative, becoming the first US state to legalize physician-assisted suicide. Read the Death With Dignity Act,

France government opens the Louvre as a public museum

On November 8, 1793, the revolutionary government in France opened the Louvre for the first time as a public museum. Learn more about the history of the Louvre.