Gov't gridlock begins in Japan
TOKYO, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A seismic shift occurred in Japan's governing landscape Tuesday when the upper house of Parliament came under control of the Democratic Party of Japan.
When Sasuki Eda became president of the House of Councillors, it marked the first time someone who wasn't a member of the Liberal Democratic Party has held the post, the Kyodo news agency reported. The LDP has controlled the body since 1956 but the opposition DPJ ended that reign in the July 29 elections, setting up political gridlock.
''We are faced with an unprecedented political situation and the public's expectations regarding the House of Councillors are extremely high,'' Eda said in his inaugural speech. ''I will work for the smooth operation of Parliament based on the principles of fairness and impartiality.''
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who heads the Liberal Democrats, struck a conciliatory tone, saying that while the DPJ bears responsibility of ensuring the nation's safety and prosperity, "we'd like to consult with the DPJ in the process.''
Atheist takes on Texas' Minute of Silence
DALLAS, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- An atheist father of three has taken on Texas’ Minute of Silence law, which allows schools to set aside time for prayer or reflection.
David Croft, who calls himself an "optihumanist," and his wife Shannon have sued Gov. Rick Perry and the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District, claiming the law amounts of state-sanctioned school prayer, The Dallas Morning News reports. The case was scheduled to go before a federal judge Tuesday in Dallas.
"Moment of silence bills have been popping up in additional states," Croft said in his blog. "To have millions of public school children waste a minute of education each day for a practice that has no secular purpose seems to me like a great sin."
Croft has been battling the schools for years over perceived religious intrusions, including the singing of religious Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs at school concerts. He says a teacher told his son the minute of silence was specifically for prayer.
Officials say if that happened, it was a mistake by the teacher, since the law was carefully written to meet court objections to other laws.
Muslims wary of charitable giving
DETROIT, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. investigations of Muslim charities have made some South Asian-Americans in the Detroit area wary of contributing for flood relief.
Heavy monsoon rains have caused massive flooding in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Hundreds of people have been killed and millions driven out of their homes.
"People are concerned about doing fundraising and relief work amid some of these statements that, for example, contributing to orphans is used as a euphemism for supporting terrorists," Dawud Walid, director of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Michigan, told the Detroit Free Press.
Federal investigators have raided at least three local non-profit organizations in the past year, although giving to all three remains legal. Ali Hyder, a physicist and member of the Bangladeshi American Public Affairs Committee, said he knows of people questioned because they were sending money to their families.
"We are aware that we need to be more careful," Hyder said.
Chinese dissidents take on Olympics
BEIJING, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A Chinese dissident group joined the foreign activists demanding that the country improve its human rights, sending a letter Tuesday to top leaders.
The open letter was addressed to President Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, head of the National People's Congress, and Premier Wen Jiabao, The Washington Post reported. The three also are the three ranking leaders of the Communist Party.
The authors said the slogan of the 2008 Olympics, to be held in Beijing, “One World, One Dream,” must include human rights for all. “What kind of world, whose dream" would it be otherwise, they asked.
At least two demonstrations were held Tuesday in China, a day before a planned celebration in Beijing of the one-year mark for the start of the Olympics Aug. 8, 2008. Six foreigners were arrested for displaying a banner that said “Free Tibet” on the Great Wall.
