American girl offers 1,000 origami cranes to Japan victims

In addition to the cranes, Vaughn has managed to raise over $2,000 in donations.

An old legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. A young school-girl from Southern California took it upon herself to create 1,000 cranes to be sent to earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan in a gesture of hope.

Taylor Vaughn, 10-year-old, was shocked by the images on television of children suffering after Japan s worst earthquake on record and resulting tsunami. Determined to help raise funds for the relief effort, Taylor joined forces with Project HOPE, an international humanitarian aid and health education organisation, appealing to Americans to make a donation to support her appeal. During her research for fundraising efforts, she came upon the old Japanese legend of origami cranes and decided this was the ideal fundraiser.

Vaughn then organised an origami workshop with a group of her school friends from Pasadena, California. The girls managed to create the 1,000 cranes in just two weeks, getting together after school or during recess in order to meet their own goal.

In addition to the cranes, Vaughn has managed to raise over $2,000 in donations. The money and the cranes will be sent to school-children in the disaster ravaged regions of Japan.

Rio’s Christ statue lit up in blue to raise awareness for autism

Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue received a blue lighting to raise awareness for autism.

The Brazilian city s celebrations for World Autism Day also included a religious service on top of the Corcovado mountain attended by dozens of children who suffer with autism.

According to a Brazilian government survey, autism occurs in 1 in 110 children; a rate which is similar worldwide. Autism is a treatable disorder, but many people are never diagnosed or receive appropriate treatment. Autism can provoke from moderate to severe medical issues including gastrointestinal problems, immune system dysfunction, and metabolic abnormalities.

Mariel Mendes Lopes, head of Rio  s Autism Institute, said the Brazilian government does not provide enough information about the disorder. “This will help raise awareness regarding the rights of people with autism, a syndrome which we don t know much about, but which today is globally recognised. Today we are going through an autism epidemic and few people know about it. The government doesn t give this issue enough attention and we need to raise awareness among the population regarding this syndrome,” Lopes said.

India become cricket world champions for second time

India won the ICC World Cup 2011 and became the world champions for 2nd time after beating Sri Lanka

India is the first team who won a cricket world cup at home ground after defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Saturday.  

Chasing a total of 275 runs, responsible innings of Gambhir (97) and skipper Dhoni (91*) took India home. India lost Tendulkar and Sehwag early in the run-chase. But, Kohli and Gambhir built a partnership of more than 80 runs before Kohli fell at 114, scoring 35 runs. Then, Gambhir bowled out by Perera at 97, and a total of 223 runs. But, Dhoni and Yuvraj’s 52 runs partnership guided India to a convincing 6-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in 48.2 overs.

Earlier, Jayawardene’s century took Sri Lanka to 275 against India in the final of the World Cup on Saturday. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat in the crucial match being played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Sri Lanka lost its opener Tharanga early in the innings but Dilshan and skipper Sagakkara provided some momentum before Dilshan fell at 60, scoring 33 runs.

Then, Sangakkara and Jayawadene took their team to cross 100 runs. The skipper bowled out at 122, scoring 48 important runs. Jayawardene shared half-century partnerships with Kumar Sangakarra and Thilan Samaraweera.

Jayawardene’s unbeaten 103 runs along with Kulasekara’s 32 and Perera’s thrilling 22 made it possible to set a defendable target of 275 runs against India. Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj picked 2 wickets each, but Sreesanth, a late addition to the team, was expensive.

Ruling on wearing coloured contact lenses for men

We are deeply saddened by the trends in modern society which are pushing people in general, and the youth in particular, to do things that are of no benefit and encourage them to consume and spend extravagantly, and cause them to ignore sublime matters and becomes preoccupied with trivia. 

In principle, it is sufficient for a man to have a little adornment without going to extremes or being extravagant, for man has been created to strive and work and shoulder responsibilities. That does not mean that he should refrain from some permissible types of adornment occasionally, so as to allow himself to rest and relax, so that he can continue to strive and work hard. 

But the main preoccupation of men and youth should not be adornment and beautification. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade going to extremes in that. Abu Dawood (4160) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade us to be overly concerned with our outward appearance. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Sunan Abi Dawood. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

The woman is the one who needs to wear gold, silk and the like, because she needs to beautify herself for her husband. The man is the one who has no need of that because of his manliness and because he should care less about his outward appearance and should focus on his religious and worldly concerns. End quote. 

Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (11/60). 

He also said: 

Firstly: we should ask about wearing contact lenses before anything else. There is nothing wrong with prescribed contact lenses that are used to strengthen the vision, because that is something with which Allah has blessed His slaves and made available for them, and they are easier then regular glasses. This is on condition that they do not cause any harm to the eye, even if that is in the future. 

Secondly: with regard to contact lenses that are worn for adornment, we do not recommend men to wear them, especially young men, unless there is some defect in the pupil of the eye, in which case there is nothing wrong with it, because this is removal of a fault and it is not done to increase beauty. Rather it is a woman who needs beautification as Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “…a creature who is brought up in adornments (wearing silk and gold ornaments), and who in dispute cannot make herself clear?” [al-Zukhruf 43:18], i.e., women. There is nothing wrong with a woman wearing them for the purpose of beautification on condition that they do not look like the eyes of animals, such as the eyes of cats, rabbits and the like, because resembling animals is not mentioned in the Qur’aan or Sunnah except by way of condemnation, as in the verses in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“So his parable is the parable of a dog: if you drive him away, he lolls his tongue out, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls his tongue out”

[al-A ‘raaf 7:176]

“The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Tawraat (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey which carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them)”

[al-Jumu ‘ah 62:5]. 

And as in the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) concerning the one who takes back his gift: “[he is] like the dog that vomits then goes back to its vomit.” 

So she should not wear anything that looks like animals’ eyes. End quote. 

Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh, 182/15.

Coloring book used to smuggle drugs into jail

PHILADELPHIA: Three inmates and their loved ones were charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into a New Jersey jail on the pages of a children's coloring book, authorities said.

The drug, Subozone, normally used to treat heroin addiction but itself classified as a controlled dangerous substance, was dissolved into a paste and then painted into the coloring book, said Cape May County Sheriff Gary Schaffer. Pages with "To Daddy" scribbled on top were sent to the prisoners at the jail in Cape May, New Jersey.

"I've been in law enforcement for 38 years, and I've never seen anything like this," said Schaffer.

Authorities received a tip drugs were being smuggled in drawings, Schaffer said.

Charged in the case were prisoners Zachary Hirsch, Charles Markham and Paul Scipione. Also charged were Markham's mother, Debbie Longo, of West Wildwood, New Jersey, and Katelyn Mosbach, of Trevose, Pennsylvania, who was still being sought.

The New Jersey drug bust was the second one this month involving Suboxone smuggling behind bars.

Authorities at a prison in Carbon County, Pennsylvania earlier this month arrested 11 people in what they said was a scheme to hide the drug beneath postage stamps on letters mailed to inmates from family members.

After 30 years, war on AIDS at 'moment of truth'

With the war on AIDS nearing its 30th anniversary, the UN on Thursday declared "a moment of truth" had come for new strategies to address the campaign's failures and brake costs that were now unsustainable.

"We have a unique opportunity to take stock of the progress and to critically and honestly assess the barriers that keep us shackled to a reality in which the epidemic continues to outpace the response," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a report issued in Nairobi.
It marks the date in 1981 when US epidemiologists reported on mysterious cases of fatal pneumonia among young gays. In 1983, French scientists pinned the cause on a new pathogen, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which destroyed the immune system in heterosexuals and homosexuals alike.

"AIDS has claimed more than 25 million lives and more than 60 million people have become infected with HIV," Ban said in his progress report on the disease.

"Each day, more than 7,000 people are newly infected with the virus, including 1,000 children. No country has escaped the devastation of this truly global epidemic."

Ban said there had been many pluses over the past three decades, notably getting AIDS drugs to more than six million badly-infected people in poor countries.

But at this point, "the HIV response faces a moment of truth," he said.

Among the problems he highlighted was "a wholly unsustainable" rise in costs and a flatlining in resources, which have remained at under 16 billion dollars a year since late 2007.

More and more people are becoming infected, which means they will eventually join the numbers of patients who eventually need AIDS drugs, a treatment that has to be taken daily for the rest of one's life.

Ban spelt out ways by which countries could meet a target set last December 1 on World AIDS Day, of "zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths" by 2015.

"Of course progress has been frustratingly taking a long time," he admitted at a press conference.

But, he added, "I am sure that by 2015 we will have a much greater progress in our common efforts in fighting against HIV."

He called on member states to carry out a "prevention revolution," in which member states would commit to reducing sexual transmission of HIV by 50 percent by 2015.

Approaches should include new methods that have been validated by science, such as the use of male circumcision, which reduces the risk of female-to-male infection by around 60 percent. In the past two years, more than 200,000 men have been circumcised in 13 countries with a high prevalence of the HIV.

In the pipeline are promising trials involving a vaginal microbicide, to help women fend off HIV infection, and the use of AIDS drugs as a prevention against the virus, rather than treatment for it.

Ban also urged countries to ensure that all 13 million people who will need drugs by 2015 have access to them.

But a massive effort will be needed to brake the upward trajectory in costs, using smart but effective methods, he said.

The report called for a 50-percent reduction in fatalities from tuberculosis, the leading cause of death among people with HIV, and for the elimination of the transmission of HIV from infected mothers to their babies.

"It is a grave global injustice that 370,000 newborns contract HIV in low- and middle-income countries each year, while vertical transmission has been virtually eliminated in high-income countries," Ban said.

The UN chief also called for a bonfire of the regulations that targeted people with HIV. He urged member states to commit to reducing by half the number of countries with HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence.

The appeal is the third major initiative on AIDS to be launched by the United Nations in the past decade.

The two previous ones were the "Three by Five" goal of providing three million people with AIDS drugs by the end of 2005, and the objective of universal access to these drugs by the end of 2010.

Both initiatives fell short of their mark although the UN says they generated momentum, especially in building medical infrastructure in poor countries.

China leads challenge to ‘scientific superpowers’

LONDON: China and other emerging nations such as Brazil and India are becoming leaders in science to rival traditional ‘scientific superpowers’ like the United States, Europe and Japan, a top British academy said on Monday.

A report by the Royal Society science academy also found some rapidly emerging scientific nations not usually associated with a strong science base, including Iran, Tunisia and Turkey.

The report, entitled Knowledge, Networks and Nations: Global scientific collaboration in the 21st century, stressed the growing importance of international cooperation in the conduct and impact of science, and its ability to tackle global problems like energy security, climate change and loss of biodiversity.

"The landscape of science is changing. Science is increasing and new players are fast appearing," Chris Llewellyn Smith, chair of the advisory group for the study, told a briefing. "Beyond the emergence of China, we see the rise of Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, North African and other nations."

Llewellyn Smith said in the five years from 2002 to 2007, global spending on research and development (R&D) had risen by almost 45 percent -- broadly in line with rising economic growth -- but in developing countries it had risen by 100 percent.

"The increase in the developing world is mainly driven by China," he said. "But there are also others there."

He said the growth in scientific research and collaboration should help the world find solutions to global challenges, and added: "No historically dominant nation can afford to rest on its laurels if it wants to retain the competitive economic advantage that being a scientific leader brings."

SURPRISES

The publication data analyzed by the report showed changes in the share of the world's authorship of scientific research papers between the periods 1993-2003 and 2004-2008.

Although the United States still leads the world, its share of global authorship has fallen to 21 percent from 26 percent and its closest rival is now China, which has risen from sixth to second place with a share of authorship rising to 10.2 percent from 4.4 percent.

Britain is stable in the rankings at third place, although its share is down slightly at 6.5 percent from 7.1 percent.

Among big surprises in the report's findings were a handful of countries whose scientific credentials have come almost from nowhere to feature far more prominently in world science.Iran is the fastest growing country in terms of numbers of scientific publications in the world, growing from just 736 papers in 1996 to 13,238 in 2008.

The Iranian government has committed to a "comprehensive plan for science" including boosting R&D investment to 4 percent of GDP by 2030, compared with just 0.59 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2006.

Turkey has also dramatically improved its scientific performance, at a rate to almost rival China, with R&D spending increasing nearly six fold between 1995 and 2007.During that time the number of researchers increased by 43 percent, the report found, and four times as many papers with Turkish authors were published in 2008 as in 1996.

It also highlighted Tunisia, which has raised the percentage of its GDP spent on R&D to 1.25 percent in 2009 from 0.03 percent in 1996, at the same time as restructuring national R&D to create 624 research units and 139 research laboratories.