The oldest material on earth discovered

Scientists analyzing a meteorite have discovered the oldest known material on Earth. They found grains of dust in space rock – which fell to Earth in the 1960s – that are up to 7.5 billion years old.

The BBC said the oldest grains of dust formed in stars that roared long before the birth of our solar system. A team of researchers described the result in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. When the stars die, the particles that form there are projected into space. These “pre-solar grains” are then incorporated into new stars, planets, moons and meteorites.

Metro Express:

Distribution of MECard Student in the coming weeks

The Metro Express Ltd (MEL) has announced the distribution of the MECard Student, in the coming weeks, to students above 12 years old and who are currently in full-time education. MEL strictly follows the prevalent Free Public Transport policy of the Government and priority will be given to students whose educational institutions are within the catchment area of Metro Express corridor.

The Government Information Service (GIS) said the MECard Student will be issued against payment of a refundable deposit of Rs 100. Moreover, full time students who opt for the MECard Student will benefit from free travel on board the Metro Express only for their journeys from their residences to their educational institutions, and vice versa, during school days only.

Students will need to have both their valid Free Travel Bus Pass issued by the NLTA and their personalised MECard Student so as to benefit from free travel on board the Metro Express.

 During the distribution phase of the MECard Student, which is expected to be a long one, students, with their valid Free Travel Bus Pass issued by the NLTA, will be able to travel between their place of residence and their educational institution for free on the Metro Express up to 29 February 2020.

Furthermore, MEL encourages the public in general to use the MECard which is a quicker, easier and more convenient travel experience on board the Metro Express. The MECard (Adult and Child), which is valid for a period of at least 10 years and is currently on sale at Rs 200 (with Rs 100 Credit that allows for immediate travel), offers a quicker, more sustainable and environment friendly way of travelling on board Metro Express. It may be credited with at least Rs 100 and up to Rs 2 000 at any of the seven Metro Express stations via 16 automated Ticket Machines during operational hours of the Metro Express (06:00 hours to 22:00 hours).

Single Use Tickets are still available at the Ticket Machines and passengers are encouraged to use coins instead of notes to purchase them. All passengers are reminded that it is mandatory to validate (Tap On) their ticket before they board the Metro Express and Tap Off before they leave the station at their destination.

Passenger Information System:

A new system to make life easier for bus travellers, with all information regarding the timetable, route and location of a bus available on a smart screen or on your mobile phone, has been launched.

The Passenger Information System is meant, for the moment, for  the Curepipe-Port Louis route.

178 people treated for excessive alcohol consumption

The Ministry of Health and Wellness said 178 people received treatment in public hospitals between December 24, 2019 and January 2 of this year for excessive alcohol consumption.

69 of these cases were registered on the first and second day of this month. 65 people have been admitted for advanced treatment and 23 of them have returned home to date. 

Doctors said consumption of more than 14 units of alcohol per week causes an excess in the body, which can lead to harmful effects such as imbalances in blood pressure and diabetes among others.

Plague kills 20 in Madagascar

Plague kills 20 in Madagascar

Tsiroanomandidy, located in the center of Madagasar, is particularly affected by the plague epidemic. Whether bubonic or pulmonary, the plague is recurrent in Madagascar. The toll of the epidemic affecting Madagascar continues to worsen. 20 people have already died from this disease.