12 FEBRUARY 2016

Ø  The highly elusive ‘gravitational waves’ have finally been detected. Understandably, and justifiably, there is great elation within the global physics community, astrophysicists and cosmologists in particular. After decades of search for these ripples in space-time, which Albert Einstein predicted exactly 100 years ago, scientists working with the gigantic optical instruments in the U.S. called LIGO [Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory], have detected signals of gravitational waves emanating from two merging black holes 1.3 billion light years away arriving at their instruments on the Earth. That is to say, this cataclysmic event of two black holes merging occurred 1.3 b yrs ago, when multi-cellular organisms were just beginning to form on the Earth, the gravitational waves from which are being received now on the Earth. Indeed, “We have detected gravitational waves,” were the opening remarks of David Reitze, the Executive Director of LIGO at Caltech, while making the announcement of the discovery to the media at the National Press Club in Washington that was received with rousing ovation. The announcement was beamed across all the laboratories of the world participating in the LIGO Science Collaboration (LSC). LSC comprises about 1000 scientists from 16 countries.

Ø  The Union Health Ministry on Thursday announced the much-awaited plan to eliminate malaria from the country by 2030. This will be the first time that the government’s policy intervention will have deliverables and time-bound targets.

Ø  Under the new framework, India will be divided into three categories as per malaria prevalence — low, moderate and endemic States. “By 2016 end, all States are expected to include malaria elimination in their broader health policies; by the end of 2017, all States are expected to bring down Annual Parasite Incidence [API] to less than 1 per thousand population; and by the end of 2020, 15 States/UTs under category 1 [elimination phase] are expected to interrupt transmission of malaria and achieve zero indigenous cases and deaths due to malaria. It is also envisaged that in States with relatively good capacity and health infrastructure, namely, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra, accelerated efforts may usher malaria elimination sooner — within two to three years,” said the Ministry in a written statement.

Ø  Following discussions held at the Hyderabad House between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the visiting Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday signed nine agreements covering cooperation in the fields of currency swap, culture, investments in the infrastructure sector, renewable energy, space research, insurance supervision, cyber security, skill development and commercial information sharing. Anwar Gargash, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, told The Hindu that both sides had reached an understanding on a wide range of issues and the agreements signed on Thursday were the beginning of a new era of bilateral cooperation. However, the much anticipated agreement on India accessing UAE’s Sovereign Fund was not declared on Thursday. “India should carry out some structural changes in its economy to facilitate such an agreement,” Dr.Gargash said. Dr.Gargash said India and the UAE had begun a dialogue that would firm up a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council.