Current Affairs for 15 October 2025
Economics Nobel Prize 2025
It has been awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt “for explaining innovation-driven economic growth”. One half of the prize will go to Joel Mokyr “for identifying the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress.” The other half will be shared jointly by Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt “for the theory of sustained growth through creative destruction.” They observed that, for the first time in history, the past two centuries have witnessed sustained global economic growth.
First IUCN Green Status of Species assessment for the Tiger Released
- The assessment classified the Tiger as ‘Critically Depleted,’ reflecting the severe historical and ongoing threats.
- Threats include habitat loss, prey depletion, poaching, and regional extinctions.
Key Findings
- Population Trend: Decreasing (Current estimate (mature individual)- 2608-3905)
- Tigers are now extinct in 9 of the 24 areas evaluated and are threatened in all spatial units where they still persist.
- Status of Conservation Legacy and Recovery Potential: High and Medium, respectively.
About IUCN Green Status of Species
- Launched in 2012, it builds upon the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- In 2020, it became an optional part of Red List assessments.
- Provides a tool for assessing the recovery of species’ populations and conservation impact alongside extinction risk.
- Categories: It includes Largely Depleted, Moderately Depleted, Slightly Depleted, Fully Recovered, etc.
Places in News: Madagascar
- Madagascar (Capital: Antananarivo)
- Anti-government Gen Z protests in Madagascar have led to the fall of the government.
Political Features
- Located in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa.
- Maritime Boundaries: Comoros, France (Mayotte and Réunion), Mauritius, Mozambique and Seychelles.
Geographical Features
- It is the fourth-largest island in the world.
- Three largest islands are Greenland, New Guinea, Borneo.
- High Endemism: Approximately 90% of Madagascar’s flora and fauna is found nowhere else.
- This is due to Madagascar’s isolation from Africa by ocean currents.
- Madagascar and the Indian Monsoon: The South-West Monsoon cycle starts near Madagascar with the Mascarene High pushing south-easterly winds.
- After crossing the equator, these winds deflect to become moisture-laden south-westerlies heading toward India.
Port Pasni
- Recently Pakistan has offered the US the opportunity to develop and operate Port Pasni, as per reports
- The port is envisioned as the gateway for US to Pakistan’s critical minerals.
About Pasni Port
- Location: Gwadar district in Balochistan province, along the Arabian Sea.
Strategic Significance:
- It is located close to 70 miles from the China-operated Gwadar Port and 178 miles from Iran’s Chabahar Port.
- Its location makes it an ideal hub for trade routes linking South, West and Central Asia.
