Important Current Affairs- 16th oct. 2015

• ·         The Union Govt. on 15 October 2015 flagged off a special train, named ‘Science Express Climate Action Special (Climate Change Special),’ on the subject of climate change action as part of its initiative to sensitize the masses about the issue of climate change

            ‘Science Express Climate Action Special’ is a 16-coach air-conditioned train that was     launched on 15 October from Delhi in the run-up to the global climate summit in Paris slated for December. The train will run till 7 May 2016 and during the course of these eight months, it would stop at 64 locations across India, covering over 19,500 kilometers.

• ·         The Australian government on 15 October 2015 gave its approval to India’s Adani Group to go ahead with the $7-billion coal mine project in Queensland. The approval was given subject to 36 of the strictest conditions in Australian history.

• ·         To protest against the trend of online drug sales in the country a pan-India strike was observed by chemists (medical stores or pharmacies) on 14 October 2015. Around eight lakh pharmacies across the country were closed on the strike call given by the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).

• ·         The brand-value of India during 2015 stood at $2.14 trillion, a huge 32% increase as compared with $1.62 trillion last year, as estimated by London-based Brand Finance, a leading independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy.
  
• 15th October has been observed as the International Day of Rural Women.
  The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008. This new international day, established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.”

• 'Malabar exercise 2015'- five-day naval exercise among the Navies of India, United States and Japan began on the Eastern coast, in which several warships, aircraft carriers and fast attack submarine would participate.
  
  
• India and Israel have signed two agreements. And they are,
  i) A cultural exchange program for 2015-2018
  ii) The amendment to the protocol on Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.
  Important Note: The pact on tax avoidance will help plug loopholes in tax evasion and ensure that the Indian or Israeli companies are taxed only where they have permanent establishments.
  
  
• ·    Former President, Missile Man APJ Abdul Kalam's 84th Birth Anniversary was observed on 15^th October 2015. He is popularly known as The People's President. PM Narendra Modi has released commemorative postage stamps (worth Rs. 5) on this day.  The Prime Minister also made an announcement that a memorial for Dr Kalam would be built at Rameswaram, to inspire future generations.
  
• According to a survey released by Global consultancy firm, Ernst and Young, India ranked as the most attractive investment destination in the world for the next three years. 32% of the business leaders from global corporations polled for the survey, according to which India is the most attractive investment destination in the world, followed by China, Southeast Asia and Brazil.
  
• Indian Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi has been selected for the prestigious Harvard Humanitarian of the Year Award 2015.
  The award is given by the University annually to an individual whose works and deeds have served to improve the quality of lives and inspired people to greater heights.
  
  
• Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has been chosen as 'Finance Minister of the Year, Asia' by London-based publication Emerging Markets.
  
  
• One of India's greatest fast bowlers, Zaheer Khan, has announced his retirement from international and first-class cricket. He will, however, continue to play in the IPL for one more season.
  Important Note : With 610 international wickets, Zaheer finishes as one of India's most successful bowlers, being the fourth-highest wicket-taker for India across formats.