Current Affairs January 2017 - Reports

News 1 - India ranked 3^rd among nations offering the highest salaries to expats

As per a survey from HSBC, India ranked third among the countries offering the highest average annual salary to expatriates. The combination of high salaries and excellent work culture has placed Switzerland at the top of the careers league table.

The best employment packages, including health benefits, are found in Middle East countries like Bahrain. HSBC surveyed 26,871 expats in more than 100 countries.

The top 5 Countries are:

• Switzerland
• Hong Kong
• India
• Singapore
• China

News 2 - Around 30 Indian-origin Men & Women Inducted into 2017 Forbes’ Super Achievers List

The 2017 edition of Forbes' list of super achievers under the age of 30 has over 30 Indian-origin innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. The list features those who seek to break the status quo and transform the world.

Some prominent names in the list are:

News 3 - India placed at the 92^nd position on the global index of talent competitiveness

As per the global index of talent competitiveness released by The Adecco Group and the Human Capital Leadership Institute of Singapore (HCLI), India ranks at 92^nd position in respect of how countries grow, attract and retain talent.

The list is topped by Switzerland followed by Singapore and the United Kingdom at 2^nd spot and 3^rd spot places respectively. Others in the top 10 comprise the United States (4^th), Sweden (5^th), Australia (6^th), Luxembourg (7^th), Denmark (8^th), Finland (9^th) and Norway (10^th). Last year, India was placed at 89^th place on the index.

News 4 - Oxfam survey says ‘8 men own half the world's wealth’

Ahead of the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Oxfam, the confederation of charitable organizations focused on rising global poverty and stated that the wealth of the world's poorest 3.6 billion people is the equivalent to the combined net worth of six American businessmen.

They include Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg who co-founded Facebook, and Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, said Oxfam. The charity pointed to a link between the vast gap between rich and poor and growing discontent with mainstream politics around the world.

News 5 - 5. India Ranked 60^th in the Inclusive Development Index 2017

As per the Inclusive Development Index (IDI) of the World Economic Forum (WEF), India ranks at the 60^th position with a score of only 3.38. Lithuania topped the list among the 79 developing countries. China is ranked at 15^th position while Pakistan is ranked at 52^nd position.

Norway has topped the list among 30 advanced economies in the Inclusive Development Index of the advanced economies report released by the WEF. Luxembourg (2^nd), Switzerland (3th), Iceland (4^th) and Denmark (5^th) make into the top five.

News 6 - India ranked 78^th in the global ‘Passport Index’

The Indian passport has been ranked at the 78^th position in the recently released Passport Index 2017. The report ranks countries based on the number of nations their citizens can visit without a visa or on arrival.

The list is topped by Germany with a visa-free score of 157. Sweden and Singapore rank second in the list with a visa-free score of 156. India ranks ahead of China and Pakistan which are ranked 58^th and 94^th on the list respectively.

News 7 - WEF Report announced Bengaluru as the most dynamic city in the world

World Economic Forum revealed Bangalore as the most dynamic cities of the world in its Momentum Index 2017 among 30 cities. Momentum Index is based on population, technology and R&D, connectivity, output and corporate activity, education, and sustained economic changes.

This list was followed by Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam at 2^nd place and silicon city at the 3^rd spot. List also comprised some other Indian cities like Pune (13), Chennai (17), Delhi (23) and Mumbai (25).

News 8 - World witnessed hottest year on record in 2016

World witnessed the hottest year on record in 2016, surpassing the exceptionally high temperatures of 2015. The globally average temperature in 2016 was about 1.1 degree Celsius higher than the pre-industrial period.

Surging concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane for human induced climate change and record breaking average temperature rise in 2016. Record ocean heat contributed to widespread coral reef bleaching, including in the Great Barrier Reef, which has seen up to 50 per cent of its coral die in certain parts.

News 9 - Transparency International organisation released Corruption Perception Index 2016

Transparency International organisation released Corruption Perception Index 2016 rating 176 countries worldwide where India was ranked 79^th among the 176 countries. The list was topped by duo New Zealand and Denmark which means they are least corrupted, more transparent towards access to information about public expenditure.

Somalia was ranked the most corrupt country followed by South Sudan, North Korea, Syria, and Yemen. Survey was prepared on basis of World Bank data, the world economic forum and other institutions.