Current Affaiors 15 January 2018

1. WEF ranks India 30th on global manufacturing index The World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked India at 30th position on a global...

1. WEF ranks India 30th on global manufacturing index

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked India at 30th position on a global manufacturing index -- below China's 5th place but above other BRICS peers, Brazil, Russia and South Africa.

• Japan topped the Geneva-based WEF's first 'Readiness for the future of production report' and is followed by South Korea, Germany, Switzerland and China.
• India has been placed in the 'Legacy' group along with Hungary, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, Thailand and Turkey, among others.
• China figures among 'leading countries', while Brazil and South Africa are in 'nascent' ones.

2. Delhi’s Teen Murti Chowk renamed Teen Murti Haifa Chowk

As a symbolic gesture of friendship with Israel, India renamed the iconic Teen Murti Chowk, a war memorial, during the visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

• The new name of the war memorial located in a roundabout near the Teen Murti Bhavan, the official residence of the first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru will be, Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. 
• Teen Murti War Memorial has three life-size bronze statues representing the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who participated in the Battle of Haifa for the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade.

3. Ministry of Petroleum launches Saksham 2018 Campaign

The Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has launched month long Saksham 2018 (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav).

• Saksham is annual flagship event of PCRA with active involvement of Oil & Gas PSUs along with other stakeholders like State Governments.
• During this month long Saksham-2018, various interactive programs and activities are planned with the campaign on fuel conservation, getting a kick-start in a mega inaugural function to be held at Siri Fort Auditorium in Delhi on 16th January, 2018.

4. Government plans to auction 'enemy' properties worth Rs 1 lakh crore

Over 9,400 'enemy' properties, worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore, are set to be auctioned with the home ministry starting the process of identifying all such estates, officials said.

• The properties were left behind by people who took citizenship of Pakistan and China.
• The move came after the amendment of the 49-year-old Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act which ensured that the heirs of those who migrated to Pakistan and China during Partition and afterwards will have no claim over the properties left behind in India.

5. Government to raise 15 new battalions for Pakistan, China borders

The government is planning to raise 15 new battalions in the country's two important border guarding forces - the BSF and the ITBP - to fortify defence along the strategic frontiers with Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.

• A senior official in the Union Home Ministry told PTI that it is "actively considering" raising six fresh battalions in the Border Security Force (BSF) and nine in the Indo- Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force.
• Each battalion of these forces comprises about 1,000 operational jawans and officers.

6. 70th Army Day: 15 January 2018

The Indian Army is all set to celebrate 70th Army Day, with parades and shows at its major locations across the country.

• The celebration marks the day Field Marshal KM Cariappa took over as the first Indian chief of the nation's Army in 1949.
• The parade will be reviewed by Army chief General Bipin Rawat. He will also present gallantry and other awards to army personnel.

7. Italy to ‘partner’ in Bengal Global Business Summit

Italy will participate as a partner country in the upcoming Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) for the second year in a row.

• A delegation of over 30 companies from Italy, mostly from transport, infrastructure, metals and leather sectors, will be present at the two-day annual investment summit to be held on January 16 and 17.
• The delegation, headed by Italian Ambassador to India Lorenzo Angeloni, will open the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Points to Remember

• Italy is a unitary parliamentary republic in Europe. With around 61 million inhabitants it is the fourth most populous EU member state.
• Its Capital is Rome. Euro is the currency of Italy.
• Sergio Mattarella is the president of Italy while Paolo Gentiloni is the Prime Minister.

8. Federal Bank ties up with Hedge Equities

Federal Bank has entered into a strategic partnership with Hedge Equities Ltd for providing Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) services to NRIs.

• A formal agreement was executed in which Jose K Mathew (EVP & Head Retail Business, Federal Bank) and Alex Babu (MD, Hedge Equities Ltd) exchanged the MoU announcing the tie-up.
• Federal Bank is authorised by the RBI to issue permission letter to NRIs on behalf of the RBI to transact in secondary market.

9. Hyderabad Hunters claim maiden title in PBL 3

Hyderabad Hunters overcame a fighting Bengaluru Blasters 4-3 in a thrilling summit clash to claim their maiden title at the third Premier Badminton League (PBL) in Hyderabad.

• Mixed Doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Pia Bernadet put up a dominant display in the last match of the encounter to clinch the the title and the winners’ prize purse for the Hunters.