Current Affairs - November 7, 2017 Current Affairs

Recently, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has released a global investigation 'The Paradise Papers' that reveals the offshore interests and activities of some of the world's most powerful people and companies, including information about at least 31,000 persons or parties. India ranked 19th out of the 180 countries represented in the data in terms of the number of names.

India has signed $119 million of financial agreement with the World Bank (WB) for Odisha Higher Education Programme for Excellence and Equity (OHEPEE) project. The purpose of the project is to improve the quality of 'students' equitable access to selected institutions and enhance governance of the higher education system in Odisha. The closing date for the project is 30th November, 2022.

China successfully launched two navigation satellites, named BeiDou-3 satellites, aimed to build its own global positioning network with more than 30 satellites. The BeiDou-3 satellites were launched with Long March-3B carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan, China.

The longest bridge in the country got the first signpost with its name on Sunday, six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modichristened it after the late singer Bhupen Hazarika in Assam. The 9.15-km bridge across the Brahmaputra will connect Dhola with Sadiya in upper Assam.

The Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS) is located in South Tripura District of Tripura and covers an area of about 163.08 square kilometres.

China adopted a new law enforcing a three-year punishment for disrespecting the national anthem, which would be enforced in the specially administered provinces of Hong Kong and Macau.

The Union Power Ministry has constituted a 4-member committee headed by PD Siwal to investigate into the causes of the recent accident that occurred on 1st November 2017 at NTPC's Unchahar Thermal Power Plant in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district.

Binoy Kumar, a 1983-batch IAS officer of the Telangana cadre, has been appointed the new Special Secretary in commerce ministry. He is the Director General of Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D), the procurement arm of the central government that closed on October 31.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has been designated as the new Finance Secretary of India. Adhia is a 1981 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre. The post was vacant after former Finance and Expenditure Secretary Ashok Lavasa retired on October 31, 2017.

A theme based India-Nepal Folk Crafts Festival has started at Kathmandu, Nepal on November 7, 2017. The 5-day festival is organised by South Asia Foundation (SAF) in association with Council of Handicrafts Development Corporations (COHANDS), Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi and BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation.

Nepal inaugurated a bridge on the Kaligandaki River at Jomsom area in Mustang district near China border. This bridge has been built with financial assistance of 44.5 million Nepali rupees provided by India. The financial assistance was provided as a part of India-Nepal Economic Cooperation (INEC) programme.