Current affairs 19 November 2024

Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve: India’s 56th Tiger Reserve.

• Union Minister for Environment Bhupender Yadav announced that the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh is the 56th Tiger reserve in the country.
• Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve is spread over 2,829 sq km.
• The largest tiger reserve in the country is Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger in Andhra Pradesh and the second-largest is Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam.

K. Sanjay Murthy Appointed as New Comptroller and Auditor General.

• President Murmu appointed K. Sanjay Murthy, a 1989 batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, as the next CAG, succeeding Girish Chandra Murmu, whose term concludes on November 20, 2024.
• Murthy, currently serving as Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, was due to finish his tenure on December 31, 2024.
• This appointment was made under Article 148(1) of the Constitution.

North Korea's "Noise Bombing" Torments South Korean Border Villagers.

• North Korea is using eerie sounds, dubbed noise bombing, to disrupt life near South Korea's border, with relentless noises like metallic crashes and ghostly screams.
• Since July, these sounds have replaced propaganda broadcasts, causing insomnia and stress among villagers in Dangsan.

India secures 28 medals at World Pickleball Championship.

• India secured 28 medals, including 11 golds, dominating the World Pickleball Championship hosted by the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA).
• Sonu Vishwakarma (19+ singles) won gold, defeating Spain's Mauro Garcia (21-14).
• Mixed Doubles: India’s Isha Lakhani and Vishal Jadhav (35+) secured gold.
• Veterans: Nitten Kirrtane defeated Akhil Mathur (50+ men’s singles) to claim gold

West Bengal Wins 4th National Finswimming Championship 2024.

• West Bengal dominated the 4th National Finswimming Championship, securing the team championship with 151 medals: 67 gold, 43 silver, and 41 bronze.
• Karnataka finished as runners-up with 50 medals, including 17 gold, 18 silver, and 15 bronze.
• Uttarakhand secured third place with 21 medals, while Haryana also had 21 medals but was placed fourth due to fewer gold medals.