current affairs 22 July 2022

India is ranked 87 in the Henley Passport Index for 2022.

• Henley Passport Index has recently released the list of most powerful passports in the world for the year 2022.
• Three Asian countries Japan, Singapore and South Korea took the top three spots in the list, leaving behind the pre-pandemic rankings dominated by European countries.
• The Japanese passport provides hassle-free entry to 193 countries, while Singapore and South Korea both provide entry to 192 countries.
• India’s neighbouring country Pakistan reportedly has the 4th worst passport in the world, according to Henley Index.
• Among other countries from Asia, India, along with Mauritius and Tajikistan, has been ranked 87th, with its passport providing access to 60 countries.

Los Angeles, United States assigned to host the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

• The 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, United States.
• The opening ceremony for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will take place on July 14, 2028, and continue till July 30. However, Los Angeles has previously hosted the Olympics in 1984 and 1932.
• The LA28 Games will feature more than 3,000 hours of live sport across 800 events in more than 40 sports.
• It must be noted that the 2024 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Paris, France.

Country's 1st blackbuck survey on Godavari Islands launched by Andhra Pradesh State Wildlife Department.

• The Andhra Pradesh State Wildlife Department has kick-started the first-ever survey of blackbucks along a stretch of islands in the Godavari between Dowleswaram and Yanam with the goal of drawing up a conservation plan to protect the endangered species.
• The survey was mooted in the wake of scores of blackbucks getting stranded on the islands that have been hit by the Godavari.
• Forest Range Officer (Wildlife-Kakinada) S.S.R. Vara Prasad and Wildlife Researcher (A.P. Forest Department) D. Mahesh Babu on Monday kick-started the field survey, braving perilous floodwaters in the Godavari and its branches. They covered the islands by boat.

Former Supreme Court Justice Vineet Saran appointed Ethics Officer and Ombudsman of BCCI.

• Former Supreme Court judge Vineet Saran has taken over as the BCCI’s ethics officer and ombudsman.
• Saran has succeeded Justice (Retd) D. K. Jain, whose term ended in June last year.
• Saran has been a former Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court. He has also served as a judge in the Karnataka and Allahabad High Courts.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port becomes India's 1st 100% proprietary major port operated on PPP model.

• Jawaharlal Nehru Port has become the first 100 per cent Landlord Major Port of India having all berths being operated on PPP model.
• JNP is one of the leading container ports of the country and is ranked 26th among the top 100 global ports (as per Lloyds List Top 100 Ports 2021 Report).
• Currently, five container terminals are operated at JNP, of which only one is port owned.