DAILY GK 7-8 JULY 2026
1. UNCTAD’S
WORLD INVESTMENT REPORT 2026
·
The United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) released its latest report
titled “2026
World Investment Report: International Investment in a Turbulent Era”.
·
India
emerged as the world’s 11th largest recipient of
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), moving up two places compared to
2024, with total inflows surging by approximately 44% to USD
38.89 billion in 2025.
·
The
United States of America (USA) continued to be the world’s largest FDI destination with
inflows of USD 277 billion, followed by Singapore (USD
151 billion), Hong Kong ranked at 2nd and 3rd positions,
respectively.
·
India moved up 2 places to 18th among
the world’s top home economies for FDI
as its overall FDI outflow increased 47%
i.e. from USD 24.26 billion (in 2024) to USD 35.66 billion (in
2025).
·
It is
followed by Japan (2nd), China (3rd),
Luxembourg (4th) and Hong Kong, SAR of China (5th).
2. UN
GLOBAL DIALOGUE ON AI GOVERNANCE
·
Inaugural United
Nations (UN) Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Governance, held in Geneva, Switzerland.
·
It is a universal,
multi-stakeholder forum established under United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
following the Global Digital Compact adopted under the Pact of the Future in
September 2024.
·
The Dialogue was co-chaired by Paul
Kagame, President of Rwanda and Marc Benioff,
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Salesforce, with Doreen
Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), serving as Vice-Chair.
·
The inaugural session received the first
annual report of the IISPA on AI capabilities,
opportunities, and risks.
3. PM
NARENDRA MODI’S VISIT TO INDONESIA
·
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi undertook a 3-day state visit to Indonesia at the invitation
of Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia.
·
PM
Modi became the 1st Indian PM to address
the Indonesian Parliament (Dewan
Perwakilan Rakyat, DPR) in Jakarta, Indonesia where he unveiled an
ambitious “Ganga-Mahakam Vision”, designed to foster
long-term strategic partnership between the two countries.
·
He also
visited the Prambanan Temple, located on the island
of Java in Yogyakarta, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.
·
PM Modi was conferred with “Bintang
Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia” also known as
the Medal of Honour, the highest civilian honour of Indonesia.
·
PM Modi visit to Indonesia resulted in 20 key
outcomes, including 14 Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) and agreements across defence,
space, healthcare, agriculture, technology and critical minerals, along with 6
key announcements covering strategic, economic, technological and
cultural cooperation.
4. SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2026
·
The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN) released
the 11th Edition of the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2026.
·
India secured
its highest-ever rank of 94th among 167
countries with a score of 68.3 out of 100, improving from 99th
position in 2025.
·
Finland has secured the first place with a score of 87.4, followed by Sweden with 86.3 and Denmark with 85.7.
·
India
faces challenges in 13 of 17 SDGs, especially Zero Hunger, Health,
Gender Equality, Sustainable Cities, Climate Action, and Governance.
·
India
has shown progress in SDG 7 (electricity access) and SDG 9 (digital
connectivity).
5. GCS’S
GLOBAL PASSPORT INDEX 2026
·
The residency
and citizenship advisory firm Global Citizen Solutions (GCS) released
the 5th annual edition of the Global Passport Index (GPI).
·
India
has been ranked at 125th spot among 197 countries, dropping one place
(124th) from its overall ranking compared to 2025.
·
Sweden topped
the rankings as the
world’s strongest passport with an
overall score of 96.05.
·
It is followed by Switzerland, Finland, Germany
and the Netherlands, securing 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th positions,
respectively.
6. AAPI
HUMANITARIAN AWARD
·
Reliance Foundation Founder and
Chairperson Nita Ambani was conferred the American Association of Physicians of
Indian Origin (AAPI) Humanitarian Award and
the Key to the City of Tampa, in recognition of her
philanthropic contributions to healthcare, education, sports, culture, and
community development.
·
Conferred
by AAPI, it is the organisation’s
highest honour recognizing exceptional contributions to public welfare and
humanitarian service.
7. UNESCO
ASIA-PACIFIC HERITAGE AWARD
·
17th-century Jestha Varna
Mahavihar, a historic Buddhist monastery in Lalitpur,
Nepal received the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Asia-Pacific Heritage Award 2025 for
its outstanding conservation and restoration following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake
damage.
·
Also known as Jyaba Bahi or
Chakrabahil, it is a historic
site located just 300 meters from the UNESCO-listed Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur.
