3 November 2026
The Ebola outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2026 has grown into the largest the country has seen.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports 10,274 confirmed cases and 4,992 deaths in the Congo in figures up to 28 October, with transmission still going on in the community.
Eight provinces are affected, among them Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, one of the species of the Ebola virus, and the death rate is above half of those infected.
Kenya recorded nine confirmed cases and two deaths, its first, and a case was reported in Nigeria in October.
Uganda's outbreak has ended, and four cases linked to the Congo have been treated in the European Union and European Economic Area.
There is no approved vaccine or specific medicine for the Bundibugyo species; the Ervebo vaccine works against the Zaire species and trials have begun with it.
Confirmed cases in the Congo:
10,274
Deaths in the Congo:
4,992
Provinces affected:
8
Why it matters for exams: This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific medicine, while the Ervebo vaccine works against the Zaire species.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ECDC European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control — The European Union's agency for disease surveillance, based at Stockholm.
3 November 2026
UNESCO, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the Fiji Media Association held a dialogue at Suva to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
The day is observed every year on 2 November, and the UN General Assembly proclaimed it in 2013.
The theme set for 2026 is Threats evolve. Impunity endures.
Speakers dealt with the risks Pacific journalists face, including online harassment and threats aimed at women reporters.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime linked the work of the press to transparency and to the Teieniwa Vision, the Pacific declaration against corruption.
The head of the Fiji Media Association asked for practical steps rather than general discussion, and editors spoke of mentoring between experienced and younger journalists.
Participants called for legal, digital and psychological protection for reporters and for policies that protect freedom of expression and access to information.
Day observed on:
2 November
Proclaimed by:
UN General Assembly, 2013
Venue of the dialogue:
Suva, Fiji
Why it matters for exams: The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is observed on 2 November, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2013, with Threats evolve. Impunity endures. as the 2026 theme.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime — The UN office for drugs, crime and corruption, based at Vienna.
1 November 2026
The 2026 Breach-Valdez Award for Journalism and Human Rights has gone to the Mexican reporter Zorayda Gallegos.
Her report, Sexual violence in the barracks: an X-ray of impunity, followed more than 520 women who had complained of sexual offences in Mexico's armed forces over twelve years.
Only three per cent of those cases ended in a conviction.
The report describes the problem as structural, reaching into military schools and hospitals, and says the steep chain of command leaves women soldiers exposed to their superiors.
It also finds that women are often moved into nursing and care work although they are qualified for higher posts.
Gallegos says more women in senior military, judicial and prosecution posts would help break the pattern.
UNESCO counts 154 journalists murdered in Mexico over the past twenty years and eight so far in 2026, and ranks the country among the most dangerous in the world for the press.
Women tracked in the report:
more than 520, over 12 years
Cases ending in conviction:
3 per cent
Journalists murdered in Mexico in 20 years:
154, as counted by UNESCO
Why it matters for exams: The Breach-Valdez Award for Journalism and Human Rights, named after two murdered Mexican journalists, went in 2026 to Zorayda Gallegos.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Breach-Valdez Award Breach-Valdez Award for Journalism and Human Rights — A Mexican prize named after journalists Miroslava Breach and Javier Valdez.
3 November 2026
The World Meteorological Organization and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation have brought out a joint report called Weather and Climate Services for Ski Resorts.
It is meant for the winter sports and tourism business, which is finding snow less reliable as temperatures rise.
The report sets out observed and expected changes in weather, climate, snow and ice, the services that exist to help decisions, and how that information can be used in day-to-day running, seasonal planning and long-term investment.
A shorter practical guide tells resort managers which kind of information is useful and where to get it.
An internal calculation by the federation shows that weather forced the cancellation of 25 Alpine Ski World Cup races in the 2025-26 season.
WMO experts presented the report together with seasonal predictions for the coming winter at a federation webinar, as the 2026-27 World Cup season opened at Solden in Austria.
Races cancelled for weather in 2025/2026:
25 Alpine Ski World Cup races
Season opener:
Solden, Austria
Why it matters for exams: Weather and Climate Services for Ski Resorts is a joint report of the World Meteorological Organization and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, the governing body of competitive skiing.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
WMO World Meteorological Organization — The UN agency for weather, climate and water, based at Geneva.
FIS International Ski and Snowboard Federation — The world governing body for skiing and snowboarding competitions.
3 November 2026
The office of the International Labour Organization for Turkiye has convened a high-level workshop at Ankara titled Just Transition in Turkiye: Perspectives, Priorities and Action.
Turkiye will host the thirty-first UN climate change conference at Antalya, and the workshop was held before it.
Just transition means moving to a low-carbon economy while protecting decent work, social justice and inclusive growth.
Three trade union confederations and the employers' confederation took part, along with the UN Resident Coordinator, the European Union delegation, academics and civil society.
The workshop was part of an EU-funded project on the capacities of social partners and civil society in fundamental principles and rights at work.
Turkiye's Ministry of Labour and Social Security is drawing up a National Just Transition Strategy, which was identified as the main vehicle for these priorities.
Union leaders said workers should not bear the cost of the green shift, and the employers' side asked for finance and technical support for firms, including those in supply chains.
Workshop venue:
Ankara
National strategy under preparation:
National Just Transition Strategy
Why it matters for exams: Turkiye is the host of COP31 of the UNFCCC at Antalya, and its Ministry of Labour and Social Security is preparing a National Just Transition Strategy with ILO support.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Just transition Just transition — Shifting to a low-carbon economy in a way that protects workers' jobs and rights.
Tripartite Tripartite — Involving government, employers and workers together, the ILO's way of working.
1 November 2026
Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the men's race at the New York City Marathon on Sunday in his first ever marathon. He clocked 2:06:01 and finished 13 seconds clear of Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy, who ran 2:06:14. Kamohelo Mofolo of Lesotho took third in a personal best of 2:06:26. In the women's race Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won in 2:24:36, her second New York title after 2024. Jessica McClain of the United States was second in 2:24:42 and the defending champion Hellen Obiri of Kenya third in 2:24:43. The race is a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, and this edition marked the 50th anniversary of its route through the city's five boroughs.
Men's winner:
Andreas Almgren (Sweden), 2:06:01
Women's winner:
Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya), 2:24:36
Men's runner-up:
Yemaneberhan Crippa (Italy), 2:06:14
Women's runner-up:
Jessica McClain (United States), 2:24:42
Race status:
World Athletics Platinum Label road race
Why it matters for exams: Andreas Almgren of Sweden and Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya are the New York City Marathon champions, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race run through New York City's five boroughs.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Platinum Label World Athletics Platinum Label — The top grade World Athletics gives to a road race.
Borough Borough — An administrative division of New York City; the city has five.
3 November 2026
UNESCO observed the International Day for Biosphere Reserves, which falls on 3 November each year. The UNESCO General Conference created the Day at its 41st session in 2021, through 41 C/Resolution 37. Biosphere reserves are places where conservation is combined with the lives and livelihoods of the people living there, and they are listed in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. UNESCO says more than 260 million people live in biosphere reserves around the world. Together these sites protect more than 7 million square kilometres, an area roughly the size of Australia. The World Network now has 797 biosphere reserves spread across 145 countries. The observance is tied to UNESCO's MAB work, including its youth roadmap.
Date of the Day:
3 November
Proclaimed by:
UNESCO General Conference, 41st session, 2021 (41 C/Resolution 37)
People living in biosphere reserves:
More than 260 million
Area protected:
More than 7 million km2
World Network:
797 biosphere reserves in 145 countries
Why it matters for exams: The International Day for Biosphere Reserves falls on 3 November and was proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference in 2021; the World Network of Biosphere Reserves now holds 797 sites in 145 countries.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — The UN agency that designates biosphere reserves.
World Network of Biosphere Reserves World Network of Biosphere Reserves — UNESCO's list of designated biosphere reserves.
2 November 2026
The International Labour Organization has set out how it is widening work on jobs and skills for people returning to Syria. Around four million people have returned to their communities there, roughly half from neighbouring countries and half from displacement inside Syria. The ILO works through the Partnership for improving prospects for forcibly displaced persons and host communities, known as PROSPECTS, which is funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and through the DAR programme supported by the European Union. Its Start and Improve Your Business programme aims to reach 3,000 entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners across the country. In Harran al-Awamid, home to an estimated 23,000 returnees, the ILO is working with the municipality and a local firm on a solar energy training centre. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour is the national partner. Maha Kattaa, ILO Regional Chief Technical Advisor, said large numbers of returnees need job opportunities in Syria.
Returnees in Syria:
Around four million
PROSPECTS donor:
Kingdom of the Netherlands
DAR programme donor:
European Union
Start and Improve Your Business target:
3,000 entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners
National partner:
Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour
Why it matters for exams: PROSPECTS stands for the Partnership for improving prospects for forcibly displaced persons and host communities, funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the ILO's enterprise training package is Start and Improve Your Business.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ILO International Labour Organization — The United Nations agency for labour standards and decent work.
PROSPECTS Partnership for improving prospects for forcibly displaced persons and host communities — A partnership funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands for displaced people and the communities hosting them.
SIYB Start and Improve Your Business — The ILO's training package for small business owners.
3 November 2026
Pacific Island countries and territories are getting ready for a regional tsunami exercise called PacWAVE26.
It is set for the night of 4-5 November 2026: the drill opens at 23:00 UTC and closes four hours later, at 03:00 UTC.
The exercise is being prepared by the working group on the Pacific islands of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, with help from its task team on information sharing.
The scenarios chosen are tsunamis set off by volcanic activity in the south-west Pacific, a cause that is harder to detect than an undersea earthquake.
National tsunami warning centres, national disaster management offices, weather and geohazard agencies and emergency services are the main participants.
The drill tests how quickly information passes between a warning centre and a disaster office, and how national procedures hold up.
The task team is also examining messaging apps, high-frequency radio and email lists as backup channels when ordinary links fail.
Two preparatory sessions were held in late October and early November.
Exercise window:
23:00 UTC 4 November to 03:00 UTC 5 November 2026
Scenario:
Volcanic-source tsunamis in the south-west Pacific
Why it matters for exams: PacWAVE26 is the Pacific tsunami exercise run by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, and this edition uses volcanic-source tsunami scenarios.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IOC Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission — The UNESCO body that co-ordinates ocean science and tsunami warning systems.
NTWC National Tsunami Warning Centre — The national office that issues tsunami warnings within a country.
3 November 2026
The International Labour Organization has published a report titled Women in Business and Management: Scaling Success.
It draws on a global enterprise survey of 11,957 firms in 99 countries carried out in 2025, compared with similar surveys of 2013 and 2018.
In 2013 just 13.1 per cent of firms had a woman chairing the board; by 2025 that stood at 30.9 per cent. Firms with a woman chief executive moved from 23.4 per cent to 28.2 per cent.
Women hold 30 per cent of managerial posts worldwide.
Balance improved at senior levels but fell at junior and middle levels, which weakens the pipeline to the top.
Nearly seven in ten firms said gender equality and diversity work improved business results, up by 11.1 percentage points from 2018.
Yet 74.8 per cent of firms had a gender equality policy while far fewer ran one: in 2018 the figure was 37.4 per cent, and by 2025 only 26.5 per cent.
The report asks for voluntary targets, gender measurement and attention to unequal care work at home.
Enterprises surveyed:
11,957 in 99 countries
Enterprises with a woman board chair:
30.9 per cent, up from 13.1 per cent
Women in managerial posts:
30 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Women in Business and Management: Scaling Success is an International Labour Organization report based on a survey of 11,957 enterprises in 99 countries.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
ILO International Labour Organization — The UN agency for labour standards, set up in 1919 and based at Geneva.