UNESCO has reported a working session on the management of Fuerte de Samaipata in the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
Specialists and consultants met to review progress in developing the site's Integrated Management Plan, which is still being drawn up.
Andres Zaratti, Vice-Minister of Culture and Folklore, took part.
The session was meant to improve coordination among the institutions responsible for the site.
It also sought a shared vision for its protection and conservation.
Fuerte de Samaipata is a World Heritage site, a pre-Hispanic rock sculpture and settlement.
UNESCO describes the exercise as strengthening institutional coordination for the site's management.
Site:Fuerte de Samaipata, a World Heritage siteCountry:the Plurinational State of Bolivia, in the Andes regionOfficial present:Andrés Zaratti, Vice-Minister of Culture and Folklore of the countryInstrument:the Integrated Management Plan for the site
Why it matters for exams: The durable fact is that Fuerte de Samaipata is a World Heritage site in Bolivia managed under an Integrated Management Plan.
The Samoa Victim Support Group has been chosen by UNESCO as laureate of its Madanjeet Singh Prize.
The award's full title is the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence.
The winner is a non-governmental organisation based in Samoa.
This is the fifteenth edition of the award.
It will be handed over at the 15th Award Ceremony, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
The ceremony is tied to the International Day for Tolerance.
The prize is one of UNESCO's standing honours and rewards work against intolerance and violence.
Laureate:Samoa Victim Support Group, a non-governmental organisationEdition:15thCeremony venue:UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the host cityLinked observance:the International Day for Tolerance, observed worldwide
Why it matters for exams: The durable fact is the name of the prize and its awarding body, UNESCO, with the laureate being the Samoa Victim Support Group.
Paraguay has lodged its instrument of ratification of the Buenos Aires Convention.
Formally it is the Regional Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees — covering higher education across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Paraguay is now the eighth state party.
Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Grenada, Peru, Uruguay and the Holy See are the others.
Colombia had ratified earlier in the same year.
The treaty builds recognition of higher education qualifications that is fair, transparent and free of discrimination.
Its purpose is to help students move between countries and to build trust between higher education systems.
New state party:Paraguay, the eighth to ratifyStates parties:8 in all, with Cuba and the Holy See among themRegion covered:the Latin America and the Caribbean regionPurpose:recognition of studies, diplomas and degrees
Why it matters for exams: The durable fact is the Buenos Aires Convention, a UNESCO regional convention on recognition of higher education qualifications, and that Paraguay is its eighth state party.
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said drones and drought are closing in on Sudan.
Its spokesperson James Elder said some drones now travel up to 1,500 kilometres before hitting their target.
Up to 15 power stations were hit in October alone, and two in three child casualties this year were caused by armed drones.
When a power station is struck, water pumps and water treatment stop, and farmers lose irrigation.
About 825,000 children under five are expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition this year.
The war is being fought between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), once allies.
UNICEF said its response in Sudan is only one-third funded.
Drone range reported:1,500 kilometresChildren under five facing severe acute malnutrition:825,000UNICEF response funded:one-third
Why it matters for exams: The two sides in Sudan's war (SAF and RSF) and UNICEF's role are frequent world-affairs questions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released an interactive mega-map on age-friendly environments.
It pools the findings of 1542 systematic reviews, plus three evidence and gap maps, that appeared from 2002 to 2025.
The map is organised around the eight WHO domains of age-friendly cities and communities, such as housing, transportation and social participation.
Most reviews deal with community support and health services.
Far less is known about transportation, civic participation and employment, and respect and social inclusion.
Only two reviews looked at age-friendly city and community programmes as a whole, and evidence from rural areas and low- and middle-income countries is thin.
Systematic reviews in the map:1542WHO domains of age-friendly cities:8Period covered:2002 to 2025
Why it matters for exams: WHO's eight domains of age-friendly cities and communities are a recurring healthy-ageing question.
A new World Health Organization (WHO) report, the Status of Tobacco Production and Trade in Africa, tracks where the world's tobacco leaf now comes from.
Between 2012 and 2024, global tobacco leaf production fell by 18.8%, but production in Africa grew by 8.61%.
WHO reads this as the industry turning more and more to African farmers to keep its supply going.
Uganda grew nearly 32,000 metric tons in 2024, about 5% of Africa's output.
That puts it among Africa's 5 largest producers, with Zimbabwe, Malawi, the United Republic of Tanzania and Mozambique.
Yet tobacco leaf exports are under 1% of GDP in all but two countries, and in Uganda tobacco used just 0.16% of farmland.
Uganda's Tobacco-Free Farms Initiative, run with FAO and the World Food Programme, helps farmers switch to other crops.
Change in global leaf output, 2012-2024:-18.8%Change in Africa's output, 2012-2024:+8.61%Uganda's output in 2024:nearly 32,000 metric tons
Why it matters for exams: The WHO report, Africa's top tobacco producers and the Tobacco-Free Farms Initiative are likely health and agriculture questions.
Uganda held its 32nd Health Sub-programme Joint Review Mission in Kampala.
The annual review asked how to build a health system that can support the country's aim of becoming a USD 500 billion economy.
Its theme linked a strong, responsive and sustainable health system to Uganda's 10-fold growth strategy.
Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi asked participants to celebrate gains but face the remaining problems honestly.
Uganda has improved child and maternal survival and life expectancy, but noncommunicable diseases are rising and global health funding is falling.
WHO urged three priorities: stronger primary health care, preparedness before crises, and more domestic money for health.
Edition of the review:32ndEconomy goal:USD 500 billionHealth Minister:Dr Chris Baryomunsi
Why it matters for exams: Uganda's USD 500 billion economy goal under its 10-fold growth strategy, its Health Minister and the push for Universal Health Coverage are useful world and health GK.
UN Women released a fact sheet called "Gender Equality in the Age of Climate Crisis" at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye.
It says roughly 1.5 billion women and girls, more than one in three worldwide, live in climate hotspots where hazards meet insecure jobs and deep inequality.
If the worst happens, by mid-century as many as 141 million more women and girls may be driven into extreme poverty by a warming world.
Data from 24 countries suggest a 1°C rise in average temperature could cost women 34 per cent more of their income than men.
About 326 million women and girls still have no electricity.
Women hold just 12 per cent of energy portfolios, and only four per cent of climate-focused Official Development Assistance puts gender equality first.
UN Women's Executive Director, Sima Bahous, asked leaders to give women equal rights, resources and a voice in climate decisions.
Women and girls in climate hotspots:1.5 billionExtra women and girls in extreme poverty (worst case):141 millionWomen without electricity:326 millionShare of energy portfolios held by women:12 per cent
Why it matters for exams: UN Women, its Executive Director Sima Bahous and the COP31 venue Antalya are standard international-organisation and environment questions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched Together for Science and Health, a global movement to build trust in science.
More than 240 organizations have joined it.
The launch was timed for World Science Day for Peace and Development, with 12 events across countries and regions.
It is linked to the Paris Peace Forum, one of France's main platforms for international diplomacy.
The launch is led jointly by French President Emmanuel Macron and the WHO chief, Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The movement has three priorities: bringing science and society closer, using more evidence in health policy, and improving how science is communicated.
Organizations in the movement:more than 240Launch events:12Priorities:3
Why it matters for exams: The WHO Director-General, World Science Day for Peace and Development and the Paris Peace Forum are standard general-knowledge questions.
The WHO Academy has published policy options to help countries treat care workers as part of the health workforce.
The document is called "Development, management and support of care workers" and aims at a single, integrated health and care workforce.
It responds to rising demand for care as populations age and more people live with disability or chronic illness.
Many care workers are women and girls, paid or unpaid, and health and care are often planned by separate ministries or budgets.
The options cover 20 thematic areas, arranged around a worker's career from entry to exit.
Two priorities stand out: better education and training, and better working conditions, including wages.
Dr Tomas Zapata, Director of the WHO Academy, said the options give countries a practical framework.
Thematic areas covered:20Director, WHO Academy:Dr Tomas Zapata
Why it matters for exams: The WHO Academy and the push to integrate care workers into health workforce planning are relevant to health-policy questions.
South Sudan has developed and validated its National Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Policy Guidelines.
The Ministry of Health prepared the document with partners and with support from the World Health Organization (WHO).
It replaces the 2009 National Immunization Policy and sets out how immunization services are planned, governed, financed and monitored.
The policy is linked to global goals such as the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), the Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage.
It also fits the National Immunization Strategy (2023–2027).
The country has added malaria and measles vaccines to routine immunization, but many zero-dose children, outbreaks and insecurity remain problems.
Policy replaced:2009 National Immunization PolicyNational Immunization Strategy:2023–2027
Why it matters for exams: EPI, the Immunization Agenda 2030 and South Sudan's place as the newest country are standard health and world GK.