Nov. 2, 2026 — Eighty-six percent of killings of journalists in 2024–2025 went unpunished, up one percentage point from the previous two years and the first rise in more than a decade, UNESCO said in a report for the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. A confirmed 189 journalists and media workers were killed in the two years, 20% more than in the previous period and the most since 2014–2015; 127 of them were killed in conflict zones. The Arab States region had the most verified cases, 97, the report said, according to UN News.
Nov. 2, 2026 — Talks on Western Sahara continue through the UN envoy, Staffan de Mistura. This year he and the United States co-facilitated the first direct talks in seven years among Morocco, the Frente POLISARIO, Algeria and Mauritania, the Secretary-General reported. After the Council vote, Morocco's royal palace called the mission's end a "significant development," and the Frente POLISARIO said it was concerned at the deadlock, Al Jazeera reported. Algeria's foreign ministry expressed "deep regret," the outlet reported.
Nov. 2, 2026 — UN agencies provide aid to Sahrawi refugees in five camps near Tindouf, Algeria, where about 80% of people are food-insecure, the World Food Programme reported, according to the Secretary-General's report. The 2026 appeal sought $89.6 million and had received 17% by June 30. The camps' population is disputed: UNHCR's January 2024 factsheet gives 173,600 refugees, and Algeria told the Security Council on Oct. 30 that it hosts "hundreds of thousands." Morocco told the Council the camps are the only ones where the host "leaves its authority to a separatist group."
Nov. 2, 2026 — East of the berm in Western Sahara, 24 of 68 known minefields and 31 of 543 recorded cluster-strike areas remained to be cleared as of Aug. 15, 2026, according to UN Mine Action Service figures in the Secretary-General's report. Since 2008, the mission's mine action has released more than 84 million square meters of land and destroyed 694 landmines and 22,183 other explosive items, and more than 1,000 mine victims have been recorded east of the berm, the mission says. West of the berm, the Royal Moroccan Army reported its own clearance to the mission.
Nov. 2, 2026 — MINURSO monitored a ceasefire between Morocco and the Frente POLISARIO that took effect Sept. 6, 1991. On Nov. 14, 2020, the Frente POLISARIO declared an end to its commitment to the ceasefire, and low-intensity hostilities followed, according to UN reports. In the year to Aug. 31, 2026, the mission investigated four alleged strikes east of the berm; three damaged vehicles without casualties, the Secretary-General reported. That monitoring has now ended. Secretary-General António Guterres said he is concerned about the risk of escalation of hostilities and called for maximum restraint.
Nov. 2, 2026 — When its mandate expired Oct. 31, the UN mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO, had its headquarters in Laayoune and nine team sites, according to the mission's own listing: four west of the berm, at Smara, Mahbas, Oum Dreyga and Awsard, and five east of it, at Bir Lahlou, Tifariti, Mehaires, Mijek and Agwanit. A liaison office in Tindouf, Algeria, dealt with the Frente POLISARIO and Algeria. The berm is an earthen wall about 2,700 kilometers long, with the Royal Moroccan Army west of it and the Frente POLISARIO east of it, the UN says.
Nov. 2, 2026 — This updates our Oct. 31 report. The mandate of the UN mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO, expired at midnight Saturday, Oct. 31, and the mission began winding down on Sunday, Nov. 1, UN News reported. Secretary-General António Guterres said the UN "stands ready" to keep supporting efforts toward a peaceful resolution, through his personal envoy. When its mandate ended, the mission had about 200 civilian staff and military personnel, a headquarters in Laayoune, nine team sites on both sides of the berm and a liaison office in Tindouf.
Nov. 2, 2026 — Tuesday, Nov. 3, is the final day to vote in the November general election, the County said. All 221 vote centers and all official ballot drop boxes in San Diego County are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, and anyone in line at 8 p.m. may vote. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3.