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Football World Cup 2026: Some Final Thoughts, by Fouad Kronfol

I am not a football aficionado, but like most young boys in the MidEast I played football as my first sport but graduated to other athletic events as I grew up, culminating in tennis in my retirement years.
Recent posts

FAFICS Elects New Leadership at its 56th Council Session, by Souleymane Diabate

The 56th Session of the Council of the Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants (FAFICS) was held in Vienna, Austria, from 20 to 24 July 2026.

Tour a City at Eye Level: Paddleboarding the Danube by Rob Carr

We recently did some housesitting for a UNICEF colleague in Budapest (a retiree bonus is knowing people around the world to visit and support if needed). As many of you know, Budapest is the UNICEF hub for a number of functions that serve all offices and staff in all locations. 

Caribbean Trees (by Horst Cerni)

Driving these days along the roads of St.Croix, one can’t help but marvel at the variety of trees along the road. There are massive Mahogany trees and then flaming red Flamboyants, We are fortunate to have some on our property, which make our garden look very colorful between April and August. We have red and orange Flamboyants, yellow Ginger Thomas (the national flower of the Virgin Islands), red Bougainvilla and a white flower tree. And we have an African Tulip tree, which had planted itself and now is the tallest tree in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, due to a severe drought, many trees are losing their leaves and the flowers are not as vibrant as usual.

This week's top ten posts

This week's top ten posts - Joachim Theis In case you missed it - here are the top 10 posts viewed the past week. Enjoy! A few more ... TREES! by Myra Rudin Posted by XUNICEF News and Views 134  The Bottom Billion: Review by Thomas Ekvall Posted by XUNICEF News and Views 51  What to do la #6 - Democracy? by Tim Sutton Posted by XUNICEF News and Views 50  My favourite bench: Stonehaven Manor by Fouad Kronfol Posted by XUNICEF News and Views 49  Tackling dementia, shared by Niloufar Pourzand Posted by XUNICEF News and Views 46  Football World Cup 2026: Some Final Thoughts, by Fouad Kronfol Posted by XUNICEF News and Views 46  Trump nominating Gianni Infantino for UN Secretary-General? (shared by Kul Gautam) Posted by XUNICEF News and Views 46  A New Favourite Park Bench - from Detlef Palm Posted by XUNICEF News and Views 45  Good-bye World Cup from Horst Cerni Posted by XUNICEF News and Views 43  UNICEF on Birth Registration: shared by Niloufar Posted by XUNICEF News and Vie...

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Recent Reader Comments Continously updated

More Trees by Fouad Kronfol

  With reference to Myra’s article here is an unusual tree from the estate of Stonehaven Manor in Ste Adele Quebec.

The best things I read, listened to, and watched this year by Bill Gates (shared by Niloufar Pourzand)

Title: Bill Gates' Post Author: Bill Gates Publication: LinkedIn Date: 17 July 2026

Eighty years strong: the WHO Constitution

Dr Thomas Parran, Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service, and Dr Martha M. Eliot, Associate Director of the Children’s Bureau of the Department of Labor, during the 1946 International Health Conference in New York, where the WHO Constitution was finalized and signed. Credit: © WHO. Title: 80 years strong: the WHO Constitution Author: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Publication: World Health Organization Date: 24 July 2026

Four types of thinker, shared by Fouad Kronfol

Illustration by Michael Parkin Title: Four types of thinker have been identified. Which one are you? Author: Ian Sample Publication: The Guardian Date: 25 July 2026

Photos from Stonehaven Manor by Fouad Kronfol

Photos from Stonehaven Manor (Pavilion at StoneHaven Le Manoir, Quebec) Fouad Kronfol

The Return of Fujimorismo in Peru, by Manuel Manrique Castro

The Return of Fujimorismo Between memories of the past and the uncertainties of the future Manuel Manrique Castro 29 July 2026

UNICEF on Birth Registration: shared by Niloufar

Title: UNICEF: 59 Months to Achieve SDG 16.9 on Child Identity Author: Bhaskar Mishra Publication: LinkedIn Date: 30 January 2026

Solidarity with Gaza, shared by Robert Cohen

One year ago, a group of staff members came together and decided they could no longer remain passive in the face of Israel’s crimes in Gaza. Few if any events in the history of the United Nations have been so repugnant to the spirit and letter of the Charter: a Member State waging a campaign of genocide, with total impunity, while much of the rest of the international community continues providing the weapons, financing and political cover that make this possible.

Do Trees Communicate ? by Horst Cerni

Title: Do Trees Talk to Each Other? Author: Richard Grant Publication: Smithsonian Date: February 20, 2018

UN Report on Mothers - shared by Niloufar

Title: Landmark UN report highlights violence against mothers Author: Make Mothers Matter Publication: Make Mothers Matter Date: 04.07.26

Trump nominating Gianni Infantino for UN Secretary-General? (shared by Kul Gautam)

AFP Photo Title: Trump tips Infantino for UN chiefdom after FIFA term: Reports Author: Daily Sabah with Agencies Publication: Daily Sabah Date: Jul 22, 2026 Click here for the article Summary:  The article is based on a New York Post report stating that Donald Trump wants FIFA president Gianni Infantino to become the next UN secretary-general after his FIFA term ends. It says Trump sees Infantino as widely respected, credits his World Cup leadership, and views him as a strong candidate despite the political hurdles involved in the UN selection process. The piece also notes that neither the White House nor FIFA had publicly commented on the report. Quotes:  “At the United Nations, you have to deal with 193 member states. In FIFA, there are over 200 members. Gianni's great record shows he knows how to manage,” “It also remains unclear whether Infantino has any interest in pursuing the position.”

My favourite bench: Stonehaven Manor by Fouad Kronfol

At the Stonehaven manor we usually sat on this bench on a small balcony overlooking the lac du Sable in Ste. Agathe des Monts on one side and a lovely garden on the other. We were drawn to it because of its original shape and it could easily take both of us. 

What to do la #6 - Democracy? by Tim Sutton

What to do la is an occasional musing on what one former staff member has and hasn’t done since leaving UNICEF. This week – Democracy?

A New Favourite Park Bench - from Detlef Palm

   Disco Bay in Greenland 

Good-bye World Cup from Horst Cerni

For those football fans among us, especially those whose national teams participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there is a certain void in our daily routines, and one can’t help but ask “any game this afternoon?”.

A surprising find in the Quebec mountains - by Fouad Kronfel

 The pool , jacuzzi and spa.  We spent a few days relaxing at the Stonehaven Manor in the village of Ste. Agathe des Monts in thé Laurentian mountains.

A few more ... TREES! by Myra Rudin

I was pleased to read recently about Neena Gupta’s fascination with trees and relevant photos.

Mostar genocide museum shared by Richard Bridle

 Former colleagues: My wife's cousin, along with his wife, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and Caribbean, was recently on vacation in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina. He sent us the attached notice.

The age of techno-militarism by Manuel Manrique Castro

Manuel Manrique Castro’s new article explores how AI-driven "techno-militarism" is replacing traditional peace structures and draining resources from vital social investments.

Tackling dementia, shared by Niloufar Pourzand

Credits: Cathy Greenblat Title: New WHO guidelines: up to 45% of dementia risk could be prevented or delayed Author: World Health Organization (WHO) Publication: WHO News release Date: 15 July 2026

Favorite Park Bench: Wales by Rob Carr

These past 2 weeks my wife and I visited Scotland and Wales for the first time. My watchful eye caught many new favorite park benches.

Two Goodwill Ambassadors will face each other at the World Cup Final - by Horst Max Cerni

The two finalists at the 2026 FIFA World Cup know each other for almost 19 years (- as per Kul’s BBC article - published on the Blog 17/7/26),

The Bottom Billion: Review by Thomas Ekvall

Twenty Years Later: Has Paul Collier’s Most Uncomfortable Finding Been Conveniently Forgotten?

People do not leave jobs for small reasons. Shared by Fouad Kronfol

Doesnt this resonate with the exchanges on our XUNICEF Blog regarding leadership and various other concerns  that were expressed in the different comments about UNICEF and other UN development agencies ?

UNICEF connection of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal - from BBC Sport - shared by Kul Gautam

A fascinating account of how FIFA World Cup 2026's top football stars Messi and Yamal first connected thanks to a UNICEF-linked lottery!

A Little History #2 - An Actress Takes Maurice Fishing at Lake Success By Tom McDermott

This is the second in the series of rewritten articles I am refreshing in the lead up to UNICEF@80. If the title misled you into expecting some juicy gossip about Maurice Pate and an actress, I am sorry to disappoint you. Instead, the article simply introduces one more key figure who played a significant role in the early days of UNICEF. The earlier version of this article appeared in News & Views on April 29, 2021. As always, I will appreciate any additions, corrections, or comments from readers. Tom An Actress Takes Maurice Fishing at Lake Success Tom McDermott Helenka Few people in UNICEF or XUNICEF today would recognize (or even pronounce) the name Helenka Adamowska Pantaleoni. Yet throughout UNICEF's turbulent early years, Helenka played crucial roles in shaping the organization's development and in managing often-rocky relations with the U.S. government, which remained skeptical of proposals for creation of a UN agency for children. While Helenka...

Some Thoughts about Football And the World Cup Fans - by Horst Cerni

I have been following the FIFA World Cup matches for five weeks, and can’t help but be amazed

The world’s most, and least, livable cities in 2026 - shared by Fouad Kronfol

Some useful information for retiring UNICEF staff. Wonder if Personnel, or DHR or DPC, convey something like that in their separation letters?