XUNICEF News and Views

I just discovered that a new cruise ship for the rivers in Europe will be launched in 2027.

ACRONYMS+ GALORE   As with almost anything related to UNICEF, an essential is an understanding of the acronyms (and other terms) used.  Thus, to be able to understand what follows, the reader will need to know: BBC = British Broadcasting Company nearest equivalent to ‘Truth Social’ DB5 = David Brown 5, a model of the elegant Aston Martin stable of sports cars DVLA = Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, a branch of British bureaucracy HMRC = His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, another branch of British bureaucracy, dealing with the UK’s (bleep !) tax man Ed Sheeran = Well known British singer, song-writer and musician ***** Today, 4th August, 2026, I read on the BBC News website, that Ed Sheeran has been accused by DVLA of failing to insure his Aston Martin DB5 which has been off-road since 2021.  All this time, it was held in the restoration workshop as part of the work was to convert it to an electric vehicle, so presumably it didn’t even...

A long journey Universal sharing of information and messages evolved with the innovation of woodblock print in China during the Tang dynasty in the 6th century AD to Gutenberg’s mechanical printing press in 1440.

A preliminary analysis by Reform Works reveals that a historic 27% decline in core voluntary funding from overseas development assistance (ODA) triggered severe downsizing across the UN system in 2025. 

This article continues the Little History series I am updating for UNICEF’s 80th anniversary and launches a three-part look into the events and personalities that led to UNICEF’s founding.

Please read the posts below on increases in our health insurance premiums, share widely, and take the suggested action of sending emails to the heads of HLIS and FAFICS:

My father was born in Spain in 1910. He came from a large family of thirteen children.

This week's top ten posts  In case you missed it - here are the top 10 posts viewed the past week

Recent Reader Comments Continously updated

Title: "For Your Eyes Only": Israel’s Mole Inside the United NationsAuthor: Murtaza Hussain Publication: Drop Site News Date: August 4, 2026

The Promise of Freedom in the Platform Economy Caught between the demand for instant services and precarious working conditions, millions of Latin Americans sustain a socioeconomic model without basic protections. Manuel Manrique Castro Aug 05, 2026

We must never become comfortably numb!

Title: The Future of Work in 9 Charts Author: Diana Elliott Publication: Population Reference Bureau (PRB) Date: July 20, 2026

UN system staffing dropped 9% in 2025 (130,948 to 120,176), but the cuts are strategically blind.

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.

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 - 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...

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

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

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

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 (Pavilion at StoneHaven Le Manoir, Quebec) Fouad Kronfol

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.”

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

   Disco Bay in Greenland 

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?”.

 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.

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

 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.

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

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

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.

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),

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

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 ?

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