XUNICEF News and Views

During the heat of last summer, readers may remember “Think Snow!” presenting a collage of the snowy Alps. Now as many of us are enduring actual snow and freezing temperatures, I thought a look towards spring with colorful flowers might be welcomed! **********************************************************************************

 

Tigashire, Sethule - a warm Zimbabwean welcome! Below is some quick information for your final preparations for your consideration.  Please do not hesitate to let us know if there is any further information that you might want to know in advance.   Entry Visas: By now you should have obtained your KAZA Univisa or Zimbabwe and Botswana Visas and submitted these to Shearwater Reservations.  Airport Transfers:    Shearwater is providing all airport pick as part of the programme cost, therefore, by now you should have submitted your air tickets to Shearwaters and airport transfers confirmed. Money Matters:  Visa, Master Card, American Express can be used at the hotel and at most facilities in Victoria Falls.  Banks and ATMs are also available. United States dollar is the main currency used in Victoria Falls.  By now you should have fully paid for your accommodation and program costs . Dress Code: wear lightweight, breathable clothing.  Go more f...

 

 

  Who's the Sole Palestinian Woman in the US-Led Board of Peace? Author: Arshi Qureshi Publication: PassBlue Date: February 11, 2026 Click here for the article Summary: Hana al-Tarazi, a Palestinian lawyer from Gaza, has been named social affairs commissioner on the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), making her the only woman on the 15-member technocratic body and the only Palestinian Christian. Al-Tarazi spent years representing women in Gaza's courts, handling personal-status disputes involving family law and Islamic jurisprudence, often advocating for mothers seeking custody, inheritance rights, or financial support. She studied law at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, becoming one of the first Christian women to enroll, and later became the first Christian woman in Gaza to argue cases in sharia courts. The NCAG operates under the US-led Board of Peace, chaired by President Trump with lifetime veto power, and was established to administer Gaza...

   

  As expected!! Important aspects of this election were that it was fair and free, people could exercise their rights to universal adult franchise without fear and intimidation!! Only the coming days and months will tell if people's aspirations will be fulfilled!! Shafiq Beaming with pride, a group of young women voters, who just cast their ballots for the first time, pose for a celebratory photo outside Dhanmondi Girls’ High School polling centre yesterday. Photo: Orchid Chakma A woman's message to the government we just elected Author: Naziba Basher Publication: The Daily Star Date: February 14, 2026 Click here for the article Summary: For the first time in her adult life, the author stood in a voting line that felt real, with no predetermined result and no hollow theatre of democracy. This generation practiced citizenship rather than performed it, making a calculated choice rather than a romantic one. Voters faced a choice between politics that openly imagines a future wh...

  First, warm congratulations to the people of Bangladesh for reclaiming their democracy through peaceful elections. And gratitude to Prof. Muhammad Yunus for steering the country to this peaceful, safe landing despite enormous challenges.  This seems like a fair assessment of Muhammad Yunus by David Bergman.    I believe Yunus was the right person to lead Bangladesh at a difficult historic juncture, and, on balance, he discharged his responsibilities wisely and fairly.  In politics, it is impossible to please everybody. In a highly polarized domestic context, where he faced the hostility of elements of the Hasina-led Awami followers (who had hounded him viciously earlier), and the highly exaggerated media diatribes from neighboring India, Yunus kept his composure and equanimity. Like Thailand's Anand Panyarachun, history will remember Yunus as a historic transitional figure in Bangladesh.  Regardless of what Yunus decides to do next, my respect for hi...

A YOUNG EXPLORER  

 *HOW ENGLISH AND ENGLISHMEN MAKE FUN OF EACH OTHER* *Enjoy the fun & the pun.* *Q: Can February March?* *A: No. But April May!* *Q: Did you hear about the painter who was hospitalised?* *A: Reports say it was due to too many strokes!* *Q: Have you heard the joke about the butter?* *A: I better not tell you, it might spread!* *Q: How do you know that carrots are good for your eyesight?* *A: Have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses?* *Q: Music Teacher: What's your favourite musical instrument?* *A: Kid: The lunch bell!* *Q: What did the triangle say to the circle?* *A: You're pointless!* *Q: What do you call a ghosts mom and dad?* *A: Transparents!* *Q: What do you call a group of men waiting for a haircut?* *A: A Barbercue!* *Q: What do you call a person that chops up cereal* *A: A cereal killer!* *Q: What do you call a South American girl who is always in a hurry?* *A: Urgent Tina!* *Q: What do you call two fat people having a chat?* *A: A heavy discussion!* *Q: What ki...

Fragmentation of UN headquarter functions Ronny  Patz   Linkedin 11 February 2026 Click here for the post One of the weirdest developments of UN80 is the increasing fragmentation of  headquarter functions, including to Germany, Italy, or Spain. At yesterday's  board meeting, Italy reminded everyone that not only are functions moved to Italy, but to two different cities, increasing even within-country fragmentation. We saw last year what happens when agencies like IOM move functions to Germany (Berlin), and when funding dries up, offices are quietly closed down. I wrote about this last year: https://lnkd.in/dU3nqXfJ I don't want to argue against relocations per se, but there has never been an honest discussions about how the HQ functions of the entire system should look like, and whether centralization or decentralization are actually useful. So everything happens by competition now, not by cooperation, which is the opposite of what UN proponents talk a...

 

USAID was one of the first agencies Elon Musk 'fed to the Woodchipper' on behalf of the Trump Administration.  Many articles have appeared in the months since those cuts detailing the damage done. In n this op-ed the author details again the long list.