On this 24 October 2025, we commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations. These are times of celebrating as well as profound introspection. The Secretary General's remarks on the occasion of "Turning 80 - UN Day" remind us that "We the peoples of the United Nations" is the opening of the Charter. We sincerely wish all our members Happy United Nations Day.
FEATURE
Welcome to the XUNICEF "INTER-national Geographic" blog. Not surprising, we have discovered many members who are world travellers and who take magnificent photos to boot. In the past few weeks through their eyes and lens we have been to Paris (Notre Dame), Antartica, Berlin, Azerbaijan, Chaco & Chelly canyons to name a few. This week we have another treat signed Myra Rudin who takes us to Death Valley, no, not that of Gaza, but the US National Park between California and Nevada. Judge for yourself the wondrous works of Nature that Myra has caught.
Last week I shared a great photo of a spectacular sunrise on Nuns Island. Not to be outdone, Leo Goulet sent in another gorgeous photo taken at sunrise in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with the Mekong river as a backdrop. "Good morning sunshine".
COLUMNISTS
Ramesh Shrestha's article deals with "Rethinking Development", his thoughts on what should be a different course for human development citing issues related to social media and AI.
UN NEWS
Detlef Palm summarizes an IDOS paper just published which he co-authored with three others. They argue that traditional aid is not working and propose new actions. Beyond Aid, A New Vision for the UN Development System.
Anis Salem sends an interview with Michael Moller, former UN USG, which discusses the challenges faced by the UN today, "Is the UN Still Fit for Purpose"?
Lou Mendez shares an American Enterprise Institute article about US calling for cuts in UN salaries which Damilola Banjo thinks is singing to the wrong choir, UN Budget Restraints Require Reducing UN Salaries".
In the same vein Niloufar Pourzand has an article where the SG is warning that the UN faces dire budgetary straits, " UN Chief Warns UN Faces "Race to Bankruptcy".
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT
Lou Mendez sent in the speech of Ian Bremmer to the GZERO Summit in Japan in which he describes his take on the State of the World.
Kul Gautam shares an expose by Nick Kristof about how the Trump administration policy on foreign aid and refugees is full of irony and hypocrisy, Trump Revives Foreign Aid Helping Needy Billionaires.
Victor Karuna will be moderating a forthcoming Workshop of the Asia Pacific Social Forum on Development, Global Citizenship and Human Rights in Bangkok.
Tom McDermott describes how the use of AI imagery by aid agencies is undermining the reality with its ensuing problems, AI generated Poverty Porn fake images being used by aid agencies"
Krishna KC announces the issue of his new book ;"Strategic Plan: What, Why and How?, which distills his ideas on mastering strategic planning.
REFUGEES
Niloufar Pourzand shares her "Address at the York University Centre for Refugee Studies, Toronto University" in which she discussed what is happening to Afghan refugees in Iran. Click here to read.
UN Women HQ announces a High Level Panel on Afghan Women Speak in New York.
GAZA
Tom McDermott sends an article by Lydia Polgreen in the NYT, What Happened in Gaza Might Be Even Worse Than We Think in which she talks about the appalling statistics of casualties which are cited but which are certainly under-estimated. Tom feels she puts too much emphasis on the issue of Hamas monitored data and their credibility.
Anis Salem has an article summarizing the ICJ Advisory on Israel's Obligations to Facilitate UN Missions in Palestine.
Viviane Sakkal shares a Guardian article on the lack of education for children in Gaza and its long term effects, Gaza's children after two years without schools.
Fouad Kronfol sends a Foreign Policy article on how US peace process policies on Israel-Palestine have failed, Tomorrow is Yesterdeay". He also shares a sympathetic video about a 5 year old boy who is walking from north to south Gaza on his own.
The United Staff for Gaza have launched a Memorial Project Honouring UN Staff Killed.
Niloufar Porzand shares an Instagram article about the MENA RD visit to Gaza. One wonders when the UNICEF ED will herself make a visit.
XUNICEF REUNION IN ZIMBABWE
The 10th Update has news about the Victoria Falls Theatre.
LIFE STYLE MATTERS
FEATURE
Welcome to the XUNICEF "INTER-national Geographic" blog. Not surprising, we have discovered many members who are world travellers and who take magnificent photos to boot. In the past few weeks through their eyes and lens we have been to Paris (Notre Dame), Antartica, Berlin, Azerbaijan, Chaco & Chelly canyons to name a few. This week we have another treat signed Myra Rudin who takes us to Death Valley, no, not that of Gaza, but the US National Park between California and Nevada. Judge for yourself the wondrous works of Nature that Myra has caught.
Last week I shared a great photo of a spectacular sunrise on Nuns Island. Not to be outdone, Leo Goulet sent in another gorgeous photo taken at sunrise in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with the Mekong river as a backdrop. "Good morning sunshine".
COLUMNISTS
Ramesh Shrestha's article deals with "Rethinking Development", his thoughts on what should be a different course for human development citing issues related to social media and AI.
UN NEWS
Detlef Palm summarizes an IDOS paper just published which he co-authored with three others. They argue that traditional aid is not working and propose new actions. Beyond Aid, A New Vision for the UN Development System.
Anis Salem sends an interview with Michael Moller, former UN USG, which discusses the challenges faced by the UN today, "Is the UN Still Fit for Purpose"?
Lou Mendez shares an American Enterprise Institute article about US calling for cuts in UN salaries which Damilola Banjo thinks is singing to the wrong choir, UN Budget Restraints Require Reducing UN Salaries".
In the same vein Niloufar Pourzand has an article where the SG is warning that the UN faces dire budgetary straits, " UN Chief Warns UN Faces "Race to Bankruptcy".
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT
Lou Mendez sent in the speech of Ian Bremmer to the GZERO Summit in Japan in which he describes his take on the State of the World.
Kul Gautam shares an expose by Nick Kristof about how the Trump administration policy on foreign aid and refugees is full of irony and hypocrisy, Trump Revives Foreign Aid Helping Needy Billionaires.
Victor Karuna will be moderating a forthcoming Workshop of the Asia Pacific Social Forum on Development, Global Citizenship and Human Rights in Bangkok.
Tom McDermott describes how the use of AI imagery by aid agencies is undermining the reality with its ensuing problems, AI generated Poverty Porn fake images being used by aid agencies"
Krishna KC announces the issue of his new book ;"Strategic Plan: What, Why and How?, which distills his ideas on mastering strategic planning.
REFUGEES
Niloufar Pourzand shares her "Address at the York University Centre for Refugee Studies, Toronto University" in which she discussed what is happening to Afghan refugees in Iran. Click here to read.
UN Women HQ announces a High Level Panel on Afghan Women Speak in New York.
GAZA
Tom McDermott sends an article by Lydia Polgreen in the NYT, What Happened in Gaza Might Be Even Worse Than We Think in which she talks about the appalling statistics of casualties which are cited but which are certainly under-estimated. Tom feels she puts too much emphasis on the issue of Hamas monitored data and their credibility.
Anis Salem has an article summarizing the ICJ Advisory on Israel's Obligations to Facilitate UN Missions in Palestine.
Viviane Sakkal shares a Guardian article on the lack of education for children in Gaza and its long term effects, Gaza's children after two years without schools.
Fouad Kronfol sends a Foreign Policy article on how US peace process policies on Israel-Palestine have failed, Tomorrow is Yesterdeay". He also shares a sympathetic video about a 5 year old boy who is walking from north to south Gaza on his own.
The United Staff for Gaza have launched a Memorial Project Honouring UN Staff Killed.
Niloufar Porzand shares an Instagram article about the MENA RD visit to Gaza. One wonders when the UNICEF ED will herself make a visit.
XUNICEF REUNION IN ZIMBABWE
The 10th Update has news about the Victoria Falls Theatre.
LIFE STYLE MATTERS
Lou Mendez sends this article on Sharenting" ... about parents and grandparents over sharing online information about their kids.
Viviane Sakkal provides a set of illustrations showing easy exercises for strength building that can be done while at work, or at home?
John Gilmartin writes about an interesting new venture for getting seniors to go back to school, Why are more retirees going back to college?
WE REMEMBER
Sneh Sundaresan, spouse of K.S. Sundaresan
Shashi Chandra, spouse of Dr. Subhash Chandra
Viviane Sakkal provides a set of illustrations showing easy exercises for strength building that can be done while at work, or at home?
John Gilmartin writes about an interesting new venture for getting seniors to go back to school, Why are more retirees going back to college?
WE REMEMBER
Sneh Sundaresan, spouse of K.S. Sundaresan
Shashi Chandra, spouse of Dr. Subhash Chandra
LATE NEWS
Baquer Namazi shares an AI generated poem/song about Justice and Peace for Every Child and Karin Sham Poo has responded to his request for a competition among XUNICEF members on the subject. Try your hand !
Baquer Namazi shares an AI generated poem/song about Justice and Peace for Every Child and Karin Sham Poo has responded to his request for a competition among XUNICEF members on the subject. Try your hand !
Comments from Readers
Fouad Kronfol
Editor for the Week
Editor for the Week
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