XUNICEF News and Views

 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),

Recent Reader Comments Continously updated

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!

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...

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

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

To Bidet, or Not to Bidet? That is the Question!

Dear Reader, Many of you will recall that in the lead-up to UNICEF's 75 Anniversary in 2021, News & Views published a series of quarterlies providing glimpses of UNICEF's first 25 year s, second 25 years , and the 25 years up to 2021 .

I received this from a lifelong friend and university cohort. As I am also nearing my 90s I find that much of what he feels and expresses mirrors my own thoughts. The only difference between us is that I have not found solace in talking to a machine but rather to continuing to be interested and involved with numerous activities,including sports. In fact, I have argued with him this point as I have no intention to let a machine or virtual entity to dominate my persona. I am perfectly content to simply use my laptop and iPad to communiate with all my contacts, without belonging to any social media. I use both machines for some info searches, the latest news or sports results, and general exchanges with contacts on mutually interesting subjects.

  Top 10 Posts from the last week.

Since the United States is celebrating its 250th Anniversary, it seems an appropriate moment to remember my good American experiences.

Tara Handpump This article is not to track the creation and development of the Tara Handpump itself but looks at why it became so popular, so quickly.

 "When my husband and I were writing our Wills, we knew UNICEF had to be included.

My fascination with trees grows.

A fitting response to Trillionaire Elon Musk by Nick Kristof of the NY Times. U.S.A.I.D. Cuts Killed People. That’s the Truth.