From the Editors: 13 to 19 October 2025

 

Our Feature for the Week

Detlef Palm takes you on a magical journey to Azerbaijan with a strong recommendation to visit the Mud Volcanoes and Candy Cane Mountains. The South Caucasus as a whole is an enchanting region and certainly worth being placed on your bucket list as Detlef suggests. Do follow him through on this adventurous trail to discover what it holds for you.

Our Columnists

Ramesh Shrestha explores the Development Conundrum in his column this week and argues that our development dream is contaminated by greed, shifting overall human welfare to the back burner. He ends by posing the question: "Are we really an intelligent species?" Read on to find out why.

Ken Gibbs: What happens when you have Too Many Brothers and tenacity of purpose is set as the family motto? You grow up with grit and determination without the need to look for role models elsewhere. Ken was blessed to have had that advantage. Read the amazing story of his older brother, narrated in Ken's inimitable style.

Paula Claycomb laments that we are Losing Confidence in Institutions at a time when "The US government can no longer be trusted to tell the truth." But wait a minute, is it the US alone? Paula poses a question and invites your thoughts as she ends her short essay with: "What national or global institutions in 2025 inspires confidence in you?" Time to set you thinking, no doubt! 

Our Regular Contributors

Kul Gautam remains among our regular contributors and this time he shares his thoughts on a recent article carried in The Guardian on How the Gaza Ceasefire Deal was done. The author, Patrick Wintour traces the behind-the-scenes diplomacy that led to the Gaza ceasefire, crediting a mix of Arab, European, and U.S. pressure — but centering on Donald Trump’s abrupt change of approach. You will find the article insightful and informative.

Niloufar Pourzand adds to the debate on the Gaza Ceasefire with a post on Instagram documenting how 9 out of 10 homes have been destroyed and Anil Salem has added to it an article by Aan Chaudhry in Analyst News on The complete collapse of childhood in Gaza. Challenging tasks ahead, no doubt.

Fouad Kronfol, on a more positive note, shares a recent Haaretz feature article on how, Sponsored by Israeli Donations, a Village is Built for Gaza's Orphaned Children. Fouad adds further to the debate with link to another article by Amira Hass in Haaretz posing the question: Will Israelis one day say of their country's atrocities in Gaza "I was always against it?"

UN80

As lamentations over aid cuts and angst against UN reform continues, Mukesh Kapila's Interview on funding shortfalls, shared by Niloufar is timely and relevant, coming as it does from a veteran with an insider perspective. Niloufar has also shared link to an article by Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussain, Member of the Elders, on why The UN must take the need for reform seriously.

There is much more to read in News Links this week through 19 October, which we have put together for you in a summary form, along with the original links.

XUNICEF Zimbabwe Reunion: We have for you Update #9 on  why Zimbabwe has been named the best country to visit in 2025

Mini-Reunion in Montreal: Our special thanks to Fouad  for these lovely pictures of the Mini-Reunion he and Nadia attended with Lou and Nanette Mendez after 42 years. We would be delighted to hear from others on similar initiatives elsewhere. 

Missing You - A Life of Purpose: Honouring Catarina de Albuquerque  - a fitting tribute shared by Ian MacLeod.

And a Happy Diwali to All, which will be celebrated on Monday: "From darkness lead us to Light. From untruth, lead us to Truth. From death lead us to Immortality." (Brhadaranyaka Ubanishad)

Comments from our readers

Gautam Banerji

Editor for the Week