After the war: Experts push to restore Syria’s war-torn heritage sites, including renowned Roman ruins at Palmyra
Affordable housing: In the US, a Brooklyn church hopes to build on its parking lot to help accomodation crisis
Germany: Struggle to house refugees fuels election debate
“Going after the lost sheep”: He’s a young millennial Catholic priest; of course he’s a social media influencer
USAID freeze: Christian aid groups weigh life-threatening choices about who to help
Restricted movement: More Israeli checkpoints are slicing up the West Bank
18th February, 2025
KILLED: At least 31 people and with over a dozen more injured after a bus fell nearly 800 metres off a precipice in the south-western municipality of Yocalla, according to local police.
PLEDGED: Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, that he would release soon the full details of a comprehensive strategic partnership deal signed between China and his country, which has raised concerns in New Zealand with which it has constitutional ties.
ASSIGNED: An Argentine judge, to investigate President Javier Milei’s role in promoting a cryptocurrency that crashed, the latest shockwave from a scandal that has threatened to slow the libertarian leader’s momentum.
18th February, 2025
Number of people killed or injured in Syria as a result of encountering explosive ordnance since 1st December, 2024: More than 430
Source: UN

Essay: Why a bishop and a rabbi are taking Homeland Security to court
US Episcopal Presiding Bishop SEAN W ROWE and Rabbi HARA PERSON, chief executive of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, explain why they have sued the US Department of Homeland Security…

Essay: Syria’s mass graves – accounting for the dead and disappeared is crucial for the nation to heal
In an article first published on The Conversation, STEFAN SCHMITT, an expert in forensic anthropology and mass casualties in conflict, says the task of seeking justice for the crimes Syrians suffered under Bashar al-Assad’s regime will be tough, but vital, work…

Essay: Ronald Reagan failed to end the sanctuary movement. Here’s why Trump will too.
Rev MICHAEL WOOLF, senior minister of Lake Street Church of Evanston, Illinois, and author of ‘Sanctuary and Subjectivity’, says neither human dignity nor the sanctity of sacred space can be altered by memos or edicts from political leaders…
“Europe must play its role, and I’m prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others, if there is a lasting peace agreement, but there must be a US backstop, because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again.”
– British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in comments to reporters on Monday (as quoted on Reuters).
18th February, 2025
From Middle Earth to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. Read HEIDI H DEAN’s article on how Tolkien can help navigate times of chaos on The Gospel Coalition US website…
Magnifying God: Seeking to honour God in worship and in deeds.

Finding hope and a future
In an article marking International Women’s Day, SALLY BRUCE, of DFN (Dignity Freedom Network), looks at how the organisation is working to set women free…

Welcome to Sight’s new ‘Sponsored Articles’ feature
DAVID ADAMS, Sight editor and publisher, explains why Sight is now offering advertisers a sponsored articles option…

Wow!: UK Quakers join with Open University in peace course
ANGELA YOUNGMAN reports on a new initiative between the Quakers in Britain and Open University…

Postcards: Military overtones vibrate through renowned Mali arts festival
PORTIA CROWE, of Reuters, reports from the Festival sur le Niger in Segou in Mali…

Historically Speaking: How Spanish King became last hope for missing World War I soldiers’ relatives
EMMA PINEDO and JUAN MEDINA, of Reuters, report on what an archive of letters seeking the help of King Alfonso XIII during World War I reveal..

Life’s Tough Questions: Whether Christians should prioritise care for migrants as much as for fellow citizens has been debated for centuries
LAURA E ALEXANDER, in an article first published on The Conversation, looks at long-standing tensions among Catholic – and other Christian – thinkers and practitioners about moral obligations to people with whom we have closer versus more distant relationships…

StrangeSights: Palmerston takes up a new post; meet “Aussie Trump; and Russia looks for new spies…
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…

Sight-Seeing: How to keep your peace in a world of chaos
NILS VON KALM says amid a world in turmoil, we need to remain close to Christ to avoid anger at injustice turning to bitterness and hatred…

On the Screen: ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ – an unnecessary imitation game
MARCUS CHEONG takes a look at the return of Captain America to the big screen…

On the Screen: Far from a traditional nativity film, ‘Mary’ lacks clarity
DAVID ADAMS watches DJ Caruso’s take on the story of Jesus’ birth…

Books: ‘Juice’ a “hauntingly prescient” novel of a future possibility
CHRISTOPHER GILBERT read’s the new dystopian novel from Australian author Tim Winton…

Significant Sights: Art, music and science combine at a new whale exhibition at Winchester Cathedral
RYAN REISINGER and DREW CRAWFORD, in an article first published on The Conversation, take a look at an immersive art installation in Winchester Cathedral…

A Sustainable Life: To keep your cool in a heatwave, it may help to water your trees
GREGORY MOORE, in an article first published on The Conversation, looks at how trees can help reduce temperatures in urban areas…

Sight Helpdesk: How can you tell if your child is ready for a smartphone? What are the alternatives?
JOANNE ORLANDO, in an article first published on The Conversation, provides some tips when considering giving your child their first smart phone…

Snapshot: Mount Kilimanjaro, seen from Kenya
See SERGEY PESTEREV’s image…

Snapshot: Portofino, Italy
See KRISTĪNE ZĀLE’s image…

Snapshot: Ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral, Macau, China
See VERNON RAINEIL CENZON’s image…
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