The Weekly

Turkish elections could move to a runoff, the Metropolitan Museum of art announces a plan to scour its collection for looted items and the Chicago-based Assyrian Athletic Club announces its 10th annual golf tournament.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom's annual report briefs on some Assyrian issues, Syria is reinstated in the Arab League and a Baghdad court makes a conviction in the killing of a renowned scholar in 2020.

The father of a young man in Iraq who died of leukemia doctors attribute to gas flaring challenged BP in a meeting this week, an Assyrian man is killed in a shooting at a restaurant in Niles and Iraqn's president will visit Syria next week.

Yazidis ring in year 6773, Armenians observe the anniversary of the Armenian genocide and reports say Israel has doubled attacks on Syria targeting Iranian strongholds in early 2023.

ISIS militants kill 26 truffle hunters in Syria, severe flooding hits Iraq and Orthodox churches celebrate Easter.

Assyrians around the world ring in the Assyrian New Year, Iraq and the KRG reach an oil deal and Israel strikes Syria's Homs province.

Twenty years pass since the US invasion of Iraq, Baghdad wins an oil export case against Ankara and community members begin Akitu celebrations.

NPU negotiations reportedly take motion, Diaspora in Bloom opens in California and a resolution recognizing this Assyrian New Year moves to a vote in the Arizona state legislature.

Supporters and officers of the NPU call for its revival in Iraq, Assyrians run for local office in the Chicago area and a new play by an Iraqi Assyrian playwright comes to a landmark Chicago stage.

Assyrian rock reliefs are reportedly vandalized in Iraq, a US military officer says US troops are still needed to combat ISIS and the Shlama Football League kicks off its second season.

An earthquake hits northern Iraq, a Seyfo memorial in Syria is reportedly vandalized and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch meets with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey. 

The Syriac Orthodox Patriarch visits Turkey, the U.S. Secretary of State met with Iraq's Prime Minister and an Israeli missile struck Damascus.

This week, we're taking a look at developments in Turkey, Syria and their Assyrian communities following the high-magnitude earthquake that ravaged the countries last Monday.

An earthquake hits Turkey and shakes the surrounding region, community members honor three martyrs and winter rains rehydrate Iraq's marshes.

A UN official visits Iraq, drones strike a convoy in Syria and an exhibition coming to London highlights Iraqi civilian life.

Iraq wins the Arabian Gulf Cup, Canada is set to repatriate citizens with alleged ISIS ties and Germany recognizes ISIS persecution of Yazidis as genocide.

The Shlama Football League confirms its second season, Diaspora in Bloom announces its return to in-person exhibition and the Iraqi prime minister backs the presence of U.S. troops in the country.

Iraq opens the Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra, a draft amnesty bill in the KRI Parliament excludes journalists and political prisoners and Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas.

Nearly 700 ISIS operatives in Iraq and Syria were reportedly killed in US operations in 2022, Syria and Turkey hold surprise talks in Russia and Assyrian and Chaldean church leaders offer their condolences following the death of Pope Benedict.

In our final episode of 2022, we're taking a look at three of several nonprofit initiatives bringing Christmas joy to Assyrians at home. 

Heads of five Syriac churches convene in a historic meeting, a nonprofit begins work on an irrigation canal in an Assyrian village in northern Iraq and ISIS claims responsibility for an attack in Kirkuk.

An ADM delegation visits the Iraqi president, a youth union celebrates its 31st anniversary and US forces kill two ISIS ‘officials’ in Syria.

Thanks for tuning in to our 100th episode. This week, a UN report finds Christians were targets of ISIS war crimes, the US confirms the October death of an ISIS leader and an Assyrian choral ensemble takes the holiday stage.

Iraq says it's recovered billions of embezzled funds, Turkey threatens continued cross-border operations into Iraq and Syria and Mar Afrim Athnaeil of the Assyrian Church of the East in Syria assumes a new position as archbishop.

In the realm of classical music and shifting attitudes toward long-standing tradition, Assyrian Armenian pianist Lolita Emmanuel is rethinking Assyrian music. In this feature, she shares her thoughts on her new film, Performing Assyrian-ness, and what she describes as the small but growing genre of Assyrian art music.