SBS Assyrian

Thousands of protesters have descended on Washington to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to a joint session of US Congress. This comes as International Criminal Court prosecutors are seeking arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and his defence minister, as well as top Hamas officials, over alleged war crimes.

News of the week

Protests and arrests in Washington DC following Israeli Prime Minister's speech before Congress; Typhoon Gaemi makes landfall in Taiwan; and, in sport, Australia advances to rugby sevens quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics.

Are you familiar with Australia’s legal system? As a federation of six states and two territories, Australia has laws that apply nationally, as well as laws specific to each jurisdiction. Additionally, there are parallel structures of federal and state courts. Learn the basics of how the legal system works, from understanding Australian laws to accessing legal assistance.

Bodycam footage shows US police officer shooting an unarmed Black woman; Kamala Harris gains support in latest polls; and, in rugby, Australia's men's rugby sevens team set to kick off at the Paris Olympic Games early.

Family, friends, musicians, writers, and poets gathered to pay tribute to Rennie Daniel, a great Assyrian guitarist and musician, who passed away shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. The memorial featured speeches from many prominent members of Sydney's Assyrian community, who highlighted his contributions over more than five decades.

Mr Zkharya recalls his time working at the oil refinery in Khanaqin in the Dyala provence established in 1931. He and his son were wrongfully accused of being British spies, leading to a trial that ultimately resulted in their release. He also reflects on the deep love and strong bond he shared with his wife until her passing in the 1990s. Eventually, Mr. Zkharya made the decision to leave Iraq for good and settle in Kuwait.

Police describe a hit-and-run death in Queensland as a domestic violence homicide; at least six people are dead in Croatia after a gunman starting shooting in a nursing home; and, in AFL, Sydney's Sam Reid retires following a tortuous run with injury.

Nashie Shamoon, a New Zealand-born Assyrian PhD candidate, was awarded the prestigious Sir Desmond Todd Memorial Prize in 2021 for her Master's in Political Science. Inspired by her grandfather's story of resilience in escaping a war-torn country, her research project, entitled 'Voices of a Diaspora', is the first-ever study inviting Assyrian youth aged 18 to 30 years living in Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden to participate. Contact Nashie at: voicesofadiaspora@vuw.ac.nz to get involved.

US President Joe Biden withdraws from the presidential race; multiple investigations underway into Carlton rail tragedy that killed a father and his toddler; and, in Formula One, Australian Oscar Piastri wins his first Grand Prix, becoming only the fifth Australian to do so.

Another Democrat calls for Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race; Human Rights Watch finds Hamas committed war crimes on October 7; and, in rugby league, New South Wales wins its first State of Origin series in three years.

Mixed reactions to Donald Trump's choice of running mate; yhe International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns interest rates could stay higher for longer; and, in football, Matildas' midfielder Clare Wheeler looking forward to her first Olympics.

We continue with the story of Mr Zahkaria's legacy. He reminisces about the tales his father shared regarding the history of their ancestral village, Mar Bisho, located in the Hakkari Mountains south of Turkey. He recounts how his father explained the origin of the village's name and shares some eyewitness accounts of the assassination of Patriarch Mar Benyamin Shomoun.

Major regulatory changes in 2024 have brought about restricted access to vaping products in Australia. The crackdown on what is dubbed a “major public health issue” could lead to an increased number of teens seeking support to overcome the nicotine addiction, experts think. Learn about the health risks and ways to help young people in their quitting journey.

Founder and presenter of the Noqza music program, Ninos Tooma, spoke to SBS Assyrian about an event to be held in honour of Assyrian musician, composer, and brilliant guitarist Rennie Daniel, who passed away a few weeks ago. The event will include his achievements and contribution to Sydney's Assyrian community. The memorial will occur at the Ur-Ashour Club on Sunday, 21 July 2024.

Migration agent Valentine Aghajani discusses the latest changes from the Australian Department of Immigration. She discusses new citizenship laws, humanitarian visas onshore, the CSP program, why it is taking so long to process and the new laws regarding family violence provisions as of 1 July.

Donald Trump picks Ohio senator JD Vance as his presidential running mate; fifteen new Bushmasters to be built in Bendigo as part of a $45 million contract; and, in sport, the Olympic torch relay makes its way through Paris, as it nears the end of its journey.

Aggressive driving is a continuum of bad driving behaviours which increase crash risk and can escalate to road rage. People who engage in road rage may be liable for traffic offences in Australia, have their car insurance impacted and most importantly put their lives and those of others at risk. Learn about the expectations around safe, responsible driving and what to do when you or a loved one are involved in a road rage incident.

Activist and media personality Maryam Shmoil is one of the founders of Zabu Media, an online video production company based in Nohadra. She talked with SBS Assyrian about her recent visit to Australia, her aims and objectives in establishing this media platform and the festival of Noserdeil in northern Iraq.

Susanna Aleksanova is the founder and manager of the Atour Dance Group in the village of Arzani, Armenia. She told SBS about preserving Assyrian culture and history by creating dance groups and language schools. Aleksanova mentioned the financial challenges of supporting more than five dance groups.