Michigan lawmakers approved a nearly $74 billion state budget after an overnight legislative session, avoiding new taxes while funding priorities such as K-12 education, higher education, Medicaid, and economic development. For Michigan's business community, the budget includes nearly $69 million in one-time funding to support small business growth ($30 million), business attraction and community revitalization ($28.6 million), and entrepreneurship programs ($9.7 million)—investments that could benefit many Chaldean-owned businesses, although funding levels are lower than in the current fiscal year.
Read MoreIraq has proposed a meeting between the Gulf countries, Iran, and Iraq to discuss regional security, reducing tensions, and improving economic ties. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Iraq is willing to host talks involving the six Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, Iran, and Iraq.
Read MoreArchbishop Bashar Matti Warda of the Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Erbil has called on newly installed Chaldean Patriarch Mar Paulos III Nona to advocate for Ankawa, Iraq’s largest Christian district, and help ensure its residents have a voice in decisions affecting their future. Speaking during a welcoming ceremony for the patriarch in Ankawa, Warda emphasized the city’s historic role as a stronghold of Christianity, recalling its survival through centuries of persecution and its importance as a refuge for Christians throughout Iraq’s history.
Read MoreNewly installed Chaldean Patriarch Mar Paulos III Nona met with a Yezidi delegation, including three members of parliament, at the Chaldean Patriarchate in Baghdad on June 10. The two sides reflected on the deep historical ties between their communities and the shared suffering endured under ISIS, including persecution, displacement, and massacres in places such as Mosul and Sinjar.
Read MoreZenit News reports growing concerns that renewable energy projects in southeastern Turkey are disproportionately affecting Christian and Yazidi minority communities through land expropriations and development projects. A key example is the proposed G25 Solar Power Plant near the historic Chaldean Christian village of Aynwardo (Gülgöze) in the Tur Abdin region.
Read MoreTuesday, May 26, 2026, Iraqi Prime Minister Mr. Ali Falih Al-Zaidi visited Mar Yousif Church in the Al-Mansour district of Baghdad, where he extended his congratulations to His Beatitude Patriarch Younan III Nona on assuming the Patriarchal See of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and throughout the world.
Read MoreRep. Tom Kuhn, the representative who introduced the Chaldean American Month bill, said Michigan’s recognition is a historic first that highlights the vital economic, cultural, and community contributions of Chaldean, Assyrian, and Syriac Americans. He emphasized that the designation is about ensuring these communities are seen, valued, and celebrated, while encouraging other states to follow Michigan’s lead.
Read MoreSanan Atou never imagined he would one day be stranded in Iraq — a country he left as a child and barely remembers. But today, the former Macomb Township resident is living in hiding in Baghdad after being deported from the United States earlier this year, just before conflict erupted between the U.S. and Iran.
Read MoreAfter months of political deadlock, Iraq has taken a key step forward with the appointment of a new prime minister-designate. President Nizar Amidi has tasked businessman Ali Al-Zaidi with forming the next government, following an agreement among major Shia political factions to move past the stalemate.
Read MoreThe election of Nizar Amidi—a Kurdish politician nominated by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)—has formally ended Iraq’s months-long political deadlock but also exposed deep divisions. Amidi, now the country’s sixth president since 2003, won 227 votes and has positioned himself as a consensus figure, pledging to govern under an “Iraq First” approach and work across political lines.
Read MoreIn a message to bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church gathered in Rome, Pope Francis emphasized that “nothing can justify the shedding of innocent blood,” underscoring the Church’s role as a witness to peace amid violence and instability. His remarks came as the bishops convened ahead of the Synod to elect a new patriarch, a pivotal moment of leadership for the Church.
Read MoreA pivotal moment is unfolding for the Chaldean Catholic Church as its bishops convene in Rome to elect a new patriarch following the unexpected resignation of Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako. His departure, amid a series of controversies and internal tensions, has opened the door for what many see as a needed reset for the global Church.
Read MoreA local investment group led by Saber Ammori, Kevin Denha, and Andrew Dickow has acquired Buddy’s Pizza from private equity firm CapitalSpring, though the purchase price was not disclosed. The new owners—who say the brand holds personal significance—plan to strengthen customer experience, improve product quality, and expand Buddy’s presence nationally, particularly in the frozen pizza market. The deal, financed by First Merchants Bank with legal support from Varnum and Taft, comes after years of limited expansion outside metro Detroit and several recent store closures in west Michigan. Founded in 1946 and credited with creating Detroit-style pizza, Buddy’s remains a longstanding staple with multiple locations across Michigan.
Read MoreDetroit’s creative pulse is getting a bold new signature — and it’s coming from a Chaldean American artist making her mark on one of the city’s biggest stages. Juliana Rabban, known professionally as Just By Juliana, has landed a major collaboration with Big Sean and the Detroit Pistons, placing her work at the center of a high-profile celebration of Detroit culture.
Read MoreAuthorities in southeastern Turkey have apprehended the main suspect in a six-year-old case involving the murder of Şmuni Diril and the disappearance of her husband, Hurmuz Diril, a Chaldean couple who had returned to their ancestral village of Mehri in Şırnak Province in 2020. The couple vanished from their home in January 2020, prompting extensive searches by local authorities and community members. Weeks later, Şmuni’s body was discovered near the Hezil River, but Hurmuz has never been found, leaving his fate uncertain.
Read MoreLouis Raphaël I Sako warned that escalating violence between Iran and its adversaries risks dragging Iraq into a wider regional conflict, stressing that war will only deepen instability in the Middle East. Speaking to Vatican News amid recent Iranian strikes across Iraq following Israeli-American attacks on Iran, the patriarch said he is “deeply concerned” about where the conflict could lead, especially for a country that has already endured decades of violence and upheaval.
Read MoreIran has launched missile and drone strikes against U.S. military assets across the Gulf following a major joint attack on Iran by the United States and Israel. According to Iranian officials and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, American and Israeli targets throughout the region are now considered legitimate targets, and operations will continue until what Tehran calls “aggression” ends.
Read MoreThe Chaldean language initiative at Oakland University (OU) continues to build momentum as it expands both in-person and online learning opportunities. In recognition of International Mother Language Day, the College of Arts & Sciences / Linguistics program will host a presentation highlighting the history, structure, and cultural significance of languages, including the Chaldean language.
Read MoreA senior Republican lawmaker is urging President Trump to prioritize the rights and political future of Iraq’s Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Christians, calling it both a moral obligation and a strategic U.S. interest. In a February 16 letter, Rep. Darin LaHood asked the White House to press Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government to enforce Article 125 of Iraq’s Constitution, which guarantees administrative, political, and cultural rights for the indigenous Christian community but has gone largely unimplemented for nearly two decades. He also called for restoring electoral quota protections and diaspora voting, arguing that enforcing existing laws would strengthen security and help stem emigration.
Read MoreThe Chaldean Hockey League hosted its Charity Night on Feb. 15 at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, bringing the community together for an evening of competition and generosity. The event raised $25,000 for the Chaldean Community Foundation, supporting its vital programs and services. With the championship games set for next week, the league now looks ahead to an exciting finish to the season both on and off the ice.
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