Ancient Stone Tools Discovered in Iraqi Desert Shed Light on Early Human Activity

A new Sky News documentary highlights the ongoing plight of Yazidi women still enslaved by ISIS, nearly a decade after the group's atrocities in Sinjar, Iraq, in 2014. Titled *10 Years of Darkness: ISIS & The Yazidis*, the film, reported by special correspondent Alex Crawford, details the mass abductions and systematic violence faced by the Yazidi community, many of whom remain traumatized and struggling for justice. Through firsthand eyewitness accounts and raw footage from the Middle East, the documentary sheds light on the harrowing stories of those affected, including Kovan, who was abducted at age 14, and Farida Khalaf, a human rights activist whose memoir recounts the brutal attack on her village. Khalaf has since become an international advocate for the Yazidi cause, meeting with world leaders to push for accountability for ISIS crimes. According to Crawford, the documentary reveals that thousands of Yazidi women are still held captive, continuing to suffer from the brutality of their captors. The documentary will be available on Sky News platforms starting May 2.

The Yazidi community in Iraq is experiencing a profound sense of betrayal as the U.S. government halts crucial aid that once supported them, following the 2014 genocide by the Islamic State (IS). During the first Trump administration, significant funding was pledged, benefiting religious minorities, including the Yazidis. However, this support has dwindled under the second Trump administration, according to activists and former USAid employees. In the Iraqi town of Sinjar, where many Yazidis were killed, essential services, including healthcare and infrastructure projects, have stalled due to the freeze in aid. Mirza Dinnayi, a Yazidi human rights activist, expressed shock over the suspension of USAid, labeling it a critical loss for their communities. The aid freeze has also severely impacted charities like Catholic Relief Services, facing potential layoffs and program shutdowns amounting to half of their $1.5 billion budget. This shift reflects broader changes in Republican attitudes toward aid, as former supporters of Yazidi rights now align with movements aiming to diminish USAid. Current and former USAid officials lament the loss of vital support networks for the trauma-affected Yazidi people.

The Al-Hadba minaret, a significant landmark in Mosul, Iraq, has been restored to its original state, following its destruction during Islamic State (IS) rule in June 2017. The leaning minaret, part of the Al-Nuri Mosque where former IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a "caliphate" in 2014, is now a replica constructed using both original and new bricks. "Al-Hadba is our identity, and by restoring it, the identity of the city has been reclaimed," said Abdullah Mahmoud of Iraq’s antiquities department. UNESCO officials have worked for five years to restore multiple heritage sites in Mosul, including churches and numerous historic homes, after extensive damage from battles against IS left the area in ruins. Despite these efforts, remnants of conflict remain, with many residents yet to return. Local shopkeeper Saad Mohammed expressed hope that the restoration will attract visitors to the city, stating, "Now we feel safe." The reopening of the restored sites is set for the coming weeks, signaling a significant step toward healing and revitalizing the community.