IS kills hundreds of Yazidis

IS militants killed at least 200 Yazidis near Mosul on Friday, an Iraqi lawmaker said Sunday.

The political party Yazidi Progress claim the number was higher, with more than 300 killed. The Yazidis are one of the world’s smallest and oldest monotheistic religious minorities. Their religion is considered a pre-Islamic sect that draws from Christianity, Judaism and the ancient monotheistic religion of Zoroastrianism. They have been a target of IS in its reign of terror over parts of Iraq and Syria.

Baltimore police officers face charges; curfew lifted

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced that six Baltimore police officers will face charges in the death of Freddie Gray. The unexpected announcement led to celebration among protesters and, concurrently, much protest from the police union. Gray’s death was ruled a homicide and the officers face charges such as second-degree assault and involuntary manslaughter that could bring more than 10 years in prison. After a night of relatively peaceful protests, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake lifted Baltimore’s curfew, the National Guard is preparing its exit and a mall that had been a climax in the riots has been reopened.

Ethiopian police brutality protests met with police brutality

Police in Israel have fired tear gas and stun grenades at ethnic Ethiopians protesting police brutality and racism. Thousands of Israeli Jews of Ethiopian origin had taken part in a rally in Tel Aviv, but the protests turned violent and some demonstrators tried to storm the city’s municipality building. Israeli police on horseback charged demonstrators in an effort to bring the situation under control. The protests came after a video emerged last week of an Israeli soldier of Ethiopian descent being beaten by police in Tel Aviv. Two police officers have since been suspended on suspicion of using excessive force.

234 more women, children rescued from Boko Haram

Nigeria’s military rescued 234 more women and children from a forested area of northeastern Nigeria controlled by Boko Haram extremists who have kidnapped hundreds of girls in recent years. The latest rescue, announced by the Nigeria Defense Headquarters on Twitter, brings the total for the week to more than 677 females the Nigerian military claims to have rescued. Boko Haram has kidnapped over 2,000 women and girls since last year. The Nigerian military operation is continuing on various fronts and efforts are concentrated on the rescue of civilian hostages and the destruction of Boko Haram camps, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, information director for the Nigerian military, said in a statement. The women and children who were rescued Thursday have been evacuated to join other former hostages to take part in the screening process. Boko Haram has said its aim is to impose a stricter enforcement of Sharia law across Nigeria, which is split between a majority Muslim north and a mostly Christian south. The newly rescued women and children have begun to release their stories and experiences.