Mali, Israel-Palestine, Kenya.

Today's three stories you should know.

May 13, 2023

Mali

Mali’s army and “foreign personnel” killed at least 500 people in an attack on a village over five days in March of last year, according to a new UN report. Locals said white foreigners took part alongside Malian troops and that they were speaking an “unknown language.” There have been multiple reports that Russia’s paramilitary Wagner Group has been fighting alongside Malian forces against al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked groups. "Summary executions, rape and torture during armed conflict amount to war crimes and could, depending on the circumstances, amount to crimes against humanity," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said.

Israel-Palestine

Israel has carried out air raids on the occupied Gaza Strip for the fifth day as both it and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group indicated no truce was imminent. At least 33 Palestinians have been killed and 147 wounded since Israel launched the assault on Tuesday, which it says is aimed at PIJ leaders. Just six of the dead have been confirmed as PIJ commanders and at least six children are among the dead. PIJ has fired at least 1,000 rockets into Israel since the air raids began, killing two Israelis. More than two million people are packed into the tiny Palestinian enclave.

Kenya

The number of bodies found on a property run by a religious cult in Kenya has risen to more than 200 after 22 more were discovered today, according to a local official. Hundreds of people are reported to still be missing. Paul Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, is accused of telling his followers that they should starve themselves and their children to death before the world ended on April 15th. Mackenzie is in custody and his lawyer has said he may face terrorism charges. A task force has been set up to look into regulations governing religious organisations.