India, Turkey, Israel-Palestine.

Today's three stories you should know.

Jul 02, 2024

India

At least 116 people were killed and scores wounded in a stampede at a religious gathering in northern India. Officials say the victims include a large number of women and children. It has not been confirmed what caused the crush but some local reports suggest people may have been trying to flee a sudden dust storm. The top official in the state of Utter Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, has ordered an investigation, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced immediate compensation of $2,400 to the families of the dead and $600 to the wounded.

Turkey

More than 470 people have been arrested in Turkey after rioters set fire to Syrian-owned businesses and homes in the central Melikgazi region. The violence was sparked by reports that a Syrian man had abused a seven-year-old girl in the city of Kayseri. Turkey is home to the biggest population of Syrian refugees in the region with more than 3.5 million fleeing to the country since the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011. They were initially largely welcomed but anti-refugee sentiment has risen after an economic crisis that has seen inflation soar.

Israel-Palestine

Thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes after Israeli forces bombarded southern Gaza. The Israeli army ordered people in several towns and villages around Khan Younis to leave ahead of sending tanks back into areas its forces had previously pulled out of. "Where will we go?" Tamer, a 55-year-old businessman who said he has been displaced six times, told Reuters. "Every time people go back to their homes and begin to rebuild some of their lives even on the rubble of their houses, the occupation sends the tanks back to destroy what is left.”