US-Iraq

The two leading US figures in Iraq are facing criticism at a hearing in Congress from Democratic presidential candidates opposed to the war. Senator Joe Biden, told US military commander in Iraq General David Petraeus and US Ambassador in Baghdad Ryan Crocker that the troop build-up had failed to achieve peace and to promote reconciliation between Iraq’s Sunni and Shia communities and was at best “a stopgap that will not prevent chaos”.
However, Petraeus and Crocker repeated their contention that the military “surge” in Iraq was working, and warned against a rapid withdrawal.

Israel

At least 69 Israeli soldiers were injured when a rocket fired from Gaza hit an equipment store at the army Zikkim training base in southern Israel and exploded, sending shrapnel flying through surrounding tents where soldiers were sleeping. It is the largest number of injuries sustained in a single rocket attack against Israel from Gaza. Four of the wounded soldiers were in a serious condition, the military said.

Congo

An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed at least five people according to the World Health Organisation.
However, it is suspected that the virus may also be the cause behind the deaths of more than 100 people and many more who have fallen sick in a recent fever epidemic in central DR Congo. Blood samples from the southern province of Kasai have been sent to laboratories specialising in haemorrhagic fever.