The Israeli military has launched what could be a long-term offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, striking at least 50 sites in Gaza by air and sea.

A suicide bomber today killed at least 20 people and injured 40 near a judge’s house in northern Iraq, while bombs in Baghdad killed six people, authorities said.

Funerals were held today for many of the victims of a twin bombing in a crowded Baghdad shopping district that killed at least 68 people and wounded 120.

Thousands of angry demonstrators destroyed the headquarters of Egypt’s ruling party in El Arish in the second day of protests over government neglect.