Israel presses into Gaza; allows aid in
GAZA, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Israeli troops, in a massive air, land and sea assault, pushed deeper into Gaza Monday, even as Israel pledged to allow humanitarian aid into the strip.
Israeli forces seized control of rocket-launching areas surrounding the city of Gaza Monday after moving through the center of the territory during the weekend, The New York Times reported.
Fighting erupted between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Gaza's streets, Israeli radio reported.
Hamas militants have been firing rockets on Israeli targets in response, media outlets reported.
Israeli troops push into the territory even as French President Nicolas Sarkozy prepared to visit the region in another attempt to reach a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, which controls the strip.
Meanwhile, Israel said Monday it would allow 80 trucks of humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza, CNN reported. Trucks loaded with food, medical supplies and diesel fuel were expected to enter the territory, an Israeli army spokesman said.
Israel's announcement of allowing humanitarian aid reach Gazans came after 25 similar trucks were barred Sunday, CNN said. Israel has been under increased international pressure to permit humanitarian aid because of acute shortages of food, medical supplies and fuel.
Since Israel began airstrikes on Gaza Dec. 27, the death toll of Palestinians has passed 500, including a reported 100 civilians, the Times reported. Israeli officials said five people have been killed by Hamas shelling.
Besides Sarkozy's mission to the region, the European Union and Egypt were working to try to build a truce.
Despite international attempts to reach a cease-fire, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio, "We have yet to achieve our objective."
3 babies taken from squalid Chicago apt.
CHICAGO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Three babies found living in rat-infested squalor with their parents on Chicago's West Side were rescued and turned over to relatives for custody, police say.
The children, ages 16 months, 14 months and 4 months, were discovered in an apartment without running water or central heating. Roaches, rats, open containers of alcohol, exposed electrical wires and a toilet overflowed with human waste were found in the apartment, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday.
The parents were charged with neglect and endangerment, the Tribune said.
The babies were taken to Norwegian-American Hospital in Chicago for examination and were found to be in good health, Chicago Police Lt. John Andrews told the newspaper. The children were later turned over to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, which said it placed them in the care of other family members.
Police said Latrice Johnson, 23, and boyfriend Kevin Wysinger, 21, were each charged with three misdemeanor counts of endangering the life of a child and three misdemeanor counts of contributing to the neglect of a child.
Ill. Lt. Gov. to appoint corruption panel
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn says he will name a former federal prosecutor to head a panel aimed at reforming state government.
Quinn, who stands to become governor if Gov. Rod Blagojevich is impeached, said he will name the same lawyer who prosecuted jailed former Gov. George Ryan to develop legislation to "fumigate" Illinois government, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday.
The lawyer, Patrick Collins, "is indefatigable, tireless and an extremely hard worker," Quinn told the newspaper. "He's just what the doctor ordered for beginning to provide remedies to Illinois' political ills."
Quinn said he would announce Collins' appointment to the unpaid post. He said the panel eventually could comprise a dozen or so appointees and will issue a report "with all deliberate speed."
An impeachment panel of Illinois state lawmakers is expected issue a recommendation this week on whether Blagojevich should be impeached. He has been charged by U.S. prosecutors of, among other things, trying to sell the vacant U.S. Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama for political and personal favors.
Gunmen attack Greek riot police
ATHENS, Greece, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Gunmen shot and wounded a police officer Monday in a continuation of violence that broke out in Greece last month after the police shooting of a teenager.
At least two masked gunmen sprayed more than 20 rounds of bullets at a riot police unit, striking the officer as he was guarding the Culture Ministry in Athens, CNN reported. The officer, Diamantis Matzounis, 21, was reported in serious condition at a nearby hospital.
The gunmen also threw a Russian-made hand grenade at officers, British broadcaster Sky News reported.
"The attack appeared to be well-planned, with concentrated fire from at least two directions," The Times of London reported police spokesman Nikos Karadimas as saying.
The area was blocked off for evidence collection, authorities said, adding that at least 72 people were detained for questioning.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which came just before the one-month anniversary of the fatal police shooting of 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropolous in Athens.
"Those who attacked (Matzounis) targeted democracy and order," Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said after visiting the wounded policeman in the hospital. "They will soon realize that democracy is strong and our society is safeguarded."
Owner charged in deadly Thai club fire
BANGKOK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The owner of the Bangkok nightclub where a New Year's fire killed at least 64 people has been charged with negligence, police said Monday.
The fire at the Santika nightclub erupted just after midnight Thursday while about 1,000 partiers were celebrating the new year. The blaze began near a stage where fireworks were being used as part of the club's closing performance, police said.
Police said Suriya Ritrabue, the primary shareholder of Santika's parent company, turned himself into authorities Monday, CNN reported. He was charged criminal negligence, which carries up to a 10-year sentence, and with allowing people younger than 20 into the nightclub.
Authorities said the establishment wasn't properly outfitted with safety devices, stating that it lacked sprinklers and had poorly displayed exit signs, CNN said.
One of Suriya's partners told a Thai newspaper that Suriya apologized to victims and relatives, and said the club's owners would establish a fund for the injured and dead.
