January 16, 2005

Adriana Iliescu becomes the world's oldest woman to give birth, at age 66.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:
- An Israeli tank shell has killed a Palestinian woman and her son in Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza. (BBC)
- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon instructs the army to take action against terrorism and Palestinian rocket attacks stating it was to be "without restrictions, I emphasize, without restrictions" following an attack by militants at a Gaza crossing that killed 6 Israelis, which followed several Israeli raids into the West Bank and Gaza which killed dozens of Palestinians. (AP) (The Guardian)
- The PLO has called for an end to attacks by Palestinian militant groups against Israelis. (BBC)
- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has called on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to resume contacts with Mahmoud Abbas, the new President (Ra'ees) of the Palestinian Authority. Sharon had cut off all contact with the new Palestinian leader before he was inaugurated supposedly because Israel believes Palestinian officials aided the Militants attacks of the Karni checkpoint. (BBC) (The Guardian)