NPR News 2012-11-23 加文本

NPR News 2012-11-23

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

The Associated Press is reporting at least one death in today's massive highway pileup near, Beaumont, Texas. As many as 100 vehicles may have involved in the crash on a foggy I-10. Officials say at least 51 people were hurt, some of them seriously. Mary Poole spokeswoman for Baptist Hospital of Southeast Texas says her facility is treating some of the victims.

We have a full crew in the E.R. , we are going to what we call disaster mode, we have 20 of emergency room, physicians and staff, and have nurses on the other floor on standby if we need.

Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the crash which came on today when millions of people across the nation are typically driving to Thanksgiving Day dinners.

It's now 24 hours since Egypt announced the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza's Hamas that so far appears to be holding. It was a major victory for the mediator, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. But now a new controversy is emerging. NPR's Leila Fadel reports Morsi has issued a constitutional decree that effectively pulls Egypt back to one-man rule.

Morsi announced the decision on state television until a constitution is written, or a new legislature is elected. He says that any decree or law he issues cannot be challenged in court. He adds that a failing constituent assembly tasked with writing Egypt's constitution will stand. And the courts cannot disband the Upper House of Egypt's Parliament. The announcement raised alarm throughout civic society and the legal community. Already, the President has both executive and legislative powers. The People's Assembly was disbanded by a court decision earlier this year. Now the last body that can keep Morsi accountable, no longer has the authority. Morsi also stated that he can take any necessary measures to protect the January 25th Revolution, a catch-all term that will likely replace the hated emergency law strongman Hosni Mubarak once used to suppress opposition. Leila Fadel, NPR News, Cairo.

More unrest is reported elsewhere in the region. In Syria rebels say they have captured a key military base in the eastern part of the country. In the northern city of Aleppo, a government air strike near hospital killed more than a dozen people and injured hundreds. NPR's Deborah Amos reports from southern Turkey.

Shifa Hospital has been a regular target of regime warplanes hit six times, mostly damaging the upper floors, but the devastating bomb that struck on Wednesday flattened the adjacent building and sent shrapnel flying into the lower floors hitting patients and medical staff. Once a private clinic owned by a regime loyalist, the facility has been taken over by volunteer doctors and nurses. It's one of the last remaining hospitals in Aleppo, treating rebels and civilians. Deborah Amos, NPR News, Gaziantep, Turkey.

With much of the country celebrating Thanksgiving, the U.S. markets are closed this day.

This is NPR.

Tensions between the Iraqi government and the Kurdish autonomous region are growing. Iraq's top spokesman is accusing rival Kurdish forces of sending reinforcements into two disputed areas in the North. The Kurds are denying the claim.

The European Union is stepping up its protection of sharks. Parliament has passed a measure that bans all fishing vessels in EU waters from slicing off sharks' fins before throwing them back into the sea. The rule also applies to EU registered vessels around the globe. The Pew Environment Group says the European Parliament's vote is a major milestone in ending the wasteful practice of shark finning.

Retailers are trying to entice more people to head out the door instead of the couch after today's big Thanksgiving feast. NPR's Karen Grigsby Bates says some stores are opening their doors a lot earlier than they had in previous years.

Black Friday, the day when traditionally stores go all out to entice shoppers with pre-Christmas deals has been inching backward like a receding hairline for several years now. First Black Friday was the actual day after Thanksgiving. Then some stores opened Friday at dawn. In the past few years, eager merchants welcomed floods of shoppers at midnight even 11 p.m. on Thursday. So it shouldn't come as a shock that this year a few large stores are open Thanksgiving morning. Shoppers can cruise the aisles at Kmart, Old Navy and Big Lots. Thursday night, Target and Best Buy will open. But if you want to shop at J.C. Penney or Sears you have to do it on Friday. Both of those stores say they are allowing employees to enjoy the day with their families.  Karen Grigsby Bates, NPR News.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.