In the news today: Gaza truce begins a day later than planned; Ohio voters wait to see abortion protections take effect; consumers are under pressure this Black Friday. Also, sea turtle nests break records on U.S. beaches. | Palestinians stand by a building destroyed in an Israeli bombardment in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali) |
A truce in Gaza sets the stage for the release of dozens of hostages |
The cease-fire kicked off at 7 a.m. local time and will last at least four days. The deal came after weeks of intense indirect negotiations. Qatar, the U.S. and Egypt served as mediators. The halt in fighting promised some relief for Gaza’s 2.3 million people, who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, as well as families in Israel fearful for the fate of loved ones held captive by Hamas. Read more.
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Hamas pledged to free at least 50 of the about 240 hostages it and other militants took on Oct. 7. They are Israeli citizens, and some of them have a second nationality, according to a Hamas official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The group added that Israel would free 150 Palestinian prisoners. Israel published a list of 300 prisoners eligible for release, mainly teenagers detained for rock-throwing and other minor offenses.
The deal also lets more aid reach southern Gaza, where Palestinians are facing severe shortages. Trucks carrying supplies could be seen entering the terminal at the Rafah crossing from Egypt. The supplies were then transferred to other trucks that would carry them into Gaza. Qatar said the aid will include fuel but gave no details on quantities.
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The agreement has raised hopes of eventually winding down the war. But Israel has pushed back against such speculation, saying it is determined to resume its bombardment once the truce ends. Over 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, health officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza say. Vast swaths of the coastal enclave have been destroyed and violence has also surged in the occupied West Bank. Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial incursion by Hamas.
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Ohio voters just passed abortion protections. Whether they take effect is now up to the courts |
The state’s new constitutional protections for abortion access and reproductive rights are supposed to take effect Dec. 7, a month after voters resoundingly passed them. That prospect seems increasingly uncertain. The amendment did not repeal any existing Ohio laws, providing an opening for Republican elected officials and anti-abortion groups to renew their efforts to halt, delay or significantly water it down. Read more.
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The amendment declared an individual’s right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions” and passed with a strong 57% majority. Existing abortion-related lawsuits are moving again through the courts now that voters have decided the issue, raising questions about how and when the amendment will be implemented.
The state Legislature is controlled by Republicans whose leaders opposed the November ballot amendment. Passing legislation to bring Ohio law in line with the new constitutional amendment has been a non-starter with Republican lawmakers. With a primary election in their Republican-heavy districts only months away, they are facing fierce pressure from anti-abortion groups to either pass laws countering the amendment or use their supermajorities to strip courts of their power to interpret it.
- The Ohio Supreme Court is also controlled by Republicans, who have a 4-3 majority, and it will be the final judge of constitutional questions. Several of the Republican justices have taken actions or made statements that have caused abortion rights organizations and ethics attorneys to question their objectivity on the subject.
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Retailers offer big deals for Black Friday but will shoppers spend? |
Expect big discounts and other enticements to lure shoppers to stores for Black Friday. But retailers worry those may not be enough. Consumers in the U.S. are under pressure as their savings dwindle and their credit card debt grows. Although they have gotten some relief from easing inflation, many goods and services are still far higher than they were just three years ago. Read more.
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The National Retail Federation expects shoppers will spend more this year than last year, but at a slower pace given all the economic uncertainty. Many retailers are also worried big discounts to lure shoppers to stores may not be enough this time.
Instead, they have ordered fewer goods for this season and pushed sales earlier in October to help shoppers spread out their spending. An early shopping push appears to be a pandemic trend that stuck – supply chain issues in 2021 made people shop early for fear of not getting what they wanted.
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Best Buy said it’s pushing more items at opening price points, while Kohl’s has simplified its deals, promoting items under a certain price point like $25 at its stores. Target said shoppers are waiting longer to buy items. Online discounts should be better than a year ago, particularly for toys, electronics and clothing, according to Adobe Analytics, which tracks online spending.
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South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius is up for parole 10 years after killing his girlfriend
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The NFL will have another day to take over as they partner with Amazon for a Black Friday game between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets
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On Nov. 24, 1947: A group of writers, producers and directors, who would become known as the “Hollywood 10,” were cited for contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions about alleged Communist influence in the movie industry.
A look at what else happened in history on Nov. 24
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Tom Turkey float moves along during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 23, 2023, in New York (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) |
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ushers in holiday season in New York Beloved characters like Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants soared through the skies above New York City and bands marched along the streets below. |
WATCH: Sea turtle nests break records on U.S. beaches
Just as they have for millions of years, sea turtles have crawled from the ocean to beaches to lay their eggs. This year, record nesting was found in Florida and elsewhere despite growing concern about threats from climate change. |
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