NPR News 2013-03-22 加文本

NPR News 2013-03-22

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

There will be no government shutdown next week. Today, the House approved a continuing resolution by a vote of 318:109 that keeps federal agencies funded to September 30th. The measure, which has already won Senate approval, heads to President Obama to be signed into law. Shortly before approving the stopgap spending bill, the GOP-led House greenlighted a budget plan championed by Republican Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. NPR's Tamara Keith reports the Budget Committee chairman's plan passed by a comfortable margin of 221:207 largely along party lines.

Congressman Paul Ryan says his budget is starkly different from the plan offered by Senate Democrats.

This budget is constructive. It reveals each side's priorities. It clarifies the divide that exists between us. We want a balanced budget. They don't.

All but ten House Republicans supported it and not a single Democrat. Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen encouraged his colleagues to vote no.

This is an uncompromising, ideological approach to our budget issues.

Debate continues in the Senate on its budget. A vote is expected some time this week or maybe weekend. Tamara Keith, NPR News, the Capitol.

President Obama is warning hostile neighbors in the Middle East that Israel isn't going anywhere. But as NPR's Scott Horsley reports Obama also told audience of young Israelis, their ultimate security depends on making peace with the Palestinians.

President Obama acknowledged not everyone in Israel or the United States still believes in the long-stalled peace process. But he is urging the Israeli public not to give up on negotiation with their Palestinian neighbors. It's a kind of frank advice. He says friends should expect from one another. And to demonstrate his friendship, he vowed the United States will stand behind Israel, saying in Hebrew, you are not alone.

So long as there is a United States of America,  ah-tem lo lah-vahd.

Obama got less enthusiastic welcome in the West Bank where many Palestinians believe the U.S. has tilted too far in Israel's direction. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Jerusalem.

In Iran, a crowd cheers as heard on Iran media during a speech by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on this first day of Persian calendar year. 

Many spoke of security threats posed by Israel and pledged his country would destroy Israeli cities Tel Aviv and Haifa if Iran's nuclear infrastructure came under attack.

Tension is escalating in Cyprus where banks are closed to at least tomorrow as the government considers a plan to secure an international bailout. People are racing to ATMs withdrawing what they can amid worries about the fate of Cypriot banks.

Before the close on Wall Street, Dow was down 91 points at 14,421.

This is NPR News.

The enthronement has taken place in Britain of the new archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual head of the Anglicans, NPR's Philip Reeves says the archbishop was formally sworn in at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral.

Some 2,000 guests, including royals and religious leaders watched as in line with tradition. Archbishop Justin Welby knocked with a staff three times on the medieval cathedral's west door, entered and joined the ceremony enthroning him as the church of England's top cleric and spiritual leader of some 77 million Anglicans worldwide. For the first time in history, a senior female cleric played a leading in the ritual. Divisions within the church of allowing women bishops is one of several vexed issues confronting archbishop Welby. As he begins his work, Welby who's 57 and a former oil industry executive received many messages of good will, including one from newly elected Pope Francis. Philip Reeves, NPR News, London.

Colorado is the latest state to approve civil unions. Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper signed the bill into law today, seven years after voters ban same-sex marriage in the state. House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, the first gay lawmaker to serve as the state's speaker, hailed the measure as a symbolic step. The law takes effect, May 1st.

Underscoring continued gains in the housing sector in this country, the National Association of Realtor says sales of existing homes increase 0.8% last month, to seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.98 million. That's the highest sales pace since late 2009, when a home tax credit bolstered U.S. sales. 

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