NPR News 2013-07-23 加文本

NPR News 2013-07-23

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

It's a boy. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to her first child, the third in line to the British throne. We have yet to learn the name of the newest member of the royal family, but he weighs eight pounds, six ounces. Just moments ago,an official announcement was placed on a golden easel outside Buckingham to the cheers of large numbers of onlookers outside the palace gate.  NPR's Philip Reeves is in London where he describes the crowds were smaller early in the day thanks to weather.

This was one of the hottest days, perhaps the hottest day of the summer in London. The sun was blazing down on the city from enormous cloudless sky. A crowd frankly not very large in number, gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace and peered to the black and gold railings for much the day, awaiting this news. And when the news finally came, they cheered lastly. Those cheers were now echoed around much of Britain. As people raised a toast in celebration to the birth after all have much speculation and a lot of gambling and betting, a boy, a boy that weighs eight pounds six ounces. NPR's Philip Reeves on news of the great-grandson's birth.

Queen Elizabeth II said she was delighted.

In other news, major policy change for the European Union which has placed the military wing of Lebanon's Hezbollah on its terrorism blacklist. The decision was unanimous. It results from prolonged pressure from the U.S. and Israel which accuses Hezbollah of a number of deadly attacks on Israeli targets worldwide, including one in Bulgaria that killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian national a year ago. 

In Egypt, at least three people are dead, many others wounded in renewed clashes between supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. NPR's Leila Fadel reports the clashes come as Morsi's family accuses the military chief of kidnapping the former president.

Morsi's son, Osama, told reporters in a press conference. No one has heard from his father since he was ousted on July 3rd. He said the family plans to take legal action against Defense Minister Abdul Fatah al-Sisi, who oversaw Morsi's removal from power. Morsi has been incommunicado nearly three weeks. He is believed to be in military custody, but has been charged with no crime. Osama's comments come as protest turned bloody again on Monday. Clashes in Qalyoub, central Cairo and  Suez Canal city erupted between opponents and supporters of the president who hurled rocks at each other and fired birdshot. Leila Fadel, NPR News, Cairo.

Vice President Joe Biden is in India. He is promoting the administration's new focus on stronger partnerships in the Asia Pacific region in an attempt to offset China's burgeoning influence in the area.

Dow was up slightly before the close.

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In southern California, fire that has destroyed seven homes is nearly 70% contained. Thousands of evacuees are being allowed to return home in the mountain communities of Idyllwild and Fern Valley. Recent thunderstorms dumped a lot of rain and helped slow down the more than 42-square-mile blaze the  forcecasters warned new storms could trigger mudslides and floods.

Actor Dennis Farina who spent much of his 30-year career playing policemen or thugs has died. Farina passed away after suffering a blood clot in his lung. He was 69 years old. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has this appreciation.

Right down to the cigar and mustache, Dennis Farina was convincing as a mobster like Ray Bones Barboni in the comedy Get Shorty.

Don't you puke on my shoes Harry?

and law enforcement, like detective Joe Fontana in Law &  Order.

Hey, don't be a smart guy, you know how it is, it is to get violated and so effected the great bar hotel. Do you?

Dennis Farina was a Chicago policeman for ten years before becoming an actor when a former cop friend asked him to be a technical advisor on the 1981 film Thief. The director liked Farina so much. He gave him a part. Dennis Farina  recently starred with  Dustin Hoffman in the HBO drama, Luck. Farina died in Scottsdale, Arizona. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.

U.S. home sales have dropped more than 1%. The National Association of Realtors found a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5 million, previously owned home sold in June That's slightly the month before. Meanwhile, mortgage rates have surged in recent weeks.

U.S. stocks trading higher before the close with the Dow up two; NASDAQ up 12;S&P 500 gaining four.

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