Stocks take breather
Friday, December 17, 2021 12:45 PM

Market news:

• Heavy snow hits air travel, roads across Europe Dec 18, 2021 07:13 AM
  
  • LONDON - Authorities say air travel across Europe has been disrupted by heavy snow, while rail services and roads were also affected by the blast of wintry weather.
  • In Britain, London's Gatwick airport closed its runway due to snow, while British Airways suspended all flights from London's Heathrow airport.
  • In a statement, Heathrow said more snow was expected and that staff were "planning for the worst."

  • Top US officer says Iran still driving for a bomb Dec 18, 2021 06:58 AM
    
    • MANAMA, Bahrain - Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb, posing a threat to its neighbors, and the United States is "very ready" to counter Iran should it make a move, the top U.S. military officer said Saturday.
    • "The United States takes very seriously our security commitments in the Gulf region," Mullen said following a meeting with Bahrain's king.
    • Bahrain, directly across the Gulf from Iran, is home to a large U.S. Navy base that would be on the front lines of any war with Iran.

    • Obama pushes for nuke treaty ratification Dec 18, 2021 06:35 AM
      
      • WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is warning that failure to ratify a new arms control treaty with Russia will undercut American leadership on scores of challenges it faces worldwide.
      • Obama used his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday to plead with the Senate to approve the treaty, a dearly held foreign policy priority in the waning days of Congress' lame-duck session.
      • Obama said without action on the pact, known as New START, "we'll risk undermining American leadership not only on nuclear proliferation, but a host of other challenges around the world."

      • US lawmakers may vote on Armenian genocide measure Dec 18, 2021 06:06 AM
        
        • WASHINGTON - The House may vote next week on a measure that could damage U.S. relations with critical ally Turkey: a resolution declaring the World War I-era killings of Armenians a genocide.
        • House Democratic leaders had long set aside consideration of the draft resolution, and the measure was expected to expire as a new Republican-led House takes office next month.
        • House aides, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment, said Friday that Democratic leaders have been discussing a possible vote with lawmakers.

        • Senate nears repeal of military's curbs on gays Dec 18, 2021 06:06 AM
          
          • WASHINGTON - Congress is close to ending the ban on gays serving openly in the military, with the Senate ready for a landmark vote that could deliver a major victory to the gay community, liberals and President Barack Obama.
          • Senators planned a procedural vote Saturday on a bill ending the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy as lawmakers held an unusual weekend session in their race to finish the year's legislative business.
          • If at least 60 senators vote to advance the bill as expected, the repeal, which passed the House this week, could win final passage by late afternoon.

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