News items from Asia-Pacific Desk of Xinhua (Part 2)
Friday, December 17, 2021 12:16 PM

Market news:

• 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.

    • Paris Vogue editor to leave after 10-year tenure Dec 18, 2021 06:06 AM
      
      • PARIS - Paris Vogue says its editor-in-chief, Carine Roitfeld, has decided to leave after a 10-year tenure in which the French fashion monthly became "a worldwide reference and indispensable magazine."
      • The magazine says on its Web site that Roitfeld's years as the top editor were marked by "constant growth" both in terms of circulation and advertising.
      • Xavier Romatet, the head of Conde Nast France, the French arm of the U.S. publishing house, said he "of course" regrets Roitfeld's decision to leave "even if I understand it."

      • Mexico outraged by killing of anti-crime crusader Dec 18, 2021 06:06 AM
        
        • CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico - Anger over Mexico's creaky, inefficient justice system boiled over after a mother who waged a two-year battle to bring her daughter's killer to justice was herself shot to death, possibly by the same man suspected of murdering the teenager.
        • Escobedo was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where she died within minutes.
        • On Friday, a group of demonstrators gathered outside the Interior Department in Mexico City to protest the killing, briefly scuffling with police while chanting "Not one more death!"

        • Congress rushes to finish bills before holidays Dec 18, 2021 06:06 AM
          
          • WASHINGTON - Rushing to finish by Christmas, congressional Democrats worked Friday to secure Senate ratification of a new arms control treaty and to end the military's ban on openly gay service members as they neared the end of two tumultuous years of single-party government.
          • Legislation to keep the federal government running until mid- to late February was also on the agenda, a matter for negotiations with emboldened Republicans who will take control of the House and add to their numbers in the Senate come January.
          • He was looking for several more on his wish list - the arms control treaty and repeal of the military gay ban - to close out a politically tough year.

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