World Briefs

CHINA-DJIBOUTI China says it is in talks with Djibouti about setting up a naval logistics center in the Horn of Africa nation to service Chinese anti-piracy patrols, raising the sensitive issue of whether Beijing will seek military bases overseas.

CHINA-USA President Barack Obama’s pardoning of a turkey named “Abe” this Thanksgiving has led some Chinese to gloat at the Japanese prime minister’s expense. As part of a peculiar annual tradition at the White House, Obama on Wednesday granted amnesty from the dinner table to two turkeys named “Honest” and “Abe” — from the nickname for President Abraham Lincoln. But a translation glitch in Chinese media replaced the character for single-syllable “Abe” with the surname of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (pronounced “Ah-bay”).

JAPAN’s deputy defense minister meets with the mayor of a southern island to seek his support for the planned deployment of hundreds of troops in the region including nearby disputed East China Sea islands.

THAILAND Police say they have uncovered a plot by opponents of the military government involving an armed attack during upcoming events commemorating the country’s monarchy. Nine persons in total are being sought.

SOUTH KOREA Thousands of mourners gathered at the lawn outside parliament yesterday to say their farewells to late former President Kim Young-sam, whose landmark 1992 election victory ended decades of military rule and ushered in a series of reform measures.

SOUTH KOREA A former South Korean university professor is sentenced to 12 years in prison for habitually beating his former student and forcing him to eat human feces and drink urine. More on p13

USA Giant balloons took to the clear, sunny sky over midtown Manhattan yesterday for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with spectators lining up along the parade route and a heavy police presence keeping a watchful eye.

USA An advocacy group is offering Donald Trump sensitivity training after the Republican presidential candidate appeared to mock a reporter with a disability. At issue is what The New York Times interprets as Trump’s attempt Tuesday to “ridicule the appearance” of journalist Serge Kovaleski. Trump challenged recollections by Kovaleski and others about the 9/11 aftermath during a speech. Trump has made unsubstantiated claims that thousands of Muslims in New Jersey were seen celebrating the attack.

BELGIUM Authorities have lowered their threat alert to the second-highest level in Brussels, the capital, calling a threat “possible and likely.” Peter Mertens of the Belgian crisis center told The Associated Press that the threat assessment now stood at the same level throughout the country. Since Saturday morning, Brussels — home to the European Union and NATO headquarters — had been wary of a threat that was considered “serious and imminent.”