Analysis: Trump’s “America First” Not Just a Blip in US Foreign Policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden’s plan to scrap President Donald Trump’s vision of “America First” in favor of “diplomacy first” will depend on whether he’s able to regain the trust of allies and convince them that Trumpism is just a blip in the annals of U.S. foreign policy.
Japan Court Rules Eugenics Law Unconstitutional, Denies Damages
TOKYO (Kyodo) — A Japanese court on Friday ruled as unconstitutional the now-defunct eugenics protection law that mandated the government stop people with disabilities from having children, but it rejected a claim for damages sought by a man in northern Japan.
Norway Adjusts Advice After Vaccine Deaths, But Isn’t Alarmed
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Norwegian officials have adjusted their advice on who gets the COVID-19 vaccine in light of a small number of deaths in older people, leaving it up to each doctor to consider who should be vaccinated.
Trump To Leave Washington on Morning of Biden’s Inauguration
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will leave Washington next Wednesday morning just before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration to begin his post-presidential life in Florida.
Gov’t to Charge Foreign Tourists 300 Baht for ‘Tourism Development’
BANGKOK — A controversial plan to charge foreign tourists 300 baht each time they step foot in the country, supposedly to pay for maintenance of attraction sites, was welcomed by a prominent tourism business guild on Friday.
‘We Can’t Be Picky’: Doctors Urge People to Get Vaccinated for Herd Immunity
BANGKOK — Medical experts on Friday said the public should embrace the upcoming vaccination campaign to build a herd immunity against the coronavirus – and the Chinese-made vaccine secured by Thailand is adequate to do the job, contrary to what the media may have told you.
Cop Granted Bail After Raping Myanmar Suspect in Custody
SURAT THANI — A police officer was charged and dismissed from the force on Friday, pending an investigation, for allegedly raping a Myanmar national who was being held at a police station on Koh Samui .
U.S. Blacklists Major Chinese Oil Firm Over S. China Sea ‘Coercion’
TOKYO (Kyodo) — The U.S. government said Thursday that it is taking further actions to preserve a "free and open" South China Sea such as by adding major oil company China National Offshore Oil Corp. to its economic blacklist.
Venti Friendship Please? Xi Asks Starbucks CEO To Help Repair US-China Ties
BEIJING (AP) — President Xi Jinping is asking former CEO Howard Schultz of Starbucks to help repair U.S.-Chinese relations that have plunged to their lowest level in decades amid a tariff war and tension over technology and security.
FBI Tracking ‘Extensive’ Online Chatter About Armed Protests
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is tracking an “extensive amount of concerning online chatter,” including calls for armed protests leading up to next week’s presidential inauguration, Director Chris Wray said Thursday.
