Top Asian News 1:09 a.m. GMT

Fire burns down structures at historic Japanese castle

TOKYO (AP) — A fire has spread among structures at Shuri Castle on Japan's southern island of Okinawa, nearly destroying the UNESCO World Heritage site. Firefighters were still battling the blaze a few hours after the fire started early Thursday and nearby residents were evacuated to safer areas, Okinawa police spokesman Ryo Kochi said. The fire in Naha, the prefectural capital of Okinawa, started from the castle's main structure. The main Seiden temple and a Hokuden structure, or north temple, have burned down. A third structure Nanden, or south temple, is nearly destroyed, Kochi said. Nobody has been injured. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Japan justice minister resigns in election fraud scandal

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's justice minister has resigned over election fraud allegations involving his wife, also a lawmaker, and about his own gift-giving allegations reported in a tabloid magazine. Katsuyuki Kawai submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier Thursday, becoming the second minister of Abe's Cabinet to resign in one week over election-related scandals. Isshu Sugawara resigned as trade minister last Friday over allegations that he and his aides offered money and gifts to his supporters in violation to election law. The Weekly Bunshun reported that Kawai's wife, Anri, is alleged to have paid her staff allowances exceeding legal limits.

Hundreds of koalas feared dead in Australian wildfires

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Conservationists fear hundreds of koalas have perished in wildfires that have razed prime habitat on Australia's east coast. Port Macquarie Koala Hospital President Sue Ashton said she hoped wildlife carers would be allowed to begin their search of the fire zone for survivors on Thursday. The fire was started by a lightning strike on Friday in a forest in New South Wales state, 300 kilometers (190 miles) north of Sydney, and has since burnt 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres). Two-thirds of that area was koala habitat, Ashton said. "If we look at a 50% survival rate, that's around about 350 koalas and that's absolutely devastating," Ashton said of the death toll.

Trump skips ASEAN meet, sends security adviser O'Brien, Ross

BANGKOK (AP) — U.S. national security adviser Robert C. O'Brien and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will represent President Donald Trump at two regional summits in Thailand this weekend, the White House announced, a move that will widely be viewed in the region as a snub. The decision to send O'Brien, who is a presidential adviser and not a member of Trump's Cabinet, is likely to be viewed in Southeast Asia as sign of a lack of engagement in the region at a time when China's influence and investments are quickly growing. The announcement late Tuesday comes just days before Thailand is to host the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations annual summit and the accompanying East Asia summit.

Myanmar court gives actors 1-year jail term for satire

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A court in Myanmar on Wednesday sentenced five members of a traditional theatrical troupe to a year in prison for their gibes about the military. The members of the Peacock Generation thangyat troupe were arrested in April for performances during celebrations of Myanmar's traditional new year in which they poked fun at military representatives in parliament and military involvement in business. The military is a powerful political force in Myanmar even though the country has an elected government. Thangyat combines dance and music with verse that often has a satirical edge. The five were convicted under a law prohibiting the circulation of information that could endanger or demoralize members of the military.

Searchers look for man seen on YouTube falling on Mount Fuji

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police said they found a body on Mount Fuji on Wednesday and are verifying whether it is that of a man who was seen falling down a snow-covered slope while livestreaming his climb up the mountain on YouTube. Police in Shizuoka, one of two prefectures that include Japan's highest mountain, began the search Tuesday after receiving calls from some viewers of the livestream. Police found the body at an altitude of about 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) and are checking whether it is that of the man in the video, a police official said on customary condition of anonymity.

China backs decision to exclude Hong Kong candidate Wong

BEIJING (AP) — China on Wednesday strongly backed Hong Kong's move to exclude pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong from elections for local councilors, a decision seen as likely to fuel further public anger in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. The statement from the Cabinet's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Wednesday came as Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam warned of the economic damage caused by months of anti-government protests but said the government would not address underlying social and economic concerns until the violence ended. Hong Kong's economy has hit the buffers amid the ongoing violence, with the government saying visitor numbers have fallen by half and retail sales are off by 25 percent in recent months against the same period last year.

Pakistan steps up security ahead of rally in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani authorities are deploying police and putting shipping containers in the capital Islamabad ahead of the arrival of a massive anti-government protest caravan. The measures Wednesday are aimed at stopping demonstrations from reaching the Red Zone, where government offices, parliament and foreign embassies are located. They come as thousands of Islamists led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, left for Islamabad in a caravan of cars and trucks from the eastern city of Lahore. The procession originally left Karachi on Sunday and is expected to reach Islamabad on Thursday. Authorities in Islamabad have allocated a specific area for the rally.

Swedes used towels, rope on Britons' shark bite injuries

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Two Swedish nurses say they used towels and rope to stop the bleeding from two British men's injuries in a shark attack on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The men had been snorkeling Tuesday in the Whitsunday Islands when a shark bit off one man's foot and mauled the other man's leg. Swedish couple Billy Ludvigsson, who is an ambulance nurse, and Emma Andersson, an emergency response nurse, were on a day cruise vessel where the men were loaded after the attack. Andersson said they helped the man who was loaded on first but his injury was less severe.

Family of missing British woman pursuing jungle search

KOH RONG, Cambodia (AP) — The brother of a British woman who disappeared after attending a late-night beach party on a Cambodian island said Wednesday her family is planning to hire a private team of professional searchers to comb the jungle for her. Harry Bambridge, the brother of 21-year-old backpacker Amelia Bambridge, said he "absolutely" believes there is a chance his sister is still alive. She was last seen Oct. 23 on the island of Koh Rong off the coast of southwestern Cambodia. The brother is one of at least three family members who have come to the island to join the land and sea search.