Top Asian News 3:55 a.m. GMT

Hong Kong invokes new law to cancel passports of 6 overseas-based activists, including Nathan Law

HONG KONG (AP) — The Hong Kong government on Wednesday canceled the passports of six overseas-based activists under the new national security law, stepping up its crackdown on dissidents who moved overseas. Those affected were former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, unionist Mung Siu-tat and activists Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi — all accused of endangering national security by the authorities. The government said they have “absconded” to the U.K. Last year, police offered rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) each for information leading to their arrests and drew sharp criticism from Western governments. According to the official statement, authorities also banned anyone from providing funds or economic resources to the six, leasing properties to them or forming any joint venture with them, among other restrictions.

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake in southwestern South Korea cracks walls and leaves other minor damage

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A magnitude 4.8 earthquake cracked walls, spilled items from store shelves and caused other minor damage in a fishing community in southwestern South Korea on Wednesday, but no injuries have been reported. The earthquake in Buan, which had an estimated depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles), was the strongest detected in South Korea this year. The National Fire Agency said it so far confirmed eight minor cases of property damage in Buan and the nearby city of Iksan, including cracked walls at homes and a warehouse, at least two broken wall tiles and at least one broken window.

South Korean troops fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers briefly crossed land border

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts. Bloodshed and violent confrontations have occasionally occurred at the Koreas’ heavily fortified border, called the Demilitarized Zone. While Sunday’s incident happened amid simmering tensions between the two Koreas, observers say it won’t likely develop into another source of animosity as South Korea believes the North Koreans didn’t deliberately commit the border intrusion and North Korea also didn’t return fire.

Bizarre psychological warfare using K-pop and trash balloons raises tensions between the 2 Koreas

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Mammoth South Korean loudspeakers blaring BTS music. Large North Korean balloons carrying manure, cigarette butts and waste batteries. Small South Korean civilian leaflets slamming North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Day after day, the Cold War-style yet bizarre campaigns continue at the heavily fortified border of the rivals who haven’t had any serious talks for years. “At this point, both Koreas are trying to pressure and deter each other with politically symbolic actions,” Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said. “The problem is that neither side wants to be seen as backing down, and tensions at the border could escalate to unintended conflict.” Here is a look at the latest flare-up of tensions between the two Koreas.

AP PHOTOS: Cambodian village prays for good fortune, prosperity, and rain in ‘He Neak Ta’ ritual

PHUM BOEUNG, Cambodia (AP) — Hundreds of Cambodian villagers on Tuesday took part in a rare traditional guardian spirit ceremony praying for good fortune, rain and prosperity, as they aimed to preserve this ancient tradition. Known in Khmer as “He Neak Ta,” the ritual was held in Phum Boeung village some 25 kilometers (16 miles) northwest of the national capital, Phnom Penh. Young men painted scenes from folklore on their faces and bodies, dressed up as spirits and donned grass skirts while the young women donned traditional clothes. Cambodia’s population is mostly Buddhist, but people also subscribe to animism, a belief that spirits can inhabit all sorts of living and inanimate objects.

Myanmar’s army is reportedly emptying villages in a western state to boost defenses against rebels

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military has been emptying villages on the outskirts of the capital of the western state of Rakhine as part of an evident effort to defend against expected attacks by a powerful rebel group that has captured most of the surrounding area, according to residents, a local activist group and media reports on Tuesday. The action over the past few days to defend the state capital, Sittwe, came a week after the Arakan Army, the ethnic armed organization of the state’s Muslim Rohingya minority, vowed to capture the army outposts in the city. Rakhine is the current hotspot for fighting in Myanmar’s nationwide civil war, in which pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed forces battle the country’s military rulers, who took power in 2021 after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Top Canadian judge will step down from Hong Kong’s top court following other resignations

LONDON (AP) — A former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada is stepping down from Hong Kong’s top court, city officials said Monday, the latest overseas judge to resign from the court amid concerns about judicial independence. Hong Kong’s judiciary confirmed said Beverly McLachlin will complete her term as a non-permanent overseas judge at Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal, without giving more details. Canadian media outlets reported McLachlin noted in her statement that she has reached 80 years of age and will retire from that position when her term ends in July. She said she intended to spend more time with her family and she continues to have confidence in the members of the court and their independence, the reports said.

Officials work to bring home US instructors recovering after stabbing attack at Chinese park

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. officials worked Tuesday to bring home four injured instructors from Iowa’s Cornell College who were stabbed in the northeast Chinese city of Jilin, where they were teaching. Jilin city police said a 55-year-old man surnamed Cui was walking in a public park on Monday when he bumped into a foreigner. He stabbed the foreigner and three other foreigners who were with him, and also stabbed a Chinese person who approached in an attempt to intervene, police said. A police statement did not give any indication of the motive for the attack. The instructors from Cornell College were teaching at Beihua University, officials at the U.S.

Will Japanese women be able to keep their maiden names after marriage? Major lobby demands change

TOKYO (AP) — A powerful Japanese business lobby is calling on the government to allow married couples to keep dual surnames, saying the lack of freedom to do so hinders women’s advancement and has even become a business risk. In Japan, each wedded pair has to legally adopt one family name. While either surname can be used, 95% of women still traditionally adopt their husbands’, according to a 2022 government survey. Experts say such law only exists in Japan and have even accused it of putting women off marriage in a country already suffering dwindling nuptials. Keidanren, or The Japan Business Federation, said Monday a the law has to be revised to fit a more diverse, equal and inclusive Japanese society.

New Zealand renews search for father who vanished into forest with children 2 years ago

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand authorities offered a reward and immunity from prosecution Tuesday to anyone who can help their search for three children who have been missing since their father vanished with them from a remote rural community more than two years ago. The December 2021 disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children — now aged 8, 9 and 10 — has confounded investigators. They are not believed to ever have travelled far from the remote rural settlement where they lived, but there have been no credible sightings of the family for months. Police officers converged on the township, Marokopa, population 69, to seek fresh leads in a case that has fascinated the country of 5 million people.