An ethnic Uyghur cadre in northwestern China’s Xinjiang region has been fired from her post for holding her wedding ceremony at home according to Islamic traditions instead of at a government-sanctioned venue, local officials and residents said. – Radio Free Asia
China may be planning to build around 10 new bases for its future aircraft carriers, the state-owned Global Times newspaper reported on 20 April, amid speculation that the Asian country will operate at least six carriers in the coming years. - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
Jiaolong, China's manned submersible, went through a dive simulation in Sanya, Hainan Province on Saturday to prepare for a deep descent in the South China Sea. – Xinhua (China)
China President Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Donald Trump in a phone call on Monday morning that Beijing was willing to continue communicating with Washington on issues regarding the Korean peninsula. – South China Morning Post
North Korea has detained another U.S. citizen, a Korean American professor, bringing to three the number of Americans being held in Pyongyang. – The Washington Post
Eleven months after the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) returned to power, almost 60 percent of the public is dissatisfied with its performance, while President Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) approval rating remains below 40 percent, according to a monthly poll released Monday. – Central News Agency (Taiwan)
Two opposition lawmakers and the deputy director of Radio Free Asia (RFA) for Cambodia have been summoned by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning after authorities accused the journalist of pretending to be part of the CNRP delegation during a prison visit on Wednesday. – The Cambodia Daily
The Great Indonesia Movement Party, or Gerindra, the main backer of Anies Baswedan's run for governorship in Jakarta, is optimistic about its chances of winning the 2019 presidential election after quick count results pointed to a comprehensive win for Anies and running mate Sandiaga Uno. – The Jakarta Globe
The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) beheaded a soldier who was once a member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). – Rappler
