Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, April 24

Afghan Defense Minister Abdullah Habibi and the army's Chief of Staff Qadam Shah Shahim resigned on Monday, the country's presidential palace confirmed.

The resignations came in the wake of a deadly Taliban attack on an army base which left over 135 soldiers killed and 60 others injured in the northern province of Balkh on Friday. (Afghanistan-Resignation)

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TOKYO -- Local residents of Kadena on Okinawa's main island said the United States military conducting parachute training drills over Okinawa's mainland on Monday morning was completely unacceptable with the latest provocation coming amid rising anti-U.S. military sentiment on the island.

Along with the unexpected parachute drill and constant anti-relocation rallies, residents have also been up in arms recently about stray bullets found at the Afuso Dam construction site in the Camp Hansen Marine Corps base on the island. (Japan-U.S. military base)

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KABUL -- Casualties were feared as a massive car bombing rocked near an airport in Afghanistan's eastern Khost city on Monday, a source said. (Afghanistan-Car bombing)

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KUALA LUMPUR -- Sultan Muhammad V was formally installed as Malaysia's new king on Monday, as a grand ceremony celebrating the event was staged at the National Palace during which the king delivered a speech calling for unity in a country with different races and religions. (Malaysia-New king)

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JALALABAD -- Thirty-seven Islamic State (IS) militants were killed during an ongoing military operation in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar, said a military statement on Monday. (Afghanistan-IS) Endit