Here are a few stories from around Asia you may have missed this week.

Malaysian civil servants start working from home

Malaysian civil servants started working from home on Wednesday as the Work from Home (WFH) policy for the entire federal public sector was implemented. The WFH policy is a response to the energy crisis caused by the Middle East conflict and applies only to federal civil servants in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and other state capitals who live more than 8 km from their offices. About 200,000 public servants are affected by Malaysia's WFH directive that began on April 15, said the chief secretary to the government. He noted that WFH approval will be at the discretion of individual department heads, based on operational needs and job suitability. Government buildings are now using less power, with fewer lights and lifts operating.

Workers protest over minimum wage in India's Noida

The state of Uttar Pradesh, India, raised workers' minimum wages after days of protests. Protesters in Noida, on the outskirts of the Indian capital, Delhi, threw stones and set vehicles on fire on Monday, demanding higher wages as costs rose due to the Iran conflict. Many manufacturing units in Noida remained shut on Tuesday as protests continued in some areas, with people marching in the streets. About 40,000 workers participated in the Noida protest, according to the police, which has filed seven criminal cases related to the demonstrations. Over 300 people were arrested.

Hong Kong's ban on e-cigarettes to start on April 30

People in Hong Kong will be prohibited from possessing or using e-cigarettes and related products in public places starting on April 30. This expands an earlier ban on their import, manufacturing and sale introduced in 2022. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Department of Health announced that it will be illegal for anyone to possess or use alternative smoking products – including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes – in public once the regulation takes effect.

China's foreign minister visits DPRK, both sides pledge to strengthen ties 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday, April 10. He met with Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, in Pyongyang. Wang Yi said China is ready to collaborate with the DPRK to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders and to deepen exchanges and practical cooperation. Kim Jong Un stated that ties between Pyongyang and Beijing have reached a new level, while reaffirming support for China on issues concerning its core interests. Both sides pledged to strengthen strategic communication and coordination amid a complex global environment and to jointly contribute to regional peace and stability. 

Sri Lanka repatriates stranded Iranian sailors

Sri Lanka repatriated 238 Iranian sailors stranded in the country after one of their warships was torpedoed by a US submarine, Deputy Defense Minister Aruna Jayasekara said on Wednesday. He said that 32 sailors rescued from the IRIS Dena – a frigate attacked on March 4 just off Sri Lanka – and another 206 from the IRIS Bushehr left on Tuesday. The ship was returning from a naval exercise amid the US-Israeli conflict on Iran. Sri Lanka also rescued 208 crew members from a second vessel, IRIS Booshehr, on March 5, which had also requested assistance from Colombo after it experienced engine trouble.

(Cover: The skyline of downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 7, 2026. /CFP)