Asia News Wrap: Malaysia steps in to counter Iran war impact, and more

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

Malaysia announces measures to support businesses to counter the impact of Iran conflict

Malaysia's Finance Ministry announced several new measures on Monday to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the global energy crisis caused by the US-Iran conflict. The measures include an allocation of 5 billion Malaysian ringgit ($1.2 billion) to provide financial coverage of up to 80% and a guarantee period of up to 10 years for affected businesses, the ministry said in a statement. The government would also consider interim import duty and sales tax exemptions until December 31, 2026, on reimported Malaysian goods that are unable to complete the export process due to disruptions caused by the conflict.

China sees 29% year on year increase in Q1 inbound tourism

China's National Immigration Administration reported on Wednesday that 8.315 million foreign nationals entered the country visa-free in the first quarter of this year, marking a 29.3% increase compared to the previous year. Improved visa policies, the recovery of international flights and better payment services have helped unlock the full potential of inbound tourism.

Schools in Delhi to have 'drink water-bell' to prevent dehydration 

Schools in India's capital, New Delhi, must ring bells to remind students to drink water as the city prepares for heatwave conditions, a new city order released on Tuesday has said. Summer heat in northern India can be intense – posing risks to millions, with nearly 11,000 deaths from heatstroke between 2012 and 2021, according to government data. A heatwave in May 2024 in New Delhi saw temperatures match the city's previous record high of 49.2 degrees Celsius, set in 2022.

DPRK test fires tactical ballistic missile

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a test launch of the upgraded surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpho-11 Ra on Sunday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The purpose of the test was to verify the characteristics and power of the cluster bomb warhead and the fragmentation mine warhead used on the tactical ballistic missile, according to KCNA. Five tactical ballistic missiles launched toward the target area near an island about 136 km away hit an area of 12.5-13 hectares at very high density, fully demonstrating their combat effectiveness, the report said.

YouTube complies with Indonesia's social media curbs

Video platform YouTube has complied with Indonesia's social media restrictions for children under 16, the country's communications minister said on April 22. Google's YouTube has submitted a "letter of compliance" to Indonesia's Communications Minister Meutya Hafid, according to a press conference. Earlier in April, Indonesia sent Google a letter of reprimand for YouTube's failure to meet the social media restrictions that went into effect in March. Under the new regulation, Indonesia requires social media companies with high-risk platforms to deactivate accounts belonging to children under 16. YouTube has increased the minimum age in its guidelines to 16, the minister said, adding that "YouTube has also outlined plans to deactivate these accounts (under 16) and will eliminate advertisements targeting children and teenagers in the future."

(Cover: Petronas Twin Towers on February 6, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. /CFP)