India's top court this week ordered the government to grant permanent commission to female officers in the army, paving the way for female army officers to be treated on par with their male colleagues.

Sex workers in Bangladesh often do not get a proper burial due to social stigma. This week's burial has been met with praise by human rights activists.

The northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima is reeling after a soldier killed 29 people in a weekend shooting spree. Security forces fatally shot the lone gunman after a 12-hour siege at a local shopping mall.

In August 2019, New Delhi scrapped Kashmir's semi-autonomous status, imposing a security blockade in the region. Rifat Fareed, DW's reporter in Srinagar, says six months on, Kashmiris feel more disgruntled than ever.

The UN health agency has called a new round of crisis talks to decide whether the coronavirus outbreak constitutes an international emergency. The body said it "regrets" previously calling the virus risk "moderate."

Thousands of foreigners are among those quarantined in Wuhan as countries scramble to evacuate their citizens from China. The number of confirmed cases in the deadly viral outbreak has risen to nearly 6,000.

One of the world's biggest users of plastics is seriously rethinking its environment policy. Beijing hopes to cut plastic waste by 30% in five years, banning single use plastic bags and straws.

Beijing has said it will not change course on Taiwan after Tsai's election victory. However, experts think her big win is more than "a slap in the face" for Beijing — it also reflects the failure of policy.

An African swine fever outbreak has decimated China's pork stocks, keeping food prices high and contributing to overall high inflation. The high prices will make Chinese New Year's feasts more expensive.

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's foray into Indian e-commerce with an online shopping platform called JioMart is expected to take on the likes of giants such as Amazon and Flipkart in the fast expanding sector.

Taiwan's president has rejected a Chinese offer of a Hong Kong like model for unity with China. She said democracy and authoritarianism cannot co-exist in the same country.

Beijing has sent its first Chinese-built aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait. With presidential elections in Taiwan weeks away, officials there have criticized the maneuvers as an intimidation tactic.

Indian police have imposed strict security measures amid protests over a citizenship law discriminating against Muslims. At least seven people have died so far in the ongoing unrest.

Former Germany midfielder Mesut Özil has criticized other Muslims for not speaking up for China's Uyghur minority. More than 1 million people in the western province of Xinjiang have been sent to re-education camps.

Protesters in India's ethnically diverse northern regions clashed with police, as the contentious bill passed the upper house of parliament. Muslims would be excluded from the fast-track citizenship laws.

For the first time, India would use religion as a legal basis for determining nationality, if the bill passes the upper house too. It's part of the Hindu nationalist strategy promoted by Narendra Modi.

Stars of the South Korean music genre have massive fan followings around the world. But K-pop's industry pressures and social media take a heavy toll on its so-called idols, as a series of recent deaths reveals.

A U.S. bill that describes Beijing's treatment of Muslim minorities as "gross violations" of human rights has been overwhelmingly supported. China has refuted the claims, saying they are merely trying to combat terrorism.