The week began with Emmanuel Macron heading to Moscow for what he hopes will be the start of the long road to de-escalation over Ukraine.

India is expected to launch a digital version of its currency, the rupee. The plan for the sovereign-backed digital currency comes as the popularity of cryptocurrencies is on the rise.

In January, two women's rights organisations filed a petition with the New Delhi's High Court seeking to criminalise marital rape in India. They want to strike down a legal loophole in the Indian penal code which stipulates that rape within a marriage is not against the law. Indian law states that intercourse between a husband and wife over the age of 15 cannot be considered as rape.

This week, we're focusing on the consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine for Asian powers. The conflict calls into question China and India's close ties to Moscow and could affect other disputed areas like Taiwan and Kashmir. We take a closer look and speak to Professor Steve Tsang from SOAS University of London. We also hear from our New Delhi correspondent Edward Haywood.

Mukul Arya had been India's representative to the Palestinian Authority since last year. The sudden death of the young diplomat has shocked officials in India.

The BJP is projected to win four of the five states that went to the polls over the past month. The results could set the course for India's general election in 2024.

The high court in Karnataka has upheld a ban on hijab-wearing in schools and colleges. The ruling could have major repercussions for the rest of the country, with India having a large Muslim minority.

A court decision banning headscarves worn by Muslim girls in schools has ignited a debate over whether a court can decide what constitutes religious practice. Judges ruled the scarves aren't an "essential" part of Islam.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pushed for India to take a tougher line or Russia while meeting Narendra Modi in New Delhi. India has not directly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

More than half of India's population doesn't have access to clean drinking water. Contaminated water is not only disastrous for people's health and the environment, it is also estimated to cost the country more than half a billion euros annually. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to bring clean drinking water to all households by 2024, by investing €45 billion. But can he deliver? Our correspondents report on the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission.

Relations between India and China took a nosedive after deadly border clashes in June 2020. The Chinese foreign minister's visit marks the first high-level trip by a Chinese official in nearly two years.

While the EU tries to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, others are cashing in. India is buying more oil from Russia, at a heavily discounted price. It's already ordered six million barrels of Russian crude oil – half of last year's imports. Also in the show: Ghana's lawmakers approve a controversial "e-levy", a 1.5 percent tax on electronic payments.