We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. ‘Do you want a boycott?’: Malaysia’s top mall rolls dice with flag ban
Malaysia’s most famous shopping centre edged closer to a damaging boycott after threatening to throw out a second group of pro-Palestinian protesters carrying flags, prompting calls for a mass gathering inside the plaza after Friday prayers.
2. Thaksin Shinawatra’s fall from grace ends in a Thai prison cell
Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire tycoon who once dominated Thai politics, spent his first night behind bars on Tuesday after the Supreme Court sentenced him to a year in prison.
3. Nepal’s ex-chief justice Sushila Karki chosen as interim prime minister
Nepal has appointed former chief justice Sushila Karki as the country’s interim prime minister, creating history as the first woman to hold the position, after days of tumultuous protests.