Thai Parliament to hold special session

BANGKOK • Thailand's Parliament will hold an extraordinary meeting next week, the head of the National Legislative Assembly said yesterday, fuelling speculation that it could herald an invitation for Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to ascend the throne.

The throne has remained empty since the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, on Oct 13.

The monarch was regarded as a pillar of stability during decades of political upheaval and rapid development in the country, which has been run by a military junta since a coup in 2014.

REUTERS

7 children hurt in China knife attack

BEIJING • A knife-wielding man wounded seven children and two bystanders outside a primary school in north-western China yesterday, state media said, in the country's latest mass knifing attack.

Lei Mingyue, 58, attacked the pupils in the city of Hanzhong in Shaanxi province, and injured two passers-by while trying to escape, China Central Television (CCTV) said.

Lei, who was taken into custody and had previously been punished for theft crimes, was seeking "revenge on society", CCTV said, citing police.

REUTERS

PKR's Rafizi quits as secretary-general

PETALING JAYA • Malaysian MP Rafizi Ramli resigned as secretary-general of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) yesterday.

He had recently been sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for disclosing the Auditor-General's report on 1MDB. Although he is appealing against the court's decision, Mr Rafizi said he did not want the uncertainty to affect the daily running of the opposition party.

"However, I will remain as the party's vice-president," he said.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK