Thailand braces for flashpoint as court rules on charter change

10 Sept 12:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Constitutional Court is set to rule on March 11 whether Parliament has the authority to pave the way for a charter rewrite, a decision with serious implications for the nation's political stability.
The demand for constitutional change stems from youth-led protests advocating for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's resignation, a more democratic constitution, and monarchy reform, criticizing the 2017 charter as undemocratic.
The proposed amendment includes establishing a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) and requiring a public referendum, but the court's ruling could either permit the process, block it, or pass the decision back to Parliament.
The verdict is expected to significantly impact the Prayut government's stability and could either reignite mass anti-establishment protests or further complicate Thailand's tense political stand-off.

Six injured after car smashes into On Nut shopping mall

Yesterday 22:44 Key points summarised by AI

A 67-year-old woman drove her car through the glass frontage of a Bangkok shopping mall, injuring six people, including a six-year-old girl.
The driver claimed she accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake after being startled, causing the vehicle to surge forward.
She apologized to the victims, promising insurance coverage and additional financial aid, while police continue to gather statements before filing charges.