Thailand’s legislature rejects draft of constitution
BANGKOK — Thailand’s military-backed legislature on Sunday rejected an unpopular draft of a new constitution, delaying a return to democracy following a coup last year.
The junta-picked drafters had hoped the proposed charter would move the Southeast Asian country past almost a decade of political conflicts, but it was met with strong opposition on almost all sides of political divide.
The legislature appointed by the junta, known as the National Reform Council, voted 135 against vs. 105 in favor with seven abstentions. The rejection, although welcomed by many, still sets back a tentative plan for Thailand’s transition to electoral democracy, with the military retaining substantial powers until a new constitution is drafted.
A new 21-member drafting committee will now be appointed with a mandate to write a new charter within 180 days. It also needs approval by the legislature and will be put to a referendum — meaning elections aren’t likely until at least 2017, according to analysts, if the new draft is approved.
The government had previously said elections could take place late next year.
UK Labour Party rocked by ‘Corbynmania’
LONDON — Britain’s surprising new political star is a rumpled 66-year-old with a set of socialist ideas many thought had faded with the Cold War.
Jeremy Corbyn, the runaway favorite in a contest to lead the opposition Labour Party, opposes NATO and nuclear weapons, plans to apologize for the invasion of Iraq and wants to end austerity, heavily tax the rich and nationalize Britain’s railways.
Opponents say the longtime lawmaker is a relic of the past who will drive away moderate voters. But to supporters — many of them young, new to politics and brimming with enthusiasm — his old-fashioned ideas are the future.
“It’s a breath of fresh air,” said 24-year-old Alex Anthony, holding an “I’m on team Jeremy Corbyn” sign outside a candidates’ debate. “I’m sick and tired of the other candidates ignoring the fact that it wasn’t ordinary people that created the financial crisis.”
Clinton: Family paid State Department employee for email work while she was secretary of state
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday that her family paid a State Department employee to maintain the private email server she used while secretary of state and compensated him “for a period of time” for his technical skills.
After picking up the endorsement of New Hampshire’s senior senator, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, Clinton was again pressed to answer questions about an issue from her time in the Obama Cabinet that has dogged her presidential candidacy.
“We obviously paid for those services and did so because during a period of time we continued to need his technical assistance,” the Democratic front-runner told reporters after a campaign event.
Last week, that employee, Bryan Pagliano, told a House committee that he would invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination if called to testify.
By wire sources