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WORLD NEWSFriday 1 April 2016
Afghan Taliban dissident pledges allegiance to leader
M. KHAN Abdul Qayum Zakir had Zakir had recently pledged to deep mistrust among lows a rallying call issued by
L. O’DONNELL disagreed with the ap- allegiance to Mansoor. some at the top of the in- Mansoor earlier this month,
Associated Press pointment of Mullah Akhtar His loyalty pledge helps surgent movement who felt in which he called on disaf-
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan Mansoor as leader of the close one of several rifts betrayed. The announce- fected Taliban to reunite
(AP) — Senior members of Taliban following the death that emerged after Mul- ment of Omar’s death also under his leadership. This
the Afghan Taliban said on of the movement’s one- lah Omar’s death was an- derailed a peace process appears to be an attempt
Thursday that a prominent eyed founder, Mullah Mo- nounced by the Afghan that has yet to be revived. to strengthen his position
figure within the militant hammad Omar. government last summer. The Taliban recently an- ahead of any peace dia-
group who had opposed Two Taliban members — Mansoor had led the nounced they would not logue, consolidating bat-
its new leadership has now Mohammad Ghaus, a for- movement in Omar’s attend direct talks with Af- tlefield gains made after
pledged his allegiance, eign minister in the Taliban’s name for more than two ghan government repre- the international combat
helping to close divisions 1996-2001 regime, and rul- years after he died. Kabul’s sentatives, which Kabul of- mission ended in 2014 and
within the Taliban ahead ing council member Mullah announcement of Omar’s ficials had said would take left Afghan forces to fight
of possible peace talks with Gul Rahman Saleem — told death elevated Mansoor place in early March. largely alone for the first
the government. The Associated Press that to the leadership, but led Zakir’s return to the fold fol- time in the war’s 15 years.
Overpass collapse kills 21, leaves others trapped in India
MANIK BANERJEE Locals and rescue workers clear the rubbles of a partially collapsed overpass in Kolkata, Thurs- crying at the spot.”
Associated Press day, March 31, 2016. A long section of a road overpass under construction collapsed Wednesday At least 21 people were
KOLKATA, India (AP) — A in a crowded Kolkata neighborhood, with tons of concrete and steel slamming into midday traffic killed, a police official said
long section of an over- killing several and injuring many. on condition of anonym-
pass under construction ity because he was not
collapsed Thursday in a (AP Photo) authorized to speak to the
crowded Kolkata neigh- media. More than 70 peo-
borhood and sent tons of ing. gesh Sharma, who was “I left my cup of tea and ple were taken to two hos-
concrete and steel slam- pitals in Kolkata, the state
ming onto midday traffic, It “came down with a huge sitting at a roadside tea ran,” said Sharma, a capital, officials said.
killing at least 21 people
and leaving scores of oth- crashing sound,” said Yo- stand with friends. 23-year-old resident. “I was It was not immediately
ers injured, police said. clear how many people
More people were feared were missing.
trapped in the debris, and Army troops and personnel
rescuers used saws, small from the National Disaster
cranes and their bare Response Force joined the
hands to search for survi- effort to pull people from
vors. Smashed yellow taxis, smashed vehicles. Huge
destroyed rickshaws and cranes and other equip-
the bloody legs of trapped ment were brought to the
people jutted from the fall- site to begin clearing the
en girders and concrete. rubble. Workers also used
The overpass spanned cutting torches to pry open
nearly the width of the the slabs.
street and was designed The operation was a “very,
to ease traffic through the very challenging task,” said
densely crowded Bara Ba- O.P. Singh, chief of the di-
zaar neighborhood. About saster response force. Res-
100 meters (300 feet) of the cuers also used dogs and
overpass fell, while other special cameras to find
sections remained stand- people who were trapped,
he said.
South Korea upholds tough anti-prostitution laws
KIM TONG-HYUNG The Constitutional Court to prevent exploitation and tution laws say they limit tion would benefit exploit-
Associated Press decided to uphold a provi- protect moral values. women’s freedom over ers more than sex workers.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) sion that makes it a criminal South Korea has always their bodies. They argue prostitution is in-
— South Korea’s constitu- offense to voluntarily sell or banned prostitution, but They also say that tougher herently violent and exploit-
tional court on Thursday up- buy sex, the laws were rarely en- punishment has made sex ative for women, especially
held laws that toughened punishable by up to a year forced and red-light dis- work more dangerous for in a country like South Ko-
punishment on prostitutes, in prison or a fine of 3 million tricts were largely tolerated women by creating a thriv- rea, where women suffer
pimps and their clients. won ($2,600). before 2004. ing underground industry from one of the harshest
The 2004 legislation drove The ruling was made in re- The court said that decrimi- in which they sell sex at inequalities among de-
thousands of sex workers in sponse to a compliant by nalizing prostitution would bars, apartment rooms and veloped nations and are
traditional red-light zones a female sex worker, who inspire an explosive growth through social media and often economically pres-
out of business in South- argued people have the in sex trade, dating apps, sured into prostitution.
Korea, but prostitution has right to choose their occu- which often leaves them Male prostitution and ho-
still thrived in the shadows. pation. threaten the stability of more vulnerable to abusive mosexuality largely remain
Sex workers have occa- A court statement said South Korea’s society and customers and pimps. taboo subjects in conser-
sionally held rallies calling that the government could economy and inspire disor- Supporters of the laws say vative South Korea and are
for the laws’ abolishment. deny such individual rights derly sexual behavior. decriminalizing prostitu- rarely discussed in public.
Critics of the anti-prosti-
