UN confce adopts migration pact despite withdrawals
AFP, Marrakesh
A United Nations conference adopted a migration pact in front of leaders and representatives from around 150 countries in Morocco on Monday, despite a string of withdrawals driven by anti-immigrant populism.
The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration – finalised at the UN in July after 18 months of talks – was formally approved in Marrakesh at the start of a two-day conference.
German rail strike halts trains nationwide
AFP, Germany
Germany was plunged into transport chaos today as most train services were halted by a railworkers’ strike over pay, affecting millions of passengers. Inter-city and regional services as well as many urban commuter trains were cancelled throughout Europe’s biggest economy by the four-hour stoppage from 5:00 am (0400 GMT), Deutsche Bahn (DB) said.
The strike halted all high-speed ICE trains and other inter-city services as well as most cargo trains, and its ripple effects and delays were expected to continue well into the afternoon.
Iraq celebrates one year since ‘victory’ against IS
AFP, Baghdad
Iraq’s premier Monday marked a year since his country announced victory against the Islamic State group by pledging to root out corruption and ensure hundreds of thousands of displaced return home.
One year since his predecessor announced the win, Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi said Iraq had scored “the biggest victory against the forces of evil and terrorism” when it ousted IS from its territory.
Russian ex-policeman convicted over 56 murders
AFP, Moscow
A Russian court on Monday found a former policeman guilty of 56 murders, while he is already serving a life sentence for killing 22 women, making him one of Russia’s most prolific serial killers.
“Irkutsk regional court found the defendant (Mikhail) Popkov guilty of killing 56 people between 1992 and 2007,” Irkutsk regional prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
