German parliament approves tougher asylum rules

Chancellor Angela Merkel has come under intense pressure to reduce the number of asylum seekers in Germany, which saw an influx of around 1.1 million in 2015. The measure applies to some rejected asylum seekers who still cannot be expelled because they risk torture or the death penalty in their own country. The asylum application process would also be sped up, with centres set up to process applications from "economic migrants" who have little prospect of winning refugee status.