MPs have approved a motion to declare an environment and climate emergency. This proposal, which demonstrates the will of the Commons on the issue but does not legally compel the government to act, was approved without a vote. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who tabled the motion, said it was “a huge step forward”. Environment Secretary Michael Gove acknowledged there was a climate “emergency” but did not back Labour’s demands to declare one.

The declaration of an emergency was one of the key demands put to the government by environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion, in a series of protests over recent weeks. Addressing climate protesters from the top of a fire engine in Parliament Square earlier, Mr Corbyn said: “This can set off a wave of action from parliaments and governments around the globe. “We pledge to work as closely as possible with countries that are serious about ending the climate catastrophe and make clear to US President Donald Trump that he cannot ignore international agreements and action on the climate crisis.”(BBC)…[+]

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK – U.S. President Donald Trump directed officials to toughen rules for asylum seekers yesterday, including by introducing a fee for their applications and barring those who entered the country illegally from working until their claims are approved.

The moves are the latest effort by the Trump administration to stem a growing number of migrants crossing the U.S. southern border, many of whom then seek asylum in the United States. Many of the changes would be dramatic shifts in how asylum seekers are treated, but would also require time-intensive regulatory procedures before they go into effect, which will likely take months.

Trump administration officials have repeatedly blamed U.S. laws protecting asylum seekers for encouraging fraudulent or non-deserving claims. But immigrant advocates say the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict asylum protections harms people legitimately seeking refuge from violence and persecution.

Yesterday, Trump signed a presidential memorandum that directed the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to, within 90 days, introduce a slew of new regulations tightening asylum policy, including one setting a fee for asylum applications, which are currently free to file.(Reuters)…[+]

The body of an 11-year-old girl who was reported missing four days ago was discovered yesterday with signs of a brutal sexual attack, a gut-wrenching discovery on the eve of Child Month in Jamaica. Trisha Morris of Pond, Hanover, was last seen about 2:50 p.m. on Saturday.

Doris Lysaith-Earl, the adoptive mother of Trisha, said that the screams of a churchwoman on Tuesday morning alerted her to the grisly discovery of the girl.

The child, who attended Watford Hill Primary School, was reportedly found with multiple wounds to her body and her underwear was ripped away, suggesting that she might have been sexually abused. Trisha was last seen about 8 p.m. on Saturday in the company of a church sister. At least 14 children have been slain in Jamaica this year.(Jamaica Gleaner)…[+]