Macron defends tougher immigration reform as 'shield'
French President Emmanuel Macron has defended a controversial immigration reform, describing it as a "shield".
He said the tougher legislation - passed by MPs on Monday - was needed to cut an influx of illegal migrants.
It makes it more difficult for migrants to bring family members to France and delays their welfare benefits access.
The vote split Mr Macron's centrist Renaissance party and his health minister resigned. Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally backed the bill.
Leaders of a third of French regions said they would not comply with certain measures in the law.
On Wednesday, Mr Macron told the France 5 TV channel that the country had "an immigration problem".
"It is a shield that we needed," he said, referring to the new law.
The president added that his government needed to "stand by" the measure and "calm the tensions" in the country.
And commenting on the protest resignation of Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau, Mr Macron said he "respects" his position.
The bill was passed after the government had toughened a previous rejected draft to get the votes of Ms Le Pen's lawmakers.
One controversial provision of the legislation discriminates between citizens and migrants, even those living in the country legally, in determining eligibility for benefits.
It also bans detaining minors in detention centres.
Ms Le Pen welcomed the amended bill, calling it an "ideological victory" for the far-right.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.