Briefly

FRANCE

New PM survives 1st no-confidence motion

France's new Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Tuesday survived a motion of no confidence brought by the left, a first test for his government whose support in parliament is fragile. The motion, which would have needed 289 votes to be adopted by a majority of the 577-seat National Assembly, was supported by only 197 lawmakers. The left-wing New Popular Front coalition had put forward the motion with Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure defending it, but he admitted that it was soundly beaten.