French President survives no-confidence motions
Paris, Aug 1 : The French parliament rejected on Tuesday a pair of no-confidence motions brought against the government of President Emmanuel Macron in connection with a scandal involving his now-former bodyguard.
The first proposal, put forward by the conservative Republicans, garnered 143 votes in the National Assembly, fewer than half the 289 required to pass, while only 74 lawmakers supported the second motion, submitted by the Socialists, Communists and the leftist France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party, Efe reported.
Though the conservatives and the left abstained on each other's motions, even their combined total - 217 - would have fallen far short of the 289-vote threshhold.
The no-confidence motions were widely viewed as symbolic, given that Macron's centrist La Republique En Marche (The Republic On the Move) has an absolute majority in the assembly.
During the debate ahead of the votes, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe defended the Macron government's response to video footage published by Le Monde that showed presidential bodyguard Alexandre Benalla, 26, beating protesters at a 2018 May Day demonstration.
"The events of May 1 say nothing about the presidency of the republic," Philippe told lawmakers. "Attempts to blame the president serve no interest other than political ones."
Macron dismissed Benalla after Le Monde released the video. The Benalla affair is one of the biggest political challenges to face Macron since he took office in May 2017.
A parliamentary inquiry into Benalla's actions is ongoing.
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US Consulate in Dubai reportedly attacked
Dubai: Smoke was seen rising from an area near the United States Consulate in Dubai, according to witness accounts cited by Reuters.
There was no immediate official confirmation on the extent of damage or whether there were any casualties in the incident.
Earlier, the US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, was also attacked. Authorities reported damage to the premises, but no casualties were recorded.
The developments come amid heightened tensions in the region, with Iran continuing to target US interests in the Middle East following deadly attacks launched on Saturday by Israel and the United States.
Near US embassy in Dubai pic.twitter.com/z5VTZNVxNO
— Sahil Shah (@thesahilsshah) March 3, 2026
