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This is the world in brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

In an address to the nation, Emmanuel Macron vowed to remain France's president

until the very end of his mandate in 200727 and said he would appoint a new prime

minister in the coming days. Michelle Barnier resigned from the job after Parliament

toppled his minority government in a vote of no confidence sparked by a budget debacle.

Mr Macron accused his political opponents of choosing chaos.

Syrian rebels captured Hamar, a city strategically located between Aleppo, Syria's second largest city,

and the capital, Damascus. After five days of fighting around the city, the Islamist militants entered from the east.

The Syrian army confirmed that it had retreated, cementing the second major victory for the insurgents

since the start of their lightning advance across the country's northwest last week.

A strong earthquake, with an initial magnitude of 7.0, struck off the coast of northern

California.

Tremors were felt in San Francisco, more than 200 miles south of the epicenter.

Officials issued a brief tsunami warning in parts of California and Oregon, but cancelled it after an hour.

A federal judge rejected a plea deal that Boeing struck with America's Justice Department

over its role in two 737 max jet crashes in 2018 and 2019. The judge objected to the agreements, diversity requirements.

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