September 2013 Current Events: World News (part 1 of 2): Here are the key events in world news for the month of September 2013. *. President Obama Seeks Approval for Military Action Against Syria (Sept. 1): President Obamasurprises many when he announces that he will seek Congressional approval for military action against Syria. The military action will be in response to the chemical attack that killed 1,429 people last month. In a televised address, Obama calls Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons "an assault on human dignity." He also says, in the address, that a failure to respond "could lead to escalating use of chemical weapons or their proliferation to terrorist groups who would do our people harm. In a world with many dangers, this menace must be confronted."(Sept. 4):The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes, 10 to 7, to authorize military action in Syria. In the following days, Obama attempts to rally support for the strike, but both the public and Congress expresses increases reluctance for military action.(Sept. 9):A diplomatic solution is back on the table after U.S. secretary of state John Kerrysuggests half-heartedly that a strike can be averted if Assad agrees to hand over all chemical weapons. Russiatakes the proposal seriously. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says, "If the establishment of international control over chemical weapons in the country will prevent attacks, then we will immediately begin work with Damascus. And we call on the Syrian leadership to not only agree to setting the chemical weapons storage sites under international control, but also to their subsequent destruction."(Sept. 12):Syrian foreign minister Walid al-Moallem also embraces the option. "We are ready to reveal the locations of the chemical weapon sites and to stop producing chemical weapons and make these sites available for inspection by representatives of Russia, other countries and the United Nations," he says in a statement on Sept. 12. It is the first time the Syrian government acknowledges it has chemical weapons. Given the uncertainty of Congressional authorization, diplomacy will spare Obama a potential rebuke that can undercut his authority for the remainder of his presidency.(Sept. 15):Russia and the U.S. reach an agreement that Syria must provide an inventory of its chemicals weapons and production facilities within a week and either turn over or destroy all of its chemical weapons by mid-2014. If the government fails to comply, then the UN Security Council will take up the issue. The timetable is extremely aggressive; such disarmament typically takes years, not months. While the agreement delays a Congressional vote on a military strike, the U.S. keeps that possibility on the table. "If diplomacy fails, the United States remains prepared to act," Obama says. *. Kenya's Deputy President Denies Charges of Crimes Against Humanity (Sept. 11):Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto pleads not guilty to charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in early September 2013. The charges stem from the violence that followed the 2007 election. President Kenyatta is scheduled to appear before the court in November. Days before Ruto appears at the ICC, parliament votes to withdraw from the court. *. United Nations Confirms Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria (Sept. 16):The UN confirms in a report that the chemical agent sarin was used near Damascus on Aug. 21. "Chemical weapons have been used in the ongoing conflict between the parties in the Syrian Arab Republic, also against civilians, including children, on a relatively large scale," the report says. "The environmental, chemical and medical samples we have collected provide clear and convincing evidence that surface-to-surface rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were used." The report does not indicate who was responsible for launching the attack.(Sept. 18):Russia denounces the UN's report, calling it incomplete. In a statement broadcast on Russian television, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei A. Ryabkov says, "We think that the report was distorted. It was one-sided. The basis of information upon which it is built is insufficient."(Sept. 26):The five permanent members of the Security Council agree on a resolution that requires Syria to hand over its stockpile of chemical weapons. If Syria fails to comply, then the Security Council will reconvene to determine repercussions, which could include military action or sanctions. Meanwhile, the fragile coalition of opposition groups further splinter, when 11 rebel groups announce that they will no longer recognize the Syrian National Coalition, the dissident leadership that is based in Turkey. Instead, the groups say they will work together to establish sharia, or Islamic law, in Syria. The move signals the rising power of groups affiliated with al-Qaeda.

August 2013 Current Events: U.S. News. Here are the key events in United States news for the month of August 2013. *. Minnesota and Rhode Island Begin Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses (Aug. 1):Two more states, Minnesotaand Rhode Island, begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples this month. To see all the states that have legalized same-sex marriage, go here. *. Bulger Found Guilty of Racketeering, Extortion, Conspiracy and Murder (Aug. 12):Notorious Boston gangster James (Whitey) Bulgeris found guilty of 31 of the 32 charges he faced, including murder, extortion, money laundering, drug dealing and possession of weapons. Bulger, at age 83, faces a sentence of life in prison, plus thirty years. His sentencing is scheduled for November 13. *. Manning Sentenced to 35 Years for Leaking U.S. Files (Aug. 21):Private Bradley Manning, age 25, is sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking over 700,000 U.S. government files to WikiLeaks, files that contained classified U.S. military activities. It is the longest sentence ever given in the U.S. involving leaked government data to the public. Private Manning can be up for parole in seven years, according to his attorney.(Aug. 22):The day after his sentencing, Manning announces that he is female and wants to be referred to from now on as Chelsea. The announcement is made during an appearance on theTodayshow by David E. Coombs, Manning's defense lawyer. Coombs makes the announcement by reading Manning's written statement. In the statement, Manning writes: "As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition. I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun."

August 2013 Current Events: Business News. Here are the key events in business and science news for the month of August 2013. *. More Jobs Are Added in July, But Growth Remains Slow (Aug. 2):According to the Labor Department, 162,000 jobs are added in July, thirty thousand less than what was added in June. Meanwhile, unemployment decreases from 7.6 percent in June to 7.4 percent in July, partly because more people stopped looking for work. The unemployment rate represents only those who are only actively seeking a job. *. Amazon Founder BuysThe Washington Post(Aug. 5): Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, buysThe Washington Postfor $250 million. Bezos is currently ranked 19th onForbes' billionaire list. He has an estimated fortune of more than $25 billion. Despite his extensive wealth and success, Bezos' purchase comes as a surprise because he has not previously mentioned an interest in the newspaper business.

August 2013 Current Events: Disasters & Science news. Here are the key events in Science and Disasters news for the month of August 2013. *. Several Wildfires Burn in Several States (Aug. 17):As of mid-August, 34 wildfires are burning in eleven states. There are ten wildfires in Idahoalone. Idaho residents near the town of Ketchum are forced from their homes as 1,200 firefighters battle the state's biggest wildfire, which currently burns across 1,000 acres. More than 2,300 homes have been evacuated so far in central Idaho. The fire is six percent contained.(Aug. 26):One of the biggest fires in California's history continues to spread near Yosemite National Park. The fire, which is being referred to as the Rim Fire, is seven percent contained and has burned through 144,000 acres, making it the 14th largest fire in Californiasince 1932, the year the state started keeping wildfire records. The size of the fire is roughly the size of Chicago. The fire's location makes it a threat to San Francisco's electrical and water supply. Nearly 3,000 firefighters are battling the blaze. *. Train Hits Crowd in India, Killing Dozens (Aug. 19):Dozens of Hindu pilgrims are killed while crossing the tracks near a remote station in eastern Indiawhen an express train crashes into them. After the crash, the crowd drags out the train's driver and beats him. The crowd also sets the train on fire. The Bihar train station is not accessible by road and express trains usually come through without stopping at a speed of 50 miles per hour. Officials say the driver of the train had clearance to pass through the station. Thirty-seven people are confirmed dead, including several children.

August 2013 Current Events: World News. Here are the key events in world news for the month of August 2013. *. Russia Grants Asylum to Fugitive, Angers U.S. (Aug. 1): Russiagrants Edward Snowden, the American who leaked info about U.S. surveillance, asylum for one year. The temporary asylum allows him to leave the Moscow airport where he has been since June. Russia grants Snowden asylum despite strong urging from the U.S. not to do so. In response, President Obamacancels a planned summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putinwhich was to be held in Moscow in September. *. Egypt Declares State of Emergency (Aug. 14):In Cairo, riot police raid protest camps. They open fire and use armored bulldozers, tear gas, snipers, and helicopters to clear the camps. Protesters throw rocks and burn tires in response. More than 500 people are killed, and the government declares a state of emergency. Mohamed ElBaradei resigns as vice president in protest of the military's action. President Barack Obama cancels joint military exercises between Egyptand the U.S. that are scheduled for September in response to the military's repressive and heavy-handed tactics. "While we want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual while civilians are being killed in the streets," Obama says.(Aug. 18):The crackdown and protests continues, as both the military and Mohammed Morsi's supporters vow to continue their fight. Casualties mount with more than 1,000 fatalities, most of whom are Morsi supporters. Thirty-six Islamic militants in police custody are killed while being transported to prison on the outskirts of Cairo.(Aug. 19):Militants kill 24 police officers in the northern Sinai region. Foreign governments urge the military to use restraint, a plea largely ignored. While foreign officials deplore the heavy-handed tactics of the military, they are careful not to imply support for the protesters, recognizing that the interim government is the only hope for stability. Police arrest Mohamed Badie, the Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual leader, and charge him with incitement to murder. Meanwhile, a court orders that former president Hosni Mubarak be released from prison, calling into question whether the 2011 revolution would be in vain. Given the turn of events, all signs indicate that Egypt is headed back to becoming an authoritarian regime. *. Israel and Palestine Begin Talks on Their Own Turf (Aug. 14):Israelis and Palestinians officially begin peace talks in Jerusalem. Expectations are low going into the talks, the third attempt to negotiate since 2000, and nearly five years since the last attempt. The talks begin just hours after Israelreleases 26 Palestinian prisoners. The prisoner release is a step on Israel's part to bring Palestineback to the negotiating table. Israel says the prisoner release will be the first of four. However, Palestinian officials are concerned over Israel's ongoing settlement building in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, land that will be part of an official Palestinian state. "The talks might collapse any time because of the Israeli practices," says Yasser Abed Rabbo, adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking on Voice of Palestine radio about the settlements. Israelis are also aware of the challenges ahead. In a TV interview just before the talks began, Israel's chief negotiator Tzipi Livnisays, "It will be complicated and complex, but I am not giving up." *. Opposition Accuses Government of Chemical Weapon Attack in Syria (Aug. 21):Opposition groups accuse the Syrian government of attacking rebel areas in Zamalka, Ein Terma, and Erbeen, suburbs east of Damascus, with chemical weapons. Gruesome, graphic images in the media show victims foaming at the mouth and twitching and lines of covered corpses. The opposition say as many as 1,000 people died in the attack. The government denies it launched a chemical attack. The alleged attack coincides with the arrival of UN inspectors to Syriato investigate earlier allegations of government use of chemical weapons. Inspectors are cleared to investigate the site, and their convoy is fired on by snipers en route. They do gain access to the affected areas and took samples for testing. The Syrian government denies it launched a chemical attack. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerrycalls the attack a "moral obscenity" and an "indiscriminate slaughter of civilians."(Aug. 27):Because Russia and China vow to veto any UN Security Council resolution authorizing retaliation on Assad, the U.S. and allies hope to form a coalition to support an attack. President Obama says that he is considering a limited strike on the military bases