Obama argues for attack but says he will pursue deal
President Obama, in a nationally televised speech, cited “encouraging signs” for resolving the Syria crisis.

EVAN VUCCI/REUTERS/POOL

President Obama, in a nationally televised speech, expressed hope that he could find a diplomatic solution to eliminating Syria’s chemical stockpile.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/09/11/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/syria150-2495.jpg Proposal for Syria’s chemical weapons long in making

Secretary of State John Kerry’s ultimatum this week reflected deeper discussions with Russia that took place over the past year.

editorial

Suddenly, an opening that could achieve key goals

If Russia’s offer to help secure Syria’s forbidden weapons is sincere, it would accomplish US goals far more effectively than a military strike.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/09/11/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/syria150-2498.jpg Disposal of Syria’s toxic weapons daunting

The task of securing Syria’s chemical weapons would present a host of obstacles, according to US and international specialists.

Joseph Ligotti, left, and Robert Jubinville have had many dealings.

A court job offer brings a state veto

A clerk magistrate’s offer to hire his friend’s daughter is becoming a test for the Mass. court system, which is still recovering from the Probation Department hiring scandal.

Mayoral candidate Robert Consalvo keeps the focus on people and the things that concern them.

MAYORAL RACE: THE CANDIDATES

Urban details leap out at Robert Consalvo

Consalvo says if he is elected mayor, he will embrace the “urban mechanic” ethos that has defined Mayor Thomas Menino’s tenure.

Shirley Leung

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/09/11/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/leung-6201.jpg Can Marty Walsh be tough on unions?

If there’s one mayoral candidate the Boston business community is most wary of, it’s Walsh.

Governor Patrick calls for ending new tech tax

The governor abruptly changed course and said he no longer supports a controversial new tax on computer software services.

Wednesday’s commemorations take on a new dimension for those such as Peter Guza of North Andover, who lost his father in the 2001 World Trade Center attacks and was running in this year’s Boston Marathon when the bombs went off.

Marathon bombings change memorials for 9/11

The pain evoked by the bombings has added a new depth of grief to the commemorations of the Sept. 11 attacks in Boston.

Opinion

JEFF JACOBY

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/09/11/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/jacoby-2255.jpg The handshake delusion

Twenty years after the Oslo Peace Accord, the myth drags on that peace can come to the Mideast that easily.

Globe exclusives

Gayle Squires is using a recipe from “Jerusalem” (and notating it) to make lunch in her Cambridge kitchen for a friend.

How a Middle Eastern cookbook became a craze
Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, spoke about the new iPhone 5s in Cupertino, Calif.

Apple debuts more affordable iPhone
Farm School Student Erik Jacobs looks up from weeding a row of kale at the Farm School.

Letter From Farm School

A wet June followed by endless heat
From left: María Villar, Agustina Muñoz, and Romina Paula in director Matías Piñeiro’s “Viola.”

Movie Review

Bringing ‘Twelfth Night’ to Buenos Aires
Dave Chappelle (pictured in Texas last month) joked about his Hartford meltdown during his festival-closing set Sunday.

Comedy Review

Chappelle’s Hartford gibes are crowd-pleasers

Operation H began as a small investigation last December, targeting drug dealers. But police decided to pour in more resources after the shooting of a 13-year-old boy.

Police sweep had its limits
An undated photo of Kimberley A. Yout. Yout was diagnosed with PML last year.

MS drug effects bring $1m suits
Five Republicans have blocked all legislation in the House.

GOP protest puts Mass. House at standstill
From bottom left are David James Wyatt, Charles Yancey, Bill Walczak, Dan Conley, Martin Walsh, Felix Arroyo, Charlotte Golar Richie, Rob Consalvo, John Connolly, Charles Clemons, John Barros, and Michael Ross.

Mayoral hopefuls clash over casino
CNN’s new “Crossfire” panel is (from left): Van Jones, Stephanie Cutter, Newt Gingrich, and S.E. Cupp.

Two with Mass. roots join ‘Crossfire’ revival

Frame by Frame

Mixing bowl depicts the fall of Troy

Album review | Pop

Monáe continues to electrify

Fall Arts Preview

special section

2013 Fall Arts Preview

As the weather cools, the season heats up. Here’s your guide to the best in theater, dance, art, music, and more.

Boston mayoral race

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campaign notebook

From left, Martin Walsh, Felix Arroyo, and Bill Walczak discussed housing prices, late-night parties, and backyard chickens during a mayoral forum Tuesday at the Globe.

3 mayoral candidates discuss host of topics at forum

Felix Arroyo, Martin Walsh, and Bill Walczak talked about topics ranging from backyard chickens to housing prices.

Sports

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red sox 2, rays 0

A welcome sight for Sox fans: Clay Buchholz delivers to the Rays in the first. He threw five scoreless frames, with increased velocity.

Clay Buchholz lifts Red Sox in return

Buchholz threw five strong and surprisingly effective innings as the Red Sox shut out the Rays, 2-0.

Metro

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Avi Levy, a kite-surfer, got a close-up look of the mysterious fish that appeared near Castle Island.

Aquarium solves fishy mystery in Pleasure Bay

After seeing video of a fish that looked like a blue shark, the New England Aquarium termed it a mola mola, a giant ocean sunfish.

Columnists

Adrian Walker

A message gains traction
Charlie Baker spoke to members of the media outside of his home in Swampscott last week.

SCOT LEHIGH

A tale of two Charlies

farah stockman

Brilliant plan or Forrest Gump diplomacy?

Shirley Leung

Can Walsh be tough on unions?
Christopher Grimes, 8, died of cancer last week. He was buried in Vermont on Monday.

Kevin Cullen

Valuing what you have

Adrian Walker

What matters in Southie

farah stockman

Money behind messages in mayor’s race
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin E. Dempsey, left, and Secretary of State John Kerry waited while Senator Ed Markey and Teresa Heinz Kerry greeted each other on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

JOAN VENNOCHI

Senator Courageous? Not Markey

Innovation Economy

Signs of a nightmare job
A Syrian girl received treatment at a makeshift hospital in Damascus on Aug. 21. Hundreds of people flooded into hospitals that day; reports said more than 1,400 people, including hundreds of children, were killed in the alleged chemical attack.

NICHOLAS BURNS

Response is fundamental to a world of civility

Opinion | JAMES CARROLL

The strength not to react with force

Dan Shaughnessy

Ellsbury situation a buzzkill

Nation & World

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Documents released by Edward Snowden spurred the recent disclosures about the agency.

Court rebuked NSA on its use of phone data

A judge faulted the NSA in 2009 for improper handling of data on US phone calls, newly released documents showed.

Business

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The Health Policy Commission said that absorbing Jordan Hospital in Plymouth is not likely to drive up health costs.

Beth Israel closer to acquiring Jordan Hospital

The Health Policy Commission said that absorbing the hospital in Plymouth is not likely to drive up health costs.

Arts

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Movie Review

From left: María Villar, Agustina Muñoz, and Romina Paula in director Matías Piñeiro’s “Viola.”

Matías Piñeiro brings ‘Twelfth Night,’ sort of, to Buenos Aires

At just an hour, “Viola” is the length of a television drama episode, a duration that feels just right.

Food & dining

Smart Cooks

Flavorful chicken tacos with chipotle cream

With chipotle sauce, a kid-friendly meal becomes a little more exciting for adults too.

Globe Insiders

Insider Event | Sept. 25

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/09/03/BostonGlobe.com/Special/Images/Kabul_4May07_0271.jpg Qais Akbar Omar, author of ‘A Fort of Nine Towers’

Attend a book signing and presentation by Qais Akbar Omar, author of the internationally acclaimed memoir.

Boston Globe ePaper

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Read the ePaper edition

The complete print edition, in its exact layout. Browse the print edition page by page, including stories and ads.

Magazine

The cover for the September 8 2013 issue

Jefferson slept here
The cover for the August 25 2013 issue

Little folk
The cover for the August 18 2013 issue

Sharks Inc.
The cover for the August 11 2013 issue

Daniel Nava, the long shot

Ideas

“In 1975, there were 417 fires in Boston. Last year, there were 40. This is part of a nationwide trend, one that has begun to attract the attention of experts who say the country is overdue for a rethinking of just what fire departments are for.”

Leon Neyfakh,  on the changing role of firefighters