Syria: The British Parliament yesterday rejected by 13 votes a measure to take part in air strikes against Syria in retaliation for using chemical weapons against civilians. The vote is an embarrassing defeat for British Prime Minister David Cameron and puts President Obama out there alone without America’s most dependable ally if he decides to take action. Rebel forces say the government has removed several Scud missiles and dozens of launchers from a base north of Damascus to hide them from a possible US strike.

N. Korean Justice: The South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reports that the former girlfriend of North Korean leader Kim-Jong-un and 11 other people were executed by firing squad for making a sex tape. Hyon Song-wol and the 11 others were all part of several musical troupes. The paper said members of the bands and family members were forced to watch the executions. Families of the executed musicians were then sent to a labor camp, according to a source quoted.

Hammered: The National Football league agreed to pay $765 million to settle a lawsuit brought by 4,000 retirees with dementia, and survivors of former players who died as a result of repeated hits to the head. The NFL had defended itself saying it never misled players about head trauma and always relied on the best current medical knowledge. Players of all sports used to just shake it off and get back in the game and only in recent years has concussion been seen as more serious.

Hold the Lettuce: Fast food workers in 60 US cities went on strike yesterday at McDonald’s and Burger King restaurants. Organizers claimed they shut down restaurants from New York, to Seattle. Workers want to form a union and win a $15 an hour minimum salary, more than double the current federal minimum wage of $7.25. Many workers are just part time, unable to earn a living. McDonald’s said in a statement, “Our history is full of examples of individuals who worked their first job with McDonald’s and went on to successful careers both within and outside of McDonald’s.”

The Obit Page: Irish poet Seamus Heaney, a winner of the Nobel Prize, has died in Dublin at age 74.

One Toke Over the Line: The Justice Department announced it will not sue to overturn laws legalizing marijuana for medicinal or recreational use in 20 states. Washington and Colorado allow use of marijuana for pleasure, while 18 other states and DC allow medicinal use. And it turns out a lot of your friends have chronic medical issues.