Syria: Russia and Syria appear to have seized on an offhand remark by Secy. of State John Kerry to reach a political solution for the Syrian chemical weapons crisis in which Russia would take and dispose of Syria’s chemical weapons. Kerry casually said yesterday that military action could be avoided if Bashar al-Assad, “could turn over every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international community in the next week.” Russia’s foreign minister made the surprising announcement that his country would be happy to do just that. Then Syria, which doesn’t admit it has chemical weapons, said it sounded like a good idea. The plan may actually have been discussed previously.

  France said it will propose the idea for United Nations endorsement.

  President Obama said he would be glad to defuse the situation without violence but he’s skeptical about whether the Syrians would actually give up their stockpiles of chemical weapons. The president is scheduled to address the country tonight at 9pm eastern.

World: At least 44 people died when a bus plunged into a river ravine outside Guatemala City. Another 46 were injured. Ninety people were on board the bus rated for 54.

• Four men have been convicted of the rape and murder of an Indian woman last December and could be sentenced to hang. The incident focused attention on sexual assault in India.

Take a Bite: Apple computer is scheduled to reveal new gizmos today.

Drinking and Posting: Police arrested a 22-year-old Ohio man who posted an online video admitting he killed a man while driving drunk. Matthew Cordle caused an Internet commotion last week when he posted the video saying, “On June 22nd, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani. This video will act as my confession.”  He said he drove the wrong way on an interstate. In the video slickly produced with somber music, Cordle says, “Make the promise to never drink and drive.”

The Obit Page: Cal Worthington, the Southern California king of the cornball car commercial, has died at home at age 92. Worthington once ran 29 dealerships and claimed to have sold a million cars. He appeared in commercials with a tiger, an elephant and Shamu the killer whale, all to the tune of his jingle refrain, “Go see Cal, Go see Cal, Go see Cal.”

Raskolnikov: Shellie Zimmerman called the police in Florida yesterday and said her estranged husband George had threatened her and her father with a gun. She told the dispatcher, “I don’t know what he’s capable of. I am really, really scared.” Zimmerman was acquitted of murder in the shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. Mrs. Zimmerman, who recently filed for divorce, declined to press charges.

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