September 21, 2013/United States/Congressional Daily Summary

There was a mass shooting in the Westgate shopping mall in Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Ten presently unidentified gunmen attacked the upscale Westgate shopping mall, fatally shooting at least 68 people, according to the Kenyan Red Cross, and wounding more than 200 people in a mass shooting. Islamist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the incident and characterised it as retribution for the Kenyan military's actions in Somalia. with many media outlets suspecting the Somali-based group in line with their warnings following Operation Linda Nchi in 2011–2012. The attack is still considered ongoing with hostages being held.

President Barack Obama called his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta, the next day to express his condolences. The White House issued a statement that read: "The United States has offered its full support to the Kenyan government to bring to justice those responsible for "this heinous act." according to a statement released by the White House. National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said: "We will continue to stand with the Kenyan people in their efforts to confront terrorism in all its forms, including the threat posed by Al-Shabaab. This cowardly act against innocent civilians will not shake our resolve." Secretary of State John Kerry released a statement that read: "Today's terrorist massacre of so many innocents is a heartbreaking reminder that there exists unspeakable evil in our world which can destroy life in a senseless instant...Although we have no reports of any Americans killed today, we have lost a member of our own State Department family: the wife of a foreign service national working for the U.S. Agency for International Development... Attacks like this can't change who we are, a people committed to peace and justice for all, but rather must reaffirm our determination to counter extremism and promote tolerance everywhere. As we prepare to bring the world's leaders together at the United Nations next week, we are reminded again in tragedy of our common humanity." State Department's spokeswoman Marie Harf said that its citizens were reportedly among the injured and also condemned the "senseless act of violence. We have reports of American citizens injured in the attack, and the U.S. embassy is actively reaching out to provide assistance." National Security Advisor Susan Rice wrote on Twitter: "Despicable & cowardly terrorist attack on innocents in #Nairobi today. US stands firmly w/ Kenyan ppl in fight against terrorism, al-Shabaab."


 * Armed conflict and attacks
 * Islamic insurgency in the Philippines:
 * Battle of Zamboanga City: Six people die in the Philippines city of Zamboanga as fighting continues between the Army and Moro National Liberation Front insurgents. (AP via The Sun Herald)
 * Iraqi insurgency (post-U.S. withdrawal):
 * Over 100 people are killed in a series of attacks across Iraq, most of them in a twin suicide bombing at a Shiite funeral in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood. (BBC)


 * Business and economy
 * Exxon Mobil, BP and BG decline to take part in the upcoming international bidding for rights to explore Brazil's deep-water Libra oil field, one of the largest pre-salt fields yet to be explored in that country. (Xinhuanet) (GloboNews)


 * Disasters and accidents
 * Typhoon Usagi hits the northern Philippines causing flooding and landslides and disrupting transport, communications and power supplies. (Reuters)


 * International relations
 * Pakistan frees Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a cofounder of the Taliban in Afghanistan. (BBC)
 * The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons reports that Syria has handed over data on its chemical weapons program. (BBC)


 * Law and crime
 * Police in the Indian city of Mumbai charge several people in connection with a cricket match fixing scandal, including umpire Asad Rauf, former Chennai Super Kings principal Gurunath Meiyappan, Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh and 15 bookies. (Hindustan Times)


 * Politics and elections
 * Voters in Sri Lanka go to the polls for provincial elections with the Tamil National Alliance doing well in the north. (AAP via SBS)

= Resources =