Former Peanut Corporation of America CEO Stewart Parnell was delivered with a virtual life prison term on Sept. 21 for a 2014 conviction related to a salmonella outbreak. The outbreak allegedly killed nine consumers and injured hundreds more. Parnell’s sentencing, which took place in Georgia, broke history as the toughest U.S. punishment for a corporate executive in a food-borne illness trial.

The United States has been keeping a “close” eye on Russian troops in Syria as the country continues its military build-up in the war-torn nation. The U.S. government reported that it had detected potential military activity in Latakia, Syria, a port city on the Mediterranean coast, where it is believed Russia wants to create two new bases. Satellites have been monitoring activity where Syrians have appeared to yield control to Russia.

Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn resigned Sept. 23 after reports surfaced that his car company had been falsifying emissions testing in its diesel vehicles. The allegations, which leaked Sept. 18, reported that Volkswagen had purposely programmed over 500,000 of its diesel cars to emit lower levels of harmful gases in official testing than with consumers on the road. Winterkorn says he was not aware of any wrongdoings on behalf of the company.