Syria 'staged 3 chemical attacks since April' - French intel report

At least three chemical attacks were staged in Syria between April and August, a declassified French intelligence report claims, while President Bashar Assad said it was “illogical” for the government to launch a chemical weapons strike.

The declassified nine-page French intelligence report, issued by the country’s external and military services, suggests government forces loyal to President Assad were behind the attack, which took place on August 21 in eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus.

The report alleges the strikes were directed from government-controlled areas to the east and west of Damascus and targeted rebel zones; the intelligence also describes "massive use of chemical agents" involved in the attack.

Moreover, the report alleges the Syrian government staged at least three chemical attacks since April, according to AFP, including those in the towns of Saraqib and Jobar in April. Those attacks appeared to have killed about 280 people.

source rt.com

The PS4 will have Kinect-like voice commands

PlayStation 4 will support voice command through the PlayStation Camera's built-in microphone, when you add the PlayStation camera into the mix, the pair works together to expand upon system features and enhance your PlayStation 4 experience," Coleman says. "The new stereoscopic lenses track your body movements in games or even recognize your face easier system navigation."

Acer unveils Liquid S2 as first 4K video recording smartphone

Acer has unveiled the Liquid S2, a brand new Android handset that features 4K 'Ultra HD' video recording; the "first" to do so according to Acer's press release. The smartphone packs a 13-megapixel camera with a BSI sensor and f/2.2 lens, surrounded by a ring LED flash, which alongside 4K recording is also capable of 1080p video at 60 frames per second, and 27-megapixel panoramas.

John Kerry said the administration is determined to act

The secretary of state stressed that President Obama had the right to take action "no matter what Congress does". He said he could "hear the complaints" about presidential abuse had Obama not gone to Congress, but that its backing would give any military action greater credibility: "We are stronger as a nation when we act together." But he added: "America intends to act."

The administration "may even be able to provide greater support to the opposition", Kerry said. Obama began providing weapons to Syrian rebels after determining earlier this year that Assad had carried out a smaller-scale chemical attack.

source theguardian.com

France, following US and UK, applies brakes on Syrian war rhetoric

Following Washington and London’s lead, French President Francois Hollande said he would wait for a parliamentary vote before committing France to a military attack on Syria.
The announcement comes as NATO countries reconsider whether to take military action against the Syrian government over a chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds of people in Damascus, amid growing public opposition to a US-led military intervention.

source rt.com

US military men speak out against Syria strike

Many US servicemen are against the looming strike on Syria, Republican Congressman Justin Amash said on Twitter, in an attempt to counter the idea that the country might be overwhelmingly in favor of military action.

Amash said he had been “hearing a lot from members of our Armed Forces" and said that "the message I consistently hear is: Please vote no on military action against Syria."

source rt.com

Britain sold nerve gas chemicals to Syria 10 months after war began

BRITAIN allowed firms to sell chemicals to Syria capable of being used to make nerve gas, export licences for potassium fluoride and sodium fluoride were granted months after the bloody civil war in the Middle East began.

The chemical is capable of being used to make weapons such as sarin, thought to be the nerve gas used in the attack on a rebel-held Damascus suburb which killed nearly 1500 people, including 426 children, 10 days ago.

source dailyrecord.co.uk