Thin Red Line: The White House reports that with “varying degrees of confidence” US intelligence agencies believe Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons against his own people. But a statement said the US needed conclusive proof before taking action. …

World: The situation at a remote gas facility in the Algerian desert is still uncertain and unresolved. As many as 650 people escaped after the attack by Islamist militants, authorities say, but an undisclosed number is still being held hostage. …

World: At least 35 hostages may have been killed in a military operation to re-take a foreign-operated natural gas field in the eastern Algerian desert that was over run by Islamic militants on Tuesday. Exact numbers are hard to nail …