Syria Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi declares that Syria has stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and that it plans to use them in case of a foreign attack, but never against its own citizens. (AP via ABC News)
The European Union tightens sanctions on Syria, adding 29 more names to the existing list of 170 Syrian individuals and companies. (AP via ABC news)
After the heaviest rains in 60 years kill 37 in Beijing, 9 million microblog users criticise the government for the lack of warning and poor infrastructure. (Al Jazeera)(Reuters)