IN BRIEF (Page 11)

United Kingdom

Second royal baby due in April

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have confirmed that their second baby is due in April. Kensington Palace said in a statement on Monday that the duchess, who has been sidelined by a prolonged bout of severe morning sickness, continues to improve. The duchess canceled several engagements after her second pregnancy was announced in early September.

Iran

4 arrested over acid attack

Four people suspected of throwing acid over women have been arrested, according to Iran's state media. A series of acid attacks against at least two women in the central city of Isfahan last week provoked a public outcry. Local speculation centers on the possibility that the attackers believed the victims were not dressed in a sufficiently modest way. Under Iranian law, women must cover themselves from head to toe in public.

Syria

Kurds: Weapons not enough

The main Syrian Kurdish armed group defending the Syrian border city of Kobane against Islamic State attackers said on Monday that arms airdropped by the United States would not be enough to enable it to win the battle. Redur Xelil, a spokesman for the Kurdish YPG group, asked for more support. He said the weapons dropped overnight would have a "positive impact", but added, "Certainly it will not be enough to decide the battle."

Rok

DPRK accused of 'raising tension'

The heightening of tension near the inter-Korean border may be an attempt by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to protest against civic groups flying anti-DPRK leaflets across the border from the Republic of Korea, Seoul's Defense Ministry said on Monday. Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said a series of provocations over the weekend appear to have been orchestrated by Pyongyang.

Bangladesh

Bus accident kills 20, injures 30

At least 20 people were killed and 30 injured when two buses collided head-on in northern Bangladesh on Monday, police said. The accident happened at Baraigram in Natore, 220 kilometers from Dhaka, the capital. The death toll could rise as some of the injured were in critical condition, police official Mohammad Manirul Islam said.

India

13 workers die in blaze at factory

A blaze engulfed a fireworks factory in southern India on Monday, killing at least 13 workers and seriously burning seven others, police said. The fire comes days ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which is marked with fireworks.

Xinhua - AFP - AP - Reuters

(China Daily 10/21/2014 page11)