Briefly

SYRIA

Air defenses intercept 'Israeli aggression'

Syria's army said its air defenses intercepted an "Israeli aggression" over Damascus on Monday in the latest stepped-up bombing of alleged Iranian targets inside the country. State media did not give details of what was hit by the Israeli air force in the latest strikes inside the Middle Eastern country. Israeli military planes flew over the Golan Heights to hit select targets on the edge of the Syrian capital, an army statement said without mentioning casualties but adding air defenses downed most of the missiles. Witnesses heard heavy explosions on the southern edge of Damascus.

UNITED KINGDOM

Harry and Meghan expect second child

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle are expecting their second child, a spokesman said in an announcement. The couple released a black-and-white image of them under a tree, all smiles, with Markle, 39, showing signs of pregnancy. The announcement came 37 years to the day newspapers in Britain carried the news Prince Charles and Princess Diana were expecting Harry, their second child. Meghan and Harry, 36, who is Queen Elizabeth II's grandson, quit frontline royal duties in March last year and now live in California.

Agencies Via Xinhua