News In Brief

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George Bush taken to hospital again
Reuters, Maine
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, 93, was taken to a hospital in Maine on Sunday after experiencing low blood pressure and fatigue, a family spokesman said on Twitter.
Bush, the oldest living former U.S. president, will likely remain at Southern Maine Health Care for a few days for observation, said the spokesman, Jim McGrath.

Merkel met wives of jailed China’s lawyers
AFP, Beijing
German Chancellor Angela Merkel met the wives of two detained Chinese human rights lawyers during her trip to Beijing last week in a rare move for a visiting leader, the women told AFP Monday.
Heads of state or government often avoid making major public statements about human rights during their trips to China, or holding meetings with activists or relatives.

Heavy rain, floods hit parts of UK
AP, Birmingham
Heavy rainfall and storms have produced flooding in the English city of Birmingham and other parts of the country.
Rain and thunderstorms were expected to continue in some areas Monday.

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2 killed as rebels, Indian forces fight
AP, Srinagar
Rebels attacked an Indian army camp and an armored vehicle, leading to fighting in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said Monday. A soldier and a civilian were killed and three soldiers were wounded. The deaths occurred overnight during fighting that followed a rebel attack on an army camp in southern Kakpora village, said a police official who spoke under anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the media.

Oman cyclone death toll raises to 6
AP, Dubai
Oman has raised the death toll in the country from Cyclone Mekunu to six. The Royal Oman Police announced the death of two additional Omanis who lost control of their car in flood waters in Salalah, Oman’s third-largest city, which was directly hit by Cyclone Mekunu over the weekend.

Spanish PM faces growing election calls
Reuters, Madrid
Spain’s Ciudadanos party upped the pressure on Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Monday, intensifying calls for snap elections after a proposed no-confidence motion roiled markets last week.
The country’s fragmented parliament is expected to accept the no-confidence motion by the Socialists as soon as Monday, but it may be hard to gather the 176 or more votes necessary to oust Rajoy, who survived a no-confidence vote last June.