Egypt officials say 19 militants, 5 troops killed in Sinai raids
Target temporarily closing stores due to protest dangers
Target was to temporarily close 105 stores in 10 states after several were broken into during protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week. The company is closing 46 stores in California and 33 in Minnesota, where the company is based and where the protests over Floyd’s death began. Target is also closing some stores in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, Georgia, Oregon, Michigan and Texas. Minneapolis-based Target didn’t say how it chose which stores to shutter or how long they will remain closed.
EL-ARISH, Egypt – The Egyptian military said it has killed at least 19 militants in raids and airstrikes against an Islamic insurgency in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, in clashes that also left at least five casualties among its troops. Col. Tamer el-rifai said in his statement late Saturday that the raids and airstrikes took place in the past week in the towns of Bir al-abed, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid. He said forces dismantled at least five explosive devices and destroyed two four-wheel drive vehicles and a storehouse.
Season’s 1st tropical storm drenches part of Central America
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – The first tropical storm of the Eastern Pacific season drenched parts of Central America on Sunday and officials in El Salvador said at least seven people had died in flooding. President Nayib Bukele decreed a 15-day state of emergency to deal with the rains that began pounding the country on Friday. Amanda had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph at landfall Sunday morning, but it weakened to a tropical depression status by afternoon, when it was centered about 45 miles northeast of Guatemala City.
Notre Dame forecourt opens to public after long cleanup
PARIS – Notre Dame Cathedral’s forecourt is being opened up to the public for the first time since the devastating fire of April 15 last year. The body overseeing the Gothic structure’s restoration said the reopening was possible after several deep cleaning operations took place to remove toxic lead dust. Dozens of tons of lead went up in flames during the fire. The site will continue to “be regularly cleaned and samples also taken” for monitoring and analysis. The cathedral will be closed through the years of renovations.