NEWS OF THE DAY

_1 Egypt attack: Extremists attacked an army checkpoint in the troubled northern Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, causing 15 casualties among the armed forces including at least one officer shot dead, Egypt’s military spokesman said. The army killed seven of the militants during the firefight but did not give any further information on its casualties, according to a statement by Col. Tamer Rifai. Two other officers in the area said the officer and all the 14 other troops were killed. The army has for years been battling a long-running insurgency in North Sinai that is now led by an Islamic State affiliate.

_2 Zimbabwe mine: Eight miners who were trapped underground for several days after heavy flooding in Zimbabwe have been rescued, though dozens of their co-workers are still missing and feared dead. Rescuers removed the exhausted, muddied survivors Saturday and took them for medical treatment. Dozens of gold miners were caught underground Tuesday on the outskirts of Kadoma, west of the capital of Harare. It is unclear how many miners remain trapped. The government has reported that 60 to 70 people were working underground at the time of the incident. _3 Spain march: Thousands of Catalan separat- ists marched in Barcelo- na on Saturday to proclaim the innocence of 12 of their leaders who are on trial for their role in a failed 2017 secession bid. The front line of marchers held a banner saying in Catalan: “Self-determination is not a crime.” The trial of the highprofile separatists started last week in Spain’s Supreme Court in Madrid. They are facing charges for having ignored a court ban on holding a secession referendum and for issuing a declaration of independence that received no international recognition in October 2017. Separatists say Catalonia has a right to self-determination. Spain’s government says any vote on independence would require the national Parliament to amend the Constitution. _4 Mexico bailout: President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has announced a $3.9 billion bailout for the country’s cashstrapped, state-owned oil company and promised it an additional $1.6 billion in revenue, making it a rescue package of up to $5.5 billion. Lopez Obrador has made rescuing Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, a centerpiece of his first 100 days in office, beginning an offensive against fuel theft gangs that drill illegal taps into Pemex pipelines. The extra revenue is expected to come from increased sales for the company as sources of stolen fuel dry up. Lopez Obrador sees the company, which was nationalized in 1938 by his hero, former President Lazaro Cardenas, as a national symbol and engine for the economy. _5 France protests: Police fired tear gas and brought in water cannons and a horse brigade to disperse several thousand “yellow vest” protesters Saturday massed near a Paris landmark at the end of a march through the French capital. The rallies mark the 14th straight weekend of demonstrations by a movement that began in opposition to fuel taxes and grew to a mass movement against President Emmanuel Macron and his pro-business policies. Another protest planned Saturday was organized to denounce anti-Semitism after recent anti-Semitic vandal attacks raised national concern. Some yellow vest protesters have expressed racist views online and on the sidelines of protests, and French authorities fear the weekend protests are radicalizing. Polls suggest public support is fading for the protests, which often descend into clashes between demonstrators and police.