Israel has declared a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency following a barrage of rocket attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are taking pre-emptive strikes against targets in Lebanon to prevent further attacks and are urging civilians to move to safer areas. The US has pledged support for Israel’s right to defend itself and is monitoring the situation closely.
Myanmar’s nominal president, Myint Swe, is suffering from serious illnesses, according to state media, raising concerns about the junta’s legitimacy and stability as it faces an ongoing rebellion and a crumbling economy. The military is struggling to govern and has extended a state of emergency several times, promising future elections.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has lifted the state of emergency declared over staffing issues in the state’s Department of Corrections. The Republican governor had called upon the state National Guard nearly two years ago to address the severe staff shortage in jails and prisons, with a vacancy rate exceeding 30% at the time. During the state of emergency, over 730 National Guard members assisted in 17 correctional facilities throughout West Virginia.
France has declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia following violent protests against electoral reforms that have resulted in four fatalities, including one police officer. The protests, which have been sparked by concerns that the reforms could marginalize the Indigenous Kanak population, have seen thousands of rioters clashing with gendarmes, resulting in hundreds of arrests and injuries. The French government has deployed hundreds of police to the territory and expanded powers for local authorities to restore order. The violence highlights deep-seated tensions between the Kanak people, who seek independence, and descendants of European colonizers, who prefer to remain part of France.
