Two Killed in Police Operation Amid New Caledonia Unrest

The deaths bring the total to 13 as tensions over voting reforms continue to roil the French Pacific territory.

Police killed two men in Saint Louis, a pro-independence stronghold, during an operation targeting suspects involved in armed robbery and attacks on security forces.
The unrest, which began in mid-May, is driven by Kanak fears that proposed voting reforms will marginalize them and hinder future independence referendums.
President Emmanuel Macron suspended the controversial voting reform in June, but violence has persisted, resulting in a state of emergency and the deployment of 3,500 troops.
Thirteen people, mostly Kanaks, have died since the violence began, with incidents including roadblocks, arson, and looting causing significant material damage.
In addition to the unrest in New Caledonia, Martinique has imposed a nighttime curfew due to ongoing protests against the high cost of living.