Tunisia political tensions
Supporters and opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied clash outside the parliament amid a political crisis in the African nation. The clashes took place after proponents of the ruling Ennahda Party and advocates of the president gathered in front of the parliament. The unrest was sparked by Saied’s decision to dismiss Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and suspend the parliament. Afterward, the army blocked parliament speaker Rached Ghannouchi from entering the legislative body's building. The upheaval follows violent protests in several cities across Tunisia. Demonstrations were held over the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy.
US Afghanistan airstrikes
The head of the US Army Central Command says American forces will continue their airstrikes in support of the Afghan military fighting the Taliban in the coming weeks. General McKenzie also acknowledged that there are tough days ahead for the Afghan government. He said it will be clear in the next days and weeks if Afghan forces will be able to defend the country. McKenzie's remarks came as thousands of families have been displaced in the fighting in the past month in the southern city of Kandahar. On Sunday, fighting continued and McKenzie said the US air force carried out airstrikes in the province. Ousted from power in a US-led invasion in 2001, the Taliban have spearheaded deadly fighting taking dozens of cities and villages. Government forces have launched operations to retake strategic areas from the militant group.
US COVID-19 crisis
Top US infectious disease official, Anthony Fauci, has warned that the United States is headed in the wrong direction in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci says the US is in an unnecessarily difficult situation due to increasing cases of infection. He says the hike is being fueled by unvaccinated Americans and the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. The top expert said the government may ask those vaccinated to wear masks and recommend that booster shots might be needed. More than 163 million people, or 49 percent of the total US population, are fully vaccinated. However, infections are soaring especially in states with lower vaccination rates. Florida, Texas and Missouri account for 40 percent of all new cases nationwide