White House Seeks $1.4 Billion to Combat Growing Ebola Outbreak 
Trump Highlights Manufacturing Agenda in Pennsylvania as Midterm Elections Approach 
US Mobilizes Aid After Powerful Earthquakes Devastate Venezuela 
U.S. Eases Iran Team Travel Restrictions Ahead of Seattle World Cup Match 
Russia Signals Frustration Over Unfulfilled U.S. Commitments After Alaska Summit 
Andy Burnham Emerges as Favorite After Keir Starmer Resigns 
Peru Election Dispute Deepens as Roberto Sanchez Rejects Runoff Results 
NATO Chief Tries to Ease Trump Alliance Dispute 
US Urges States and Businesses to Strengthen Taiwan Ties Amid China Pressure 
US Seeks Gulf Support for Iran Peace Deal Amid Regional Tensions 
Bessent Says U.S. Must Strengthen Supply Chains and Economic Security 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Lebanon Pushes Ahead With Israel Talks Despite Iran-U.S. Deal Impact 
U.S. Reviewing Potential F-35 Fighter Jet Sale to Turkey Amid S-400 Dispute 
Marco Rubio Reassures Gulf Allies Over U.S.-Iran Peace Deal 
Rubio Faces Gulf Skepticism Over U.S.-Iran Peace Deal 
US President Joe Biden has yet to fill out several positions within his administration but has already released slates of nominations. Biden’s latest nominations include a former health official of West Virginia to become the country’s “Drug Czar.”
Biden this week nominated Dr. Rahul Gupta, a former health commissioner of West Virginia, to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy also known as “Drug Czar.” Should he be confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Gupta would be the first physician to lead the department. Known for his work in the opioid crisis, Dr. Gupta recently served as the chief medical and health officer of the March of Dimes.
Dr. Gupta’s nomination drew bipartisan praise from West Virginian politicians. West Virginia’s GOP Governor Jim Justice said Dr. Gupta’s nomination is “great news” and congratulated the former health commissioner. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin also praised Dr. Gupta’s nomination in a statement that was released shortly after the announcement.
“Dr. Gupta will bring over a decade of extensive experience combatting the drug epidemic to ONDCP -- the office charged with addressing the drug epidemic that has killed over 90,000 Americans just last year,” said Manchin in his statement.
Biden has also released more nominations to US ambassador posts. Also this week, Biden nominated former Arizona GOP Senator Jeff Flake to become the US Ambassador to Turkey. This has also been confirmed by a Biden administration official to NBC.
Flake is the second Republican that Biden has nominated to serve in a diplomatic post under his administration. Prior to Flake, Biden nominated Cindy McCain, the widow of the late Arizona GOP Senator John McCain, as the US Representative to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Both Mrs. McCain and Flake endorsed Biden for president during the 2020 elections and both have been especially critical of Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump.
“Given the strategic importance of the United States’ relationship with our longtime NATO ally, the Republic of Turkey, I am honored and humbled by the trust President Biden has placed in me with this ambassadorial nomination. This is a pivotal post at an important time for both of our countries,” Flake said in a statement.
