Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro Tied in Brazil Runoff Poll 
Marco Rubio to Meet Russia’s Lavrov in New York 
Trump to Press Xi on Release of US Nuclear Expert Held in China 
Russian Strikes Kill Eight Across Ukraine as Energy Sites Hit 
US Invites Putin to Miami G20, Opening Door to Trump Summit 
Trump Board of Peace Unveils $2.45 Billion Gaza Recovery Plan 
US Officials Split Over Response to Israeli West Bank Settlements 
Venezuela Promises Elections as Delcy Rodriguez Pledges Democratic Transition 
US, China Extend Trade Truce to Jan. 10 Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Russian Envoy Dmitriev Heads to US for Ukraine Talks 
Macron, Trump Discuss Ukraine-Russia Energy Strike Moratorium 
Trump Administration Plans Faster FDA Reviews for Smoke-Free Nicotine Products 
Iran Vows ‘Crushing’ Response as US Talks Continue 
Trump Meets Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez at UN Assembly 
Sudan Rejects US Legitimacy Remarks, Defends Sovereignty 
Gaza Faces Evacuation Crisis as War-Damaged Buildings Risk Collapse 
Trump Says ‘Freedom’ Is Coming to Cuba 
Add as a preferred source on Google
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.
