KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun Defends Taiwan-China Engagement During U.S. Visit 
US-Iran Peace Deal Nears as Tehran and Pakistan Signal Breakthrough 
Trump Signals Possible U.S.-Iran Peace Deal as Hormuz Reopening Nears 
France Hosts Israeli-Palestinian Civil Society Appeal to Revive Two-State Solution Ahead of G7 Summit 
South Korea Ballot Shortage Sparks Protests, Election Fraud Claims, and Calls for Rerun 
IMF Advances Ukraine Loan Program, Clears $690M Disbursement 
Trump Says Iran Peace Deal Near as Markets Rally and Oil Prices Fall 
North Korea Slams U.S. Missile Sale to South Korea, Warns of Rising Regional Tensions 
Peru Election Results Remain Uncertain as Tight Presidential Race Heads Toward Legal Review 
Xi’s North Korea Visit Strengthens Ties and Elevates Kim Jong Un’s Global Standing 
DOJ Sues Virginia Over Law Enforcement Mask Ban 
Lebanon Resists Iran Pressure as Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Talks Stall 
Carney and Macron Strengthen Canada-France Defense Ties Amid US Trade Uncertainty 
Kremlin Says New EU Sanctions Won’t Hurt Russian Banks 
South Korea Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to 30 Years Over Martial Law Plot 
France Hosts Israeli-Palestinian Peace Conference to Revive Two-State Solution 
US Plans NATO Force Reduction in Europe Amid Defense Burden Dispute 
The administration of US President Joe Biden this week is looking to clear out some more appointees of former President Donald Trump. Biden recently requested the resignations of Dr. Mehmet Oz and Herschel Walker from their posts on a presidential council or face termination.
CNN reports that Biden has asked Dr. Mehmet Oz and Walker to resign from their posts on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition or face termination. A White House official said that it is against the policy of the Biden administration for federal candidates to serve on presidential boards. The White House sent the requests to Dr. Oz and Walker Wednesday, requesting their resignations by 6 p.m.
Both were appointed for two-year terms on the council by Trump in 2018 and were reappointed in 2020 before the Republican president left office. Both are also running for Senate posts in Georgia and Pennsylvania. Dr. Oz criticized the requests for resignation and has refused to step down from his post.
To note, members of the council are considered special government employees. According to the Hatch Act, they are also not allowed to be candidates in “partisan elections” as they carry out official government duties.
Prior to requesting their resignations, the White House announced the appointments of chef and humanitarian Jose Andres and WNBA star Elena Delle Donne as co-chairs of the council.
This latest request follows the previous request by the Biden administration that former Trump officials Sean Spicer, H.R. McMaster, and Kellyanne Conway resign from their positions on the military service academy advisory boards.
In other related news, Biden said that India is the only country in the Quad alliance that has not imposed sanctions on Russia for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Aside from the US, Australia and Japan have imposed sanctions on Russian oligarchs and entities. India has also not condemned Russia for the invasion.
In a business forum Monday, the US leader said that NATO remains on a united front in response to dictator Vladimir Putin’s aggression on Kyiv. India has urged to end the violence in Ukraine but has abstained from voting against Russia in the UN.
