Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
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.
