Russian Officials Say Ukrainian Drone Attacks Kill 3 in Belgorod, Injure 19 on Bus 
Ukraine’s drone strikes are having an impact on Russia — but Russian leaders remain committed to war 
Brazil Supreme Court Approves Probe Into Lula’s Son Over Health Ministry Lobbying Claims 
New Jewish-Arab Party Seeks Young Voters Ahead of Israel Election Amid Debate Over Arab Vote 
UN Warns of Rising Israeli Settler Violence in West Bank as Palestinian Death Toll Grows 
Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles at U.S. Forces; All Intercepted, CENTCOM Says 
US Intercepts Iranian Ballistic Missiles as Middle East Tensions Escalate 
Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Plans Temporary Food Tax Cut to Ease Inflation Pressure 
Suez Canal Shipping Faces New Risk After Drone Strike on Gas Tankers in Egypt 
Trump-Backed Russia Sanctions Bill Faces House Hurdles Over Tariff Powers 
California ICE Detention Center Found to Have Inadequate Medical Care, Court Monitor Says 
Is Netanyahu’s star waning in Washington? His latest meeting with Trump suggests it may be 
China Vows Retaliation Over U.S. Ban on Chinese Robots, Power Inverters 
Spain Deploys Troops as Ceuta Faces Major Migrant Surge From Morocco 
Ukraine Drones Strike Russian Oil Refineries, Wildberries Warehouses as Cross-Border Attacks Escalate 
North Korea Warns U.S. Forces Japan Expansion Raises Korea Conflict Risk 
South Korea Reviews Border Drone Incident After Troops Mistake U.S. Aircraft for Potential Threat 
U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya will assume the role of acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to a Trump administration official. The appointment marks a major leadership shift within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the administration prepares for the 2026 midterm elections.
Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor known for criticizing COVID-19 lockdowns and pandemic restrictions, will now oversee both the NIH and the CDC. The NIH manages a nearly $50 billion budget and funds thousands of medical research projects nationwide, while the CDC leads public health surveillance, disease prevention, and emergency response efforts from its Atlanta headquarters. About two-thirds of the CDC’s budget supports state and local public health agencies.
HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill, who has served as acting CDC director since August, will step down from both roles as part of the department’s restructuring. He is expected to be offered the position of National Science Foundation director. Bhattacharya’s dual leadership role has raised concerns among former CDC officials, who argue that managing two major federal health agencies simultaneously could weaken the nation’s ability to respond to public health threats.
The CDC has experienced ongoing turmoil, including budget cuts, staffing reductions, and controversy under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. President Donald Trump previously dismissed CDC Director Susan Monarez after disagreements over vaccine policy changes. Her firing prompted several senior resignations and intensified scrutiny of vaccine guidance decisions, including revisions to childhood immunization recommendations.
Under federal law, Bhattacharya may serve as acting CDC director only until late March unless a permanent nominee is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, Kennedy announced additional HHS leadership appointments aimed at improving coordination with the White House ahead of the midterm elections, with Republicans expected to focus on healthcare costs, prescription drug pricing, and access to healthy food.
