Biden Warns Putin Over Ukraine – In a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Joe Biden warned his counterpart against invading Ukraine. US intelligence has determined that Russia is massing troops at the border with Ukraine and plans to invade the country as early as January. Under 1990s agreement, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons, with the US vowing to provide it protection, thus placing the Biden administration in a difficult position if Russia invades the country. Biden so far says he has no plans to deploy US troops to help defend Ukraine.

CDC Recommends Boosters for More Teens – The CDC on Thursday officially recommended that 16- and 17-year-olds receive a third dose of a Covid vaccine, saying that it is the best way to protect them and those around them from Covid-19 and its variants. As of now, only the Pfizer vaccine was approved for booster shots for the age group. Health officials continue to urge all adults to get their booster shots.

Smollett Found Guilty – Actor Jussie Smollett was found guilty on 5 of 6 charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against him last year and then lying to police about it. Smollett had claimed that he was attacked in Chicago last January by two white Trump supporters who physically assaulted him, doused him with bleach, and hung a noose around his neck. A police investigation revealed that while the attack indeed occurred, Smollett had hired the two men, both of whom are black, to carry out the attack in order to raise his public profile.