Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said that his administration is recognizing the independence of the so-called Dontesk and Luhansk People's Republics in eastern Ukraine. What’s at stake with this recent development? And Africa was declared free of wild polio in 2020. But the disease is now back with the detection of a case in a young child in Malawi. Plus, the 2022 Winter Olympics have come to a close in Beijing after 109 events in which nearly 3,000 athletes soared, skied and skated.

Tensions continue to heighten on the Ukraine-Russia border. The US says Russia has increased its troops at the border, as fighting continues between Russian-backed groups and Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine. Some Ukrainians fear that Russia is creating the pretext for an invasion. And France plans to build 14 new nuclear reactors by 2050, in an effort to cut back on carbon emissions, but Germany is heading in the opposite direction, shutting down its nuclear plants. Plus, meet the fantasy coffin makers in Ghana, who make colorful caskets in shapes that pay homage to a deceased person's profession or passions: a lion for a village leader, a microphone for a broadcaster or a seed pod for a farmer.

Nine years after intervening in Mali to drive out ISIS, France is now withdrawing its troops. France's relationship with Mali's junta military government deteriorated recently. Also, COVID-19 infections are down by nearly 20% worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. While parts of the US have seen dramatic declines, Hong Kong and New Zealand are experiencing surges of new cases. Plus, we hear about Ukraine and Russia’s complex, tangled history that goes all the way back to the 9th century. 

After meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Russian leader Vladimir Putin declared that Moscow would “partially pull back troops” from the Ukrainian border. But NATO leaders are not convinced that Putin has decided to step back from the brink. And, following years of drought and war, Afghans now face severe food shortages in parts of Afghanistan, leaving many hungry. Also, Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennet was in Bahrain on Tuesday in the first visit of its kind by an Israeli prime minister.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that it’s pulling some troops back, away from Russia’s borders with Ukraine. Residents living in Kharkiv, near the Russian border, are keenly aware of what’s at stake. And the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, has only been out of office for three weeks. He’s now facing extradition to the US. Plus, musician Luke Sital-Singh had a religious upbringing, with Indian and Jamaican roots. Now an atheist, he's been thinking about faith with his new single, "Me & God.”

The so-called Freedom Convoy blockades in Ottawa and other cities began as a protest against vaccine mandates for truckers. Their actions have energized a small but growing far-right movement in Canada. And similar protests have popped up in Europe, where people are trying to convene in a convoy in Brussels to protest against pandemic restrictions such as vaccine mandates and passports. Plus, even the casual figure skating fan might notice how often Ravel's “Bolero” is used as a soundtrack at the Olympics. Why do figure skaters love it so much?

Ontario has declared a state of emergency as bottlenecks on the US-Canada border worsen due to protesters in trucks in front of Parliament in Ottawa. Also, Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva made history by being the first woman to land a quadruple jump in the Olympics. Now, the 15-year-old is making headlines after her drug test came back positive. Plus, a 60-year-old museum security guard in Russia drew eyes on painter Anna Leporskaya's "Three Figures," using a ballpoint pen, on his first day on the job.

The US dealt a major blow to ISIS in Syria last week by assassinating its top leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi. But that doesn’t spell the end of the terror group that once controlled large swaths of territory across Syria and Iraq. And in Ukraine, many citizens say that in the event of an all-out Russian invasion, they’re prepared. Some have decided to join the Kyiv Territorial Defense Forces, where they learn to bear arms to defend their country. Plus, India's first feature documentary to be nominated for an Academy Award tells the story of the only news agency in India run by Dalit women. 

A court in India will decide whether young women attending schools and colleges in the Southern Indian state of Karnataka can wear their hijab to class. Six young women who were barred from college for wearing the Muslim head scarf filed suit, sparking protests and mobs across Karnataka. And refueling after grueling competition is crucial for Olympians. With so many COVID-19 restrictions in Beijing preventing athletes from eating at restaurants, Olympic dining halls are more important than ever. Plus, Danish pop superstar MØ is out with her third album. After collaborations with Justin Bieber and Major Lazer, MØ decided to rewire and work with Scandinavian women.

Scientists in South Africa have figured out a way to make their own version of Moderna’s vaccine against COVID-19. It’s seen as a huge step toward expanded access to lifesaving vaccines across Africa. Also, in Spain’s northeast region of Catalonia, Catalan has been the main language of instruction since 1983. That could all change after Spain’s highest court ruled that at least a quarter of all classes use Spanish, reigniting a decadeslong debate about language in schools. Plus, 18-year-old Chinese American athlete Eileen Gu performed a difficult maneuver in the free ski competition that won her the gold medal in Beijing. We hear about her breathtaking jump and the buzz that followed.