Ukraine Unveils New Drone-Based Air Defence Strategy Amid Rising Russian Threats 
Trump Says U.S. and NATO Will Reach Agreement on Greenland’s Future 
Kazakh President Tokayev Accepts Invitation to Join Trump-Proposed “Board of Peace” 
Syria Announces Ceasefire With Kurdish Forces as U.S. Pushes Integration Deal 
Trump Signals Potential Role for Maria Corina Machado in Venezuela as U.S. Policy Tone Shifts 
Trump Declines G7 Paris Meeting Amid Rising Tensions With European Allies Over Greenland Remarks 
Japan Government Bond Rout Deepens as Election Spending Fears Shake Markets 
Trump Says Greenland Is Key to Global Security After Call With NATO Chief 
Minnesota U.S. Citizen Detained by ICE in Armed Raid Sparks Outrage and Civil Rights Concerns 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Limit Wall Street Investment in Single-Family Homes 
France Nears 2026 Budget Deal as Government Offers Concessions to Avoid No-Confidence Vote 
Russian Drone and Missile Attack Disrupts Power and Water in Kyiv 
Russian Air Attacks Plunge Kyiv Into Darkness, Raise Nuclear Safety Fears 
Trump Says U.S. Will Soon Target Land Routes for Drug Trafficking 
Trump Revives Greenland Ownership Push Ahead of World Economic Forum in Davos 
European Leaders Unite in Davos as Trump’s Greenland Threat Sparks Trade Tensions 
Trump Criticizes NYSE Texas Expansion, Calls Dallas Exchange a Blow to New York 
US Vice President Kamala Harris this week addressed maternal health in the country. In a recent White House event, Harris also introduced a plan to lower the US maternal mortality rate.
At the White House Maternal Health event, Harris unveiled the administration’s plan to tackle the high maternal mortality rate. The plan includes improvements to pregnancy and postpartum care.
“Maternal mortality and morbidity is a serious crisis and one that endangers both public health and economic growth,” said Harris at the event.
The plan would call for states to expand the postpartum coverage under Medicaid from two to 12 months, as well as assigning “birth-friendly” hospitals. Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have updated its guidelines for state Medicaid programs in order to expand coverage and begin the process of choosing the best health centers for mothers to receive maternal care.
Harris said during the event that a group made up of 20 companies and nonprofits have pledged $20 million for improving maternal health in the US and $150 million worldwide.
The US maternal mortality rates are high compared to other developed countries, especially in recent years, twice the number in France, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Black and Native American women are also more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to White women. Maternal health is also part of the Biden administration’s Build Back Better Act, with a $3 billion investment in maternal health initiatives.
This follows US President Joe Biden’s signing into law the Protecting Moms Who Served Act, providing $15 million for childbirth preparation classes, parenting classes, and breastfeeding support for veterans.
In other related news, Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in confirming another Biden nominee for judiciary posts. Rachael Rollins was confirmed by the Senate this week, making her the first Black woman to become the US attorney for Massachusetts. Rollins’ confirmation was done through party lines, making it the first time a Biden-nominated candidate for a position was not confirmed unanimously.
Rollins, a progressive prosecutor in Boston, was long-awaited to be confirmed due to several delays and opposition from Senate Republicans.
