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The Kremlin slammed the court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin 'outrageous and unacceptable'; in contrast, Ukraine hailed the decision and said 'the wheels of justice are turning'.O

The United States remains one of the most dangerous wealthy nations for a woman to give birth. Maternal mortality rose by 40% at the height of the pandemic, according to new data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021, 33 women died out of every 100,000 live births in the US, up from 23.8 in 2020. That rate was more than double for black women, who were nearly three times more likely to die than white women, according to the CDC. Compared to other countries, the maternal mortality rate was twice as high in the US than in the UK, Germany and France; and three times higher than in Spain, Italy, Japan and several other countries, according to the most recent global comparison data kept by the World Bank.

Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has capped the price of its insulin, becoming the last of three major manufacturers of the drug to curb soaring costs of the lifesaving medication in the US. The French firm announced a $35 (£28) per month price cap on Lantus for those with private insurance. Sanofi's changes follow in the footsteps of other drugmakers, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The move saves patients money, but it also may help the firm's bottom line. The three companies make up 90% of the US insulin market and have faced public backlash and political pressure to reduce costs of the drug. More than eight million Americans use insulin to control their diabetes, the American Diabetes Association says. The human cost of insulin in America

Russia has threatened to destroy any fighter jets given to Ukraine by its allies, after two countries promised planes. Slovakia became the second Nato country to pledge Kyiv some MiG-29 aircraft on Friday, a day after Poland. Slovakia's fleet was grounded last year and it no longer uses the jets. Ukraine has asked Western countries for modern jets, but because of long training times, these are seen only as long-term options. It sees extra aircraft as important for its defences and possible counter-attacks, a year into Russia's invasion. Other Nato countries are considering sending planes such as the MiG-29 - a model which dates from the time of the Soviet Union - which Ukrainian pilots are trained to fly.

Facebook parent company Meta has rolled out a paid verification service in the United States. Similar to Elon Musk's Twitter Blue service, Meta Verified will grant users a blue tick for $14.99 (£12) per month on iOS and Android devices, or $11.99 (£10) per month on the website. The service will be available on Instagram and Facebook. The new feature comes after Meta's announcement earlier this week that it would lay off 10,000 employees. Meta Verified subscribers must be at least 18 years old and will need to submit a government ID in exchange for impersonation protection, direct access to customer service, and their blue tick. In November Twitter announced a verification process, which it quickly jettisoned after the blue tick system was used to impersonate politicians and celebrities.

British troops and loyalists fled Boston by ship for Canada in "disgrace" after nearly a decade of occupation that incited protest, bloodshed and then revolution, on this day in history, March 17, 1776. "Surely it is the Lord's doings and it is marvelous in our eyes," patriot and future first lady Abigail Adams wrote of the incredible victory by the pugnacious little city over the mighty British crown. The humiliating flight of King George III's forces in the face of his disloyal subjects is still celebrated each year as Evacuation Day, a civic holiday, in Boston.