It’s not snowing in New York, but at least it’s snowing somewhere. Thanks, climate change! Editor’s Warning: mentions of death.

Happening in the World: According to a newly released report by the World Health Organization, a woman died every two minutes in 2020 as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. Maternal mortality rates have stagnated in the majority of countries between 2016 and 2020 but rose in 17 countries. In European and North American United Nations countries, maternal mortality rates have increased by 17% and by 15% in Latin America and the Caribbean. This new report shows the degree to which progress in confronting maternal mortality has stalled. (NBC)

Happening in the US: Massive storms across the Northern Plains have canceled more than 1,500 flights into and within the US. Winter storms, high winds, and blizzards have caused schools to close in the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with some areas expecting up to two feet of snow through Thursday. California is also experiencing winter weather with snow, hail, and high winds causing widespread power outages. (NBC)

Happening in NYC: The Metropolitan Opera has just announced its 2023-2024 season, featuring many contemporary works. Peter Gelb, general manager of the Met Opera, says that their greatest box-office successes in recent seasons have come from new and accessible works that appeal to a wider audience. Among these successes are two returning operas, “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” by Terence Blanchard, and “The Hours,” by Kevin Puts. This lineup comes amidst financial trouble for the Met Opera who have had to withdraw $30 million from their endowment and reduce productions this season from 215 to 195. (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: The Harmann Institute will host a poetry reading with Polish-American poet Anna Frajlich tonight. This reading is in celebration of the release of Frajlich’s first two volumes of Collected Verse. She is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Slavic Languages at Columbia University. The event will be from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on the 12th floor of the International Affairs Building.

Snow via Bwarchives