In July, Clare Kilcullen gave birth to her daughter, Marlowe, thanks to a frozen embryo donated by a couple from Canada. As Jo Ling Kent reports, it's part of a growing movement to maintain a connection between donors of frozen embryos and their recipients.

Los Angeles

Embryo donation is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, with the number of frozen donated embryo transfers nearly quadrupling between 2004 and 2019. Companies like Empower with Moxie are enabling donors and recipients to connect based on shared values, allowing for more open relationships and knowledge of genetic origins.

Claire Kilcullen, who gave birth to her daughter Marlo using a donated embryo, highlights the importance of her child growing up knowing her genetic family. This shift away from anonymity is redefining family building, offering extended family connections and greater transparency for all parties involved.

Embryo donations surge, more families choose connection over anonymity

Claire Kilcullen always wanted to be a mother, but when she went through early menopause in her 20s, she wasn't sure how that would happen. And it would probably be an egg donor. But then in my 30s, I decided to go and do it on my own. In July, Kilcullen gave birth to her daughter, thanks to a frozen embryo donated by a couple from Canada. And then that's what brought me Marlo. What was it like when you first met your baby girl? Oh, I mean, yeah, just the best thing. Embryo donation is gaining in popularity. Frozen donated embryo transfers in the U.S. nearly quadrupled from 2004 to 2019. It's estimated there are more than one million frozen embryos in the U.S. today. Kilcullen met her donors through Empower with Moxie, a company using the power of the internet to facilitate embryo transfers between people who want to know something about each other. Donors with frozen embryos often left over from in vitro fertilization and recipients like Claire Kilcullen. It's not like they're sitting on a clinic wait list where just the next available embryo is theirs. Gina Davis is a genetic counselor who co-founded the company. There's really some choice about, do we kind of align? Are our families similar? Do we have similar values? We did a facilitated match meeting over Zoom. The Zoom for me felt like the biggest job interview of my life. The donors ended up giving all 10 of their embryos to Kilcullen. I had some reservations knowing that she wasn't genetically mine and would that feel any different? But the minute she was placed on my chest, it was, yeah, the best thing ever. Gina Davis and her husband had 17 remaining embryos after her own fertility journey. So you have this platform now, but when you were looking to donate your embryos, what was that like? Facebook. When I first started thinking about donating my embryos, most of the programs throughout the country were basically anonymous. The model had been really closed that you would just donate your embryos and you don't know where they go. We thought children deserve to know their genetic origins and their families deserve to know a little bit more about their origin story. This idea to remove anonymity from the embryo donation process has given Claire Kilcullen exactly what she was needing when deciding how to become a mom. I just really wanted Marlo to grow up knowing who the genetic family are. And it's an extended family, which I think is beautiful for us and for them. They've entered that world as my child, but they were made with love from theirs, which I think is such a great thing. Redefining what it means to build a family. For Eye on America, I'm Jolynn Kent in Los Angeles. And today marks one year since Claire Kilcullen had the embryo transferred, which resulted in the birth of her baby Marlo. Congratulations big time to mom and baby.

President Trump approved a 28-point plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a senior White House official confirms to CBS News. Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Trump approved 28-point plan to end Russia-Ukraine war

There are reports that the U.S. and Russia have drafted a plan that would end the war in Ukraine, but it proposes that Kyiv give up territory and some weapons.

Kyiv

Ukraine expected to give up land, some arms under U.S. peace plan

All 267 people on board a South Korean passenger ferry that ran aground off the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula on Wednesday (November 19) have been rescued, in an incident that revived memories of the major ferry disaster in 2014 in which 300 people died.

Mokpo-si

Ferry runs aground off South Korea, crew negligence suspected

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the bill that forces the Justice Department to release the files from its investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill was passed by the U.S. House and Senate on Tuesday.

Trump signs bill to release Epstein files

U.S. officials are now in Kyiv for the Trump administration's renewed push to end the Russia-Ukraine war. CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent and "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan has the details.

U.S. officials in Ukraine to push for renewed peace talks

Harvard University is opening a new inquiry into faculty connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Cam Srivastava, college administration reporter for The Harvard Crimson, joins CBS News with more.

Cambridge

Harvard announces new probe into faculty ties to Jeffrey Epstein

U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized a plan for the CIA in Venezuela, according to a New York Times report. CBS News' Charlie D'Agata has more details.

Trump authorizes plans for CIA covert operation in Venezuela: report

An Israeli strike on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed 13 people and wounded several others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Wednesday. The Israeli military said it struck Hamas militants who it said were operating in a training compound there.

Beirut

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike on Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon kills 13

The Epstein files bill is expected to reach President Donald Trump's desk for his signature on Wednesday (November 19). CBS News' Taurean Small reports.

Trump set to sign bill to release Epstein files

Microsoft and Nvidia plan to invest a combined $15 billion into Anthropic. Bloomberg Intelligence's Mandeep Singh discusses why two of the biggest backers of OpenAI are putting money into its rival.

San Francisco

Microsoft, Nvidia to invest up to $15 billion in Anthropic

Hamas rejects the US-drafted UN resolution for a Gaza ceasefire and international stabilisation force.

New York

UN Security Council vote: Hamas rejects Gaza 'peace resolution'

President Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday. The two leaders announced a boost in Saudi Arabia's planned investment in the U.S., from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion.

Trump, MBS announce boost in Saudi investment to U.S.

President Donald Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday, with the Saudi de facto ruler seeking to further rehabilitate his global image after the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi and deepen ties with Washington.

Trump hosts Saudi crown prince for pomp-filled, deal-making visit

The Senate, through the process of unanimous consent, agreed to send the bill to President Trump's desk for his signature without any amendments once it's received from the House.

Senate to send Epstein files bill to Trump's desk for signature

The House has approved a bill that would require the Justice Department to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill, which received bipartisan support, now awaits consideration in the Senate.

House passes bill that would force release of Jeffrey Epstein files

Hopes for a strong G20 declaration on climate and debt relief are slim as South Africa readies to host the summit from Saturday (November 22). Global tensions and a boycott by the United States threaten to overshadow the gathering.

Johannesburg

South Africa readies for G20 despite U.S. boycott

At least one person is dead and three others were injured after an attack in the West Bank, Israeli forces said. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council backed the U.S. plan for Gaza. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Jerusalem

Tensions escalate as U.N. Security Council backs Trump's plan for Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump will host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, his first visit since Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in 2018. The crown prince has denied any involvement.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visiting White House

The sale of the fighter jets is one of several major deals between the two countries expected to be announced during the visit.

Trump says he will sell F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia

The U.K. government has proposed a major overhaul of its asylum rules, making it easier to deport people and quadruple the amount of time it takes to become a permanent resident.

London

U.K. introduces tougher laws for asylum seekers

In a blistering opinion, a federal judge in Virginia accused Justice Department prosecutor Lindsay Halligan of misconduct, saying there was a "disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps."

Virginia

DOJ accused of 'profound investigative missteps' in Comey case

The United Nations Security Council has voted to adopt a U.S. resolution outlining President Trump's peace plan for post-war Gaza. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams has the details.

U.N. Security Council adopts U.S. resolution on Gaza plan

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford has arrived in the Caribbean, giving the United States the ability to strike inside Venezuela if President Trump gives the order. The U.S. has also sent thousands of troops to the region.

Trump 'won't rule out' sending troops to Venezuela amid rising tensions

President Trump now says Republicans should vote to release all of the files related to the federal investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi and Nikole Killion have the latest on what could happen next.

Trump's Epstein files reversal comes amid pressure from allies

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called an explosion on a railway line “an unprecedented act of sabotage.” Donald Tusk did not say who he believed had carried out the attack, but a government minister said "foreign intelligence agencies" were responsible.

Warsaw

Railway line blast in Poland ‘unprecedented act of sabotage’

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signed a landmark deal in Paris on Monday to buy 100 Rafale jets, drones, and air defense systems from France.

Paris

Ukraine signs deal with France for jets, air defense systems

The Federal Aviation Administration ended mandated cuts in domestic flights at 40 major U.S. airports, easing restrictions that had been imposed over air traffic control concerns during the federal shutdown.

FAA ends mandated cuts in domestic U.S. flights

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to oppose any attempt to establish a Palestinian state, a day before the UN Security Council will vote on a U.S.-drafted resolution on Gaza that leaves the door open to Palestinian independence.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu insists there can be no Palestinian state ahead of UN vote

A Bangladesh court sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity on Monday (November 17), concluding a months-long trial that found her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.

Dhaka

Bangladesh's ousted PM sentenced to death for protest crackdown

President Donald Trump now appears to support the release of all Jeffrey Epstein files as the House of Representatives readies for a vote on the matter. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.

Breakdown