I've been collecting some bits of related news from Africa lately, and a Saturday like this one seems a good time to pass along some of them to those of you who might be interested in happenings on the continent.

For a look at some big and positive changes on the way in the world of aid to Africa, please see this on the Africa Adoption Blog

Another story with a positive spin is one from Nigeria ... more

The US is chipping in with military training and exercises to "... to improve the country's capabilities to fight global terrorism," this from the commander of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy J. Keating.

Okay.

Maybe they'll be able to put a stop to tortoise trafficking.

Although no one has yet figured out a motive, two... more

Starting off this week's Cambodian news, an update on a story from a few weeks back on government orders to halt development on a project that began with filling in Beong Kob Srov Lake by the Long Chhin Resort Company.

This particular land scam, like many others, has hurt a lot of people, but this... more

A story of how a birth country visit can turn into something life altering for international adoptees and for the children left behind is always inspiring, and this one is no exception.

Ana Dodson was adopted from Peru as an infant and returned for the first time at the age of eleven in the company of her mother, Judi. In addition to everything she took away from the visit in the way of personal experience and fulfillment was a compelling conviction she turned... more

Call me slow on the up-take, but since I'm not mom to Guatemalan-born kids I haven't been following the politics of that country as closely as others have. That being the case, I'm relying on others to bring me up to speed on happenings there and the "Why" that goes with.

Lisa fills in many gaps well, and information from other bloggers flesh out the picture.

Why... more

This story from South Africa's Western Province addresses the increasing influx of orphans, and the difficulty children's centers have in keeping up.

Added to the AIDS toll and poverty, the fact that crime is rampant and in many places there is no shame in stealing from orphans or burning down and vandalizing facilities that care for them.

In Cape Town, they're ... more

Here's a scenario from today's international news:

A woman is walking down a public street in village with her four-month-old daughter, when suddenly some people come out of nowhere and pounce, attempting to snatch the child. A fight ensues, during which one of the attackers repeatedly shouts, "Get the baby! Get the baby!" The mother manages to ward off the baby snatchers, and thankfully neither she nor her daughter have been injured in the attack. The bad guys run off.

Given today's news climate... more

The business climate is changing in Cambodia with the enforcement of a law requiring firms to undergo financial audits.

So far, 400 business will have to provide their financial statements to independent auditors by this coming December, and more will be required to do so as time passes.

Firms that are subject to auditing are those meeting at least two of three criteria - having annual turnover of three billion riel... more

Angkor Wat is all over the Cambodian news this week, as a cool new study that includes some amazing images from NASA shows just how impressive the place actually is.

The Washington Post translates the new info into a "Consevation Wake-up Call" in their coverage of the story, which is certainly relevant in today's Cambodia.

... more

In a previous post, I was writing again about how dangerous fallout from unaddressed anti-adoption sentiment can be, and how easily it creeps into shouting headlines tainting the whole process as those uninvolved and easily misinformed absorb the message without processing the ramifications.

In black and white, shades of gray may just be too complicated to take into account.

Recently, Guatemalan adoptions have been taking... more