Topic: Ethiopia

Russia's proposed ban on US adoptions: What would it mean for orphans?

Children's rights advocates say there's nothing wrong with efforts to reduce international adoption – if those efforts are focused on strengthening families and encouraging domestic adoption. Russia, however, has a long way to go to find domestic families for its orphans.

Global News Blog
Deep emotions run beneath Russia's adoption ban

The Duma's bill to ban US adoptions of Russian children, which passed another legislative hurdle today, appeals to Russian pride and concerns about the US.

Sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar bridged India and the West

Labeled 'the godfather of world music' by Beatle George Harrison, Ravi Shankar helped millions of Westerners — classical, jazz, and rock lovers — discover the centuries-old traditions of Indian music.

Ravi Shankar: Sitar virtuoso and father of the rock benefit concert (+video)

Ravi Shankar: George Harrison called him "the godfather of world music."  Ravi Shankar helped millions of classical, jazz and rock lovers discover the centuries-old traditions of Indian music.

Modern Parenthood
Angelina Jolie may retire when her six kids hit their teens (+video)

Angelina Jolie home with the kids? She's talking about retiring from acting once her brood hits their teen years because of "too much to manage" at home.

Difference Maker
Little newspaper gives hope to Africans who've fled to Israel

Using his laptop, Kebedom Mengistu publishes Hadush Zemen (New Century), a newspaper for refugees from Eritrea who've survived the perilous trip and settled in Israel.

'Lucy,' early human ancestor, likely swung from trees

Among the earliest known relatives of humanity definitely known to walk upright was Australopithecus afarensis, the species including the famed 3.2-million-year-old 'Lucy.'

Ethiopia surprises itself with peaceful transition after Meles

Fears that unrest would follow the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in August may prove unfounded in Ethiopia, a Western ally in the troubled Horn of Africa.

Marriage bounty: Tycoon offers $65 million for a man to wed his lesbian daughter

Marriage bounty: Hong Kong real estate mogul Cecil Chao is offering $65 million to any man who can win the love of his daughter, Gigi Chao. But, naturally, there's a catch. 

Sudan and South Sudan strike 'partial peace' deal

Though analysts call the peace deal between Sudan and South Sudan 'partial,' President Obama praised the move, calling it an 'important step' away from conflict.

In Ethiopia, a nation comes to bury Meles – and to praise him

Ahead of the funeral Sunday of Ethiopian strongman Meles Zenawi, many Ethiopians are proudly assessing his abilities and the changes instigated. Less spoken of – at least publicly – is the intimidation of his opponents and nervousness about the future.   

4 ways to prevent natural disasters from becoming human tragedies

The catastrophic impact of climate change – especially on the developing world – is not inevitable. Here are four cutting-edge tools to anticipate and minimize the damage from natural disasters.

Researchers spot apes fashioning advanced tools

A pair of bonobos have a knack for stone drills, shovels, and other tools, suggesting that humanity's last common ancestor with the chimplike animals were also toolmakers.

Terrorism & Security
UN chief plans to attend summit in Iran, drawing both support and fire

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Tehran next week to attend the summit of the Nonaligned Movement, a decision that is drawing criticism from the US and Israel.

As Ethiopia looks beyond strongman Meles, fears of instability (+video)

Ethiopia was an economic success story under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died Monday. His two-decade authoritarian grip may complicate a peaceful political transition.

Interim Ethiopian PM to stay on until 2015 elections

Hailemariam Desalegn, who assumed the prime minister's office upon the death of Meles Zenawi Monday, will finish Zenawi's five-year term.

With death of Ethiopian leader Meles, US loses an anti-terror ally (+video)

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died yesterday, was one of the US's closest allies on the continent, particularly when it came to efforts to combat Somali Islamists.

Meles Zenawi, Ethiopian Prime Minister and Western ally, dies (+video)

Meles Zenawi gained power in 1991 and went on to become a towering political figure on the African continent who was widely credited for steering one of the world's poorest countries to high economic growth. He died overnight in a Brussels hospital after a battle with illness.

China's role in funding Ethiopian dam draws ire

Ethiopia says construction of a dam along the Omo River will create needed electrical power for itself and Kenya, and channel water for food production. Environmentalists worry it could drain a Kenyan desert lake central to people's livelihoods.

Global News Blog
Winner of most 2012 Olympic defections: Cameroon

Economic misery (or opportunity) drives many Olympic athletes to defect in modern times, but political defections still plague communist bloc teams such as Cuba.

Chapter & Verse
Spy author Charles Cumming discusses his new title 'A Foreign Country'

Cumming talks about missing out on that M16 job and the role of gender in the world of spies.

Olympic moms: 13 mothers compete for Team USA

The “Celebrating Moms” series of commercials by Proctor & Gamble during Olympic coverage is a tear-jerking ode to sacrifices mothers make to support their kids’ athletic careers. But what about athletes who are mothers, themselves?

Elite athlete moms have the same run-of-the-mill work/life balance as the rest of us. But these 13 Olympic moms do put parenting – both its challenges and rewards – in a new perspective.

Opinion: How to transform African farming: Return to 'orphan crops'

If sub-Saharan Africa is to benefit from advances in agricultural productivity, investments in the so-called 'orphan crops' – sweet potato, cassava, and millet – will be crucial for strengthening the poorest farmers’ livelihoods and improving nutrition.

Will Ethiopian crackdown stir Islamist backlash?

Peaceful protests continue in Addis Ababa this week among Muslims angry over what they see as Ethiopian government interference. The government sees foreign extremist threat.

Montana camp for adopted children operating without license, denies fault

The Ranch for Kids, a Montana home for troubled adopted children recently criticized by Russian officials, has been operating without a state license for the past two years, but the ranch owner denies any wrongdoing.