Big news out of Canada ... the Ontario Superior Court of Justice struck down the province's new adoption disclosure law that came into effect earlier in the week as a civil rights lawyer launched a constitutional challenge on the grounds that the new legislation 'infringed on privacy'. The law was reportedly challenged on behalf of three adult adoptees and a birth parent.

On his decision, the judge wrote: "A small minority of adoptees and birth parents that wish to protect their privacy ... have every right to do so."

One big issue appears to be the fact that the law was retroactive, according to the lawyer making the challenge, adding, "What is not good is to take someone who was promised privacy and then unilaterally say, `Too bad, we've changed our minds, you live with the consequences.'"

And big doings coming up in New York. Dr. Jane Aronson, the power behind Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO) has announced that the organization's Third Benefit Gala to be held the 15th of October will honor Ethiopian supermodel Liya Kebede and the First Lady of New York, Silda Wall Spitzer.

It will be quite the event, with Katie Couric hosting and Mary-Louise Parker as special guest.

And speaking of Ms. Parker, Brad Pitt is reported to have praised his co-star in his new Jesse James flick for her decision to adopt an African child, and added, "She had her little boy out and she was a really lovely mother."

Sweet.

Of course, there's more of the constant media speculation spinning around Brad and Angelina with the latest insisting that 'insiders' are putting it about that the couple are now looking toward Latin America for their next adoption ... Guatemala or Brazil are top of the hit parade.

The foster care system in Washington State has come out looking fairly good in a comprehensive survey released this week, but some 'glaring deficiencies' have come to light.

Surveyors could not reach 986 potential respondents because of disconnected numbers and no forwarding numbers. Trupin said lack of contact information does not inspire confidence in the state's ability to monitor foster parents.

And in a report about Texas, the UK's Guardian news organization targets the state for a look at mothers who kill their children.

With the recent case of Alysha Green, accused of putting her 3-,5-, and 7-year-old daughters into a closet, then trying to burn them alive has brought other cases to mind.

Nearly 1,500 children died from abuse or neglect in 2005 - more than a fourth those at the hands of their mothers, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families.

And on the international front, soldiers in Afghanistan have moved 200 orphans in Farah City into a new $130,000 orphanage facility.

Although the added space is a boon, the biggest improvement is the fact that the new place has water.

Yeah. That'll help.

For information/instructions on how to subscribe FREE to your favorite AdoptionBlogs, please visit this link.