Shalina Gomes is still looking for her biological mother in Bangladesh, now that the woman from official documents turns out not to be her real mother. She sings it off with her first Frisian single 'Wy kinne it net opnij dwaan'. Photo: Johan Vogelzang

About forty years after Shalina Gomes arrived in Leeuwarden as an adopted child from Bangladesh, she releases her own Frisian single on streaming services such as Spotify and as a video clip on YouTube. She sings it completely in Frisian, because she feels Frisian through and through. She also sings about the fact that she is still looking for her biological mother in Bangladesh, and is being obstructed by authorities.

Someone of foreign descent may indeed be Frisian and feel that way. Johan Derksen's sneer at Habtamu de Hoop last year gave her the strength and inspiration to continue with the Frisian song she wanted to make again. “I like that people from outside the Netherlands are coming from harren and Frisian love girls, I would like to carry the boat.” She is combative. "The melody of the music ignites the passion and draws my personality."

'We can't do it again'

She has been singing for decades in various bands and background vocals throughout the Netherlands, in various genres as well, but had never released her own song. 'Wy kinne it net opnij dwaan', is the title of the song written by Minke Adema, with music by guitarist Rick Meijer. It will be released on May 9, two days before Mother's Day. That is of course no coincidence, because of the adoption story. It can be heard via streaming services such as Spotify and can also be seen via Shalina Gomes' brand new YouTube channel.

The jury that will decide the fate of Thalia Driessens (37) was appointed at the Leuven Assize Court on Friday. Starting next Wednesday, the woman will be tried for the murder of her adoptive mother Brigitte Vanaudenaeren (68) in July 2023 at her home in Steenokkerzeel.
Kim Aerts 18-04-25, 16:55 Last update: 17:13
In the night of 11 to 12 July 2023, Brigitte was killed at home along the Tervuursesteenweg in Steenokkerzeel. She had lived there for four decades and no one could say a bad word about her. However, that evening things got out of hand between Brigitte and her adopted daughter. The local police had to go to the scene twice, but when the officers had to return, Brigitte was already dead in the living room. She died of suffocation. The victim worked for the municipality of Zaventem for many years in the Tax Department.
Victim Brigitte Vanaudenaeren. © Marc Baert / rv
Accused Thalia Driessens, born in San Salvador, will be tried in the Leuven Assize Court from Wednesday 23 April for the manslaughter of her mother. Seven men and five women were drawn to judge her guilt. The public prosecutor is represented by Attorney General Marcel Verbelen. Driessens is assisted by Wouter Van Driessche and Jan Donkers. The chair of the Assize Court is Veerle Aelbrecht.

Desperate women denied abortion access in much of the US are being offered a way out for the children they cannot raise themselves. It’s not always what it seems

Supreme Court of India

Pinki vs The State Of Uttar Pradesh on 15 April, 2025

2025 INSC 482                                                              REPORTABLE                                IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA                              CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION                               CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1927 OF 2025                            (ARISING OUT OF SLP (CRL) NO. 4658 OF 2025)             PINKI                                                     …APPELLANT(S)                                               VERSUS             STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND ANR.                         …RESPONDENT(S)                                                 WITH                                  CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1928 /2025                                 (Arising out of SLP(Crl.) No. 592/2025)                                 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1929 /2025                                 (Arising out of SLP(Crl.) No. 590/2025)                                  CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1930 /2025                                 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4660 / 2025)                                  CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1931 /2025                                 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4661 / 2025)                                  CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1932 /2025                                 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4662 / 2025)                                  CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1933 /2025                                 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4664 / 2025)                                  CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1934 /2025   Signature Not Verified   Digitally signed by                                 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4665 /2025)   VISHAL ANAND   Date: 2025.04.15   12:47:38 IST   Reason:                                 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1935 /2025                                (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4666 of 2025)CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1936 /2025(Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4667/2025) CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1937 /2025(Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4668 / 2025) CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1938 /2025(Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4670 / 2025) CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1939 /2025(Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4671 / 2025) CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1940 /2025(Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4672 / 2025) CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1941 /2025(Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4673 / 2025) CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1942 /2025(Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4674 / 2025) CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1943 /2025(Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4675 /2025)CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1944 /2025(Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4676 / 2025)         JUDGMENT

J. B. PARDIWALA, J.

For the convenience of exposition, this judgment is divided in the following parts: -

I am happy that the Open Society Foundations have achieved so much over the years in the field of early childhood development. But I think it is also worth remembering how we got involved in the first place—a story that shows how sometimes the best ideas come from keeping an open mind, so that you can find things you didn’t know you were looking for.

In 1993, due to the success of my business strategies, I was able to expand significantly my philanthropic work, which was largely directed at the time to supporting the transformation underway in the former Communist countries of East and Central Eastern Europe. My predominant concern was launching what was to become Central European University, with the idea that it would help develop the new generation of leaders that the region so needed after decades spent under the deadening weight of Communism.

I wanted the new university, with its focus on post-graduate studies in the social sciences, to have the best academic minds we could locate, and I devoted myself to talking to everyone I could find who had ideas to contribute— including Dr. Fraser Mustard, the great Canadian teaching doctor who was one of the founders of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Dr. Mustard was famous as a cardiologist. But at the time

he was becoming increasingly focused on raising what were then new questions about the socioeconomic determinants of human development and health, starting with early childhood (work that was to help to lead the evolution of the concept of community care that has spread far beyond Canada). 

When I told him about my vision of the transformative impact of Central European University, he cited new research on the unprecedented development of the brain in the first few years, and then told me I had to start younger. Instead of focusing on university students, I should look at pregnancy and the critical first six years of childhood. 

WE CARE ABOUT FOREIGN AID

If you do too, join our movement to help children around the world.

At Hope and Homes for Children, we care about getting the 5.4 million children in orphanages Back to Family.

80% of these children are not orphans. They have family who could care for them if they had the right support.

Since 2016, a total of 86 children have found loving homes through adoptions from Chandigarh

In a heartwarming homecoming, the first child ever placed in inter-country adoption from the city returned to her roots this week, revisiting the place she once called home and reconnecting with her caregivers and childhood friends.

Adopted by a French family in 2017 at the age of six, young Rakhi’s visit was an emotional one. Welcoming her with warmth and affection, Anuradha S Chagti, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, UT Administration, said, “We are incredibly proud of her and all that she has accomplished. We wish her continued happiness and success in all her future endeavours.”

Rakhi’s return is not just a personal journey but also a significant chapter in Chandigarh’s broader adoption story. Since 2016, a total of 86 children have found loving homes through adoptions facilitated by the Chandigarh Child Welfare Committee and associated agencies. Of these, 10 children were adopted internationally — with Rakhi being the first.

Bisman Ahuja, Project Manager, said, “Every adoption is not just a legal process but an emotional journey — for the child, the family, and the community. Rakhi’’s successful adoption opened avenues for the nine other children who have since been adopted internationally. We are currently processing documents for the eleventh inter-country adoption this month. It’s important to note that adoption includes not just orphaned children but also step-parent and relative adoptions, all regulated through CARA — the Central Adoption Resource Authority.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Yul-rip = People who were adopted overseas from Korea from the 1960s to the 1990s have called on the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) to further uncover the truth about human rights violations in the past overseas adoption process.

Overseas adoptees and domestic and international organizations that applied to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for truth-finding held a press conference in front of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 10th and announced, "The Truth and Reconciliation Commission must convey the conclusion of its investigation into the remaining 311 people and whether the truth has been revealed within its term."

In addition, they argued that "when determining the truth, the lack of adoption documents and background information for the adoptee is itself evidence and a result of human rights violations," and that "the decision must be made by taking into consideration the special nature of the adoptee's human rights violations."

They added that all 367 adoptees who applied for truth-finding should be able to receive the results of the investigation and a response to the truth-finding inquiry, and that if a decision on human rights violations and truth-finding is not made before the conclusion of the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission investigation, a 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be established to continue the investigation.

Min Young-chang, head of the Korean Adoptees' Solidarity, urged, "The Truth and Reconciliation Commission should actively approach the truth," and "If they cannot approach it on their own, they should request it from the National Assembly."

The Supreme Court has made it clear that buying babies and presenting them as adopted is illegal. It has commented that they should be treated humanely, but cannot be justified legally.

We cannot legitimize illegality with our special powers.

They took a two-day-old baby.. Where is the humanity in this?

Supreme Court comments on the illegal purchase of children in the name of adoption

The next hearing has been postponed to May 7.

On Tuesday, the North Zealand Police were present for hours at an address in Helsingør, where an extensive search was carried out.

There were 7-8 civilian police cars parked outside a property, and uniformed officers were working inside the address, with a clear interest in the first floor of the property.

According to locals, the police arrived at the scene around 3 p.m., and had been present in large numbers since then.

The head of the North Zealand Police was unable to provide any information about the case on Tuesday evening, and it was therefore not immediately known what was behind the significant presence of law enforcement.

When publishing the 24-hour report at 11:17 a.m., the North Zealand Police did not provide any information about the operation.

The police were still present at the address at 10 p.m. on Tuesday evening, and must have been working at the address throughout the night.

A civilian patrol arrived late in the evening with pizzas for the crew at the address, while officers with flashlights could be seen searching the first floor of the house.