China ends foreign adoptions for its children effective immediately

China has announced that it will no longer allow international adoptions of its children, with the exception of blood relatives adopting a child or a stepchild. This decision is expected to come into force immediately. The move follows a suspension of international adoptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The US State Department has stated that hundreds of American families with pending adoption applications are still waiting for clarification on how the decision will affect them.