The Taliban government has suspended university education for all female students in Afghanistan, the latest step in its brutal clampdown on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women. A spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education confirmed the suspension to CNN on Tuesday. A letter published by the education ministry said the decision was made in a cabinet meeting and the order will go into effect immediately. Girls were barred from returning to secondary schools in March, after the Taliban ordered schools for girls to shut just hours after they were due to reopen following months long closures imposed after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Human Rights Watch criticized the ban on Tuesday, calling it a “shameful decision that violates the right to education for women and girls in Afghanistan.” “The Taliban are making it clear every day that they don’t respect the fundamental rights of Afghans, especially women,” the rights watchdog said in a statement. The US condemns “the Taliban’s indefensible decision to ban women from universities,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said during a Tuesday briefing. The Taliban’s recent decision, he said, will “have significant consequences for the Taliban and will further alienate the Taliban from the international community and deny them the legitimacy they desire.” he March closure of secondary schools to girls had a “significant impact” on US engagement with Taliban representatives, Price added. “With the implementation of this decree, half of the Afghan population will soon be unable to access education beyond primary school,” he said. US Ambassador Robert Wood, the alternate representative for special political affairs, earlier reiterated those criticisms, telling a United Nations’ Security Council briefing that the “Taliban cannot expect to be a legitimate member of the international community until they respect the rights of all Afghans, especially the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls.” The Taliban, which ruled over Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, when the US-led invasion forced the group from power, have historically treated women as second-class citizens, subjecting them to violence, forced marriages and a near-invisible presence in the country. After seizing power in Afghanistan last year, the Taliban attempted to project a more moderate image to gain international support. But while it has has made numerous promises to the international community that it would protect the rights of women and girls, the Taliban has been doing the opposite, systematically clamping down on their rights and freedoms. Women in Afghanistan can no longer work in most sectors, require a male guardian for long-distance travel and have been ordered to cover their faces in public. They have also imposed limits on girls’ education, banning women from certain workplaces as they stripped away rights they had fought tirelessly for over the last two decades. In November, Afghan women prevented from entering amusement parks in Kabul as the government announced restrictions on women being able to access public parks, Reuters reports. Source: CNN

Actor Amber Heard said in an Instagram post on Monday that she would settle her defamation claims against ex-husband Johnny Depp. The 'Aquaman' star called the decision to settle with Depp "very difficult" adding that it followed "a great deal of deliberation." In June, a US jury found that actress Amber Heard had made defamatory claims of abuse against her ex-husband Johnny Depp, and awarded him $15 million in damages. The seven-member jury in Virginia found that a 2018 article penned by Heard on the "sexual violence" she had suffered was defamatory to Depp, and was written with malicious intent -- making her guilty of libel. The jury also found that Heard was defamed by statements made by Depp's lawyer, Adam Waldman, who told the Daily Mail that her abuse claims were a "hoax," and awarded her $2 million in damages. Depp originally filed the defamation claim against Heard in March 2019 after she published the op-ed in the Washington Post describing herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” The couple had been married for two years before divorcing in 2017. Heard later filed an appeal with her lawyer citing “errors” made by the court. However, it appears the “Aquaman” actor has now agreed to withdraw her appeal. In a statement announcing the decision, Heard made clear that “There are no restrictions or gags with respect to my voice moving forward” and blasted the U.S. legal system for turning her testimony into “entertainment and social media fodder.” She also compared her experience of the U.S. legal system to the U.K., where Depp sued British tabloid The Sun in 2020 for calling him a “wife beater” in an article. Heard was a chief witness for The Sun. In that case, the judge called the allegations “substantially true” and found in favor of The Sun. "I make this decision have lost faith in the American legal system, where my unprotected testimony served as entertainment and social media fodder," she said. "When I took before a judge in the UK, I was vindicated by a robust, impartial and fair system, where I was protected from having to give the worst moments of my testimony in front of the worlds media, and where the court found that I was subjected to domestic and sexual violence. In the U.S., however, I exhausted almost all my resources in advance of and during a trial in which I was subject to a courtroom in which abundant, direct evidence that corroborated my testimony was excluded and in which popularity and power mattered more than reason and due process. In the interim I was exposed to a type of humiliation that I simply cannot re-live. Even if my U.S. appeal is successful, the best outcome would be a re-trial where a new jury would have to consider the evidence age. I simply cannot go through that for a third time. Source: tribune.com

Police in Paraguay are searching for six members of a criminal gang who broke out of prison through a hole in the ground. The escapees belong to Brazil's largest criminal gang, First Command of the Capital (PCC), which has been expanding to neighboring Paraguay. It is not clear if the hole was dug by construction workers or the inmates themselves. Three fugitives have so far been captured. The jail break happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the city of Coronel Oviedo, Paraguayan newspaper ABC reported. ABC said that the hole in the ground had been left after construction work had been carried out and that police had not been informed of the "improvement works". But another Paraguayan newspaper, La Tribuna, reported that the hole and the tunnel leading from it had been dug by the inmates themselves. Photos shared on social media by journalist Anibal Emery showed a pair of flip-flops abandoned next to the hole. The hole led from the prison's washroom to a tunnel which emerged in the exercise yard. From there, the prisoners only had to jump over a fence to reach freedom. Paraguay's justice minister told local radio that "clearly there was negligence on the part of the prison authorities because a tunnel like this isn't built overnight". All of the escapees are considered extremely dangerous, police said. They are serving lengthy sentences for crimes ranging from kidnapping to murder. The youngest escapee is 19 and the oldest 40, police said. The PCC is a powerful gang which has its power base in the Brazilian city of São Paulo. Its jailed members control prisons across Brazil and in Paraguay. Gang members on the outside, meanwhile, smuggle drugs internationally to locations as far away as Europe and engage in large-scale bank robberies. This is not the first mass PCC jail break in Paraguay in recent years. In 2020, 75 inmates escaped from a prison in the eastern city of Pedro Juan Caballero.   Source: BBC

 Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad arrived home to a jubilant Buenos Aires on Tuesday as millions of people lined the streets and celebrated their champions’ return. On arriving in the country on Tuesday morning, team Captain Lionel Messi stepped off the plane first, holding the gold trophy aloft, followed by his triumphant team onto a red carpet at the airport. As the team bus departed the airport, it was immediately swarmed by cheering supporters dressed in the national colors of blue and white. Videos show the bus inching forward slowly behind a police escort, surrounded by tens of thousands of people waving the Argentine flag and setting off firecrackers in the night. The air was filled with cheers as the crowd sang and danced; the players, standing on the open top deck, waved to their adoring supporters. [caption id="attachment_32817" align="alignnone" width="906"] Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to take to the streets and celebrate.[/caption] Some 4 million people came out to see the victory parade in the capital, state media agency Télam reported, citing police. Tuesday had been declared a national holiday following the team’s thrilling penalty shootout victory over France in Qatar on Sunday. The bus carrying the entire team was meant to make its way to the Obelisk, a historic monument in the center of Buenos Aires, but was not able to progress due to the swarming crowds, Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, the president of the Argentine Football Association said Tuesday. “They won’t let us go to greet all the people who were at the Obelisk, the same security agencies that escorted us, won’t allow us to move forward,” Tapia said, “A thousand apologies on behalf of all the champion players.” A helicopter including Messi, teammate Rodrigo De Paul and Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni flew over the crowds, police said Tuesday, soaring over the parade before being flown back to the the football association’s training site in Ezeiza, on the city’s outskirts. [caption id="attachment_32823" align="alignnone" width="906"] Argentina players wave from the top of a bus after their arrival in Buenos Aires.[/caption] The team will spend the night at the Argentine Football Association’s training facility, according to Télam. Crowds of supporters had camped out at the training site on Monday ahead of the team’s arrival, with photos showing fans spilling out of cars parked on its grounds. Some laid on blankets on the grass while others lounged on picnic chairs around coolers. The team’s highly-anticipated return continues several days of nonstop celebration across the country and among fans overseas, following Argentina’s explosive win against France. Superstars Messi and Kylian Mbappé faced off on the pitch, in what has widely been called the greatest World Cup final of all time. Mbappé was defending France’s 2018 win at the tournament in Russia, while 35-year-old Messi was playing in what may be his final World Cup match, looking to claim the trophy which had eluded him for so long. Argentina took an early lead in the first half – but France roared back in the second half, reaching a 2-2 tie that forced the match into extra time. Messi scored his second goal of the match to restore his team’s lead – but Mbappé scored a second penalty to grab his hat-trick and take the final to a penalty shootout, which ended with triumph for Argentina after France missed two shots. Hundreds of thousands of people poured onto the streets of Buenos Aires after the World Cup triumph, flooding the central 9 de Julio Avenue. Social media videos showed jubilant fans climbing on top of street poles to wave the Argentine flag; others on the ground danced, sang and chanted in celebration. [caption id="attachment_32825" align="alignnone" width="906"] Fans climbed up high to try and get a view of the Argentina bus.[/caption] The triumph in Doha was Argentina’s third World Cup win and its first since 1986, when the legendary Diego Maradona led the team to victory in Mexico. Sunday’s win also marked a change in fortunes for Argentina after three recent defeats in major finals – the 2014 World Cup, and the Copa America in 2015 and 2016. Those losses prompted Messi at one point to announce his retirement from international football – though the almost-unanimous national outcry convinced him to reverse track, before wining the Copa América in 2021. Now, with the World Cup also under his belt, Messi has cemented his status as one of the all-time soccer greats alongside Maradona and Brazil’s Pelé. “I cannot believe that we have suffered so much in a perfect game. Unbelievable, but this team responds to everything,” said Scaloni after the match Sunday, according to Reuters. “I am proud of the work they did,” he added, fighting back tears as he was embraced by his players. “I want to tell people to enjoy, it’s a historic moment for our country.” Source: CNN News

Hundreds of offshore workers could spend Christmas in the North Sea after weather conditions cancelled more than 50 helicopter flights. About 300 staff, many of whom are Scottish, have been unable to leave platforms off Denmark as scheduled. French firm TotalEnergies said a phenomenon called "triggered lightning" was responsible for the disruption. The company said it would never compromise with the safety of employees. It also denied reports it was refusing to reschedule cancelled flights and put extra transport on to get workers home for Christmas. A spokeswoman said: "Helicopter transports during wintertime around the North Sea are always challenging due to ice, fog, wind speeds and other factors. "This year has been particularly impacted by so-called "triggered lightning" which is caused by polar air passing over a warmer sea surface. "This phenomenon has led to the cancellation so far of 52 flights in November and December 2022 which can be compared to zero cancellations caused by triggered lightning during the same period in 2021. "Unfortunately, the phenomenon cannot be eliminated with de-icing systems, as has been mentioned in the media." The company, which runs the Tyra Redevelopment Project, said manned offshore installations were normally serviced by helicopters. They usually transports 130 people back and forth every weekday out of a total offshore staff of about 1,250. "Since the flights have not been able to take place to the required extent, there are approximately 300 people who should have left and are now awaiting transport to shore," the spokeswoman said. "We never compromise with the safety of our employees, neither on the platforms offshore nor during the transport back and forth between Esbjerg [Denmark] and the fields 250km out in the North Sea. "We are in close dialogue with our supplier of flights, Offshore Helicopter Services Denmark, and other parties, so that we can best keep our employees informed and restore flights when it is safe. " TotalEnergies has also called in helicopters from another supplier to increase the number of flights when weather allows them to resume. The spokeswoman added: "In addition, we have committed three boats at short notice, which can dock close to the platforms and establish a safe footbridge if the wave height is not too great. The first one left Esbjerg harbour the night between Saturday and Sunday, and new boat trips are planned for this week. "We will do our outmost to bring all stranded people back before Christmas." Source: BBC

Netflix has announced its next project with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex – a Nelson Mandela-inspired docuseries titled “Live to Lead.” Dropping December 31, the series will feature interviews with several familiar and famous faces, from New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and South African rugby player Siya Kolisi, to the late United States Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In a statement, the streaming giant summarized the seven-part series as “extraordinary” leaders reflecting on their lives, while highlighting the “fundamental values, daily disciplines and guiding principles that leaders employ to motivate others and create meaningful change.” “Live to Lead” is executive produced by Harry and Meghan in association with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, it said. Geoff Blackwell, the series’ creator and director, said in the statement that he and co-executive producer Ruth Hobday wanted to “honor Mandela’s values by surfacing the stories of leaders who distinguish themselves through their moral courage, the conviction of their ideals and values, and their prioritization of others.” A trailer for the series, released Monday, features both the subjects and the Sussexes, with Harry quoting Mandela as saying, “‘what counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived,’” and Meghan concluding “it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” Other interviewees include climate change activist Greta Thunberg, social justice campaigner Gloria Steinem, and anti-apartheid activist and former justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa Albie Sachs. This project follows the release of the eagerly anticipated docuseries “Harry & Meghan” on the streaming platform earlier this month. Source: CNN News

Director for Local Government affairs and Autonomy has called on New Irelanders to keep pushing for full Autonomy. Speaking during a recent opening of the Kavieng District Administration office he said it was important for all New Ireland landowners to have power over their resources. “Whether you like it or not, we are going into a new system of Government. Autonomy will come. The Districts and LLG’s will benefit from it. You papa, mama graun will get benefit from the gold, timber and fisheries from your respective surroundings. That is the whole idea behind why the Provincial Government is pushing for Autonomy,” said Fugonto. Fugonto said Waigani should not be the one calling all the shots for resources that rightfully belong to the Provinces and its landowners. National Government has let us down. It continues to mismanage dividends from our resources and gives us crumbs in return. Sir J has been pushing the agenda for 15 years, he will not be around forever, but we must continue our bid for full Autonomy.” Fugonto said New Ireland has a population under 300,000 and can look after its population through the management of its resources. “ New Ireland has already began the process by building the necessary infrastructure, like roads, Schools, hospitals and Council Chambers across all 10 LLG’s. This Kavieng District Administrative building will also greatly assist our development objectives with effective communication between the all the LLG’s. The district administrator is the Chief advisor of all the LLG’s.” Acting Administrator Moses Taram said New Ireland in recent years has seen unprecedented development throughout the Province. This office is an important asset of the province and the district. The four LLGs will be coordinated effectively as governments at the grassroots level. We now have four Council Chambers in Kavieng District. These council chambers align well with the District office complex,” said Taram. Taram stressed on the importance of forging partnerships and good working relationships between all arms of Government. “In the New Year the New Ireland Government will fund some staff houses on the LLG seat of Government. Therefore on this occasion, I call on the DDA board and the district administration to partner with the Provincial Government to strengthen the capacity of our Local Level Governments,” said Taram. After 27 years a new Kavieng District Administrative office was officially opened on Friday 16th December. The project cost K250,000 to build and was funded through the Kavieng District Development Authority. The building will now allow for better processing of queries relating to the Kavieng District. The event was well attended by all presidents in the Kavieng District including acting Governor Sammy Missen who praised the initiative of Kavieng District Administrator David Lens for pushing for the project and eventually making it become a reality. The building is located within the Kavieng District Treasury premises. Mr Lens said, "Kavieng Town is growing so this is only temporary. We will allow Kavieng Urban Council to Govern the town area while a permanent District Administration office will be built further out of Kavieng Urban." The Kavieng District LLG presidents pledged to stand united and work together for the betterment of their people.

South Sydney superstars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker will remain at the Rabbitohs long-term after officially re-signing with the club on Wednesday. The Rabbitohs announced their retentions in a major double boost before Christmas with Mitchell to remain at the club until at least the end of the 2027 season while Walker's extension is for a further two years until the end of 2025. Walker, 32, and Mitchell, 25, coincidentally made their NRL debuts against each other in 2016 while Mitchell was at the Roosters. The pair joined forces four years later when Mitchell moved across to the Rabbitohs after winning two premierships with the Tricolours. Walker celebrated his 150th game in 2022 while Mitchell requires six more appearances for the personal milestone. Walker has been a mainstay in the Rabbitohs side for the past seven seasons, scoring 82 tries in 169 games. He's produced 135 try assists, including 21 in 2022 in a season the Rabbitohs came from seventh to reach their fifth-straight preliminary final. Mitchell made a remarkable return from a mid-season trip to the USA for treatment on a hamstring injury, scoring seven tries and setting up 17 in his third year at Redfern. His stay in particular ends any speculation the Indigenous All Stars representative would be a primary target for new franchise the Dolphins in 2024. Former Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett was said to be interested in Mitchell before South Sydney begun negotiations with the star fullback. The news comes after the Rabbitohs confirmed last week that dynamic hooker Damien Cook is likely to play out the remainder of his career at the club after signing a contract extension until the end of 2025 last week. Cook, 31, also made his club debut alongside Walker and against Mitchell in Round 1, 2016, after a brief stint at the Bulldogs. The trio will play a vital part in South Sydney's quest for a 22nd premiership in the coming years under Jason Demetriou. Source: NRL.Com

ANZ today announced Lachlan Halstead has been appointed Country Head, Papua New Guinea (PNG), reporting to Tammy Medard, Managing Director Institutional Australia and PNG. The appointment has received PNG regulatory approval. Mr. Halstead has worked with ANZ for 21 years, most recently in the role of Chief Operating Officer, Institutional Australia, since 2018. Prior to this, he held senior management positions in Singapore, Vietnam and India. Commenting on the appointment, Ms. Medard said: “ANZ has been in PNG for more than a century, and we continue to see opportunities for growth and investment. “Born and raised in PNG, Lachlan is well-placed to support our local team and drive opportunities for our customers and the PNG economy. His proven track record of leadership across the Asia Pacific will contribute to advancing trade and capital flows with PNG and the region.” Mr. Halstead will relocate from Melbourne to Port Moresby in early 2023. He has a strong personal connection to PNG, having spent part of his childhood in Port Moresby and Madang. Lachlan succeeds Mark Baker who retires after ten years in the role. ANZ established operations in PNG in 1910 and has dedicated corporate centres in Port Moresby, Lae and Goroka. ANZ PNG offers a full range of services for Institutional and Corporate customers across transaction banking, markets, loans and specialized finance. ANZ locally has a particular focus on resources, energy, infrastructure, food, beverage, agriculture and diversified industries. In addition to supporting Institutional and Corporate customers, ANZ delivers its flagship financial literacy program MoneyMinded across PNG communities to increase the financial inclusion and capabilities of Papua New Guineans.

Nambawan Super Limited (NSL) is excited to announce the renewal of its Discount Partnership Agreement with the CHM Group (CHM), which will see Members of the Fund receiving up to 15% in discounts on selected products at CHM storefronts across the PNG. Nambawan Super Members, with membership ID cards, can now enjoy an amazing 5% off mobile phones; 10% off all computers, drones and laptops above K5,000; and 15% off other selected products. CHM Group Managing Director, Mr. Raymond Chin, MBE, said, “We are happy to be renewing this Partnership with NSL just in time for Christmas so that the 214,000 Nambawan Super Members can enjoy something special from us during the festive period and throughout 2023”. “CHM carries a range of top global brands such as JBL, Sony, Panasonic, DJI, Seiko, Apple, PowerPac, PhoneMax and many more new and exciting products that we would like to make accessible to all Papua New Guineans”, Mr. Chin added. NSL CEO, Mr. Paul Sayer thanked CHM for their initiative and generosity in partnering with NSL for the benefit of its Members. “We are pleased to have renewed our Discount Partner Agreement with CHM as they have been a great supporter of the Fund and our Members for many years”, Mr. Sayer said. “I am sure that our over 214,000 Members will also be very pleased to receive the news of the renewed discounts”. “Through this renewed Partnership, CHM re-joins over 160 participating businesses across the Country as a Nambawan Discount Provider.” “We encourage all our Nambawan Super Members, including those in Retirement Savings and Choice Super, to take advantage of these discounts if they are looking to purchase high-quality technology brands for themselves or their families”, Mr. Sayer added. Nambawan Super offers a full list of over 160 Discount Partners, to help members to plan where to shop a save throughout the year.

Clare Guria is the leader of a hearing-impaired team who, with support from the Australian Government through the PNG-Australia Partnership, provided technical advice and input into PNG’s first Disability Inclusive Communication Guide. Law and justice agencies and other groups can now use the Guide to improve communication and build respectful relationships with staff and clients with disabilities. As a child growing up in Wewak in East Sepik Province, Clare was active and outgoing until one morning in 2006, at just 16 years of age, she had the scary experience of waking up to find that she had lost her hearing. An even greater challenge though was overcoming the prejudice she experienced from others. “It was hard growing up. I got bullied and left out because I could not hear.” Years later, even after achieving significant academic success in PNG and in Australia, Clare - like many other deaf people and people with disabilities - still encounters discrimination and abuse on a regular basis. Despite losing her hearing, Clare completed her Grade 12 at Wewak’s Mercy Secondary School and a two-year Certificate in Painting, Decorating, and Sign Writing at Madang Technical College. Under her mother’s guidance, in 2015 she applied for an Australia Awards scholarship and in mid-2016 started a design degree at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. Clare embraced the opportunity and in 2020 graduated with an Honours degree in Interactive and Visual Design. She also won a People’s Choice Award for her final year thesis on e-Bilum (woven bilums with integrated electronic components). After graduating, Clare returned to Port Moresby with two goals: to build her career in design and to help improve the lives of people with hearing impairments and other disabilities. As Vice-President of the National Capital District Deaf Association, Clare’s greatest motivation is to ensure that in the future, young girls with hearing impairments do not have to deal with the sort of challenges that confronted her. She believes the path to achieving that is by empowering people with disabilities to learn about their rights, further their education, speak up when faced with discrimination, and know how to seek help when faced with injustice. “I want to help people with disabilities reach their own potential and be game changers in our society. When we help them, they help themselves and those around them,” she says

The People’s Alliance/National Federation and SODELPA will form the next government. The announcement has been made SODELPA’s negotiation team lead, Anare Jale. Jale says in a secret ballot, 16 SODELPA management board members voted for a coalition with the People’s Alliance and NFP while 14 board members voted for the FijiFirst Party. He says the management board members met for a few hours today. He says it has not been an easy decision on the way forward for Fiji and it was a big responsibility for SODELPA. Jale says the decision was a tough one and a decision that took into account the offers and presentations by the parties. FijiFirst Leader, Voreqe Bainimarama led the delegation for the party and made the presentation to the management board this afternoon while the People’s Alliance presentation was done by senior members of the party and the National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad. fijivillage News has received confirmation from SODELPA General Secretary, Lenaitasi Duru that a written directive from the party will then be given to the three SODELPA MPs, Viliame Gavoka, Aseri Radrodro and Ifereimi Vasu to follow the party’s decision and vote for the chosen party in parliament. This will be legally binding. If someone does not vote along the party lines, then according to the 2013 Fijian Constitution, they will lose their parliamentary seat. Based on this Sitiveni Rabuka will have the majority votes in parliament and will be the next Prime Minister of Fiji. Rabuka was last Prime Minister in 1999. He lost the elections to the People’s Coalition led by Mahendra Chaudhry.   Source: fijivillage