welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines.. the taliban government bans women from university education — in a further erosion of women's rights in afghanistan as ambulance staff prepare to strike in england and wales, health bosses warn they cannot guarantee patient safety argentina's world cup victory parade , hundreds of thousands turn up to applaud the nation's football heroes. and australia's foreign minister is set to meet her counterpart in beijing , at the start of a visit aimed at thawing troubled relations.

it's seven in the morning in singapore, and 3:30 in the morning in afghanistan — where the education ministry has announced that women will be suspended from universities until further notice. the move is expected to take effect immediately. the move further restricts women's access to formal education, as they were already excluded from secondary schooling. lets speak to my colleague bbc�*s yalda hakim who's reported extensively from afghanistan and the region. it's wonderful to have you on the programme yada. mas it's wonderful to have you on the programme yada— programme yada. was this an announcement _ programme yada. was this an announcement expected - programme yada. was this an announcement expected or i programme yada. was this an l announcement expected or has programme yada. was this an . announcement expected or has it programme yada. was this an - announcement expected or has it come as a complete surprise it hasn't come as a surprise.—

as a complete surprise it hasn't come as a surprise. about two months auo come as a surprise. about two months a . o the come as a surprise. about two months ago the taliban — come as a surprise. about two months ago the taliban warned _ come as a surprise. about two months ago the taliban warned me _ come as a surprise. about two months ago the taliban warned me this - come as a surprise. about two months ago the taliban warned me this was i ago the taliban warned me this was going to happen. and then silence for a period of time. so we knew it was coming. afghan girls and women's expected it. i suppose in many ways there was hope against hope that they wouldn't go this far. that they would have some kind of fear that they would become at if they went on this path. guards over the age of 12 have been banned from schools since the taliban swept to power. because girls were going to university, because some of the woman were going to private universities, there was a feeling that some date the taliban would overturn these policy of girls not going to school because the universities remain open. and here we are today. you've met the taliban and pressed them repeatedly on their position with women's rights particularly

around education for girls. what's their position on this? their position is what it was in the 905. before they 5wept position is what it was in the 905. before they swept the parlor and even the last years they seem myself and my colleagues have pre55ed them on a number of occasions in interviews when it comes to the education and basic rights of women and girls. they have continued to say that once the situation get5 say that once the situation gets better in afghanistan they would allow women to go back to work and girls to go to school with. yet, everything they are doing is against that. and it can only reinforce the fact that their ideology remains the same. they perhap5 fought for 20 years and this is something that i've asked the taliban on multiple occasions did you fight for 20 years so you could take on 20 year 12—year—old girl5 so you could take on 20 year 12—year—old girls and prevent them from gaining their basic human rights? from gaining their basic human

riuhts? ~ , ., , rights? absolutely, and this announcement _ rights? absolutely, and this announcement has - rights? absolutely, and this announcement has already. rights? absolutely, and this - announcement has already attracted international concern hasn't it? it has. the announcement came as the un was meeting on a session on afghanistan and the us and uk have already condemned the move. it comes as the united states welcome home5 as the united states welcome homes to citizens held in5ide taliban cu5tody. to citizens held in5ide taliban custody. the state department said it wasn't lost on them that the release on the lives of those who on the date that would prevent women going to university.— going to university. yalda hakim thank thank _ going to university. yalda hakim thank thank you _ going to university. yalda hakim thank thank you fantastic - going to university. yalda hakim thank thank you fantastic to - going to university. yalda hakim thank thank you fantastic to get | going to university. yalda hakim . thank thank you fantastic to get you on the programme to get your thoughts. some breaking news to bring you — us media is reporting that ukraine's president zelensky is due to visit washington on wednesday. (read 0n) this would be on wednesday.thi5 would be the ukrainian leader's first visit abroad since the war began in february.

i'm joined now by our washington correspondent, barbara plett usher few ditto5 coming through right now barbara but what can you tell us? the us media is reporting that if president zelensky doe5 the us media is reporting that if president zelensky does come he would meet congressional leadership and leaders from both parties and president biden at the white house. we have heard from the house representative who cochairs the congressional ukrainian caucu5 and she said there have been ongoing efforts to bring him to the capital to address a joint congress. and nancy pelosi has written to her colleagues seen there will be a special message on night though she didn't say what that message would be about. if m5. president zelensky doe5 addre55 congre55 it will be the second time he did so right after the russian youth invasion in february. we have to stress that this has not been officially confirmed and that security concerns

might change any plans that are already under way 5uck because if mr zielinski doe5 already under way 5uck because if mr zielinski does come to washington that would be his first outside of ukraine since the war 5tarted that would be his first outside of ukraine since the war started and that would be a sensitive issue. highly sensitive as he points out and not confirmed yet going by what us media reports are sent. in terms of the background to this and what you might do or say or ask for. is there any sense of that?- you might do or say or ask for. is there any sense of that? well, we do know that the ukrainians _ there any sense of that? well, we do know that the ukrainians have - there any sense of that? well, we do know that the ukrainians have been i know that the ukrainians have been asking for better air defence weapons. because of asking for better air defence weapon5. because of the decamping by the russians to strike there is a subject mi55ile5 the russians to strike there is a subject missiles and drones. we do know if there have been reports here that the americans are considering upgrading the air defence they are a 5upplying to supply patriot battery mi55ile5. so that is something that is likely to be discussed. also, of

course, congress is about to change and democrats don't control congre55 now and republicans taking over and some of them have been reticent about whether they would continue with the level of aid that democrats have authorised. presumably if president zelensky doe5 addre55 congre55 he will make forcefully the case that that level of age should continue. ., , ., ,, , ., ., continue. robert thank you for keein: continue. robert thank you for keeping us _ continue. robert thank you for keeping us up-to-date - continue. robert thank you for keeping us up-to-date with i continue. robert thank you for| keeping us up-to-date with the keeping us up—to—date with the details of that story. (sing to the uk now — and leaders of the uk's to the uk now — and leaders of the uk's national health service are expressing fears — that patient safety can't be guaranteed, during the industrial action by ambulance workers in england and wales on wednesday. the public is being asked to use 5ervice5 �*wisely�* , and to call emergency services only if it's a life—threatening emergency. there's likely to be major disruption , with paramedics, call handler5, emergency care assistants and technicians going on strike. 0ur health editor, hugh pym reports. what do we want? safe staffing! when do we want it? now! today it was nur5e5 out

on picket lines in england, wales and northern ireland. the second strike in their dispute over pay. tomorrow it will be military personnel helping with patients during 5trike5 by ambulance workers. they've been trained to support paramedics during walk—outs staged by health unions. right, you get round there. 600 from the armed forces in total are stepping in to help, though it will be thousands of ambulance staff who are on strike. the military teams are being prepared for what to expect. we're in a position where you guys are going out to support a lack of service. they're not here to do the job of a paramedic, they're here to do the job of an ambulance driver and they're providing that nonclinical support. they've got a lot of initiative, our troops, so they will be able to support where required. maternity kit. _ so, for delivering babies... as the training continued, preparing for every eventuality,

the secretary of state had a message for ambulance staff going on strike. i call on the trade unions to act responsibly. they have said they will provide life—threatening cover, emergency cover. it's essential that they do so to protect patients because if there are delays in ambulances, that impacts very seriously on patient safety. 0ne minister even said, to take pressure off services, the public should modify their behaviour. where people are planning any risky activity, i would strongly encourage them not to do so because there will be disruption on the day. and a representative of nhs leaders warned of serious problems for patients. we have reached the stage where our leaders feel it'si necessary to say that they cannot guarantee patient safety, - they cannot avoid risks, as these strikes unfold. j but a union leader, challenged by mp5 today on what might happen,

said the situation for nhs patients was already bad. we have to realise that right now, today, people are not getting the ambulances — they are taking themselves to hospitals in a taxi because they can't get the ambulance. people are dying, waiting to be handed over at a&e departments. that's happening today. emergency ambulance, is the patient breathing? at the uk's busiest ambulance service, detailed plans have been made for tomorrow — though with only about 200 vehicles on the road, rather than 450. call handlers will tell the lowest risk patients to make their own way to hospital. i think tomorrow will be a very difficult day, because we are already extremely busy and hospital handover delays have been very long. however, i am confident that any one who phones 999 who has a life—threatening emergency, we will respond to tomorrow as normal.

striking ambulance staff will be outside stations like this one tomorrow, but there is an agreement with management that if there's a life—threatening or another very serious case, they will leave the picket lines and go straight to their vehicles so they can get on the road to the patient. so, how do the sailors, soldiers and raf staff who will be on the front line tomorrow feel about their new role? it's normal to be a little bit nervous, but feeling quite honoured to come down and do my part. it's very fast paced, but all the information is getting taken in, ready for tomorrow. i'm confident that i'm going to help and i'm ready to do it. _ they may be in for a long haul. the royal college of nursing has warned if there is no movement on pay there will be continued action. other health unions likewise. with no indication of a shift by ministers. hugh pym, bbc news.

you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme. ecstatic fans party in the streets , as argentina's football squad takes the world cup trophy on a victory parade around buenos aires. the world of music has been paying tribute to george michael who died of suspected heart failure at the age of 53, he sailed over at the age of 53, he sold over 100 million albums in a career spanning over decades. united states troops have been trying to over i'll throw and they failed in the principal objective and taken to the united states to face drug charges. a hammer and sickle hastily taken away in its place the russian flag was hoisted over what is now no longer the soviet union but the commonwealth of independent states.

day broke slowly over lockerbie. pan ams made of the seas nose down in the soft earth. - you can see what happens - when a plane eight stories high, a football pitch wide falls from 30,000 feet. - christmas has returned to albania after a communist ban lasting more than 20 years, thousands with the midnight mass in the town where there were anti communists riots ten days ago. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. argentina's victorious footballers have returned home with the world cup —— where they were greeted by tens of thousands of fans —— in buenos aires. the argentine government declared today a public holiday —— to mark the nation's pride in the team's achievement in qatar —— as our correspondent katy watson reports. argentina's champions are home, to much fanfare and excitement. thousands waited up to greet them in the early hours, not wanting to miss this chance to see the megastars.

argentina's never seen anything like it, an estimated 4 million people came out onto the streets of the capital, the country's biggest party in its history. in true argentinian style, the steaks and sausages were slapped on the barbecue from early in the morning. people dressed in messi's number ten shirt. this world cup has made him a national hero, standing alongside diego maradona in argentine footballing fame. translation: it's - amazing, it's amazing. i don't think any country has lived through what we are living now. nobody is partying like we are right now, nobody! it is something that i will talk with my sons and grandsons for ever. the team made its way towards the centre slowly but had to change route because of the sheer number of fans.

the players abandoned coming to the 0belisk, which has been the focal point of celebrations during the tournament. they ended up having to do a flyover in a helicopter instead. the celebrations on sunday after the final were massive but today has been even bigger. no—one can deny how much the argentinians wanted this trophy to come home but i think the outpouring of pride has even surprised the authorities here. while messi is, of course, an inspiration, the whole team is being celebrated. batista is alexis mac allister�*s godfather and former coach, proud of the brighton & hove albion player coming home with the trophy. translation: he started playing here at the age of six. _ today english football is the greatest in the world, where the best players are, and thankfully clubs have been coming for argentinian footballers and that is wonderful because it opens the door to other players.

back to the party of extraordinary proportions. a country battered by economic crisis, this has been a world cup to remember, allowing argentinians to park their worries and really celebrate success. katy watson, bbc news, in buenos aires. australia's foreign minister is to meet her counterpart in beijing on wednesday — in what is the first visit to china by an australian minister since 2019. there has been friction between beijing and canberra in recent years over various issues including the origin of covid—19, which has resulted in china imposing trade sanctions. 0ur correspondent, phil mercer, is watching events from sydney and joins us now. great to get you on the show fell. how surprising is the fact that this visit is actually going ahead given the friction between both sides?

since we had a change of government here in australia in may the recently elected labour administration has been trying to mend those relations with china that have been in the deep freezer for quite a few years now. today is significant. ijust a big day for australia. the foreign minister is meeting her chinese counterpart in beijing and it is also the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. so, gradually australia is trying to soothe those tensions with china. but the foreign minister has cautioned that there will be no quick fix. that this will be an effort, a long—standing effort to reduce those tensions and she is cautioning australians not to expect too much too quickly. hat cautioning australians not to expect too much too quickly.— too much too quickly. not too much too quickly. — too much too quickly. not too much too quickly. feel— too much too quickly. not too much too quickly, feel it. _ too much too quickly. not too much too quickly, feel it. but _ too much too quickly. not too much too quickly, feel it. but what - too much too quickly. not too much too quickly, feel it. but what is us l

too quickly, feel it. but what is us really hoping to get out of this visit? i really hoping to get out of this visit? ., . , really hoping to get out of this visit? ~' ., , ., ., visit? i think initially that a certain foreign _ visit? i think initially that a certain foreign minister i visit? i think initially that a | certain foreign minister will visit? i think initially that a - certain foreign minister will be trying to dismantle the trade tariffs that have been imposed on a range of australian commodities including beef, barley and wine which amount to millions of dollars. so australia is keen to have those restrictions removed. i surely would also raise the case of at least two australian citizens detained in china and there have been many disagreements in recent years, geopolitical disagreements over policy in the hong kong and taiwan for example. and also there was because years ago for i inquire into the origination of covert. it infuriated shiny because of the early days of the pandemic. but

since may australia's government is trying to mend ties with its biggest trading partner and remember back in australia meant gigi xijinping in bali. they are hoping that the relationship now is heading in the right direction. phil relationship now is heading in the right direction.— right direction. phil our correspondent - right direction. phil our correspondent in - right direction. phil our| correspondent in sydney right direction. phil our _ correspondent in sydney watching events for us that key meeting between china and assured it. thank you forjoining us on the programme. in germany, a former secretary —— who worked for the commander of a nazi concentration camp, has been convicted of complicity —— in the murders of more than 10 thousand people. ermgard fechner —— who's now 97 —— was employed as a typist at sto0t—0ff camp from 1943 to 19115. she's the first woman to be tried for nazi crimes in decade —— and was given a two—year suspended jail sentence. caroline hawley reports

wheeled in to hear the verdict against her in what could be one of the very last holocaust trials, irmgard furchner, herface blurred by order of the court, a blanket over her lap. almost eight decades ago she was a typist, a secretary to the camp commandant. but thejudge rejected her lawyer's argument that she didn't know about the killings and ruled she was complicit in the mass murder of more than 10,000 people. in all, over the course of the second world war, an estimated 65,000 prisoners died in the stuthoff camp in nazi—occupied poland in horrific circumstances. they were killed in its gas chamber, hanged and shot or succumbed to starvation and disease. irmgard furchner, seen here as a young woman, was only 18 and 19 at the time, so, despite her age, was tried in a specialjuvenile court.

the prosecutor said her secretary of the work had ensure the smooth running of the nancy machine there. modern germany is still grappling with the darkness of its past. the public prosecutors said this was a trial of outstanding historical importance which serves as a record. it's also a message and a warning that complicity is a crime and the age of the perpetrator no impediment to the pursuit ofjustice. it is one of life's simple pleasures isn't it — curling up with a good book at the end of a long day? but spare a thought for the people writing them — the authors, particularly in australia. a recent survey there has found that the average income for authors in the country was 18—thousand

australian dollars — or less than 10—thousand pounds — for the whole of 2022. that's extremely low considering the rising costs of living and the high levels of education many of these writers have. for more on this, we can speak now to wenona byrne, head of literature at the australia council for the arts — a co—funder of this study. great to get you on the programme wenona byrne. how was this average amount calculated? this research went out widely to publish authors and ask them what their income was. and many other factors of rights tonight. it surveyed 1152 writers across all genres. and this is a follow—up study to one that was done in 2015. so we are interested to see how australian writers were peering over

the past seven year period include incorporated times. i5 the past seven year period include incorporated times. is it the past seven year period include incorporated times.— incorporated times. is it possible to say that _ incorporated times. is it possible to say that this _ incorporated times. is it possible to say that this situation - incorporated times. is it possible to say that this situation is - incorporated times. is it possible to say that this situation is the i to say that this situation is the same in other parts of the world are just in australia? i same in other parts of the world are just in australia?— just in australia? i would say the australian market _ just in australia? i would say the australian market is _ just in australia? i would say the australian market is a _ just in australia? i would say the australian market is a very - just in australia? i would say thej australian market is a very small english language market because of that there are particular difficulties with the australian market. but these are these similar trends we are seen around the world many governments in other parts of the world including ireland have implemented measures to assist writers and the rest of the creative industries to have a more sustainable income. but, ithink australia, we really need to focus on greater and to grow these numbers and look at investing right across the industry.

it is this not enough interest or are there not titles being written for there to be a sustainable career? it for there to be a sustainable career? , , , .., , career? it is interesting because the value of _ career? it is interesting because the value of books _ career? it is interesting because the value of books is _ career? it is interesting because the value of books is not - the value of books is not commiserate with the price of books. we also note writers love creating for other apps that we love including games, films and theatre. so the value the public has placed on reading and books is very high. the returns for authors, in terms of income are not commiserate with that value. so i don't think it's a lack of stories out there that people want to read. it is simply that we could invest more in promotion that

would get people read and more. we know we are competing with other, streaming and technology services that are deferred to our attention from longform reading. all those things play a factor. it's not because of 1's of good quality books because of 1's of good quality books because australian writers are winning awards everywhere. indeed, and 'ust winning awards everywhere. indeed, and just briefly _ winning awards everywhere. indeed, and just briefly what _ winning awards everywhere. indeed, and just briefly what are _ winning awards everywhere. indeed, and just briefly what are the - and just briefly what are the consequences of this? does this mean there be fewer books on the shelves all of us to read. ilirui’itli there be fewer books on the shelves all of us to read.— all of us to read. with a mark that's the _ all of us to read. with a mark that's the concerned - all of us to read. with a mark that's the concerned because j all of us to read. with a mark- that's the concerned because authors spend at least 50% of their time doing writing that is not their creative writing or doing otherjobs that are totally unrelated to their creative writing stuff so the complaint is a loss of stories for sure. . �* , . complaint is a loss of stories for sure. ., h ., ., , , complaint is a loss of stories for sure. ., i, . sure. that's a really big concern for all of us _ sure. that's a really big concern for all of us wenona _ sure. that's a really big concern for all of us wenona thank- sure. that's a really big concern for all of us wenona thank you i sure. that's a really big concern l for all of us wenona thank you so much forjoining us on the new state with your thoughts. and that brings us to the end of this hour of

newsday thank you for joining us to the end of this hour of newsday thank you forjoining me and to remember stories are what makes a book. hello there, it is remaining unsettled over the next few days. certainly for the rest of this week no pressure will be in charge. we see quite a lot of rain recently across the south. that has led to flood warnings being issued for south wales and southwest england. so a wet next few days for some of us. there will be a bit of sunshine around. with our air source coming in from the southwest it will stay on the mild side. quite a low pressure with us through tuesday as we move through wednesday it will move into the north of the uk. another ripple rings wet weather to the south of the country on thursday. and this area of pressure will bring substantial wet weather to the country during the course of friday. we start wednesday off on a wet note for the southeast of england. east anglia. that rain will clear away quite quickly.

then its bright for much of england and wales. few showers against the southwest later. few showers into the southwest later. for the far north of england, scotland, northern ireland, it's going to be blustery with sunny spells, scattered showers and temperatures will range from around seven to 11 degrees across the uk. as we move through wednesday nights it stays blustery across the north of the uk, so close to the centre of the low a few showers here. england and wales will start dry and we will see areas of rain and cloud pushing in from the southwest and it was still quite breezy, particularly across saw particularly across there southern and western coast. another mild night to come in the south, further north three to five celsius. we start with some sunshine across the north of the uk on thursday. it will stay breezy in the far north and a few showers here. for the rest of england and wales it looks like it will turn claudia through the day. cloudy through the day. more rain pushes in from the southwest, some of this again could be quite heavy across southern england, south wales. that will exacerbate already saturated ground here with flooding issues. a milder day to come in the south. a bit cooler in the north.

it will stay when the in the south and mounts here through friday but notice across the north we start to see this blur is colder air starting to push southwards. will be in the background through friday with cold air in the north mild air in the south. a5 air in the north mild air in the south. as we move through the christmas. certainly in the north it will turn colder with some wintery showers even down to lower levels at times. there will be a little bit of sunshine to which a very crisp evening. some of the cold air will start to get into england and wales as we move through the christmas. so it would be turning colder with a risk of some wintery showers.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be this is bbc news, the headlines the taliban rulers of afghanistan have banned women from universities and other places of higher education. the move is the latest in a series of harsh restrictions aimed at women. us media reports that president zelensky, seen here on a visit to the front line in ukraine, is planning to travel to washington on wednesday and may address the us congress. china has changed the way it records covid deaths. it will only count people who die from respiratory illness — resulting in a figure that is way below the death toll in many other countries. lionel messi and the argentine football squad have been holding a world cup victory parade throughjubilant crowds in the capital buenos aires. it's estimated more than a million people gathered to see them.