Cheers

International Women's Day in Afghanistan was celebrated this year with what organizers are billing as the first women's film festival in the country's history, Stars and Stripes reported March 6. The festival celebrates films from female directors and those that spotlight women's issues. The festival, running from March 7 to 9, received more than 100 film submissions from around the world, 30 of which will be shown.

More News to Cheer This Week:

PresidentBarack Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act into law March 7, expanding protections for victims of domestic violence, renewing a measure credited with curbing violence against women a year and a half after it lapsed amid partisan bickering, reported the Huffington Post. The revitalized VAWA marked an important win for gay rights advocates and Native Americans,who will see new protections under the law.

More women have joined the ranks of the world's wealthiest, Forbes reported March 4, but they still hold a small sliver of the total 10-figure fortunes. Of the 1,426 people on the 2013 Forbes list of the world's billionaires, just 138 are women, but this is still up from 104 women last year.

PresidentObama nominated Maj. Gen.Michelle Johnson for the appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment to serve as the Air Force Academy's 19th superintendent, the U.S. Air Force announced in a press release March 4.

Women in the Balkans are increasingly taking top leadership posts, the Associated Press reported March 4. The traditional rules are changing as Balkan countries shake off their war pasts and move toward membership