welcome to bbc news. i'm rich preston. our top stories: a congressional committee in the united states has voted to release the tax returns of former president donald trump. ukraine's president goes to washington: us media reports volodymyr zelensky is to pay an official trip to america. a 97—year—old german woman is found guilty for her part in the deaths of more than 10,000 people during the holocaust. in a further erosion of women's rights in afghanistan, the taliban government bans women from university education. a sea of celebration: hundreds of thousands take to the streets to welcome home argentina's world cup winners.

welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. we begin in america. ever since announcing his run for president, donald trump has refused to make his tax returns public. despite not being legally obliged to, for decades it's been convention that presidential hopefuls are transparent on earnings, how much they earn and how much of that goes back into the public purse. but donald's trump's fight for privacy has now run out, with a us house committee ruling to release details of the former president's filings from 2015 to 2021, the years when he was running for president and serving in the white house. 0ur north america correspondent peter bowes has more on the significance of this decision. this is something that donald trump has been objecting to for many years now. it really goes back to 2016

when he first stood for the presidency. he did not reveal his tax returns then, as many other presidential candidates have done over the years, and he has continued to refuse to do that, and in more recent months he has said that this has been part of a political witch—hunt that he said the democratically controlled committee, this is the ways and means committee in the house of representatives, had been politically motivated to try to get those tax returns made public, and, of course, we are in the final few weeks of democratic control of that committee, and the decision at the end of the day was made, it seems, along party lines. so, with the democrats on that committee voting to make public donald trump's tax returns from the six years that they had requested. the republicans have been objecting to this, insisting that this could in future be used as — they have put it — a political weapon against other politicians.

so, what it means is in the next few days — and it could take a few days — those tax returns will be released with some redactions. in other words there will be certain areas that will be blacked out to hide any personal, confidential information of mr trump, but by and large most of the information will be made public for accountants across this country to read and to analyse and try to figure out and answer the question you posed — why has donald trump been so strongly opposed to the release of these returns? we can now speak to us political analyst max kutner who joins us from new york. thanks for being with us. good to see you again. for our viewers especially not in the united states, what is the back story to this? why do house members want donald trump's tax details? , . , , ., members want donald trump's tax details? , , ., ., details? this has been a dream of democrats _ details? this has been a dream of democrats and _ details? this has been a dream of democrats and trump - of democrats and trump opponents in 2016 when trump

was running for presidential election. this is, as he said at the beginning of the programme, this is something that all presidential candidates typically do. it is voluntary. they don't have to do it but they release their tax information. trump in a lot of ways broke with convention including but not releasing his taxes and this became an important part of the 2016 election, and since then this has been a goal and it seems like this goal has finally been realised. now, we do know some tax information from leaked information through the press information through the press in recent years, we know that trump has largely avoided paying taxes. we know that his taxes show some years of financial losses so this is going to presumably build on that information. this is a really big dealfor that information. this is a really big deal for people who have wanted to see this information for years now. is information for years now. is there any specific information people are looking for or is this a fishing expedition? there are a number of things

these tax returns could tell us. that is whether trump is given to any charities, there is indications as to how much he is worth, and of course he is said to have four years exaggerated his work so we can finally get some answers on that. we can also see if he indeed has been avoiding paying taxes as that previous reporting as indicated, and then a piece of information a lot of people are eager to see is whether he has had any loans or been loaned to or taken out loans from foreigners, foreign individuals orforeign loans from foreigners, foreign individuals or foreign nations and, of course, there is so much reporting out there on the president's ties and particularly business ties with foreign nations like russia and nations in the middle east and so i think that that is a piece, especially the russia piece, especially the russia piece, the people are really going to be looking for here. mr trump has already announced his intention to run for presidency again in 202a. how

could this potentially impact on that? $5 could this potentially impact on that? �* , ~ could this potentially impact onthat? a . ., , on that? as much as the house wa s on that? as much as the house ways and _ on that? as much as the house ways and means _ on that? as much as the house ways and means committee i on that? as much as the house| ways and means committee say on that? as much as the house i ways and means committee say it is for a legislative purpose they will be using this in 2024 and 20 do whatever information comes out, if there is tax avoidance, if there is lending with foreign governments. what i am really interested to see is whether any republican challenges to trump, what they do with this information, like florida governor ron desantis who is presumably awful to be going to be potentially challenging trump. will any republicans jump challenging trump. will any republicansjump on challenging trump. will any republicans jump on board with this information? that is something i am definitely going to be looking out for.— to be looking out for. thank ou so to be looking out for. thank you so much. _ media organisations in the us are reporting that ukraine's president volodomyr zelensky will visit washington on wednesday. the ukrainian leader is expected to meet president biden and congressional leaders in what would be his first overseas trip since russia invaded his country ten months ago.

we can now speak tojohn herbst, who's senior director of the atlantic council's eurasia center and a former us ambassador to ukraine from 2003 to 2006. ambassador, thank you very much for being with us. how significant is this? well it will for his _ significant is this? well it will for his first _ significant is this? well it will for his first trip - significant is this? well it i will for his first trip outside of ukraine and of course ukraine have done wonderfully in taking back sections of the country and that is because of strong american support, strong or in quality and lesson quantity. or in quality and lesson quantity-— or in quality and lesson auanti .~ . ., quantity. we are anticipating that president _ quantity. we are anticipating that president biden - quantity. we are anticipating that president biden and - that president biden and president zelenskyy will be meeting to discuss issues surrounding war face—to—face. do we know what each man want to get out of that meeting? this is an opportunity to show

support between the countries and support in dealing with putin's aggression but we know that what falinski really wants are the long—range artillery that the us has refused to provide that would make it easier for provide that would make it easierfor him to provide that would make it easier for him to protect soldiers and stop russian offences and take more territory, and we know that president biden was to show his support for ukraine, even as he seems reluctant to send those more advanced weapons. the us has civen more advanced weapons. the us has given more _ more advanced weapons. the us has given more than _ more advanced weapons. the us has given more than $18 - more advanced weapons. the us has given more than $18 billion l has given more than $18 billion in aid to ukraine since russia invaded. is it likely to promise anymore? that is a lot of money. i promise anymore? that is a lot of money-— of money. i think we will see comparable _ of money. i think we will see comparable assistance - of money. i think we will see comparable assistance goingj comparable assistance going forward. the administration understands it will be a great defeat for the west, for the united states, democracy, if putin were to win in ukraine and considering the cost of the united states and the victory,

the cost of what we're paying right now with aid is relatively small. the ukrainians have down a good part of russia's army and that is very much of the security interest of the west and the united states. in interest of the west and the united states.— united states. in the last 24-hour's. _ united states. in the last 24-hour's, president - united states. in the last - 24-hour's, president zelenskyy 24—hour�*s, president zelenskyy has been in bakhmut, a key place on the front line and now he is going to washington. is he is going to washington. is he confident that his country is winning the war?- he confident that his country is winning the war? ukraine is winnin: is winning the war? ukraine is winning the — is winning the war? ukraine is winning the war _ is winning the war? ukraine is winning the war and _ is winning the war? ukraine is winning the war and western l winning the war and western support, eu support, has been criticalfor ukraine on support, eu support, has been critical for ukraine on gaining the upper hand on the battlefield, but at the same time, his trip to bakhmut was a way to show russia and the russian people that moscow's claims to take bakhmut by the end of september had failed. refrain could regain territory faster if we provided the tanks, the longer range

artillery, thejet fighters artillery, the jet fighters that artillery, thejet fighters that ukraine desperately needs. what does the us get out of this? ~ , . ., ., this? well, putin is coming not 'ust for this? well, putin is coming not just for ukraine. _ this? well, putin is coming not just for ukraine. he _ this? well, putin is coming not just for ukraine. he is - this? well, putin is coming not just for ukraine. he is coming l just for ukraine. he is coming for all of the state that used to make up the soviet union which includes three nato allies so putin wants to destroy the security system that has guaranteed peace and prosperity for many decades. we have a vital interest in stopping it, so the money we give to ukraine is not a gift to the ukrainians. it is a vital defence of american and western interests.— western interests. former ambassador _ western interests. former ambassador to _ western interests. former ambassador to ukraine, i western interests. former| ambassador to ukraine, mr ambassador, thank you very much for your time. ambassador, thank you very much foryourtime. my ambassador, thank you very much for your time-— for your time. my pleasure. thank yon _ as the war in ukraine rages, across russia, towns and cities have been scaling back their new year celebrations, cancelling concerts and firework displays. at the same time the russian authorities are using this festive season to promote patriotism and to glorify the armed forces. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg travelled 3,000 miles east of moscow to the siberian city of chita to see how they're marking the holidays

as russia wages war in ukraine. at first glance, siberia is a world away from the war in ukraine. but normality is an illusion because war is changing russia. all of russia. pushing the country in a darker direction. in chita, they're preparing for the ice festival. no santas with reindeers. this year, it's soldiers with kalashnikovs, a whole army of them. cold war to glorify the hot war russia's waging in ukraine. "we're fighting a war," tatyana says. "so it's right to have these ice soldiers here." ludmilla agrees. "we're defending our country

from nazis," she tells me. "russia's being attacked on all fronts, including with lg bt propaganda. we reject these alien values." russians never used to say these kind of things to me. kremlin messaging has convinced many here that russia's in an existential battle with the west. when it's 26 degrees below zero, as it is now, it's difficult to speak, let alone to think. and in many ways, the pro—kremlin propaganda that russians are exposed to in the state media here acts like —26. it prevents many people from thinking rationally about what is happening here, and why. comfort and joy are in short supply. but there's patriotism aplenty. from siberian snowmen flying the flag to the letter z, the symbol of the military operation.

and chita tv showed schoolchildren writing letters — not to father christmas, but to russian troops in ukraine. but some russians see patriotism differently. ivan losev is against the war. 0n social media recently, he shared a dream he'd had in which he met president zelensky of ukraine. for that post and others, he was taken to court and fined for discrediting the russian army. translation: the closer you get to the downfall. of an empire, the more stupid the laws become. patriotism is loving your country, but criticising it to bring change. patriotism is wanting to make your own city better so that people want to live there, and live well. but russia's patriotism is about bombing ukraine to pieces. 0ur leaders don't want our country to be better. theyjust want people in

another country to live worse. a year that changed russia, and the world is nearing its end. one thing russians won't be celebrating is peace on earth. steve rosenberg, bbc news, siberia. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: don't cry for me argentina, and why would they? when they're celebrating a world cup victory? the world of music has been paying tribute to george michael, who's died from suspected heart failure at the age of 53. he sold well over 100 million albums in a career spanning more than three decades. the united states' troops have been trying to overthrow the dictatorship of general manuel noriega. the pentagon says it's failed in its principle objective to capture noriega and take him to the united states to face drugs charges. the hammer and sickle| was hastily taken away. in its place, the russian flag -

was hoisted over what is now no longer the soviet union, but the commonwealth i of independent states. day broke slowly over lockerbie, over the cockpit of pan am's maid of the seas, nose down in the soft earth. you could see what happens when a plane eight storeys 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 went to midnight mass in the town of shkoder, where there were anti—communist riots ten days ago. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: a congressional committee in the united states has voted to release the tax returns of former president donald trump. in germany, a 97—year—old woman has been convicted of complicity in the murder of more than 10,500 people

during the holocaust. irmgard furchner worked as a secretary at the stutthof camp in what is now poland. she 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, her face 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 the judge 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. translation: it is easy to say she wasjust a secretary, - but a secretary had an important role in the bureaucracy of a concentration camp. 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. manfred goldberg, who's now 92 years old, was held in stuthoff camp for several months as a young teenager. he told me he wouldn't want an elderly woman sent to jail, but... a two—year suspended sentence is what you might expect for perhaps severe shoplifting or an amateur burglar who didn't commit any serious offence, but not for someone who was found to be complicit in the murder of more than 10,000 inmates. it sounds incredibly insufficient. irmgard furchner had tried to evade any kind ofjustice, calling a cab from her care home at the start of her trial and going on the run. but she was arrested and eventually attended court. international lawyers say her case sends a signal to anyone who commits

war crimes anywhere. you need to be aware that forever, for the rest of your natural life, there is a possibility of the tap on the shoulder, an investigation and if necessary, a prosecution, and that applies for example equally in relation to the crimes that are plainly being committed today on the territory of ukraine. i'm thinking of bucha. the young soldiers who were involved in that and the decision—makers know that for the rest of their lives they are exposed to the risk of a tap on the shoulder. modern germany is still grappling with the darkness of its past. the public prosecutor said this was a trial of outstanding historical importance. at a time when holocaust denial is on the rise, survivors hope it will make it harder for the world to forget the unimaginable horrors which they endured. caroline hawley, bbc news. must go to south asia now. the taliban government in afghanistan has ordered an indefinite ban on

university education for women. the order was signed by the minister of higher education, demanding universities "suspend education of females until further notice." it marks a further blow to women's rights to education under the taliban. three months ago, thousands of women appeared for university entrance exams, but there were restrictions on the kind of subjects they could study. let's get more from madiha afzal, foreign policy fellow and afghanistan expert at the brookings institute. thank you very much forjoining us. were you surprised by this? i wasn't. this was i think an outcome foretold. we knew this would be coming eventually, especially given the increasing regressive actions of the teller band, but in some sense, we knew this was coming when the taliban took over militarily last year and when carboor fell to them in august of last year —— kabul. this of last year -- kabul. this is the latest — of last year -- kabul. this is

the latest in _ of last year -- kabul. this is the latest in a _ of last year -- kabul. this is the latest in a series - of last year -- kabul. this is the latest in a series of- the latest in a series of rollbacks to the rights of women and girls in the country. give us a sense of how things have changed in the last two years for females in afghanistan?- years for females in afghanistan? years for females in afuhanistan? ., ., ~ , afghanistan? prior to august 2021, especially _ afghanistan? prior to august 2021, especially in _ afghanistan? prior to august 2021, especially in urban - 2021, especially in urban afghanistan, girls and women enjoyed relative freedom, they could attend school and university and enjoy public life. things were more constrained in the rural areas. after the taliban took over in august 2021, things started slowly, but very, very surely regressing back to the taliban regime of the 1990s or subversive taliban shut off girls secondary schools, grade seven onwards, and then they said they would take back that decision in march of this year but did not, the day of, they reneged on that promise, and

girls work at home. they have shut off women from going to public parks, they have constrained the kind of work they can do, they can essentially... they are slowly shut away from public life and are constrained to the private sphere. the taliban have also started imposing other draconian punishments, including undertaking their first public execution, and also public floggings, very much like the regime of the 19905, much like the regime of the 1990s, and this is the final blow to girls and women, essentially constraining girls beyond sixth—grade to the home and confining them to the home and confining them to the home and really crushing the dreams and really crushing the dreams and violating the fundamental right of half of afghanistan's population. right of half of afghanistan's pepulation-_ right of half of afghanistan's --oulation. .,, , population. there has been the usual condemnation _ population. there has been the usual condemnation from - population. there has been the usual condemnation from the l usual condemnation from the likes of the us and the uk about this. does that mean anything to the taliban? does this put any pressure on that

at all? i this put any pressure on that at all? ., ., at all? i think the idea that we have — at all? i think the idea that we have any kind - at all? i think the idea that we have any kind of - at all? i think the idea that - we have any kind of meaningful leverage over the taliban or any kind of pressure can be put on the teller bound to moderate their decisions has been proven to be false, and utterfallacy actually. they are defined by what their leadership in kandahar wants them to do, and that leadership has shown that they are impervious to pressure. what will happen is that the taliban are going to get even more isolated than they have already been, and this is going to mean further economic isolation. so that will not only put economic constraints on the taliban, which already existed, but will also make life that much harder for the afghan population. we have to leave it there. thank you very much for your insights. you very much for your insights-_ there's been a heroes welcome in argentina for the country's victorious world cup football team. the team arrived back in the capital, buenos aires,

to huge crowds, and the government declared tuesday a public holiday. 0ur south america 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 and forever. 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 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. meanwhile, morocco's national football team has arrived back from the world cup also to a massive welcome after their fourth—place finish. thousands lined the streets to welcome the atlas lions, who exceeded all expectations and set a new benchmark for african teams at the world cup. many felt they had won the hearts and minds of football fans

around the world. that is it from us right now. much more on our website. we will see you next time. bye—bye. hello there. it's remaining unsettled over the next few days. certainly for the rest of this week, low pressure will be in charge. and we've seen quite a lot of rainfall recently across the south, and that's led to flood warnings being issued for south wales and south—west 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 south west and it'll stay on the mild side. so we've had low pressure with this through tuesday. as we move through wednesday, it will be to the north of the uk. another ripple brings wet weather to the south of the country on thursday and then this area of low pressure will bring some substantial wet weather to the country during the course of friday. now we start wednesday off on a wet note for the south—east of england, east anglia. that rain will clear away quite quickly. then it's bright for much of england and wales. few showers into the south—west

later for the far north of england, scotland, northern ireland, it's going to be blustery with sunny spells, scattered showers and temperatures range from around 7 to 11 degrees across the uk. as we move through wednesday night, it stays blustery across the north of the uk, close to the centre of the low, a few showers here. england, wales will start drying them. we'll see areas of rain and cloud pushing in from the south—west and it'll stay quite breezy, particularly across southern and western coast. another mild nights to come in the south, further north, 3 to 5 degrees celsius. we'll start off with some sunshine across the north of the uk on thursday. stay breezy in the far north with a few showers here. but for the rest of england and wales, it looks like it'll turn cloudier through the days. more rain pushes in from the south west. some of this again could be quite heavy across southern england, south wales. that'll exacerbate already saturated ground here with flooding issues. a milder day to come in the south, a bit cooler further north. then we look to friday. this area of low pressure will bring a band of rain into southern areas. it'll slowly push northwards

through the course of the day. so some areas here really could be quite wet and they'll stay windy in the south and mild here through friday. but notice across the north, we'll start to see this blue, this colder air starting to push south. so we'll be in a battleground, i think, through friday with cold air in the north, mild air in the south. but it does look like, as we move through the christmas period, certainly in the north, it'll turn colder with some wintry showers, notjust hills, even down to lower levels at times. there will be a little bit of sunshine too, but a very christmassy feeling there. some of the cold air will start to get in towards england and wales as well as we move through the christmas period. so it will be turning colder with the risk of some wintry showers.

this is bbc news. the headlines: a congressional committee in the united states has voted to release a summary of the tax returns of the former president donald trump who has long fought to keep them secret. the documents are likely to be released in the coming days after sensitive information is redacted. us media say the ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky is expected to visit washington on wednesday. it would be his first trip abroad since the war in ukraine began. reports say the white house is preparing for his visit. he will also meet congressional leaders at the capitol. a 97—year—old german woman has been given a two—year suspended sentence for complicity in the murder of more than 10,000 people during the holocaust. irmgard furchner had worked as a secretary at a concentration camp. it was one of germany's

last trials of criminals from the nazi era.