tonight at ten, we have a special report from afghanistan where millions are facing hunger and extreme cold. conditions are grim, as the country faces its coldest winter in a decade with temperatures as low as minus 31. millions of children and adults are suffering — and we report from one of the many remote areas — out of reach of humanitarian aid. we have been out here just a few minutes and eyebrows are frozen and my face feels like it is going to fall off. imagine if you live day in, day out in conditions like this. we'll have more from the bbc�*s lyse doucet who'll be joining us live from kabul. also tonight...

the british volunteers reported missing in eastern ukraine have been killed, according to one of the men's families. and the conflict in ukraine could be set to change if germany — as now seems likely — approves the supply of tanks to ukrainian forces. the number of british firms struggling to survive hasjumped by more than a third — according to the latest figures. we need your help. very busy today and no time to help you. and the science—fiction film "everything everywhere all at once" leads the field in the oscar nominations. and coming up on the bbc news channel... mikaela shiffrin breaks the record for world cup wins with victory in italy taking her total to 83. good evening. we start tonight with the

humanitarian crisis in afghanistan. ever since the taliban seized power again in 2021 conditions have been grim and dangerous — especially for millions of women and girls — whose freedoms have been wiped out including access to education. afghanistan is now facing its coldest winter in a decade — with temperatures as low as minus 31. the united nations estimates that 97% of afghans are living in poverty. some 20 million people are facing acute hunger. and two—thirds of afghans are in need of humanitarian assistance — including clean water and sanitation. and yet the taliban is refusing to lift the ban on women aid workers — that ban was confirmed in a statement to the bbc today. our chief international correspondent lyse doucet reports on the bleak conditions in the salang district of parwan province. a winter wonderland of aching

beauty, but brutal. we're travelling through the massives of the hindu kush, through the world's second highest road tunnel, the salang tunnel, a place of legend. it's an engineering wonder, but a death trap, especially in winter, in avalanches and accidents. the only highway rescue at this spot is sakhi mohammad, selling chains for tyres, in the coldest winter in a decade. tough stuff, in threadbare clothes. translation: it gets so cold, you can't see the road. - you can't walk, and the heaters in cars don't work. these are the lives

that people live here. it's so cold, but he said it's going to get colder still. we've been outjust a few minutes, and my eyebrows are frozen, and my face feels like it's going to fall off. imagine if you lived day in, day out, in conditions like this. this is the only way to reach sakhi mohammad's home. there's no road. nothing is easy in this life. this is what life is like here, literally lived on the edge. even for the littlest, with little coverfrom this biting cold. a home made of mud with the warmth of a large family. translation: i have heard people died of cold. - my kids recently got sick. some of my animals died.

until now, i haven't heard people died in salang. even five—year—old jamshad helps keep them alive. he tells us how he has to carry water from the river, how his hands and feet burn in the cold. how he freezes in the wind and storms. they survive with a traditional stove and twigs, and under this red and gold blanket, charcoal burns. you can taste the fumes in this room. this year, their heating costs soared, just like the rest of the world. translation: no aid agencies have come to help us, - not under the last government or the taliban government. an aid agency did come by this month. this family wasn't seen as needy.

imagine the others. there is another hurdle this year. we went to see a taliban minister to ask about a ban on afghan women aid workers. translation: men are already working with us in the rescue efforts _ and there is no need for women to work with us. the united nations and the other aid agencies say that if afghan women cannot work as part of the aid effort they may need to stop their aid to afghanistan that you desperately need? translation: this is an act of cruelty carried out - by the united nations and it's unacceptable. in the un there is a law that says respect should be shown to all people in all religions. our religion does not allow women to work in that way.

in this family, the oldest daughters didn't go to school. they couldn't afford it. 14—year—old zainab was the luckiest — she got to go. then the taliban shut girls�* high schools. such hard lives in such harsh terrain. afghan rulers come and go, nature's power ever present. live to lyse in kabul. given the extreme circumstances, what are the challenges facing the aid workers there, and how will they be resolved? the situation is so urgent and so important that senior un officials

keep coming here, last week it was the un's second—in—command, she's a nigerian muslim, and this week it is the un humanitarian chief martin griffiths, no one is expecting for this edict to be lifted but even amongst the more pragmatic had a band is an understanding that this is not primarily an issue of religion —— the more pragmatic taliban there is an understanding. male workers do not enter homes to talk to women so women need to help women so aid agencies including un and some taliban, they are trying to find some ways around this edict handed down by the most ultraconservative of clerics, while millions of afghans try to find ways to survive this winter of winter is in this freezing cold. lyse doucet, many thanks.

let's talk about the conflict in ukraine. the foreign office has said two british men who went missing in ukraine earlier this month have been killed. chris parry and his colleague andrew bagshaw died while attempting a humanitarian evacuation from soledar. let's go live to kyiv and our correspondent james waterhouse. what more do we know? this is desperately sad news for the families of both men. these are two people who knew the risks of going to one of the most hostile parts of ukraine's eastern front line, for the year, and at the start of this month the wagner grip, a large group of mostly fighters which is leading the russian assault on the eastern town of —— wagner group. they claimed to have found one of the bodies of the men as well as posting images of their documentation. it has taken this long to get some kind of clarity and we have a statement

on behalf of chris parry�*s family, on behalf of chris parry�*s family, on behalf of chris parry�*s family, on behalf of both men, by the foreign office, and it sheds a bit of light on what might have happened to them. they say it is with great sadness that they are out there chris has been killed along with his colleague andrew bagshaw while attempting a humanitarian evacuation from soledar and they claim that christopher saved 400 lives in trying to help people get out of the fighting there. it goes on to say that he found himself drawn to ukraine in march in its darkest hour at the start of the russian invasion and help those most in need. it is impossible, they say, to put into words how much he will be missed. so this is a very sad outcome for both men's families at the end of a very long wait and it is a reminder of the risks that are notjust volunteers face and notjust the risks that are notjust volunteers face and not just those fighting on both sides but also

those caught in the fighting, living in these towns and cities across a vast front line, where there is such intense fighting for such minimal gain, and the situation, sadly, not likely to change any time soon. james, thanks for the update. james bought a house there in kyiv —— james waterhouse. the course of the conflict in ukraine could be set to change significantly this week with the possible delivery of more heavy tanks from western allies for the ukrainian forces. the nato secretary—general says it's a pivotal moment for the war. much of focus has been on germany and the supply of the leopard 2 tank. germany has yet to give formal approval but an announcement is expected soon. the leopard 2 is lighter than other tanks and there are plenty available across europe.

the americans are considering supplying the abrams tank to ukraine — discussions are said to be at an advanced stage. the uk has already promised ukraine some challenger 2 tanks. it's the british army's main battle tank — there are 14 to be sent. let's speak to our europe editor katya adler. germany has been under so much pressure. what about the prospects of a change in the conflict as well? the prospects _ in the conflict as well? the prospects are _ in the conflict as well? the prospects are looking - in the conflict as well? tue: prospects are looking good, in the conflict as well? tte: prospects are looking good, and the german translates in front of the german translates in front of the german parliament tomorrow for prime minister's questions and the talk of the town in berlin and brussels and at nato headquarters and in washington is that he is widely expected to say he is now ready to send heavy tanks, the german—made

leopard 2 tanks, to ukraine, about 15 to start with, i'm told, about the same number of the uk has pledged. the real significance is this is notjust about germany, about 80% of modern tanks in europe are those german—made leopard 2 tanks and they own the export rights and this means countries like poland, desperate to send tanks to ukraine, have not been able to do so because they have not had the nod from berlin, but kyiv, washington, they have tried to pile the pressure on olaf scholz, so what has taken him this long? he is a bit of their frustration back home in germany, as well, for doing things at his own pace, and he has also been waiting for a signalfrom the us pace, and he has also been waiting for a signal from the us that they will be sending their own tanks to ukraine but it is worth bearing in mind in all of this controversy that germany already is one of the biggest suppliers of military and humanitarian aid ukraine in this crisis as you might expect from

europe's largest economy. katya adler, many thanks. a bbc investigation into abuse and neglect at three children's homes and schools in doncaster has found that more than 100 reports of concern were made before the homes were closed. leaked documents show that children were reported to have been punched and kicked, but that the ofsted inspectors continued to rate the homes as "good." the regulator's chief inspector has said she's "deeply sorry." the hesley group, which ran the homes, has also issued an apology, as our correspondent noel titheridge reports. it has been called the worst care scandal since winterbourne view. as well as physical abuse, there was emotional abuse as well. our investigation reveals the scale of abuse reported at children's homes in doncaster. a child was in the kitchen rubbing washing—up liquid all over his arms. i asked him what he was doing.

and he said, "i do this so night staff can't grab me, can't hold me." chloe straw worked for over a year at fullerton house, a children's home and special school on the same site. you could see the sadness in his eyes when he was saying this. and it is something that you don't forget. i'll never forget. chloe says the homes were understaffed and she even filmed a support worker asleep. she says the abuse of some children was openly discussed, but when she reported it to senior staff, nothing happened. so that's why i went to the police. and to get to that point where i thought i'd get help and the children would get help, and then to be told, "no." you reported this in 2018. how did it feel knowing the homes did not close for three more years? disgusted, because that is a further three years of abuse. south yorkshire police says there was insufficient evidence to progress with the case, but it referred the report to the local authority. i've sort of lost all faith, really, in the care system. nicola oades�* daughter ruby has autism, epilepsy, and significant learning difficulties.

you think, when they're getting £250,000 a year towards care, they'd be getting the rolls—royce of care, really. ruby was dragged across the floor at one of the homes in doncaster by a staff member who was then sacked. you can't believe that people in care would treat children like this. you just can't get your head around it. it's appalling. our investigation has interviewed a dozen former hesley staff who blew the whistle. we've also been leaked internal company documents that show both the scale of the abuse, and the failure of authorities to act. safeguarding logs show that children were reported to have been kicked and punched in the stomach, locked in a bathroom overnight, forced to sit in cold baths, and even had vinegar poured on a wound as punishment. i am so sorry for the children themselves, and for their families. we took our findings to ofsted. children punched and kicked, dragged across the floor, locked inside bathrooms. have you ever heard of abuse on this scale before? this is a truly appalling case.

really as shocking as i have ever heard. it's clear this really is dreadful and something that we should all be deeply concerned about. we have learned ofsted received 40 separate warnings, over three years, yet still the homes remained rated "good." why didn't you act sooner? well, we acted in response to concerns. we worked slower than we should have been to put the whole picture together and recognise the pattern of abuse emerging. but is that good enough with some of the most acutely vulnerable children in care in the country, many of whom were nonverbal? there is a particularly high risk for these children, and we recognise that, which is why we have both changed our risk assessment to improve our ability to spot patterns early, and also, to train our inspectors. hesley said it has now closed the homes and was now focused on running its adult placements. it said it could not comment further because of a police investigation that's not expected to conclude for another year. for families of children, it means a long wait to find out the full truth. noel titheridge,

bbc news, doncaster. richard sharp, the chairman of the bbc, says he will not step down following allegations of a conflict of interest, at the time of his appointment in 2021. mr sharp is accused of helping to facilitate a loan to the prime minister borisjohnson, just before mrjohnson named mr sharp for the bbc role. mr sharp denies being involved in any loan, but his appointment is now being reviewed by the commissioner of public appointments, and he'll answer questions from a parliamentary committee in a fortnight�*s time. our media editor katie razzall is here with more details. thanks, huw. first a reminder of the background. richard sharp has been chairman of the bbc since february 2021, in charge of upholding its independence. he had a 40—year career as a banker. he was a major donor to the conservatives, and worked alongside rishi sunak both at goldman sachs and when he was chancellor. mr sharp is also a close friend of the former prime minister borisjohnson — he calls him al, as many of his friends do. it's that relationship that's

now in the spotlight. over reports about a loan guarantee reportedly offered to mrjohnson by another old friend, businessman sam blyth who, mr sharp says, read about mrjohnson�*s financial problems in the news and wanted to help. so in late 2020, mr sharp connected sam blyth with the head of the civil service simon case for advice on the rules — mr sharp says he agreed not to be involved any further to prevent a conflict of interest. he'd already applied for the job of bbc chairman, and a few weeks later was announced as the government's choice. he says he did nothing wrong. he says the three friends all had dinner at chequers, the prime minister's country residence, later that year, after he'd got the job, but describes this as a "social meeting" and mrjohnson�*s financial affairs were not discussed. this morning i asked mr sharp about exactly what had happened. during the process, candidates were asked if there could be anything that could embarrass the government or the organisation

if it came to light. i mean, this is embarrassing to the bbc and potentially the government, isn't it? having had a discussion with the cabinet secretary about avoiding a conflict and the perception of conflict, i felt comfortable, and i still feel there was no conflict, because at that stage what i was seeking to do was ensure that the process was followed exactly by the book, and that the process hadn't started of any kind in terms of any support that sam was going to provide to the prime minister. do you think you misled the select committee and the advisory panel? no, i don't. why not? because i had clarified and agreed with the cabinet secretary, both of us had the judgment that i'd avoided a conflict or a perception of conflict. but you do understand, particularly at a time when the bbc is making great efforts to be impartial, to highlight transparency, that this looks the opposite? i see attacks on the bbc all the time from the media, and for example...

..on social media, and they attack our impartiality, and i think the governance that we put in place is extremely strong on impartiality. so william shawcross is now examining your appointment. shouldn't you resign, or at least step aside while the review is in place? no, i'm confident that he will determine that i was appointed on merit. that's obviously for him to conduct that investigation and process. it was a highly rigorous process, i can tell you, being part of it. tonight the bbc made contact with sam blyth, the businessman reported to have offered to guarantee the £800,000 loan. he told us, "the pm and i agreed that the arrangement could only be contemplated if it was cleared by the cabinet secretary and ethics which it was. he says, it — that's the loan — was much less than reported and not fully drawn." as for richard sharp — questions remain, about his judgement and actions — as a senior leader in an organisation that's put transparency and impartiality at its heart.

you can hear an extended version of my interview on the media show in bbc sounds. now a look at some other stories making the news today. the latest economic figures suggest that the number of british firms struggling to survive, has jumped by more than a third. companies are facing higher costs, with reduced demand from customers, and the withdrawal of support measures from government. our business editor simonjack has been speaking to some of those affected. for this brewery in manchester, just keeping the business moving has been a gruelling challenge. the cost of the cans, you name it, every little single thing has gone up. higher costs, reduced demand, increased debt and lost exports post—brexit have taken a heavy toll on boss, pauljones. it feels like a never ending nightmare, really, to try and present our customers with something fun and exciting when business is this hard with no end in sight. it feels like a thankless task.

the personal cost on me has been pretty bleak. i have a heart condition from stress now. you know, my sleep is as bad as it has ever been. i feel constantly on the edge of what i can personally cope with. high energy bills were the final straw for mary ellen, who closed her restaurant last year. there is a lot of trying to keep the worry from other people... she is now running a food charity from this business park. by the end, she was paying staff out of her own pocket. when there isn't enough coming in to cover even those basic things, then you will be the last person to be paid. most directors of small hospitality businesses that i know in the last couple of years just haven't been paying themselves. once you are at the point when you see very clearly what's going on, you can't make it better and then you have to stop at that point. and there is definitely a sense of relief afterwards. even if it turns out that inflation has peaked, it doesn't mean prices are coming down.

it means they are going up slightly less quickly. but for businesses like these everything from energy, raw materials, interest payments on loans, staffing costs, all of those things will be more expensive this year than last. at a time when their customers' income is falling. little wonder then that 2023 is shaping up to be even tougher than 2022. the uk's biggest business lender has said it's not yet seeing widespread company failures but is seeing businesses in survival mode rather than investing in the future. the majority of business owners, they haven't really operated their business through high inflation, high interest rate environment. a lot of them are recovering, just still recovering from covid. it's very much managing the short term rather than investing for the long term. businesses have had to dig deep to survive a pandemic, brexit, a european war, soaring inflation. but as government support is scaled back and covid loans come due,

they'll need every ounce of that resilience this year. simonjack, bbc news, manchester. this year's oscar nominations have been announced, with the science fiction film �*everything, everywhere all at once' leading the field. it's nominated in 11 categories, including best picture. �*the banshees of inisherin�*, a dark tragi—comedy set in ireland at the time of the civil war, and the german film �*all quiet on the western front�*, on the horrors of the first world war, received nine nominations each. our entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba has more details. it does not look good. she's right. in fact, it looks great. everything everywhere all at once, a mind—bending, universe—hopping fantasy, leads with 11 nominations, including michelle yeoh, the first ever woman who identifies as asian, to be nominated for best actress. just behind with nine nominations, the german war drama all quiet on the western front.

now, if i've done something to you, ijust tell me what i've done to you. i and on what has been a spectacular day for irish cinema, the dark comedy the banshees of inisherin. a quarter of today's acting nominations have gone to irish performers, including banshees' colin farrell and brendan gleeson. sit somewhere else. he must be somewhere behind us. films that have helped a soaring box office in 2022 have also been recognised. top gun: maverick has a best film nomination, as does the only movie that outperformed it at the box office, avatar: the way of water, and that matters to the oscars. a huge proportion of their revenue comes from the tv rights to the ceremony, and with audiences for awards shows plummeting in recent years, they know they need to try to get people watching again. pinocchio, you shouldn't lie! of course, a nomination still carries huge cultural cache. former best picture and best director winner guillermo del toro says today's nomination for best

animated film for pinocchio means as much to him as his previous ones. i am not lying! what does an oscar nomination mean? is it still the gold standard? in practical terms, it puts a lot of eyes on your movie. people that did not see it before, now they see it, because it was nominated. if you win, the same thing, and it is undoubtedly the golden standard. # keep me close...# one final factor that could also help boost ratings, best song nominations for rihanna for black panther: wakanda forever and lady gaga for top gun: maverick. it means we could see two of music's stars performing on the big night. lizo mzimba, bbc news. mikaela shiffrin has become the most successful woman in world cup skiing history — with the 83rd victory of her career. the giant slalom win in italy takes her one clear of the record

previously held by fellow american, lindsey vonn. shiffrin, who's 27, won herfirst world cup race in 2012 aged just 17 and she's the only person to have won a race in each of the world cup's six disciplines. the footballers of the small town of darvel, in ayrshire, have produced one of the the biggest upsets in 150 years of scottish cup competition by beating mighty aberdeen — five divisions above them. darvel�*s manager said the club wouldn't survive without the support of the local community, who backed the team with unswerving loyalty, as our correspondent alexandra mackenzie reports. darvel, a small ayrshire town. this morning, a small radio station said they had something great to celebrate. they had something great to celebrate-— celebrate. why is it a lovely

atmosphere? _ celebrate. why is it a lovely atmosphere? darvel - celebrate. why is it a lovely atmosphere? darvel beat . celebrate. why is it a lovely - atmosphere? darvel beat aberdeen last night. fin atmosphere? darvel beat aberdeen last niuht. ., , last night. on the main street there were a few — last night. on the main street there were a few bleary _ last night. on the main street there were a few bleary eyes _ last night. on the main street there were a few bleary eyes but - last night. on the main street there were a few bleary eyes but only - last night. on the main street there were a few bleary eyes but only one topic of conversation. cannot describe it. the place has been bouncing all day yesterday. the community has just pulled altogether, the hype has been so high. you know, we've had all these aspirations thinking they're going to do it, they going to do it, you know. our wee town darvel is now on the map. when they scored last night we just went out the back door and the full town was just erupting. i mean, it was giving you goose bumps. there was just children out in the street shouting, it was just great, it was an atmosphere will never forget really, in our wee town. it's in! darvel are in wonderland! i promise you right now, we can win this _ i promise you right now, we can win this it _ i promise you right now, we can win this it is _ i promise you right now, we can win this it is in — i promise you right now, we can win this. it is in the belly.—

this. it is in the belly. inspired b their this. it is in the belly. inspired by their manager, _ this. it is in the belly. inspired by their manager, they - this. it is in the belly. inspired by their manager, they gave i this. it is in the belly. inspired by their manager, they gave itj this. it is in the belly. inspired - by their manager, they gave it their all. ., , ,. , by their manager, they gave it their all. .,, ,._ ., all. people say we are the underdogs. _ all. people say we are the underdogs. i— all. people say we are the underdogs. i know - all. people say we are the underdogs. i know what i all. people say we are the j underdogs. i know what is all. people say we are the i underdogs. i know what is in all. people say we are the - underdogs. i know what is in this changing — underdogs. i know what is in this changing room, i know what is in your— changing room, i know what is in your hearts. _ changing room, i know what is in your hearts, we can say anything we set our— your hearts, we can say anything we set our minds to. the your hearts, we can say anything we set our minds to.— set our minds to. the club is very much part — set our minds to. the club is very much part of— set our minds to. the club is very much part of the _ set our minds to. the club is very much part of the community. - set our minds to. the club is very much part of the community. the local primary school was delighted to congratulate the manager in person. to congratulate the manager in erson. ~ ., to congratulate the manager in erson. ., . ~ ~ person. we got falkirk in the next round. tonight, _ person. we got falkirk in the next round. tonight, the _ person. we got falkirk in the next round. tonight, the celebrations l round. tonight, the celebrations continued- _ round. tonight, the celebrations continued. now— round. tonight, the celebrations continued. now a _ round. tonight, the celebrations continued. now a local- round. tonight, the celebrations continued. now a local hero, - round. tonight, the celebrations continued. now a local hero, is. round. tonight, the celebrations i continued. now a local hero, is the man who scored the crucial goal. it's amazing, the reaction i got when i come in here, is something i will always hold close to my heart. even though i scored the goal, the boys were amazing. just as a group, everybody has won it for each other, it's just brilliant. everybody has won it for each other, it'sjust brilliant.— it'sjust brilliant. hopes are now hiuh for it'sjust brilliant. hopes are now high for the _ it'sjust brilliant. hopes are now high for the next _ it'sjust brilliant. hopes are now high for the next game - it'sjust brilliant. hopes are now high for the next game against l high for the next game against falkirk. alexandra mackenzie, bbc news, darvel.

time for a look at the weather.