the headlines... new zealand has a new prime minister, as the education and covid response minister, chris hipkins, takes over from jacinda ardern. the taliban confirms more than 120 people have died in afghanistan due to freezing temperatures. we'll have a special report as several regions are cut off entirely by snow. we've been out just we've been outjust for minutes and my eyebrows are frozen in my face feels like it's going to fall off. imagine if you lived today and, date out in conditions like that —— day in, day out. also on newsday — tanks for ukraine, and reports that germany has backed down following international pressure and will send leopard 2 tanks to ukraine.

first for indian film—making. live from our studio in singapore... this is bbc news. it's newsday. hello and welcome to the programme. we start in new zealand — where, in the past hour, chris hipkins has been sworn in as the country's new prime minister, after the shock resignation of jacinda ardern last week, who said she didn't have enough in the tank to continue in thejob. mr hipkins was sworn in at government house in wellington, alongside carmel sepuloni, who becomes the country's first pasifika deputy prime minister. mr hipkins�* labour party will face a general election in october. our correspondent phil mercer is following the story.

hejoins me now he joins me now for hejoins me now for more. great to be on the programme. i know this is something you have been covering extensively for us. just give us a sense of how chris hipkins might be different to his leadership style from jacinda ardern. this will be a big — style from jacinda ardern. this will be a big year— style from jacinda ardern. this will be a big year for— style from jacinda ardern. ti 3 will be a big year for chris hipkins and his reshaped government. we are expecting a cabinet reshuffle in the next week or so, and also a policy reset. he says inflation will be his key concern in the months leading up to the election on october the 14th later this year. cost of living pressures have been enormous in new zealand and other parts of the world. chris hipkins has very big shoes to fill, too. he is replacing jacinda ardern. last week, she announced that surprise resignation after more than five years as prime

minister. jacinda ardern, for many women and children, became a bit of a global icon for her empathetic and kind approach to leadership, especially after the mosque attacks in the new zealand city of christ church in 2019. butjacinda ardern saying she no longer has the physical capacity to continue, burn out of the highest level of government. so, chris hipkins is the new man in the job, and as you say, he's assisted by the new deputy caramel set baloney. —— carmel sepuloni. back in 2017, when jacinda ardern became prime minister, she was 37 years of age at the time. she was the youngest female head of government anywhere in the world and it was quite a journey for her and her country

over those next five and half years through the christ church massacres and also the pandemic as well. new zealand saying goodbye to one prime minister, incomes another with huge challenges ahead as new zealand begins the long countdown to that election in october later this year. that election in october later this year-— this year. indeed, huge challenges _ this year. indeed, huge challenges and - this year. indeed, huge - challenges and expectations i imagine. just to say we will be live in new zealand later on the programme, so do stay tuned for that. the programme, so do stay tuned forthat. let's the programme, so do stay tuned for that. let's turn to the humanitarian crisis in afghanistan. ever since the taliban seized power again in 2021, millions of women and girls have lost access to education and other freedoms. the country is now facing its coldest winter in a decade, with temperatures as low as —31 celsius. the united nations estimates that 97% of afghans are living in poverty. some 20 million people are facing acute hunger. 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 female aid workers. that ban was confirmed in a statement to the bbc today. our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, has travelled to the salang in the hindu kush to see how bad things are. a winter wonderland... ..of aching beauty, but brutal. we're travelling through the masses 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 the spot is saki momhammed,

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 people live here. it's so cold, but he said it's going to get colder still. we've been outjust for 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 saki mohammed's home. sakhi mohammed'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 cover from 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. till now, i haven't heard people died in salang. even five—year—old jamshad helps keep them alive. he tells me how they have 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 burners. you can taste the fumes in this room.

this year, the 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's 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 i 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. this is an act of cruelty kitted 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 sakhi mohammed's family, the oldest daughters didn't go to school. they couldn't afford it. ia—year—olds zainab was the luckiest — 14—year—old zainab was the luckiest — she got to go, but then the taliban shut girls�* high schools. such hard lives in such harsh terrain. afghan rulers come and go. nature's power ever present. lyse doucet, bbc news, salang.

there's been a great deal for chris on germany in the supply of the leopard to tanks. the americans are also considering supplying their own battle tanks. defence officials at the pentagon say discussions are ongoing. the uk has already promised ukraine some challenger to tanks. it's a british army's main battle tanks.

this prospect are looking good. chancellor scholz is in front of the german parliament tomorrow for prime minister's questions, and the talk of the town in berlin, nato and in washington is he's widely expected to say he is now ready to send heavy tanks to german—made, to ukraine. probably about 14 to 15 to start with, i'm told the same about the same number of the uk has pledged. but the real significance here isn'tjust about germany. about 80% of modern tanks in europe are both german—made, in europe are those german—made leopard 2s, and they own all of the export rights, so this means countries like poland, desperate to send their tanks to ukraine, haven't been able to do so yet because they haven't had the not from berlin. the nod from berlin. war solve —— warsaw, kyiv. warsaw, kyiv.

they've tried to pile that pressure on olaf scholz, so what taken them so long? i have to say he's even a bit of a frustration back home own pace" attituide . he's also been waiting for us and know from the us, but it's worth bearing in mind that germany already is one of the biggest suppliers of military and humanitarian translation: of course now, the main focus is on defence, l foreign policy and war, but this does not mean that i do not see or hear what is being said in society at different levels. and this week will be a time for appropriate decisions. these decisions have already been prepared. i don't want to announce them now, but it will all be fair. in each situation, we will analyse everything in detail. as one white expect from your�*s largest economy.

john herbst is the senior director at atlantic council's eurasia center, and former us ambassador to ukraine and uzbekistan. he joins us now from fairfax, virginia. how significant do you think this is for the war effort? credit to all the countries that made it happen. as a guard to germany, better late than never. assuming it is made, that's a very good step. ta nks tanks should have been sent months ago, not in the coming weeks. ukraine needs more advanced weapons to reduce the human cost of ukraine. also to take back territory, seized by moscow, especially since the biggest invasion last february. we heard from our europe editor

just now talking about germany's reluctance, but what you think has been holding germany back? i you think has been holding germany back?— you think has been holding germany back? i think that germany. _ germany back? i think that germany. in _ germany back? i think that germany, in fact, - germany back? i think that germany, in fact, also - germany back? i think that germany, in fact, also the| germany, in fact, also the united states, has been a little bit intimidated by putin's constant talk of nuclear escalation, even though the chance is tiny. not zero, but very small. russian general said he doesn't want to commit suicide. there's a new factor over the past couple of months that ukraine has done so well with its counteroffensive, may if they were seceding in... putin's regime would fall. it's also a concern... putin's regime would fall. it's also a concern. . .— also a concern... indeed. i'm so sorry _ also a concern... indeed. i'm so sorry to — also a concern... indeed. i'm so sorry to jump _ also a concern... indeed. i'm so sorry to jump in, - also a concern... indeed. i'm so sorry to jump in, but - also a concern... indeed. i'ml so sorry to jump in, but where do you see the war going from here and what kind of response to expect from russia?-

to expect from russia? russia has proven _ to expect from russia? russia has proven its _ to expect from russia? russia has proven its army _ to expect from russia? russia has proven its army is - has proven its army is incompetent in ukraine, and all we can do is strike infrastructure and civilians. we may see more of that. moscow is mobilising and conducting small offensive operations in the towns of bakhmut and soledar, and also around zaporizhzhia in south—central ukraine. making very small progress. i think there will be a lot of huffing and puffing for this decision and no serious counter moves. john, thanks so _ serious counter moves. john, thanks so much _ serious counter moves. john, thanks so much for— serious counter moves. john, thanks so much forjoining i serious counter moves. john, thanks so much forjoining usj thanks so much forjoining us on the programme with your thoughts. still to come on the programme, the song naatu naatu has been nominated for best original song at the oscars.

there were several seven astronauts on board all believed to be killed. the heart of _ believed to be killed. the heart of official _ believed to be killed. the heart of official cairo - believed to be killed. tue: heart of official cairo was believed to be killed. tte: heart of official cairo was in the hands of the demonstrators. they were using the word revolution. the earthquake singled out buildings and brought them down in seconds. tonight, the search for survivors has increasing desperation as the hours passed _ desperation as the hours assed. ., , passed. the new government is finall in passed. the new government is finally in control— passed. the new government is finally in control of _ passed. the new government is finally in control of the - finally in control of the entire _ finally in control of the entire republic- finally in control of the entire republic of - finally in control of the - entire republic of uganda. survivors _ entire republic of uganda. survivors of _ entire republic of uganda. survivors of the _ entire republic of uganda. survivors of the auschwitzl survivors of the auschwitz concentration camp have been commemorating the 40th anniversary of their liberation. the tour the gas chambers and crematoria and

relived their horrifying experiences. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. our headlines... new zealand has a new prime minister — as the education and covid response minister chris hipkins as the education andcoovid response minister chris hipkins takes over from jacinda ardern. let's stay with that story, and we can speak to... i'm joined now by new zealand political columnistjosie pagani. it's great to get you on the programme. thanks for taking the time. what do you make of the time. what do you make of the star appeal of chris hipkins givenjacinda ardern hipkins given jacinda ardern has hipkins givenjacinda ardern has had such a cult following was although she is one—of—a—kind. you won't see her like in one-of-a-kind. you won't see her like ., ., ., her like in new zealand in a lona her like in new zealand in a

long time- _ her like in new zealand in a long time. we _ her like in new zealand in a long time. we love - her like in new zealand in a long time. we love being i her like in new zealand in a | long time. we love being on her like in new zealand in a - long time. we love being on the map on the wild. there's a whole website that dedicated maps that lead new zealand off, so she put us back. chris hipkins doesn't have the same recognition, but the day before she resigned, there was a pull—out that showed for the first time, the majority of new zealanders did not have a favourable opinion ofjust the ardern. the labour government was in trouble. chris hipkins was in trouble. chris hipkins was described as the talk to her cheese. he was announced as prime minister, he was doorstop by the local media dressed in dusty old baseball cap with a pair of cheap �*s unease, the kind of sunglasses that you can only by a local petrol stations. this is not a prime minister that will end up on the front cover of in vogue. the response has been quite positive. it's kind of back to basics labour government and people like it.

basics labour government and people like it— people like it. you've talked about some _ people like it. you've talked about some of _ people like it. you've talked about some of the - people like it. you've talked about some of the broad - about some of the broad policies or the priorities that it sounds like he's going to focus on, and in terms of the economy, i know that's a big issue given that inflation is also a problem in new zealand. what can be said about that? he's very much said he's going to lead a labour government that gets back to bringing better issues. cost of living, jobs, inflation, same as you on the uk - jobs, inflation, same as you on the uk — back to basejust like access to health services. we had eight hour waiting times in emergency rooms, not enough nurses and so on. even basics like the potholes and the roads which have driven people crazy over summary new zealand, a record number of vehicles have been damaged. it's a very pragmatic back to basics message that he will be focusing on cost of living, infrastructure, access to health and education as well. we've got about 70% of kids in

low income areas not attending school. that has resonated very well with new zealanders, even though ardern and her global superstardom won't be repeated. josie, nosing in private minutes —— new zealand political columnist, great to get you on the programme with the thought. get you on the programme with the thought-— the annual film awards season has kicked off with the oscar nominations which has taken place in hollywood. the science fiction film �*everything, everywhere all at once', starring malaysia's very own michelle yeoh, leads the field. it's up for 11 categories, including best picture and best actress. our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba, has all the details. also in the running is austin butler, dedicating his nomination to the late lisa marie presley, who died earlier this month. cate blanchett is

in her... in which she plays a renowned orchestra conductor. one of the films to receive a nomination as the indian film rrr. it tells the fictional story of two real—life indian revolutionaries fighting british rule. it features dazzling anthems, have a look. those dance moves to get me every time, and i don't know how they do that. she's

interviewed ss roger moody, the director of rrr, and spoke to us about how significant this is for an us about how significant this is foran indian us about how significant this is for an indian film. this is notjust epic, but it is making history in many ways because we have seen him win two oscars, and a bafta but it was not indian made film. it was a completely different ball game. rrr is a film financed by india, made in india, tte vfx who have astounded the world that are also indian. the vfx who have astounded the world that are also indian. that's what makes the sign really special in many ways because we haven't seen something like this happening with this kind of dance move which is so traditional in many ways. this encapsulates cinema and so many way. to see a south indian film making this kind of breakthrough is absolutely epic. yeah, i want to pick up on that because the composer

of the song — he's a veteran, he's done work for hindi cinema. but the fact that this is from south india, how important is that distinction in your view? it's hugely important, but i've always been an advocate for the fact that india, every time you move ten india, every time you move iokm there's a different part india, there's a different culture you feel. when it was branded as bollywood, i always felt it was wrong. it's one of the biggest reasons i moved into doing the work i do now, and that awareness is brilliant because now he's been in hollywood and telling people how this is a... the fact this is a south indian movie... in the last few years, they have been moving into the biggest selling movies for india, mainly because streaming services give you things and all languages. it's a brilliant thing. all you have to do is flip a

switch and turn on the subtitles and put it in any language. yes, indeed. it's such a catchy song. my kids have been singing at home as well. but it is also up against lady gaga and rihanna. how do you think it's going to fare given the current tough competition? the fact that it won the mesons is a very good precursor. there is a very good precursor. there is a very good precursor. there is a big chance that we will see naatu naatu on the oscar stage. we might also see re—anna and lady gaga and so many wonderful songs in this list. including diane warren. it's really wonderful to see this kind of list —— rihanna. it feels quite diverse because there's a song for everything everywhere all at once. we've seen east asians shining on the oscar stage and someone like michelle yeo has been deserving of this for a long time, these

nominations are feeling very good at the moment. i want to bring you some breaking news now. there's been multiple reports of a rescue operation under way off the coast of japan, where a cargo shift with 22 people have capsized. it happened off the nagasaki... with the vessel issuing a distress call late on tuesday, as we were reporting earlier. efforts have been under way to rescue the vessel �*s crew, including people who are on board, and that is ongoing. for now, that's the latest that we can bring you on that story, but we will have more in later hours with the news. do stay with bbc news. hello.

tuesday brought some huge temperature contrasts across the uk. it was —9 in oxfordshire in the morning and then 16 degrees in the afternoon in aberdeen. but i think over the next few days, the temperatures will balance out a little bit more — it'll be closer to the seasonal norm. we'll also lose the frosts in the south of the country where, recently, it has been very cold, and here's an example in the south of the uk. those temperatures won't be quite so low overnight as we head into next week. ok, let's get into the forecast, then. here's wednesday's weather map, and a cold front is moving across the country, introducing a little bit of rain early in the morning across northern parts of the uk through scotland and northern ireland. little bits and pieces of rain and murky conditions further south as well. there will be a touch of frost first thing anywhere from east anglia through the southeast down towards the west country, but the vast majority of us will have temperatures above freezing first thing. also the possibility of some mist and fog in the midlands, west country, possibly east anglia as well for a time.

so, let's have a look at the forecast, then, for wednesday. here's that weather front as it moves from the north southwards, perhaps reaching northern wales, the peak district, early in the afternoon — lincolnshire, too. behind it, the skies actually clear, so some sunshine later in the day for belfast just before sunset. belfast, glasgow, 10 degrees here. then notice that weather front sinks southwards and there will be some rain towards the rush hour, i think, in the south of the country, and then eventually clearing the kent coast late wednesday evening. thursday, we've got an area of high pressure building across the uk nosing in, and that spells a lot of sunny weather — it really is going to be a fine day for many of us on thursday. a little on the cool side, i think, on the north sea coast, so with that northerly breeze, perhaps one or two showers, i think beautiful weather out towards the west and those temperatures close to the norm for the time of the year — around 9 in belfast, not far off that elsewhere across the country.

then the outlook as we head into the weekend, you can see temperatures actually recovering to around double figures as we head towards sunday, and we're talking about generally dry weather. that's it from me, bye—bye.