you hear the statistics, but this is what it looks like on the front line. a baby dies, a couple of hours later, another sick baby comes in. british unions call on sir keir starmer to abandon plans to end winter fuel payments to millions of pensioners — we hearfrom one union boss this hour. ahead of tuesday's crucial debate seeing kamala harris and donald trump face off for the first time — we talk to a top us pollster. and... a record medal haul as great britain's paralympians arrive home — we look at the legacy of the paris games and speak to an athlete. welcome to bbc news.

we start this hour with a special report from afghanistan, a country where millions of children are malnourished, and where in one hospital, 700 children have died injust the last six months. it's a humanitarian crisis that deepens every day, with much of the country living in extreme poverty, after years of war causing economic collapse. the un says more than three million children under five are malnourished, with the delivery of aid becoming much harder since the taliban took control in 2021. the bbc�*s yogita limaye, camera journalist sanjay ganguly, and producer imogen anderson have been in the country for the last two weeks, chronicling the disaster, and a warning their report shows images of children in distress. this is what an average morning looks like at jalalabad's main hospital. hundreds throng every corner, every passage, as extreme poverty pushes more children

into disease each day. zara, 13 months old, one of 3 million malnourished children in the country. a disease that's ravaging afghanistan's youngest. for every child here who's made it to a tiny bit of space in critical care, four others have not. at seven months, bibi hajra looks like a newborn. her mother, amina, has already lost six children. "it's like doomsday for me. my children are dying because we have nothing to feed them," she told us. sharing the same bed is three—year—old sana. her mother died while giving birth to her baby sister a few months ago. this is ilham. he's three, suffering from malnutrition and pneumonia.

his sister died of the same diseases at the age of two. in this one room, there were dozens of stories of death. nasiba has lost four children. and now she watches as her baby girl asma struggles for life. her tiny body racked with multiple infections. by the time she was brought here, asma was already in a serious condition. translation: it's like the | flesh is melting off my body. i can't bear to watch my child suffering like this. asma went into septic shock. an hour later, she died. 700 children have died here in six months,

at least three a day. we found out about the death of baby asma when we came back to this ward to just check in on her and what we can see in front of us already in the half a bed that she left empty there's another desperately sick child. this is baby aaliyah, three months old, severely malnourished and suffering from several other complications as well. and this is what it's like before anyone in this room, before the doctors, before the nurses have had time to register or recover from the loss of a child, another baby has to be brought in because there are just so many of them in need. you hear the statistics, but this is what it looks like on the front line. a baby dies. a couple of hours later, another sick baby brought in. over the past three years, we've been to dozens of health facilities

documenting the crisis. now, children are dying at a frightening pace from a lack of nutrition and curable diseases. umrah has severe pneumonia. a nurse tries to stabilise her. the treatment available at this hospital is only possible because aid agencies have stepped in to fund healthcare since the taliban took over. "i'm extremely scared about what might happen to my child. i wish i was suffering in her place," umrah's mother, nasreen, says. two days later, umrah also died. these deaths are being counted. but in the communities outside the hospital, children are dying silently. and there's also an underreported but alarming surge in stunting.

it's affected a staggering 45% of afghan children under the age of five. mohammed is two. far shorter than he should be and he cannot stand yet. translation: the doctor has told me that if he gets - treatment for the next 3 to 6 months he will be fine, but we can't even afford food. how do we pay for the treatment? i'm scared he will become disabled and he will never be able to walk. stunting can lead to irreversible physical and mental damage. in lane after lane, we see children at risk. it's in these communities where aid has been most dramatically cut. but where it is given, we find evidence of how it helps. eight—month—old mujib used to be severely malnourished. his father says the food sachets they receive

have significantly improved his condition. and from back at the hospital, there's good news. bibi hajra was in a fragile state when we saw her. but with the right intervention, she's now well enough to be discharged. yogita limaye, bbc news, jalalabad. let's speak to omar samad, a former afghan ambassador to france and canada — and now senior fellow at the atlantic council think tank. thank you so much for being here on the programme. every elements of that report was generally horrifying. why do think now it is so catastrophic in afghanistan?— think now it is so catastrophic in afghanistan? well, matthew, es, in afghanistan? well, matthew, yes, distressing, _ in afghanistan? well, matthew, yes, distressing, depressing - yes, distressing, depressing and for me as an afghan, of course, iam

and for me as an afghan, of course, i am shocked but not surprised because we have been hearing for the past year or two at least about the dire condition of people in afghanistan, men, women, children. this is one case, and i'm glad the bbc got the story out, of more than 3 million children are facing malnourishment and death, even in death. this is very shocking. but we need to look at the big picture and then we need to look at what needs to be done. knowing the governance is not as we would like it to be, knowing afghanistan is cut out for international communities, that three years on we have economic issues, social issues. so it is a very unique case, and it needs to be outside the box, not inside,

taking advantage of whatever opportunities exist, reaching threaten communities, especially women and children. you put yourfingers especially women and children. you put your fingers on two critical bits in terms of the backdrop. you talked about needing to look at the big picture, dealing with the situation under today's conditions. of course, since the taliban took over, there are western sanctions. how do you improve everything we saw in that report, or even some of it within all of it? you talked about thinking outside of the box. what comes to your mind which could see progress in afghanistan within all the backdrop conditions? given all of afghanistan's _ backdrop conditions? given all of afghanistan's shortcomings | of afg hanistan�*s shortcomings and of afghanistan's shortcomings and weaknesses, in terms of internal dynamics, the international community needs to focus on a few things. number one, there is a shortage of funding, so the donors have other priorities around the

world and maybe some level of fatigue. afghanistan is a country receiving close to the range and $50 million a day in its war efforts and stay building effort —— close to three june $50 building effort —— close to threejune $50 million. almost $3 trillion have been spent prior to the collapse. —— 350 million. prior to the collapse. -- 350 million. ., ., million. how we deal with complex _ million. how we deal with complex issues _ million. how we deal with complex issues and - million. how we deal with complex issues and and i complex issues and and conflict. to date we need to think— conflict. to date we need to think outside the box, we need to look— think outside the box, we need to look at— think outside the box, we need to look at the funding streams and make sure they are able to do their— and make sure they are able to do their work, and that the taliban_ do their work, and that the taliban are engaged at a level where — taliban are engaged at a level where not they would benefit from — where not they would benefit from. �* . , where not they would benefit from. �* ., , ., from. but that they would facilitate _ from. but that they would facilitate and _ from. but that they would facilitate and enable -

facilitate and enable organisations on the grounds, including hospitals and clinics, doctors, nurses, to be able to work. this is what the issue of women comes in. women need to work to be able to access children, as doctors, nurses. you have a very complicated situation. i think through engagement and through targeted funding, we can address this problem and find some solutions. we are grateful for your time, thank you speaking to us at the bbc. thank you. here in the uk, several major trade unions have appealed directly to sir keir starmer to reverse the decision to take away the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners. the plan to make it means—tested was announced shortly after the election, with both the prime minister here in the uk, several major trade unions have appealed directly to sir keir starmer to reverse the decision to take away the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners.

the plan to make it means—tested was announced shortly after the election, with both the prime minister and chancellor insisting it's necessary, and the money needs to be spent elsewhere. but tomorrow some of the government's own mps plan to abstain from a commons vote on the change, rather than backing it. the congress is taking place, the annual gathering. it is in brighton this year, and our political because red is. what is the mood there? —— political correspondent. they are saying they welcome labour governments, the tuc was revelling in the fact so many conservative ministers have lost their seats. he said hope had been brought back to politics, a new deal. new rights to be introduced, legislation next month. for some unions, for many, when they say they welcome labour government, it is followed by the words but. but they shouldn't be doing this on winterfuel, cutting shouldn't be doing this on winter fuel, cutting allowance. in the past hour we have heard

a motion passed calling for a bigger change of direction from the labour government. i would talk about those issues with the rail union, mick lynch. on the rail union, mick lynch. on the conference floor and hour ago, you had a direct message for rachel reeves. she ago, you had a direct message for rachel reeves.— ago, you had a direct message for rachel reeves. she needs to think again _ for rachel reeves. she needs to think again about _ for rachel reeves. she needs to think again about the _ for rachel reeves. she needs to think again about the winter - think again about the winter fuel allowance. think again about the winter fuelallowance. i think again about the winter fuel allowance. i don't want them to start their period in power with such a mistake. they've made a misstep on that. but as part of a bigger part of sticking to the tory fiscal rules, as they are called. it will mean she won't have enough revenue and money to do the rebuilding work everybody thinks the country needs. we need the infrastructure and public services and communities. everywhere you look and every issue, there's needs to be expenditure. we do needs to be expenditure. we do need greater public expenditure, and we need a progressive and fair taxation regine. progressive and fair taxation reine. ., ., ,~ progressive and fair taxation reine. ., ., ., regine. that me ask you about two thinqs- _ regine. that me ask you about two things. it's _

regine. that me ask you about two things. it's not _ regine. that me ask you about two things. it's notjust - regine. that me ask you about two things. it's notjust you - two things. it's notjust you but other mps behind closed doors have met rachel reeves, asking for some changes to winterfuel, more people to be eligible. it sounds like she may face against her, and something people think is a realistic outcome. getting her to change these fiscal rules, she seen as an iron chancellor keeping an i in grip on the finances, you've got no chance, have you?— have you? we hope they are in ower have you? we hope they are in power for _ have you? we hope they are in power for a _ have you? we hope they are in power for a long _ have you? we hope they are in power for a long time, - have you? we hope they are in power for a long time, ten - powerfor a long time, ten years, longer. the tories were in for a long time added cause damage. it's not a one budget chancellor, a one public spending chancellor. we want to convince over the period of her time in office, and we hope it's a long time, to move to a more progressive approach. she won't be able to stick to the rules the tories have said, because it means it will continue. there's no point in having a different government

if it is the same medicine. there is a lot of work to do, and the ability to get it done depends on how much revenue the treasury takes in. she needs to change the rules, she may not do immediately, but she needs to move to progressive tax, and get the money we need to do the job people want. the get the money we need to do the job people want-— job people want. the tuc has backed a wealth _ job people want. the tuc has backed a wealth tax, - job people want. the tuc has backed a wealth tax, but - job people want. the tuc has backed a wealth tax, but will| backed a wealth tax, but will it raise as much as unites, as much as you think? it looks great on the surface, 25 billion could come in, it adds up. in other countries it has been tried, it raises far less, because people move around. you have to make _ because people move around. moi. have to make sure these rich people pay their share. we get no choice, we pay the tax. that should be the default position of the rich. there are taxes on

capital gains, property, on stored wealth, unearned wealth, if you want. an astute government can make sure they get it. there are bogus self—employment, forcing people to be casual workers, working for lump—sum payments means the employers aren't paying sufficient national insurance, and the workers aren't paying sufficient tax. we need to make sure we are being tax efficiently and correctly to do the job that needs to be done with our services and infrastructure and get the economy straight. we infrastructure and get the economy straight. we only have a few seconds, _ economy straight. we only have a few seconds, but _ economy straight. we only have a few seconds, but back - economy straight. we only have a few seconds, but back to - a few seconds, but back to winter fuel. a few seconds, but back to winterfuel. what a few seconds, but back to winter fuel. what do you think the consequences are a rachel reeves doesn't rethink? we wanted to — reeves doesn't rethink? we wanted to win _ reeves doesn't rethink? - wanted to win the next election, she gets a reputation of robbing pensioners to fill a black hole without doing anything to the super—rich, thatis anything to the super—rich, that is the wrong impression and they were carried out legacy. they have time to correct, future budgets and plans to go through to make

sure we get the correct tax for the people. sure we get the correct tax for the people-— the people. mick lynch, thank ou, the the people. mick lynch, thank you, the leader _ the people. mick lynch, thank you, the leader of _ the people. mick lynch, thank you, the leader of the - the people. mick lynch, thank you, the leader of the rail - you, the leader of the rail union. some of the unions have done quite well since labour got in through pay deals. the conservatives say it is costing the pensioners money. the argument is it different choices were made by the government, they could retain the winter fuel payment and give above inflation wage increases. that is the view from here, not necessarily shared across political parties. ian watson at the tuc conference. next up we are looking at the head—to—head debates between kamala harris and donald trump, talking live to the us pollster, there he is, already to go. we will talk to frank in minutes. around the world and across the uk, you were watching bbc news.

you're watching bbc news. let's turn to the us.

televised debates have been a fixture of us presidential elections since 1960, but tomorrow evening in philadelphia donald trump and kamala harris will break new ground because never before has one of the parties changed candidate between debates. injune, joe biden was still the democratic candidate. but a faltering performance led to him dropping out and his vice president, kamala harris, taking his place. over the years, it's the third opponent donald trump has been up against — hillary clinton in 2016 and joe biden in 2020. and the stakes could not be higher, with most polls suggesting the race is too close to call. let's speak to frank luntz, us pollster and policial communication consultant. welcome once again on the programme. great to speak to you. take me through it, what do both candidates have to achieve in the debate question let's take a one by one, kamala

harris first of all.— harris first of all. first thing. _ harris first of all. first thing. her _ harris first of all. first thing, her vote - harris first of all. first thing, her vote is - harris first of all. first | thing, her vote is doing harris first of all. first - thing, her vote is doing quite well among young women who are not engaged and not energised when joe not engaged and not energised whenjoe biden was the democratic nominee. she should look straight into the camera, as i am doing now, and make a direct appeal to her. second is there are doubts about her command of the issues and where she stands. she does need to discuss a detailed plan of action, details so we know the specifics of plans so it is written down and action the key points. numberthree, she's written down and action the key points. number three, she's got to address the most important issue to american voters, that issue to american voters, that is the real solution to the affordability crisis. housing, fuel and health care. and she should apply her record to discuss donald trump's legal problems, as well as keeping americans safe and secure. and

fifth, she needs to address the issue of abortion. she is on the majority side. women in particular agree with her, and to address that and raised that will be helpful to her campaign. those are the key components. and they will make a difference in how the outcome and how these undecided voters view it. do and how these undecided voters view it. ., , ., view it. do the same for us for donald trump. _ view it. do the same for us for donald trump. for _ view it. do the same for us for donald trump. for donald - view it. do the same for us for - donald trump. for donald trump, the key issue _ donald trump. for donald trump, the key issue for— donald trump. for donald trump, the key issue for him _ donald trump. for donald trump, the key issue for him is _ donald trump. for donald trump, the key issue for him is he - the key issue for him is he doesn't need to be nice. but he cannot be mean. because if he is seen to be disrespecting the vice president, women across the country will oppose that and reject that, just as they did to him in 2020 withjoe biden. second, he needs to ask a series of questions, such as, and the most important, are you better off now than you were under donald trump four years ago? a second question, dv or

safer today than four years ago? it's a chance for him to talk about the border —— do you feel safer. the other key question is life more affordable today than four years ago? and finally, he needs to do a side by side comparison, inflation in 2020 versus 202a. the crime and lack of safety, the border, all the statistics that have changed over the last war years. harris is preferred because of her persona, how she engages the voters. trump is preferred based on the issues, the key policies. based on the issues, the key olicies. �* , ., ., policies. briefly, what would ou policies. briefly, what would you anticipate, _ policies. briefly, what would you anticipate, what - policies. briefly, what would you anticipate, what would l policies. briefly, what would - you anticipate, what would good tactics look like from both parts? because there was the whole debate about the rules and kamala harris wanted the microphones opened because she planned to challenge donald

trump to fact check them, to take him on as he was, what she would say, paddling untruths. that won't happen, so tactically, how do you see it? trump has to keep control of his temper and cannot destroy her, cannot seek to destroy her personally. he has to focus on policy. and for harris, it is essential that she proves not only is she ready for the job, but she has the details and action plans and the substance. for cup cut shot, can he be calmer? for harris, does she have the plans —— for trump. i have the plans —— for trump. i have time to squeeze into more questions. when you listen to people who although to, they always say the same thing, they what the candidate to concentrate on policy. are we sure it is actually true. when you look at the bait, sometimes

a put—down really travels and continues to do a lot of work for weeks to head. you think of donald trump and hillary clinton and lock her up, that sustained for weeks. when voters say that, it is 100% true? voters say that, it is 10096 true? , ., true? even giving you the response _ true? even giving you the response bar, _ true? even giving you the response bar, when - true? even giving you the response bar, when they| true? even giving you the - response bar, when they behave badly. for donald trump, and harris says to him i'm talking. what trump should say, yes, thatis what trump should say, yes, that is the problem, you are talking. the question is, are you actually doing? and for harris, we need a president who respects mothers and daughters, sisters and women of all types. even cat ladies. for her, she focuses on women, for trump, he focuses on women, for trump, he focuses on women, for trump, he focuses on harris's lack of record. two different approaches but the same style,

cucumber, do it quickly, in eight or ten seconds,.- cucumber, do it quickly, in eight or ten seconds,. you only have 30 seconds, _ eight or ten seconds,. you only have 30 seconds, how - eight or ten seconds,. you only have 30 seconds, how crucial i eight or ten seconds,. you onlyj have 30 seconds, how crucial is tomorrow night? it is everything- _ tomorrow night? it is everything. just - tomorrow night? it is everything. just as i tomorrow night? it is everything. just as it| everything. just as it destroyed joe biden pots campaign, the winner tomorrow night will probably be the winner of the presidential campaign. harris has a slight advantage. ask me in a few days from now, iwill tally advantage. ask me in a few days from now, i will tally he will be frank, you have done reboot can for us. be frank, you have done reboot can for na— can for us. thank you. thank ou, can for us. thank you. thank you. perhaps _ can for us. thank you. thank you. perhaps we _ can for us. thank you. thank you, perhaps we will - can for us. thank you. thank you, perhaps we will speak. you, perhaps we will speak again. hello there. our weather is set to turn quite a bit colder over the next few days, so it's probably worth rooting out those warmerjumpers and maybe warmer duvets, as well. this stripe of cloud

across the north atlantic is a cold front and it's behind that that the chillier air is lurking. that's going to be sweeping its way southwards over the next 26 hours. the weather feeling much more autumnal over the next couple of days. there has been a lot of cloud around this morning, but there are signs of that cloud breaking up, for example here in cumbria, more generally across western areas of england and wales too. those brighter skies will slowly push eastwards. we do have some thicker cloud to our north—west, so it will tend to cloud over this afternoon in northern ireland and western scotland, with a few patches of light rain coming and going. probably brightening up towards east anglia and south—east england towards the end of the afternoon. temperatures for most around 15 to 18 degrees celsius. not feeling too bad if you're out and about. the winds mostly on the light side. overnight tonight, though, we get an area of rain moving into the north—west and this stripe of rain here is our cold front that's going to start to push southwards across scotland and northern ireland towards the end of the night. with that temperatures will start to drop in scotland. otherwise, temperatures about 10 to 16 degrees overnight.

tomorrow we have this area of low pressure just working to the north of scotland. quite tightly packed isobars here so there will be some strong winds around. gusts could run into the 60s in miles—per—hourfor a time in the northern isles, and probably into the 40s to the western side of scotland, and maybe to coastal areas of northern ireland. as we go through the day, this stripe of rain, our cold front, sinks its way southwards. sunny spells follow with blustery showers working into scotland, northern ireland and probably the north—west of both england and wales. temperatures coming down across northern areas of the uk, feeling quite a bit cooler, and then through tuesday night it is a cold night. temperatures dipping down to around five degrees celsius. you might want that warmer duvet close to hand to snuggle up to. wednesday, sunny spells and showers. the majority of the showers across northern and western areas of the uk. probably staying dry towards parts of north—east england, but wherever you are, temperatures will be much lower and actually below average. feeling quite cool in the brisk north—westerly winds. the colder air is here to stay

for the rest of this week, as well, with a mixture of sunshine and showers, but there are signs that it turns a bit milder into the weekend.

this is bbc news, the headlines: health officials in afghanistan say seven hundred children have died of malnutrition at just one hospital in the past six months.

an exclusive report from the strategically important city of pokrovsk where ukrainian troops try to hold russia back as thousands of civilians flee. and a record medal haul — as great britain's paralympians arrive home — we speak tojody cundy — who's been competing since 1996. we have all those stories coming up in a moment or two but first let's catch up with the sport headlines.