you hear the statistics, but this is what it looks like on the front line. a baby dies a couple of hours later. it's also the international engagement with the taliban. restrictions on afghan women's and gert —— women and girls are turning— and gert —— women and girls are turning away. 3.2 million children at risk in afghanistan, with record levels of malnutrition. it is the taliban's policies, specifically its restrictions on women, that is blamed for the collapse in public health. we will bring you a special report from jalalabad. also tonight, the princess of wales has released a personal video, reflecting on her difficult nine months of cancer treatment. catherine says she will now be making a gradual return

to official duties. and not for turning. the chancellor is pressing ahead with her decision to end the winter fuel payments. but how many will rebel when it comes to the vote tomorrow? very good evening. our focus has shifted away from afghanistan. there are other crises that demand our attention. the chaotic withdrawal that left the taliban in charge, still begs uncomfortable questions of the western governments that withdrew. and yet after 20 years of war and investment, and the billions of dollars that was spent, the public health system in afghanistan is today in ruins. there are millions of children starving. in one hospital, 700 children have died injust the last six months. it is a humanitarian crisis that deepens every day. the un estimates more than 3 million children under five are malnourished, with aid used as political political leverage, and now much harder to deliver since the taliban took control. the bbc�*s yogita limaye, camera

journalist sanjay ganguly, and their producer imogen anderson, have been in the country for the last two weeks, seeing first—hand the scale of the crisis. and a warning, this 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 under—reported 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 three to six 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. there are many us lawmakers that would prefer to ignore what is currently

happening in afghanistan. there are no votes in revisiting what went wrong. but in election season there is still some value in apportioning blame for the withdrawal. today the republicans on the house foreign affairs committee issued a sharply critical report into the us withdrawal in 2021, putting the blame squarely on president biden�*s shoulders. the democrats have hit back, calling the report biased, noting that it was former president donald trump who negotiated the withdrawal with the taliban and at the exclusion of the then government. but the withdrawal led to desperate scenes and violence, including the suicide attacks at kabul airport which killed 170 afghans and 13 us soldiers. republicans said the chaos was "preventable" and that the white house was guilty of a "dereliction of duty". we can speak now to douglas lute. he's a retired us army lieutenant general, who served as the us ambassador to nato

between 2013 and 2017 and as the us deputy national security adviser for iraq and afghanistan between 2007 and 2013. very welcome to the programme. it's good to be with you. before we talk about the report, i know you're listening to a report from afghanistan. how do you reconcile that with all the sacrifice that us servicemen and women made in the billions that us taxpayers poured into afghanistan? ijust wonder what your thoughts are. i think context is really important here, and although it was a 23 years ago, it's important that it was after 2001 in the 9/11 attacks that took us to afghanistan. i think it creates the context, was that 20 years from 20 two 2001 to the withdrawal in 2021, was it worth it? what was the value of that 20 years? i'm still

unpacking that myself, but i think there is some value that is clear. it gave the united states 20 years to decapitate and decimate al-qaeda, who attacked us on 9/11. they give us 20 years and our allies 20 years to better defend ourselves not only in front. and it gave afghans a 20—year window of opportunity to step up window of opportunity to step up themselves to build a different afghanistan after different afg ha nista n after taliban different afghanistan after taliban rule. it's not for naught, but obviously the situation today doesn't leave us anywhere �*s close to being satisfied. us anywhere 's close to being satisfied. ~ . us anywhere 's close to being satisfied-— satisfied. what about the re ort satisfied. what about the report published - satisfied. what about the report published today i satisfied. what about the | report published today by satisfied. what about the - report published today by the republican board foreign affairs committee? they've obviously been sitting on this for a period of time. we're in the final stretch of the election. is it fair in conclusions it draws? i don't think s0- _ conclusions it draws? i don't think so- i — conclusions it draws? i don't think so. i see _ conclusions it draws? i don't

think so. i see this - conclusions it draws? i don't think so. i see this is - conclusions it draws? i don't think so. i see this is an - think so. i see this is an unbalanced, politcised, partisan political move. the timing here is not a coincidence. we're on the eve of the presidential debate tomorrow night in washington. we're less than two months out from the november elections, and this report was one—sided. it had no input from the other side of the political aisle, from the democratic side. i think the timing tells the soul l michael story here. do think the timing tells the soul l michael story here.- l michael story here. do you think president _ l michael story here. do you think president biden - l michael story here. do you think president biden bears| l michael story here. do you i think president biden bears any responsibility for what happened? responsibility for what happened ? £31 responsibility for what happened? responsibility for what hauened? , happened? of course. -- the sole story — happened? of course. -- the sole story here. _ happened? of course. -- the sole story here. context - happened? of course. -- the sole story here. context here is really important. sometimes we become rather short—sighted and her memory is flawed. it was 18 months before the withdrawal of afghanistan and before those tragic scenes that your viewers just reviewed, it was 18 months before that it was 18 months before that it was trump who signed an

agreement with the taliban, an agreement with the taliban, an agreement that has several future. first of all, it was out the afghan government's permission. —— several features. while it increased the taliban by 5,000, releasing 5,000 taliban prisoners. finally, it set the withdrawal date as may the 1st, 2022. trump set the stage for what took place in august of 21. would you have at their set a deadline is a military man? look, deadlines are always dangerous, but they can sometimes be forcing functions and be useful. that is to move your opponent into a particular place and time, to organise and synchronise allied movements. remember, there were some a0 countries operating with us in

afghanistan in the 2021 time period. bringing that allied effort into sink is important. it also is a forcing function for the us government. i would argue that in all three cases, the date that might have been useful was underappreciated and underutilized. for example, in the last year, of the trump administration, they did next to nothing in terms of beginning the evacuation of afghans. in the last year, they made no plans for the withdrawal date that they themselves have set. dates can be useful, but they're not determinative without action. important perspective. grateful for your time this evening, general. for your time this evening, general-— in brighton today,

it was day two of the trades union congress — their most important gathering in 1a years. and today, several of those unions have appealed directly to the labour prime minister begging him to reverse the decision on winter fuel payments, that will be stripped from around ten million pensioners. the plan to make the payments means—tested was announced shortly after the election, with both the prime minister and chancellor insisting it was necessary as they begin trying to fill a £22 billion black hole. mps will vote on that measure tomorrow with a rebellion brewing. the chancellor rachel reeves has been meeting labour mps tonight to try to secure their support for the government's plan. joining me is the times' chief political correspondent aubrey allegretti. nice to see you. i know she was meeting the parliamentary labour party tonight. have you had any steering how that went down? , ., .,, had any steering how that went down? , ., ., , down? yes, we almost literally had her ears — down? yes, we almost literally had her ears pressed _ down? yes, we almost literally had her ears pressed up - against the doors, although it wasn't terribly hard to find mps who were gushing in their praise for her, saying that she understood the concern that she understood the concern that was raised about the move. but i think behind—the—scenes,

backbenchers, some ministers andindeed backbenchers, some ministers and indeed — reports of cabinet ministers, uneasy about the political pain this will cause, and it hasn't been helped by trade union leaders accusing of picking pensioners' pockets and potentially leaving some destitute this winter, raising the warnings that more people might die because they can't afford to heat their homes. tomorrow will be a real test of strength and rachel reeves was stressing the importance of unity. but of course, we're still waiting to see what the scale of the rebellion looks like and how many people vote against and whether actually most people melt away and abstain. ~ , ., ., ., abstain. when you have a majority _ abstain. when you have a majority of _ abstain. when you have a majority of 167, _ abstain. when you have a majority of 167, likely - abstain. when you have a majority of 167, likely a l majority of 167, likely a rebellion is going to cause the labour party, the labour

government. its outlooks in the very earliest days of the parliament. there was talk about concessions perhaps being made. are there any she's offered to labour in these tonight? offered to labour in these toniaht? ., .,, , offered to labour in these toniaht? ., , , tonight? know, the treasury is standinu tonight? know, the treasury is standing firm _ tonight? know, the treasury is standing firm in _ tonight? know, the treasury is standing firm in saying - standing firm in saying everything that is an offer on the table. it's almost two months away from the budget, so they haven't ruled out changes. but we are told this change coming into fourth, the treasury is not going to negotiate. there were some briefings about the social energy tariff, but they were slapped down very quickly by the government, and they're more of a medium and long—term. they will come into effect this

winter. trying to drive more people into pension credit because there around 800,000 people who are eligible but don't claimant. also in support of the emergency household for those who are most vulnerable. big day of politics tomorrow. aubrey, thank you for coming on. thank you. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

the venezuelan opposition candidate for president, edmundo gonzalez, thought by many to have won the recent election, has vowed to "continue the fight" for democracy in his own country, after leaving venezuela for spain, where he has been granted asylum. us secretary of state antony blinken says his political exile is "the direct result of the anti—democratic measures president nicolas maduro has unleashed on the venezuelan people". mr blinken says edmundo gonzalez...

gonzales is out of the country, but plenty of opposition politicians remain. in caracas, six of them are sheltering in the argentine embassy, which is surrounded by security forces, loyal to the president maduro. gonzalez told supporters in an audio message that he was threatened right up until the moment he fled. we can get some analysis now from jimena blanco, head of americas at the risk consultancy verisk maplecroft. thanks very much for coming on. what can gonzalez do from exile thatis what can gonzalez do from exile that is useful to his country? thank you for having me, i think the role he's going to try to play from exile is one that he played throughout his professional career as a diplomat. he's going to be very much behind—the—scenes in the sense that he will build in the conversations he's been having with external parties,

particularly the the eu and the us and latin america, to try to broker change in government through peaceful means. living at home, maria machado, really the force if you will, behind the force if you will, behind the campaign in venezuela, means she will try to mobilise people and continue looking for change in the government in caracas at home rather than from exile. i think they're trying to divide the role between the external and the diaspora work and the domestic and demobilisation front at home. , , ., , and demobilisation front at home. , ., , , home. just our viewers fully understand _ home. just our viewers fully understand what's - home. just our viewers fully understand what's going - home. just our viewers fully understand what's going on | understand what's going on here, it was a deeply florida political process. aside from the official count, the statisticians —— deeply floored. it was the printing documents that establish the total votes of every candidate

at the voting table. what does that tell us about the results, the real result?— the real result? well, potentially, _ the real result? well, | potentially, raymundo the real result? well, _ potentially, raymundo gonzales won with about 67% of the vote, so it was a very decisive result if the voting tally that you are referring to, published on the website is reliable. if we look at what other governments are saying, very few governments have recognised maduro's compared victory, and the vast majorities are saying to the maduro government they need to see the formal tallies. very few governments have also recognised and will go gonzales as president—elect. the problem here is no—one really trust the process. it has now moved to being a questionable democracy to one that very few governments believe even exists. ., , exists. tight for time, but we have pictures _

exists. tight for time, but we have pictures of _ exists. tight for time, but we have pictures of people - exists. tight for time, but we j have pictures of people trying to leave the country via brazil, colombia — columbia has taken in millions. how do other countries see this in the regions?— countries see this in the reuions? , , regions? this is a huge problem for latin america _ regions? this is a huge problem for latin america and _ regions? this is a huge problem for latin america and has - regions? this is a huge problem for latin america and has been l for latin america and has been for latin america and has been for several years. there is an estimated seven point 11 million venezuelan —— a 7.7 million venezuelan —— a 7.7 million venezuelan —— a 7.7 million venezuelan �*s of left, and many will follow there because there was hope this will bring the country some change. how neighbouring countries will need to cope with the. countries will need to cope with the-— with the. jimena, sorry to ress with the. jimena, sorry to press yom _ with the. jimena, sorry to press you. good - with the. jimena, sorry to press you. good to - with the. jimena, sorry to press you. good to talk i with the. jimena, sorry to | press you. good to talk to with the. jimena, sorry to - press you. good to talk to you. the princess of wales says she has completed her chemotherapy treatment and is now focussed on remaining cancer—free. in a three—minute film, produced by kensington palace, the royal couple are shown in surprisingly intimate scenes in norfolk with their children. catherine says her cancer journey over the past nine months has been complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone.

she says she will now resume some public duties, but will take each day as it comes. here's our senior royal correspondent, daniela relph. like we've never seen them before — informal, intimate, glossy and polished. this video, released by kensington palace, is the princess of wales in her own words. the cancerjourney is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you. with humility, it also brings you face—to—face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before. and with that, a new perspective on everything. is this filming? hello. hello! all the footage was filmed in norfolk, family were on holiday over the summer. like so many who have experienced cancer, the princess says it is her family who have got her through.

this time has, above all, it reminded william and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life which so many others often take for granted is simply loving and being loved. the film shows the princess's parents playing cards with their grandchildren. this has been a family summer, a chance for the princess to recuperate with those who know her best. my path to healing and full recovery is long. kensington palace has been careful in its language. the princess has not been described as cancer—free. but with treatment over for now, this is a new stage of her recovery. despite all that's gone before, i enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life. her return to public life will be careful,

with a light schedule planned in the weeks ahead. she said she has been humbled by the public�*s kindness, empathy and compassion. and she said her thoughts were with those dealing with the illness. to all those who are continuing their own cancerjourney, i remain with you side by side, hand in hand. out of darkness can come light, so let that light shine bright. the king and queen have offered their love, thoughts and support to the princess for her continued recovery. for now, we will still only see her occasionally, but the outlook is much more positive. hello again. we've got a change to much colder weather conditions just around the corner, so get those jumpers handy. you might need to dig out a warmer duvet as well. now, it's a fine end to the day

wednesday afternoon for wales and western areas of england with plenty of sunshine. but after a sunny morning in northern ireland, here it turned a lot cloudier, the winds picked up as well. and that cloud is associated with a weather front to the north of that, we've got much colder air, and that colder air is going to be swinging its way across the uk over the next day or two. it is going to feel much more autumnal. now, weather—wise at the moment, we've got low pressure moving in. outbreaks of rain will turn increasingly steady and heavy overnight for northern ireland and scotland, some splashes of rain getting into northern england later on as well. getting into northern temperatures still for the most part about 10—1a degrees, but turning colder already in scotland, and talking about scotland here, it's going to be a windy start to the day on tuesday. gusts of wind around the northern isles could run into the 60 miles an hour. i think it will be particularly blustery in 0rkney, whereas across the western side of scotland, gusts probably

running into the a0s of miles an hour, driving in a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers. here's our cold front diving southwards across england and wales. not a huge amount of rain on that, but you will notice the change to fresher air filtering in across northern ireland, northern england and wales as well. it's overnight that that cold air reaches right the way across the uk, a much colder night than we've been used to, with temperatures getting down to five in aberdeen and in newcastle as well. so, a cold start to wednesday morning, it is a day of sunshine and blustery showers. the showers always most frequent across northern—western areas, driven in by the strong northwesterly winds. there will be some areas, though, that dodge the downpours. favoured for that would be parts of north east england, but wherever you are, temperatures a lot lower — 11—15 degrees, that's below average for the time of year — the north westerly winds making it feel a little bit colder yet. for thursday, a similar kind of day again, sunshine and blustery showers. the showers really frequent for northern scotland, the north west of both england and wales, and probably quite a few in northern ireland, too. temperatures 11—15 degrees, then we start to see high pressure move in on friday. so, for many of us, it

will be a bit drier, perhaps a bit of sunshine coming through. and into the weekend, still quite unsettled, but it does at least turn quite a bit milder.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. apple unveils its latest smartphone — the iphone 16 — fitted with the tech giant's own ai — apple intelligence.

some breaking news. disgraced hollywood producer harvey weinstein has been rushed to hospital, where he's undergoing emergency heart surgery. his lawyer arthur aidala has confirmed to the bbc that weinstein was rushed from a new york cityjail where he was being held, to bellevue hospital. a prominent figure prosecuted during the need to movement. the first allegations came to light in 2017 when women began to go public with accounts of his behaviour. some of those charges were overturned on appeal and the case was about to be re—tried, but you will

see there from him going in with a walker into one