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. Its 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 jalalabads 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 thats ravaging afghanistans youngest. For every child here whos 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. Its 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. Hes 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 its like the | flesh is melting off my body. I Cant 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 theres 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 its 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, weve 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. Im extremely scared about what might happen to my child. I wish i was suffering in her place, umrahs 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 theres also an underreported but alarming surge in stunting. Its 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 cant even afford food. How do we pay for the treatment . Im 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. Its 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, theres good news. Bibi hajra was in a fragile state when we saw her. But with the right intervention, shes now well enough to be discharged. Yogita limaye, bbc news, jalalabad. Lets 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 im 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 todays 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 Afghanistans Backdrop conditions . Given all of afghanistans shortcomings | of afg hanistan s shortcomings and of afghanistans 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 its necessary, and the money needs to be spent elsewhere. But tomorrow some of the governments 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 shouldnt be doing this on winterfuel, cutting shouldnt 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 dont want them to start their period in power with such a mistake. Theyve 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 wont 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, theres 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. Its regine. That me ask you about two things. Its not regine. That me ask you about two things. Its notjust regine. That me ask you about two things. Its notjust you two things. Its 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, youve 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. Its 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 its a long time, to move to a more progressive approach. She wont be able to stick to the rules the tories have said, because it means it will continue. Theres 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 arent paying sufficient national insurance, and the workers arent 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 doesnt rethink . We wanted to reeves doesnt rethink . We wanted to win reeves doesnt 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. Youre watching bbc news. Lets turn to the us. Televised debates have been a fixture of us president ial 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, its 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. Lets 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,