- France detains two filmmakers over sex abuse claims
- Sinner comes through Wimbledon test to set up Berrettini clash
- George joining 76ers, Thompson heading to Mavs in NBA free agency
- France coach Deschamps savours reaching Euro 2024 quarter-finals
- Coach Tedesco curses Belgium's luck after Euros exit to France
- France star Kounde calls on voters to block far right in elections
- Taliban told to 'include women' in public life at UN talks
- NBA Celtics put up for sale two weeks after winning title
- Gauff breezes into Wimbledon second round as rivals fall
- NHL Predators land free agents Stamkos, Marchessault, Skjei
- Games organisers will hope for peaceful reaction to French election: ex-IOC executive
- Girmay gatecrashes 'father' Cavendish tilt at Tour history
- France edge tense clash with Belgium to reach Euro 2024 quarter-finals
- Nigeria weekend suicide bomb attack toll climbs to 32
- England's Bland beats Japan's Fujita in playoff to win US Senior Open
- Dan Ashworth joins Man Utd as sporting director
- Girmay dedicates Tour de France stage win to Africa
- George joins Embiid with 76ers as NBA free agency heats up: reports
- Trump advisor Bannon reports to jail to serve sentence
- Austria glory at Euro 2024 'not impossible', says Rangnick
- Aboriginal ritual passed down over 12,000 years, cave find shows
- England midfielder Barkley returns to Aston Villa
- Osaka wins first match at Wimbledon since 2018
- MLS St. Louis City dumps South Africa's Carnell as coach
- Coe makes pre-Olympics visit to Ukraine to give athletes support
- Powerful Hurricane Beryl slams into Caribbean island of Carriacou
- Wawrinka, 39, makes flying start at Wimbledon
- Eritrean Girmay wins Tour de France stage as Carapaz takes race lead
- Alcaraz wins Wimbledon opener as Murray wants 'closure'
- Nepal jails 'Buddha boy' for 10 years over child sex abuse
- Moscow takes two more east Ukrainian villages
- Supreme Court rules on Trump immunity, delaying trial
- Rusty Alcaraz sees off qualifier in Wimbledon opener
- Paqueta 'suffering' over betting allegations says new Hammers boss Lopetegui
- Under-fire Dutch not hitting panic button, says Koeman
- Bellingham's celebration gesture to be investigated by UEFA
- No 'cold sweats' before Spain Euros showdown, says Germany's Raum
- 'Heartbroken' Sabalenka withdraws from Wimbledon
- Pickford grateful to 'golden boy' Bellingham for sparing England's Euros blushes
- Austrian Grand Prix - three things we learned
- Alcaraz starts Wimbledon title defence as Murray wants 'closure'
- European sprint champion Asher-Smith 'so happy' as she bids for Olympic gold
- Anderson set to mentor England's quicks after Test exit
- Hope for Mekong dolphins as Cambodia numbers increase: minister
- France's far-right vote in figures
- France detains two filmmakers over sexual abuse allegations
- Israel strikes Gaza as militants claim rocket barrage
- Meta risks fines over 'pay for privacy' model breaking EU rules
- Williams takes spotlight as Spain power through to Euros quarters
- Macron aims to thwart French far right in election runoff
Afghan women's rights an internal issue, Taliban govt says before UN-led talks
Taliban authorities said on Saturday that demands over women's rights were "Afghanistan's issues" to solve, ahead of United Nations-led engagement talks where the exclusion of Afghan women has sparked outcry.
The Taliban government, which has imposed restrictions on women since seizing power in 2021 that the UN has described as "gender apartheid", will send its first delegation to the third round of talks starting in Qatar on Sunday.
Civil society representatives, including from women's rights groups, will attend meetings with the international envoys and UN officials on Tuesday, after the official talks.
Rights groups have condemned the exclusion of Afghan women from the main meetings and the lack of human rights issues on the agenda.
The Taliban authorities "acknowledge the issues about women", government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference in Kabul on the eve of the latest talks.
"But these issues are Afghanistan's issues," said Mujahid, who will lead the delegation.
"We are working to find a logical path toward solutions inside Afghanistan so that, God forbid, our country doesn't again fall into conflict and discord."
He said the Taliban government would represent all of Afghanistan at the meetings and, given their authority, should be the only Afghans at the table.
"If Afghans participate through several channels, it means we are still scattered, our nation is still not unified," he said.
The talks were launched by the UN in May 2023 and aim to increase international coordination on engagement with the Taliban authorities, who ousted a Western-backed government when they swept to power.
The Taliban government has not been officially recognised by any state and the international community has wrestled with its approach to Afghanistan's new rulers, with women's rights issues a sticking point for many countries.
Taliban authorities were not invited to the first talks in Doha last year and refused to attend the second conference, demanding that they be the sole Afghan representatives to the exclusion of invited civil society groups.
That condition has been met for the third round.
Mujahid reiterated that the Taliban government sought positive relations with all countries.
However, he added that "no major or key discussions" would take place in Doha and that the meeting was an opportunity to exchange views, particularly with Western countries.
The agenda will include combating narcotics and economic issues, key topics for authorities in the impoverished country.
"We have hurdles blocking economic development, which should be removed," Mujahid said.
"If the economy were fine, then all other issues could be solved."
R.J.Fidalgo--PC