United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres will be holding talks with international envoys at an unknown location in Doha on Monday in a bid to explore ways to influence Taliban rulers in Afghanistan. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Afghanistan is being considered as being in the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world by the United Nations and Guterres' dilemma on appropriate actions has further increased by the banning of girls from schools and women from working in NGOs as well as UN agencies by the Taliban administration. &nbsp;

The government of Taliban, which came back to power in August, 2021, will not attend the talks which will include representatives from around 25 nations and international organisations, as per the diplomats. &nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/afghan-women-protest-in-kabul-urge-other-countries-not-to-recognise-taliban-regime-587362">Afghan women protest in Kabul, urge other countries not to recognise Taliban regime</a>

Ahead of the meeting, a group of women in Kabul on Saturday protested against any international recognition of the Taliban government. However, the Western powers and the UN remain adamant that this issue will not be discussed.

"Any kind of recognition of the Taliban is completely off the table," US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel stated.&nbsp;

The UN secretary-general will be giving an update on a review of the critical relief operation of the world body in Afghanistan which was ordered in April after Afghan women were stopped by the authorities from working with the UN agencies, said the diplomats.

UN expert for the International Crisis Group Richard Gowan said that the United Nations is "in a trap over Afghanistan".

"Guterres has to untangle a very complicated knot. He needs to find a way to keep aid flowing into Afghanistan, but the Taliban ban on women is a huge blow to the UN's ability to operate in the country," he added.&nbsp;

He stated that the international community wishes that the UN's critical presence is maintained.

"There are lots of differences among Security Council members over Afghanistan. But everyone, including Russia and China, agrees it is better to have the UN in Kabul than not,” he added.&nbsp;

WATCH | Taliban kill I.S. leader behind airport bombing

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A few indications has been given by the United Nations about what proposals could be made during the meeting.&nbsp;

On Friday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that the aim "is to reinvigorate international engagement around common objectives for a durable way forward on Afghanistan".&nbsp;

The UN also wants "unity or commonality of message" on women's and human rights, drug trafficking and countering terrorism.

"Recognition is not an issue," insisted Dujarric. The UN General Assembly will be deciding if the Taliban government takes up the UN seat in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)

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United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres will be holding talks with international envoys at an unknown location in Doha on Monday in a bid to explore ways to influence Taliban rulers in Afghanistan.

United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres will be holding talks with international envoys at an unknown location in Doha on Monday in a bid to explore ways to influence Taliban rulers in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is being considered as being in the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world by the United Nations and Guterres' dilemma on appropriate actions has further increased by the banning of girls from schools and women from working in NGOs as well as UN agencies by the Taliban administration. The government of Taliban, which came back to power in August, 2021, will not attend the talks which will include representatives from around 25 nations and international organisations, as per the diplomats. ALSO READ | Afghan women protest in Kabul, urge other countries not to recognise Taliban regime Ahead of the meeting, a group of women in Kabul on Saturday protested against any international recognition of the Taliban government. However, the Western powers and the UN remain adamant that this issue will not be discussed. "Any kind of recognition of the Taliban is completely off the table," US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel stated. The UN secretary-general will be giving an update on a review of the critical relief operation of the world body in Afghanistan which was ordered in April after Afghan women were stopped by the authorities from working with the UN agencies, said the diplomats. UN expert for the International Crisis Group Richard Gowan said that the United Nations is "in a trap over Afghanistan". "Guterres has to untangle a very complicated knot. He needs to find a way to keep aid flowing into Afghanistan, but the Taliban ban on women is a huge blow to the UN's ability to operate in the country," he added. He stated that the international community wishes that the UN's critical presence is maintained. "There are lots of differences among Security Council members over Afghanistan. But everyone, including Russia and China, agrees it is better to have the UN in Kabul than not,” he added. WATCH | Taliban kill I.S. leader behind airport bombing A few indications has been given by the United Nations about what proposals could be made during the meeting. On Friday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that the aim "is to reinvigorate international engagement around common objectives for a durable way forward on Afghanistan". The UN also wants "unity or commonality of message" on women's and human rights, drug trafficking and countering terrorism. "Recognition is not an issue," insisted Dujarric. The UN General Assembly will be deciding if the Taliban government takes up the UN seat in Afghanistan. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UN chief Guterres, envoys to hold key discussion on Afghanistan crisis

Lawmakers in Florida are planning to draft a law that would ban school instruction on menstrual cycles before sixth grade. Florida's legislature, dominated by lawmakers from the Republican Party, has already passed several laws that limit discussion of gender and sexuality in public schools.

The latest proposal, outlawing discussion on menstrual cycle in schools before grade six, has come from Stan Mclain. The proposal reportedly says that it would allow discussion and instruction on "acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), sexually transmitted diseases, or health education" only in grades six through 12, generally children aged 12 to 18.

Girls typically have their first periods between the ages of 10 and 15, but some do so as young as nine.

"Imagine a little girl in fourth grade, going to the bathroom and finding blood in her panties and thinking that she is dying," state representative Ashley Gantt, a Democrat, said in a video posted on Instagram.&nbsp;

"She doesn't actually know what's going on. And her teacher does not even have the ability to tell her that this is a part of life."

During a subcommittee hearing, when McClain was asked by the media whether the proposal would keep teachers from discussing menstrual cycles with girls younger that 12, he replied, "it would"

He made his defence saying that the bill would make sex education more uniform statewide and would give parents more leverage over curricula. He reportedly said later that he was open to amending it.

The bill passed the subcommittee by a 13-to-5 vote.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood decried the legislation, saying it would take "total control from local school districts in approving sex ed curriculum and give it to the State Department of Education" while presenting a "reductive and binary view of sex" and stigmatising LGBTQ students. The organisation was quoted by AFP.

The policy and political director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, Annie Filkowski, condemned the legislation as "absurd."

"This bill shines a bright light on Florida's political leaders' perpetual thirst for power," she said in a statement as per AFP, calling it ridiculous to ban young students from discussing periods with their teachers.

DeSantis, who is seen as the leading rival to Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has framed such laws as a commonsense pushback to excesses prompted by progressive activism.

But critics say conservative legislatures in Florida and elsewhere are trying to impose their own values on others while curbing free-speech rights and preventing students from having a well-rounded education.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Lawmakers in Florida are planning to draft a law that would ban school instruction on menstrual cycles before sixth grade. Florida's legislature, dominated by lawmakers from the Republican Party, has already passed several laws that limit discussion of gender and sexuality in public schools.

Lawmakers in Florida are planning to draft a law that would ban school instruction on menstrual cycles before sixth grade. Florida's legislature, dominated by lawmakers from the Republican Party, has already passed several laws that limit discussion of gender and sexuality in public schools. The latest proposal, outlawing discussion on menstrual cycle in schools before grade six, has come from Stan Mclain. The proposal reportedly says that it would allow discussion and instruction on "acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), sexually transmitted diseases, or health education" only in grades six through 12, generally children aged 12 to 18. Girls typically have their first periods between the ages of 10 and 15, but some do so as young as nine. "Imagine a little girl in fourth grade, going to the bathroom and finding blood in her panties and thinking that she is dying," state representative Ashley Gantt, a Democrat, said in a video posted on Instagram. "She doesn't actually know what's going on. And her teacher does not even have the ability to tell her that this is a part of life." During a subcommittee hearing, when McClain was asked by the media whether the proposal would keep teachers from discussing menstrual cycles with girls younger that 12, he replied, "it would" He made his defence saying that the bill would make sex education more uniform statewide and would give parents more leverage over curricula. He reportedly said later that he was open to amending it. The bill passed the subcommittee by a 13-to-5 vote. Planned Parenthood decried the legislation, saying it would take "total control from local school districts in approving sex ed curriculum and give it to the State Department of Education" while presenting a "reductive and binary view of sex" and stigmatising LGBTQ students. The organisation was quoted by AFP. The policy and political director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, Annie Filkowski, condemned the legislation as "absurd." "This bill shines a bright light on Florida's political leaders' perpetual thirst for power," she said in a statement as per AFP, calling it ridiculous to ban young students from discussing periods with their teachers. DeSantis, who is seen as the leading rival to Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has framed such laws as a commonsense pushback to excesses prompted by progressive activism. But critics say conservative legislatures in Florida and elsewhere are trying to impose their own values on others while curbing free-speech rights and preventing students from having a well-rounded education. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Florida bill seeks to ban discussion on menstruation in schools before grade six

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in the United Arab Emirates. With this visit, he is seeking to bolden economic relations with the Emirates nation. Watch to know more.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif arrives in UAE on two-day visit

PM Modi paid a surprised visit to the injured jawans at the military hospital in Leh, where they were undergoing treatment since the ‘violent face-off’ in eastern Ladakh that left 20 jawans martyred. Now China has reacted to PM Modi's visit and said 'Hope India will follow Modi-Xi consensus'.

WION Dispatch: China reacts to PM Modi's Ladakh visit | India-China standoff

China reacts to PM Modi's Ladakh visit, Denies being 'expansionist'

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