 BBC News with Chris Barrow. The first round of France's parliamentary elections is taking place today, with the far-right national rally widely expected to come in first place. A second round will follow in a week's time. Afghanistan's Taliban officials are due in Qatar today to attend UN-led talks, but with no women in their delegation. The UN says the Doha process meetings are a means of discussing vital issues with the Taliban, but not a recognition of them.