MADRID -- Javier Solana, the European Union's top diplomat, urged Iran to be more flexible as he began a second round of talks with Iranian nuclear program officials.  Solana echoed U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who suggested that Iran "change tactics," the Iranian broadcaster Alalam reported. "I hope Iran to show more flexibility on its nuclear stance to help create grounds for official talks," Solana told reporters as he arrived in Madrid. "We spare ... [full story]

BRUSSELS -- The Council of the European Union agreed to begin a police mission in Afghanistan with the goal of training Afghan officers. EUPOL Afghanistan will have 160 police, law enforcement and justice experts, an EU statement said. "The mission aims at contributing to the establishment of sustainable and effective civilian policing arrangements under Afghan ownership which will ensure appropriate interaction with the wider criminal justice system," the EU statement said. "It will also support ... [full story]

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- Bosnian police have arrested Bosnian Serb fugitive Zdravko Tolimir, who was sought on genocide charges by the U.N. tribunal in The Hague. Tolimir was the key aide of former Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic during ethnic wars in the former Yugoslavia from 1991-95 and in the postwar period when he was organizing hideouts for both of them, Belgrade's B92 radio said Thursday. Carla Del Ponte, chief prosecutor of the U.N. ... [full story]

ROME -- A mobster serving a life sentence and more than 300 fellow prisoners have asked the president of Italy to restore the death penalty. Carmelo Musumeci, 52, earned a law degree during his 17 years in prison after passing high-school graduation tests. But he told President Giorgio Napolitano that in prison his future will be the same as his past no matter what he does. The letter was signed by 310 other prisoners serving ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - A growing number of states are passing civil union and domestic partnership laws, but many gay activists persist in pushing for legalized same-sex marriage. The New Hampshire legislature recently approved civil unions even though few gays supported the measure, Stateline.org reported. A proposed bill legalizing gay marriages died, while Gov. John Lynch is expected to sign the civil union bill. Five states have sanctioned domestic partnerships, while Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey have ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - Telephone solicitors say the U.S. Republican National Committee shut down its phone bank because potential givers are angry about immigration policy. One staffer told The Washington Times that many people they talked to said they would not give money to the party as long as President George W. Bush supports a compromise immigration policy. The staffer said most potential donors are angry "and for 99 percent the No. 1 issue is immigration." Republican ... [full story]

TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey Republicans sued Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine Thursday for the release of e-mails between the governor and his former girlfriend. Carla Katz heads Local 1034, Communication Workers of America, which represents state employees. State GOP Chairman Tom Wilson said the suit was filed under the Open Public Records Act. "Jon Corzine should stop acting like he's above the law," Wilson said. "The people have a right to know whether or not ... [full story]

KABUL, Afghanistan -- An ambush on the road from Kandahar to Kabul killed 16 Afghan police officers Thursday. Six more were wounded, The New York Times reported. The Ministry of the Interior said the officers killed at least 10 of their attackers. The officers were in a convoy from Zabul Province northeast of Kandahar that was heading to the capital. The attack took place about 9 a.m. in Shah Joy, a district with a reputation ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - The United States and other countries responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions must develop a strategy for reduction, U.S. President George Bush said. Fast-developing countries such as India and China must be included in this group, the president said Thursday. By the end of 2008, the group would set a global goal for reducing greenhouse emissions. "In addition to this long-term global goal, each country would establish midterm national targets and programs that ... [full story]

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Investigators say a breakup between an Anaheim, Calif., student and her former boyfriend may be connected to the slayings of her father and sister. The investigators say Shayona Dhanak, an 18-year-old University of California, Irvine, freshmen, broke up with her boyfriend of three years, Iftekhar Murtaza, 22, shortly before her father and sister were killed and her mother was severely beaten, The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday. Court records say the victims ... [full story]