UNITED NATIONS – The U.N.’s outgoing special envoy to Yemen says the parties there had been “very close” to reaching a political agreement before the current violence and that the main sticking point had been who would lead the country. Jamal Benomar also told reporters that a new targeted arms …

BEIJING – Beijing police are canceling music concerts, fundraisers and other events around the city, stoking worries that authorities are cracking down on any large gatherings deemed politically risky. Among the shuttered events, the authorities have called off an Earth Day festival, a pub crawl raising money for a gay …

STOCKHOLM – An international report says Sweden needs to urgently address the declining performance of its schools, a growing embarrassment for the Scandinavian welfare state. Swedes are used to seeing their nation rank near the top in international surveys on everything from quality of life to economic competitiveness. But the …

UNITED NATIONS – The new U.N. envoy for Yemen is on his way to the region for “intensive consultations,” while the U.N. tries to organize a conference on the crisis as soon as possible on neutral ground. The U.N. says Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed started Wednesday in Paris, meeting the …

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico – Police in northern Mexico have seized nearly $2.9 million in cash that was apparently in transit to a criminal gang. A statement from the security coordination agency in the Gulf coast state of Tamaulipas, which borders Texas, says 86 bundles of U.S. dollars and two more …

JUBA, South Sudan – South Sudan’s parliament has passed a bill that relief organizations say could restrict their work as the country faces a worsening humanitarian crisis. The Non-Governmental Organization bill, passed unanimously on Tuesday, requires international aid agencies, civic organizations and volunteer groups to have 80 percent of their …

PRISTINA, Kosovo – Kosovo police say they have launched raids in several households across the country, including the families of ethnic Albanians involved in last week’s deadly clashes with police in neighbouring Macedonia. Police spokesman Baki Kelani confirmed several raids were underway Friday. The raids follow accusations from Macedonian leaders …

KIEV, Ukraine – A Ukrainian military spokesman says two Russian soldiers captured in the war-torn east of the country are on their way to the capital, Kiev. Ukrainian officials said Sunday two Russians were wounded and taken prisoner near the front line in the Luhansk region. Russia has vehemently denied …

WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans have failed to play “hardball” with Democrats over the filibuster of President Bush’s judicial nominations and other issues, say critics, some of whom suggest Majority LeaderBill Frist (search)doesn’t have what it takes to get the job done. “I think Bill Frist is too weak— it may …

ATLANTA – Georgia officials waffled on whether to proceed with an execution when the lethal injection drug was discovered to have a cloudy appearance, according to court documents, and one expert said the state’s decision to postpone it was the right move. The execution of Kelly Renee Gissendaner was delayed …