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Turkish vote tests Erdogan’s mandate

Turkey was Sunday voting in local elections widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Rece Tayyip Erdogan, whose challenges the country’s strict secular system have pitted him against the military and judiciary. Polls show Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, or AK Party, in power since 2002, is once again likely to win more than 40 percent of votes in the mainly Muslim country. More than 90,000 positions are up for grabs, from the mayor of Turkey’s largest city Istanbul to the headman of the smallest village.

EU president: U.S. economic plan a ‘way to hell’

The Czech prime minister, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, said Wednesday the U.S.

Brown, bank chiefs thrash out G-20 plans

Top executives of leading international banks were meeting the British prime minister and treasury chief Tuesday to discuss kick-starting the global financial system ahead of next month’s G-20 summit. About a dozen representatives of U.S., Japanese, German and South African banks were at Downing Street to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling, a spokesman for the Treasury said.

Macedonia heading for presidential runoff

Conservative candidate Gjorge Ivanov leads his rivals after Sunday’s presidential election in Macedonia, the State Election Commission said Monday. But the vote appeared to be heading for a runoff on April 5 with no candidate on course to secure an overall majority. The election is seen as crucial to the former Yugoslav republic’s prospects of joining NATO and the European Union after parliamentary elections last June were marred by violent clashes, prompting criticism from election observers.

S. Korea, Europe hold free trade talks

South Korean and European Union trade officials began an eighth and likely final round of free trade talks on Monday, a South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said.

Why Do U.S. Infants Die Too Often?

Following a dramatic fall through the 20th century, the U.S. infant mortality rate — the proportion of babies who die before they reach their first birthday — has leveled off at just under seven deaths per 1,000 live births. That’s a much higher rate than in other parts of the developed world.

UK lawmakers aim to ‘force’ Hamas talks

A group of British politicians is trying to force the government in London to talk to Hamas, the militant Palestinian movement considered a terrorist organization by the United Kingdom, one of the politicians told CNN. Baroness Jenny Tonge, a member of the House of Lords, met the political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, in Syria along with other British politicians on Saturday, she said.

Woman arrested over custard attack on politician

A 29-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with a custard-throwing attack on British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, a Metropolitan Police spokesman told CNN Sunday. A woman was seen on television images Friday throwing a green slime-like liquid in Mandelson’s face as he stepped out of his car to attend a meeting on carbon emissions. The act was a protest against the expansion of London’s Heathrow Airport

UK minister splattered in custard attack

A protester opposed to the expansion of Heathrow Airport threw green custard in the face of British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson on Friday. Mandelson had just stepped out of his car for a meeting on carbon emissions when the woman threw the cup of custard at him

Putin threatens new Europe gas stoppage

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has threatened to cut off natural gas supplies to Europe and Ukraine on Saturday if Ukraine fails to pay for its gas deliveries by then.