LA Times: Ron Paul Beats Rudy and Fred... Again

"Ron Paul thumped two reputed Republican heavyweights in the Michigan primary -- former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Albania Hit by Power Blackout

Tirana _ Albania’s electricity supply returned to normal on Wednesday afternoon after the grid collapsed for 45 minutes, producing a near-total blackout.

Koštunica applauds EU decision to refrain from mission

“The EU’s decision to refrain from sending a mission on January 28 to create a bogus country is good, and an important step in the right direction.

PM Thaçi to speak at the UN Security Council

The United Nations Security Council has decided to allow Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi to address the SC in the upcoming session on Kosovo, papers report.

Koha Ditore quotes diplomatic sources saying the session will be split into two parts: an open and closed session. “The first part of the session will be open and this is where the Serbian President Boris Tadic and Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Joachim Rücker will speak. With regards to the second part, the UN Security Council has agreed to have Kosovo Prime Minister address it but this will be in a closed session,” the paper quote an unnamed official from the office of the UN Secretary-General.

Kuwait to be the first to recognize independence of Kosovo

Dailies report on the visit of the President of Albanian Assembly, Jozefina Topalli to Kuwait city in the Persian Gulf where she had meetings with the Kuwait Emir.

“We promise you that Kuwait will be the first place from our region to recognize the independence of Kosovo, and I believe that other countries will as well make the same decision,” Emir said.

UNMIK doesn’t prevent radical leader Nikolic from entering Kosovo

Zëri reports that the radical candidate for the post of Serbian President on Sunday’s elections, Tomislav Nikolic, seems to have been allowed by UNMIK to attend an election rally in northern Mitrovica. “I am not aware of any ban against him,” said UNMIK spokesman Gyorgy Kakuk, implying according to the paper that Nikolic has been allowed to address the crowd of Serbs that are expected to assemble in the main square of northern Mitrovica. At the same time, KPS spokesman Veton Elshani was quoted as saying, “Citizens are free to come to Kosovo and leave whenever they want to. If there is a need to react we will do so, but until then we will respect the freedom of speech.”

• Prosecution demands 25 years imprisonment for Haradinaj

Dailies report that the prosecution of The Hague tribunal has demanded 25 years imprisonment for former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj who is charged with crimes against humanity during the 1998-1999 conflict. The prosecution added that the testimonies against Haradinaj, Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj were strong and demanded 25 years jail time each of them.

Slovenian PM says Kosovo needs special solution

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said here Wednesday that the Kosovo issue demanded a special solution that was not comparable to any other parts of the world.

Serbs put jobs before Kosovo

Serbia goes to the polls on Sunday in a presidential election that comes at a sensitive time, with the UN-administered province of Kosovo gearing up for independence.

Serb Radical Leader Campaigns in Kosovo

Thousands of Serbs rallied in Kosovo's ethnically divided north on Wednesday to support an ultranationalist leader in his bid to become Serbia's president, officials said.

Security Council urged to reject Kosovo's unilateral independence

Serbian President Boris Tadic urged the UN Security Council Wednesday to reject a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, whose prime minister said a decision on the issue would be made soon.

Bush Quips He Might Stay in Power

Remember when he quipped about dictatorship? (MR)

SHBA: Zgjedhjet paraprake presidenciale në Miçigan

GOP candidates press for Mich. advantage

John McCain, campaigning in a funeral home, hoped for a large turnout by the living Tuesday as Michigan voters judged the Republican presidential pack in a snowy primary.

"John McCain, campaigning in a funeral home..."

I guess the dead are expected to vote in this election!

(MR)

Kosovo’s Declaration of Dependence

Prosecutors seek 25 years jail for ex-Kosovo premier

In their final trial brief dated January 14 and released on Tuesday, prosecutors said the circumstantial evidence against the three men was strong.

Dr. Paul’s Writings Monetary Policy is Critically Important

Money is the lifeblood of any economy, and control over a nation's currency means control over its economic well being. Fed bankers quite literally determine the value of our money, by controlling the supply of dollars and establishing interest rates. Their actions can make you richer or poorer overnight, in terms of the value of your savings and the buying power of your paycheck. So I urge all Americans to educate themselves about monetary policy, and better understand how a small group of unelected individuals at the Federal Reserve and Treasury department wield tremendous power over our lives.

Ron Paul Could Capitalize on Michigan Primary Gaffes

The Czech foreign minister urged European Union nations Monday to carve out a common position on Kosovo's future and pave the way for a strong EU mand

Serbia Poll Hope for Tadic

Belgrade _ One of Serbia’s leading pollsters has made available further details of a poll, published last week, which suggested President Boris Tadic would win re-election, but only if backed by other mainstream democratic parties.