Colombia

Thaci explains why Albanians are leaving Kosovo

BERLIN -- Hashim Thaci says that thousands of citizens from Kosovo have flocked to the West "because of rumors Germany was generously handing out work permits."

The Kosovo foreign minister spoke for the German conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and was asked why "Kosovo citizens are leaving their homeland."

The president?s apparent reaction against a decision by the country?s intelligence chief to resign and run for parliament stems from the high opinion he has of Hakan Fidan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has argued, while underlining Fidan?s right to make his own career decision.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has indicated he considers the apparent difference of view between President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu over the outgoing intelligence chief?s decision to run for parliament a farce.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has called on Armenia to examine the 1915 events through the lens of "science, not politics," criticizing the rejection of Ankara's invitation to representatives of the country to attend war commemoration ceremonies in Turkey.

Turkey has applied to Cuban officials to build a mosque in the Caribbean country, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has said.

 ?We have applied [to the Cuban officials] to build a mosque similar to the one in Ortaköy; we are waiting,? Erdo?an said Feb. 9, while responding to journalists on board while en route to his South American tour.

Albania dismantles massive drug network

Experts say that a police operation performed in co-operation with Germany demonstrates Albania's capacity to identify and lead major operations against organised crime groups.

Albanian police officers search a drug laboratory in the village of Xibrake, near Elbasan, on January 15th. [AFP]

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an will visit Cuba, Colombia and Mexico as part of a Latin American trip from Feb. 9-12, while presidential spokesman ?brahim Kal?n said there is no plan to lay the groundwork to build a mosque there at a press conference on Jan. 28.

Colombia's Paulina Vega was crowned Miss Universe Sunday, beating out contenders from the United States, Ukraine, Jamaica and The Netherlands at the world's top beauty pageant in Florida.

The 22-year-old model and business student triumphed over 87 other women from around the world, and is only the second beauty queen from Colombia to take home the prize.    

Police in Podgorica on Thursday confirmed the arrest of three international arms traffickers suspected of conspiring to sell large weaponry to FARC rebels in Colombia, a movement designated as a terrorist organization.

The two Romanians, Cristian Vintila, 44, and Virgil Flaviu Georgescu, 42, and an Italian, Massimo Romagnoli, 43, were arrested on Monday and Tuesday.

ZURICH - The Serbian men's national football team has moved up eight positions in the latest FIFA world rankings and is set to end the year in the 38th position.

Serbia now have 713 points and are behind Scotland (729) and Ghana (714), and ahead of Guinea (706) and Cape Verde (693).