General Elections in Japan

Goodbye, Mr. Taro Aso

"Today, I, Taro Aso, decided to dissolve the House of Representatives and seek a popular mandate." These were the introductory words of the speech given by Mr. Aso in a press conference on July 21st 2009, which led to call general elections on August 30. These elections will designate the share of seats in the House of Representatives and, very possibly, will appoint a new Prime Minister in the country of the rising sun... full story


By ANDRES MACIAS
from Tokyo, JAPAN

The murder of Natalia Estemirova

Another voice is silenced while the West sleeps on Chechnya

As some members of the European Parliament used to say, Natalia Estemirova was an emblematic moral figure in the non-violent Chechen resistance. And for trying to publicise brutal human rights abuses in Chechnya, she paid with her life. But Natalia's fate have not been a one-off. Three years ago, the fierce investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya was also shot dead and her killers are still at large. Now, there is a widespread concern that the people behind Natalia's death will never be brought to justice by the fact that the Kremelin turns a blind eye to violations of human rights. That is where Western governments should come in, as some political analysts defend... full story


By LUAN GALANI
from Curitiba, BRAZIL

White Schengen list announced for Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro

Visa free travel proposal

Boundaries built ages and ages ago are longing to be tumbled down and it seems that time has slowly came. It looks like that citizens of Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro will finally get a chance to obtain visas with no trouble... full story


By LJILJANA SAMARDŽIĆ
from Sombor, SERBIA