Global Voices Digest

Fiji bloggers debate role of police and churches

Fiji bloggers highlight the role of police forces and churches as the country starts discussing the government-initiated plan to revise the Constitution.

Lebanon: Terrorist Attack in Tripoli - II

The terrorist attack that took place in Tripoli, Lebanon, is the most fatal since the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Al Hariri in February 2005. The place and the target of the attack are of serious implications and may have grave consequences on Lebanon as a whole. This may be one of the reasons why the media and the blogosphere is giving it so much coverage, writes Moussa Bashir, who brings us more reactions from Lebanon.

China: Fake news plagues Chinese sports reports

So much speculation these past few days on the ages of some of the girls on China’s Olympic gymnastics team, specifically He Kexin and a fair amount of references to keep it going. Famous Chinese sports writer and Bullog blogger Wang Xiaoshan has posted a dramatically-titled, ‘Fake news kills’, in which he tries his best to knock down the various official Chinese sources being used to substantiate the underage claim, and makes an earnest (?) plea to overseas media to consider the harm done to those stuck in the crosshairs.

Morocco: Olympic Hopes

Morocco began competing in the Summer Olympic Games in 1960 and has competed in every Summer Games since (with the exception of the 1980 Games, which they boycotted along with the United States and its allies). Bloggers are, of course, following the 2008 Beijing Summer Games to find out what medals the Moroccan team might take home this year.

Saudi Arabia: Is a housemaid necessary?

For many who live in the Gulf, employing a housemaid is a normal part of life. One Saudi blogger who prefers not to has been facing much criticism.

Peru: Amazonian Indigenous Groups Protest New Governmental Decrees

The Aguaruna indigenous group in the Peruvian Amazon is protesting several governmental decrees that some say would make it easier for the government and oil companies to have access to their lands. By occupying a petroleum station, this group has attracted the support of other indigenous groups in the region and they draw attention to the effects caused by the oil companies.

Iran: “Go Live in your Lovely Israel, Mr. Vice President”

Esfandiar Rahim Mashai, the Iranian vice president for tourism and the director of the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization, has been under fire after he declared that Iran is “a friend of all people in the world, even Israelis and Americans.” Now 200 legislators in the Iranian parliament have asked President Mahmoud Ahmadinehad to dismiss him.

Today on Voices Without Votes: Who can ignore Bill Clinton?

It’s difficult to keep Bill Clinton out of the spotlight. Whether it was helping his wife, Hillary, campaign for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency of the United States or, most recently, his decision to get back to work on the Clinton Foundation, which works around the world to diminish greenhouse gasses, pushing low-cost drugs for those suffering from HIV/AIDS and battling childhood obesity. He most recently made news for a recent six-day trip to Africa took him to Ethiopia, Rwanda, Liberia and Senegal.

Beijing Olympics Coverage

Counting the medals? Thanks to support from Reuters, Global Voices is covering citizen media reactions to the Olympics from citizens in China and around the world on our special coverage page and in our Olympics Twitter feed. The Twitter feed is also being translated to French by Global Voices in French and is published on French website, Rue89.

Roundups

Get the blog buzz from the world over in the Global Roundups, where today you can find Iranian bloggers protest against polygamy bill, Russia will be getting new uniforms for their military, Togo’s first-ever Olympic medal, and much much more!