Global Voices Online

Dan Washburn in Shanghaiist investigates whether Yao Ming had really openned up a resturant in Shanghai: what the People's Daily is calling the Yao Restaurant is really Yeeha.

Fons Tuinstra in China Herald carries on the discussion of China's blooming NGO scene outlined by Paul Mooney in Yale Global.

Chen Shao Ju has collected a list of censored words in the Great Firewall (zh).

China government nominated former Hong Kong government official Dr. Margaret Chan to be the Chief of World Health Organization because of her experience in fighting SARS in Hong Kong. However, Martinoe says in his blog that: as a Hong Kong citizen he wants to write to members of WHO to vote down Margaret Chan because he has witnessed her poor performance in Hong Kong (zh).

The Long and Winding Road reports on a collision between some of Uzbekistan's biggest stars (with their fans by their sides) and a government-backed reporter.

Leila of neweurasia asks questions about Kazakhstan's e-government initiative (RU).

Registan.net notes the expulsion of two Kyrgyz diplomats from the United States, most likely as a response to the expulsion of two US diplomats from Kyrgyzstan last month.

Onnik Krikorian reports that the US born Armenian opposition politician Raffi Hovannisian has called for an end to public apathy in the lead up to next year's parliamentary election.

Bien Vu posts (Fr) pictures of the beach and flora of Martinique.

The Salon deplores that so many candidates are complaining about fraud in Sunday's election fearing the aftermath will lead to riots: “If they can convince people that their allegations are true, it will mean that the international community is in collusion with the riggers… recipe for chaos. I believe these people are being dangerously irresponsible.”

Balkan Ghost of Finding Karadzic writes about “the inefficient tactics of destroying mainstream enemy websites” by the American government - including karadzic.org.

All About Latvia writes about the confusing diplomatic conflict currently raging between Latvia and Belarus.

Giustino of Itching for Eestimaa writes about Estonia's positive image in the international gay community. Estonia's third gay pride festival is taking place in Tallinn August 7-13.

Neil Woodburn is wrapping up the Albanian segment of his Balkan journey. Our Man In Tirana discusses “the role of Albanian as stock villain” and one crime writer's attempt to move beyond that. He also posts links to articles and discussions on Albanian immigrants.

J. Otto Pohl writes that this month “marks the 65th anniversary of the deportation of the Russian-Germans to special settlements in Kazakhstan and Siberia” and posts the atrocity's timeline.

Jesse of Bored in Brno shares his impressions of the folk music festival he attended last week: “Overall, I give this festival the highest recommendation of any that I've been to so far.”

Cartoonists, both on-line and in the print media, have contributed to the condemnation felt around the world. This is the view from one Moroccan source.

Designers and bloggers from around the region are using their skills to help Lebanon in the face of the ongoing Israeli attack. Humeid has the details.

themiddle wonders if the news about Mel Gibson who has been arrested on terrorism charges is a hoax?!

Zeinobia says that last night Israeli Army operation on Baalbak city in South Lebanon is another fiasco that the army wants to appear like a victory to deceive the poor frightened people of Israel and says that it achieved some sort of victory.

She confirms that those captured persons are not Hezbollah elements at all, they are 5 civilians, 4 of them their ages are above 50 years old and the 5th is a teenager. Father and son, with his brother in law and their neighbor.

Finally Bahrain’s new weekend spanning Friday and Saturday, rather than the so far usual Thursday and Friday, was approved to start from September 1st, 2006, Mahmood said. The move is seen as a good step in the economical development of the country.

After decades under occupation, the Palestinian environment has become severely degraded. The Israeli occupation has caused significant damage to the Palestinian environment due to unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and by its geopolitical ambitions in the West Bank such as building settlements, roads, and conducting military incursions which have destroyed vital infrastructure, Gaialing provide a brief summary of the environmental conditions in Palestine and bring them to the forefront of debate.

Eric Levy has built the reputation of a very popular and smart Geek in Panama. The Jewish, Panamanian comic-book creator has developed a new event that started almost 5 years ago in his backyard…known as the Butterfest. Tonight the Butterfest is turning into a commercial endeavour for Eric. Visit the Butterfest blog to see his ramblings, messages and crazy interviews. Don't forget to stop by Discoteca Buzz tonight and be part of the history. On stage several new bands, Cinema Arte and Hacienda Libre de Bruce Lee featuring Gonzalo Horna.

Tierra de collares points readers to an interview (ES) in El Faro with a professional stripper: “I recommend that you all read the story. Her comments allow us to enter unknown aspects of our country.” One commenter passionately disagrees (ES).

Guatemalan blog Chapinadas writes that “the opening of a new process to explore and produce oil close to the National Park Sierra del Lacandon in Peten is causing problems between environmentalist and representatives of the Ministy of Energy and Mines.”

Wave Making, originally a supporter of Felipe Calderón, says ” I simply don't care if he wins or loses anymore. It's more important that the other half of the population stops being angry and fed up.” Ana Maria Salazar also expresses her frustration (ES).

Maxwell A. Cameron links to a

summary of President Garcia's inaugural speech (ES) while Living in Peru says that former president, Alejandro Toledo is already relaxing at the coastal town of Punta Sal.

Most readers have heard of the “British Invasion” of the 1960's in the U.S. But What about the Uruguayan Invasion? “A wave of local bands inspired by british groups started singing some of their hit songs, and even composing some of their own, also in english, which is kinda funny if you realize we are a spanish speaking country, not to mention that only the thought of Uruguay invading anyone/anything, is just hilarious.”

Wari announces the winners of this year's Mister Papito Bloguero Venezuela 2006 contest (ES). Venethinker, who won the Mister Papito Bloggero Pícaro category, is looking forward to (ES) the Miss Mamita Bloggera (ES) contest, which he will be following closely “because there are spectacular women adorning the blogosphere and it is a privilege, and furthermore an incredibly difficult task, having to choose among so much beauty, not just physical but also of essence, something which could be seen in the last contest and by the things they relate in their blogs.

Robert Wright gives a historical tour of his neighborhood in Buenos Aires.

In Nimania's photoblog we see several photos of antiwar demonstrators in front of United Nations Office in Tehran. They protested against war in Lebanon and carry placards in English. On placards we can read Moshe Dayan's, late Israeli military leader, words: If you want to make peace you don't talk to your friends but to your enemies.

Paris Marashi is shooting video of her experiences in Iran and creating shorts, interactive installations, and/or videoblogs using the footage from her experiences and the experiences of others. In her blog we read and see about having fun in Northern Tehran coffee shops or we find out how to rid the effect of the evil eye by burning Esfand (Peganum Harmala).

“Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union, the travel industry has had plans in place, ready to launch the minute travel is allowed to Cuba. All of the cruise ship operators have scouted ports (as many as eight) and have contingency plans in place,” writes James, discussing the potential effects of regime change in Cuba on the US travel industry.

James reports that Mariela Castro, daughter of Raúl Castro (and niece of Fidel Castro) is an activist for LGBT rights in Cuba.

Guyana-Gyal re-evaluates her attitude towards a local drunk, remarking that “every story got two sides.”

Friends of the Congo offers preliminary results of Sunday's presidential election including the possibility of a runoff between Kabila and Bemba, an outcome that according to the blogger falls in line with the spirit of an aborted proposal made during the Sun City talks.

“A false doctrine trying to pass itself off as an older vision insults my intelligence and the bloodshed these religions leave in their wake convinces me that there is no God in them,” writes Jamaican novelist Marlon James, weighing in on the subject of fundamentalism

Nepali Notebook reports that the Nepalese cabinet headed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has decided to amend the royal succession laws to change the male only succession system for the monarchy. According to the changes there will be no obstacle for the female members of the royal family to be the head of the country as the queen. The Maoists want abolition of the monarchy.

Rain has certain advantages and disadvantages. Windmills of my mind blog reveals how much awaited heavy rains have disrupted lives in Karachi.

Metroblogging Lahore reports that father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's messages to the nation have been replaced by messages from current President Pervez Musharraf and Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi in almost all the latest editions of books approved and published by the Punjab Textbook Board.

The Board chairman said the exclusion of Jinnah's messages was a human error and would be rectified soon.

Boycy coins an A-Z terminology of a typical Sri Lankan wedding.

Singapore's metablog Tomorrow.sg has a link to a blog post that is taking the mainstream media to task for it's love-hate relationship with bloggers.

Indonesia's Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) says that Indonesia is now a middle-income county. Blogger Indcoup says “But while BPS’s statement may boost the egos of some high-ranking govt officials like Yusuf Kalla who recently said Indonesia had already “come out of the 1998 economic crisis”, there may be a price to be paid for such posturing.”

The blogger at mediaslut is happy to find a travel company that asks visitors on their website to contact their agents via MSN.

Writing from Venezuela, Daniel Duquenal pokes fun at Fidel Castro's opening sentence of a message to the Cuban population (available in its entirety (ES) at Juventud Rebelde) assuring his good health and high spirits after undergoing surgery. Agnerys Rodríguez Gavilán adds (ES) that, while Castro recuperates, “the Cuban Revolution will continue.”

In politics bizarre things happen as ‘today’s enemy can be tomorrow’s friends.’ In Bangladesh, Prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia's party BNP agrees to form a coalition with the ex-dictator HM Ershad, a man accused of playing a role in the assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman in 1980. Her party fought with others succeeding in bringing down the Ershad government in 1990 to establish true democracy in Bangladesh. imperfect | world | 2006 criticizes BNP's move and the oppositions' reactions.