Wikipedia:In the news/Candidates/March 2010

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Archived discussion for March 2010 from Wikipedia:In the news/Candidates.

March 31

March 31, 2010 (2010-03-31) (Wednesday)

ITN candidates for March 31

Srebrenica

I leave this to others' judgement. Physchim62 (talk) 01:11, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure about this one. One the one hand, they condemn it and (I think) apologize, but they do not call the killings genocide. --PlasmaTwa2 06:41, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'd say this kind of public, official confession (can't think of a better word) of a past atrocity is a BIG deal, and is quite rare.--Johnsemlak (talk) 10:44, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
We could include that part in the blurb, stating that critics are upset since the apology is shy of using the term genocide. __meco (talk) 12:59, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
This might be slightly straying from NPOV but I feel the issue of whether the term 'genocide' is/isn't used isn't that significant here (though many complain that it is significant). To me it is very significant that they're issuing any sort of condemnation of this atrocity. National governments rarely do this.--Johnsemlak (talk) 06:05, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
So what if the word genocide was not used? These are the semantics, even Wikipedia uses "massacre" as it's more widely accepted. Anyway the declaration says that the event is defined per ICJ ruling. The ICJ found that while Serbia is not responsible for the massacre itself (it was not perpetrated or organized by the forces or anyone else from Serbia), they found that Serbia didn't do enough to try to prevent it and Serbia by this declaration appologized for not doing enough to prevent the massacre and condemned the massacre itself.--Avala (talk) 12:00, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
STRONG Support its a big move here. akin to setting precedent (as australia did) for armenia-turkey, and the americas even (perhaps). a move that can cahnge the course of serbian politics/IR
Support - good article to be in the front page. --China Dialogue News 13:01, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

Shahram Amiri

This is big news for information on the nuclear ambitions of Iran. --Kitch (Talk : Contrib) 12:30, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure on this one. It's interesting but not really Earth-shattering. I'll wait to hear some other opinions before I make up my mind, though. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 12:35, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
What if he provides the US with information that Iran has a secret nuclear weapons program. He could prove to deliver the decisive piece of evidence which justified a war against Iran, or initially at least an armed strike on these facilities, With this admittedly speculative perspective this does seem an important event. __meco (talk) 13:18, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Leaning toward support, if updated a bit more. --BorgQueen (talk) 16:09, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Too many ifs at the moment... oppose for now, may support if there is some development. --Tone 16:13, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Too iffy as Tone said. --candle•wicke 23:02, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

March 30

March 30, 2010 (2010-03-30) (Tuesday)

ITN candidates for March 30

Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

"Brother of United Arab Emirates’ president" and "managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, considered the world's largest sovereign wealth fund with assets estimated at more than $600bn", his body has been found by Moroccan and French divers after a four-day search by countries such as Morocco, France, Spain, the UAE and the United States. --candle•wicke 21:05, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support because he was the brother of UAE President and then, one of the powerful man in the world according to Forbes :] --Saki talk 09:03, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Was he holding any official post in UAE or you want this to be posted on ITN just because he was brother of President of UAE & a rich man? --GPPande 11:22, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
He was listed as the 2nd in Forbes The World's Richest Royals in 2008 and 3rd in 2009. His father was the founder of UAE, he served as Interior Minister of United Arab Emirates in 2004 and was appointed the Under Secretary of UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry in 2007. --Saki talk 08:09, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose An important figure in world finance, and I would have supported featuring his death if there had been suspicions of criminal circumstances. With this apparently being a straightforward accident I don't think he is sufficiently prominent to warrant giving this an ITN spot. __meco (talk) 13:25, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Why only deaths having suspicions of criminal circumstances are being considered for ITN? --Saki talk 08:12, 1 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

LHC record

Collision between two 3.5 TeV proton beams in the Large Hadron Collider in CERN, Geneva sets the world record for the highest energy man-made particle collisions.

  • why this not in front page yet ... this is very significant news. [1] --zayani (talk) 14:23, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Because there is exactly one sentence of update. It needs more than that to get on ITN. --Tone 14:25, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Added update in a section. The relevant timeline table etc. has already been updated. SPat talk 14:54, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted. Thue | talk 18:42, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is this still going to be a April Fools entry? --PlasmaTwa2 19:34, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Moved from Future events
LHC will attempt to collide first particle beams at 3.5 TeV. Times. Quite possibly the biggest news in particle physics history if its successful, since they spent billions of $s and 15+ years to get to this point. This would all obviously depend on it actually working. LHC turn on which happened in 2008 clearly did not go so well. -- Ashish-g55 03:52, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

March 29

March 29, 2010 (2010-03-29) (Monday)

ITN candidates for March 29

Patent on human genes is ruled invalid

Rendering of a protein
Portrait from above of a man in his sixties wearing a black judge's robe

U.S. District Court judge Robert W. Sweet rules that patents on human genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are invalid.

Support when updated. --BorgQueen (talk) 05:26, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
We should have a separate article on this issue, since there has been much controversy surrounding it, for instance Human genes patenting controversy, or perhaps something connecting it to the related issue concerning plants or all life. Otherwise support. __meco (talk) 07:18, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Gene patent is a better target article than patent (I would ignore the company's article Myriad Genetics). -SusanLesch (talk) 14:19, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Updated. By the way, Google News is linking to gene patent. We do have a public domain photo of the judge (it is the first time that a federal judge ruled gene patents invalid). -SusanLesch (talk) 17:23, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support (While this will go to SCOTUS, the initial ruling is bigger news.) Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:26, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Pritzker Prize

BBC Won by a Japanese pair of architects, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. The Pritzker prize is supposed to be the most prestigious award in architecture. Which ever target article gets chosen will need work, however.--Johnsemlak (talk) 03:17, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. The prize article is even a FL. And we have a fresh free image of Nishizawa available. --Tone 07:22, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support: Can this be merged with the Tokyo Sky Tree nomination below? --GPPande 15:04, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Weak support: I was thinking of nominating this as well, given that we don't often run stories specifically about architecture, but I desisted when I saw the sheer number of architecture prizes out there... still, I've no serious objections. Physchim62 (talk) 15:25, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support because when Jean Nouvel won, posting it resulted in a much better article. -SusanLesch (talk) 19:02, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. ITNR as well then? --candle•wicke 20:31, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posting. --Tone 20:32, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support ITNR. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 20:36, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Very good to see some cultural news on the main page. There are several good images exemplifying SANAA's work which could be included, like the Dior Building in Tokyo and the Zollverein School of Management and Design in Essen, both mentioned in the Jury's citation for the Prize. Elekhh (talk) 23:16, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support for a photo. -SusanLesch (talk) 20:57, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Tokyo Sky Tree

Tokyo Sky Tree has reached a height of 338m, surpassing Tokyo Tower as the tallest structure in Tokyo and Japan.[2] --TorsodogTalk 15:48, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose until inauguration - TouLouse (talk) 15:59, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose unless it becomes the tallest in the world. Tallest in japan or tokyo would be not really be that relavent —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.69.61.152 (talk) 16:46, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
This tower will become the second tallest structure on earth upon completion. I don't think a structure has to be taller than Khalifa to be featured on the main page, as I don't see that happening anytime soon. --TorsodogTalk 17:23, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Don't think it has to be taller than Khalifa but it should be tallest in something for example, tallest tower or tallest building. Or tallest tower in East Asia. Anyway should be complete and opened before it is posted and that is a few years away. 76.69.61.152 (talk) 18:19, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose for now. At 625m it will be shorter than the Burj Khalifa. but when it is finished, I hope it is nominated again for more discussion. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 16:57, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose until completion :) --Saki talk 09:00, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Rio Tinto espionage case

A Chinese court has found four executives of Rio Tinto Group, one of the worlds biggest mining companies, guilty of bribery and industrial espionage [3] --Daviessimo (talk) 07:16, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support when updated. --BorgQueen (talk) 08:45, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, looks like a new article, well-referenced and not a stub anymore. -SusanLesch (talk) 19:04, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. --candle•wicke 20:31, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Moscow explosions

BBC. Two separate explosions, now 37 dead. It just happened so I'm sure it'll take time to get a decent article and consistant news reports. An article has been started.--Johnsemlak (talk) 05:42, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Strong support. It's first serial bombings in Moscow Metro. --TarzanASG (talk) 06:57, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support Major news. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 07:02, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Obviously, strong support. --PlasmaTwa2 07:05, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support also. Its been a long while since there has been a major attack in Moscow --Daviessimo (talk) 07:18, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. 2010 Moscow Metro terrorist bombings is the article. —  Cargoking  talk  08:28, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support Mjroots (talk) 09:02, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Naturally, support - TouLouse (talk) 09:08, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted. I believe there is a photo we can use (at least Metro station). --Tone 09:44, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support the presence on the main page. but are you kidding about the use of "terrorist" on the MAIN page. I mean if there is a rule on wikipedia itself about this then how does it manage to get on the main page. WP:Terrorist is an old and even controvesial rule, however it is established on wikipedia. STRONGER SUPPORT to change the wordign to something like "attacks in Moscow..."
All true, I changed to Two bombings ... now. Thanks for noticing. The article remains at this moment, maybe you should drop a not there as well. --Tone 10:57, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
i already changed the "terrorist" in the title. (apparently it had the Metro bombings title but someone moved it to "terrorist". —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lihaas (talk • contribs) 13:17, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
There are some useful photos in the article, we need a new one for ITN box... --Tone 21:27, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Makombo massacre

Quite big. If anyone has time to work on it. Who dare oppose this if updated? =| --candle•wicke 03:23, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. A horrendous massacre. Clear cut ITN spot. __meco (talk) 09:36, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, also, please suggest a blurb. --Tone 09:44, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Article appears adequate, though barely so. The subject matter is clearly notable enough.--Johnsemlak (talk) 17:00, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I have expanded it a bit. If we update we need to bear in mind that the Obama item has got to stay (or find a pic for another item) as it is the only pic we have at the moment - Dumelow (talk) 19:02, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I've moved responses to the above post discussing blurb image update not specifically related to this nomination to Wikipedia talk:In the news#Blurb picture update. __meco (talk) 08:06, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
How do people feel about: "Human Rights Watch says it has discovered the killings of at least 321 people by the Lord's Resistance Army in the Democratic Republic of the Congo". I am not too sure about the wording, someone can probably improve it - Dumelow (talk) 19:22, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Well, given I'm still not too happy with the article title, I like the piping of it in the ITN blurb; which I think is fine. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 19:26, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
This has been improved now. --candle•wicke 20:37, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted - Dumelow (talk) 22:07, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Fatal bombing in central Athens

For the first time in years there has been a fatal bombing in Greece. The death toll is small but ITN has featured small (and even no) death tolls before. BBC says the location was "an institute for training public officials. Police said there had been no warning". Is there support for an article? International coverage: Al Jazeera, Xinhua, The Guardian, RTÉ, The Sydney Morning Herald, Press TV, CNN, France24, People's Daily, The Globe and Mail . --candle•wicke 01:46, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Dunno. it might be the first fatal bombing in years, but it's the third bombing in about ten days from my count, so at some point someone was going to get seriously hurt or killed. Neutral for the moment. Physchim62 (talk) 02:25, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I support Physchim62 thoughts. Though this has been the first to kill someone Greece has seen small level bombings recently. Lets not post this one. --GPPande 10:39, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
In light of Moscow, I have to concur with not posting this, as well. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 19:41, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Note: Nominated before Moscow. --candle•wicke 20:35, 30 March 2010 (UTC) [reply]
I know, and until that, I probably would have supported this. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 20:29, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I agree with Brad, but, er, why are we whispering? HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 20:40, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 28

March 28, 2010 (2010-03-28) (Sunday)

ITN candidates for March 28

Russia located in 13 standard time zones reduced the number of its time zones from 11 to 9.

I think that this time revolution is interesting and important. --TarzanASG (talk) 12:50, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

It appears to only affect small or sparsely populated zones totalling around 3% of Russias population. Is this really important outside Russia? PrimeHunter (talk) 13:36, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Interesting but not a major news item of the week.--Johnsemlak (talk) 18:18, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose While interesting, it doesn't seem to affect that much of the Russian Federation's population. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:07, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Chinese carmaker buys Volvo

Chinese auto manufacturer Geely has agreed to terms with Ford to purchase the Swedish-based Volvo Cars for $1.8 billion. BBC.--Johnsemlak (talk) 18:05, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Major international deal, very recognizable car companies involved, and I believe a first for a Chinese car company.--Johnsemlak (talk) 18:05, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I tweaked your comment- hope you don't mind. The deal is 1.8 billion USD, not million. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:08, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, thanks:)--Johnsemlak (talk) 05:34, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
No, I'd agree with that. However, Volvo is a very recognizable global brand.--Johnsemlak (talk) 03:10, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. This a historic sale which ITN should present. __meco (talk) 08:10, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted. I used an image of the Ford CEO, which should solve our image problems for now - Dumelow (talk) 10:46, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Track Cycling World Champs

2010 UCI Track Cycling World Championships if expanded YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 00:48, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 27

March 27, 2010 (2010-03-27) (Saturday)

ITN candidates for March 27

Butler in Final Four

I am in the midst of a complete overhaul of the Stevens article; I will be referencing everything over the next few hours, then expanding the info not specifically about this season. When its ready, I can put the article on DYK, if preferred, but I think it would fit better on ITN. Butler's run will be the biggest sports story in the USA all week, so this could run immediately or on April 3 (the date of the next game). [4][5][6][7] --ThaddeusB (talk) 00:08, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I'd prefer DYK in this case. --Tone 11:06, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Off-topic, but for the nominator's information, this article needs 500 more characters of prose to be DYK eligible. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 11:09, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Earth Hour 2010

  • Earth Hour 2010 will take place on March 27, 2010 from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, local time. I am not sure if an item on the day would be best, or a preliminary news cast, or a report of how many cities world wide took part and the impact. Currently not a lot written about 2010 as the news has not happened as of this early March date.SriMesh | talk 23:32, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It's already listed in On This Day. Adding it twice is overkill (you wouldn't add people celebrating Christmas to ITN). ~DC Talk To Me 16:47, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Concur. On this day is plenty of recognition for this, Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:04, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support It is now March 28, UTC, so the OTD page no longer appears. However, since Earth Hour is local time, the west coast of the U.S. is not observing it yet. I would, however, like some preliminary statistics as to how many people observed it. HereToHelp (talk to me) 02:35, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose per DC. --PlasmaTwa2 03:25, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose as per above. --Johnsemlak (talk) 18:52, 28 March 2010 (UTC)above.[reply]

Albert Gonzalez

Tech story anyone? Mr. Gonzalez perpetrated "the largest and most costly example of computer hacking in US history", according to the judge who sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment (BBC News) obtaining and reselling more than 130 million credit card numbers. The article seems in reasonable shape overall, although the update still needs work. Physchim62 (talk) 00:18, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support when updated. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:18, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
ditto --Johnsemlak (talk) 18:59, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

"Killer icicles terrorise Russians"

"Russia's coldest winter in 30 years". The headline caught my eye. Is it usable? --candle•wicke 02:46, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

For april fools, certainly. Modest Genius talk 02:49, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I don't mean the headline but the story behind it. That's a lot of injuries without even counting the deaths. --candle•wicke 03:08, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is there an article?--Johnsemlak (talk) 07:01, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
2010 Russian winter or whatever the established naming format is for these articles? —Ed (talk • majestic titan) 05:53, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Winter of 2009–2010 in Europe? It already has a bit about snowfall in Russia last year - Dumelow (talk) 10:52, 30 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Vasily Smyslov

I think that Smyslov is enough eminent in the chess history, so his death is good to be mentioned in the ITN template.--Kiril Simeonovski (talk) 16:42, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support - TouLouse (talk) 20:32, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support in principle. The article needs work- it has all of three references. It will also need a paragraph or two about his death (where, when how and a little bit of reaction if possible) but once it's improved, i think this is definitely ITN-worthy. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 20:37, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
My instant reaction is oppose on the basis that this isn't a major event really, though the article seems to be improved and certainly is informative. However, My feeling is it's better left to Recent Deaths.--Johnsemlak (talk) 18:56, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Seems to be "a very important figure in their field of expertise, and was recognised as such". --candle•wicke 19:53, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 26

March 26, 2010 (2010-03-26) (Friday)

ITN candidates for March 26

Iraq election results announced

The results for the Iraqi parliamentary election, 2010 have been announced, with Ayad Allawi winning most seats. Sources: voa nyt. Cenarium (talk) 23:03, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

File:Allawi3.jpg is usable. Cenarium (talk) 23:06, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support its an important result. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 23:06, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support per ITNR. blurb? Modest Genius talk 23:44, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know, my initial post maybe ? The results for the Iraqi parliamentary election, 2010 have been announced, with Ayad Allawi (pictured) winning most seats. Cenarium (talk) 01:23, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
That's not a particularly encyclopaedic tone. Plus Allawi didn't win loads of seats himself, his party did. How about:
The al-Iraqiyya party, led by Ayad Allawi (pictured), wins the most seats in the Iraqi parliamentary election, 2010.
Modest Genius talk 02:13, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, this is good. Cenarium (talk) 03:04, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. --bender235 (talk) 02:38, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The results table at the election page needs updating. It only shows 95.1% of votes counted. I'd have done it myself but couldn't find the data - Dumelow (talk) 10:59, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Funnily enough, the most recent item on the IHEC website [8] dates from Thursday, and states that finalised results will be definitely announced on Friday, with 'no re-scheduling'. It's now mid-afternoon (Iraqi time) on Saturday, and the finalised results have not been announced. Modest Genius talk 13:43, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Final results came out today [9]. I don't have time to add them now. Modest Genius talk 13:39, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Is it late to add it now ? Cenarium (talk) 00:37, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

  • Was this posted and is now buried in archives or admins simply missed to post this one? --GPPande 11:24, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Apparently this has not been posted yet because the final update is missing. But it is not too late to post as the oldest ITN item currently is from March 24. --Tone 11:39, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Well there's Iraqi_parliamentary_election,_2010#Final_Results which seems pretty conclusive or are we waiting on something else? HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 11:51, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Exactly. What are we waiting for???? --GPPande 15:53, 31 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Sinking of South Korean Navy vessel

This is becoming bigger. The vessel was apparently struck by a torpedo and is sinking/sunk with suspected loss of life. The S Korea Navy has now fired back at the suspected N Korean vessel.[10], [11] No article yet. -- Flyguy649 talk 16:30, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

  • No more than speculation so far regarding the attack; we should wait for confirmation. Authorities of neither country has issued any statement on this yet, as far as I can see. ≈ Chamal talk ¤ 16:41, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
There's an article coming on at 2010 Baengnyeong incident and an article on the ship involved at ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772) - Dumelow (talk) 17:25, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
As I seem to be saying a lot these days, 'suspected' and 'potential' are not sufficient. If reliable sources confirm what actually happened, then we have a story. At the moment we just have speculation. Let's wait and see. Modest Genius talk 18:32, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
46 sailors are definitely missing at present. I'd say that alone might be notable enough. While there is a great deal unknown about what happened, I'd say we can determine now that it's a pretty major incident. Border skirmishes (if in fact this was one) are common in Korea but this could be the most significant incident in several years there. Yes, 'could', but I go back to the point that what we already know as fact is notable enough IMHO. Support if the article is up to scratch.--Johnsemlak (talk) 06:55, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
They now say that North Korea was not involved, and the "retaliation" by another South Korean ship may have been against a flock of birds :| (BBC). Weak support since the 46 MIA/KIA is still something big. ≈ Chamal talk ¤ 13:20, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support even if it wasn't sunk deliberately, warships do not sink that often--DAI (Δ) 17:05, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted , we can update the blurb when more details come out - Dumelow (talk) 11:46, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

U.S.–Russia nuclear arms treaty

Seems to be official now that the deal is done BBC News. No article that I can find. Physchim62 (talk) 16:34, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

There is a short update at START I. Physchim62 (talk) 16:43, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Hmm, support in principle, but I wonder if we should wait for the ratifications? On the other hand, all the media coverage will be over the announcement (ie. now), so maybe immediate posting is better. Needs its own article somewhere. Modest Genius talk 18:34, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
support but would be better to wait till the treaty is signed on April 8 by Obama and MedvedevWikireader41 (talk) 22:41, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Looks like there's a stub for this at Measures to Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms - Dumelow (talk) 22:44, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support but might want to wait until it is ratified by both governments. Nirvana888 (talk) 00:29, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Russia outlaws Mein Kampf

This would appear to be an insidious harbinger of a forthcoming affront to the freedom of expression in Russia. And even if one should choose to be less conspiratorially minded, this is a significant move. __meco (talk) 17:05, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Even though this does not appear to be a change of policies, this is still one of the most important books in world history. __meco (talk) 17:12, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
And one who's publication is banned in many, many countries. Indeed, there are only a handful of countries without restrictions on its sale (given that it is still under copyright). Physchim62 (talk) 17:19, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose As much as I loathe censorship, this book being outlawed isn't unusual enough. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 17:54, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Russia banning a book is not news, especially when it will be easily available through numerous other means anyway. Oppose. Russia also prevented the release of the film Borat and I don't believe that was reported.--Johnsemlak (talk) 06:49, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 25

March 25, 2010 (2010-03-25) (Thursday)

ITN candidates for March 25

CITES meeting

  • A CITES meeting in Doha, Qatar, is to end. This convention is significant that they might ban international trade in bluefin tuna, which is in high demand by the Japanese as well as sushi and sashimi consumers in other countries. [12][13] --BorgQueen (talk) 15:17, 5 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]
They didn't. Which is disappointing, but not ITN-worthy. Modest Genius talk 18:48, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 24

March 24, 2010 (2010-03-24) (Wednesday)

ITN candidates for March 24

Chiang Mai Initiative


Death of Sir James Black

(BBC). It's a little late (he died on the 22nd) but I think it's worth nominating since he was a member of the Order of Merit (the UK's highest honour, limited to only 25 members at one time) and a Nobel laureate in meidcine and " hailed as one of the great Scottish scientists of the 20th Century". HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 05:54, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support - he invented Beta blockers, one of the most important developments in medicine in the 20th century, which no doubt saved a huge number of lives --Daviessimo (talk) 06:46, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support in principle but the article needs more updates. --Tone 08:49, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Indeed. I'm working on expanding it. I've added some more info on his death and I'm working on more of the biographical and career stuff. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 09:06, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I have done a little more, could probably use a lead as well. Have no time to do anything more at the moment, sorry - Dumelow (talk) 11:34, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. I have no time to help right now but this is a good one. --candle•wicke 21:50, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support Important figure. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:16, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted. I thought about working Propranolol and Cimetidine in there but couldn't, maybe someone else will suggest a better way - Dumelow (talk) 09:11, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Island disappears under the sea

the disappearance of disputed South Talpatti Island under rising sea seems unusual[15].Wikireader41 (talk) 02:23, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support - TouLouse (talk) 07:15, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. This is a totally weird angle to conflict resolution. Also interesting in the global warming debate. __meco (talk) 08:21, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
That is another great candidate for April 1, if we can find a good wording. --Tone 08:49, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment - The article states that the island only emerged in the 1970s, was only 10000sq metres at maximum size (approx 100m x 100m) and never had an elevation greater then 2m above sea level. As such I would agree we're better following the April fools day path along the lines of meco's 'conflict resolution' suggestion --Daviessimo (talk) 08:53, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I totally support this. First, this island was a major thorn in Indo-Bangladeshi relations. Secondly, who would have thought that global warming could solve territorial disputes?
Here is a broad, general idea of what the blurb should look like (it includes all relevant information, some of which might not be required) -
The School of Oceanographic Studies at India's Jadavpur University concludes that the South Talpatti/New Moore Island, disputed between India and Bangladesh, has disappeared due to rising sea water level. --Nosedown (talk) 15:11, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I think the story will have more impact on April 1. Physchim62 (talk) 15:32, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Sure. April 1 is about a week far and I hope this item isn't forgotten by then. --Nosedown (talk) 15:41, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support definitely per above. Wizardman Operation Big Bear 15:45, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support: Island was point of dispute between India and Bangladesh because it was going to be used to demarcate the continental shelf between two countries. This continental shelf is believed to contains oil & natural gas resources and all exploration activities have ceased due to dispute. Now if the island has disappeared, the demarcation of continental shelf will take a new turn between two countries. Also, how often we hear and island going missing? No matter how small it is. Big news+global warming concern. --GPPande 15:54, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 00:31, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Even though there seems to be quite heavy support here in favor of the concerned item, no action is being taken. Am I missing something? --Nosedown (talk) 14:46, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
We're waiting on April 1, I believe. Now we just need a good blurb. --Tone 16:05, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support outside of April 1. I don't believe this should be taken as a joke. How about "South Talpatti Island, a disputed uninhabited island between Bangladesh and India, is found by the School of Oceanographic Studies at India's Jadavpur University to have disappeared beneath the sea due to sea level rise." for a peacetime inclusion, or "An island dispute, started in 1970 due to a cyclone, is resolved by global warming". for an April Fools' Day inclusion? ~AH1(TCU) 00:02, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I would say this,
New Moore/South Talpatti Island, a disputed uninhabited island between Bangladesh and India, is found by the School of Oceanographic Studies at India's Jadavpur University to have disappeared beneath the sea due to sea level rise.
The island was disputed and the name given by both India and Bangladesh should be included for the sake of neutrality. --Nosedown (talk) 21:24, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
"We're waiting on April 1, I believe."? And your belief is based on what? Most of the support here is for the normal ITN, not the April 1st one. What the hell is up with this entire April 1st thing anyways? Why is any proposed item which is even slightly funny or unusual being degraded to "April 1 worthy"? I am sorry but I do not understand how a disputed island sinking due to global warming is funny. This is a serious issue and the School of Oceanographic Studies has said that other islands in the region, particularly Maldives, could face the same future too. The attitude here is pretty annoying. --Nosedown (talk) 21:05, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I support this outside April 1, so that I make myself clear. So, what is the final blurb for it? --Tone 21:34, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Well, I suggest this (note: I don't have much experience with ITN items) -
New Moore/South Talpatti, an uninhabited island disputed between Bangladesh and India, is found by the School of Oceanographic Studies at India's Jadavpur University to have disappeared beneath the Bay of Bengal due to sea level rise.
--Nosedown (talk) 23:44, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
sounds good. this is a serious enough issue. should not wait ill April 1. Wikireader41 (talk) 00:07, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support posting now. I'm no fan of April Fools anyway, but this doesn't even seem that humourous. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:10, 28 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I realized that this entire ITN candidate procedure is flawed. It has been 4 days since this item was nominated, there has been a wide consensus in favor of it and still no action. --Nosedown (talk) 10:36, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Curious, I thought this has been posted already... Apparently it wasn't. Posting now. --Tone 10:39, 29 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Wikimedia problems

See my talk page. Apparently some servers melted temporarily causing all images not to show. Not sure how widespread this problem is and I am unaware of any target page. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (talk) 20:08, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Okay. Not sure how this fits on ITN; the Signpost sounds more appropriate for this story. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 20:30, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Abel Prize

The Hindu American mathematician John Tate wins the Abel prize for "his conspicuous imprint on modern mathematics" [16][17][18]

I guess Nobel Prize announcements usually make it to ITN, this should be in the same category.

SPat talk 16:57, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support, though the article needs more than a 6 word update. Worth making this an ITNR item? Modest Genius talk 21:23, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'd say this can be ITNR, together with Fields medal. Needs some more update and then we can post it (indeed, just mentioning he won the prize does not count as a significant update). --Tone 21:41, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment Added a paragraph about the award on his page. SPat talk 01:56, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support (and he won the Wolf Prize too). -SusanLesch (talk) 03:07, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posting. --Tone 08:49, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support ITNR. --candle•wicke 21:51, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Norwegian train derailment

A freight train has crashed at a port in Oslo, killing at least three people and seriously injuring others. BBC CNN - JuneGloom07 Talk? 17:35, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose A minor incident from an international perspective. __meco (talk) 18:54, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose per above - TouLouse (talk) 19:23, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose per Meco; 3 dead in a train crash isn't really all that many in the continuum of train crashes. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 20:33, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Major development at Wikileaks

[19] --Athinker (talk) 19:30, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose We cannot base anything on something that hasn't been reported by reliable sources, and that page you link to even states this isn't likely to be reported in mainstream news. __meco (talk) 19:47, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Wikileaks issue gets more sources today - [20], [21], [22].

Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay

For the past year, a rhesus macaque monkey has been on the loose in St. Petersburg, Florida and evaded capture by authorities. The monkey looks both ways to check for traffic before crossing the street. Source Associated Press Grundle2600 (talk) 20:28, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Perfect news for April 1! --Tone 20:30, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
That's an excellent point! Grundle2600 (talk) 21:05, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support on 1st April, Oppose otherwise. Take it to Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/In The News! Modest Genius talk 21:29, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. I will do that. Thanks for the link. Grundle2600 (talk) 21:34, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Denisova hominin

I didn't know what this was about, either: Time, BBC. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 02:07, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment I guess the article in question here is Denisova hominin, and a possible headline is "Scientists identify a previously unknown type of ancient human through analysis of DNA from a finger bone unearthed in a Siberian cave." SPat talk 02:12, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Seems significant (and it was on the front page of the Washington Post). -SusanLesch (talk) 02:31, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
New species are always great ITN material, even more if we talk about hominids. Support. (will post once we agree on the wording, the proposed one seems fine). --Tone 09:13, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support both item and blurb. However, the long link is unsightly so I'd move "previously unknown" outside the brackets. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 09:19, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Ok, posting. --Tone 09:20, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 23

March 23, 2010 (2010-03-23) (Tuesday)

ITN candidates for March 23

Heinrich Boere

The Times - "Time has finally run out for Heinrich Boere, the former SS killer who has for over six decades used every possible legal avenue to dodge conviction for the wartime murder of three Dutch civilians".

Might this help to solve the problem? Very interesting especially after six decades. He even joked to reporters about how he did it... --candle•wicke 21:32, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Common murders are not more notable just beacuse they were committed during World War II – quite the opposite, I'd say. Physchim62 (talk) 23:14, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose This fellow isn't notable for what he did; but for the length of time it took him to face justice. I'm not comfortable with putting up a BLP in these circumstances. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:26, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Non-notable war criminal. Unfortunately, there are 1000s of these around the world, a handful in most countries trying to stall extradition etc YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 04:08, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

UK expels Israeli diplomat over forged passports

BBC. I think we've reported something related to this story before, but this is a pretty significant development.--Johnsemlak (talk) 16:20, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support I will admit that I haven't followed this story much, but this seems like a pretty big development, especially considering the UK is an important Israeli ally. --PlasmaTwa2 19:20, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support The new travel advice issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office is quite unprecedented: "We recommend that you only hand your passport over to third parties including Israeli officials when absolutely necessary." To my mind, the official travel advice – which can be paraphrased as 'don't trust the Israelis' – is far more significant than the expulsion of the diplomat. Physchim62 (talk) 19:57, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
This is interesting but what about the other several recent disputes between nations, the most recent even involving Israel and nominated just yesterday? There were objections raised when each of these were nominated. This being an ally is also questionable considering the United States hasn't been very pleased with Israel either. --candle•wicke 20:51, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
For me, it's the travel advice that makes the difference: "Don't trust the Israeli government with your British passport unless you really have to" (paraphrased) is an unusual comment to say the least, far more unusual than the run-of-the-mill stuff of recalling ambassadors etc. Physchim62 (talk) 20:56, 23 March 2010 (UTC)co[reply]
The UK government bent over backwards to apologise to the foreign minister for the arrest warrant that was made by the courts. That they've made such an about turn is significant. So Support. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 21:00, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. This is the fourth or fifth diplomatic incident like this in the last month, so these kinds of things aren't uncommon. The ongoing story is interesting, but I don't think this is a big enough development to warrant posting it again. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 21:18, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. The big story was the assassination itself, not some minor diplomatic expulsion. And this is coming from a Brit. Modest Genius talk 22:15, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose as per HJMitchell Wikireader41 (talk) 02:40, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Irish reshuffle

Cabinet reshuffle in Ireland. Medium size. Many new departments created. [23] How about? —  Cargoking  talk  17:03, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose. there was one in France today as well. I would say no to any cabinet changes which don't result in a complete change of government: in other words, we look for changes of Prime Minister in parliamentary systems. Physchim62 (talk) 20:02, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Reuters seems pleased that the finance minister retains his position. BBC and eTaiwan News are other examples of international coverage. --candle•wicke 20:56, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Just because it's reported by news networks in other countries doesn't mean it's sufficiently notable to be posted. If we posted every cabinet reshuffle (even just the 'major' ones) we'd be buried under a deluge of them. Modest Genius talk 22:18, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose In many countries there would be one each year YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 04:08, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose No head of state or government change makes that a widely-reported story that's actually not that big of a deal outside of the Emerald Isle. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 04:10, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

UK Space Agency

New space agency in the UK, starting from 1 April. It's not often that a new space agency is launched, particularly in English-language countries. Mike Peel (talk) 21:34, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Awesome! Definite support. Not an every day event by any stretch of the imagination and the article seems in good shape. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 21:57, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Budget of £230m, comparable with the education budget in my home county; a re-allocation of resources and responsibilities for the modest efforts of UK in this sphere (or beyond this spheroid, if you prefer); not in top 10 BBC stories: not even top BBC science/nature story today. Kevin McE (talk) 22:14, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Umm... did you look at the BBC science & environment page? It does seem to be somewhat of a deep squid of an organization, tbh, but still ... space agency! Mike Peel (talk) 22:20, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Top billed, but not top viewed in this category. Kevin McE (talk) 22:38, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Neutral Support on 1st April. It's fundamentally interesting, but it's also pretty small fry, and merely consolidates existing activities. (Remember the relative rankings of stories on the BBC website change depending on the location of the reader, so results may differ). Edit: it actually starts work on 1st April, where it would be excellent. Modest Genius talk 22:23, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Has there been any announcment on whether or not the UK will attempt spaceflight, or is this just a space agency similar to Japan or Canada's, as in it is for research and sattelites only? --PlasmaTwa2 22:24, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Not sure about posting now but this may be a great candidate for April 1 since then's when they start. --Tone 22:24, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
If we decide to go with a April Fools joke, I hope someone finds a way to make fun of Moonraker. --PlasmaTwa2 22:27, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Ooh, good idea. Modest Genius talk 22:29, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Royal Air Force were also formed on April 1. Talking about flying... --Tone 22:34, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support This is great and big news for everyone interested in man's exploration of space. Definitely ITN-worthy. __meco (talk) 09:17, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support because if the logo appears on the front page it will highlight the problem of wikipedia using altered images where the colour white has been replaced with a transparency. See Talk:UK Space Agency 81.156.235.144 (talk) 10:10, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Note that the logo could not be used on the main page, as it's fair use only. Mike Peel (talk) 20:31, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support because space items are always allowed and they might do something someday. -SusanLesch (talk) 02:57, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I still think this would be better as an April Fools item. And I keep meaning to get around to looking at the Space section on ITNR, which is clearly in need of revision. Modest Genius talk 00:40, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Nanping City Experimental Elementary School massacre

At an elementary school in Fujian, China, a man stabbed eight students to death. Source: The Times Grundle2600 (talk) 00:05, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Also on BBC News. Is eight deaths enough for a school stabbing? It's horrible to put it that way, but would we run this story if the event had happened in Poland or Canada? I think we would, so support. Physchim62 (talk) 00:13, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support when expanded. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:27, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support with an expansion of the article. Incidents such as this aren't common in elementary schools. ~AH1(TCU) 01:40, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I've done what I can, but this one is quite difficult. All the available sources I can find... it's as if they were all written off one "on the ground" report; the same few details, a couple obvious copying errors here and there, and rehashing previous knife attacks in the PRC. I think a Chinese speaker might be needed to finish this one. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 07:27, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support An elementary school stabbing with a fairly high death toll? How common is that? Not very. And in China. Article is in shape for ITN, so I think this is an appropriate item. __meco (talk) 09:47, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I am ambivalent about this posting, but wanted to note that if this happened in the United States, it would be put up ITN in an instant. Colipon+(Talk) 23:12, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Depends if there's an uninvolved admin lurking in these parts. Otherwise, the discussion will an WP:FA's worth in length. –Howard the Duck 05:54, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Eight deaths is terrible and is "enough" death in an elementary school. -SusanLesch (talk) 02:55, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Hard to ignore eight deaths in these circumstances. --candle•wicke 21:53, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Tragic event, decent article. I've given it a minor copyedit but it more than meets the minimum requirements. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 03:24, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Any chance this can get posted? Bradjamesbrown (talk) 17:52, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The article appears to be long enough now. ~AH1(TCU) 00:06, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

SpaceShipTwo is shown on its maiden flight

We discussed featuring this in December when the spacecraft was unveiled. Then several editors wanted to wait until its first test flight. Now we have it, and we should post this story. Also, if we decide to post the UK Space Agency announcement, it would be neat with two spaceflight-related items back-to-back on ITN. __meco (talk) 09:40, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Err, I believe the calls were for its maiden flight to space (or possibly the first flight with paying customers?), not a captive-carry safety test. Oppose until then. Modest Genius talk 21:32, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, you yourself gave examples of two notable milestones, one of them being what we are seeing now ("Flying the thing and then the first paying passengers are milestones..."). Also, Tone, gave support to posting this when the first test flights were announced. Others did also. I believe you are putting the threshhold much too high if we should consider the first commercial spaceflight with paying customers the minimum before posting anything about this craft. __meco (talk) 08:16, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Did I? Well, I'm remarkably consistent, because those are precisely the same events I mentioned above (by 'flying the thing' I clearly meant the first space flight). Modest Genius talk 00:38, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not taken with gimmicky products that are completely useless except for a few people with hundreds of millions of dollars; are we going to list every Sotherby's art auctions or Dennis Tito, or replica McLaren F1 cars? YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 00:29, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose until she reaches space, and I'm explicitly not committing to supporting it even then. Pretty much agree with YellowMonkey. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:32, 26 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

March 22

March 22, 2010 (2010-03-22) (Monday)

ITN candidates for March 22

Google withdraws from China

Google has effectively withdrawn its China search engine following a row over hacking and censorship. —  Cargoking  talk  20:30, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. Very evidently important, and in the world's largest internet market. Colipon+(Talk) 20:35, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Type in google.cn and you end up going to Hong Kong. —  Cargoking  talk  20:52, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Strong support. Google is a major and popular search engine in China. ~AH1(TCU) 22:31, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
btw article is Google_China. this should go up now. we've delayed it twice to wait for the moment google officially does something. i dont think we need to wait anymore for someone to sign they have pulled out. this action is more than enough. strong support.
Support. We have indeed delayed this twice and now it's actually happened, I think it's time it went up. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 22:51, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support this time it has actually happened. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 23:02, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Something like: 'Google stops censoring search results for internet users in China, in a row over censorship and hacking' Modest Genius talk 23:12, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
On second thoughts, those last two generic links could be piped to the more specific Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China and Operation Aurora. Modest Genius talk 23:21, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Strong support, came here to suggest it. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (talk) 23:57, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Google China needs an update first - Dumelow (talk) 00:01, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Just a note that Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China is a blocked article in Mainland China. Also, the lede of the Google China article has a one-sentence update but references could be added to include this further down in the article. ~AH1(TCU) 00:24, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Are you suggesting we self-censor by not including that article?!? I'm not sure if that's hilarious or horrifying. Modest Genius talk 01:23, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
i dont think we need to worry about what is blocked in china as they block most major websites. i doubt chinese viewers can see the main page either (i thought entire wikipedia was blocked...) -- Ashish-g55 00:30, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Better blurb would be, "Google redirects its China operations to Hong Kong". Google has not actually ceased its operations in China, and maintains all of its Beijing staff. It's just that the Chinese users are now redirected to the Hong Kong server, which has the exact same user interface as the previous Google China. Colipon+(Talk) 00:33, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, but I think it's a tricky blurb. I agree with Colipon that what has happened is a simple redirect to different servers in another jurisdiction (as Wikipedia has done in the past). There's also the PRC/ROC problem, for which we always get polite requests for correction (at the very least). The best blurb I can think of at the moment is "Google announces that its services in the .cn domain will now be redirected to Hong Kong to avoid censorship." Physchim62 (talk) 00:49, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
That's a good blurb; just to add onto that, how is "Google redirects its .cn domain to Hong Kong servers to avoid censorship from the Chinese government." Colipon+(Talk) 01:05, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
One last tweak:
However, the update on the bolded article doesn't even meet my (relatively low) standards at present. There's plenty of material out there, but I have to go to bed soon (happens to the best of us). I would like proper inline refs for the update, several sources (because there are sevceral sources out there for this story) and a small amount of discussion (a couple of sentences will do for me, a posting admin might wish for a few more). Physchim62 (talk) 01:34, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Not exactly accurate. Google's license of Google.cn requires them to self censor. The Chinese government was not filtering the results. Google had to guess what should be censored. With the greatest accuracy:
Maybe this is very picky. Jehochman Talk 02:04, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Strong Support In the long term this will be one of this year's top stories. Wrotesolid (talk) 01:22, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support per above. SpencerT♦Nominate! 02:34, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Strong Support per above.Wikireader41 (talk) 02:51, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support when expanded with more citations. --BorgQueen (talk) 06:19, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support: I had nominated this earlier but today it has been confirmed too. I have done small expansion of the article. --GPPande 10:10, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
SUpport.--Johnsemlak (talk) 11:55, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
is there no admin around? does this need something else to go up (or perhaps more support ;) ... )? -- Ashish-g55 13:02, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Notice The current section is a simple copyright violation of this website. We need something original. -- tariqabjotu 14:14, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Well than can someone update. Be bold and change it. I would but I'm busy. —  Cargoking  talk  21:58, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I've reworded that one paragraph and wikified it. Is is sufficient to be posted now? ~AH1(TCU) 01:47, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'd like to see more and better sources, personally. There's not likely to be a shortage of them. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 02:02, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
i dont get why we are waiting for more sources. i see official google blog as one of the sources. doesnt get more credible than that. its already been waiting for 2+ days now. more sources doesnt make it better if they all somehow source the original source (the google blog). -- Ashish-g55 13:10, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Censorship section along with Operation Aurora and Aftermath is quite big. We need to post this soon. --GPPande 14:31, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted. --Smashvilletalk 14:47, 24 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Foreign relations of Mauritania (or Israel)

Oppose: Once again a diplomatic dispute between two countries thrice in period of less than one month. See below the previous two nominations,
Wikipedia:In_the_news/Candidates/March_2010#ITN_candidates_for_March_19 Nigeria-Libya ambassador recall.
Wikipedia:In_the_news/Candidates/March_2010#ITN_candidates_for_March_11 Turkey-Sweden relations break down.
These type of news are very common and I would continue to oppose them. ITN would be flooded with foreign relation articles of various countries based on their random actions. We should stop promoting these types of news on ITN. --GPPande 09:11, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Unfortunately, it's not all that uncommon, and that one side in Israel and another is a Muslim nation makes it even less surprising. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 23:05, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose This is only a formal severing of ties, and we mentioned this before on ITN when the actual action occurred. SpencerT♦Nominate! 02:38, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

US healthcare bill

This is discussed in great detail under yesterday's date. --candle•wicke 05:38, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Whoops. Duly noted. Weatherguy1033 (talk) 05:49, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

This simply isn't internationally relevant. Other countries have major domestic issues too. 78.146.140.195 (talk) 19:37, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, and we report those issues as well. --TorsodogTalk 21:20, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

March 21

March 21, 2010 (2010-03-21) (Sunday)

ITN candidates for March 21

Sven Kramer becomes first person to win the World Allround Speed Skating Chamionship 4 times in a row

I'm not an expert on speed skating but the achievement is prominent. There are quite some countries where the sport is popular. However, winning 4 times in a row sounds sport statistics to me and I am not a fan of those on ITN. Neutral for now. --Tone 22:07, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Speed skating is a relatively small sport outside a few countries. This is only one of several yearly World Speed Skating Championships and held shortly after the more prominent 2010 Winter Olympics. World Allround Speed Skating Championships#Amount of World Allround Speed Skating Championships per person shows two others have 4 in total and two have 5. 4 consecutive does not sound that remarkable in the general world of sports. Strong oppose as long as 2010 World Allround Speed Skating Championships#Men championships is just a placeholder as currently. PrimeHunter (talk) 22:47, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Out of the various championships, allround is definitely the most important. All except one of the other people who gained at least 4 titles did so before World War II, under incomparable circumstances. Furthermore, Kramer also won the last 4 European All-round championships, another record, which makes his achievement truly unparalleled.sephia karta | dimmi 11:15, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Neutral on importance: this does seem to be the biggest event in (long-track) speed skating outside the olympics, so an argument could well be made. More people are interested in speed skating than, for example, hurling. However, the article itself is nothing but a results table, of which half the results are missing, Strong oppose unless and until it's brought up to scratch. Modest Genius talk 22:50, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Speed skating is, in my opinion, one of those sports where even the World Championships pale in comparison to the Olympic Games, so I just can't get behind this as really being news in light of PrimeHunter's points. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 01:57, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I disagree, and furthermore a large difference is that there is no allround at the Olympics, whereas allround really is the one championship that selects the overall best skater.sephia karta | dimmi 11:15, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. Interesting sport, "world championship", international coverage. CBC, USA Today, Radio Netherlands Worldwide. --candle•wicke 03:05, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support But as it is big in the Netherlands and Norway, It seems not that important in other countries unfortunatly --Black Orchid (talk) 10:12, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Obama's healthcare

Just passed a minute ago I think. Link anyway [25]. —  Cargoking  talk  21:30, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

If I remember, we've had a consensus to post this if the reform passes? It does not seem to have passed yet, according to the websites. --Tone 22:07, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support if this passes. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 22:08, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Appears the vote will be a decent bit later on tonight. Support, though, after the vote; this is going to be the story tomorrow either way. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 22:16, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Strong support - The voting process is currently 1/3 complete and should be finished within the next two to five hours. We should prepare in advance a headline for both possible outcomes, so that we can get it up on ITN as soon as it is official.   — C M B J   22:37, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
whats the hurry for posting it "as soon as its official"?. article update is also required before it goes up -- Ashish-g55 00:19, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
People will be looking for the article tonight.   — C M B J   00:39, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Sample headline:
The 111th United States Congress votes 435-0 in favor of enacting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The 111th United States Congress votes 0-435 against enacting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
  — C M B J   22:50, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, so far they seemed to have managed to agree on how they're going to debate and vote... CMBJ's suggestions need tweaking for accuracy:
The United States House of Representatives approves both the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, the main health care reform measures.
The United States House of Representatives rejects the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in a 435–0 vote.
Physchim62 (talk) 00:06, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support. It might be a good idea in the blurb to briefly mention something the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will do, although frankly I'm not quite sure what the Senate bill does and what the reconciliation bill does. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 02:16, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Weak support - I still don't really understand how this works I admit. It seems that the House is going to pass their version of the bill and the Senate still have to reconcile their version to the House bill but the President is going to sign it into law even though there isn't even a single/unified version yet (so I'm not really sure what he's signing into law) but anyway if he's signing it into law I guess that's significant. Nil Einne (talk) 02:32, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
    • According to this source, the bill just passed by the House contains "the bulk of reform". A second, smaller bill will be voted on in the Senate, & because it is a "reconciliation" the vote can not be filibustered. (Yes, this process is ugly & not even us Yanks completely understand what's happening.) -- llywrch (talk) 03:08, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
      • Wait, so there are two? And this is the first and a second will be voted on later? I would oppose the posting of both on separate occasions unless there is good reason to do so. --candle•wicke 03:16, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • The supplementary bill (HR4872) has just passed the House but will have to be revisited by the Senate later this week. This detail can always be added to the blurb after it is posted.   — C M B J   03:34, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment - The bill just passed 219-212.   — C M B J   02:50, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Now we just wait two days (or maybe longer). --candle•wicke 03:00, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Have we settled on a blurb? If so, you could try posting at AN. It's a big story so you might be able to attract a passing admin. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 03:05, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Should that be done for this though? It might be unfair on any others who have to wait. I imagine they have more important things to be getting on with over there. Plus it's not an emergency. --candle•wicke 03:08, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
(ec) This is front-page news in the US, & will positively affect the lives of millions of people; I expected to see it mentioned in the Front Page box. So a quickly adding is justified. (I'd volunteer to do it with my k-rad kewl Admin powers, but I have to help get my daughter to bed.) -- llywrch (talk) 03:27, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not saying it shouldn't be there but it would be good if it could be done correctly and when it has been confirmed, etc. Disasters happen and people die but have to wait several hours to appear on ITN. The delay in those cases doesn't mean they are less significant and any delay in this case is just the same. --candle•wicke 03:35, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I don't think there's a need to wait for Obama's signature to post the item. It's a foregone conclusion, just as soon as they can get fancy pens for the occasion. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 03:13, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
But then it hasn't even been officially signed yet? Election results have to wait until they are certain so why not this too? And where is my previous comment? --candle•wicke 03:19, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
(ec) Candlewick, it was lost apparently in an e/c. I restored it. -- llywrch (talk) 03:29, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment: From an international point of view, I'd prefer to wait until the U.S. President actually signs the bill into official law. Getting it passed by the U.S. House of Representatives is only one part in a multi-step process. Not every country uses an American or Westminster system of government, and so the amount of significance would be foreign to those people. Zzyzx11 (talk) 03:28, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
From what I understand, the House passed the Senate's version version, & Obama has pledged to sign it. (If he doesn't according to the Constitution it automatically becomes law in a matter of days.) This vote means, in few words, that 90% of the process is done; all that is left is the shouting. -- llywrch (talk) 03:34, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
What "fixes"? --candle•wicke 03:41, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the core piece of legislature which has been passed by both legislative bodies. The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 is a supplementary bill which has been passed by the House but not by the Senate.   — C M B J   03:47, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support but per Zzyzx11, best to wait until it is signed. -SusanLesch (talk) 03:32, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'm confused now. There doesn't appear to be any certainty that this has definitely happened or that it won't be blocked or undone or whatever applies. If he doesn't sign it it becomes law in "a matter of days"? So why not wait for these days to pass just to be certain? --candle•wicke 03:40, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The bill has successfully passed both the House and Senate, and President Obama is currently giving a speech in support of the result.   — C M B J   03:53, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment For clarification my point above about the President signing was solely related to if he was signing it, then there most be something to sign not suggesting we have to wait for him to sign. I don't personally know if we do have to wait, it's a basically a forgone conclusion in this case. As a counter example, I don't know if we usually wait for royal assent, although that's even more of a foregone conclusion. I still don't entirely understand the Senate thing, I read it only required a 51 vote majority a long time ago but it still seemed possible they'd ultimately never come to an agreement if they kept passing different versions but as I understand it now, they've mostly agreed what to pass and more importantly, the core part which is the same as the original Senate version is passed so worst case scenario, they have that which can't be taken back by either Congress individually (well they could both pass a bill to cancel the earlier bill I guess but that's different) and it's only awaiting the President's signature. The Senate could say screw you and refuse to pass the modifications in which case the House will be pissed I guess but they can't undo what they passed. Nil Einne (talk) 03:48, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Even if by some unforeseeable 1/1,000,000,000,000 chance Obama were to veto this bill, its passage alone would still be the most significant U.S. story since the 2008 election results.   — C M B J   04:43, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
If an accurate blurb can be agreed upon and assuming the article has been updated, I'd support posting it now simply because it's news now. I'll admit to being totally baffled as to what's actually happened (or is going to happen?) but it is big news and people will be expecting to see it on ITN. It won;t be long before it's notable by its absence. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 04:53, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Oppose until bill is actually signed into law. Keep calm and carry on. Madcoverboy (talk) 05:08, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
So it definitely hasn't been signed into law? --candle•wicke 05:24, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Correct—that is the only step which remains—but it could be later this week before it happens. Because Wikipedia is the first resource that many people turn to for details on important events, and based on the overwhelming precedent (57,766 new articles per hour, Presidential reaffirmation, climax of a years-long saga, etc) for ITN inclusion, it is my personal opinion that we should act now rather than later. Here is a list of major sources which currently list this bill on their front-page:
CNN: House passes health care reform, cheers as gavel comes down
ABC News: 'WHAT CHANGE LOOKS LIKE': Health Care Bill Passes
Fox News: CONGRESS PASSES HEALTH REFORM
Times Online: Barack Obama wins healthcare battle in tight vote
New York Times: House Approves Health Overhaul, Sending Landmark Bill to Obama
Los Angeles Times: Historic healthcare bill passes
BBC News: US House passes key health vote
News.com.au: Health vote delivers Obama dream
The Australian: Obama makes health reform 'history'
Sky News Obama's health care bill passed
Xinhua: U.S. House passes historic health insurance reform
NBC: HOUSE SENDS HEALTH CARE BILL TO OBAMA
China Central Television: Democrats secure votes for passage of health care bill
Reuters: House approves sweeping healthcare overhaul
CBS News: Health Care Bill Passes in House
Washington Post: House passes historic health-reform bill
Newsweek: The Guide to Obamacare's Effect on You
NPR: House Passes Historic Health Care Legislation
Voice of America: Health Care Reform Clears US Congress
PBS NewsHour: House Passes Historic Health Care Reform Legislation   — C M B J   06:16, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I've changed to the other blurb, no need to put the numbers. --Tone 08:30, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Don't forget Aljazeera!: US passes landmark healthcare bill Therequiembellishere (talk) 10:30, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Iceland volcano

Looks good, only needs some more prose. --Tone 14:24, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The article Eyjafjallajökull is updated. Apparently, the eruption is not that big, but still has some impact. --Tone 19:53, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. This is Iceland: it would be rather more unusual if there wasn't a volcanic eruption going on. No major danger to people or property, not scientifically unusual, can't see any reason to post this. Modest Genius talk 20:39, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. I'm no volcanologist, but I'd say a volcano erupting for the first time in two centuries is pretty significant. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 20:47, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Hardly, that happens all the time. There are so many dormant volcanoes that a substantial fraction of all eruptions are 'the first in centuries' from that volcano. Modest Genius talk 21:09, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Volcanoes erupt on Iceland all the time. This one caused a bit of a stir because the authorities closed the main road from east to west because the contingency measures are developed for a worst case scenario. This event is on the opposite end of the scale. Noone even noticed the eruption until people saw the smoke rising after perhaps several hours. This event does have potential to become big if the neigbouring volcano Hekla Katla blows, which is a possibility. Let's not post anything now. __meco (talk) 21:02, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. "This could trigger Katla, which is a vicious volcano that could cause both local and global damage," Pall Einarsson, from the University of Iceland, said.--The lorax (talk) 21:21, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

When it comes to ITN, 'could' is generally insufficient. Modest Genius talk 21:24, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, come to think of it, I agree with you. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 21:30, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Yep, let's wait. This looked a bigger thing in the morning... --Tone 22:07, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Hossein Marashi

  • Former Iranian Vice-President Hossein Marashi was jailed on Wednesday, was revealed by a relative on Friday and is nominated here on Sunday. (BBC) (TIME). --candle•wicke 09:47, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose The Islamic Republic has ten vice-presidents, and Marashi was a minor one, not First Vice President, and he's only in jail for a year. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 16:05, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. From my understanding of Iranian politics, that's not really an unusual event and this guy is not that important. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 20:47, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Linheraptor

Is it an important dinosaur? It was discovered by a British student and mentioned in a British newspaper. On the other hand " the first near complete skeleton of its kind to be found in the Gobi desert in China since 1972" sounds promising. --candle•wicke 10:05, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Interesting story, article is decent and, for a change, it's not bad news! HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 20:47, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support it's interesting, and some good science stories on ITN are always good. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 20:54, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Among the science stories, the new dinosaur species have a major part. But why not, the article is in decent shape. Though we may want to make guidelines a bit stricter for dinosaurs... --Tone 21:02, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Neutral. Interesting, but we've had quite a few of these over the last year. Is this some kind of golden age for new dinosaur species, or are we just featuring something that's pretty common and only of interest because it's a dinosaur? PS. For reasons I can't put my finger on, it seems weird to class this as a 'science' story. Yes, palaeontology is a science, but it's not like we have a quota to fill with dinosaurs, particle accelerators, interplanetary probes and cloning. Modest Genius talk 22:30, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Conditional support. Although discoveries of genuses are more spetacular, dinosaur discoveries are fairly significant. However I support this only if we start posting more climate science and activism-related news stories dispite the probation in effect (for example the Mertz Glacier event that wasn't posted and the earlier International Day of Climate Action story that also wasn't posted). ~AH1(TCU) 22:44, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Whatever the consensus is, hadn't we better wrap this one up? Either feature the news item or don't; with it being six days since the nomination, it's almost not news anymore. Oh no! It's not here!!! (talk) 22:37, 27 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

March 20

March 20, 2010 (2010-03-20) (Saturday)

ITN candidates for March 20

2010 Six Nations Championship

France win the Grand Slam at the 2010 Six Nations Championship (Rugby Union). ITNR event - Dumelow (talk) 21:31, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. Major international rugby tournament (from my pathetic knowledge of the sport) and on ITNR. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 22:28, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support per above. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 23:37, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support ITN/R event, about as big as it gets in rugby. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:03, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, though it should be better phrased to make it clear that France have won the championship (for those who don't know what a grand slam is). Something like:
"In rugby union, France win the 2010 Six Nations Championship with a Grand Slam" Modest Genius talk 00:18, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support: How about "In rugby union, France achieve the Grand Slam to win the 2010 Six Nations Championship (Stade de France pictured)" or is that correct terminology? --candle•wicke 04:24, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Added a picture of the Stade de France where I believe the final game took place. --candle•wicke 04:31, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I've expanded it in the same way as 2009, it is cited, I don't know what else to do? France win their first Six Nations Grand Slam in rugby union since 2004 (Stade de France pictured). --candle•wicke 09:24, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Posted, although I must say it was tough for me to put that wording up. It just sounds so wrong, but I knew one of you would be unhappy if I switched it to American English. -- tariqabjotu 18:08, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

After 7 years, Perelman awarded the $1 million for Poincare conjecture

Support this seems to be pretty interesting. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 09:07, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. It's a bit old but the prize was actually awarded now and this in one of the rare occasions that we can feature a maths topic. The updates to the articles are there. --Tone 09:18, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted - Dumelow (talk) 11:09, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Strong support. Is it worth adding the Millennium Prizes to ITNR? A proof of any of the remaining 6 problems would be massive news in mathematics. Modest Genius talk 15:26, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'd support that- the six left are so major, putting them up should be a foregone conclusion. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 15:34, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I added them to ITNR. Modest Genius talk 15:50, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Can I suggest that Perelman's article be the one bolded, as it is the one with the largest update. Currently, the bolded article now wouldn't meet minimum standards (or if so, barely). I will make the change, but if someone feels differntly, please revert. SpencerT♦Nominate! 03:15, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Pope to Publish pastoral letter on child abuse

After months of waiting, today the Pope will issue a pastoral letter on child abuse in Ireland. It is written to the Irish Roman Catholic Church, but it is believed that it will gather the attention of other countries affected by abuse. Coverage from Ireland, Aljazeera, UK, Australia, USA, Canada and others. —  Cargoking  talk  08:28, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Nearly 2000 Google News results [26]. —  Cargoking  talk  13:40, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
This had 7,000 results a week after the event and even that didn't get in. –Howard the Duck 13:51, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is there an article anywhere? Modest Genius talk 15:32, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Catholic sexual abuse scandal in Ireland is the relevant article but needs updating. —  Cargoking  talk  15:51, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support for reasons other than Google. The release of this letter has been anticipated for some time and its official signing was covered by the international media yesterday, i.e. (The Irish Times) (CBC) (Deutsche Welle) (Christian Science Monitor) (CNN). It has now been released and is continuing to receive international attention. It will be read in public tomorrow and will get more attention. It is the first ever response from the Pope to this issue which has been gaining more and more international attention, i.e. around Europe this year and in Brazil and Chile just recently. --candle•wicke 20:05, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support not common for pope to comment on child abuse by catholic priests.Wikireader41 (talk) 21:41, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support this is an important story. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 23:38, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

(←) Updated. How about:

Posted -- tariqabjotu 17:57, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

  • Comment Oh boy, like if we need anymore evidence of wikipedia's anti-catholic bias. Something that has barely gotten media attention goes up simply to disparage the pope. 63.215.29.202 (talk) 04:32, 22 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe it got little coverage in Chicago (where your IP is from) but it has been big news here in the UK and I can only imagine that it got massive coverage in Ireland. No one is trying to disparage the Pope, we simply feature Wikipedia articles relevant to current events Like it or not, this is a current event of interest to many people - Dumelow (talk) 09:38, 23 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Death of Girija Prasad Koirala

Death of the man who was the first directly elected prime minister, who served four times in that role in addition to acting president when the king was suspended. Brokered the end of the Nepalese Civil War and the transition into a full multi-party elected democratic republic after 240 years of monarchial rule. Washington Post, BBC News, NPR Therequiembellishere (talk) 15:38, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. Seems a very significant person and article is in a decent shape. It'll need a little work though, especially some more information on his death. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 22:30, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I've updated the article with more information about his death and reaction. I believe it's now sufficient in terms of quality to go up, though I'll keep working on it. Any support? Any?? He was obviously a major figure in (very recent) Nepali and Southern Asian politics. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 03:35, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support; important figure in the fall of the Nepalese Monarchy, former head of government and head of state. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 03:43, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Obvious support. He was "worried about the country in the last days of his life and tried work out an agreement between the political parties" and (Xinhua) "while he was admitted to hospital, Koirala expressed his last wished of concluding ongoing peace process in Nepal" so sounds like he was still active. His body was presented for public viewing in Kathmandu and his death "marks the end of an era in not only Nepali but also sub-continental politics". Press TV calls him "the elder statesman of South Asia". India mourns. I bet he was Prime Minister/Head of State of Nepal longer than the average President of the United States or, maybe for a better comparison, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. --candle•wicke 04:44, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Girija Prasad Koirala
Girija Prasad Koirala
  • Posted I'll sort out the picture in a second. -- tariqabjotu 17:53, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

March 19

March 19, 2010 (2010-03-19) (Friday)

ITN candidates for March 19

Death of Nigerian at Zürich Airport

Any support for an update here? Switzerland has halted all deportations and repatriation flights (which must affect possibly any country) and Nigeria has condemned the events. An investigation has been launched which must affect all who use this airport. He died on the airport tarmac which might be unusual enough as well? 13 witnesses allege "inhumane treatment" - "They dealt with us like animals. The shackled our feet, knees, hands, hips arms and torso and made us wear a helmet like those worn by boxers. It was simply impossible to move". --candle•wicke 02:40, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose: The Swiss were trying to enforce their law, somebody resisted (natural enough considering he was a convicted criminal), went on a hunger strike and died. The Nigerian condemnation is something they did because they have to, not because they were concerned for a man who was afraid of returning to them. The shackling part seems to be greatly exaggerated; somehow I find it very hard to believe that a man's "feet, knees, hands, hips, arms and torso" were all shackled, unless Switzerland has gone back to the medieval ages. ≈ Chamal talk ¤ 03:03, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose; and I can't really add anything but endorse Chamal N's commentary. A drug-dealer on a hunger strike isn't likely to be in great health. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 18:47, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Michael Jackson

"The biggest recording deal in history". (BBC) (Sky News) (The Guardian) (The Times) --candle•wicke 00:38, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

support finally a worthy ITN item ;-) Wikireader41 (talk) 00:57, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. The largest record deal in history must be ITN-worthy, especially in a week as slow as this. Is there an update? HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 15:44, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
the lead of Michael Jackson has been updated. Wikireader41 (talk) 16:09, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Big news. Pyrrhus16 17:50, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
There's one sentence update in the lead. It's not much, is there another article we could use (list of records or similar)? In any case, could you suggest a good blurb? --Tone 17:58, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
There is this, which I have updated and which is an FL. I would also suggest going with this more recent photo, instead of the old 1984 one. Pyrrhus16 18:00, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
How about:

no

"The estate of Michael Jackson (pictured) and Sony Music sign the biggest recording deal in history, which includes future album deals of his unreleased material." Pyrrhus16 18:08, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Sounds good and having a FL on ITN is a nice thing as well. I'd like to see some more support for the blurb and then I'm ready to post. --Tone 18:25, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support as above. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 18:44, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posting. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tone (talk • contribs) 18:45, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Sierra Leone disaster hoax

Here is something which definitely doesn't happen every day. "The whole country is awash with grief for something that is not true at all". It was "picked up by international media. At one point, the French Foreign Ministry issued a statement in Paris offering its condolences to the mine accident victims". "This is wicked propaganda by people who don't like to see good news coming out of Sierra Leone". --candle•wicke 21:42, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Where would you put an update? I don't think an article about this hoax would survive the inevitable AfD, but where else could it fit? Bradjamesbrown (talk) 22:30, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Deutsche Börse Photography Prize

(BBC) French photographer Sophie Ristelhueber wins the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize. Should this be included in ITNR? There are no photography awards and this one seems international enough if it could be expanded. --candle•wicke 21:18, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose. I might consider it but both articles are simply far too short for ITN. Besides, the prize only covers Europe. --Tone 21:33, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
A photography category would be nice, but is this really the biggest prize? It's only open to Europeans for a start (though the Pulitzers are only open to those in the US, so that's not a complete impediment). Modest Genius talk 17:19, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The World Press Photo of the Year seems to make sense. It is hosted by the Dutch foundation World Press Photo and is part of the "largest and most prestigious annual press photography contest" (according to Wikipedia). "After the contest, the prizewinning photographs are assembled into a traveling exhibition that is visited by over a million people in 40 countries. A yearbook presenting all prizewinning entries is published annually in six languages". This seems to suggest international significance. If the winner could be updated every year would this be a good addition to ITNR for photography? --candle•wicke 20:12, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Sure, but that's press photography, which is a small subset of all photography. Maybe no suitable award exists? I doubt it's a good idea to have separate postings for press, landscape, portrait, wildlife etc etc etc Modest Genius talk 00:22, 21 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Google China

Economic Times Google has finally come up with a date to end its China operations. --GPPande 13:06, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I'd rather wait until they actually leave - there's plenty of time for them to change their minds yet. Also the article doesn't sound too certain on the matter: "the information has not been confirmed by Google at present" and "the report did not specify whether Google would close all or part of its operations in the country" - Dumelow (talk) 13:11, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Nigeria recalls ambassador to Libya

(BBC). I have updated the article accordingly. The Nigerian ambassador has been withdrawn due to Colonel Gaddaffi urging Nigeria to split into two states (one Christian, one Muslim) in response to the recent violence. The Nigerian parliament has voted to ask the UN to stop Gaddaffi from requesting this and to ask the African Union to investigate if Libya is supplying "infiltrators" to destabilise Nigeria. Not a terribly exciting event but I am aware that we haven't had an update for a long time - Dumelow (talk) 11:05, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose: I had previously mentioned that ITN should not post ambassador recall news as they are too common. See Wikipedia:In_the_news/Candidates/March_2010#ITN_candidates_for_March_11 for Sweden-Turkey relation nomination. I had mentioned that Every month one or the other country does so in the world. but looks like we have 2 such news this month itself. Lets not clutter ITN with one more "typical news" category. --GPPande 11:22, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support of the I'd much rather post this than Sahil Saeed, and it's been two days since the last update variety. (Not a slight on anyone- this has been an incredibly slow news week.) Not thrilled with it, but we need something; the template is stagnating. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 11:27, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Leaning towards support. This can be combined with dissolution of the cabinet of Nigeria two days ago. --Tone 11:42, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support: A national leader makes a serious comment against another nation's sovereignty, and they sever diplomatic ties. Only to be expected of course, but it is an internationally important event nevertheless, and this is about as close to hostile as you can get with another country without actually putting your military on stand-by. The views I expressed on the Sweden-Turkey incident stand here as well, despite the coincidence of two such events happening within a short period. ≈ Chamal talk ¤ 12:24, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Supportthis is unusual and does not happen everyday.Wikireader41 (talk) 16:14, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. What is the difference between this and Sweden–Turkey relations? Which part of this one is unusual? I disagree with the argument that this is a slow news week. At least 200 people are dead in Sierra Leone. --candle•wicke 21:10, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Or not... but this might still be worth nominating. --candle•wicke 21:39, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
well gadaffi suggested that Nigeria split into 2 countries on religious lines. cant remember last time one head of state called for the breakup of another country in such fashion. Wikireader41 (talk) 23:15, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
But is that really very unusual for a man who has tried to start a war with Switzerland? --candle•wicke 00:43, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Gaddafi is unusual. –Howard the Duck 01:06, 20 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 18

March 18, 2010 (2010-03-18) (Thursday)

ITN candidates for March 18

Sahil Saeed

  • The Times The 5 year old boy kidnapped in Pakistan has returned home. In itself, I don't think this is worthy of ITN and it was, rightly imho, rejected when it was previously nominated. However, I think the back story of the major operation conducted by law enforcement agencies and militaries in four different countries (Pakistan, France, Spain and the UK) to arrest his captors is more significant in the long run. Apologies for the tl;dr! Any support? HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 22:50, 18 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
We need an update, it's been 35 hours. I've looked at several papers, and the only stories I care for are this or two awarded George Cross. On a busier news day, I wouldn't be favourably disposed towards either, but it's been a slow week and we need something. Bangkok is becoming news, but I'm not sure what to make of it yet. So... weak support in the absence of anything more compelling, I guess. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 23:11, 18 March 2010 (UTC) Oppose; I see something I'd rather run now, so going my first instinct of opposition to this candidate.[reply]
Oppose on the same grounds as last time. One child was kidnapped in Pakistan, a ransom was paid, and he was recovered safely. Sadly, this is not an unusual event. Modest Genius talk 23:35, 18 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, I agree with you, but I'm nominating the law enforcement operation which spanned 2 continents rather than the kidnapping itself, which I believe I may have opposed last time myself. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 00:00, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
weak support in the absence of anything better Wikireader41 (talk) 01:55, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 17

March 17, 2010 (2010-03-17) (Wednesday)

ITN candidates for March 17

French officer killed by ETA

Not sure about this one, but thought I would throw it out there. A French police officer was killed after a shoot-out with Basque terrorist group ETA members near Paris. It was the first French officer killed by ETA in their 40+ years. CNN, le Parisien, El Pais (France and Spain's largest newspapers). Grsz11 13:46, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Weak oppose. Seems a bit too local for me (and I'm fairly local for this story). For background, this is the first French police officer killed by ETA, but not even the first police officer killed by ETA in France (two Spanish plain-clothes policemen were killed about 18 moths ago near Bordeaux), nor the first time that ETA has fired upon French policemen (the Spanish press just say "several serious injuries" for interactions between the French police and ETA, I can think of two occasions in the last twelve months just off the top of my head). Terrorists do not become more dangerous just because they're in Europe! Physchim62 (talk) 14:41, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose per Physchim. While a good reminder that terrorists are close to home; the event doesn't quite have the significance I look for in ITN stories. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 20:26, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Bad luck for Goodluck

Nigeria's acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, has dissolved the country's cabinet (BBC). —  Cargoking  talk  Happy St. Patrick's Day! 20:24, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support if there's an updated article. A dissolution of parliament in a pretty large nation seems to be pretty straightforward to me.--Johnsemlak (talk) 06:48, 18 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I believe the cabinet, not the National Assembly of Nigeria, was dissolved, which will not lead to elections. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 20:25, 18 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose I would hardly call this bad luck. This is just taking cabinet-reshuffles to the extreme. Many are saying this has been done so that Jonathan can gain more authority, since the cabinet he's turfed out was full of his predecessor's appointments. In the grand scheme of things, this isn't a significant move. HonouraryMix (talk) 12:06, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Bad luck was just for a pun. —  Cargoking  talk  17:20, 19 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 16

March 16, 2010 (2010-03-16) (Tuesday)

ITN candidates for March 16

Guinea legislative election

Guinea holds the Guinean legislative election, 2010, the first following the 2008 Guinean coup d'état - Dumelow (talk) 12:57, 24 January 2010 (UTC) - delayed until after presidential election in June - Dumelow (talk) 11:21, 18 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Kasubi Tombs

A World heritage site has been destroyed. Needs some more update but I think this qualifies for ITN. --Tone 08:08, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support when expanded. --BorgQueen (talk) 08:50, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. —  Cargoking  talk  Happy St. Patrick's Day! 09:15, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Strong support. Exactly the sort of story I like: important, but not widely covered by mainstream media. The article is still a bit short, although it has been updated. I'll see what I can do to improve it. Physchim62 (talk) 12:33, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Per nom and Physchim62. - JuneGloom07 Talk? 12:50, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support per Physchim. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts?
Support I have added the riots after fire news. I think article is ready to go. --GPPande 13:13, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posting, using the modified wording from P:CE. Feel free to alter it. --Tone 13:18, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support good post, excellent to get a more history/archeology piece in.--Johnsemlak (talk) 06:49, 18 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Tiger Woods returns to golf

Tiger Woods has announced that he will return to golf starting with the 2010 Masters Tournament. At face value, I do not think that Woods' merely announcing that we will play at the Masters is ITN worthy. However, Wood's ordeal and hiatus from golf (albeit a hiatus without missing a Major tournament) has been one of the top global sports stories this winter.--Johnsemlak (talk) 18:50, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

  • Oppose. That the world's best golfer decides to play golf wouldn't be a story except that he has also apparently been an asshole to his wife. I don't really think that storyline belongs on ITN. Dragons flight (talk) 19:03, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose per Dragons flight. "#1 golfer announces he will play at first Major of season" isn't really ITN worthy. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 19:16, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Strong Oppose. We are not a tabloid or celeb mag. Modest Genius talk 20:34, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose as above. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 20:39, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'll agree with Dragonsflight but disagree with Modest Genius's rational. Whatever the tabloidesque nature of this story, it has had a real impact on golf (though perhaps exaggerated in the press). If a politician were to step down due to a sex scandal I think we would post it if the politician was important enough and I don't see a difference here.--Johnsemlak (talk) 06:52, 18 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
April 1. "After many blows, an American sportsman returns to what he does best." Physchim62 (talk) 20:47, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Very good :). -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 20:50, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Indeed, or would be if the date was right Modest Genius talk 21:07, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
An American golfer announces that he hopes to putt one in the right hole next week (if not before). Physchim62 (talk) 21:17, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
An American golfer announces that his balls will be in Augusta, Georgia next week; Augusta and Georgia refuse to comment. Physchim62 (talk) 21:38, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
LOL for the "putt" blurb. that would be quite funny for april fools. -- Ashish-g55 22:03, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Indeed, a reminder (not least to myself) that we do need a taste-police for April-1, and that suggestions can be made to Wikipedia:April Fool's Main Page/In The News! I have even more Tiger Woods suggestions, I will either give one out for each new nomination on the AFoolD page, or I will refrain from giving them out, depends on the taste-police! ... Physchim62 (talk) 22:45, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Yes please to April 1 YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 07:13, 18 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

April 1 would work well because of the proximity to the Masters, but I'm a little concerned about putting a joke at a BLP's expense on the main page, even if everyone else is already doing the same jokes. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 08:56, 18 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

World's shortest man dies aged 21

The world's shortest man He Pingping dies age 21. —  Cargoking  talk  14:21, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

  • Oppose --DAI (Δ) 15:31, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose It's a novelty story, the kind ITN shouldn't feature. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 15:36, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. I concur with Brad. It's a novelty story and it's sad, but it's not important enough for the Main Page of an encyclopaedia. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 15:45, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 07:15, 18 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

March 15

March 15, 2010 (2010-03-15) (Monday)

ITN candidates for March 15

Chile blackout

BBC - 90% of the population affected. Seems pretty unusual to blackout a whole country. Article needs some work - Dumelow (talk) 21:42, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. Seems like an unusual event, though the article will need a little expansion. I'd help out, but it's getting late. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 23:09, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support as above. Such a large power failure in an OECD country is definitely notable. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 23:28, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I have expanded it a little. The article is still quite short but I think it covers just about evrything the news sites have on this event - Dumelow (talk) 20:17, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. --candle•wicke 21:31, 16 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support- major lackouts like this aren't common occurrences; and we're overdue for an update. (Which I only mention because this is the only story for the last four days I can get behind... news is slow this week. (knocks on wood)) Bradjamesbrown (talk) 06:50, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support: A rare occurrence for country of size Chile. Article seems long enough to be posted for ITN. --GPPande 09:40, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Ready to post, just give me a good blurb, please. --Tone 09:52, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
"As much as ninety percent of Chile's population loses power in a massive blackout" Meh. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 09:55, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Yep, that works. Posting. --Tone 10:40, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
thumbs up Great! Just 1 nomination - all supports - no opposes - makes it to ITN. March 15 is indeed a good day. --GPPande 11:01, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, I do love a slow news day. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 12:12, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 14

March 14, 2010 (2010-03-14) (Sunday)

ITN candidates for March 14

British Columbia avalanche

- 3 killed, 17 injured, more missing - article: 2010 British Columbia avalanche - TouLouse (talk) 13:47, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Opppose. Doesn't seem particularly significant given that avalanches in winter in Canada cannot be that uncommon. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 14:09, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Wait There are currently two confirmed deaths and four significant injuries. However, officials aren't certain how many (if any) people are buried. There were 150-200 people at the location when the avalanche hit [27] [28]. -- Flyguy649 talk 18:48, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. As The Tom says below. Sad, but not significant enough. And I'm nominating for deletion. -- Flyguy649 talk 14:01, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Casualties now 2 dead, all missing accounted-for. Not even the deadliest avalanche of the year in B.C. The Tom (talk) 01:01, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose to the point I'm not even certain the article should stay, with the latest developments. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 04:14, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Colombia legislative election

Colombia holds the Colombian legislative election, 2010 - Dumelow (talk) 12:55, 24 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 13

March 13, 2010 (2010-03-13) (Saturday)

ITN candidates for March 13

Kazakh dam burst

Death toll is now 35. BBC News Physchim62 (talk) 23:58, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. Dam burst don't seem to happen all that often and an entire village has been evacuated. Do we have an article? HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 14:10, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
SupportWhat is the current death toll ? --yousaf465' 20:06, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Do we have an article yet, either on the dam or the bursting? Bradjamesbrown (talk) 14:01, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'll try and knock something up. I don't know much about dams, but I'll give it a try! HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 14:04, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Per HJ, not a very common event. It was actually two dams that burst and hundreds of people have had to be evacuated. - JuneGloom07 Talk? 15:39, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'm going to post it, I am just having problems with the blurb. "A dam burst in Kazakhstan kills 35" is somehow too vague, but Kyzyl-Agash is a redlink so I can't include it. Any suggestions? --Tone 19:19, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Works for me... Posting. --Tone 19:50, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Tour de Pakistan concludes

The longest and toughest cycling race in Asia has just concluded.Zahid Gulfam wins Tour de Pakistan cycling race. Update the relevant article. --yousaf465' 19:46, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support, article updated. --Saki talk 10:54, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Meh. Not international enough. This year's Tour of Luzon was won by a South African whose name can't be spelled properly by the press here. –Howard the Duck 11:14, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment Saki you and Howard the Duck(As he a alot of experience with these can of articles) can update this article. I think successful conclusion of this event is important enough to be posted at itn.--yousaf465' 13:37, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose, only the Tour de France is on ITN/R- and if we're considering covering a second cycling event, I would prefer one of the Grand Tours over this. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 13:48, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Plus, the Tour de Langkawi is the most prestigious Asian bicycle race. This one isn't even sanctioned by the UCI. –Howard the Duck 13:58, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Low notability race, not part of the 2010 UCI World Ranking. Low notability participants, the winner Zahid Gulfam has no article. I watch cycling but haven't heard of the race before or any of the people at Tour de Pakistan#Winners. Those with articles are small stubs. PrimeHunter (talk) 14:02, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It isn't on the 2009–2010 UCI Asia Tour either.[29] PrimeHunter (talk) 14:07, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Strong Oppose. There are far more significant cycling races than this. Modest Genius talk 14:09, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The total prize money is apparently $10,000 distributed among the top 6 finishers.[30] No wonder the Afghan riders can be the "star attraction". PrimeHunter (talk) 14:33, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey

This will probably won't happen as of 19:12, 25 December 2009 (UTC) –Howard the Duck 19:12, 25 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Nothing new and still unlikely for the forseeable future as of 17:28, 5 January 2010 (UTC). Grsz11 17:28, 5 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It's Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium. Dunno if this'll be ITN material. –Howard the Duck 07:09, 11 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I doubt it. Anyway, I withdraw my nomination. --BorgQueen (talk) 11:41, 13 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It'll be massive by Clottey wins. –Howard the Duck 12:41, 24 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]
No, Pacquiao will be 100% winner. This is saying from his coach Freddie Roach. - Gabby 21:32, 24 January 2010 (PST)
If anyone wants to pursue this, it's at Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey. –Howard the Duck 15:01, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Only a Mayweather/Pacquiao fight is notable enough to be posted on ITN, imo. SpencerT♦Nominate! 03:17, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose while I'm not sure I'd be supporting the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout, the fight that actually happened was nothing special, either in matchup or result. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 08:22, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Note: The Manny Pacquiao article had a staggering amount of views: ~117.4k. The most comparable ITN story, the 2010 Winter Paralympics only had ~25.9k. –Howard the Duck 13:36, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 12

March 12, 2010 (2010-03-12) (Friday)

ITN candidates for March 12

Siberian tiger

Siberian tiger
Siberian tiger
To quote one of your own references: 'Siberian tigers are one of the world's rarest species, with an estimated 300 left in the wild. Fifty of these are thought to be in China, but a further 5,000 are held captive on farms and wildlife parks across the country.' Modest Genius talk 23:24, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Still quite rare. --candle•wicke 23:34, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Candlewicke, are you thinking of updating Siberian tiger, or starting a new article? Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:55, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
A short update would surely do unless some evidence of a greater outcry emerges. --candle•wicke 02:42, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose The 11 tigers who died were in captivity. There are several hundred Siberian tigers in captivity in China alone. --Nosedown (talk) 01:00, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Israel

Has had all sorts of happenings all week but I can't remember the last time this topic was on ITN. Today alone the first missiles in more than a month have been sent into Gaza, the UN has commented and Israel has now sealed off the West Bank—"Israel has sealed off the West Bank ahead of major holidays in the past, but only rarely on other occasions". That and the announcements of thousands of new homes. Surely there is something in all of this for ITN? I don't know what the appropriate article is for all of these events. --candle•wicke 20:44, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think there has been anything truly newsworthy in months. I don't see why we should add something just because Israel hasn't been on itn in awhile, either. --PlasmaTwa2 20:55, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is nothing here truly newsworthy? --candle•wicke 21:23, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I think the condemnation from the U.S. administration is noteworthy; although it doesn't reflect a change in U.S. policy, the tenor of the comments hasn't been seen in a long time. That said, I don't know if it's an ITN-worthy entry. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:22, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'm sure the US has condemned Israel in the past for settlements so this is nothing new. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.35.252.20 (talk) 02:24, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Well, to quote the non-American BBC front page, this is "a rare and sharp rebuke from Washington". So if it has happened before it hasn't happened very often. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton even telephoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called the behaviour of Israel "deeply negative" for US-Israeli relations. That and the comments from the United Nations and various other nations, i.e. Lebanon suggests this is hard to dismiss as "nothing new". --candle•wicke 02:48, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oh, come off it. The US, the UN and others have been playing the condemnation card for decades. Israel knows the US will do this. The US knows Israel will ignore it. Business as usual continues regardless. The Palestinians will continue armed resistance and the Israelis will continue to squeeze the Palestinians. Nothing new at all. Not news. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.35.252.20 (talk) 03:38, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
What would have to happen to be considered "news"? Since they all seem to have done just about everything to one another already? --candle•wicke 03:57, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. I have to agree, this is business as usual. The conflict rumbles on, but I see no more reason to give it an ITN entry than, say, the latest developments in the Somali Civil War. If some major new event happens, sure, but at the moment the entry would be 'yet more condemnation of Israel, which proceeds to ignores it like every other time'. Modest Genius talk 15:18, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The fact that this is so much more "in the news" than the "latest developments in the Somali Civil War" makes it a better ITN candidate than the latter. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 01:00, 15 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Lahore attacks - 45 dead

- Nom - 12 March 2010 Lahore bombings - TouLouse (talk) 14:52, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

if you (or someone) expand it...--DAI (Δ) 15:15, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Same reason given by me as is in Wikipedia:In_the_news/Candidates#ITN candidates for March 8. --GPPande 15:35, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
'Weak support if a decent article comes of it but strong oppose for the minute because it's a half sentence sub-sub-stub. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 15:38, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • I've had a go at expanding the article, but I'm sure someone with a knowledge of these things will do a better job. - JuneGloom07 Talk? 16:21, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support And expand the article. FixmanPraise me 16:30, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Weak Support: 45 dead is quite big, even for the current situation in Pakistan. ≈ Chamal talk ¤ 17:16, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support if it is combined with the first one. --candle•wicke 17:22, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, and post both in a single blurb. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 19:48, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Eh, would there be any support for merging these two articles? Bradjamesbrown (talk) 20:20, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Merge - in one article called - March 2010 Lahore bombings - TouLouse (talk) 21:06, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support Merge. Agree with Bradjamesbrown and TouLouse. - JuneGloom07 Talk? 21:29, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
We'll need an admin to merge the histories, and then someone to streamline the new article, but these appear to be very closely related attacks. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 21:32, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Merge the histories of what? What two articles are you talking about? Why do you assume people can read your minds? -- tariqabjotu 23:15, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I assume the discussion is regarding 8 March 2010 Lahore bombing and 12 March 2010 Lahore bombings to be history merged into March 2010 Lahore bombings which all sounds a bit complicated to me, but I'd support if you're up for it Tariq. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 23:22, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry, Tariq. Although GPPande linked to the last discussion, I didn't notice no one had actually linked the 8 March article. HJ Mitchell is correct. My apologies. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:22, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is it possible to hist merge two articles that have been edited at the same time? Wikipedia:HISTMERGE#Parallel_versions seems to suggest that it all becomes too messy and that Template:Copied should be used instead. Merging histories is not something I know much about though - Dumelow (talk) 00:36, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Looks good. --candle•wicke 03:05, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
But someone might as well add today's attack now as well. --candle•wicke 04:56, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Ehh...Swat Valley isn't really anywhere near Lahore. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 05:22, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Last 5-7 blast were just firecrackers going off. First two were normal suicide bombing.--yousaf465' 09:42, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Over 72 killed in total. ~AH1(TCU) 22:15, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted - Dumelow (talk) 12:39, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

2010 Winter Paralympics

The X Paralympic Winter Games competitions begin in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (FOXBusiness) - Bib (talk) 19:00, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Article could use more paragraph prose. SpencerT♦Nominate! 03:17, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It could indeed, but I'll obviously support when there's a little more prose. A nice paragraph about the opening ceremony might suffice. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 15:40, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose per WP:ITNR. Modest Genius talk 15:46, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
How can you oppose because it's not on /R? The vast majority of events we post aren't. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 16:03, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
True, but this is an obvious 'multi-sport event' which was apparently not considered important enough. Personally, I don't think there's enough interest to justify posting this. Modest Genius talk 19:05, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. There is "a lingering controversy", "criticism" and the "world" is going to be there. "Vancouver offers an excellent opportunity to see how the final Games before London goes about changing 'the look' of an Olympic city into a Paralympic one". --candle•wicke 16:49, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
support and add to ITNR. 2 stories for paralympics in every 4 years is really not a lot. considering its still a world event i fully support it. -- Ashish-g55 19:16, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support: Multiple sport event and also support Ashish's suggestion to add to ITNR. --GPPande 19:20, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Since the only objection is that it isn't on ITNR and there are calls for it be on ITNR I added it to ITNR so it is now on ITNR and therefore is an ITNR event. --candle•wicke 19:34, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Internationally significant companion event to the Winter Olympics. However, as with the Olympics, wait until the Opening Ceremonies are complete. More importantly, we included the 2008 Summer Paralympics [32] --Smashvilletalk 19:42, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support posting after the opening ceremonies, and Candlewicke's adding to ITN/R. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 20:11, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support blurb about the opening ceremonies. However, like the Commonwealth and PanAm Games, I don't think we need a blurb on the closing ceremonies when it comes. --PlasmaTwa2 20:31, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Agree with Plasma that we don't need the closing ceremony as well (I'd rather keep just that for the big two). We should probably put the Summer Paralympics on ITNR as well - Dumelow (talk) 00:46, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Concur completely with both remarks above me. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 01:12, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Ditto. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 01:14, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support - what are we waiting for ? Hektor (talk) 13:54, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Added a few minutes ago. Can Youth Olympic Games be added to ITNR as well? -- Zanimum (talk) 15:34, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

It seem I've been outvoted, which is fair enough. A few changes have been made to WP:ITNR, which suggest we will be posting the closing ceremony too. However, the discussion above does not appear to have reached this consensus. Do we need to amend ITNR, or did I miss something? Modest Genius talk 17:02, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'd actually support posting the opening ceremonies for Singapore, but oppose adding it to ITN/R at the moment until we see how big of a deal it really will be going into Innsbruck. (As to the Paralympics, I don't see a consensus here for also posting the closing ceremonies.) Bradjamesbrown (talk) 22:34, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 11

March 11, 2010 (2010-03-11) (Thursday)

ITN candidates for March 11

African Footballer of the Year

I saw this on the BBC's front page, the award has its own article and involves an entire continent, a continent which doesn't feature on ITN sport very often. The winner is Didier Drogba and he has a great selection of images. --candle•wicke 03:44, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose, since we don't usually feature individuals in team sports (with the odd exception of MVP awards at the same time as a major team trophy). IIRC, we never include the FIFA World Player of the Year, and doing one for every continent would be silly. Plus, it's not on WP:ITNR which has seen a lot of attempts to balance the amount of football coverage on ITN. Modest Genius talk 15:43, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Sweden–Turkey relations

Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Sweden and cancelled talks between the two nations next week in the latest twist in the row over the Armenian Genocide. Quote from Reuters: "Zergun Koruturk, Turkey's ambassador to Sweden, told Swedish television programme Aktuellt that the vote would have 'drastic effects' on bilateral relations which were unlikely to be overcome in a short time". I've updated this and it just needs support.
Suggest: Turkey recalls its ambassador to Sweden and cancels a bilateral summit after the Riksdag votes in favour of recognising the Armenian Genocide. --candle•wicke 01:49, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose. I don't think Swedish-Turkish relations are that newsworthy. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 02:00, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Why? The Armenian Genocide is about as sensitive as you can get. --candle•wicke 02:07, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, but that's an issue in every Western country's dealings with Turkey. If my math is right, there are 37,056 potential bilateral country relationships in the world, and I don't think all of them are necessarily newsworthy unless they lead to war or something. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:20, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Quite a significant international development (definitely newsworthy), and the article contains a substantial update. -- Black Falcon (talk) 05:24, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. As Turkey seems to be coming to a head with the international community over the interpretation of the Armenian genocide (with Turkey being almost isolated in rejecting this term, I believe), this particular conflict is significant, and others may follow. I think we should present it. __meco (talk) 09:49, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Weak support. I was going to oppose, but the article is in good shape. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 09:52, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Has this had enough support yet? --candle•wicke 16:53, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose : I don't think ambassador recall is ITN worthy. Every month one or the other country does so in the world. Lets add it to the article and that's all. --GPPande 17:00, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
As stated above it has been said that there will be "drastic effects" which will not be overcome for a long time. --candle•wicke 18:12, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Elections also happen every month. --candle•wicke 18:14, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support: Recalling an ambassador pretty much means severing diplomatic ties with another country. The consequences of such an action will be faced by other countries as well, and can affect their relationships with the involved parties. Definitely not something that happens every month or so AFAIK, or this world would be in a pretty crappy state. ≈ Chamal talk ¤ 17:12, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support this seems like a pretty big deal - especially as Turkey wants to be in the EU. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 17:55, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is there enough support to post? --candle•wicke 21:43, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support Big news in Sweden. Aftonbladet describes it as a "diplomatic crisis". Several protests occurred in Turkey on Friday as well. Theleftorium 23:32, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose I really don't think there are any major long-term implications of this. Sweden and Turkey do not share extensive strategic relations and Turkish leaders are engaging in political rhetoric. --Nosedown (talk) 00:48, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
But next week's talks were cancelled? If this is not important why would Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, Xinhua, The Times of India and so on, be interested in reporting about the protests? --candle•wicke 03:03, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Meh... plenty of papers report New Jersey Nets games but those aren't important... –Howard the Duck 13:02, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I don't understand the comparison between an international political dispute about genocide and a basketball game. --candle•wicke 19:24, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Genocide = important, events such as this = not. As far as I know Turks didn't have killing spree of Armenians lately. –Howard the Duck 00:17, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Strong support I think this a major diplomatic development. --yousaf465' 09:33, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is that enough support yet? --candle•wicke 19:24, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The dispute over the Armenian genocide is a long one and Turkey has always engaged in political rhetoric whenever any country has tried to express an opinion on it. Recently, a U.S. Congress panel passed a similar opinion on Turkey's role in the genocide, Turkey protested and ultimately things were put in the back seat. Also, the Sweden's government has strongly opposed the parliament vote. It seems things will be back to normal. As I said before, these things do happen in international diplomacy a lot and in this case, there will not be any major long-term implications. --Nosedown (talk) 21:43, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. I think the point is that various national parliaments debate this topic quite regularly. Sweden's parliament is not the first to have passed such a motion, and it won't be the last. It is a sensitive topic on both sides, which is why tempers rise when it is debated, but it is hardly a defining feature of international relations. Physchim62 (talk) 00:39, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

President Sworn in

We had him on ITN when he was elected and we generally don't add the inaugurations. On the other hand, if there is a consensus to list the most resent earthquake aftershock, the two items can be combined in the blurb. --Tone 18:12, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Obama's inauguration was posted but Yanukovych's inauguration was recently nominated because it had a lot of international coverage and no one seemed interested. --candle•wicke 18:33, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I say Post on Main Page. FixmanPraise me 04:21, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose: Election results are posted on ITN. Inaugurations are not posted. This inauguration is not politically significant as much as others we had in past. --GPPande 12:33, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Carlos Slim

Carlos Slim
Carlos Slim
  • Carlos Slim (pictured) has knocked Bill Gates from the top of the Forbes list of the world's billionaires.
  • Deutsche Welle - "For the first time ever, the name at the top of the Forbes Magazine list of the world's richest people belongs to someone not from Europe, or the US, or an oil-rich Arab state, but to someone from the developing world".
  • Al Jazeera - "for the first time since 1994 that a non-US citizen has taken the spot".
  • The Sydney Morning Herald - "THE old order is under threat at the world's billionaires club".
  • Hindustan Times - "The list valued Slim's fortune at $53.5 billion, $500 million ahead of long-time list topper Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft".
  • RTÉ - "Mr Slim's fortune rose by $18.5 billion last year to more than $53 billion".
  • Bild - "He is the first person from Mexico to become the world’s richest".
  • The Korea Herald - "Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim topped Bill Gates and Warren Buffett on Forbes list of richest people, with a net worth of $53.5 billion, wiping Americans from the spot for the first time since 1994".
  • Radio Netherlands Worldwide - "The annual Forbes rich list has ranked Mexican businessman Carlos Slim as the wealthiest person in the world, ousting Microsoft founder Bill Gates from top place".
  • The Hindu - "Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim is the world’s richest person, jumping past Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the first person from a developing nation to top the list".
  • Profiles: BBC, The Daily Telegraph, The Times.

End. --candle•wicke 15:43, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Weak oppose. These sorts of league tables are subject to exchange-rate fluctuations, without even mentioning the monetarization of assets. The U.S. dollar is weak, so Slim gets in at the top: on the other hand, neither Slim nor Gates or Buffet could get the equivalent in cash for the assets they own. Physchim62 (talk) 16:00, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Wow, that's lots of references, you really don't have to put so much effort in the nom ;-) Weak oppose per above, there are simply too many parameters here and Forbes is just (although the most influential in this field) magazine. --Tone 16:03, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
This nom has more than half as many references as the original Carlos Slim article. –Howard the Duck 17:14, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry about that. In summary, (1) he is the first Mexican, (2) it is the first time it is someone from the "developing world", (3) it is the first time in more than 15 years that s/he is not from the United States. The last two are extremely unlikely to happen every year (and the last one is nearly as old as the world wide web itself) so it is not necessarily an argument for it to be included on ITNR as an annual event if posted, while this is apparently the most influential list as mentioned above. --candle•wicke 18:28, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support as per Candlewicke. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 19:44, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Although there are arguments to be made about the parameters used, I think it's significant that it's the first time that it's the first time in 15 years that it's a non American and more so because he's the first non-westerner to win it. However, if this is posted, can we find a way of not using "developing world" in the blurb? HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 19:51, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Given Mexico is in the OECD I suppose saying "developing world" isn't particularly accurate. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 20:05, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
And suggesting that Mexico is not in the West is not particularly accurate either! Kevin McE (talk) 22:20, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Possibly not, though the sources use the term. --candle•wicke 20:25, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Technically people from the middle east aren't westerners either. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 22:24, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment Regardless, this article needs an update beyond "Forbes says he's now #1." -- tariqabjotu 22:51, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Resolved

Carlos Slim (pictured) becomes the first Mexican to top the Forbes rich list of wealthiest men billionaires. --candle•wicke 23:24, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. I see no reason not to post this one. It's a significant merit and it doesn't happen all the time, in fact it's always a very big news story when a new guy enters the throne. __meco (talk) 23:32, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
the list is for world's billionaires. should state it properly. terms like wealthy or rich will become controversial. -- Ashish-g55 00:14, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Can you get any richer than a billionaire yet? Done. --candle•wicke 01:41, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Eh, weak oppose. Can't really form a strong opinion on this one, but it's a magazine's informed opinion, not an absolute fact. Not really sure "One insanely rich guy now said to be richer than another insanely rich guy" is really news. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:28, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. The Forbes list is well-known enough to make it newsworthy, even if it's just an estimate. The fact that the richest man in the world is from the so-called Third World makes it interesting. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 02:01, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Weak support - This is far better then last time we added Carlons Slim being the richest person in the world, where it didn't last long. I think the fact that we're having this same conversation again over 2.5 years later is a good indication that last time was a mistake Wikipedia talk:In the news/Archive 16#Richest person in the world. The advantage here is that the Forbes list tends to be the most notable list/source for this sort of thing. However we didn't have much luck with Warren Buffett and Forbes either Wikipedia:In the news/Candidates/March 2008#Warren Buffett, who also didn't last long. However this has some additional details which perhaps help make it even more interesting and some may argue Buffett should have gone up earlier and stayed up Nil Einne (talk) 14:09, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support: This rankings are put up every year but changes in top orders happen rare. This is swap in top spot. --GPPande 15:42, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment isn't there enough support for this to go up? -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 16:16, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
This would solve the picture crisis which has erupted over at Talk:Main Page. --candle•wicke 16:52, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support: Agree with Mwalcoff. ≈ Chamal talk ¤ 17:22, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted - Dumelow (talk) 17:37, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

7.2 earthquake in Chile

- Nom - TouLouse (talk) 15:26, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

  • Support when the article is a bit better. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 16:40, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Oppose it's an aftershock and has been scaled down. Page should be merged.--DAI (Δ) 17:47, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Weak support. The 6.9 earthquake subjected 18,000 people to "extreme" or "violent" shaking, which did not occur on land during the main M8.8 earthquake. However no deaths seem to have been reported from the new tremors. ~AH1(TCU) 22:27, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Ukrainian politics

(edit conflict) Should be an ITN/R, depending on what people think of the article. BEWARE: the current image is up for speedy deletion on Commons! Physchim62 (talk) 14:07, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support does the article need some more detail? -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 14:06, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Major occurrence with international significance. Good lord, we need something. The template hasn't been updated since Monday. --Smashvilletalk 14:43, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
We've just had an update (thank $deity), but another one wouldn't go amiss! Physchim62 (talk) 15:06, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posting this one as well. The article is a bit short but I think the updates are sufficient. --Tone 15:08, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Cheers, seems like $deity is listening to us today! The article still needs work, yes, but I think it gives enough background to fill out the ITN blurb. One of these cases where we hope that it will be improved by being on the Main Page! ;) Physchim62 (talk) 15:10, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

March 10

March 10, 2010 (2010-03-10) (Wednesday)

ITN candidates for March 10

Death of Corey Haim

I wasn't going to but he is a prominent heartthrob and may surprise me by getting more support than the other death... --candle•wicke 04:10, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose Was never in the upper echelons of his profession. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 04:14, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It might at least encourage people to look at the one below. ;) --candle•wicke 04:19, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. There are many more prominent/popular actors out there. ... (talk) 13:06, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Death of Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy

  • Egypt's top cleric dies suddenly from a heart attack while attending a prize-giving ceremony in Riyadh, i.e. another country.
  • Mimi Herald - "a controversial figure throughout the Islamic world".
  • The Guardian - "used his position as one of Islam's leading spiritual authorities to champion Islamic moderation worldwide".
  • Jerusalem Post - "a revered figure among many of the world's 1.4 billion Muslims. His rulings carried great influence".
  • Press Trust of India - "The Grand Imam breathed his last at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport from where he was supposed to fly to Cairo".
  • Brunei FM - "During the visit, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar was scheduled to meet with Islamic scholars and intellectuals from several Islamic countries to review the current Islamic issues".
  • Africasia - "The White House on Wednesday offered its condolences following the death of Sunni Islam's top cleric, who last year hosted President Barack Obama's landmark speech to the Muslim world".
  • The New York Times - "For more than a quarter century Mr. Tantawi was at the nexus of government and religion in Egypt, the Arab world’s largest country, working with President Hosni Mubarak’s government to try to enforce a moderate interpretation of Islam".
  • Gulfnews - "Egypt's top cleric actively courted controversy with his liberal views".
  • Arabnews - "He carries a legacy of exemplary services to Islam".
  • CNN - "He played a similar role in the Sunni Muslim world as the pope does for Catholics, involving life issues".
  • Al Jazeera - "He also wrote a number of books, including a 15-volume, 7,000-page encyclopedia on the interpretation of Quran".
  • Catholic Culture - "Vatican's partner in dialogue".
Enough? --candle•wicke 03:53, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is this story a prominent story on any of those websites? –Howard the Duck 03:59, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It is on the front page of Arabnews. Though if it is prominence that is required... --candle•wicke 04:07, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Thinking about it those two stories do have a reason why they're both given prominence on those respective websites. –Howard the Duck 04:30, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support when the death section is expanded. --BorgQueen (talk) 04:26, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support; same condition as BorqQueen. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 05:29, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Strong support - same condition + article needs to be expanded. There's about one section header for every three to four sentences... —Ed (talk • majestic titan) 05:57, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support: I think death of head of Russian Church was posted on ITN sometime back. That justifies the death nomination of Egypt's Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy. More, the death was untimely and cleric has strong following in Egypt. Also the cleric was active (not retired) at time of death. --GPPande 08:01, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I have done a bit of expansion, might be OK now - Dumelow (talk) 10:26, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Looks good now. Please suggest a blurb. --Tone 11:37, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
"Egypt's foremost Islamic cleric Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy has died while at a prize giving ceremony in Saudi Arabia"? -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 11:43, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Strong support appears to have been a very influential figure in Islamic scholarship. The article is acceptable in its detail. Physchim62 (talk) 12:29, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. He has followers/influence outside Egypt too. ... (talk) 13:06, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Why is any admin not posting this news? What are the admins waiting for? The deadline for ITN update has already past. --GPPande 14:55, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

No need to panic if the ITN update is one hour or two late. Posting now. --Tone 14:57, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Well for the longest time, it was a lack of an update. I checked earlier this morning (UTC) and it was still a one-liner. -- tariqabjotu 16:34, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

China selects first women astronauts

The names have not been released yet, but I think this is a very big moment.[34] --Everyone Dies In the End (talk) 22:01, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. Would have been nice if we had this for International Women's Day, but hey! HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 22:02, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support this is important. Is there an article? -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 22:10, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment. "'In the selection, we had almost the same requirements on women candidates as those for men, but the only difference was that they must be married, as we believe married women would be more physically and psychologically mature,' Zhang said." I am avoiding supporting that "almost the same...the only difference...". -SusanLesch (talk) 22:48, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support but... only when names are released and articles of astronauts are good enough to feature on ITN. --GPPande 08:07, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is this a topic about Chinese space program or gender equality? I'd prefer to wait until they actually go to space. --Tone 11:37, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Non-flyers tend to disappear into obscurity, lets wait until actual launch. ... (talk) 13:06, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose until first flight. Modest Genius talk 13:15, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose for now. I'd rather wait until at least one is selected for a mission, if not actual flight. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 19:41, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Wait Until China shot her into space.--yousaf465' 04:25, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment. Do we have a specific article, or does Chinese women in space need to be updated and improved? ~AH1(TCU) 22:47, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 9

March 9, 2010 (2010-03-09) (Tuesday)

ITN candidates for March 9

Australia–Indonesia relations

The President has visited, agreements have been signed, the Australian/Indonesian relationship has been upgraded to the same level as the Australia/United States relationship (an annual meeting is now to take place). Click here --candle•wicke 02:25, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose: I don't see anything historic or significant in the meeting of two leaders. Seems just like any other meeting where two state heads meet, host lavish buffets, have big press conferences, make promises and future plans. Last time we posted Indian Prime Minister's visit to Saudi Arabia because it happened after decades and two countries signed an important extradition treaty. The treaty was important because it helps India plug holes for terrorists hiding in gulf countries. From the news page it seems Oz-Indonesian foreign ministers are still working on an extradition treaty. From the article it looks like a plan is drawn for state heads to meet every year along with other ministers. --GPPande 09:53, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Upgrading of bilateral relations seems significant to me. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 10:39, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Also handed Australia's highest civilian honour, honorary companion of the Order of Australia and address a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament, the first by an Indonesian president. ... (talk) 12:29, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

If you want an Indon-Aussie news blurb, why not the death of Dulmatin by the police, who masterminded the 2002 Bali bombings? –Howard the Duck 13:25, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support but I suspect someone will say he's too short. --candle•wicke 14:24, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
172 cm isn't that short? ;) --Stephen 00:00, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Deaths of Mary Josephine Ray and Daisey Bailey

Now what are the chances of the two dying on the same day? It is apparently "very rare". And who gets the movie rights? --candle•wicke 01:49, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support - TouLouse (talk) 05:17, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Oldest people in the world die all the time and that two died on the same day is just a coincidence. --Tone 08:23, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Not oldest people in the world anyway. ... (talk) 12:29, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose It's just a coincidence. More of the last hook in a DYK set than an ITN item. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 17:23, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Death of David Kimchi

BBC "He played a key role in the Iran–Contra affair, which rocked the administration of US President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s". "In 1982 he was Israel's chief delegate at the talks that ended the First Lebanon War". Fought in the 1947-1949 Arab-Israeli War, a former spymaster, a journalist in Paris, also active in Africa. Born in Britain. --candle•wicke 00:50, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Died in 1235? Are you sure that's the right article? Modest Genius talk 01:08, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Lol. I'd support just on the basis that he was a ghost from the 11th century who still played a role in a 20th century event. :) In all seriousness, an article would have to be created on him before I could consider supporting. HonouraryMix (talk) 01:23, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I copied and pasted his name from the BBC. There must be more than one. --candle•wicke 01:40, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
His name is David Kimche, and I don't think there's an article on him. He doesn't strike me as extraordinarily notable, fascinating as his life may have been. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 01:46, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The guy certainly deserves an article, but I'll Oppose an ITN mention.--Johnsemlak (talk) 02:43, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Doesn't seem important enough to be mentioned in Iran–Contra affair. ... (talk) 12:29, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. I can't AfD the article under WP:BLP1E as he is dead now, but that is about how I view his significance (unless further info comes to light). Physchim62 (talk) 13:39, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
There's WP:BIO1E (the same thing without the "L"). I've no opinion on the AfD, but I oppose this nom. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 13:45, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Which of the above is the one event? --candle•wicke 14:28, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I don't think it's a BIO1E, but we can't put a one-line substub on the main page. Oppose but I'll reconsider if.when the article is better. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 17:26, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Plants and insects

Something interesting I've just seen: The first use of a biocontrol agent in the European Union is approved — the Japanese insect Aphalara itadori will be released at trial sites in England to combat invasive Japanese knotweed. There is not much update to the knotweed article yet but there's material available. --Tone 22:36, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Is it really the first ? What about myxamatosis for rabbits ? 86.149.232.250 (talk) 23:40, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Still it's a good story. Not many species are intentionally introduced to fight other species. --Tone 09:11, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Weak support. Interesting story, not something that happens that often and Japnanese knotweed is apparently quite a big problem. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 10:44, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Conditional support. This is not a "first" but it is a story which is likely to interest readers IMHO. Japanese knotweed needs to be improved before it can be posted: the current section reads like a glyphosate advert and is US-biased in its discussion. Physchim62 (talk) 13:48, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Rajya Sabha passes women reservation bill

India's Rajya Sabha passes Women's Reservation Bill which proposes to secure 33% of all parliament and state legislature seats for women. WSJ CSM AP Financial Express BBC VOA NYT --Nosedown (talk) 22:25, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. This would have been nice for International Women's Day but it is still seems like an event that doesn't happen every day. --candle•wicke 00:12, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Hasn't passed Lok Sabha yet, so it isn't law yet. A lot of bills pass one house and get blocked in the other YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 01:11, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
On second thoughts, I agree with YellowMonkey's point. I guess we should wait till the bill is passed in the Lok Sabha. --Nosedown (talk) 01:47, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I would strongly support this if it became law, but not until.--Johnsemlak (talk) 02:41, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Per YellowMonkey. ... (talk) 12:29, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Weak oppose on the "gay marriage" precedent. This is not the first such law to be enacted (and it hasn't been enacted yet): to post it on ITN, I think we should require a really good article. Physchim62 (talk) 13:50, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is there an ITN policy that the article should be "really good"? If yes, then what does one mean by "really good"? --Nosedown (talk) 00:58, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
"Really good" as in high quality. The article should be relatively well-written, referenced, clear, and coherent. SpencerT♦Nominate! 03:15, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Devolution of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland

Discussion moved to Future events
I think this is a pretty big event given the long history of the troubles in Northern Ireland. I would say if it were to go up, it's probably best to wait until the 12th April when power will actually be handed over, but I thought I'd put it out for discussion now --Daviessimo (talk) 21:38, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Interesting. I was considering nominating this earlier. George W. Bush has been involved and it's big news in the UK. I'd say it's notable enough, but I;d be inclined to wait til April when it comes into force. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 22:02, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support now or then. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:17, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support Very major hurdle has been crossed in peace process. HonouraryMix (talk) 01:25, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Weak oppose, as I have before. This is really just a domestic issue, with no international significance. It means that Northern Ireland has the same local political control over its police force as the rest of the UK, and also an administrative responsibility for its (separate) judicial system, as Scotland has. Not really earth-shattering unless you personally lived through the Troubles. Physchim62 (talk) 13:42, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support as above. It has international significance in the same way that Israel-Palestine and Kashmir (among others) do. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 13:45, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment I'd like to remind people that all this chit-chat is meaningless if there's no article associated with this. -- tariqabjotu 08:29, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I presume the relevant article to be updated is Department of Justice (Northern Ireland). I'll move this discussion to future events as I think this will be better returning on April 12th --Daviessimo (talk) 08:38, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 8

March 8, 2010 (2010-03-08) (Monday)

ITN candidates for March 8

Pakistan blast

Support. It resulted in the collapse of the building. --candle•wicke 22:02, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support as above. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 22:20, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Working on an article: 8 March 2010 Lahore bombing Not in love with that name, though. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 23:29, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose , I don't this needs to be posted on ITN. It was office of Special Investigation Agency, was bombed after all the VIP( very important prisoners) have been transfered to another facility about 400 km to the south. --yousaf465' 08:51, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose: I concur with Yousaf. Also, I thought there was a consensus that these types of attacks in Pakistan, Iraq & Afghanistan would only be considered for ITN if they had huge death tolls or they had some serious political intentions/events associated with them. I think this was another desperate attack from desperate organization as the Pak minister has said. --GPPande 09:00, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I was under the impression that a bomb had exploded in "a building housing an anti-terrorist wing of the federal investigative agency" and that the building had collapsed. That (hopefully) explains why I supported. --candle•wicke 15:07, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Death of Andrée Peel

Oppose we did not post the death of the last Canadian veteran. I believe now, we should just wait for the last veteran period. --PlasmaTwa2 17:32, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Not to mention, she is nowhere close to being the last WWII vet. There were plenty of heroic acts in that war. Why single out just one person? --Smashvilletalk 17:38, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Seems to be a somewhat significant figure in the resistance but the article isn't very well developed.--Johnsemlak (talk) 18:52, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Fata lawmakers refuse body scanning in US, fly home

Another issue in Pak-USA ties. They are being hailed as hero here. :) --yousaf465' 04:39, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. "The lawmakers considered the scanning order an insult to the parliamentarians of a sovereign country and decided to call off their visit". Other lawmakers threatening to leave too. --candle•wicke 12:51, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Important principles clashing in this issue. Body scanners could become a watershed issue in the conflict between civil rights/privacy intrusion vs. the "War on Terror". This incident certainly could trigger even louder opposition to these measures. __meco (talk) 12:57, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support as above. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 13:17, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Has any article been updated yet? --BorgQueen (talk) 13:25, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know what to do... Pakistan – United States relations has "multiple issues". --candle•wicke 13:31, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • CommentEither create separate article for this tour or we can use the Millimeter wave scanner/ Security scan(this one has some issue not the previous one. I think Millimeter wave scanner is better, as this technology is being at U.S airports , or else is it this one Backscatter X-ray ?--yousaf465' 14:44, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support Neutral until suitable article update. I think we should avoid speculating how significant this issue might become and concentrate on what is significant now.--Johnsemlak (talk) 15:46, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment , Which article should be updated ? Their action are being backed by oppositions MP, but official version is " Body scanning of people from a group is discriminatory and this issue has been raised in several meeting with US officials." --yousaf465' 16:57, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Here is one more link Pak lawmakers refuse body scan, cut short visit to US.--yousaf465' 17:02, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment Here is a detailed analyses, Lawmakers’ tiff reveals complex US-Pakistan ties.--yousaf465' 09:49, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment Again, we need an updated article. -- tariqabjotu 08:31, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Please please somebody update atleast this article Pakistan – United States relations.--yousaf465' 04:23, 12 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

2010 Turkey earthquake

  • Nom - at least 17 deaths after a 5.9 earthquake TouLouse (talk) 05:22, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Update - 41 death toll - TouLouse (talk) 08:30, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support - the death toll has been increasing throughout the morning. --candle•wicke 10:15, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. BBC is now reporting 51 dead. Physchim62 (talk) 10:22, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I've expanded this. Death toll still increasing. Villages destroyed. 20+ aftershocks. An earthquake in Turkey's Elâzığ Province kills more than 50 people and injures at least 100. --candle•wicke 11:50, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support'. Not the biggest quake, even in recent weeks, but a high death toll and the article appears adequate. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 11:56, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posting. --Tone 12:00, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Eh, it isn't showing up more than half an hour later and it isn't in the page history. --candle•wicke 12:38, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I went ahead and reposted because it's not in the history for me, either. Also, I changed the injuries to "at least 50" because it appears that all of the sources have lowered that total. --Smashvilletalk 14:34, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 7

March 7, 2010 (2010-03-07) (Sunday)

ITN candidates for March 7

82nd Academy Awards

  • Hurt Locker wins 6 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
This item is a no brainer. Just waiting for the announcement of Best Picture. There shouldn't be mention of any other award in the item. --PlasmaTwa2 02:18, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
How about first female to win best director? Otherwise, The Hurt Locker it is with 6 oscars including best picture. - ʄɭoʏɗiaɲ τ ¢ 04:59, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'm all for it - I didn't know that there was the possibility of having the first female (or African-American) to win Best Director. I'm just not sure how to work it in. --PlasmaTwa2 05:04, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. First woman to win Best Director would be nice. -SusanLesch (talk) 05:20, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
How about:
Although BP is usually the big category, in this case director is IMO the bigger story, and anyone who clicks any of the links will quickly learn about the BP win anyways, if they somehow don't already know. Random89 06:22, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
...there's a picture, might need to be cropped though. Also, we could pipe Academy Awards to 82nd Academy Awards Random89 06:26, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Or how about:
PrimeHunter (talk) 06:39, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Suppport. First woman to win best director makes a nice blurb for International Women's Day. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 08:41, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Posting. Indeed, a nice blurb for March 8 ;-) --Tone 08:47, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Great timing indeed. :-) --candle•wicke 09:55, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Death of Endurance Idahor

This happened in the middle of a football match and the game seems to have been ended as a result. (BBC) (The Times of India) (The New York Times) --candle•wicke 20:06, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I want to support. - TouLouse (talk) 20:48, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Footballers dying on the pitch is a rare event. This seems a shocking event. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 20:57, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Per HJ. It is rare for footballers to die in the middle of a match and Idahor was only 25. - JuneGloom07 Talk? 21:09, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Most of the article prose is about how he died. And I believe this is a sad story and certainly not an ITN-type story. --Tone 21:55, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, A really sad and rare incident. I think previously also a footballer died on field. My brother listens to this song again and again I don't know why, death on football field--yousaf465' 04:30, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose The article is thin and one dimensional, not likely (given the event) to get expanded much. RxS (talk) 05:13, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I think deaths during sporting events are more common than one might think. For example, high school soccer leads to 1.6 deaths per year in the U.S. (http://www.sportssafety.org/sports-injury-facts/). The question is whether this death occurred at a high enough level to be newsworthy and not just tragic. I can't claim to be an expert on African soccer, but judging from Google News it doesn't look like this has drawn too much attention except for a short Reuters article that's been picked up in a few publications. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 05:32, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
My understanding from the article is he is a Nigerian Premier League footballer - "the highest level of domestic Nigerian football". He played for Sudanese club Al-Merreikh which seems to be an important club. If you were to take the view of English speaking countries having more importance (a view I don't necessarily agree with), English is the official language of Nigeria, a country with a population of more than 150 million, "the eighth most populous country in the world, and the most populous country in the world in which the majority of the population is 'black' [...] one of the fastest growing in the world [...] the hegemon in West Africa". Not a lot of that has to do with the nomination but it shows that Nigeria is not a small country, has significant importance internationally and a large population which this event will affect as no doubt it would in England if an important league or popular sport experienced the same. This seems to be forgotten sometimes. Is Google News the best way to judge this? --candle•wicke 10:13, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
This has nothing to do with Nigeria. I would not support if it happened in an European country either. A relevant comparison was Nodar Kumaritashvili - a top sport event (Olympics) and several consequences (criticism of security and improvements in this regard). --Tone 15:13, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. This is not ITN calibre news. I think that for the death of an athlete during competition to qualify for placement there should be some amplifying circumstance making the event spectacular. __meco (talk) 10:20, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. As tragic as it is, athletes who meet WP:ATHLETE do actually die in competition on occasion. While certainly not a regular occurrence, to cite a previous example, we didn't post Alexei Cherepanov when he died in the middle of a KHL game, despite that being the premier hockey league in Russia. --Smashvilletalk 14:46, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. I'm afraid that ultimately my objection is pretty much that the Nigerian Football League is not notable enough, while the English Premier League, for example, is. I suppose it's justifiable on the grounds that a death in the EPL would be reported world-wide and quite probably would have been seen live world-wide.--Johnsemlak (talk) 15:57, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose according to the relevant category, there are 18 players for whom we have articles who have died during matches in the last 10 years. If the profile of the player or the match in which he died were higher, then probably, but not in this instance. Kevin McE (talk) 01:22, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Australian weather

"Once-in-a-century storm hits Melbourne". Fish fell from the sky in another town. --candle•wicke 19:39, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support pretty important - TouLouse (talk) 19:43, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support if with Icesave, the Iraq elections and the Nigerian clashes there aren't too many stories to add at once. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 20:45, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support assuming this is as big a deal as the media are making of it. Any sign of an update? HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 21:00, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is there an article on weather in Australia or does it need to be a new one? --candle•wicke 21:14, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Tentative support, depends on the quality of the article. --Tone 21:55, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The article is at 2010 Melbourne thunderstorm --Stephen 00:28, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Images too. --candle•wicke 00:55, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support with passion...check out how often this happens: Never...according to this has something this big happened in Melbourne. Ks0stm (T•C•G) 01:28, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Now 2010 Victorian storms. When is this going to be posted? --candle•wicke 11:57, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Lots of info to put into one blurb... Or just keep it as "A strong storm hits Melbourne"? When there's a good blurb, I am ready to post. --Tone 11:59, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
A series of storms passing through Victoria leads to flash flooding in Melbourne. --candle•wicke 12:44, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose...lot's of unreferenced claims about damage and disruption in the article. I'd change my mind if that link further up supported that it's never happened before. I can't find it...maybe I'm missing something. Big thunderstorm but in the end no serious injuries or fatalities and there doesn't seem to be any real serious structural damage. RxS (talk) 15:29, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose This isn't big enough, no significant damage or casualties. __meco (talk) 16:48, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I move that this item be removed again. __meco (talk) 14:48, 10 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

How many died on the storm? –Howard the Duck 04:00, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
None it seems but "some major buildings were evacuated", "several major shopping centres" and Melbourne experienced a higher than average amount of rainfall for March. There were "hail-induced injuries of cuts and bruises", some competing horses suffered injuries, a casino was damaged and fireworks and music events were cancelled. --candle•wicke 04:25, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It would've been enough for a news service, but not for ITN. –Howard the Duck 05:06, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Again, please remove this item from ITN. I can't believe the humongous lapse in judgment or attention by ITN regulars that lead to it being posted. It clearly isn't ITN worthy. The article itself has even been nominated for AfD. __meco (talk) 07:50, 11 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support a re-post. The AfD has ended and the article kept, and significant weather events merit inclusion in ITN just as we included many winter storms this year, especially the Winter of 2009-2010 in Europe. ~AH1(TCU) 23:09, 13 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Nigerian clashes

  • Clashes between Christians and Muslims leaves more than 100 deaths. - [35] - TouLouse (talk) 19:35, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support - that is more than enough people. --candle•wicke 19:36, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support As above. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 20:43, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Do we have an article yet? HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 21:00, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I could update 2010 Jos riots. This seems to have happened nearby. --candle•wicke 21:16, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
300 dead now and expected to rise. Hundreds of people are hacked to death by machetes in Nigeria. --candle•wicke 21:37, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, and good work using an existing article! Bradjamesbrown (talk) 21:43, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Expanding an existing article is a good idea indeed but needs more prose - then this will be ready to post. Shouldn't we just say killed instead of hacked, do we need to go into such details? --Tone 21:55, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I also would suggest adding a subject, even if that means completely rewording the blurb. It sounds to me like some possessed machetes just went on a killing spree. -- tariqabjotu 22:04, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, although I would prefer "killed" to "hacked", too. And "ethnic clashes" to "clashes between Christians and Muslims". Ankimai (talk) 22:31, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is there enough prose now? --candle•wicke 22:36, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Capture of Adam Yahiye Gadahn

Gadahn was captured in Pakistan, briefly after another video came out in which he called on Muslims serving in the US armed forces to emulate the Army major charged with killing 13 people in Fort Hood. - TouLouse (talk) 19:18, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Berlin poker tournament robbery

  • Armed robbers have stormed a luxury hotel in central Berlin where a poker tournament was taking place [36] - TouLouse (talk) 16:02, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Oppose Had they gotten away with millions and millions of money and had the drama been A LOT more spectacular than what the story read on a Norwegian newspaper's site we could have carried this. I think for a heist to make it on ITN it must be perpetrated by spectacularly glorious bastards, something inspired by Robin Hood perhaps. __meco (talk) 17:03, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose per above. --Tone 21:55, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose I don't even think a stand-alone article on this would survive the inevitable AfD, much less is the event worth putting up on ITN. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 22:02, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

British boy kidnapped in Pakistan

A major news at the moment which created the widespread media coverage of the abducted Sahil. --Saki talk 10:56, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

  • Oppose A not unusual kidnapping of a westernized child in the country of ancestry, possibly members of the family involved. Sadly, this is not a spectacular event. __meco (talk) 14:32, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose, I agree with Meco. not very unusual thing.--yousaf465' 15:03, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
This should probably be moved to Kidnapping of Sahil Saeed. Not even Madeleine McCann has her own article. --candle•wicke 19:16, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 6

March 6, 2010 (2010-03-06) (Saturday)

ITN candidates for March 6

Hosni Mubarak gallbladder surgery while on state trip to Germany

Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak

The following line caught my eye and I think it is important: "The decree temporarily handing power to the prime minister was unusual as the health of Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt since 1981 and who turns 82 this year, is usually a taboo subject in Egypt". A sudden change of ladder after a long time. --candle•wicke 15:21, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose, since this is almost certainly a very short-term temporary measure. Modest Genius talk 23:01, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose If memory serves, Bush made Cheney acting president of the U.S. twice for surgeries. Neither constitutes a change in head of state- or expectation that the temp. replacement will be making hard decisions; rather it is an emergency matter- so everyone knows who is in charge if everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 23:15, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
But surely being in charge since 1981 in a country where your health is usually a taboo subject isn't comparable to anything in the United States? --candle•wicke 23:36, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
You're right; it was just the closest parallel I could think of without spending an hour trawling through the archives. If this had happend in Egypt, there's a good chance we'd never have heard of it. But we did, and the surgery was successful. Non-event, except it might loosen the taboo against speaking of Mubarak's health. (My point was more that since the shooting of Reagan, it's usual practice around the world to hand power off for the duration of surgery, to prevent anyone else being in Haig's position from 1981.) Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:29, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose The dude was going to get ill eventually, and that would have entailed handing over executive authority temporarily. Only if he suddenly kicks the bucket during the operation, or the illness keeps him away from his duties for the long-term (like the example recently with Nigeria), would I support. HonouraryMix (talk) 23:50, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
OpposeNot much happened ultimately.--Johnsemlak (talk) 03:37, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose To me it seems a funny suggestion. We could have featured if he had died in that operation, with him the dictatorship in Egypt. --yousaf465' 09:59, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

US accepts Pakistan as a declared nuclear state

--Saki talk 12:38, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

To be honest, unless Pakistan becomes part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty I don't think this is that notable. The article states that the action has been taken to alleviate the conspiracy theories that suggested the US was plotting to seize Pakistan's nuclear weapons. In other words it is simply a re-assurance that the US sees Pakistan as a safe nuclear state --Daviessimo (talk) 12:56, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose: Everybody knows Pakistan has nuclear weapons in their arsenal. It makes very little difference whether the US recognizes that fact or not, IMO. If Pakistan was declaring or it was confirmed that they have nuclear weapons for the first time, that would be a notable event, but not this. ≈ Chamal talk ¤ 13:04, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose per Chamal. That the U.S. is willing to officially acknowledge what everyone has known for a long while is not news. Pakistani confirmation? That'd be news. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 15:18, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose As said above, everyone already knew Pakistan has nuclear weapons. HonouraryMix (talk) 23:51, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose as per above.--Johnsemlak (talk) 03:41, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
OpposeAs our former ambassador Madheha Lodhi said, Pakistan is nuclear whether U.S recognize it or not. --yousaf465' 09:52, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

2010 Pentagon shooting

Oppose for now. This seems to me like an ordinary enough US shooting - gunman shoots two people and hurts them, gets shot dead himself. --candle•wicke 15:01, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. This doesn't seem like a very big story. I haven't checked on how the US media is covering it, but I'm discounting them if the international headlines don't follow suite. __meco (talk) 23:31, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Seems like a lone gunman, like other lone gunmen who commit crimes frequently. Only thing that makes this notable is the fact it took place at the Pentagon, but since he doesn't seem to be acting as a part of some grander scheme, I don't think it notable enough for the front page. HonouraryMix (talk) 23:54, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. "It's 9/11 all over again", "the sky is falling", "it's all a conspiracy against the US" etc etc and Elvis will walk among us again. Not. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 02:47, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Lone gunman incidents occur too frequently for something like this to be posted. SpencerT♦Nominate! 04:08, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Late Oppose. Not very notable, bi-polar, on drugs etc. + Too much 'dubious' text creeping in (not to mention wiki-lawyering!-and I wrote most of the early version of the article! Still I oppose!) --220.101.28.25 (talk) 21:30, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Icesave referendum

The Icelanders are having a referendum on whether to pay back billions of pounds of compensation to the Netherlands and UK after the collapse of the Icesave scheme last year. Ultimately it is a referendum on one payment plan and a 'no' vote means back to the drawing board (something that they have started already), but how often do the citizens of a country vote on something like this --Daviessimo (talk) 09:24, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

From FE:"Iceland will hold a referendum to approve or reject the repayment of a €3.8 billion loan from the governments of the UK and the Netherlands. Iceland borrowed the money to pay back savers who had lost their money when banks collapsed in the 2008–2012 Icelandic financial crisis. Article for the referendum is at Icelandic debt repayment referendum, 2010 - Dumelow (talk) 12:54, 24 January 2010 (UTC)"[reply]
Support once the result is known. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 12:58, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support result. Modest Genius talk 16:17, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support As with the other comments, once the result is known. Seems like it'll be rejected. RxS (talk) 16:36, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Early results suggest that the turnout has been low but the vote has been an overwhelming rejection of the parliamentary bill. Physchim62 (talk) 22:44, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Opinion polls are pointing towards 98% opposed. That's a BIG 'no'. Modest Genius talk 23:03, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support Referendum is likely to have quite a big impact on Iceland's financial situation (well, at least I imagine a country's population basically saying it won't pay back debts will have an impact). HonouraryMix (talk) 23:55, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, 98.5% said "no"[1]. - Talk to you later, Presidentman (talk) Random Picture of the Day 02:38, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support--Johnsemlak (talk) 03:41, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support WHEN results table is updated. SpencerT♦Nominate! 04:09, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment I've added the preliminary results from the BBC to the table. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 11:54, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support Post this whenever necessary preparations are done. __meco (talk) 12:24, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
We're still awaiting final results, all I can find are 1/3 of votes. Modest Genius talk 15:57, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment 98% of the vote has now been counted - http://news.malaysia.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3928119 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Eraserhead1 (talk • contribs) 20:33, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment All the results are now in, and the article has been updated (source). -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 20:50, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Would someone be so generous as to propose a blurb? Also, it'd be better if the referendum article didn't sound like the vote still hasn't happened yet; there's a lot of future tense in the article. -- tariqabjotu 22:15, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
What about "Icelanders have rejected a referendum proposal with a 93% majority to repay Britain and the Netherlands to cover the collapse of the Icesave bank?" -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 22:36, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
PS the article's tense has been updated. I think I've got everything. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 22:40, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Dinosaur Extinction

A panel of experts have strongly endorsed the idea that the K-T Extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs was the result of an asteroid impact. The relevant article appears to have been updated (Cretaceous–Tertiary_extinction_event#Impact event) and is FA class --Daviessimo (talk) 14:25, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

This actually looks pretty solid. I haven't read the Science article yet, but it seems good to me. Certain to be of interest to our readers. Support. Modest Genius talk 16:19, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Great set of articles, Support RxS (talk) 16:45, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support as its interesting - plus another article needs adding to ITN now.-- Eraserhead1 <talk> 19:43, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. This is a natural: interesting news, good WP article. GreenGourd (talk) 21:05, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment - I don't want to get anything wrong, so will someone who is more knowledgeable about this suggest a blurb? —Ed (talk • majestic titan) 21:23, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
    • Posted Sorry, I already added one. It's a fairly long blurb, but I felt like it included all of the elements and nothing else. I feel it's important to say who confirmed this -- "panel of 41 scientists" -- and, to add importance to this panel, from where -- "from the ... Lunar and Planetary Science Conference". It might need to be said that this conference is not a one-time thing, so I added "this year's ... conference". Then mentioning the name of the extinction event -- "K-T extinction event" -- and of course what they believe it was caused by -- "an asteroid impact". The BBC article on this issue says they concluded it was either a comet or an asteroid, but it seems most others just say "asteroid". I'm not sure if they're just being lazy, but I went with asteroid. I suppose we could omit the part about the dinosaurs -- people can click on the K-T extinction event article -- but I feel like having that instant recognition of the event is better. If anything we can just say that the panel confirmed that "the extinction event that killed the dinosaurs was caused by...", but that really isn't much shorter. There are some artist's impressions of the asteroid impact if we get desperate, but I don't think people need an illustration of what an asteroid hitting the Earth might look like, so I think the current picture is better. -- tariqabjotu 21:44, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
      • I was going to post it after someone suggested a blurb, so no problem at all. I like the blurb; it has to be long so that (a) all the relevant information is there and (b) there is enough context for readers. —Ed (talk • majestic titan) 21:52, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 5

March 5, 2010 (2010-03-05) (Friday)

ITN candidates for March 5

US/Turkey relations

The effect of the vote might take some time, but apparently Turkey has recalled its ambassador, which seems to me like major news given the major relationship between the two countries. --PlasmaTwa2 23:09, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
According to this Obama plans to block the bill. If that happens this will likely blow over, but if not... well then we'll have to wait and see --Daviessimo (talk) 09:19, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Fiji

"Fiji jails eight over plot to kill Bainimarama". --candle•wicke 20:52, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Well? Any article suggestion or support? --candle•wicke 16:01, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I'm leaning toward oppose on this one...there's many plots to kill Obama, for example, resulting in jailings that went on ITN. If there's major protests, or if Bainimarama was killed, that's obviously a different story. SpencerT♦Nominate! 04:31, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

British soldier who went AWOL is demoted and jailed

The article Joe Glenton could be created if there is support. "a cause celebre for the anti-war movement". Took part in an anti-war protest. Protesters supported him in court and outside his army base. "He was absent for 737 days before handing himself in". Imprisonment is reported by CNN and case was covered by euronews last year so not just a small British news story from today. His mother is "extremely angry" and is going to annoy the Ministry of Defence in future too. Interesting change of topic from all the recent death. --candle•wicke 18:46, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Unfortunately, it falls under WP:BLP1E Physchim62 (talk) 19:06, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
(edit conflict)Eh... strikes me as a WP:BLP1E if a stand-alone article was started. Still, Oppose even if in another article- one man's going AWOL and getting thrown in jail isn't significant enough for ITN. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 19:08, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Very well. Seemed a prominent enough campaigner and "one of the first serving soldiers to attend an anti-war demonstration since Afghanistan was invaded in 2001" doesn't strike me as an ordinary individual. --candle•wicke 19:37, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Interesting as it is, it's not exactly earth-shattering news, nor likely to have wide appeal. Modest Genius talk 16:21, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Samburu National Reserve

Interesting, but not quite notable enough. SpencerT♦Nominate! 04:31, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 4

March 4, 2010 (2010-03-04) (Thursday)

ITN candidates for March 4

Togolese presidential election, 2010

The Togolese presidential election, 2010 will be held to elect a president - Dumelow (talk) 12:56, 8 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

(BBC) Both current president Faure Gnassingbé and opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre have claimed victory. EU observers have raised concerns over electoral fraud. Provisional results will be out later today but final results will likely be delayed by the allegations - Dumelow (talk) 10:08, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support, as per ITNR. The article looks good, though with both candidates claiming victory, we should probably hold off a bit.--Johnsemlak (talk) 03:46, 7 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The results are in with Gnassingbé winning a re-election. The opposition has disputed the results but ECOWAS says it is pleased with the running of the election - Dumelow (talk) 16:09, 8 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Ships stuck in Baltic Sea

BBC. 1000s of passengers are stuck in middle of baltic sea due to ice. interesting since u dont normally hear passenger ships stuck like that. -- Ashish-g55 01:08, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Reuters: Dramatic drop in Chile death toll

How do you lose 500 people!? Something very odd here, either they're hiding something or they've made a gigantic error... --candle•wicke 23:40, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

According to the BBC, the figure of 279 is the number of identified bodies, while 802 is the number "confirmed to have died" (such as the bus full of pensioners swept out to sea, I presume). Physchim62 (talk) 08:13, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Death of Vladislav Ardzinba

  • The first President of Abkhazia dies at age 64 - TouLouse (talk) 20:45, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. --candle•wicke 21:32, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support - Even though Abkhazia is not an officially recognised country it has been the source of considerable tension in the Caucasus region. I would thus suggest that the death of one its most prominent politicians is an important event --Daviessimo (talk) 21:44, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. His presidential term ended in 2005, and for the last two years he was in extremely poor health. Former presidents don't get an automatic ticket onto ITN. Physchim62 (talk) 22:40, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
OK, there seems a fair amount of support for this one, I'll strike the oppose. Physchim62 (talk) 09:46, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Does that exclude Bill Clinton? His heart has certainly not been too steady over the last decade at all. --candle•wicke 23:07, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
(ec)Without wanting to turn this into another one of those discussions, how can you justify those criteria, when we have listed other former politicians who were not in office at the time of death and whose deaths were not unexpected (Alexander Haig springs to mind). It seems that when it comes to deaths on ITN, there is a real hit and miss approach to maintaining continuity in the criteria that are used to judge cases. --Daviessimo (talk) 23:09, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Well, if a president dies in office, it's ITN/R. Ardzinba didn't die in office, nor did he die tragically or unexpectedly. So we have to see if he was particularly notable as a politician, and I don't think he was. Physchim62 (talk) 23:28, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. The death of a president, current or former, is hardly an everyday occurrence. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 23:32, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support' Seems like he started this de facto indept state by raising an army and fighting the Georgians. Notable YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 00:36, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support In some ways, the reason there is an Abkhazia. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 01:01, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Updated.
Suggest: Vladislav Ardzinba, (pictured) the first President of the Republic of Abkhazia, dies in a Moscow clinic at the age of 64. --candle•wicke 03:32, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support: Important person in history of trouble-torn former Soviet region. His work of forming an army and program of Indigenization can be seen as major historical change for break away region. --GPPande 08:18, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is this going to be posted soon or is anything else required? --candle•wicke 14:55, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Looks OK to me. I'd be wary about posting the pic though. It looks like an official photo (as opposed to a personal one) and the commons user has received several copyright warnings - Dumelow (talk) 15:06, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Posted, without the picture, which is an obvious copyright violation. -- tariqabjotu 15:28, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
    • Perhaps we could use this image instead. --BorgQueen (talk) 18:15, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
      • Perhaps. --candle•wicke 20:47, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
        • I would say "don't be silly", but it's too late for some precocious posters! The engraving on the coin is subject to copyright, just like the Australian Aboriginal flag (even more so, in fact, given the obvious artistic input into the engraving on the coin). The image is in violation of the copyright of the engraver, and should be removed. Physchim62 (talk) 21:22, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I've put a comment on the WT:ITN, thinking that that's a place to raise an issue and raise it quickly. Anyway to put it short there you can find a critique on the choice of "partially recognised" syntagma because it is biased, IMO. Best, --Biblbroks's talk 00:20, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Asilisaurus

The discovery of this little fella apparently means that dinosaurs existed on earth a little bit earlier than first thought (well 10 million years, which isn't that long). More information is available here --Daviessimo (talk) 17:16, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. It's interesting and it's not bad news. The article could use a little expansion of the information is available, though. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 01:19, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I thought the BBC wasn't very reliable for science... --candle•wicke 03:34, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

2010 Pratapgarh stampede

  • Support: Very serious stampede and administration is under attack for negligence in not preparing for crowd management. Over 10000 devotees had come to temple. --GPPande 11:49, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. --candle•wicke 13:20, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support as per GP Pande. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 13:59, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
article kinda needs to be a lot better though. its one line right now -- Ashish-g55 14:18, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Expanded. Suggest: More than 60 people are killed during a stampede at a temple in Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh. --candle•wicke 15:47, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Needs a copy-edit... I'll do what I can. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 16:09, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Posted, but I used "Kunda" instead of "Pratapgarh district" as the town where the stampede occurred has a name. You may want to change the name of the article to reflect that. -- tariqabjotu 16:10, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
ITN today looks so sad. stampede, bombing, landslide, storm and earthquake. we just need some disease outbreak and we got a full house :) -- Ashish-g55 18:53, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Or the death of a President which has just arrived above... :-O --candle•wicke 21:32, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 3

March 3, 2010 (2010-03-03) (Wednesday)

ITN candidates for March 3

1st direct flight to Bangalore launched

This is the "first not-stop flight from Chengdu to India, and is also the first flight from China to India's "Silicon Valley" Bangalore [...] According to marketing staff of Air China, the route is likely to attract passengers from Southeast Asia as the Bangalore-Japan and the Bangalore-South Korea routes have not yet been opened". --candle•wicke 17:48, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

  • Oppose Cathay Pacific Flight 6710 already runs 4-days a week from Hong Kong, PRC to Bangalore. Another connection from the PRC to an Indian city just isn't all that notable. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 21:27, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support as Hong Kong isn't really in mainland China, if you fly from Hong Kong to Beijing you go through the International lane. So if this is the first flight from mainland China to India it is notable. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 22:18, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Oppose I've changed my mind as according to that article there appear to have been other flights from China to India so its not notable. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 22:25, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose.--Saki talk 04:57, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Death of Keith Alexander

I've never heard of him before now but was watching the video from the link I found on the BBC's home page and it said he was "the first black manager in Britain to get a permanent appointment". The death seems very sudden and unexpected (he was managing his team on the very night of his death) and just collapsed when he went home hours later. He was 53 so not an old man. I've never heard of a sports manager just dying while in their job (it must've happened but I'm not sure if its very common at all). USA Today (international coverage?) says he was "one of the few black managers in English football" as well. --candle•wicke 15:59, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Oh and USA Today also says "The Football Association announced that England's players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect in Wednesday's friendly against Egypt at Wembley Stadium" if that is any help at all. --candle•wicke 16:01, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support - TouLouse (talk) 16:15, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Thought it over and noticed that he was a coach for fourth-tier English football teams. That's not all that notable. Some of the elements seem itn-worthy, and if he was a high-level coach I could see myself supporting. Wizardman Operation Big Bear 17:01, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. Not that notable. If he were the first to manage a premiership team then maybe.--Johnsemlak (talk) 17:53, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Combine with death of Michael Foot Proposed: "Two British individuals, unheard of outside of Britain, die." Nutmegger (talk) 21:26, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Was never at the height of his profession. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 21:30, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose 4th flight team. Ranked > 60 YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 23:02, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
You know, that kind of shows the jingoism abound on ITN. Half the people who die and get on ITN are only notable nationally. I bet that if the Queen were to die right now some people would still oppose her getting on to the main page. Sceptre (talk) 06:19, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Her Majesty-long may she reign- is head of state of sixteen countries. Comparing her to a mid-level football manager isn't anywhere near to a fair analogy. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 06:24, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
First of all, God save Her Majesty, long may She reign. Second, I oppose posting this death because the gentleman's death, while tragic, has not had anything like the effect I'd like to see for ITN. A better comparison than Her Majesty might be Sir Alex Ferguson of whom I'm sure everybody has heard whether they like football or not and, unfortunately, it seems Fergy is miles above this gent in terms of notability and, for a sports coach, I'd say that would be my interpretation of "very important figure in their field of expertise". Now, it's half past 6 in the morning and I need sleep! HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 06:41, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It was more directed at the tone of Nutmegger's proposed hook. It's actually really offensive: I mean, when I heard about it last week, I thought "who the fuck is Alexander Haig?" Sceptre (talk) 07:47, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I agree that Nutmegger's comment was uncalled-for. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 21:34, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Death of Michael Foot

    • I'm invoking Ted Kennedy, and taking my leave. Sceptre (talk) 12:59, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
    • Oppose: 96 is ripe age. Article updated with just one single line about his death announcement. --GPPande 13:09, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
      • Being a Labour member, I'm an admirer of Foot, even if he was too left-wing for my beliefs sometimes. Having said all this, I have to take a step back and see that, although he was a big figure in British politics in the late 70s and early 80s, he was still only a party leader who didn't win power. Considering his lack of high position, and the fact his death is not unexpected considering he's 96, I have to oppose. HonouraryMix (talk) 13:09, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment - I don't think age can really be used as a criterion against inclusion in this case because we have in the past set a precedent of listing politicians deaths, irrelevant of age. Two recent examples are Jyoti Basu (95 yrs old) and Alexander Haig (85 yrs old). --Daviessimo (talk) 13:53, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Both the leaders, you mentioned, had left profound impact on their country. More, Jyoti Basu's more than 2 decades of continuous communist rule (democratically elected) cannot be matched anywhere else in the world. --GPPande 14:32, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Actually I don't think that factoid is as notable as one might think. There are or have been democratically elected communist politicians in post-Soviet Russia, many quite long-serving.--Johnsemlak (talk) 18:06, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Exactly. They were judged not on age, but on other merits. I am simply saying this should be extended to other deaths. Simply stating 'oh he's 96, so this death isn't notable' cannot be seen as a valid argument when in other instances age is overlooked. Irrelevant of age, any death should be judged primarily on a person's contribution to their field. I would personally question whether this death is notable enough, because the highest position he has held was leader of the opposition, but I would certainly never take a look at a persons age and use that as my argument --Daviessimo (talk) 14:59, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Since his achievements seem to have been relatively little for someone in his field I checked if this death had yet had any international significance. Having just checked Google News for coverage of this outside the UK I could only find RTÉ, forth, CNBC. I did this because one might expect any significant UK political death to get a lot of coverage in at least the US or Commonwealth but perhaps it is too early to tell at the moment. Neutral for now until I or someone else can find something to give me a reason to support. --candle•wicke 15:22, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. On the age matter, obviously dying of old age at 96 is enough to solely exclude him. It's really more important that he's out of politics. (by comparison, Ted Kennedy and Josi Basu were active politically at their times of death.) Again, it's not a sole reason to reject him, but I think it's a valid argument against posting this death, unless the deceased had an extremely notable career. I don't think this is the case.--Johnsemlak (talk) 18:01, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Foot has gone international now. Long obituaries in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Hindu. See also: Malaysia Sun discuesses his importance to India, more on that in The Telegraph (Kolkata) and MyNews.in, more international mentions in the Irish Independent, The Irish Times and ABC News, Montreal Gazette, The Sydney Morning Herald. The Wall Street Journal seems to think he is "Notable & Quotable". Foot also apparently owed "a great debt" to Jews, according to The Jewish Chronicle. --candle•wicke 11:07, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support now for these reasons. --candle•wicke 11:08, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support as per Candlewicke. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 13:02, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose, since he never got beyond Leader of the Opposition. Incidentally, I think he's equally worth posting with Ted Kennedy, but opposed both. Modest Genius talk 14:40, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Willing to go along with whatever our UK people say. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 21:30, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Iraq suicide attack in Baqubah

Support. "The bomber followed crowds of the wounded into the hospital and detonated himself in an effort to get the police chief as well", according to the description of the third bomb on Al Jazeera. --candle•wicke 15:29, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support something is due to be posted too, and this seems fairly serious. -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 23:11, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support if and only if that article expands. Working on it. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 00:16, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Needs more work, but I've done what I can. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 02:04, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Article actually looks pretty decent thanks largely to Bradjamesbrown's efforts. It doesn't have to be FA standards to go up on ITN and it'll probably attract more attention and further development while it's up. Besides, we haven't had an update in 34 hours. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 02:15, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Posted. Update long overdue and article looks fine - Dumelow (talk) 08:12, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Ukraine

  • Ukraine's parliament has passed a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's government. [40] Needs update but this is a big story. --Tone 13:07, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
    • From what little I've read, it looks like this means Yulia will have to resign. If she does resign, strong support. HonouraryMix (talk) 18:11, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Depends. If she resigns, do they have a new election? If so, we should wait for that. If not, this could be a story. In any case, 'looks like' she will resign isn't enough. Modest Genius talk 18:24, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Confirmation. She has resigned, and from my understanding of Ukrainian politics a new election isn't held when the incumbent Prime Minister goes. Just up to a coalition of parties to come together in support of a new candidate, I think. With these developments, I reiterate my support. HonouraryMix (talk) 11:41, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose. My feeling on this is that it is still the fallout from the presidential election. Tymoshenko has been forced out as Prime Minister because she lost the presidential election, that's it. Either a new Prime Minister will be found who can gain the confidence of parliament, or there will be legislative elections: in either case, we will have an ITN story when it happens. I don't think the fall of a government for what are essentially internal political reasons is sufficient for ITN: when we post falls of governments, it is usually because the reason behind the fall has a certain international impact. For examples, see the recent fall of the Dutch government over "Afghanistan" or the fall of the Icelandic government this time last year over the spectacular effects of the global financial crisis in that country. Physchim62 (talk) 12:04, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Good points. Try again when a successor is appointed? Modest Genius talk 16:24, 6 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 2

March 2, 2010 (2010-03-02) (Tuesday)

ITN candidates for March 2

Saboteur Oil Spill in Italy's longest river

Environmental campaigners have warned of impending disaster after saboteurs attacked a disused refinery, resulting in a massive oil slick on Italy's Po River. Environmental disaster feared as oil slick flows down Italy's longest river, Officials Warn of Ecological Disaster Caused by Oil Spill in Italy —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.152.188.17 (talk) 18:05, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

  • Support. Intential oil spill in a major populated river region, but the information and citations in the relavent section of the article needs to be expanded. ~AH1(TCU) 03:27, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support YellowMonkey (vote in the Southern Stars and White Ferns supermodel photo poll) 03:40, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Reading the Telegraph article it seems the government has not yet declared a state of emergency. Damage to human life is ruled out and as of now damage to plant life/birds seems not big, even though all this is expected to go up (I hope it doesn't go up). I think we should wait and watch this news before rushing to post it. Also, environmental activists had warned of such disaster considering that the refinery was abandoned. --GPPande 07:31, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Fireworks explosion kills 21, injures 48

Twenty-one people, including five children, were killed and 48 were injured in an explosion triggered by a fireworks display in a village in Guangdong province, China. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/2010-03/01/content_9524133.htm —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.152.188.17 (talk) 17:45, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Any sign of an article? HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 17:52, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment. I'm pretty sure that fatal accidents involving fireworks are pretty common in China during holidays and festivals, but this appears to be somewhat more significant as it killed almost twice the number of people than a week before. ~AH1(TCU) 03:26, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support when there is an article per AH1 saying this is an unusual number of deaths. --candle•wicke 15:25, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Nord Stream

GDF Suez joins the Nord Stream gas pipeline taking a 9% stake in the project.[41] Beagel (talk) 17:49, 26 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe I'm missing something very obvious, but I'm not seeing this memorandum of understanding as ITN worthy- the pipeline was going to be built with or without this investment. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 15:11, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

2010 Uganda landslide

Initial estimates places death toll between 30 and 45, with a least 100 missing --Daviessimo (talk) 12:19, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support: Significant death toll and nicely updated article. --GPPande 12:55, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I've created the above article. Death toll now stands at 50 --Daviessimo (talk) 13:17, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Support. Article is good quality and seems to be quite a high death toll. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 13:27, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I have expanded the article further. Lets post. --GPPande 14:37, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, I go with that. Support. Physchim62 (talk) 14:57, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Concur. Bradjamesbrown (talk) 15:07, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Posted by Tariqabjotu. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 16:18, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
    • Uh, yeah, I probably should have indicated that, but I got sidetracked trying to crop a picture of the Olympic Closing Ceremony so that people weren't wondering WTF is that? By the time I finished that -- and I didn't really -- I had to go. -- tariqabjotu 17:20, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]


March 1

March 1, 2010 (2010-03-01) (Monday)

ITN candidates for March 1

Georgia–Russian border re-opened

Re-opened for the first time in four years. (Al Jazeera) (Press TV) (Toronto Sun) (Xinhua) --candle•wicke 20:34, 1 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I modified the header to the Georgia-Russia relations article, which I think is the appropriate target. It's hard for me to see the international significance of this. The al-Jazeera article says this portends no thaw in relations between the two countries. It's international, of course, but is it significant?--Chaser (talk) 05:04, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

British mission lost hundreds of Pakistani passports

Front view of a Pakistani passport
Front view of a Pakistani passport

Here is the links British mission lost hundreds of Pakistani passports, I think this is the single largest loss of Passports since many years.--yousaf465' 05:50, 1 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Support. --candle•wicke 20:34, 1 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Somebody please create a section/article.--yousaf465' 08:31, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Strongly support; an article could be started. --Saki talk 08:32, 2 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Somebody appears to have done that. Suggest: 118 Pakistani passports (pictured) are lost from the British High Commission in Islamabad. --candle•wicke 15:36, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose Several points about this nomination. First, this didn't happen recently. They lost the passports at some point (last year apparently), but they only acknowledged this recently. Next, I see news stories indicating this announcement goes as far back as February 26. This was nominated on March 1, and now it's March 3. The news story is a bit stale. Next, I don't know why the Pakistani passport article contains this information. That some embassy/high commission lost passports seems completely irrelevant to the topic of Pakistani passports. Further, the update is poor, not just in length, but in grammar. That certainly needs to be fixed. Lastly, this topic seems very, very poorly covered in the news. I literally find just three articles on Google News about this topic. Or is that because this isn't news? As I said, it sounds like they lost these passports awhile ago. -- tariqabjotu 17:30, 3 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Not only three, but many newspapers covered this story (sources on article page). I agree that this did not happened recently however media still reporting on this incident as missing passport still counting. I think it should be on the main page now. Do not leave it behind to become a stale news. --Saki talk 05:29, 4 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is anyone else still interested in this? --candle•wicke 21:21, 5 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Micheál Martin successfully enters Gaza

This was in the portal on February 25 but it seems nobody has noticed it. There's still time to include it, must be at least as important as India – Saudi Arabia relations which was posted earlier? It has been news everywhere from ArabNews to Press TV and if that isn't enough English-speaking there is also Irish Independent, RTÉ, The Irish Times, The Press Association. According to ArabNews, this is the "first ever visit to the Hamas-ruled enclave by a top Western government official" and he did so at the request of the United Nations. Other states, including Ireland have been refused entry before. I have updated the article Micheál Martin so just requires support. Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin visits Gaza on a one-day humanitarian mission. --candle•wicke 02:42, 1 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I don't see anything about this visit in The Jerusalem Post or the English version of Ha'aretz, the Israeli newspaper of record. It doesn't seem to have had a big impact outside of Ireland. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:50, 1 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
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