Wikipedia:In the news/Candidates/August 2008
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Archived discussion for August 2008 from Wikipedia:In the news section on the Main Page/Candidates.
August 31
- Hurricane Gustav:
- New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin orders the mandatory evacuation of the city ahead of Gustav. (NYT)
- President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney cancel visits to the 2008 Republican National Convention due to Gustav. (Los Angeles Times)
- Heavy rains in central Japan cause flooding in Okazaki city forcing evacuation of thousands of people. (CNN)
- Journalist Magomed Yevloyev, owner of the non-government news agency Ingushetiya.ru, is shot dead in police custody in Ingushetia. (BBC) (The Australian) (AP)
- The death toll of the 2008 Panzhihua earthquake rises to 32, with 467 others injured. More than 250,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed. (BBC)
ITN Candidates for August 31
- 2008 Panzhihua earthquake needs to expand a bit, otherwise it's a worthy ITN candidate. --74.14.18.83 (talk) 16:50, 1 September 2008 (UTC)
August 30
- Mass marches are held in more than 70 cities across Mexico, demanding stronger action against violent crime. (AP via CNN)
- The 2008 Panzhihua earthquake in China's Sichuan province kills at least 15 people and injures dozens more. (Reuters via MSNBC)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- Russia announces that South Ossetia will join 'one united Russian state' (The Times).
- Hurricane Gustav:
- The National Hurricane Center advises that Hurricane Gustav has strengthened to Category 4 strength. (AP via Google News)[permanent dead link]
- Cuba evacuates 60,000 people from the west of the island as Gustav approaches the island at Category 3 strength. (This is London)[permanent dead link]
- New Orleans residents start evacuating the city as it is expected to make landfall in the United States west of the city. (New York Daily News)
- A hurricane watch is issued from High Island, Texas, east to the border of Alabama and Florida. (AP via Minneapolis Star Tribune)[permanent dead link]
- An overcrowded Indian Army boat carrying dozens of victims of the 2008 Indian floods capsizes killing at least 25 people and taking the death toll to 85. (Reuters via Los Angeles Times)
- The Pakistan Army claims that 30 militants have been killed in Swat, NWFP, in heavy fighting in recent days. (AP via the Guardian)
- Italy compensates Libya for the forced colonization in the 1910s, promising to pay US$5 billion over the next 25 years. (Bloomberg)
- The head of the Mahdi Army in Karbala, Iraq, is sentenced to death over the Battle of Karbala (2007) (AFP)
ITN Candidates for August 30
- South Ossetia announces its intention to be annexed by Russia, to be merged with the Russian federal subject of North Ossetia-Alania. ----Kitch (Talk : Contrib) 19:23, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support, now that South Ossetia has been updated. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 19:55, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
- Why didn't this go up? Narayanese (talk) 17:10, 31 August 2008 (UTC)
- If I check the article, I see exactly one sentence of update. Expand this to include reactions from various sides and some comments from analysts and then it can go up. Remember that ITN is not a news service, there needs to be an update to the article. --Tone 19:03, 31 August 2008 (UTC)
- OK, I've expanded it into a paragraph (last one at #Political status), though it's not clear if all my sources are specifically about the announcement or come before it; they're all dated within the last 36 hours. Tone, could you have another look and I'll leave the decision to you.--chaser - t 20:13, 31 August 2008 (UTC)
- That's better, I will update the existing blurb about the topic. Check the wording, please. --Tone 20:48, 31 August 2008 (UTC)
- OK, I've expanded it into a paragraph (last one at #Political status), though it's not clear if all my sources are specifically about the announcement or come before it; they're all dated within the last 36 hours. Tone, could you have another look and I'll leave the decision to you.--chaser - t 20:13, 31 August 2008 (UTC)
- If I check the article, I see exactly one sentence of update. Expand this to include reactions from various sides and some comments from analysts and then it can go up. Remember that ITN is not a news service, there needs to be an update to the article. --Tone 19:03, 31 August 2008 (UTC)
August 29
- Protestors from the People's Alliance for Democracy seeking the overthrow of the Government of Thailand force the closure of Phuket Airport, Krabi Airport and Hat Yai Airport. (Melbourne Age)
- Hurricane Gustav reaches hurricane strength en route to the Cayman Islands, Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico. (CNN)
- Georgia cuts diplomatic ties with Russia following Russian recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. (AFP via ABC News Australia)
- Italian airline Alitalia files for bankruptcy protection. (BBC News)
- John McCain picks Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. presidential election. (AP via Google News)[permanent dead link]
- Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić refuses to enter pleas to charges including genocide and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia at The Hague. (AP via Google News)[permanent dead link]
- At least 11 people die this week and five are missing as a result of floods and landslides caused by heavy rain in Hà Giang Province in northern Vietnam. (AFP via ABC News)
- Energy group E.ON cuts 1,800 jobs as it closes two-thirds of its domestic service centres in Germany. (BBC News)
ITN Candidates for August 29
John McCain picks Sarah Palin as his running mate
- Shouldn't we have a photo of Sarah Palin? We did have a photo of Senator Biden when he was selected. Kelly hi! 15:09, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose, this is somewhat US-centric isn't it. Palin is just one of several candidates for a US political office. Plus it isn't official until the republican convention. 68.4.147.225 (talk) 16:40, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
Request change the current text to this, "Republican presidential nominee John McCain selects Sarah Palin (pictured), the Republican Governor of Alaska, as his vice-presidential running mate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election."
- Support this addition, but note that it was done without significant prior discussion. I was going to add the Obama acceptance early last night, and as an admin I could have done so, but instead I put it forward for discussion. I did put it up after I thought the concerns of the one "oppose" had been addressed, but when that was reverted by another admin I let it go. If I had put the Obama item up as soon as he formally accepted the nomination, instead of putting it forward for discussion, perhaps it would have stayed up for more than a few minutes. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 18:10, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- No the reason why this isn't going to be removed and the Obama thing was whatever the case is because we already had Obama when he was presumptive nominee. And we also had Biden about a week ago. So we have to put up Sarah Palin now but there is no intrinsic reason to put up Obama and it has been opposed when raised before. IIRC even Mwalcoff opposed it once although I have no idea if he still does so Nil Einne (talk) 22:54, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Well, having put the Biden thing up before really kind of settles it. You can't put one up and not the other, obviously. Danthemankhan 22:23, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support This was pretty much settled when we put Biden up Nil Einne (talk) 22:44, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support ...the headline. But I do not support the fact that it was added to the headline section by User:Nishkid64 without a consensus being reached first. I am concerned that it could set a bad precedent. This is at least the second time Niskid64 has done so. He did so before with regard to the Wah bombing on August 21 here. Although I agree that both stories belong in the headlines, I think a consensus must be reached first. Otherwise this page runs the risk of appearing biased. --Cdogsimmons (talk) 23:28, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- As I said before, since we put Biden up, so it was fair to include Palin. Still, I oppose any actions that are made without consensus. --Tone 10:24, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
Winston Peters stands down as New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, pending Serious Fraud Office investigates into political donations and allegations of corruption.
- everything has been updated to reflect this.
- Oppose While a scandal involving a high level member of government is sometimes suitable for ITN, I don't think this quite cuts it even more so that it remains simply allegations. Nil Einne (talk) 23:02, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
August 28
- U.S. presidential election: Democratic National Convention
- Illinois Senator Barack Obama accepts the nomination of the Democratic Party at the INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, becoming the first African American to be nominated by a major party for election as President of the United States. (BBC News)
- Mexico's Supreme Court resolves by an 8–3 vote to uphold the constitutionality of the Federal District's 2007 Abortion Law. (CSMonitor) (Guardian) (LA Times)
- Afghan and international troops claimed to have killed over 100 Taliban militants in fighting in the Helmand province over the past few days. (AFP via Google News)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- Russia's PM Vladimir Putin accuses unnamed individuals in the U.S. of orchestrating Georgia's military actions preceding the conflict with Russia. (CNN) Putin says the US provoked Georgia conflict. (RTE)
- Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili announces he will propose a Georgian 'Patriot Act' to Georgian Parliament. (Rustavi 2) Nika Gvaramia, the Justice Minister, stated before that Georgia needs 'a legislature similar to the one which is in the United States, I mean the Patriot Act [...] which will be directed against treacherous statements against the motherland'. Mikhail Saakashvili also added: 'We should finance the political parties and impose strict control to prevent any funding coming from the foreign countries'. Earlier in July, the Parliament of Georgia passed a 'highly controversial' act, depriving 6 oppositional political parties of funding, which was seen as a 'punishment' for boycotting the Parliament after the national elections these parties said 'were rigged'. (Civil.Ge)
- The EU consider sanctions for Russia over the Georgian crisis. (Sky News) (The Independent) (BBC News) (VOA)
- 12 Georgian soldiers are exchanged for Georgian General Roman Dumbadze, claimed to be a traitor by Georgians and a political prisoner by Russia. (Rustavi 2)
- The Shanghai Co-operation Organization refuses to back Russia in Russia-Georgia crisis. (Delfi) (Globe and Mail) (RTE)
- A mass funeral was planned near Tbilisi for 43 unidentified corpses handed over to Georgian authorities, all of them seriously damaged. (IOL)
- Georgia buries 26 Unknown soldiers (Civil).
- 85 Georgian military captives are exchanged for 13 Ossetian hostages. (Rustavi 2)
- Eka Tkeshelashvili, the foreign minister of Georgia, claims that ethnic cleansing is underway in South Ossetia and will be completed shortly. (AP via USA Today)
- 2008 Atlantic hurricane season
- Tropical Storm Gustav makes landfall on the island of Jamaica. The storm is responsible for at least 51 deaths in Haiti and 8 more in the Dominican Republic. (CNN)
- Tropical Storm Hanna forms northeast of the Leeward Islands. (AP via MarketWatch)
ITN Candidates for August 28
- Major League Baseball begins the use of Instant Replay for the first time in its over 100 year history.
- Oppose - Limited appeal (US-centric), mentions of rule changes in other more popular sports (Football, Cricket) which happen semi-regularly would equally be opposed. -93.96.212.203 (talk) 11:32, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- It seems of very limited interest, being a technical change to the way a sport is regulated (and not a particularly novel one at that). ReadingOldBoy (talk) 12:32, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose the baseball stuff, we could go with a combo item of combining a few Russia-Georgia war related news into a single item to put up. Hobartimus (talk) 15:34, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose, far too limited in interest. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 02:40, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support The issue of technology aiding umpires or referees in sport is of international interest. It exists in some form in cricket, tennis, rugby, american football and now baseball; its introduction into soccer is an ongoing debate. 86.44.24.187 (talk) 06:36, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Exactly, all those sports already implement it - this is hardly anything new in the sporting world. Hammer Raccoon (talk) 13:06, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
Nom:Hurricane Gustav (2008) -- The death toll is at nearly 60 and is likely to rise when it hits Jamaica today. caknuck ° is not used to being the voice of reason 21:17, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- As said below, propose a good formulation and it goes up. Cheers. --Tone 21:21, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- Illinois Senator Barack Obama accepts the nomination of the Democratic Party, becoming the first African American to be nominated for President of the United States by a major party.
- This is history in the making, folks. If a shorter formulation is preferred, we can drop "Illinois Senator". —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 02:40, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- More context, if needed:
- In the United States presidential election, Barack Obama accepts the nomination of the Democratic Party, becoming the first African American to be nominated for President of the United States by a major party. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 03:10, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Prefer this option. naerii 03:46, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- This is history in the making, folks. If a shorter formulation is preferred, we can drop "Illinois Senator". —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 02:40, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support. This is obviously an important event throughout the world, not just the US. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Benjaminx (talk • contribs) 03:58, August 29, 2008
- Oppose It's not and was already up in June. Therequiembellishere (talk) 04:09, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- If it's not of international interest, why is it (at the moment) the top story on BBC News (the UK edition, not just the international edition), The Age (Australia), Die Ziet (Germany), Le Monde (France), The Globe and Mail (Canada), El Universal (Mexico), O Estado de S. Paulo (Brazil) and Al-Jazeera; and on the front page of the Jerusalem Post, The Times of India, The Times of South Africa, Xinua News Agency (China), The Straits Times (Singapore), et cetera? —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 05:06, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oh, and in response to those who say "this was up in June" — actually becoming the nominee is different from numerically securing the nomination. This is an historic moment, and has been identified as such by many reliable sources. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 06:59, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Y'know what? It's been 23 hours since ITN was updated, and we don't have any other good candidates. I'm gonna be bold and just put this thing up. Another admin can revert if it's a problem — I won't wheel war. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 07:24, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oh, and in response to those who say "this was up in June" — actually becoming the nominee is different from numerically securing the nomination. This is an historic moment, and has been identified as such by many reliable sources. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 06:59, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- If it's not of international interest, why is it (at the moment) the top story on BBC News (the UK edition, not just the international edition), The Age (Australia), Die Ziet (Germany), Le Monde (France), The Globe and Mail (Canada), El Universal (Mexico), O Estado de S. Paulo (Brazil) and Al-Jazeera; and on the front page of the Jerusalem Post, The Times of India, The Times of South Africa, Xinua News Agency (China), The Straits Times (Singapore), et cetera? —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 05:06, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose. Technicalities aside, this was decided months ago. Formalizing it isn't even news-y. (Some of the campaign promises, the Clinton intrigue, and other speeches might be news, but giving him the nomination isn't. If you look at the news coverage they are talking about the new focus in his message and the other stuff, not the formalities of making him a candidate.) There is no reason to announce his candidacy now. I also don't see what article was significantly updated as a result of this event. Dragons flight (talk) 08:30, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Barack Obama has been updated, with lots of citations. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 14:54, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- No it hasn't. Changing "presumptive nominee" to "nominee" and switching infoboxes is not a substantial change, and none of the other work on his article in the last couple days addresses the nomination process. Dragons flight (talk) 16:11, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Barack Obama has been updated, with lots of citations. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 14:54, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose Too much coverage has already been provided for presidential election in USA. According me the next time any mention should be done in ITN about the US election is when one of the candidate wins the Nov election. --gppande «talk» 09:24, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Wow. I thought that Mwalcoff's (joking) rhetorical claim a few days back was excessive, but maybe not. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 14:48, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Did a meteor hit the convention that I'm not aware of? Or are you saying Obama is the messiah (whoever the hell that is?) Nil Einne (talk) 22:49, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- No, and no. But an African American being chosen by a major party as its presidential nominee is a major milestone that I think should have been marked here. And my reaction was to the claim that the next time the US election should be mentioned on ITN is when it's over in November. That's absurd. It was appropriate to put the Palin nomination up, and if the Obama acceptance had gone up I'd have supported McCain's acceptance as well. But it seems I'm in a minority on this one, and I'll go with the consensus. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 19:36, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
- But this already happened in June! The formality was the final step in the milestone but the most important event, the one we did highlight was arguably in June (even if it wasn't the most important event, since we already highlighted it once, it's a bit late to change our minds). Note that I've supported highlighting if Obama or Hillary won for a long time, as have a large number of others that I've seen (I did not initial support someone not unusual, as we did with McCain but eventually changed my mind and IIRC I offered full support to McCain at the time). I don't know if GbPande has or hasn't or would have/haven't supported the idea of highlighting Obama/Hillary, his/her response here doesn't really speak of the matter. And we also highlighted McCain whenever that was and since it was no milestone, frankly putting it again is a rather clear cut example of American centrism. (And as you've graciously concended, you're in an extreme minority here so clearly many people at least agree neither was necessary) So the only thing that GbPande missed is the Palin thing. But frankly, the case to put up either vice presidential selection was never that strong, and McCains VP even less so (since as someone pointed out somewhere, there is much more international interest in Obama then McCain) but it's clearly not fair to put up Biden but not McCain's VP so we should have put up McCain's VP. But I don't know if GbPande even knew Biden was put up and even if he/she did, he/she is entitled to disagree with putting up McCain's VP since as I've said, it's not a strong case ignoring the fairness issue which GbPande may not consider that important. So really what more is there to put up about the election until it happens? Nothing! Like GbPande said. So what exactly was absurd about what GbPande said? Nothing! It seems to me that your response was absurd. Sure if one of the candidates dies or is involved in a major scandal or whatever then there may be, but most likely GbPande was not referring to unexpected developments. Or are you suggesting we put up the debates or something as well (I'm serious here since I'm mystified as to why you find ito so strange that GbPande felt there should be no more election stuff until November given that the only thing which was a clear cut case was McCain's VP, and if you seriously feel that there is such a strong case to put up Obama again, let alone McCain, then IMHO it's no wonder people sometimes overact re American centrisim)? The other issue is if you are unable to understand that there is a very big difference between even Obama winning the election and becoming the first African American President and the messiah (I still don't know who the hell that is) visiting Delaware or an asteroid wiping out a city then well frankly, then I simply don't know what to say other then repeat again, THERE IS A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE and if you are unable to understand that, perhaps read up a bit on the world before you participate in ITN. Being sarcastic is one thing. Saying something so idiotic it just destroys the whole discussion is another. And yes, saying that because an editor disagrees with inclusion in a borderline case means that editors are going to reject astronomical events is offensive and dumb, and destroys the discussion completely. In any case, the fact that one editor may or may not overeact, doesn't change the fact that the majority of editors don't which is the key point. Ultimately there are often going to be editors who make strange comments saying something is whatever-centric when it isn't, however the substanial majority are never that bad and we really should be considering the substanial majority not the odd editor with uncommon views that aren't really supported by anything. Note that I've never denied (or at least I've never intended to) that a small number of people are more likely to overeact to perceived American-bias, there are various reasons for this including the fact that American bias by far is the most common on wikipedia. But by and large, when it comes to more substanial over-reactions, I've always believed and I still believe there are more likely in cases when something is accused of being biased in some way other then American P.S. The reason why I said McCain's VP above is because at the time, we did not know it was going to be Palin. The fact that it was Palin, a female thereby almost ensuring there will either be a African American President or a female vice-president is rather significant and changes the equation somewhat and makes the case for putting up Palin a fair amount strong. But since this not something we could predict, it is obviously not a consideration when you state you don't feel something should happen. P.P.S. Note on the issue of fairness, we did not put up Sarkozy despite putting up Royale, which I think was the right thing in that case even if the McCain VP has different issues which means fairness is more important it's surely understandable that GbPande didn't agree. Nil Einne (talk) 17:15, 1 September 2008 (UTC)
- No, and no. But an African American being chosen by a major party as its presidential nominee is a major milestone that I think should have been marked here. And my reaction was to the claim that the next time the US election should be mentioned on ITN is when it's over in November. That's absurd. It was appropriate to put the Palin nomination up, and if the Obama acceptance had gone up I'd have supported McCain's acceptance as well. But it seems I'm in a minority on this one, and I'll go with the consensus. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 19:36, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
- Did a meteor hit the convention that I'm not aware of? Or are you saying Obama is the messiah (whoever the hell that is?) Nil Einne (talk) 22:49, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Wow. I thought that Mwalcoff's (joking) rhetorical claim a few days back was excessive, but maybe not. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 14:48, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
- Comment There has been substanial opposition to this whenever it has been raised previously because it is mostly a formality (akin to the way we don't generally put a swearing in of a Prime Minister or President). The first black thing was likewise already on ITN when he became the presumptive nominee> Note also this is the second discussion taking placea bout this on this page, there is one right below it Nil Einne (talk) 22:48, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
August 27
- A flaw in the internet's Border Gateway Protocol that was described ten years ago now "can be used to invisibly eavesdrop on all traffic originating from a particular set of IP blocks." (Ars Technica)
- U.S. presidential election: Democratic National Convention
- Senator Barack Obama is formally selected by acclamation as the nominee of the Democratic Party. Senator Joe Biden is formally selected as the vice presidential Democratic nominee in the same manner by acclamation. (AP via Google News)[permanent dead link]
- As many as 71 illegal immigrants are feared drowned after their boat sinks in the Mediterranean off the coast of Malta. (BBC News)
- The Dalai Lama cancels two international trips (Mexico & Dominican Republic) to undergo medical tests due to "exhaustion". (AP via USA Today)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- David Cameron threw his weight behind international condemnation of Russia with a call for the suspension of European negotiations with the superpower. (The Guardian)
- A Russian armoured personnel carrier raced down the road to where Georgian policemen were manning their checkpoint at the village of Mosabruni, just inside South Ossetia. (BBC News)
- Georgia PM: War damage is estimated at $1 billion. (Forbes)
- Georgia is minimizing the level of diplomatic co-operation with Russia, recalling all but two diplomats from Moscow. (Xinhua)(Civil Georgia)
- French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is expressing concern that Russia, riding high after its victories in Georgia, may target other neighbors, such as Moldova and Ukraine. (USA Today)
- Russia's MICEX Index fell to its lowest level since September 2006 on Tuesday after President Dmitry Medvedev's recognized South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence, and the ruble tumbled to a seven-month low against the U.S. dollar. (Moscow Times)
- Russia will be looking for unambiguous support from Asian nations, including China, in its standoff with the West over South Ossetia and Abkhazia when the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meets Thursday in Dushanbe. (Moscow Times)
- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has condemned Russia's 'unacceptable' decision to recognise the Georgian rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. (RTE)
- British Foreign Secretary David Miliband warns Russia against starting a new Cold War. (The Independent) (Sky News)
- U.S. aid arrives in tense Georgia. (CNN)
- The United States condemns the decision by the Russian President to recognize as independent states the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. (Rustavi 2)
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, said on August 27 Beijing was "concerned of the latest development in South Ossetia and Abkhazia." (Civil)
- Hijackers of a Sudanese Boeing 737 free all 100 passengers at Kufra Airport in Libya but hold on to the flight crew. (AFP via Google News)
- Thousands of protesters storm the Thai Prime Minister's office and other government buildings, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. (Reuters)
- 22 are killed after Hurricane Gustav makes landfall over Haiti. (AP via Yahoo! News)
- An earthquake with a claimed magnitude of 9.0 occurred off the southern coast of Lake Baikal. It was felt strongly in Baykalsk and Slyudyanka, two towns in Slyudyansky District, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. (Information agency The city of News; in Russian language)
ITN Candidates for August 27
Do we have an article for this? SpencerT♦C 02:16, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nominating Del Martin as up to date with regards to her death, noted in the blurb above. Maralia (talk) 19:49, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
- Not really notable...and not listed at WP:LILP. SpencerT♦C 22:47, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nominating Hurricane Gustav. Wording could use some improvement though. SpencerT♦C 22:52, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
- I'd wait for when/if there's major evacuation orders, and that way we avoid the refresh if we post the Caribbean info now. Titoxd(?!? - cool stuff) 00:08, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- Apparently there are some in Louisiana, looking at P:CE. SpencerT♦C 00:29, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- Considering that it's hitting Jamaica ATM, I think that this warrants front page mention. I'm going to re-nom this for today. caknuck ° is not used to being the voice of reason 15:47, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- Apparently there are some in Louisiana, looking at P:CE. SpencerT♦C 00:29, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- I'd wait for when/if there's major evacuation orders, and that way we avoid the refresh if we post the Caribbean info now. Titoxd(?!? - cool stuff) 00:08, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support. Prepare a good formulation and I'll put it on. The article is well-written. --Tone 19:37, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- The United States Democratic Party nominates Barack Obama for the presidency of the United States. He is the first African-American candidate of a major party in American history.
- No. We already put this up in June (I know if official now), but since we will also be putting up McCain's VP next week, I say no. -CWY2190(talk • contributions) 23:10, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
- McCain's VP pick isn't a very good reason not to promote this. Biden's mention could easily be removed and this could replace it. Cumulus Clouds (talk) 23:12, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
- Already put up in June. SpencerT♦C 00:03, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- No. This was already up before. Hobartimus (talk) 01:18, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
August 26
- A Sudanese plane is hijacked shortly after taking off from Nyala in the Darfur region and flown to Kufra in Libya. (CNN)
- Tamil Tigers carry out an air raid on a major naval base at Trincomalee on the east coast of Sri Lanka, injuring four sailors. (BBC News)
- Flight delays hit more than two dozen United States airports because of a communication network problem in a Federal Aviation Administration facility in Atlanta, Georgia. (MarketWatch) (Chicago Tribune)
- At least 28 people are killed after a suicide bombing in the province of Diyala, Iraq. (Reuters via The Ottawa Citizen)
- Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim wins a landslide victory in the by-election in Permatang Pauh. (AP via Yahoo! News)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- Russia recognises the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.(The New York Times) (Earth Times)
- U.S. President George W. Bush says Russia's president should not recognize two breakaway regions of Georgia as independent countries, despite pleas from Russian lawmakers (Rustavi 2) White House spokesman Tony Fratto says shortly after Russia's recognition that Russia is making a number of "irrational" decisions that puts its place in the world at risk.(AP via Google News)
- Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt condemns Russia's "deliberate violation of international law", saying that "the Russian government leadership now has chosen this route means they have chosen a policy of confrontation, not only with the rest of Europe, but also with the international community in general".(Warsaw Business Journal) (The Local)
- Russia recognises the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.(The New York Times) (Earth Times)
- Hurricane Gustav
- Tropical Storm Gustav becomes Hurricane Gustav as it approaches Haiti. (Reuters)
- A Haitian man dies in a landslide caused by Hurricane Gustav. (AP via Google News)[permanent dead link]
- The Koshi River breaks embankment to pick up the course abandoned over 200 years ago causing floods in the Indian state of Bihar and killing 42 people. (CNN-IBN)
ITN Candidates for August 26
- Nominating Kosi_River#2008_flood_in_Bihar. Major flood event caused by change of course of river as it breached embankment. River flows from Nepal to India. If selected, please award me a similar ITN sovienier on my talk page. --gppande «talk» 10:38, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- Looks updated and sourced. Just correct In Bihar, over 12 lakh people were affected. A random reader is not familiar with lakh and it is confusing (it was for me at least.) --Tone 10:52, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- Done --gppande «talk» 11:21, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- And don't use 12,00,000 notation because it creates even more mess. Use 120,000. (WP:MOS) --Tone 11:28, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- I changed to 1.2 million people --gppande «talk» 13:23, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- What happened? Why was this not promoted? --gppande «talk» 06:13, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
- Any Admin alive out there???? --gppande «talk» 15:01, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
- Suggest a good formulation and I'll put it up. Hm indeed, am I the only admin who's been checking this site recently?? I can't do this all the time only by myself! --Tone 19:10, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
- And don't use 12,00,000 notation because it creates even more mess. Use 120,000. (WP:MOS) --Tone 11:28, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- Done --gppande «talk» 11:21, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
Over 2 million people in Bihar, India affected by flood as Koshi river changed its course.
- This should be a nice blurb I could think of. I can already see a red banner saying ITN is not updated for more than 24 hours. Please add this news to ITN. --gppande «talk» 07:59, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- Thanks for promoting this news to ITN but nobody credited me with ITN sovienier. Also the article highlighted should be of Koshi river as my suggestion and not the flood one. Koshi river article is more updated. --gppande «talk» 13:13, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
- Georgia–Russia relations includes a section on Medvedev's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; this could likely be expanded, but surely should be in ITN. Nyttend (talk) 12:59, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- I have just deleted the wrong-titled International reaction to the 2008 Abkhazia declaration of independence, made of one sentence. The article you mention is not enough updated at the moment but could be. Also, possible option is to have a section about this in 2008 South Ossetia war article. As far as I have checked, none of the articles has been updated yet. --Tone 13:09, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nom: Russia (president Medvedev pictured) formally recognizes the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The international response is mixed (or "mainly critical"). Comment: The recognition is a vital ingredient in the current conflict/war and Medvedev is the piovotal figure, even though his real power is questioned by some observers. Response is mostly negative, but that might be viewed as NPOV, so "mixed" or "mainly critical" might be more apropriate here. --Hapsala (talk) 14:04, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support. But Russia (president Medvedev pictured) officially recognizes the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia would be better. The international response can not reasonably be described as mixed, as Russia is the only sovereign state to recognize the entities. Willy turner (talk) 17:33, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong support. Put it up! This gives the South Ossetian war a completely new turning. Probably the most stunning move by the Russian leadership since the assassination of Emperor Nicholas II.217.21.232.237 (talk) 17:50, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- But the international response is in fact mostly negative (but Hapsala probably tries to be neutral and not accused of being a POV-pusher by the Putin fanclub).
- Strong support. This is a major international crisis between the United States, NATO and the Russian Federation. Hektor (talk) 18:10, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- If this goes up, please do not include the Medvedev picture (not that relevant). Calliopejen1 (talk) 18:12, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- "Not that relevant" (sic!) - Excuse me, but he is the only one who is entitled to make the formal decision for God's sake! --Hapsala (talk) 20:02, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- Not sure that it's the most stunning move (the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was a bit more surprising), but this is a better way to have this in ITN than my proposal a little above. Seeing that the vast majority of non-Russian and non-Georgian pronouncements on this topic are negative, perhaps we could say "the international response is mostly negative"? However, Medvedev would be quite relevant: he's the one that made the decision to recognise. Nyttend (talk) 18:15, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- "Not that relevant" (sic!) - Excuse me, but he is the only one who is entitled to make the formal decision for God's sake! --Hapsala (talk) 20:02, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
Has the person whose job it is to put items on the main page died or something? The big red sign says an update is very overdue. Since the Russia story is without doubt the most important story in the world today, can you please hurry up and put it up already. Willy turner (talk) 21:16, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- Adding. Looks no ITN regular admin came around earlier. As for the picture, upload it here first. --Tone 21:50, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- Tenetive nom of Hurricane Gustav (2008) (depending on death count). SpencerT♦C 02:07, 27 August 2008 (UTC)
August 25
- Canadian authorities report 12 people have died in the listeriosis outbreak traced to a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto. (Montreal Gazette)
- The 2008 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party begins in Denver, Colorado. (BBC News)
- Tropical Storm Gustav forms in the Atlantic Ocean and heads for the Dominican Republic and Haiti. (AP via Minneapolis-St Paul Tribune)[permanent dead link]
- Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announces that he is withdrawing his Pakistan Muslim League (N) party from Pakistan's governing coalition. (Newsweek)
- Russia is considering arming its Baltic Fleet with nuclear warheads for the first time since the Cold War. (Alfa)
- Israel releases 199 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to the President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas as the United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits the area. (AFP via Google News)
- Lovemore Moyo is elected Speaker of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. He is the first opposition speaker since the country's independence in 1980. (BBC News)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- The Federation Council of Russia, the upper house of the Federal Assembly, urges the President to recognise the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. (BBC News)
- Traffic begins to return to Georgia's main east-west highway after the departure of Russian troops who had closed the road. (The Moscow Times)
- France called a summit of European Union leaders for next week to discuss the conflict in Georgia. (The Wall Street Journal)
- There is evidence that the Russian army took part in looting in Poti, Georgia. (The Times)
ITN Candidates for August 25
- Image update: Enough with the Biden picture - how about this image of the Olympic stadium by night? Hapsala (talk) 17:33, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- Pardon if this isn't where it's supposed to go: I don't participate here normally. Both Abkazia and South Ossetia have bits about the unanimous resolution of the Federal Assembly of Russia in favor of recognizing these as independent states; is this sufficient for an ITN listing? It's surely more "impressive" than anything else here, whether Biden or the Olympics or anything else. Nyttend (talk) 20:43, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- This is probably not ITN worthy as neither house of the Federal assembly of Russia is entitled to actually make the formal decision. --Hapsala (talk) 22:08, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- Twelve people die from foodborne illness in a Canadian listeriosis outbreak.-Wafulz (talk) 13:43, 26 August 2008 (UTC)Let me know if I did this incorrectly.
August 24
- A suicide bomber attacks a feast in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib district resulting in at least 21 deaths. (BBC News)
- A small plane crashes east of Guatemala City, killing ten and injuring four. (Canadian Press via Google News)[permanent dead link]
- Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 6895, a Boeing 737, crashes in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan shortly after takeoff, killing 71 people. (AFP via Google News)
- 2008 South Ossetia War:
- A train carrying oil products hits a landmine and catches fire. A Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman blamed Russia for the blast. (CNN)
- The United States Navy's destroyer, the USS McFaul, arrives at the Black Sea port of Batumi to deliver aid for Georgia. (Bloomberg)
- United States warns that Russia is establishing permanent facilities in Georgia. (Xinhua)
- 2008 Summer Olympics:
- Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya wins the gold medal in the men's marathon at the 2008 Summer Olympics setting a new Olympic record of 2:06:32. (AP via Yahoo! News)
- The United States wins the gold medal in men's basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics. (ESPN)
- The Summer Olympics concludes after 16 days with the closing ceremony. (Xinhua)
- Protesters in the Indian state of West Bengal "lay siege" to the factory producing the Tata Nano, in a dispute over land expropriation. (BBC News)
ITN Candidates for August 24
- Nom Marathon world record, bolded link to Samuel Wanjiru. This is a world record in one of the premier olympic events, comparable to Usain Bolt's 100m WR. Random89 08:26, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- Not really notable seeing as it wasn't even a world record, only an olympic record— Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.30.187.169 (talk • contribs)
- Nom Basketball Gold, once article is updated, per WP:ITNSPORTS. Would prefer this to Marathon entry, as it would probably be either/or. Random89 09:04, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- Why is this any more important that any of the other gold medal wins, what's the significance?— Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.30.187.169 (talk • contribs)
- Nom land dispute protest, bolded link to Tata Nano, which has a suitably updated section. As of right now, this seems to be the article most ready to go up. Random89 09:09, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- What about a combination like: USA wins the basketball tournament and Samuel Wanjirun of Kenya sets a new Olympic record in marathon as the 2008 Summer Olympics conclude. We have indeed agreed on both marathon and basketball and today's the closing day. --Tone 10:18, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- Make it USA wins the basketball tournaments since the women's event is also included as per WP:ITNSPORTS. –Howard the Duck 14:17, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
OK, despite some hyperbole by a few users, I still believe that basketball results should go up. The article is short on prose, but there are significant updates to the tables and such. The Bolt item could be removed for balance, as there would still only be 2 olympics items on the template. This was discussed (if not fully agreed upon) before the games. Also, the current closing ceremony blurb does not mention medal counts, which tends to remove the US bias arguments. Random89 08:55, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- With respect to what you say about the medal counts: not really, because the US is the only country which considers that it "won" the medal tally. - Mark 14:24, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- Australian diver Matthew Mitcham achieves the highest single-dive score in Olympic history, winning the Men's 10m platform and preventing China from achieving a clean-sweep of the diving medals.
- Article is updated and referenced, and a much more newsworthy outcome than the US winning the basketball (yawn, what's new there). - Mark 10:34, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- IMO, neither should get on ITN. The biggest Olympics-related news should get on ITN, and the biggest Olympics-related news right now is the closing of the games. Bolt? It's time for him to bolt. --PFHLai (talk) 20:18, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- The basketball should go up because the biennial world basketball tournament normally goes up, weather it be the FIBA Championships (in 2002, 06, 10) or the Olympics (2004, 08, 12). -CWY2190(talk • contributions) 22:09, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- Aren't we also saying the China leads at the final medal tally/count/table? –Howard the Duck 00:38, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- No, because that will confuse Americans too much, who are under the impression that they "won". - Mark 01:53, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- How about this:
- The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing come to an end with the United States winning both gold medals in the Olympic basketball tournaments and collecting the most medals, with China winning the most gold medals.
- Anyone can straighten out the last part of the blurb. It's absolutely important to include the basketball tournament since it has recently beat the 2006 World Cup on TV viewership of a single game. –Howard the Duck 02:08, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- Why don't we just put the basketball as a second item below the closing bit? Plus it might be worth pointing out that it's the first time that China has won the most gold medals: they were second behind the US in 2004 and third behind the US and Russia in 2000. Quite a notable victory for them, at least in their eyes:
- The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing come to an end with China winning the most gold medals for the first time, while the United States collect the most medals in total.
- The United States wins both basketball tournaments at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- That's my suggestion, anyway. - Mark 02:22, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- I don't think a lot of people would like 2 consecutive Olympic-related items on ITN, with both of them mentioning "United States." Oh the horrors! –Howard the Duck 02:32, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- The basketball audience figure claim is complete bullshit. Please check out my response to the claim at WT:ITN before you continue to repeat FIBA nonsense. I supported and still support including the basketball result based on the premise we also include the FIBA tournaments so it doesn't make sense to exclude the Olympics result which is more important in the world of basketball but I strongly oppose including it at the expense of the marathon. The men's marathon is and has been for a long while the premier event at the olympics (the medal ceremony was part of the closing ceremony for heaven's sake) and including basketball but not including the marathon is frankly one of the silliest suggestions I've heard in a while. If having 3 olympics items at one time is too much, then either we ski basketball and only include the marathon or we skip them all an only include the closing ceremony. Nil Einne (talk) 18:41, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- I don't think a lot of people would like 2 consecutive Olympic-related items on ITN, with both of them mentioning "United States." Oh the horrors! –Howard the Duck 02:32, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- Why don't we just put the basketball as a second item below the closing bit? Plus it might be worth pointing out that it's the first time that China has won the most gold medals: they were second behind the US in 2004 and third behind the US and Russia in 2000. Quite a notable victory for them, at least in their eyes:
- How about this:
- No, because that will confuse Americans too much, who are under the impression that they "won". - Mark 01:53, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- Aren't we also saying the China leads at the final medal tally/count/table? –Howard the Duck 00:38, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- The basketball should go up because the biennial world basketball tournament normally goes up, weather it be the FIBA Championships (in 2002, 06, 10) or the Olympics (2004, 08, 12). -CWY2190(talk • contributions) 22:09, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- IMO, neither should get on ITN. The biggest Olympics-related news should get on ITN, and the biggest Olympics-related news right now is the closing of the games. Bolt? It's time for him to bolt. --PFHLai (talk) 20:18, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- Both Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men and Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women now have game summaries for the gold medal game so it's good to go. –Howard the Duck 12:26, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
- A passenger jet en route to Mashhad, Iran with 90 travelers on board crashes at Manas International Airport, approximately 50 km outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
- Second plane crash in a week, horrible. In any case, there has to be an update to the article, I suggest you start a separate article about it if there are enough details known already. When we have the article, this is ITN. --Tone 19:06, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- 2008 Itek Air crash is too stubby and needs to grow bigger. --PFHLai (talk) 20:13, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- Hi. Please consider: "Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 6895 crashes upon take-off near Manas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgystan, killing 68 people". In any case, strong support, articles are ready. ~AH1(TCU) 16:28, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- Added. The article looks ok, though a little short. --Tone 17:13, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- Hi. Please consider: "Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 6895 crashes upon take-off near Manas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgystan, killing 68 people". In any case, strong support, articles are ready. ~AH1(TCU) 16:28, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
- 2008 Itek Air crash is too stubby and needs to grow bigger. --PFHLai (talk) 20:13, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
August 23
- War in Somalia (2006–09)
- Two journalists and three other people are abducted by gunmen near Elasha, Somalia. (CTV News)
- War in North-West Pakistan
- A suicide bomber attacks a police station in Swat, NWFP, killing at least six officers and injuring several more. (AP via Contra Costa Times)[permanent dead link]
- 2008 South Ossetia war
- Russia announces that its military has pulled out of Georgia, although reports indicate that it has not complied with the cease-fire agreement. (BBC News) (The Independent) (Globe and Mail) (The New York Times) (BBC News) (CNN)
- The death toll from Tropical Storm Fay in Florida rises to 11. (AP via Los Angeles Times)
- A King Air A-100 crashes near Moab, Utah, United States, resulting in the death of the pilot and nine passengers. (AP via Las Vegas Review-Journal)
- The United States Department of Health and Human Services announces plans to implement a rule that would protect healthcare workers from being fired or otherwise penalized for refusing to provide services they find morally objectionable, such as performing abortions or dispensing contraception. (The Washington Post)
- U.S. presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama picks Senator Joe Biden as his vice-presidential running mate. (CNN)
ITN Candidates for August 23
Discussion regarding Biden pick already ongoing at Template_talk:In_the_news#Obama.27s_VP.
- Why did this even go up? The update to Biden's article doesn't meet the minimum standards established at WP:ITNMP. SpencerT♦C 14:10, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- The United States defeats Australia in the final of the Olympic women's basketball tournament to win their fourth successive gold medal.
- As per WP:ITNSPORTS. –Howard the Duck 04:22, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
August 22
- Hundreds of thousands of Muslim Kashmiris demonstrate in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir demanding independence from India. (BBC News)
- Usain Bolt leads Jamaica to a victory in world-record time in the men's 400-meter relay in the Olympics. (Los Angeles Times)
- Vassilis Paleokostas, the most wanted Greek fugitive since 2006 and the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of industrialist George Mylonas, is re-arrested by the Greek police. (BBC News)
- More than 60 people are reported to have been killed and 150 wounded during clashes in the Somali port of Kismayo. (BBC News)
- War in Afghanistan
- The United States-led coalition kills 30 Taliban militants in fighting in western Afghanistan. (AP via Google News)[permanent dead link]
- At least 76 civilians are killed following a coalition air strike near the village of Azizabad in the western province of Herat. (AFP via Ottawa Citizen)
- Pakistan will indirectly elect a new President of Pakistan on September 6 to replace Pervez Musharraf. (AFP via The Australian)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- Human Rights Watch confirms the use of cluster bombs by Russia during Georgia bombing, urges Russia to keep within the international norms and warns Georgia to take urgent measures to protect the civilian population in Georgian villages from unexploded ordnance left by Russian attacks. (Rustavi 2)
- Ten Georgian servicemen, who were detained by the Russian forces in Poti few days ago were released on August 22, the Georgian media sources reported. Twelve others, however, are still held by the Russian troops. (Civil)
- Russian troops have begun the process of pullout by abolishing the checkpoint arranged in the Igoeti sector of the central highway. (Rustavi 2)
- Russian troops have abolished several checkpoints in the Shida Kartli region, Georgia, and moved towards the conflict zone. (Rustavi 2)
- Russian troops say they are leaving Georgia. (Sky News) (CNN) (The Independent) (Alfa) (Bernardinai)
- US says Russian pullback in Georgia is "far too slow". (Reuters) (Delfi)
- Russia informs Lithuania that Russia is stopping military co-operation with Lithuania. (Delfi)
- Lithuania's Defense Minister Juozas Olekas has called for amendments to national defense legislation, which he says must be thoroughly revised and updated in the face of a potential Russia threat. (Alfa)
ITN Candidates for August 22
- Could you please update the Usain Bolt piece since he got a third gold medal in relay ? Hektor (talk) 14:25, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
- Comment: Another world record and gold medal for Bolt? Okay... How should we phrase this on ITN without taking up too much space? Anyway, the one-sentence paragraph about this is currently tagged with {{fact}} at Usain Bolt. This must be dealt with before this point gets on MainPage. --PFHLai (talk) 18:24, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
- I don't think it's neccesary, the same as we didn't mention Phelps winning the 7th medal after the 6th. --Tone 19:18, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
- I don't understand why this shouldn't be updated. I can't see any {{fact}} tag. Writing that he won two gold medals while in reality he won three gold medals is factually inexact and very misleading. Hektor (talk) 05:25, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- The fact tags have been removed and replaced with footnotes. Verifiablity is not an issue now. The current headline didn't say how many medals he has won. It is fine as is, but updating would be better. Now please draft a concise headline. --PFHLai (talk) 12:54, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- "Usain Bolt of Jamaica wins gold medals in the 100 metre and 200 metre sprints and 4x100 metre relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics, setting new world records of 9.69, 19.30 seconds, and 37.10 seconds, respectively." Too long? "Usain Bolt wins gold medals in the 100 metre and 200 metre sprints and 4x100 metre relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics, setting new world records in each event." DOSGuy (talk) 14:12, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- Too long. I suggest we wait until tomorrow and then replace this item with the closing ceremony. --Tone 14:15, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- How can it be too long? My second suggestion is 130 characters, while the existing text is 144. It's not longer, it's shorter! DOSGuy (talk) 16:35, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
- Too long. I suggest we wait until tomorrow and then replace this item with the closing ceremony. --Tone 14:15, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- "Usain Bolt of Jamaica wins gold medals in the 100 metre and 200 metre sprints and 4x100 metre relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics, setting new world records of 9.69, 19.30 seconds, and 37.10 seconds, respectively." Too long? "Usain Bolt wins gold medals in the 100 metre and 200 metre sprints and 4x100 metre relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics, setting new world records in each event." DOSGuy (talk) 14:12, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- The fact tags have been removed and replaced with footnotes. Verifiablity is not an issue now. The current headline didn't say how many medals he has won. It is fine as is, but updating would be better. Now please draft a concise headline. --PFHLai (talk) 12:54, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- I don't understand why this shouldn't be updated. I can't see any {{fact}} tag. Writing that he won two gold medals while in reality he won three gold medals is factually inexact and very misleading. Hektor (talk) 05:25, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- The Islamist group Al-Shabaab takes control of the Somali port of Kismayo after days of heavy clashes.--TheFEARgod (Ч) 17:48, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
- Comment: Al-Shabaab (Somalia) could use an update and a clean-up before the link gets onto MainPage. --PFHLai (talk) 18:19, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
- then avoid the link, what matters is the battle. --TheFEARgod (Ч) 11:25, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- C'mon, TheFEARgod, you know this is a not a good idea. (Though not an ITN requirement.)
- says who?--TheFEARgod (Ч) 15:02, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- Battle of Kismayo seems incomplete when the second and last section is "Background". --PFHLai (talk) 13:34, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
- C'mon, TheFEARgod, you know this is a not a good idea. (Though not an ITN requirement.)
August 21
- Somali pirates captured a total of three vessels in two days. (Xinhuanet)
- US District Judge Jeremy Fogel of the Northern District of California denies a motion by Universal Studios to dismiss a lawsuit against it alleging that Universal sent a DMCA takedown notice in bad faith. (text of the order via EFF) (Ars Technica)
- The United States Food and Drug Administration approves irradiation of lettuce and spinach to kill E. coli and other dangerous germs. (AP via Google News)
- 2008 Wah bombing: Two suicide bombings occur in the cantonment city of Wah Cantonment in Pakistan killing at least 76 people and injuring 110. (Xinhua)
- One student is killed in a shooting at Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Knoxville News-Sentinel)
- At least 74 people die in northern India as a result of heavy monsoon rains. (AP via Google News)[permanent dead link]
ITN Candidates for August 21
Is there an article for the monsoon? SpencerT♦C 11:39, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
- 2008 Indian floods created by me was featured in ITN few days back. --gppande «talk» 12:04, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
Was there a consensus reached about the Wah bombing that I'm not aware of?--Cdogsimmons (talk) 15:49, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
- I removed it at first but then I saw that the article was in fact relevant so I put it back. Ideally, there would be a debate but since it was ok already... --Tone 17:28, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
August 20
- Usain Bolt of Jamaica wins the 200-metre race in the 2008 Summer Olympics setting a new world record. (The New York Times)
- The United States and Poland sign an agreement to place an American missile defense base on Polish territory with Russia warning that its response will go beyond diplomacy.(The New York Times) (Houston Chronicle)
- Spanair Flight JK 5022 with 178 on board crashes on takeoff at Madrid's Barajas International Airport, causing 154 fatalities. (El País) (The International Herald Tribune) (AFP via Mercury)
- At least 11 people are killed and 31 injured in two bombings in the Algerian town of Bouira. (AFP via Google News)
- The United Kingdom Competition Commission recommends that BAA Limited should sell two out of its three airports in South East England (Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted) and one of its Scottish airports (either Edinburgh Airport or Glasgow International Airport) due to competition concerns. (BBC News)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- Human Rights Watch claims both Georgia and Russia violated rights of the civilian population during the conflict. Georgian ground offensive in South Ossetia included shelling of Tskhinvali, capital of South Ossetia, with Grad rocket systems and 'indiscriminate' use of tanks in the city, which caused 'numerous' civilian casualties and 'extensive' destruction. HRW says 'a hospital, apartment buildings, houses, schools, kindergartens, shops, administrative buildings, and the university' in Tskhinvali were 'severely damaged' during Georgian night-long 'uninterrupted' shelling of South Ossetian capital on August 7-8. Russian airforce, HRW reports, carried out bombardments of the two buildings in Georgian village in South Ossetia, 'that could be housing the Georgian military', and attacked presumably civilian convoy of several dozen cars. HRW also confirmed the Russian military's use of cluster bombs in two towns in Georgia, killing at least 11 civilians. (Human Rights Watch)
- An Amnesty International worldwide movement for human rights reported on August, 14, that the assault of the Georgian Army on Tskhinvali included '14 hours of bombardment' of the city. Amnesty International is still gathering information on the reported heavy civilian casualties, as well as reported bombings of non-military targets leading to deaths of civilians and the destruction of civilian buildings. (Amnesty International)
- Russia has rejected a draft UN Security Council resolution on Georgia as it did not include the full text of the EU-brokered ceasefire plan (BBC News). Russia then introduced its own draft resolution based on the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan. (ITAR-TASS)
- Medvedev: Russian troops will pull out from Georgia by Friday. (Xinhua)
- Russia moves closer to recognizing full independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as both regions are to hold pro-independence rallies within days. (AFP via Google News)
- The 56 member states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) agreed Tuesday to send up to 100 additional monitors to Georgia at a special meeting of its Permanent Council in Vienna. (Xinhua)
- Russian soldiers released the Georgian governor of Shida Kartli Region, Lado Vardzelashvili after 2-hour long detention. (Rustavi 2)
- Human Rights Watch claims both Georgia and Russia violated rights of the civilian population during the conflict. Georgian ground offensive in South Ossetia included shelling of Tskhinvali, capital of South Ossetia, with Grad rocket systems and 'indiscriminate' use of tanks in the city, which caused 'numerous' civilian casualties and 'extensive' destruction. HRW says 'a hospital, apartment buildings, houses, schools, kindergartens, shops, administrative buildings, and the university' in Tskhinvali were 'severely damaged' during Georgian night-long 'uninterrupted' shelling of South Ossetian capital on August 7-8. Russian airforce, HRW reports, carried out bombardments of the two buildings in Georgian village in South Ossetia, 'that could be housing the Georgian military', and attacked presumably civilian convoy of several dozen cars. HRW also confirmed the Russian military's use of cluster bombs in two towns in Georgia, killing at least 11 civilians. (Human Rights Watch)
ITN Candidates for August 20
- Spanair Flight AJK 5022 crashes, most of the 172 people aboard the plane are feared dead, when more is known this is a certain ITN. --Tone 14:40, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support Teemu08 (talk) 14:59, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support AP estimates death toll to exceed 45. AVandtalkcontribs 17:00, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support Major air disaster making front-page news worldwide. Article is receiving attention and has numerous sources to work from as details come in. Radagast (talk) 17:23, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support AP says at least 150 dead [1], Bloomberg says more than 100 [2] out of 175. naerii 18:31, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support I'm of the opinion that we're usually too fast when it comes to this sort of thing, posting stories when the article is only a paragraph or filled with rumours. When this was first proposed the article was indeed a bit short but the article now appears to be in decent shape and of resonable size. In particular, the death toll appears to be resonably supported Nil Einne (talk) 19:22, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support No question. Big story. __meco (talk) 19:47, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
- Added to ITN. Nishkid64 (Make articles, not wikidrama) 20:14, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
August 19
- The 39th annual Pacific Islands Leaders Forum opens in Niue, but is boycotted by Fijian leader Frank Bainimarama. (The Australian)
- Egypt's upper house of Parliament is destroyed in a huge fire. (Reuters)
- North Korea declares Sweden its enemy and a United States war puppet. (Swedish Armed Forces) (The Local)
- A bomb at a paramilitary police training academy in the town of Issers 60 km east of Algiers kills at least 43 people and injures another 38. (BBC News)
- French forces engage in heavy fighting with Taliban insurgents 50 kilometres east of Kabul, Afghanistan with 10 French soldiers dead. (AFP via Google News) (BBC News)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- Russian and Georgian forces exchange prisoners of war. (Reuters)
- Russia begins to withdraw troops from Georgia proper according to eyewitness accounts. (Reuters)
- Russia temporarily closes its borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan to prevent terrorist groups from crossing into Russia. (Delfi) (Reuters)
- A United Nations aid convoy which entered Gori on Sunday reports evidence of large-scale looting. "While the buildings did not appear to be very damaged, there are clear signs of massive looting of both shops and private accommodations," the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees says. (The Vancouver Sun)
- Alexander Stubb, the current Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says that Russia has agreed to a beefed-up monitoring mission for Georgia's disputed region of South Ossetia. (AP via Google News)
- NATO cools relations with Russia. (BBC News) (Delfi) NATO says Russia is not honoring cease-fire terms.
ITN Candidates for August 19
- Egyptian Parliament is on fire.--Mustafaahmedhussien (talk) 20:24, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose Article not updated at all. SpencerT♦C 00:30, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
- Heck we unfortunately don't even seem to have an article on the Egyptian Parliament building which is where any updates on this ideally should go... Nil Einne (talk) 12:05, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
- Update: Russia calls an end to its military offensive in Georgia, but despite pledge to withdraw, Russian forces seize more ground. --Hapsala (talk) 13:26, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
- Does the article clearly state what is going on, as the wording seems vague and possibly POV. SpencerT♦C 19:26, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
August 18
- Taliban militants unsuccessfully attack the United States base Camp Saleno in Khost Province. (AP via Google News)
- 2008 Summer Olympics:
- Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva sets a new world record of 5.05 m outdoors in the women's pole vault at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. (AP via Yahoo! News)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- According to general staff in Moscow, Russia has begun troop withdrawals from Georgia, following a pledge by President Dmitry Medvedev. However, 'Moscow saying it has the right to keep some troops as peacekeepers in a buffer zone around South Ossetia'. (BBC News)
- Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Marc Perrin de Brichambaut stated on a press-conference in Vladikavkaz, capital of Northern Ossetia, that 'the will of all the people of the region' need to be 'taken into the consideration' when deciding the future of the breakaway republic of South Ossetia. (OSCE) He then added: 'I made it very clear that the people who live in South Ossetia will have a say in what happens in the country.' (Nasdaq)
- South Ossetia had held the referendum on independence from Georgia on November, 12th, 2006 with 99% voted in favor of the independence (with reportedly 95% turnout). Both NATO and the US opposed the referendum and did not recognise its results saying it served no purpose other than to 'exacerbate tensions' in the region. (America.gov) (AP via The International Herald Tribune)
- Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt cancels all exercises and military ties between Sweden and Russia, saying that "[the] Russian invasion of Georgia is unacceptable and a crime against international law. The Russian action has changed [our view] of Russia as an international partner." (PM's Office) (Dagens Nyheter) (AP via The Hindu)
- NATO convenes an emergency foreign ministers meeting on the crisis. (AP via Google News)
- Pakistan Presidential Impeachment
- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who was facing impeachment, announces his resignation as President. Indirect presidential elections will be held within 30 days. (BBC News)
- A US-Poland agreement to deploy a missile defense shield prompts unnamed Russian officials to declare Poland "a legitimate military target" and the deputy of the Russian general staff states that Poland "opens itself to a nuclear strike". (AFP via Google News) (Asia Times)
ITN Candidates for August 18
- Facing impeachment, Pervez Musharraf announces his resignation as President of Pakistan.Anonymous101 (talk) 10:55, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
Maybe we can have Image:Pervez Musharraf 2004.jpg to illustrate it? Anonymous101 (talk) 11:00, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support, but I don't think its worth mentioning the Indirect presidential elections in this blurb. We'll do that in the next. --SpencerT♦C 12:02, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
- I've changed the blurb. Anonymous101 (talk) 12:56, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
- Anyone feels like replacing one of the two present Olympic items with Yelena Isinbaeva's new world record in pole vault? Highly attractive sport but not discussed earlier. --Tone 15:23, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
- Compared with the other two records, this hardly merits notability. SpencerT♦C 19:19, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
- Russia threatening Poland has been included in Foreign relations of Poland and is also mentioned at International reaction to the 2008 South Ossetia war, however, I haven't included any of these links in the initial headline proposal. __meco (talk) 20:45, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
- I've included a section now in Poland–United States relations (The first link in the proposed headline). __meco (talk) 21:03, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
August 17
- Ex-president Chen Shui-Bian is barred from leaving Taiwan over corruption charges. (AFP via Google News)
- Gunmen massacre 14 people at a quinceañera celebration in Creel, Chihuahua, Mexico. (Xinhua)
- 2008 Atlantic hurricane season:
- Tropical Storm Fay kills at least 4 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic before heading for the Florida Keys where tourists are being evacuated. (Bloomberg)
- About 50 people die as a bus is swept away by flood waters near the town of Beaumont in the Grand'Anse department of Haiti. (BBC News)
- The Afghan National Army kills 28 Taliban insurgents as the militants attempt an ambush of a convoy in Zabul province. (Reuters)
- Iran announces it has launched a satellite launch-capable Safir rocket. (Reuters) (BBC News)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- Russian troops continue to withdraw from the Georgian city of Gori, where the major Georgian army base was dismantled by Russian troops soon after the conflict ended. Two Russian APCs still remain at a checkpoint near the city, Reuters reports. (Reuters)
- The BBC's Richard Galpin, who has spent the past two days travelling from the Black Sea port of Poti to Tbilisi, says Georgian forces seem to be surrendering control of the highway to the Russians. (BBC News)
- Russia has denied claims its forces have begun withdrawing from the breakaway republic of South Ossetia. (Sky News)
- 2008 Summer Olympics:
- China, having won 8 gold medals in one day, overtakes its record (32 gold medals) at Athens and leads the medal table with 35 gold medals. (BBC News)
- Jamaica dominates the Athletics Women's 100 metres event with Shelly-Ann Fraser taking the gold and Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart taking the silver. Officially, no bronze medal is awarded as Simpson and Stewart finish with an equal time of 10.98 seconds in second place. (AP via Yahoo! News)
- Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian is stripped of his bronze medal in the Men's 84kg Greco-Roman category after throwing the medal to the mat and leaving the medal ceremony in protest at the officiating of his semifinal match. (Reuters)
- Constantina Diṭă-Tomescu of Romania wins the Women's Marathon with a time of 2:26:44. At 38, she is the oldest woman to win the Olympic Marathon.
- American swimmer Michael Phelps wins gold as the butterfly leg of the winning Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay team. With the relay victory, Phelps earns his eighth gold medal (5 individual, 3 relay), setting a record for most golds at an Olympic games, beating Mark Spitz's previous record of 7 set in 1972. (Bloomberg)
- The Australian Women's 4 x 100 metre swimming relay team of Emily Seebohm, Leisel Jones, Jessicah Schipper and Libby Trickett wins the gold medal in world record time. (Reuters)
ITN Candidates for August 17
- Iran announces it has launched a satellite, Omid, with its national satellite launcher, Safir, the ninth nation to achieve such a feat.
- IRINN has only released footage of a rocket launch.[3] I'd wait till there's confirmation that Omid has settled in its orbit. I hope sth like this doesn't happen again. --PFHLai (talk) 18:47, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
- Swedish wrestler, Ara Abrahamian stripped of bronze medal by the IOC.(via telegraph.co.uk)
- Is this a nom? I don't think this is notable enough, looking at the Olympics as a whole. SpencerT♦C 00:21, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
- I think this was the same person who threw his bronze to the ground. It even made to our local newscast so... –Howard the Duck 04:31, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose There are larger things going on. The every Olympic scandal/record in not that important. Therequiembellishere (talk) 05:41, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
Nom Tropical Storm Fay. 54 people died so far. SpencerT♦C 12:03, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support Now up to 77 deaths, albeit mostly indirectly. Teemu08 (talk) 18:39, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
- Wording and update: 110 are dead after Tropical Storm Fay made landfall in Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and the United States. There's wording, but it could probably use some improvement. SpencerT♦C 11:33, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
August 16
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- Georgian officials claim Abkhazian army, backed by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, takes control of 13 Georgian villages. (AFP via ABC News Australia)
- The President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev signs the six-point peace plan for a ceasefire in the 2008 South Ossetia War. (Press Trust of India)
- 2008 Atlantic Hurricane season: The Governor of Florida Charlie Crist declares a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Fay is due to hit Florida on Monday, possibly at hurricane strength. (AP via The Guardian)
- A bomb explodes outside the house of Mayor Lito Pinol in the city of Mlang, Philippines, but fails to assassinate the Mayor. Police successfully defuse a bomb placed in the market of Kidapawan City. (Khaleej Times)
- At least eight people die and 60 are injured after a passenger train collides with a goods train in Indonesia's Lampung province. (Reuters via International Herald Tribune)
- Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics:
- Sprinter Usain Bolt of Jamaica wins the 100 metre-title in a world record time. (The New York Times)
- Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics:
- Michael Phelps of the United States wins his seventh gold medal of the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 100 metre butterfly, tying Mark Spitz's record for gold medals at an Olympic Games. (The New York Times)
- Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe wins the 200 metre backstroke title setting a world record. (The New York Times)
- Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain wins the 800 metres freestyle, breaking Janet Evans’ 19-year-old world record in the process. (The New York Times)
ITN Candidates for August 16
- Michael Phelps of the United States wins his seventh gold medal of the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 100 metre butterfly, tying Mark Spitz's record for gold medals at an Olympic Games. (New York Times)
- Support We should replace the existing one about Phelps with this one, and I think we should re-include the picture of Phelps. J.delanoygabsadds 03:30, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose We cannot put Phelps up at every bloody medal! We just changed his picture, we're not putting it back up again. Therequiembellishere (talk) 07:55, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose I think there has to be something more exceptional happening for us to perpetuate the Phelps story in the ITN section. __meco (talk) 08:45, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose, possibly if/when he wins his 8th medal here... --Tone 14:18, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose However, should he go eight for eight Sunday morning, I definitely think it should be added given the record-breaking nature. Jasonn (talk) 14:20, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Eventually, we can merge this with Bolt blurb so that we don't have two Olympic posts at the same time. --Tone 20:49, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support and support a photo. -SusanLesch (talk) 01:40, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
- Eventually, we can merge this with Bolt blurb so that we don't have two Olympic posts at the same time. --Tone 20:49, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Tropical Storm Fay forms over the Dominican Republic. (National Hurricane Center) –Juliancolton Tropical Cyclone 14:14, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose for now, just a storm. --Tone 14:18, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Usain Bolt of Jamaica wins the gold medal for 100 metres at the 2008 Summer Olympics, setting a new World record 9.69 seconds.
- If I remember, we usually put the breaking of this record on ITN, besides, this was one of the highlights of the Games. (is this formulation ok?)--Tone 14:39, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support Obviously an event of major proportion. Hektor (talk) 14:48, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support as mentioned here. Breaking the 9.7s barrier is a milestone achievement. Harryboyles 14:52, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- SupportThis is one of those events in sport that is completely superlative. Mostlyharmless (talk) 14:53, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
August 15
- ETS Europe, part of the American-owned Educational Testing Service, is sacked by the British government for bad failures in manipulating Key Stage education tests. ETS agrees to repay some £35 million (USD70 million). (BBC News)
- The Nepalese Constituent Assembly elects former Maoist rebel Prachanda as the first Prime Minister of Nepal as a republic. (BBC News via ABC Australia)
- Leftist former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo is sworn in as the President of Paraguay, ending 60 years of one-party rule. (AP via CNN)
- Former President Hissène Habré is sentenced to death in absentia by a Chadian court for a military assault on the capital. (BBC News)
- Russia threatens Poland with military consequences for allowing the United States of America to place defense missiles within its borders. (AP via Google News)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- Russia will provide 'at least' 10 billion Roubles (approx. €270 million, US$420 million) aid to South Ossetia to help rebuild Tskhinvali 'leveled' during the Georgian 'lasting artillery shelling' of 7th and 8th of August. (Rossiyskaya Gazeta) (Regnum) (Rian) (RBC)
- Russian soldiers continue to occupy Georgian towns. (The Independent)
- Georgian police left the town of Gori and neighbouring villages right after the hostilities in South Ossetia ended and the peace was brokered, says AP. 'The Russian troops had stopped the looting, restored order', while the locals interviewed by journalists say Russians are 'behaving well'. (AP via Yahoo! News)
- Russia asks for the adequate covering of the conflict from the Western media. High Russian official names the way the anchor treats his guest in a breaking news on Fox a 'total shamelessness'. The journalist interrupts the story of an Ossetian-American girl and her aunt accusing Micheil Saakashvili of the war, and announces commercial break before the two refugees have chance to continue. (InterFax) (Fox via YouTube) (RT via YouTube)
- The U.S. Secretary of State has flown to Tbilisi for urgent talks to try to bring the Georgia's conflict with South Ossetia and Russia to an end. (Sky News) (Delfi) (The New York Times)
- Turkish journalists near the border with South Ossetia came under attack by people Sky News supposes are either Russian soldiers or Ossetian militia. (Sky News)
- The President of the United States George W. Bush assures Georgia that it has US support stating the people of Georgia have chosen freedom and "we will not cast them aside." (USA Today) The president of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, said on Thursday that Russia's strike into Georgia should persuade NATO urgently to give Georgia and Ukraine membership of the alliance, Reuters reports. (Baltic Business News) (Reuters)
- However, the outcome of the conflict is characterized by many Western media as a 'victory' of Russia, both in politics and warfare. (The Times) (The Economist) (The Times) (The Guardian) (Calgary Sun)
- 2008 Summer Olympics
- Michael Phelps of the United States wins his sixth gold medal of the Beijing Olympics in the men’s 200 metres individual medley setting a new world record. (The Times)
- United States swimmers Rebecca Soni and Ryan Lochte win gold medals and set swimming world records in the women's 200-metre breaststroke and men's 200m backstroke respectively. (DPA via the Bangkok Post)
- Five people are arrested in Beijing after unfurling a "free Tibet" banner on the Central TV Tower, the highest building in Beijing. (BBC News)
ITN Candidates for August 15
- At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson of the United States become the first gymnasts of the same country to finish first and second in the individual all-around event since 1960.
- This is interesting in sense of sport statistics, not for ITN. --Tone 09:38, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- The election for Prime Minister of Nepal is held today (see [4], [5]), results should be available in an hour or so. --Soman (talk) 09:30, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support when the results are out. --Tone 09:38, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong Support after results. Therequiembellishere (talk) 09:46, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- The result is still not out, but according to [6] we can be quite sure of the result. Proposed wording to be added once result is official:
- "Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) is elected Prime Minister by the Constituent Assembly of Nepal." --Soman (talk) 13:23, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong Support final turnover of a monarchy to a republic. Therequiembellishere (talk) 20:36, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Fernando Lugo takes office as President of Paraguay. Therequiembellishere (talk) 09:46, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf is appointed Prime Minister of Mauritania by Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of the High Council of State and coup leader. Quite a busy day for state leaders! Therequiembellishere (talk) 09:46, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support both. In Mauritania case, mentioning the coup would be relevant. Also, do we have photos of any of the two? --Tone 10:00, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- We have a photo of Lugo, but not of Laghdaf or Abdel Aziz. Therequiembellishere (talk) 10:03, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Do you like the new line? Therequiembellishere (talk) 10:04, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- I would prefer shorter line, like Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf is appointed Prime Minister of Mauritania following the coup d'etat. Is it stil informative enough? --Tone 10:29, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oh, yeah that's fine. I just tried to force Abdel Aziz in because he was never on. Therequiembellishere (talk) 10:32, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Added both. Can someone upload the photo of Lugo, maybe cropped? --Tone 10:42, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Tone, can you reset the clock? That needs to be done. Also, the Laghdaf update appears pretty minimal. SpencerT♦C 11:32, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Spencer, do you like my revised line above? Therequiembellishere (talk) 11:45, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- I'm not talking about the wording, I'm talking about the content in the article. It looks better now, though. SpencerT♦C 00:24, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
- Spencer, do you like my revised line above? Therequiembellishere (talk) 11:45, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Tone, can you reset the clock? That needs to be done. Also, the Laghdaf update appears pretty minimal. SpencerT♦C 11:32, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Added both. Can someone upload the photo of Lugo, maybe cropped? --Tone 10:42, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oh, yeah that's fine. I just tried to force Abdel Aziz in because he was never on. Therequiembellishere (talk) 10:32, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- I would prefer shorter line, like Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf is appointed Prime Minister of Mauritania following the coup d'etat. Is it stil informative enough? --Tone 10:29, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support both. In Mauritania case, mentioning the coup would be relevant. Also, do we have photos of any of the two? --Tone 10:00, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
- "Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf is appointed Prime Minister of Mauritania by Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of the High Council of State and coup leader."
- "Prachanda is elected the first republican Prime Minister of Nepal by the Constituent Assembly."--This is a re-introduction of the revised Mauritanian PM and a formal nomination of the Nepalese PM. Therequiembellishere (talk) 07:58, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose, as the subject's article only has 3 sentences describing the election. SpencerT♦C 00:23, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
- What of the revised line above it? Therequiembellishere (talk) 05:44, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
- The line was fine as it is. SpencerT♦C 19:21, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
- What of the revised line above it? Therequiembellishere (talk) 05:44, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
August 14
- Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, announces that the United States and Poland have reached an agreement on basing missile defense in Poland. (AP via Google News)
- The Consumer Price Index in the United States rises by .8 per cent in July 2008 giving an annual inflation rate of 5.6 per cent, the highest in 17 years. (The Times)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- Russia says it will support whatever decision the people of breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will make during referendum on the future of their land (International Herald Tribune) (The New York Times)
- Analysts 'see the conflict as a gamble initiated by Georgia, which is seeking EU and NATO membership, to test the strength of its Western allies in the face of Russia's unwillingness to see the West encroaching on its doorstep.' (CNN)
- An Amnesty International worldwide movement for human rights reported on August, 14, that the assault of the Georgian Army on Tskhinvali included '14 hours of bombardment' of the city. Amnesty International is still gathering information on the reported heavy civilian casualties, as well as reported bombings of non-military targets leading to deaths of civilians and the destruction of civilian buildings. (Amnesty International)
- Russia appeared 'to be handing over a key Georgian city Thursday', U.S. officials said. Senior U.S. General James Cartwright claims that 'Russian forces seemed to be complying with an internationally-mediated cease-fire'. (CNN)
- Georgia's Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze claimed that more than 100 Russian vehicles, some of them armoured, had gathered outside the major western Georgian town of Zugdidi. However, Robert Gates, the US Secretary of Defense, said that the Russian army is 'withdrawing their forces back towards Abkhazia and towards South Ossetia' US warns Russia of lasting impact (BBC News)
- Russian forces say they will start to return control of the key town of Gori to Georgia soon. 'For another two days Russian troops will stay in the region to ... hand over control functions to Georgian law-enforcement bodies, after which they will leave," Major-General Vyacheslav Borisov as quoted by Russian news agencies. (Reuters)
- Georgian police return to the town of Gori as the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation leave. (CNN)
- Russia says it will support whatever decision the people of breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will make during referendum on the future of their land (International Herald Tribune) (The New York Times)
- 2008 Summer Olympics
- China's Liu Zige wins the 2008 Beijing Olympics' women's 200-meters-butterfly gold setting a world record of two minutes and 04.18 seconds. (China Daily)
- The Australian team of Stephanie Rice, Bronte Barratt, Kylie Palmer and Linda Mackenzie wins the 800 metre freestyle relay breaking the existing world record by six seconds. China and the United States finish second and third respectively. (AP via Google News)
- Judge Jamie S. Perri of New Jersey's Superior Court rules that the Communications Decency Act exempts the Wikimedia Foundation from liability in a defamation suit filed by literary agent Barbara Bauer. (Ars Technica)
ITN Candidates for August 14
August 13
- Bill Gwatney, the current state Chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas is shot and killed at the Party headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas. The man who shot Gwatney is later shot dead by police during a pursuit. (CNN)
- Princess Lilian of Sweden is taken to hospital after falling and breaking her hip. (The Local)
- American swimmer Michael Phelps breaks the record for most Olympic gold medals won by an individual athlete at the Beijing Olympics. (ESPN)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- The Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announces a national day of mourning in Russia in connection with the Battle of Tskhinvali and the death of a large number of Russian citizens there. Georgian Orthodox Church Patriarch Ilia II announced the national day of mourning for soldiers and civilians who died during the 2008 South Ossetia war. (ITARTass) (24.UA) (AOL news India) (Newsgeorgia via NitaPress)
- The investigation of what Russian officials called a 'genocide' started in South Ossetia. Some witnesses say that a church with civilians inside was burned by the Georgian Army in the captured Ossetian village in the first day of Georgian attack. (Mail On Sunday)
- Journalists may again enter the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali as the city is mostly secured after Georgian retreat. The articles give new evidence of what the city looks like and what people in Tskhinvali think of the recent events. (The Guardian) (BBC News) (AP)
- No reports of fighting after ceasefire in the war between Georgia and Russia holds.(HRW) (The Times) (Guardian)
- Saakashvili accused Russia of bombing Tskhinvali, South Ossetia's capital, and invading Gori. However, journalists in Gori report no Russian tanks seen on the streets. Anatoly Nagovitsyn, the Russian military's deputy chief of staff, categorically denied that there were any tanks on the streets of Gori, saying Russian forces were at an abandoned Georgian artillery base near Gori, dismantling it, but not inside the town. (BBC News) (BBC News) (CNN)
- Sky's Jason Farrell claims he witnessed Russian armor moving at the outskirts of the Georgian town of Gori. (Sky News)
- British television's Sky Team was robbed near the Georgian town of Gori by a man who 'did not seem to be Russian'. The journalist Andrew Wilson claims 'he could not be sure the men who had pulled their car over were South Ossetian' either. (Sky News)
- An unnamed 'senior U.S. NATO official' says that USA may withdraw from a major NATO naval exercise with Russia that is to begin on Friday. (Fox News)
- President George W Bush has said the United States will use military aircraft and naval forces to deliver aid to Georgia. (BBC News)
- President Bush sends United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Paris and then Tbilisi. (AP via Google News)
- A Fokker F27-500 cargo aircraft operated by Fly540 Logistics Ltd. crashes in Somalia. Three people died. (Bloomberg)
- An explosion at a police station in the Pakistani city of Lahore kills at least three people, on the eve of the 61st anniversary of independence. (BBC News)
ITN Candidates for August 13
- Nom/Support Michael Phelps. I know someone already added it, and I for one support the addition, but it is probably best to have it at least listed here. Random89 07:43, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
- Surprising, so is it not mandatory that a news get "nominated" and approved by some admin before it gets posted? --gppande «talk» 16:09, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
- It is not a preferred method but the fact is that not all the admins read the ITN guidelines. --Tone 16:12, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
- Hmm, not all admins are as good as few who monitor and reply here. Anyways, nothing at harm as they do update news on-time while it is HOT. --gppande «talk» 16:18, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
- It is not a preferred method but the fact is that not all the admins read the ITN guidelines. --Tone 16:12, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
I know this is ~9 days late, but Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who was on WP:LILP died. Is he too late to include? SpencerT♦C 20:29, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
- This was (briefly) included and then removed amidst the always re-occurring debate about deaths. Some of the discussion is in the archives here, other on the main page. Random89 20:42, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
August 12
- On August 12, 2008, a class action lawsuit was filed against Facebook, Blockbuster Inc., Overstock.com, Fandango, Hotwire.com, GameFly, Zappos.com, and any additional "John Doe" corporations that activated Facebook Beacon when they released their common member's personal information to their Facebook user friends without their consent through the Facebook Beacon program. The lawsuit alleges the release of the information was a violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act, Electronic Communication Privacy Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, and the California Computer Crime Law.
- A missile strike on a suspected militant training camp in South Waziristan in Pakistan kills at least nine people. (AP via Jerusalem Post)
- Mark David Chapman is denied parole for a fifth time for the murder of ex-Beatle John Lennon in 1980. (AP via Google News)
- The United States Department of the Treasury imposes sanctions on five Iranian companies for assisting the development of the nuclear program of Iran. (Reuters)
- 2008 South Ossetia war:
- President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev announced that the operation of Russian forces in South Ossetia is completed. He added that 'The aggressor has been punished, having sustained considerable losses. Its armed forces have been disorganised'. Medvedev also ordered the Russian Ministry of Defence to consider awarding the peacekeepers and military personnel that have 'showed their best' during the operation. (InterFax) (BBC News)
- However, Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, said that signing a 'legally binding document on the non-use of force' by Georgia is a compulsory condition of starting the talks between the sides of the conflict. (BBC News)
- Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze says that Russian jets are still targeting civilians. (Reuters)
- BP shuts down two more oil and gas pipelines in Georgia 'as a precaution'. (AFP via Google News)
- The Georgian security council files a lawsuit against Russia in the International Court of Justice for alleged ethnic cleansing. (AP via Jerusalem Post)
- However, both South Ossetian and Abkhazian Presidents Eduard Kokoity and Sergei Bagapsh claim that it is Georgia, namely Mikheil Saakashvili, who organized the ethnic cleansing against the civilian population in the breakaway republic of South Ossetia during the conflict. The South Ossetian leader added "no talks are possible with state criminals" and that "they must be trialed, not talked to." (AP via Yahoo! News) (Novy Region)
- The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev agree to a six point ceasefire plan proposed by the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy. (CNN)
- U.S. Senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain speaks against Russia’s military operations in Georgia, saying: "I know I speak for every American when I say today we are all Georgians." (Reuters)[permanent dead link]
- Floods and landslides associated with Tropical Storm Kammuri kill 28 people in southwest China and force 11,000 people from their homes. (AFP via ABC News Australia)
- Michael Phelps of the United States wins his third gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 200-meter freestyle and sets a new world record and the 200-meter butterfly in qualifications. (The New York Times)
- The Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox tie a modern MLB record scoring a combined 36 runs. The Boston Red Sox won the game 19-17.
ITN Candidates for August 12
Looks like we missed the boat for Tropical Storm Kammuri (2008). Nice article, but the typhoon dissapated on Aug. 8. SpencerT♦C 14:25, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted at the bottom, anyway. This has a higher death toll than the floods in India. --PFHLai (talk) 19:03, 17 August 2008 (UTC)
August 11
- An air strike by the United States kills 25 Taliban militants and 8 civilians in Orūzgān Province in southern Afghanistan. (The Australian)
- The United States team wins the 4x100 men's freestyle relay setting a new world record with France and Australia finishing second and third respectively. The top five teams all broke the previous world record and Australia's Eamon Sullivan in the lead-off leg broke the record for 100m. (The New York Times) (SI via CNN)
- Taliban fighters force Pakistani troops to retreat from an outpost near the border with Afghanistan. (The New York Times)
- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines are holding elections using for the first-time electronic voting as precedent to the Presidential elections in 2010. (ABS-CBN)[permanent dead link]
- 2008 South Ossetian War:
- According to Ossetian and Russian sources, Georgian attacks leave 2000 dead in South Ossetia, most of which civilian population of Tskhinvali. (The Guardian)
- Breakaway republic of Abkhazia launched an attack on Georgian forces in the Kodori Valley, the region of Abkhazia under control of Georgians, where the parallel Tbilisi-backed "Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia in exile" is situated. (AFP via News.Com.Au) (Al Jazeera)
- Fearing an air raid, the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili run for cover during an interview in Gori. (CNN) (CNN via YouTube)
- Russia is attacking Georgia in a cyberwar. (Ars Technica)
- The President of the United States George W. Bush warns Russia to respect "Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. (The New York Times)
ITN Candidates for August 11
August 10
- 2008 Toronto explosions:
- Massive explosions at a propane facility just before 4 a.m. erupt in the Toronto, Canada community of Downsview, resulting in the evacuation of thousands of people. The explosions also caused the closure of Highway 401, Canada's busiest highway, through that area of Toronto. At least 18 people are reported injured, one missing, and one firefighter has died in connection with the incident. (CP via The Globe and Mail)
- Monsoon rains in India kill at least 40 people with flooding heaviest in Andhra Pradesh with flooding in the capital Hyderabad killing 14 people. (BBC News)
- 2008 South Ossetian War:
- Georgian troops are forced to withdraw from Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia by Russian army. (AP via Google News) According to Georgian field commanders, some units of Georgian army still stay in South Ossetia to fight with Ossetian and Russian forces. (The Times) Georgia withdraws forces that entered South Ossetia on Thursday, August, 7 after suffering heavy casualties. (Bloomberg)
- Unnamed US official accuses Russia of launching ballistic missiles on Georgia: "They actually launched ballistic missile attacks on Georgian territory." This 'response has been far disproportionate to whatever threat Russia had been citing', he added. (AP via Google News)
- Black bodies reportedly found among Georgian soldiers corpses on the streets of Tskhinvali. They were 'probably either mercenaries or instructors in the Georgian armed forces', high-ranking South Ossetian diplomat claims. (APA) (Kommersant) (RussiaToday)[permanent dead link]
- President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev calls Georgian actions in South Ossetia 'a genocide' and asks Russian prosecutors to investigate and document all cases of murder of civilians in the region. (AFP via Lloyds) (The President of Russia) (NewsRu)
- According to Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, some 130 US military advisors that 'teach combat skills' to Georgian troops now stay in Georgia with no plans of pulling them off. US Georgia Train and Equip Program and Georgia Sustainment and Stability Operations Program continued from April, 2002 to September, 2007. (Marine Corps Times) (US Embassy in Georgia) (US Department of State)
- Authorities in the breakaway Georgian republic of Abkhazia declare full mobilisation. (AP via Google News) S. Bagapsh, the President of the Republic of Abkhazia gave Georgia an ultimatum to withdraw Georgian troops from the upper Kodori Gorge, part of the breakaway republic. (Bloomberg)
- 2008 Summer Olympics:
- Swimmer Michael Phelps of the United States wins a gold medal in the 400 metre individual medley setting a new world record. (AP via International Herald Tribune)
- Stephanie Rice of Australia wins a gold medal in the women's 400 metre individual medley setting a new world record. (Fox Sports)
- A number of blasts in China's western Xinjiang province kill at least two people. (Reuters)
- Bolivia holds a Vote of confidence referendum over whether the president, vice president and most prefects should face re-election. Unofficial results indicate that President Evo Morales has won a decisive mandate.(BBC News) (Los Angeles Times)
- Pádraig Harrington wins the 2008 PGA Championship, becoming the first European to do so in 78 years. (AFP via Google News)
ITN Candidates for August 10
- Nom update: Georgian troops withdraw from Tskhinvali, the
provincialcapital of South Ossetia, under heavy Russian shelling. Hapsala (talk) 15:00, 10 August 2008 (UTC)
- This would probably be an update or replacement of the existing blurb on this. Also, i would remove the word provincial from the blurb, as this is a POV issue we have no need to get embroiled in. Random89 22:01, 10 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nominating Heavy monsoon rains kill dozens of people and disrupt normal life in India. Or whatever is the usual blurb to nominate flood articles. Actually, 48 hours of heavy rains have left many dead in Indians states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. --gppande «talk» 08:45, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong support Article is strong, well-sourced. I think that a new picture should be chosen for ITN, too, possibly about the 2008 South Ossetia war. We wouldn't want to go back to a Fernando Lugo situation, now would we? BobAmnertiopsis∴ChatMe! 13:48, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support Article looks good. Teemu08 (talk) 15:53, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted; topic line shortened. PeterSymonds (talk) 16:22, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
- In golf, Padraig Harrington wins the 2008 PGA Championship, becoming the first European to do so in 78 years.
- I guess everyone is so focused on the Olympics and they forgot about this. -CWY2190(talk • contributions) 21:38, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support, but wording should be: In golf, Pádraig Harrington of Ireland wins the 2008 PGA Championship, becoming the first European to do so in 78 years. SpencerT♦C 13:35, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
- Will anyone post this? SpencerT♦C 17:54, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted. --PFHLai (talk) 21:52, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
- Right, I have missed this discussion. My bad. --Tone 22:29, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted. --PFHLai (talk) 21:52, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
- Will anyone post this? SpencerT♦C 17:54, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support, but wording should be: In golf, Pádraig Harrington of Ireland wins the 2008 PGA Championship, becoming the first European to do so in 78 years. SpencerT♦C 13:35, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
August 9
- 2008 Summer Olympics:
- Shooter Kateřina Emmons of the Czech Republic wins the women's 10 meter air rifle competition, the first gold medal of the 2008 Summer Olympics, setting an Olympic record for both the qualifying and final scores. (Los Angeles Times)
- Woman's weightlifter Chen Xiexia sets Olympic records in both the clean and jerk and total weight lifted, winning China's first and the second gold medal of the summer. (BBC News)
- 2008 South Ossetia War:
- Russia and Georgia continue to fight in South Ossetia and Georgia. The search for the dead and injured continues after at least 2,000 civilians were killed after two days Georgian offensive. Russia reported 12 peacekeepers killed and 30 wounded in the previous day during the Georgian tank and missile bombardment of Tskhinvali. (BBC News) (AP via Yahoo! News) (BBC News) (RIAN)
- Russian jets attack military targets in the Georgian city of Gori, outside South Ossetia, killing 60 people; two are shot down. (BBC News) (BBC News)
- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia launched a military operation to help peacekeepers stationed in the region under UN mandate since the early 1990s defend their position after 15 were killed during Georgian operations and to protect South Ossetians many of whom hold Russian citizenship. (RIA) Russia's Foreign Ministry accuses Ukraine of encouraging Georgia to carry out "ethnic cleansing" in South Ossetia. (Reuters)
- Georgia's parliament approves a state of war across the country for the next 15 days. (Reuters) Delegates from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, European Union, and United States head to Georgia to broker peace. (BBC News)
- The Georgian-controlled section of the Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia came under fire from aircraft. Abkhazia's foreign minister Sergei Shamba, said Abkhaz forces had launched an attack aimed at driving Georgian forces out of the gorge. Georgian television claimed the attacks were by Russians. (BBC News)
- Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili called for a cease fire which his Security Council secretary said means that Georgian troops will withdraw from Tskhinvali and stop responding to Russian shelling. (AP via Google News)
- Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt evokes the memory of Adolf Hitler in condemning Russia's attacks on Georgia, saying the protection of Russian citizens there does not justify the assault. "Attempts to apply such a doctrine have plunged Europe into war in the past... And we have reason to remember how Hitler used this very doctrine little more than half a century ago to undermine and attack substantial parts of central Europe". (The Local)
- At least 38 Warao Indians are dead in Venezuela from a suspected outbreak of rabies from vampire bats. (CNN)
- A mudslide at an illegal gold mine in Burkina Faso causes at least 31 deaths. (AP via The Guardian)
- Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr announces the formation of a cultural unarmed group of the Mehdi Army militia. (BBC News)
- An uprising in the Burmese town of Taunggok, about 200 km northwest of Yangon, results in arrests. (BBC News)
ITN Candidates for August 9
- I'd sugest that the 2008 South Ossetia War is moved to the top. The ongoing war between Russia and Georgia is much more important than yesterday's opening cermony of the Beijing games. Hapsala (talk) 13:00, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- Sez who? The items are ordered chronologically to avoid the "importance" debate. --Howard the Duck 14:34, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- OK, I wasn't aware of the importance debate... So the item will disappear after a couple of legislative elections and a roadside bomb? Hapsala (talk) 15:24, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- Depends if something else major happens concerning the same news story that'll cause new updates to the article hence a new hook will be used thus lengthening its stay at ITN. --Howard the Duck 15:49, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- Perhaps it should be updated to reflect the fact that the Georgian government has declared a state of war? J Milburn (talk) 19:48, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- Could we get rid of the second sentence? Their efforts mean little, plus there is pretty much no mention about it in the linked article. Narayanese (talk) 22:18, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- Perhaps it should be updated to reflect the fact that the Georgian government has declared a state of war? J Milburn (talk) 19:48, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- Depends if something else major happens concerning the same news story that'll cause new updates to the article hence a new hook will be used thus lengthening its stay at ITN. --Howard the Duck 15:49, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- OK, I wasn't aware of the importance debate... So the item will disappear after a couple of legislative elections and a roadside bomb? Hapsala (talk) 15:24, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
August 8
- The 2008 Summer Olympics starts with the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony at the Beijing National Stadium. (The Christian Science Monitor)
- 2008 South Ossetia War:
- Around 0:30 AM (local time), Georgia begins a full-scale attack on the breakaway republic of South Ossetia, using tanks, military aircraft, artillery, and infantry. Major-General Marat Kulakhmetov, the commander of a small force of Russian peacekeepers under CIS mandate in Tskhinvali makes a statement that Georgian 'heavy artillery shelling conducted for several hours' and 'has practically demolished the town' (The Times) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia) (RIAN) After a night of heavy fighting, Georgian forces close in on the capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali. (BBC News) (Reuters) Russian commanders reported that Georgian military forces attack a Russian peacekeepers' base in Tskhinvali with heavy artillery and missiles. Several peacekeepers reported dead and wounded. (RIAN)
- President of Georgia, Milkeil Saakashvili agrees that the timing (the first day of Olympics, with many world leaders in Peking) of the 'major military offensive' of Georgia, during which the 'South Ossetian capital' devastated 'was not coincidental'. (AP via YouTube)
- The Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin warns Georgia against "acts of aggression" against South Ossetia and later declares that a "war has begun." In response, the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili declares that Russia "is fighting a war with us in our own territory." (AGI) (The New York Times)
- Mikheil Saakashvili accuses Russian aircraft of attacking Tbilisi and outlying airfields. (Delfi) He calls for mobilization of Georgia's army, claiming Russia started an aggression on Georgia. (Alfa)
- NATO and the European Union urge an immediate end to the violence in South Ossetia. (Reuters)
- The Russian Ministry of Defence claims 10 Russian peacekeepers in the area were killed and 30 wounded so far during the Georgian army offensive. At least 15 civilians are also reported dead. (BBC News via YouTube) The Georgian Interior Ministry claims three Georgian soldiers were killed at an airbase outside of Tbilisi. (BBC News) Both Russian state television and Georgian sources report Russian troops and tanks moving into South Ossetia and approaching Tskhinvali. (CNN) (BBC News)
- With most of the city of Tskhinvali in ruins, 1400 civilians reported dead during the first day of Georgian offensive. (RussiaToday via YouTube)
- The United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calls on Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia. (AFP via Google News) (CNN via YouTube)
- Around 0:30 AM (local time), Georgia begins a full-scale attack on the breakaway republic of South Ossetia, using tanks, military aircraft, artillery, and infantry. Major-General Marat Kulakhmetov, the commander of a small force of Russian peacekeepers under CIS mandate in Tskhinvali makes a statement that Georgian 'heavy artillery shelling conducted for several hours' and 'has practically demolished the town' (The Times) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia) (RIAN) After a night of heavy fighting, Georgian forces close in on the capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali. (BBC News) (Reuters) Russian commanders reported that Georgian military forces attack a Russian peacekeepers' base in Tskhinvali with heavy artillery and missiles. Several peacekeepers reported dead and wounded. (RIAN)
- A car bomb in the town of Tal Afar in northern Iraq kills at least 21 people and injures about 70. (BBC News)
- At least 13 people die when a private charter bus falls off a bridge onto a creek north of Dallas, Texas. (MSNBC)
- Studenka Train Disaster: An express train crashes into a bridge near the town of Studenka in the Czech Republic resulting in 7 people dead and around 70 injured. (AFP via Yahoo! News) (AP via Yahoo! News)
- A terrorist group seeking an independent Muslim state in Xinjiang, China releases a video threatening an attack on the 2008 Olympic Games. (The New York Times)
- The President of the United States George W. Bush dedicates a new American embassy in Beijing. (VOA)
- Economic crisis of 2008:
- UK home repossessions rise by 48%. (BBC News)
- The OECD reports slower growth and declining employment in the U.S. (BBC News) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Former U.S. Senator and Democratic ex-presidential candidate John Edwards admits to an affair with Rielle Hunter after having earlier denied it. (CNN)
ITN Candidates for August 8
- Nom: Russian troops moves across the border as Georgian military forces (flag pictured) enters the breakaway republic of South Ossetia. Hapsala (talk) 13:17, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong Support. This is the biggest news right now. But fix that grammar error. (troops move) Esn (talk) 13:48, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong Support, the article has been created less than 24 hours ago and has seen 250+ edits already. Header to be corrected in accordance to latest events (moves across the border can change) --windyhead (talk) 13:58, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support, but enters needs to be changed to enter, and the article needs to be changed from its current timeline format to something more encyclopedic. Benjaminx (talk) 14:19, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- I'm sorry for the grammar errors :( English is one of the most difficult languages in the world ;) Hapsala (talk) 15:06, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Comment It'll be hard to change it to something more "encyclopedic" while the situation is still changing so rapidly. And I think that the exact times are important so that the succession of events can be followed. Esn (talk) 14:23, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong Support,These guys are about to go to war. If that doesn’t deserve to be in the news I don’t know what is.-Southeastern Everglades (talk) 14:24, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted (no picture change yet) by SCZenz (talk) 14:27, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- NominateWhile traveling around Ohio making speeches to the public, John McCain was recently asked to keep a certain business from switching to UPS air-freight; McCain responded, “That's just not what I'm about."(Hallett, Joe, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, Thursday, August 7, 2008)
- Support It’s entertaining. The U.S. is a capitalist country, yet someone thought a senator could do that. Chuck (talk) 21:58, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose This news story has no global importance, or importance in the U.S., for that matter. Also, it's not Friday yet. Benjaminx (talk) 22:03, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong OpposeNot interesting, not news. Therequiembellishere (talk) 22:54, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
- Is Wikipedia counting the number of gaffes made by both candidates, with emphasis on McCain? :D --Howard the Duck 05:32, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong Oppose This is just random campaign chatter. Esn (talk) 14:20, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Olympics. Obviously the Opening Ceremony will be going up in a few hours, but I'd like to remind the admin that adds it to also include the Olympic Highlights link at the bottom that was agreed to on the talk page. In reality it could have gone up on Wednesday, but today works just as well. -CWY2190(talk • contributions) 07:48, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Just beat me to posting that. Suggested wording of opening ceremony blurb: "The 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony is held in Beijing, marking the start of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad." Also suggest possible link of "Games of the XXIX Olympiad" to the article Olympic Games or Summer Olympic Games. Random89 07:58, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- It's starting now if anyone wants to add it right now... --Howard the Duck 12:10, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong support Why not? Surely of international notability. – PeterCX&Talk 14:29, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted. --- RockMFR 14:34, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Here's a picture: Image:Bird's Nest stadium, May 2008. BobAmnertiopsis∴ChatMe! 15:50, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nominate Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards (pictured) admits to an extramarital affair. Nom by Kelly hi! 21:03, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose, despite the article being in good shape. There's a quote there that says it best, something along the lines of "Edwards is no longer an elected official or running for office". If he had won the democratic presidential nomination, it would be another story, but right now, no. Also, we have two other very good candidates from today. Random89 21:15, 8 August 2008 (UTC)
- I understand your point, but The Washington Post, who you quoted above, is now covering this as the top-headline story on their website.[7] The New York Times is also carrying this near the top of their front webpage.[8] Kelly hi! 00:39, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- If this story makes the headlines in a newspaper outside the U.S. then this will given a chance. --Howard the Duck 15:51, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- A quick search shows this story also on the front page of The Times.[9] Kelly hi! 16:22, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- Front page? Yes. Headline? No. And not even all headlines or front page stories are considered. Otherwise Brett Favre and/or Cristiano Ronaldo's offseason adventures might be considered. --Howard the Duck 16:42, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- It's the third story down from the top on their front page, which is about what I would expect for an American political story on a British paper. But this is the first time I've dealt with ITN so I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for. Regards - Kelly hi! 17:34, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- This story fails the international interest criterion. End of story. Otherwise, this story should also be considered since it's located immediately below the Edwards story on Reuters.--Howard the Duck 17:47, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- It's the third story down from the top on their front page, which is about what I would expect for an American political story on a British paper. But this is the first time I've dealt with ITN so I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for. Regards - Kelly hi! 17:34, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- Front page? Yes. Headline? No. And not even all headlines or front page stories are considered. Otherwise Brett Favre and/or Cristiano Ronaldo's offseason adventures might be considered. --Howard the Duck 16:42, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- A quick search shows this story also on the front page of The Times.[9] Kelly hi! 16:22, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- If this story makes the headlines in a newspaper outside the U.S. then this will given a chance. --Howard the Duck 15:51, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- I understand your point, but The Washington Post, who you quoted above, is now covering this as the top-headline story on their website.[7] The New York Times is also carrying this near the top of their front webpage.[8] Kelly hi! 00:39, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- <undent>Ah, OK - I was going to link to the BBC, which is also carrying this at the top of their "World News", but Howard advised me elsewhere that American news shouldn't be nominated here. So I'll drop it, very sorry for the trouble. Kelly hi! 18:15, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- It's the top story on the Beeb's Americas subsite. On the News Front Page you'd have to press "page down" thrice to see it on most monitors. --Howard the Duck 18:19, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nom: Pro-life conservative, Alan Keyes, is still running for President of the United States.(http://www.alankeyes.com)
- Strong Oppose What's your point? fifteen people ran last year and it looks like about ten this year. Therequiembellishere (talk) 01:07, 9 August 2008 (UTC)
August 7
- Georgian-Ossetian conflict:
- Georgian and separatist South Ossetian forces have exchanged fire again near the town of Tskhinvali, wounding up to 20 people, officials say. (BBC News)
- The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was concerned over Georgia's "military preparations," while a Georgian official said Russia would further undermine its role as peacekeeper if it failed to convince the South Ossetian side on talks. (Civil Georgia) (Civil Georgia)
- Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's president, offers an immediate ceasefire to South Ossetian authorities. (BBC News)
- The New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo reaches a $7 billion settlement with Citigroup to buy back auction rate securities from about 40,000 clients throughout the United States. (AP via Google News)
- Claims for unemployment benefits in the United States rise to 455,000, the highest level since March 2002. (USA Today)
- Salim Hamdan, Osama Bin Laden's former driver, is sentenced to 66 months in prison for war crimes. (The New York Times)
- The Mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick is ordered to go to jail for violating the terms of his bond for an ongoing perjury trial. (NPR)
- The leaders of the 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état promise to hold elections as soon as possible. (Xinhua)
- Pakistan's ruling coalition announces it will seek the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf. (AP via Google News)
- The National Olympic Committee officially announces Durban, South Africa, will be the host city of the 123rd IOC Session.(Hong Kong Government Press Release)
ITN Candidates for August 7
- Nominate Movement to impeach Pervez Musharraf, although the article needs to be beefed up a bit. Benjaminx (talk) 15:32, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support The length is borderline. I won't post this myself, but if another admin wants to then I support that decision. Blood Red Sandman (Talk) (Contribs) 16:14, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose For now it's just a movement. We usually post the results, like the Japanese PM's censure and the Indian PM's survival of the no-confidence vote. Therequiembellishere (talk) 16:53, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
- I hate red templates :D. This is the runaway favourite from the current nominees, and its article is pretty good for being only five hours old. I agree it's not a perfect ITN candidate, but it's not a bad one either. Happy‑melon 17:40, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose. Not yet final. --Howard the Duck 19:12, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
August 6
- At least nine firefighters are missing presumed dead after a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter crashes in northern California. (The Oregonian)
- UNICEF releases The State of Asia-Pacific’s Children 2008. The report recommends focus on China and India, where 2.4 million preventable child deaths occur every year. (Al Jazeera) (Reuters) (The Straits Times)
- An explosion on the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline halts oil supplies through one of the biggest pipelines in the world. (Reuters) (Hürriyet)
- Salim Hamdan, the former driver for Osama bin Laden, is convicted of supporting terrorism in the United States in the first military war crimes trial of a terror suspect captured after the September 11, 2001 attacks. (Bloomberg)
- A military coup d'état occurs in Mauritania with the Army, led by Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, seizing the President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, the Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef and the Interior Minister. (ABC News Australia)
- A UH-1H helicopter of the Royal Thai Air Force crashes in Thailand, killing ten. (The Australian)[permanent dead link]
- Competitions start at the Beijing Olympic Games two days ahead of the opening ceremony with the Women's football tournament.
- The United States FBI claims scientist Bruce Ivins was responsible for the anthrax scares of 2001 that killed five people and made 17 others ill. (BBC News)
- Leader of Malaysian opposition Anwar Ibrahim is formally charged with sodomy, which he claims is a politically motivated charge. (BBC News)
ITN Candidates for August 6
- An explosion on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline has halted the oil supplies through one of the biggest pipelines in the world. Beagel (talk) 17:08, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
- The 2008 Summer Olympics gets under way as the Women's Football Tournament begins. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/football/7542757.stm)
- Preemptive oppose since this might be added w/out discussion. --Howard the Duck 14:23, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nominate today's apparent 2008 Mauritanian coup d'état - Scanlan (talk) 13:06, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
- Second; although the article is small right now, significance makes up for lack of quality. Mouse is back 13:44, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support Very notable. Article could use expansion, but it's in acceptable shape right now. I'm sure more details will be released as the day progresses. Teemu08 (talk) 13:53, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
- Strong Support The kidnapping, usurping and very possible assassination of the head of state and government at the same time. Therequiembellishere (talk) 13:59, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
- Uber-Strong Support The article looks great, is well, sources, plus you never hear about Mauritania otherwise. BobAmnertiopsis∴ChatMe! 14:36, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support Article has been expanded and is clearly covering an important news story. Benjaminx (talk) 14:53, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support This is very important. --I'm an Editorofthewiki[citation needed] 14:57, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted by Blood Red Sandman (Talk) (Contribs) 15:19, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
If we say that Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was deposed, then we should say that Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef was deposed as well. If possible, I'd like to see Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz included but Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef should definitely be included. Therequiembellishere (talk) 20:11, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
- Proposed new post - President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi (pictured) and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef of Mauritania is deposed in a military coup d'état (by Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz).
- Nominate FBI alleges that American scientist Bruce Ivins was the one responsible for the anthrax attacks of 2001 that killed 17 people. --Dfgxx (talk) 03:04, 7 August 2008 (UTC)
August 5
- Rwanda formally accuses senior French officials, including former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and late President François Mitterrand, of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and calls for them to be put on trial. (Reuters)
- U.S. President George W. Bush, on his way to Beijing to attend the Olympics, stops in South Korea and Thailand. (FOX News)
- A 6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Sichuan, China, according to the US Geological Survey. (RTÉ News) (CNN)
ITN Candidates for August 5
- President Bush on his way to Beijing to attend the Olympics is stopping in South Korea, Thailand and Myanmar in Southeast Asia.(http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,396761,00.html)
- oppose Visits made by aPresident do not seem to be worthy for inclusion on ITN. Anonymous101 (talk) 10:35, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nominate the earthquake. It needs an update, and this is the most appropriate hook. PeterSymonds (talk) 18:50, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- It needs an article. I think if it had a decent article, this would be a no-brainer to put up, but right now we have nothing. Random89 19:24, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- I'll see what I can do. PeterSymonds (talk) 19:37, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- It needs an article. I think if it had a decent article, this would be a no-brainer to put up, but right now we have nothing. Random89 19:24, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
August 4
- U.S. conservative political commentator Robert Novak retires after 45 years. The only reason for retirement was a previously discovered brain tumour. Novak is also involved in the CIA leak scandal. (CBS News)
- Eleven climbers from an international expedition are reported dead after ice fall took out the fixed ropes on part of the route on K2 mountain in the Himalayas. (AP via Yahoo! News)
- A police post near Kashgar in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China is attacked, leaving 16 officers dead and 16 others injured. (BBC News)
ITN Candidates for August 4
- Nom: Unidentified assailants kill 16 Chinese police officers near Kashgar in the majority Muslim province of Xinjiang. Hapsala (talk) 16:05, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
- Article is in great shape. Support this item's inclusion. Random89 19:26, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nom: Eleven climbers from an international expedition perish after ice fall took out the fixed ropes on part of the route on K2 mountain (pictured) in the Himalayas. (developing story, see 2/8) Hapsala (talk) 14:34, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
- One ref for three short paragraphs is probably below the ITN bar for event-specific articles. - BanyanTree 00:27, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- The International AIDS Conference has opened in Mexico City, 25 years after the AIDS disease first became known to a broad public. (source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7540122.stm) 85.178.12.190 (talk) 08:22, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
- Please read the instructions at the top of the page and post to Portal:Current events before suggesting an ITN candidate. - BanyanTree 00:27, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
August 3
- 162 people die in a stampede at a Hindu temple in Naina Devi in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. (AFP via Google News)
- North Korea says that it will expel "unnecessary" South Korean staff from the Kumgangsan resort and threatens military action in an escalation of tension over the shooting of a South Korean tourist. (Reuters)
- The third launch of privately developed SpaceX launcher Falcon 1 fails to reach orbit. (Spaceflightnow.com)
- Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority launches an investigation into safety at Qantas after three emergencies in two weeks, beginning with the explosion aboard Qantas Flight 30. (ABC News)
- At least 21 street cleaners are killed by a roadside bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia. (CNN)
- 12 people are killed when a minibus explodes in Baghdad, Iraq. (CNN)
- 11 climbers are feared to have died in an avalanche at K2 mountain in Pakistan. (CNN)
ITN Candidates for August 3
- At least 120 people die in a stampede at a Hindu temple in Naina Devi in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Anonymous101 (talk) 15:31, 3 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support.--Cdogsimmons (talk) 15:36, 3 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support.-- Surely all incidents that cause 100 plus deaths are notable enough for ITN? Plus its the main story on the BBC world news page [10] And its presumably the main story in India, the worlds second most populous country. Sorry if you feel this is an obvious point, but I feel it supports the incidents notability. Willy turner (talk) 15:46, 3 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support. I was coming here to suggest the same thing. Nitpick though, I believe it should be "at a Hindu Temple" rather than "in a Hindu Temple", since my impression is that the stampede occured on a pathway outside the temple itself. Dragons flight (talk) 16:11, 3 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support Although the AP is only reporting 68 deaths [11]. Teemu08 (talk) 16:14, 3 August 2008 (UTC)
- [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] all report over 120 deaths. Anonymous101 (talk) 16:20, 3 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted. -- tariqabjotu 16:29, 3 August 2008 (UTC)
- Soviet-era dissident and Nobel Prize-winning author Alexander Solzhenitsyn dies. (AP via Yahoo)
- More than your average death, so I'm giving it a shot. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 03:42, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support time for some ITN death reform. A major figure both in the literary world and outside it. This is certainly a better candidate than the K2 accident for the next update--much more encyclopedic content to highlight here. Mangostar (talk) 14:59, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support. I'll give this a shot as well, and note that Solzhenitsyn is listed at the proposed Important living people page. Anybody else feel like supporting a precedent? - BanyanTree 15:21, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted. -- tariqabjotu 15:48, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn#Death needs more refs. --74.14.23.177 (talk) 16:37, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
- I see three refs, which is normally considered "enough" for an update to an existing article. - BanyanTree 01:19, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- The {{cn}} tags I put in have been replaced by footnotes. That's great! --74.14.22.96 (talk) 02:58, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- I see three refs, which is normally considered "enough" for an update to an existing article. - BanyanTree 01:19, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn#Death needs more refs. --74.14.23.177 (talk) 16:37, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
- Several people have complained on Talk:Main Page#Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's death and I'm complaining here now. He was old, it's not unexpected, does not meet WP:ITN/DC. jnestorius(talk) 19:39, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
- There has clearly been a near-consensus that the official criteria for deaths on ITN are too restrictive. While there has not been a consensus on what language to replace it with -- mostly due to a lack of effort to craft the right language -- I think it's fair to consider the old death criteria "of no force or effect." -- Mwalcoff (talk) 00:26, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- That's roughly my reading of the situation, and why I removed the old deaths criteria from WP:ITNMP a while back and simply directed readers to the WP:ITN/DC discussion, which is itself stalemated. This isn't even a case of IAR, as there are no rules to speak of. While it's obviously all debatable (and has been), going on consensus on ITN/C to post a death on a case-by-case basis is certainly a valid way to approach the situation. - BanyanTree 01:19, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- I am not at all disputing your good faith but to me that seems a rather unsustainable position to work from. Surely the whole point of having rules / guidelines / criteria is that everyone knows (at least to a good first approximation) what they should do and what other editors are likely to do.
- I followed the debate about death criteria some while ago (being very surprised that Arthur C. Clarke was not included) and whilst I agree that there was a near-consensus that the official criteria were too restrictive and that no new criteria could be agreed I did not think that amounted to the abandoning of criteria.
- I would have thought the appropriate response to this situation would be either to continue with the previously agreed policy (annoying to people so maybe they will get a new one agreed) or to omit all deaths from ITN until a new policy was agreed. FerdinandFrog (talk) 11:25, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- That's roughly my reading of the situation, and why I removed the old deaths criteria from WP:ITNMP a while back and simply directed readers to the WP:ITN/DC discussion, which is itself stalemated. This isn't even a case of IAR, as there are no rules to speak of. While it's obviously all debatable (and has been), going on consensus on ITN/C to post a death on a case-by-case basis is certainly a valid way to approach the situation. - BanyanTree 01:19, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- There has clearly been a near-consensus that the official criteria for deaths on ITN are too restrictive. While there has not been a consensus on what language to replace it with -- mostly due to a lack of effort to craft the right language -- I think it's fair to consider the old death criteria "of no force or effect." -- Mwalcoff (talk) 00:26, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- Just to note, Solzhenitsyn's death was up at #4 most emailed at nytimes.com earlier today - this is clearly something people are interested in, and we have lots of relevant encyclopedic content to show off. Calliopejen1 (talk) 03:51, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- Agreed. This is a good article, and is related to something that is "in the news". I fully support this inclusion, and endorse Banyan's and Mwalcoff's reading of the death criteria situation. I have also commented on Talk:Main Page in relation to a few other accusations that have been thrown around regarding this. Random89 07:16, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- I thought the ITN criterion was the quality of the new update to the article rather than the quality of the article itself. For Solzhenitsyn the update is a 2-line paragraph and not likely to get much longer. I strongly object to any effort to make inclusion on ITN conditional on the overall quality of the linked article: a noteworthy person who hasn't had the benefit of the Wikipedia FA treatment is not the less notable for that; conversely, the death of someone with an FA-bio page is not an excuse to show off the great article by smuggling it onto ITN; we have FA for that purpose. Random89's comment on Talk:Main is more or less "you didn't object at the time, so tough." Fair enough, I won't ask for it to be removed; but if Banyan regards this as establishing a precedent I beg to differ. jnestorius(talk) 08:05, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- Everyone seems to be forgetting the purpose and criteria for ITN. Simply being newsworthy is not enough, no matter how newsworthy. The article must be updated substantially. This one has not been. Also, regarding deaths, it has been long decided that only unexpected deaths or deaths of national leaders should go on ITN. — BRIAN0918 • 2008-08-05 13:10Z
- Agreed. This is a good article, and is related to something that is "in the news". I fully support this inclusion, and endorse Banyan's and Mwalcoff's reading of the death criteria situation. I have also commented on Talk:Main Page in relation to a few other accusations that have been thrown around regarding this. Random89 07:16, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support the opening of this can of worms. With the new, frequently updated, Lugo-less ITN, I think we can afford to list deaths of particularly notable people. However, I really think we should permanently update the death criteria before more names go up. Until we do, Solzhenitsyn's name will be brought up in every debate about deaths in ITN. Teemu08 (talk) 18:02, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
- Again, the point of ITN is not to list notable news events, but to list articles that have been substantially updated to reflect news events. At the very least his article needs to be significantly updated. That must first be completed before we can even get to the subject of whether or not his death warrants a mention on the main page. — BRIAN0918 • 2008-08-05 18:29Z
- I would rather expand "Recent deaths" into a separate frontpage section than feature more deaths within ITN. OTOH, I'm sure others would rather ringfence other areas (sports, atrocities, TV polls, elections, natural disasters, space, ... have I forgotten any?) jnestorius(talk) 19:57, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
August 2
- Latvia holds a constitutional referendum on whether to allow referendums on dissolving parliament and calling early elections. Although the vote was invalidated, as turnout did not meet the 50% threshold, the results (96% in favour of the change) are considered likely to press politicians to adopt a similar measure nonetheless. (AFP) (Reuters)
- Two climbers from an international expedition perish after ice fall on K2 mountain in the Himalayas, and six members of the team have gone missing. (BBC News)
- The International Olympic Committee strips the United States 2000 Summer Olympics 4×400 metre relay team of their gold medal after team member Antonio Pettigrew admits to doping. (Reuters)
- Members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation meet to discuss trade, terrorism, and poverty. Tensions between India and Pakistan threaten to overshadow the eight-nation gathering. (AFP via Google News) (Reuters)
ITN Candidates for August 2
- New Picture: Getting tired of Mr. Olmert? How about this picture of the solar eclipse? Might need some cropping, though. Hapsala (talk) 10:37, 3 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nom Latvian Constitutional Referendum. Template needs an update, the article is short but well sourced. Also, does no on else find it funny that they're holding a referendum to decide if they can hold referendums? Random89 07:43, 3 August 2008 (UTC)
- A failed referendum on whether they can hold referendums? Seems a bit questionable on notability, besides being short and rather unwikified. - BanyanTree 01:39, 5 August 2008 (UTC)
August 1
- The International Atomic Energy Agency unanimously approves a safeguards agreement with India, a precondition of the nuclear deal with the United States. (Sify)
- Unemployment in the United States rises to 5.7 per cent, its highest rate in more than four years. (VOA)
- Vietnam's capital Hanoi absorbs the neighboring province of Hà Tây, tripling its area and doubling its population. (Thanh Nien News)
- U.S. government officials conclude that elements of Pakistan's intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence, aided militants in the July 7 suicide car bomb attack on India's embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. The government of Pakistan denied involvement. (The New York Times) (The Wall Street Journal) (AP via The New York Times)
- At least 20 people are killed after a fire breaks out on a passenger train in Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India. (BBC News)
- 2008 Summer Olympics:
- The International Olympic Committee and the Beijing Organizing Committee reach an agreement on Internet access for the 2008 Olympic Games. (Reuters via The New York Times)
- Several restrictions remain as the International Olympic Committee and Chinese organisers BOCOG claim they have lifted all Internet restrictions for media covering the Beijing Games. (The Times) (AFP via Google News)
- King Tupou V is crowned as the 23rd Monarch of Tonga. (The Times)
- At least 11 people die following the collapse of a three-story girls' dormitory due to an explosion in the village of Balcilar in Konya Province in central Anatolia, Turkey. (AP via Google News)
- The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation holds a summit meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with terrorism high on the agenda. (BBC News)
- A total solar eclipse is visible from northern Canada (Nunavut), Greenland, central Russia, eastern Kazakhstan, western Mongolia and China. (AFP via Google News)
ITN Candidates for August 1
- Nom: Several restrictions remain as the International Olympic Committee and Chinese organizers claim they have lifted all Internet restrictions for media covering the Beijing Games. --Hapsala (talk) 17:50, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- The update to the article is limited, but it should be enough. Narayanese (talk) 20:52, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted. - BanyanTree 21:44, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nominating the news of coronation of George Tupou V. I have expanded the section with all known events that took place during the coronation ceremony. --gppande «talk» 08:12, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- The best candidate of the three above is the eclipse. We had the Tonga king last week already (though the event is different) and deaths are always controversial on ITN. --Tone 12:50, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- Updated with the Solar Eclipse headline. PeterSymonds (talk) 13:08, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nominate Update of 2008 Indian embassy bombing in Kabul. Comprehensive article and important story.--Cdogsimmons (talk) 15:39, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support. --gppande «talk» 15:58, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted. - BanyanTree 21:44, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose. This is misleading. It should be allege. It's allegations only. And no officials allege it. It was the New York Times!--Dfgxx (talk) 04:56, 2 August 2008 (UTC)
- Actually, it might be termed "The New York Times reports that U.S. government officials confirm that...", but we dont' do that unless there is something very strange about the item. For example, we wouldn't say, "The Associated Press reports that the Constitutional Court of Turkey rules against a ban", as we assume that the media organization is credible and has done due diligence. If the NY Times has screwed this up, then that would be worthy of ITN as well, IMO. - BanyanTree 06:26, 2 August 2008 (UTC)
- Well it should possibly say that the officials were not named. Really the NY times article didn't say anything much about who. --Dfgxx (talk) 06:32, 2 August 2008 (UTC)
- Actually, it might be termed "The New York Times reports that U.S. government officials confirm that...", but we dont' do that unless there is something very strange about the item. For example, we wouldn't say, "The Associated Press reports that the Constitutional Court of Turkey rules against a ban", as we assume that the media organization is credible and has done due diligence. If the NY Times has screwed this up, then that would be worthy of ITN as well, IMO. - BanyanTree 06:26, 2 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose. This is misleading. It should be allege. It's allegations only. And no officials allege it. It was the New York Times!--Dfgxx (talk) 04:56, 2 August 2008 (UTC)
- Posted. - BanyanTree 21:44, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- Support. --gppande «talk» 15:58, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- Nominating the apparent suicide of FBI suspect Bruce E. Ivins, after the Federal Bureau of Investigation informed him that it was about to prosecute him for the 2001 anthrax attacks.
- Support. This may mark the solving of one of the greatest mysteries of the past decade. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 22:45, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
- Oppose This is two facts put together in a very speculative way. Besides, a prosection is not a conviction. Narayanese (talk) 06:28, 2 August 2008 (UTC)