Wikipedia:In the news/Candidates/February 2009

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Archived discussion for February 2009 from Wikipedia:In the news section on the Main Page/Candidates.

February 28

February 28, 2009 (2009-02-28) (Saturday)

• Carpatair Flight 128 – a Saab 2000 bound for Timişoara, Romania, from Chişinău, Moldova, and carrying 51 people – makes an emergency landing at Traian Vuia International Airport without its forward landing gear. (Phillyburbs)
• Burma's government announces it will allow Rohingyas who have fled to neighboring countries to return only if they identify themselves as Bengalis. (BBC)
• Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds the first online discussion with Internet users before the National People's Congress's annual plenary session. (People's Daily)
• The Standing Committee of China's NPC approves the Food Safety Law, which will enhance supervision and strengthen quality standards. (Xinhua)
• California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declares a state of emergency, due to severe drought. (BBC)
• Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe vows to continue his policy of distributing land from white to black farmers. (BBC)
• Colombia's military kills ten and captures eight Revolutionary Armed Forces members in Cundinamarca. (BBC)
• A gene linked to a genetic motor neurone disease is discovered. (BBC)
• Bangladesh's Army finds more mass graves where Bangladesh Rifles mutinied in Dhaka. (BBC)
• The Holy See claims that the Roman Catholic Church's number of priests is slowly rising. (BBC)

ITN candidates for February 28

Bank of Ireland in College Green, Dublin

• Over €7 billion is stolen from the Bank of Ireland in College Green, Dublin, in the largest bank robbery in Irish history.

This happened on 26–27 February... now please sort out Svalbard... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:55, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 06:00, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Btw, it was 7 million, not 7 billion. --BorgQueen (talk) 06:08, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Is this really that noteworthy. Seven million is not that much. Across the boader in NI they had a £20+ million robbery only a couple of years and the Securiates robbery in Kent even more recently was over £50million. Also why are some national records considered good for ITN and others not so. The RBS corperate loss which was a UK record was not considered ITN worthy so why is this? I mean being honest it doesn't have any international appeal really does it --Daviessimo (talk) 10:30, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

I suppose that is because record-setting corporate losses are not that uncommon these days. As for the "appeal" part, quite a few people are checking out the article for the past several hours according to the stats. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:41, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Well thats all well and good but where is the consensus. Recently simply nominating an article seems to be enough for it going up, as has occured on several occasions recently such as with this and the Bolivian epidemic. I agree that the latter should have gone up but ITN is meant to be about consensus and not about just a few users individual opinions. Thus my opinion would be that the Ireland story should come down until it has more support. If others support it I'm more than happy with it being up. --Daviessimo (talk) 10:52, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

I normally wait for at least a couple of hours but apparently that's not enough for you. How long shall we wait? 12 hours? --BorgQueen (talk) 11:56, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

It's not a case of how long, it's a case of consensus. No concensus was drawn on this before this went up. If no-one airs an opinion that doesn't neccesarily mean it should go up, otherwise half of the nominated items would be going up. All I'm saying is that before an item goes up at leasttwo people should support it (not including the posting admin) and any potential problems have been sorted. As I said above I personally don't think this is noteworthy enough but if there is a broad consensus in support I'm happy for it to be up. At the moment however that doesn't exist --Daviessimo (talk) 12:09, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Actually I've been told by User:PFHLai that "no prior consensus is required before any items are added to ITN" [1] and another user commented that "any admin can post an item without discussion first". Has the rule changed since? --BorgQueen (talk) 12:20, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

For clarity can I suggest this be changed to "...in the Republic of Ireland's history"? As is mentioned above the Northern Bank robbery was significantly larger. --Kwekubo (talk) 12:01, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Done, thanks. --BorgQueen (talk) 12:08, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

OK, deep breath. Sorry (about the incorrect figure), I was stressed at the time as I will explain further below. And yes, it's notable as it is a record breaking occurrence that is unusual in a particular area. I thought it would make a change from all the killer crashes and explosions, the amount of which some have been questioning on Talk:Main Page. I was aware of the Northern Bank robbery, actually basing the title and opening sentence on it for some consistency. Politically, whether liked or not (and for the purposes of the record), the two robberies took place in separate countries – even though, geographically, they are on the one island. To try to appease both these and trying to remain neutral, I pipe-linked it like so – Irish – but can see I have also failed in this area. Corporate losses are all the rage, name any recent bank robbery (with its own article) that this can be compared to. Daviessimo, if you want to help, please contribute more. BorgQueen has been the most frequent recent contributor to ITN in my knowledge, and having compiled the ITN stats for February 2009 just before all this, I find that all but four (of which at least two of those are listed recurring events involving sports and awards) have been posted by BorgQueen in that month alone. I have spent much of this time trying to keep ITN updated – I store my recent ITN contributions here but have not had time to compile a proper table with links to evidence like I have done with my GAs/DYKs. I am getting seriously irritated at this stage as this has happened less than twenty-four hours after one editor over at DYK has, for no apparent logical reason, called the best part of six months of my contributions into question in the most deflating and exasperating way possible. If I were to leave ITN, that may mean some items never get posted (and some items may never even get nominated if recent figures are anything to go by!) as BorgQueen would then be the sole dominant regular contributor – and then you will have achieved consensus! I don't seek excess credit for all of this – it is a pleasure enough to have something one has contributed to on the home page of one of the world's most popular websites – but, if my contributions to the Main Page are being called into question so suddenly in this manner, I will be retreating from these areas – I can see no further point in being smeared by allegations of a nature I have done my level best to avoid. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:25, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

I think you need to separate the issues you are facing at DYK from the ones at ITN. No one is accusing you of plagiarism here. Daviessimo is telling something completely different. DYK and ITN are two different places and we have very different rules. I am sure most people, if not all, here at ITN would agree you have been doing a good work. --BorgQueen (talk) 15:43, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Sorry, just having a general crisis of confidence about the Main Page... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 16:03, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Now you know how Mwalcoff and Madcoverboy felt. P.S. 7 million Euros is a lot, at least in our place... –Howard the Duck 13:15, 2 March 2009 (UTC)

Sorry if you took my comments that way I wasn't aiming at either you or this story. I was simply questioning the current system that is used to decide what goes into ITN. I've been in and about ITN for the last several months and seem to find different editors and admins have different policies, although it seemed to have settled prior to christmas with normally two votes in favour (excluding posting admin) and the item could go up. Anyways I completely understand that ITN is suffering from a lack of contributions, however I fear that as much as it is insufficient awareness or general lethargy, people who stumbleo on this page are very confused as to what is eligible for inclusion on the main page. As far as I was aware it was for this reason that no item was automatically included or exluded and rather a system of concensus was used, with the ultimate aim to get more people involved. --Daviessimo (talk) 17:41, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

I'm afraid ITN has lost another contributor. I will not be appearing on the Main Page in future, not because I dislike it, but because it would be improper in the current circumstances. BorgQueen and others may have faith in my contributions but it appears there are some unexpected difficulties at DYK. If my DYK contributions are being called into question, I cannot reasonably bring myself to contribute to an ITN section which visitors to the Main Page see before DYK. I imagine ITN will have some difficulty now but it appears to be out of my hands. Recruitment is not working very well and neither have any attempts by myself or others to point out ITN to outsiders. Perhaps a list of typical accepted and unaccepted items could be constructed and placed at the top of the page – I may do that some time since it does not involve the tedious nature of applying references. Apologies Daviessimo, if there was any misunderstanding between us above, and also BorgQueen, the current most regular ITN poster. But I do not have the confidence to continue as I am currently doing. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:26, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Personally, I've gotten used to the two supporters guideline, the posting admin and the nominator. There simply aren't enought contributors at ITN to really do anything else...if there's questions, the item goes down/is hidden until the comments have been resolved, and the item will either reappear or disappear. I agree with Candlewicke at being annoyed with people (not you Daviessimo, but others; you actually help out here sometimes) who complain about what goes up at ITN, but yet don't ever help with it, or make suggestions, or anything else. Candlewicke: I am extremely sorry about what has occurred, and you have my complete faith...in your many ITN items I've reviewed (even after they go up, just to check) or cowritten, I've never seen issues with plagiarism. Spencer^T♦C 19:15, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

February 27

February 27, 2009 (2009-02-27) (Friday)

• China's Navy and Denmark's Navy thwart Somali pirate attacks on Italian and Chinese merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden. (China Daily) (Canadian Press)
• A nationwide "Chicago Tea Party" occurred across the United States, where protesters say government spending is out of control. (Fox Chicago News)
• China's Armed Police shoot a Tibetan monk as he immolates himself in Sichuan. (BBC)
• Global financial crisis of 2008–2009:
  • ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand sign a free trade agreement to increase commerce. (Bloomberg)
  • The U.S. gross domestic product fell 6.2% in the final fiscal quarter of 2008. (MarketWatch)
  • Lloyds Banking Group reports that HBOS lost £10.8 billion during 2008. (BBC)
  • The U.S. federal government will increase its equity stake in Citigroup to 36%. (MarketWatch)
  • Japan's industrial production fell by 10% in January 2009. (MarketWatch)
  • Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány requests that the European Union aid Eastern Europe with US$230 billion. (Bloomberg)
• Bangladesh's military arrests 300 Rifles for mutiny and discovers a mass grave containing 58 officers killed during the revolt. (Sky News) (BBC)
• United States President Barack Obama announces he will withdraw most soldiers from the Iraq War by August 2010. (BBC)
• Seven million euros are stolen from the Bank of Ireland in Dublin. (Irish Times)
• At least 50 people are killed in combat between Southern Sudan and militias in Malakal. (BBC)
• The animated sitcom The Simpsons becomes the longest-running U.S. primetime television series after Fox Broadcasting confirms two more seasons. (BBC)
• Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez claims that former Cuban President Fidel Castro recently appeared publicly in Havana for the first time since 2006. (Irish Times)
• A report by China's State Council criticizes the United States' human rights record. (People's Daily)`

ITN candidates for February 27

Bolivian epidemic (from yesterday)

• An outbreak of dengue fever kills 18 people and infects 31,000 in Bolivia. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 16:32, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 16:37, 27 February 2009 (UTC)

Footprints

• This looks like an interesting story. I don't know which article to update, though. --Tone 16:53, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
  • I added that to yesterday's current events. However, I also added other such scientific-discovery type stories on the oldest words in the English language, the delivery of 90,000 seeds to the Doomsday Vault in the Arctic Circle and the evolution of HIV... I would consider those three either more or just as interesting/significant but that might be just an opinion... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 17:58, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Footprint has a section titled "Ancient footprints" – although it is currently little more than a list. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:03, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
      • I like the Doomsday Vault story as well. Though there is no update in the article yet. --Tone 19:57, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
        • 90,000 food crop seed samples are delivered to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in the Arctic Circle. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:44, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
          • 90,000 added out of a total of ~20 million? I'm not sure if this is notable enough. Although 90,000 may seem like a lot, it appears to be a drop in the bucket to the actual amount. Spencer^T♦C 22:28, 27 February 2009 (UTC)
            • It's also the first anniversary, there was an international conference and at any rate 90,000 is a lot of seeds saved by any estimation. I would think that this is a large enough amount to be added in one go as it was reported. If it were small or this were happening any day there would not be daily updates... the figure 90,000 would be seen as massive if it involved deaths or injuries... so why not the preservation of vital food supplies that would prevent such deaths? --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 00:15, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
              • Looking at the article, it compares the seed storage to that of a bank deposite box. A more realistic comparison would be depositing 90,000 coins in a box that already has 19.91 million. I assumed the number was reported because it was the first anniversary of the bank, not because a record number were being banked. However, if this is a record, I'd be more interested. In addition, the saving of 90 thousand lives is bordering on speculation...there aren't any current seed shortages, this is just a doomsday vault. I hope you understand where I'm coming from here. Spencer^T♦C 00:43, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
                • Yes, but preserving 90,000 of anything in one go is not an everyday occurrence... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 01:57, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
                  • I've actually been doing some unofficial research on this, and 90,000 seeds is a lot for this, and a new (record?) number of species is being banked...so posting. (under correct date). Spencer^T♦C 19:49, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

Kano Trovafloxacin trial litigation

• U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer agrees to settle a multi-billion dollar damages case with 200 alleged victims of a drugs trial in Kano, Nigeria.
  • Kindly updated by User:Candlewicke. --BorgQueen (talk) 02:33, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Trimmed, tidied alternative: U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer settles a multi-billion dollar damages case with 200 alleged victims of a drugs trial in Kano, Nigeria.

And therefore approved, or is that cheating? Link the U.S. perhaps? Plus the particular type of dollar? And cut out the redirects? --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 04:09, 28 February 2009 (UTC)

• Going to post soon. --BorgQueen (talk) 05:38, 28 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Posted by BQ. Spencer^T♦C 00:38, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

February 26

February 26, 2009 (2009-02-26) (Thursday)

• United States President Barack Obama will withdraw most soldiers from the Iraq War by August 2010. (CNN)
• The Bangladesh Rifles surrender after the government promises amnesty. (BBC)
• Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah begin peace deliberations in Cairo, Egypt. (New York Times)
• The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia acquits former Serbian President Milan Milutinović of committing war crimes. (New York Times)
• General Motors reports a US$9.6 billion loss, due to the current automotive industry crisis. (New York Times)
• Switzerland's UBS AG appoints former Credit Suisse CEO Oswald Grübel as its new Group CEO. (BBC)
• China's Navy and Denmark's Navy rescue Italian and Chinese merchant vessels from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. (BBC)
• The Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, catches fire, five months after it was bombed. (BBC)
• Latvian President Valdis Zatlers names former Finance Minister Valdis Dombrovskis as the new Prime Minister. (BBC)
• Ajmal Kasab, the 2008 Mumbai attacks' lone surviving gunman, is charged with waging war against India. (Sky News)
• The Royal Bank of Scotland Group reports a 2008 loss of £24.1 billion. (BBC)
• Thirteen thousand civil servants stage a one-day strike action in Ireland. (RTÉ)
• Former Guinean President Lansana Conté's eldest son confesses to drug trafficking. (BBC)
• An outbreak of dengue fever in Bolivia has killed 18 people and infected 31,000. (BBC)
• The University of Reading identifies the oldest words in the English language. (BBC)
• A study by the scientific journal Nature shows that HIV is evolving to resist the human immune system. (BBC)
• The earliest footprints evidencing modern human foot anatomy and gait are discovered in Koobi Fora, Kenya. (BBC)
• The Svalbard Global Seed Vault receives 90,000 food crop seed samples. (BBC)
• The United States Defense Department allows news agencies to publicize photographs of the coffins of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. (BBC)
• The Rocky Mountain News, one of Colorado's largest newspapers, publishes its last issue. This issue hits the streets the following morning.[www.9news.com]

ITN candidates for February 26

• Nom record RBS loss in 2008. --bender235 (talk) 14:03, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

There are several reports from companies about losses, we can't cover them all. I'd say no. --Tone 14:31, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Agreed. There's a new one every day where I am. Not all are discussed internationally. Bankruptcies and government takeovers are much more notable. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:19, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Well it depends. This is the largest corporate loss in UK history, which all things being considered means there is a good chance it is one of the largest in Europe, if not the world. It is according to Forbes the tenth largest business in the world and is effectively state owned (and as such the losses are against the UK taxpayer). Without context we can't just presume it is not ITN worthy because businesses make big losses all the time. For a comparison consider the GM results today which was less than half of this, that being one of the largest auto-makers in the world that neared bankruptcy just a couple of months ago. --Daviessimo (talk) 20:49, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Huh? How does the largest corporate loss in UK history, if that's what it is, automatically qualify it as potentially one of the largest in Europe or even the world?! That's making assumptions on the most extreme level... ITN (and Wikipedia) deals with facts, not ifs, buts and maybes... if such an astonishing claim can be sourced, well then... for now it's just speculation... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:11, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Strike action

I know this type of thing probably happens every day but what about when it hasn't happened in twenty years? --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:28, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Bearing in mind that this happened the day after 2,000 members of what is Ireland's police force protested in something else that is unheard of. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:31, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Another record slump the day before... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:32, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Just days after this... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:34, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

– that said, I suspect there will be much more, so it could be left for a few days to build up... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:51, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Another Irish news? Is this very important? –Howard the Duck 05:00, 28 February 2009 (UTC)

No. This was the day before the bank robbery which stole the headlines. As for importance I will leave that up to you to decide based upon all those sources that I've provided (and many more I could if you wish)... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:06, 2 March 2009 (UTC)

ICTY trial result

• Another trial result? I know there is another war crimes on at the moment, but I can't change what is in the news.

"Milan Milutinovic, Nikola Šainović, Nebojša Pavković, Dragoljub Ojdanić, Vladimir Lazarević, and Sreten Lukić are all sentenced to over 15 years in prison on charges of war crimes." Rambo's Revenge (talk) 18:47, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

The BBC are reporting that Milutinovic has been acquitted [2] - Personally I think that if this were to go up that could be more important that the sentencing of the others. --Daviessimo (talk) 20:57, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Okay is "Milan Milutinović was acquitted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on charges of war crimes" any better? Rambo's Revenge (talk) 21:17, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

If there are no objections I am going to post it tonight (JST). --BorgQueen (talk) 10:56, 27 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 14:10, 27 February 2009 (UTC)

Bolivian epidemic

• One for South America... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 19:56, 26 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Looks good. Please create a relevant article. --BorgQueen (talk) 03:14, 27 February 2009 (UTC)

Spanish drugs/football scandal

• This one is breaking so it's one to watch. Arrests in cities across Spain. Reports that one is a professional footballer in the country, another a former French football manager and agents from FIFA are involved too. Sounds big – could become high profile... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 20:15, 26 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Yes, let's see if any of them are convicted. --BorgQueen (talk) 03:18, 27 February 2009 (UTC)

Issue of museum openings

• In relation to the openings of museums discussed earlier in the week, it turns out they are everyday events. Here's the third one this week... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 20:22, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

• Ye but let's be honest what happened in Baghdad was unique. Museum closed to public under Saddam, pilfered when he falls, its antiquities spread all over the world illegally, yet here we are five years on and the museum has opened to the public. We can't apply set rules without considering the broader context and that was more than just another opening. --Daviessimo (talk) 20:38, 26 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Kathmandu's followed the abolition of a centuries-old monarchy... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:06, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Not that old. Nepalese monarchy only started in the 1760s. Not that old when you compare to the Japanese or British. –Howard the Duck 04:57, 28 February 2009 (UTC)

Still a fair bit older than Saddam Hussein's great-great-great grandfolks... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:43, 1 March 2009 (UTC)

February 25

February 25, 2009 (2009-02-25) (Wednesday)

• The United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that 15,000 refugees have fled from southern Darfur to the Zam Zam refugee camp in the north. (CNN)
• U.S. President Barack Obama nominates former Washington Governor Gary Locke to serve as the next Secretary of Commerce. (Baltimore Sun)
• An improvised explosive device kills three British Army soldiers in the Gerishk District of Afghanistan's Helmand Province. (CNN)
• Three people set themselves on fire near Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. (BBC)
• Iran tests its first nuclear power plant at Bushehr. (Guardian)
• Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 crashes at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, killing nine people and injuring 84. (BBC)
• The Bangladesh Rifles mutiny in Dhaka, killing one person and injuring eight. (AFP via Google News)
• Antarctica's subglacial Gamburtsev Mountain Range is mapped. (BBC)
• Two thousand Gardaí protest against Ireland's government at Dublin's Leinster House. (RTÉ)
• A bus crashes in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 35 people and injuring 15. (BBC)
• The Special Court for Sierra Leone convicts three Revolutionary United Front commanders of war crimes and crimes against humanity during an 11-year civil war. (BBC)
• Former Estonian Police Chief Herman Simm is jailed for 12.5 years for selling classified information on NATO to Russia. (BBC)
• Serbia suspends 11 Belgrade corrections officers for aiding the escape of assassin Milorad Ulemek. (BBC)
• Japan's exports plunged 45.7% in January 2009. (BBC)
• The U.S. State Department criticizes China's human rights record. (BBC)
• Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabaab seizes Hudur, Somalia. (BBC)
• The U.S. arrests 750 people in a national crackdown on Mexican drug cartels. (BBC)
• A Syrian arms dealer is jailed for 30 years for conspiring to sell weapons to Colombia's Revolutionary Armed Forces. (BBC)
• Former Indian Communications Minister Sukhram is jailed for three years for corruption. (BBC)
• An Australian study classifies a fossilized fish as one of the earliest known vertebrates to use internal fertilization. (BBC)
• Iraq's Council of Representatives lifts the immunity of Mohammed al-Dayni, an MP accused of organizing the 2007 bombing of Parliament. (Al-Jazeera)

ITN candidates for February 25

Gamburtsev mapping success

• An international team of scientists announces the completion of its mission to map the Gamburtsev Mountain Range beneath the Antarctic ice.
  • It's got international appeal... UK, US, Germany, Australia, China, Japan, etc... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 02:27, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
    • We have little Antarctica-oriented stories although the continent is even bigger than Europe... Ok, joke aside, support. --Tone 12:57, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 13:04, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

Amsterdam Crash

• I think this is noteworthy enough. We had the Hudson crash and no one died in that, plus this is likely to be a hull loss crash --Daviessimo (talk) 11:00, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Not really. Everyone survived. --BorgQueen (talk) 11:52, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
    • So a plane crashing short of the runway, breaking into three pieces, nearly smashing into a main road, forcing the closure of one of the busiest airports in the world isn't noteworthy --Daviessimo (talk) 11:58, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
      • On ITN, "nearly" or "almost" doesn't count. The closure part is a bit better - If other people support it, I won't make any objection. --BorgQueen (talk) 12:13, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
• Looks like the latest press conference announced that not everyone made it out alive. Support feature. - Mailer Diablo 12:42, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
  • It's not every day (or every year) that a plane crashes, in the middle of the city and everyone survives. I guess we can correlate this to Hudson River ditching; sure everyone survived but it wasn't everyday that a plane ditched on a river and everyone survived. Now if this was plane that locked its landing gear in the airport and skidded on the runway and everyone survived it would've been more common. –Howard the Duck 12:50, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
    • BBC News is now reporting nine fatalities and over fifty injured --Daviessimo (talk) 12:51, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Support inclusion but until it's clear how many casualties there were, don't put on the number (or write more than ? killed). --Tone 12:57, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 13:20, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

The number of casualties is now 9 according to most sources. This can be put up as well. --Tone 18:58, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

Agreed. I haven't seen any other figure... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 19:42, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

Done. --BorgQueen (talk) 19:55, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

Tiananment protest

• Three men set themselves on fire near Tiananmen Square. [3]

I know it's developing. Shiplevelone (talk) 11:56, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

• • Wait. And even then, probably no, unless there is some significant development. --Tone 12:57, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Groundhog Day! There was a similar smaller incident in Ireland not so long ago... I seem to recall an incident involving a plane crash on that very day also... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:45, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

Press attention is picking up. [4] It occurred on Tibetan New Year. Coincides with a fresh crackdown in Tibet. [5] I say it's worthy story encompassing much wider tension in Tibet and China. Shiplevelone (talk) 20:30, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

RUF verdict

• The Special Court for Sierra Leone convicts three commanders of the Revolutionary United Front on charges of war crimes.
  • Issa Sesay, Morris Kallon articles also updated. Rambo's Revenge (talk) 17:28, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Damn! That was too quick! :D Can't see anything wrong with this story. I've linked war crimes. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 17:34, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
      • A bit short, though... otherwise a good story. --Tone 18:58, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
        • It also needs more refs. Spencer^T♦C 02:12, 26 February 2009 (UTC)
          • How about now? - BanyanTree 07:39, 26 February 2009 (UTC)
• Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 14:35, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

Serbian murder-escape plan suspensions

• What about this? --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:22, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Not ITN material... regarding the prison stories, there was a spectacular escape in Greece a couple of days ago but we're not having it because ITN is not a news service ;-) --Tone 22:10, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

Bangladesh Rifles revolt

2009 Bangladesh Rifles revolt article was made to supply for the news The Bangladesh Rifles mutiny in Dhaka, killing one person and injuring eight. (AFP via Google News). Can someone please have a look at the article and update the first page with it? The news is very important and got the attention of World Media. I have also added reference sources from BBC, CNN, Alzajeera and a few leading Bangladeshi dailies. Regards--Tarif from Bangladesh (talk) 03:47, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

• more references were added and information were given. Please add it to the main page or give more feedbacks so that we can work it to the main page. Regards--Tarif from Bangladesh (talk) 08:59, 26 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Wow, this got big. Can you suggest a wording to reflect the current situation? --Tone 09:04, 26 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 14:20, 26 February 2009 (UTC)

February 24

February 24, 2009 (2009-02-24) (Tuesday)

• United States President Barack Obama addresses a joint session of Congress. (BBC)
• The U.S. Senate confirms Hilda Solis as the Secretary of Labor. (USA Today)
• Two people are killed and 28 injured in an apartment-building fire in New York City's Chinatown. (UPI)
• Iraq's National Museum reopens for the first time since being looted during the U.S. Armed Forces' invasion in 2003. (Al Jazeera)
• Six people and an infant are injured in a shooting during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, United States. (San Francisco Chronicle) (BBC)
• Sweden's government announces the engagement of Crown Princess Victoria and personal trainer Daniel Westling. (The Local)
• The National Front marches on Thailand's Government House, demanding an early election. (Bloomberg)
• The Taliban announces a ceasefire in its war in northwest Pakistan's Swat Valley. (Reuters)
• NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory lands in the Pacific Ocean near Antarctica after failing to reach Earth's orbit. (Sky News)
• Ireland's Stock Exchange falls to its lowest level since 1995. (RTÉ)
• Gardaí from Ireland's Criminal Investigation Bureau conduct a search for illegal documentation at the Anglo Irish Bank headquarters in Saint Stephen's Green, Dublin. (RTÉ)
• Iraq's Police Service kills an Iraqi interpreter and injures at least three U.S. soldiers in Mosul. (BBC)
• At least 15 people are killed and 90 injured in heavy fighting in Mogadishu, Somalia. (BBC)
• U.S. President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso pledge to cooperate in stimulating economic demand and combating protectionism. (BBC)
• Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and French President Nicolas Sarkozy agree to cooperate in reviving nuclear power in Italy. (BBC)
• Teachers in Zimbabwe will end their strike action upon receiving government aid. (BBC)

ITN candidates for February 24

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

• Nom: Sweden's government announces Crown Princess Victoria's (pictured) engagement to businessman Daniel Westling. --Hapsala (talk) 18:51, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
  • No. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:56, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
    • An engagement? Certainly not. I'm not too sure about her (future) marriage though. --BorgQueen (talk) 18:59, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

National Museum of Iraq

• Potentialy interesting ITN candidate, especially in connection with all stolen and then recovered items. Needs updates, though. Opinions? --Tone 14:47, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

• The reopening of a museum? Is this a significant story? --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:02, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

• Just as I typed that I discovered this. Which leads me to think that museum openings are indeed very everyday topics... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:05, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

• I agree with Candlewicke. Unless there are some controversies attached, not really for ITN. --BorgQueen (talk) 15:53, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

• Well being honest you can't compare the two - the National Museum of Iraq is exactly that, a national Museum and it holds/held all the greatest 'treasures' in the country, whilst the tsunami museum is related to only one event. Its re-opening is symbolic for two reasons - firstly because given the looting after the invasion it shows how far the country has moved forward -secondly because it could have profound implications on the antiquities trade, given that Iraq museum pieces are more likely to now be tradable by the major auction houses. Just my tuppence though --Daviessimo (talk) 16:02, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

(ec) I was thinking about the artefacts stolen during the war as the controversy. And this is historically important museum. Just felt it is reasonable to discuss the option. --Tone 16:10, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Rare cheetah photos

• This is much more interesting and unusual, although I suspect not for ITN (and the animal does not appear to have an article). --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:26, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Not really my type, though interesting. A photo was taken. I think it has to be a discovery of a new species to go to ITN. --Tone 16:10, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Lab teeth

• Then there is this; however,it requires a lot of believing and some coulds and maybes so not really good enough either. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:31, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Too many maybes for now. When they actually make a useful piece... --Tone 16:10, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Somalia erupts

• This is more like it. Not sure if it'll be selected as Somalia has been getting a few ITNs and deaths have been overkill recently. But worth a shot. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:42, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Looks bad enough to qualify. Would you like to create an article on it? And please watch for Pakistan-related news since we have developed a deficiency of the topic. --BorgQueen (talk) 15:58, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
    • It's a part of the civil war. If you decide it merits its own article The battle of ??, then I support. Otherwise, no. --Tone 16:10, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
      • A machine gun and mortar battle in Mogadishu, Somalia kills 15 people and injures at least ninety more as the Somali Civil War escalates. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 20:25, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Posting. Spencer^T♦C 21:36, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Orbiting Carbon Observatory

• A NASA rocket carrying the Orbiting Carbon Observatory falls into the ocean near Antarctica after a failed launch.
  • They just blew a nine-year project. --BorgQueen (talk) 16:30, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Yeah, it's a bit of an embarrassment... and certainly not planned either I should think... ;) --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:12, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 18:24, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

February 23

February 23, 2009 (2009-02-23) (Monday)

• Member of Parliament Peter Archer's report into the United Kingdom's tainted blood scandal chiefly blames United States pharmaceutical companies that provided contaminated blood plasma, thus infecting approximately 5,700 hemophiliacs with HIV or hepatitis C. (AP via Google News)
• Norway's Royal Navy will resume searching for Antarctic explorer Roald Amundsen's Latham 47 flying boat. (AP via Google News)
• A Paris court rejects a bid to block the auction of two China-claimed Qing Dynasty sculptures that are part of Yves Saint Laurent's art collection. (Reuters)
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 fall to their lowest levels since 1997. (Los Angeles Times)
• Pope Benedict XVI selects Archbishop Timothy Dolan to succeed Cardinal Edward Egan as New York's Archdiocese. (New York Times)
• The death toll from recent bushfires in Victoria reaches 210 as they threaten Belgrave. (ABC News Australia)
• Queensland's government announces a state election for March 21, 2009. (ABC News Australia)
• Ethiopian national Benyam Mohammed is released from Guantanamo Bay Naval Base's detention camp. (Sky News)
• South Korea's Defense Ministry reports that North Korea has medium-range ballistic missiles capable of striking U.S. military bases. (CNN)
• India approves a £1.7-billion plan to launch its first astronauts into outer space by 2015. (Times)

ITN candidates for February 23

Indian human spaceflight program

• India has approved a £1.7 billion plan to launch its first astronauts into space by 2015.

• Would make a nice counterpoint to the success of Slumdog Millionaire. 193.56.37.1 (talk) 15:22, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

• I agree it would but there have been recent planned launches by other countries (plus the planned closure of Guantanamo Bay) which have been dismissed because they are simply plans and not all plans come to fruition. So including this at ITN would be an inconsistent move. But if it happens I would support it then. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:39, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

• I agree with Candlewick. Spencer^T♦C 21:33, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

Oppose. Its not really significant. --→ Ãlways Ãhëad (talk) 02:25, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Not really significant? I wouldn't go that far... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 09:06, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Its just a proposal + two India-related blurbs are already on the main page. The two candidates below appear to be more interesting.—Magic.Wiki (talk) 02:46, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

YSL auction

• Would the YSL auction be ITN-worthy? BBC describes it "the biggest ever sale of privately owned art", which The Globe and Mail confirms. It also has a juicy controversy; China is outraged that they are selling looted bronze heads. --BorgQueen (talk) 17:01, 23 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Update: A Paris court rejected a bid to block the sale of the sculptures claimed by China, and ordered the protesters to pay fines instead. --BorgQueen (talk) 19:55, 23 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Sounds interesting... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 20:03, 23 February 2009 (UTC)
      • We could wait until the bronze heads get sold (scheduled tomorrow), when the controversy will achieve its climax. By the way, if I create an article on it, what name should it have? How about Saint Laurent art collection controversy? --BorgQueen (talk) 14:43, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Yes. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 20:34, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Comet Lulin

• Comet Lulin is coming. I don't know about our criteria regarding comets, but they say this is the first time it has visited our solar system and may well be the last. Let me know if anyone thinks it is notable enough for ITN. --BorgQueen (talk) 20:30, 23 February 2009 (UTC)
  • First and last time sounds good. Plus it would please those on Talk:Main Page who are currently despairing over our repetitive coverage of crashes, explosions and general misery and deaths... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 00:27, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Is there no chance that this will smash into the earth? ;) We only get about one naked eye comet a year so I'd support this one. --Stephen 01:11, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Support. The article is sufficiently informative. The blurb should include that today is the peak of visibility. --Tone 09:04, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
• Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 14:43, 24 February 2009 (UTC)
  • I just observed the comet last night. Not quite naked-eye visibility for my location, but many people have observed it in dark skies. I would expect the magnitude to have peaked brighter than +6.0, though, considering so people have seen it with the naked eye since Feb. 7, so more info may come later. ~AH1^(TCU) 21:15, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

February 22

February 22, 2009 (2009-02-22) (Sunday)

• Slumdog Millionaire wins eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Director for Danny Boyle. Sean Penn wins Best Actor for Milk and Kate Winslet wins Best Actress for The Reader. (The Daily Mail)
• A bomb kills one person and injures 20 others in the Khan el-Khalili souq of Cairo, Egypt. (Reuters)
• An Al-Shabaab suicide attack kills at least 11 and injures 15 more Burundian peacekeepers on an African Union military base in Mogadishu, Somalia. (BBC)
• Greek convicts Vassilis Paleokostas and Alket Rizai escape from Athens' Korydallos Prison via a helicopter. (BBC)
• Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison reopens under the new name Baghdad Central Prison. (Washington Post)
• Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng inaugurates the country's first oil refinery. (AFP via Google News)
• At least 73 miners die following an explosion in a coal mine in Gujiao, Shanxi, China. (Bloomberg)
• Australia holds a national day of mourning for the 209 confirmed victims of recent bushfires in Victoria. (Melbourne Herald Sun)
• The Tamil Tigers kill 10 people in Kirimetiyagara, Sri Lanka. (AFP via The Melbourne Age)
• An outbreak of hepatitis B in Gujarat, India, kills at least 38 people. (CNN)
• Somali pirates hijack Greece's MV Saldanha in the Gulf of Aden. (AFP via Google News)
• The European Council meets in Berlin, Germany, to discuss the current economic crisis. (BBC)

ITN candidates for February 22

Vietnam's first oil refinery

• Vietnam opens Dung Quat refinery, the nation's first oil refinery. [6]
  • If consensus supports, I will update the article further. --BorgQueen (talk) 08:53, 22 February 2009 (UTC)
    • I wouldn't put it on ITN, just opening a new facility. --Tone 12:00, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

2009 Shanxi mine blast

• Since at least 73 people died in this, probably ITN-worthy even though such accidents are not extremely uncommon in PRC. We have 2009 Shanxi mine blast and it is still very short. Does anyone want to expand? --BorgQueen (talk) 08:58, 22 February 2009 (UTC)
  • I will. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 09:04, 22 February 2009 (UTC)
    • A mine blast in Gujiao in the Shanxi province of China kills at least 73 people and injures at least 113 more. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 09:48, 22 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 09:55, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

Oscars 2009

• The awards will be handed out today (actually, tomorrow early morning in my time zone.) Proposed wording is something like xx wins yy awards including best picture and something else at the Academy Awards. --Tone 12:00, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

Seeing as Danny Boyle and Slumdog Millionaire were featured on ITN for the Golden Globes, might we go a different route it were to win best picture? Grsz¹¹ 01:46, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

No. –Howard the Duck 03:24, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

Wow, thank you for that terrific perspective. Grsz¹¹ 03:27, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

There is no other award worth mentioning. Only the Best Picture should make the cut. We can consider Best Director, Actor and Actress if we want to add pics. –Howard the Duck 04:05, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

I would prefer something simple like "[Film X] wins [Y] Academy Awards including Best Picture". Zzyzx11 (Talk) 03:42, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

The 2009 Gujarat Hepatitis outbreak

• The Hepatitis outbreak in Gujarat, India, kills at least 38 people and continues to spread.
  • The article needs some tidying up though. --BorgQueen (talk) 12:15, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

I have done some work on it — added some text in the lead and rewrote the "reaction" section which was earlier copy-pasted directly from cnn —Magic.Wiki (talk) 15:12, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

Article still needs more attention (refs and style), so don't put up yet...I'll work on it. Spencer^T♦C 19:07, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

I agree, please take your time. --BorgQueen (talk) 19:13, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

Okay, reorganised, more refs, and better fleshed-out. Wording: An outbreak of Hepatitis B in Gujarat, India, kills 49 people and infects 125. I'll post, but can you give me the recognition tag? Thanks, Spencer^T♦C 19:58, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

2009 Khan el-Khalili explosion

• A bomb thrown into the crowded Khan El-Khalili square killes, at least, a French woman, a tourist and two locals in Cairo, Egypt.
  • The incident is very important with many European causalities sparking the first serious terrorist attack for a couple of years.--Diaa abdelmoneim (talk) 20:52, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

It's too short now. Also, is 4 deaths notable enough? Spencer^T♦C 21:36, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

In the context I would say yes. Egypt is one of the more stable 'tourist friendly' states in that region and as the above user suggests given that there has been one French person killed and up to fifteen foreigners injured ([7]) it certainly has international significance =Daviessimo (talk) 21:49, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

I'd also say this is significant. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 01:52, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

I think it is acceptable, only if somebody expands it a bit. --BorgQueen (talk) 05:50, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

Is it expanded enough?--Diaa abdelmoneim (talk) 10:20, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. Btw, only one person died, not four. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:47, 23 February 2009 (UTC)

February 21

February 21, 2009 (2009-02-21) (Saturday)

• The Taliban and Pakistan agree to a permanent ceasefire in the war in North-West Frontier Province. (CNN)
• The International Security Assistance Force kills 13 people in Guzara, Herat, Afghanistan. (CNN)
• Italy's Democratic Party elects Deputy Secretary Dario Franceschini as its new Secretary. (France 24)
• Approximately 120,000 people march in Dublin, Ireland, to protest the government's handling of the country's economic and banking crises. (Irish Times)
• At least 10 people are killed and 20 injured in a collision between a train and a coach in Slovakia. (RTÉ)

ITN candidates for February 21

Slovakian coach and train collision

• Is there an article for this [8]? I'm not sure how common accidents like this are in Eastern Europe, but if this occured in western Europe it would be quite a significant event. --Daviessimo (talk) 15:45, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

I might create it later if nobody else has gotten to it. We don't hear of anything like this every day. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:34, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

Having traveled on railroads in the region I assure you it is not normal for them to hit buses and kill 11 people. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 00:59, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

11 people are killed and twenty are injured in a collision between a tourist coach and a train in central Slovakia.

I'm not sure it's normal for trains and buses to become involved in such an intimate way fullstop. Even the recent derailment in Orissa was lacking a bus... although bizarrely I mistyped coach and got redirected to the Council of Christian Hospitals in – Orissa! Anyway, just waiting to be posted now I guess... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 01:26, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

Are 2 sources and 2 paragraphs enough? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.205.76.213 (talk • contribs)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 04:24, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

February 20

February 20, 2009 (2009-02-20) (Friday)

• The Tamil Tigers aerially attack Colombo, Sri Lanka, killing two people and injuring at least 40 others. (Reuters)
• The United States will return Benyam Mohammed to the United Kingdom after four years of imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base's detention camp. (BBC)
• Israel seizes 425 acres of Palestinian Authority state land in the West Bank for a Jewish settlement. (AP via Google News)
• Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis and his government resign. (Bloomberg)
• Gold futures reclaim the US$1,000-an-ounce mark. (MarketWatch)
• New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo subpoenas Bank of America Chairman and CEO Kenneth Lewis for misleading investors during the purchase of Merrill Lynch. (Wall Street Journal)
• Saab Automobile files for bankruptcy protection. (MarketWatch)
• Israeli President Shimon Peres selects Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu to form the country's next government. (Ynetnews)
• A suicide attack kills 25 people in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. (BBC)
• Forty-seven people are injured when a Northwest Airlines flight from the Philippines to Japan experiences severe turbulence. (BBC)
• India investigates several deaths caused by the hepatitis B virus in the western state of Gujarat. (BBC)

ITN candidates for February 20

Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu

• Nom: Israeli President Shimon Peres chooses Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) to form the next Israeli government. --Hapsala (talk) 13:20, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

• A bold link to Israeli legislative election, 2009 is recommended in a hook which mentions that Likud failed to win plurality in the Knesset. --199.71.174.100 (talk) 17:48, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

• • • I think we should wait until the new government is sworn in. Then, certainly. --Tone 18:06, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
      • I don't think we need wait, the president has already decided who will become Israel's next PM. --Hapsala (talk) 19:54, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
        • But he still has to form a government and pass a vote in Kneset, right? --Tone 20:05, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
          • Exactly. This seems similar to when it was suggested we should put Tzipi Livni winning the Kadima leadership election. In that case I pointed out there was no guarantee she would form the next government and be the next PM and it turned out I she didn't. In this case, there is I presume similarly no guarantee Benjamin Netanyahu will form the next government and be the next PM. I'm not that familiar with Israeli politics but I presume by convention no one else tries to form the next government when the President has specifically invited someone but there is still no guarantee of success and if he fails either someone else will be given the chance or a fresh election will be called. It is ultimately up to the members of the Knesset. However I wouldn't mind mentioning the results of the election but the emphasis should be on that. Nil Einne (talk) 22:00, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Peanuts

• What about this [9]? Is there an article for it? Scientifically speaking this is a huge move forward. --Daviessimo (talk) 07:15, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Interesting but still in testing phase. I'd say wait. --Tone 08:29, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
    • I've heard of this but the article is unconvincing... the headline says "hope" and then there's "a longer-term follow up is now needed to confirm the findings"... --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 13:18, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Latvia

• The government resings. Big news. --Tone 18:06, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Are you in hurry? Some blurb please. --BorgQueen (talk) 18:17, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
    • I have added this info to both links in the following blurb. How about "Ivars Godmanis, the Prime Minister of Latvia, resigns along with the rest of his government." Rambo's Revenge (talk) 19:28, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Ok, I'm back now. The wording is fine, maybe worth to mention that the reason way the economic crisis (according to the references). --Tone 19:53, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 21:06, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Tamil Tiger aircraft attack

• I was wondering if this is bad enough for ITN? --BorgQueen (talk) 21:49, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Looks like it is. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 00:23, 21 February 2009 (UTC)
    • We now have a related article so,

"Tamil Tiger rebels launch a kamikaze style suicide attack on Colombo, killing two people". --snowolfD4 ^{( talk / @ )} 22:40, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 22:49, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

February 19

February 19, 2009 (2009-02-19) (Thursday)

• Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's office accuses Georgian pop group Stefane & 3G's song "We Don't Wanna Put In" of hooliganism. (Financial Times)
• California's State Legislature approves a US$143-billion budget and fills a $41-billion deficit with a combination of loans, spending and service reductions, and tax increases. (New York Times)
• The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation locates Stanford Financial Group Chairman Allen Stanford in Virginia and serves him with a fraud complaint on behalf of the Securities and Exchange Commission. (BBC)
• China claims it has artificially produced snowfall by cloud seeding to ease drought. (AP via Google News)
• Palestinian militants fire three rockets into Israel. (Jerusalem Post)
• General Motors says it may provide its struggling Swedish subsidiary Saab Automobile with US$400 million. (Reuters)
• Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Council approves the closure of the U.S. Air Force's Manas Air Base. (Reuters)
• A Russian court acquits three men of aiding the 2006 murder of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya. (BBC)
• The French battleship Danton is discovered in the Mediterranean Sea. (BBC)
• U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa. (BBC)
• China's Ministry of Health reports that HIV/AIDS was the country's leading cause of death from infectious disease in 2008. (BBC)
• Two Tupolev Tu-95 bombers are intercepted by two Canadian CF-18's near Canada's airspace hours before United States President Barack Obama arrives in Ottawa, Ontario.(CBC)
• Nigeria's Military Forces rescue two escaped Russian hostages who were abducted in the Niger Delta in December. (BBC)
• Fort-de-France Mayor Serge Letchimy cancels Martinique's carnival, due to ongoing general strikes. (MSNBC)

ITN candidates for February 19

Brits

• At the 2009 BRIT Awards, singer Duffy wins becomes the first female to win three awards in one ceremony. Possibility? Rambo's Revenge (talk) 14:33, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Not my choice of ITN... --Tone 14:46, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

That is okay, I was just suggesting it for balance as I noticed the Grammy's made ITN on February 9. Rambo's Revenge (talk) 15:24, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

The fact that the BRIT Awards has separate categories for British and International means something. –Howard the Duck 17:21, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

I'd be willing to support this if something like the Meteors went up too... but that won't happen... because we'd have every other national music awards wanting mention... followed by the film awards... and television... and radio... and so on... and on... balance is all very well but it would be impossible to manage... I'd say the Grammys are in a separate class though. And not every Grammy is listed. Just the one considered most important. Also Duffy links to a disambiguation page. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 17:31, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

There isn't enough prose in the article in the first place to qualify. Spencer^T♦C 00:27, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Danton

• The Danton, a French battleship sunk in 1917 by a German submarine, is discovered upright with many of its gun turrets still intact on the floor of the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Quotes:

    "The French government is now keen to see that the site is protected."

    "'Its condition is extraordinary', said Rob Hawkins, project director with Fugro GeoConsulting Limited."

This is much more remarkable in my opinion. It also seems to have been updated so it would be a matter of someone agreeing and also determining whether enough info has been added to allow it onto ITN. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 17:58, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Cool. The article could be expanded a bit more but I support it now already. --Tone 18:02, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 18:40, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

HIV/AIDS epidemic in China'

• China publishes figures saying that HIV/Aids was its leading cause of death in 2008, compared with other infectious diseases, increasing fivefold over three years and thought to be the first time this has happened.
  • I haven't checked this one properly and it might need an update but I'll just leave out there and see what everybody thinks. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:24, 19 February 2009 (UTC)
    • I am leaning toward support, provided it is adequately updated. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:57, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
      • China confirms HIV/Aids as its leading cause of death by infectious disease in 2008, a fivefold increase over a three year period. --Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 00:14, 21 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 02:55, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

Stanford Financial Group

• Really, what's the financial world coming to? I think Stanford Financial Group fraud case is ITN-worthy but I'd like to know what others think. --BorgQueen (talk) 18:26, 19 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Yes. Seems mild enough compared to what's going on in Ireland but this seems to affecting lots more countries.--➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:29, 19 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Some nice wording please? --BorgQueen (talk) 19:09, 19 February 2009 (UTC)
      • The Stanford Financial Group is investigated for alleged fraud as Peru and Venezuela suspend financial operations? --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 20:14, 19 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Actually Venezuela seized, rather than merely suspended. --BorgQueen (talk) 20:16, 19 February 2009 (UTC)
          • I see. Ummm... The Stanford Financial Group is investigated for alleged fraud as Peru and Venezuela seize and suspend financial operations? --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:00, 19 February 2009 (UTC)
            • Alleged...not good enough for ITN. And this is also an investigation. Oppose for now.Spencer^T♦C 00:29, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
              • Agree with Spencer. In the past I think we've always waited for the person to be charged at the very least. --Daviessimo (talk) 07:13, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

February 18

February 18, 2009 (2009-02-18) (Wednesday)

• Stefane & 3G will represent Georgia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow with "We Don't Wanna Put In", a song allegedly against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. (Reuters)
• A Columbian mammoth is discovered in the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California. (Reuters)
• Switzerland's UBS AG will pay the United States federal government US$780 million in fines and restitution after admitting to helping American clients avoid taxes. (CNN)
• A Eurocopter Super Puma carrying 18 people ditches into the North Sea. (BBC)
• Israel will not negotiate with Hamas unless war prisoner Gilad Shalit is released. (BBC)
• Israel's Securities Authority arrests Poalim Capital Markets CEO Nir Burnstein on suspicion of insider trading. (Jerusalem Post)
• Iran announces it has built an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of traveling 620 miles (1,000 kilometers). (Bloomberg)
• Lawyers representing the entertainment industry defend their compensation claims of US$13 million against The Pirate Bay. (The Local)
• A GEO Television reporter is killed in Pakistan's war-torn Swat Valley. (AP via Google News)
• Verizon Wireless selects Alcatel-Lucent as its primary vendor of fourth-generation wireless communications. (Reuters)
• Swedish Minister of Enterprise and Energy Maud Olofsson criticizes General Motors for "abandoning" the struggling automaker Saab Automobile. (The Local)
• The Czech Republic's Chamber of Deputies approves the Treaty of Lisbon. (CTK)
• General Motors will cut 47,000 jobs throughout 2009. (Sky News)
• South Korea says North Korea will face United Nations sanctions if it proceeds with a threatening long-range missile test. (Reuters)
• Russia's Border Guard Service sinks a Hong Kong-owned merchant vessel, killing eight people. (RIAN)
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and European Space Agency will continue with their Europa Jupiter System Mission and Titan Saturn System Missions. (NASA)

ITN candidates for February 18

UBS AG in trouble

• Switzerland is certainly not a tax haven anymore. [10] I tend to think this is ITN-worthy since UBS AG is the largest bank in Switzerland according to CNN, and the second-largest bank in Europe according to our own article. --BorgQueen (talk) 05:59, 19 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Nom: UBS AG, Switzerland's largest bank, agrees to pay US$780 million in fines and restitution and turn over account information to the U.S. Government for helping 17,000 American clients avoid taxes. --BorgQueen (talk) 05:59, 19 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Added "17,000". [11] The blurb has become a bit too long though. Any alt. suggestions are welcome. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:20, 19 February 2009 (UTC)
      • ...Anyone home? :( --BorgQueen (talk) 11:59, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

This is a good story. However, the update is a bit short. And the wording could be improved. At present, it can be interpreted that the bank will help people to avoid taxes, what is presumably not the case... --Tone 12:18, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Ok, I will start updating the article. --BorgQueen (talk) 12:31, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Alt: UBS AG, Switzerland's largest bank, agrees to pay US$780 million in fines and restitution and disclose account information to the U.S. Government after admitting to helping American clients avoid taxes. --BorgQueen (talk) 13:01, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 17:13, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Pakistan

• Is this news ITN-worthy? Pakistan has been neglected on ITN, and we should come up with something. I suppose the problem is that a lot of people get killed there every day, it is hard to pinpoint one event... The same goes with the Mexican drug war. --BorgQueen (talk) 16:27, 18 February 2009 (UTC)
  • I have to agree with you. Pakistan has to be on ITN more often. But whether this is the story I am doubtful. The article itself says "Reporters have often been killed or kidnapped in northwest Pakistan" - I doubt we could make this out to be any more of a special case. Even if one reporter was killed in the U.S. or U.K. I doubt it would be notable for ITN. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 20:14, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

NASA

• NASA/ESA select the next mission to the outer planets: the Europa Jupiter System Mission. Charvest (talk) 18:03, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

• • http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/20090218.html
  • http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16626-europa-trumps-titan-in-bid-for-outer-planet-mission.html
  • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7897585.stm

• • • It has only been selected though not launched? I believe at one point we were supposed to having someone on Mars by now but that never exactly took off... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 20:17, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

La Brea Tar Pits and LACMA

• "Officials at the George C. Page Museum announce the 2006 discovery of the largest known cache of fossils from the last ice age, in a Los Angeles County Museum of Art-owned parking structure near La Brea Tar Pits, including a saber-toothed cat, six dire wolves, a giant ground sloth, an American lion, and a near-intact mammoth skeleton named Zed."

• Probably waay too long, but some stuff could easily be cut out. Refs are: [12] [13] [14] [15] Matthewedwards (talk • contribs • email) 20:58, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

• ITN-worthy I would think. But blogs are not allowed... :/ --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:14, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

I'd support this one. The sources are reliable, just ignore that blog one. No need to list the species. --Tone 12:24, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Is it wise to ignore blogs? Should something containing a blog be featured on ITN? --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 17:36, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Besides, I feel sort of awkward since the actual discovery was in 2006. I know we've had those "announcement" items before but... 2006 might be a bit too far. --BorgQueen (talk) 17:39, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

Why not, if they have been made public now. By the way, one ref is a blog, the others are not, I don't see the issue here. Am I missing something? --Tone 17:49, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

I'm just saying we don't use blogs, don't we? Or am I missing something? I now think the Danton (see above) is a much better choice. The French governemnt are only moving to protect it now so it must be more recent than 2006. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:27, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

February 17

February 17, 2009 (2009-02-17) (Tuesday)

• United States President Barack Obama authorizes the deployment of 12,000 more soldiers into the Afghanistan War. (CNN)
• The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges Stanford Financial Group Chairman Allen Stanford with fraud. (BBC)
• British lawyer David Mills is sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail for accepting a £400,000 bribe from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. (BBC)
• Walter Veltroni resigns as Secretary of Italy's Democratic Party. (BBC)
• Legal charges against The Pirate Bay are amended. (The Local)
• Late 2000s recession in the Americas:
  • U.S. President Obama signs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (CNN)
  • General Motors and Chrysler inform the U.S. federal government that they will need additional loans of $21.6 billion. (CNN)
• Shōichi Nakagawa will resign as Japan's Minister of Finance after the National Diet approves a budget in April. (AP via Google News)
• California will lay off 20,000 government workers, due to the State Legislature's failure to pass a budget. (Reuters)
• U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Japan to deliberate the global economic crisis and international security. (Sky News)
• Former Khmer Rouge leader Kang Kek Iew stands trial before the Extraordinary Chambers in Cambodia. (CNN)
• Irish Nationwide Chairman Michael Walsh resigns over his involvement in questionable loan arrangements with Anglo Irish Bank. (RTÉ)
• Fifty people are detained in Guadeloupe after general strikes escalate into rioting. (International Herald Tribune)

ITN candidates for February 17

Big American stimulus plan.

A possible image to use with the item, but it needs a crop

• Nom: President Barack Obama signs the a US$787 billion stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, into law. Spencer^T♦C 21:25, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Lots of things get signed into law... every day... I imagine the U.S. will even sign into law something else quite quickly... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:44, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Except nothing else involves spending $787,000,000,000 (1/18 of the US's overall GDP). However, American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009#Provisions_of_the_final_bill must be filled in before this should be posted...I'm trying to cleanup the rest of the article right now, and if someone wants to help, it would be appreciated. Thanks, Spencer^T♦C 21:51, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
      • That's relative though. It just reflects the wealth of the U.S. and its position in the world. That's not very neutral. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:56, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
        • I also recall that we put up other stimulus packages, including the 2008 Chinese economic stimulus plan, which, according to google is 43.39200 billion USD, much smaller compared to this. 585.18 billion U.S. dollars. Spencer^T♦C 22:00, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
          • Oh I guess that's fine then. As long as we put up China. ;) --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 22:11, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
            • I'm still expanding provisions of the final bill; it's quite long. :P. Spencer^T♦C 22:46, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
              • Done. Whew that took forever. Spencer^T♦C 01:31, 18 February 2009 (UTC)
                • Can you do something about those tags, before we put it up on MP? --BorgQueen (talk) 01:37, 18 February 2009 (UTC)
                  • Lemme see... Spencer^T♦C 01:56, 18 February 2009 (UTC)
                    • Got it down to a POV tag. Not much I can do about that, though. Spencer^T♦C 02:11, 18 February 2009 (UTC)
• Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 02:34, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

Duch trial

• If people start to "panic" and want an update then maybe "The trial of former Khmer Rouge leader Duch begins at a Phnom Penh court." — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rambo's Revenge (talk • contribs)
  • I believe that for any trial we should wait until the defendant is convicted (or found not guilty, which is highly unlikely in this particular case). The result of a trial is usually a more significant news than the trial itself. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:32, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Ok, fair enough. Rambo's Revenge (talk) 10:37, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
      • I don't know, I think this is big enough. He's being charged with crimes against humanity, which is pretty rare and I think having a mention of the start of the trial as well as the verdict is important. The fact that it has taken almost 30 years for this trial to come makes it even more significant --Daviessimo (talk) 19:49, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
        • This looks quite historic to me. But perhaps BorgQueen is correct - the result may be better - if the charge is so rare then even any clearance of wrong-doing would be ITN-worthy. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:46, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Oil spill

• I'm not sure if it qualifies yet, the WP page hasn't been fleshed out fully, but a 1000 tonne oil spill involving Russian Naval Vessels which originated yesterday is now headed for the south coast of Ireland. Trustcited (talk) 15:56, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

This article has now seen noticeable expansion. Trustcited (talk) 17:48, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

"The biggest oil spill in the UK since 1996"; I think that's notable enough. Can you suggest some well-worded blurb? --BorgQueen (talk) 18:17, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Just heard of this. Yes, I should think this is ITN material. At last - I'm not the only one getting Ireland on ITN outside elections... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:30, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

• The largest oil spill to affect Great Britain and Ireland in 13 years occurs off County Cork.

There's a blurb for a start unless anyone can come up with something better. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:37, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 21:49, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

The clock is still red but you'll probably have solved that by the time I save this. ;) --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:51, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Blurb is suitable IMO. Thanks Candlewicke! Trustcited (talk) 21:55, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

You're very welcome! :) --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:57, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Clock reset. Spencer^T♦C 22:04, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Just added to P:CE per WP:ITNMP Procedural #2. --199.71.174.100 (talk) 00:44, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

• I made a map, which might be of use on the Main Page. Jolly Ω Janner 01:25, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

Generally, it's prefered not to use maps in ITN if possible. Spencer^T♦C 01:31, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

February 16

February 16, 2009 (2009-02-16) (Monday)

• Section 76 of the United Kingdom's Counter-Terrorism Act 2008—a law that criminalizes publishing information about the Armed Forces, the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service, or Government Communications Headquarters—is effected. (BBC)
• An Israeli lawyer convicted of defrauding Holocaust survivors is arrested for planning to flee the country. (Jerusalem Post)
• BitTorrent tracker The Pirate Bay's trial begins in Stockholm, Sweden. (BBC)
• Late 2000s recession:
  • Japan's gross domestic product contracted by 12.7 percent in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2008. (AP via New York Times)
  • BMW cuts 850 jobs at its Mini factory in Cowley, Oxfordshire, England. (BBC)
  • The United Kingdom's economy is expected to contract by 3.3 percent throughout 2009. (Bloomberg)
• The British Royal Navy's nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard and the French Navy's Le Triomphant collide in the Atlantic Ocean on February 3 or 4. (Sky News)
• Protesters and police clash in Guadeloupe as part of general strikes. (France 24)
• Pakistan will implement sharia in the war-torn Swat Valley if the Taliban guarantees a ceasefire. (BBC)

ITN candidates for February 16

The UK Counter-Terrorism Act

• In the United Kingdom, section 76 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, which bans taking photographs of law enforcement officers and military personnels to assist acts of terrorism, goes into effect. [16] Does anyone think this is ITN-worthy? The entire Counter-Terrorism Act is controversial, of course, but some argue that this particular section may seriously restrict freedom of the press (which may or may not be true). -BorgQueen (talk) 14:09, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
  • If there are "may"s and "may not"s it may be better just to keep watch on this one until something concrete is declared. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:42, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

The Pirate Bay trial

• The trial against file sharing network The Pirate Bay starts in Stockholm, Sweden. --Hapsala (talk) 14:52, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
  • I think we should wait until they are either convicted or found not guilty. I am hoping for the latter because it will make a far more eyebrow-raising headline (for the rest of us not living in Sweden anyway). --BorgQueen (talk) 15:56, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
    • You have half the latter, as 50% of charges have been dropped.[17] Rambo's Revenge (talk) 16:58, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Then let's wait for the other 50... we have two trials at the moment... how can we choose one over the other? --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:50, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
        • We don't have to. I don't think it is likely that we will get the both verdicts on the same day. --BorgQueen (talk) 21:57, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
          • Lots of maybes and unlikelys indeed. Fair enough. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 22:12, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Venezuelan referendum vote

• Chavez won. [18] Could anyone update a relevant article? Thanks. --BorgQueen (talk) 03:14, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

"An amendment to the Constitution of Venezuela, lifting term limits on elected offices from the President of the Republic down, is endorsed by 54% of voters in a referendum." 189.146.243.114 (talk) 04:30, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Posting. --BorgQueen (talk) 05:21, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Wow, this is some horrible wording. What about mentioning Chavez who is the key person in the whole thing and not mentioning 54% since simple support is enough? --Tone 09:10, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Can you give a bit more specific wording? I think mentioning Chavez will lengthen the blurb too much. --BorgQueen (talk) 11:04, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

In Venezuela, the voters endorse a proposed amendment to the constitution, lifting term limit on elected officers. (or making possible for Chavez to be elected again+ photo of Chavez). This is as far as I can get it. --Tone 11:45, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Done. --BorgQueen (talk) 12:01, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

The current wording gives the impression that Chavez' re-election is certain. I suggest changing the wording to In Venezuela, the voters endorse an amendment to the constitution lifting term limits on elected offices, enabling President Hugo Chávez (pictured) to stand for re-election at the end of the current term. Or something to that effect. Pruneau^talk 13:22, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Nuclear submarine collision

• Is this notable. It is about two Nuclear subs colliding: HMS Vanguard (S28) and Triomphant (S 616)? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rambo's Revenge (talk • contribs)
  • Yes. I was going to suggest this news but the source was a tabloid, but now it has been confirmed by BBC so I would say the source is reliable. So many unusual collisions/crashes this month, eh? --BorgQueen (talk) 11:00, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
    • It is a good story but I wonder what to write. The collision took place some time ago so it's not recent news. The announcement is what is recent. I don't see the date in the BBC article, anyone knows when exactly the collision happened? --Tone 11:49, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
      • According to the BBC article, "earlier this month." Perhaps we could wait until the press squeezes more info from them. --BorgQueen (talk) 12:03, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
      • According to The Times it crashed on February 3 or 4. [19] Rambo's Revenge (talk) 13:04, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Slightly odd hook, but how about "A British and a French nuclear submarine collide in the Atlantic Ocean." Rambo's Revenge (talk) 13:09, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Something is happening at 2009 nuclear submarine collision article. Still, far too little content so far. --Tone 13:11, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

I wasn't aware of that article, I'll put of information in it now, but have to go out shortly. Rambo's Revenge (talk) 13:25, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Ok I have added quite a bit to the article. Is it ready yet? If not I'll do some more work when I get back. Rambo's Revenge (talk) 14:10, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 15:45, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Harder than diamonds

• Some science stories. Lonsdaleite is apparently harder than diamond. [20] Needs some work, though. --Tone 14:11, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Allow me to quote the story (with bolded emphasis added): "The gemstone lost its title of the 'world's hardest material' some time ago, to man-made nanomaterials of slightly greater toughness. Now a rare natural substance looks likely to leave them all far behind - at 58% harder than diamond." An interesting story though, if it actually occurs. Spencer^T♦C 19:23, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Sounds like a gradual occurrence/discovery which would not feature in the news. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:40, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

February 15

February 15, 2009 (2009-02-15) (Sunday)

• The United Kingdom confirms the first case of a person contracting Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease after receiving contaminated blood plasma. (Telegraph)
• At least 15 people are killed and seven injured in a hostel fire in Molodyozhny, Astrakhan, Russia. (Reuters via ABC News Australia)
• Israel will pay US$50,000 to the family of a Palestinian man who was killed by the country's Defense Forces in December 2003. (PCHR) (Ma'an)
• Zimbabwe replaces a treason charge against Deputy Agriculture Minister-designate Roy Bennett with "conspiring to acquire arms with a view to disrupting essential services." (BBC)
• The Karen National Union attacks Myawaddy, Burma. (AFP via Google News)
• Colombia's Galeras volcano erupts. (CNN)
• Fifty-four percent of participating Venezuelan voters approve a constitutional referendum to remove term limits for elected offices, including the Presidency. (BBC)
• Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denies reports that Israel is negotiating with Hamas. (CNN)
• General strikes over high living costs continue in Guadeloupe and Martinique. (Chicago Tribune)
• Cancer Research UK's London Institute discovers a "danger receptor" that may initiate an immune reaction to cancer. (BBC)
• The Taliban announces a ten-day ceasefire in its war in northwest Pakistan's Swat Valley. (BBC)
• NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth wins the rain-shortened 2009 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway after 152 of 200 laps. (NASCAR.com)

ITN candidates for February 15

Galeras eruption

• The Galeras vocano eruption seems to be notable enough; an official "red alert" has been issued for the area. Anyone wants to update the article? --BorgQueen (talk) 05:18, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Sigh, ok I am updating it. --BorgQueen (talk) 07:30, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 11:33, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
      • I don't mean to be rude, and its easy for me to comment since I can barely contribute, but is the eruption of every single volcano considered notable for ITN? On the plus side though, yet another ITN for Colombia and South America... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 12:42, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Not every single one, but if the eruption caused thousands of people to flee, then yes, I would tend to think it's ITN-worthy. Btw do something about your net connection. --BorgQueen (talk) 12:47, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
        • I support the inclusion but next time it's better to wait for a comment or two before posting. I know there's little activity around here sometimes but still ;-) --Tone 12:44, 15 February 2009 (UTC)

Russia

• I don't mean to distract but whilst we were debating the fire burned ferociously... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:29, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Bearing in mind that fires are always burning in Russia as the article demonstrates... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:31, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
    • I'm going to have to oppose...this seems more trivial, and after doing some quick research, I find you'd be hard pressed to be able to write 3 quality paragraphs about this. Spencer^T♦C 20:26, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
• That's fine. As I said above it's not even the worst fire in Russia this month... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 23:11, 15 February 2009 (UTC)

Nominate the ongoing French Caribbean general strikes, 2009 in Guadeloupe and Martinique.

• The ongoing general strikes over the high cost of living in Guadeloupe and Martinique have continued nonstop for three weeks and show no signs of ending anytime soon. If anything, there is a risk that the strikes could spread to other French territories or even France itself, making the story important outside of the Caribbean. The strikes have paralyzed the economy and tourism industry on both islands and magnified social tensions.
• Example: The ongoing general strikes in Guadeloupe and Martinique continue over the high cost of living. Any other suggestions? Scanlan (talk) 02:11, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Supported. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 02:14, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 02:25, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

UK cancer breakthrough

• Researchers in the United Kingdom announce the discovery of a "danger receptor" which may kick-start an immune reaction to cancer. (BBC)
  • Don't know about this one; it doesn't have an article and I'm just after locating it but I'll leave it here anyway and see what everybody thinks. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 02:23, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
    • The key word in your first point is "may". With so many medical discoveries that "may" have an effect on HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other diseases, I'm going to have to oppose. Spencer^T♦C 02:38, 16 February 2009 (UTC)
      • You're correct. How silly of me, having previously pointed out such dubious wording myself. Thank goodness there is more than one to decide... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:03, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Congo rebels killed

• At least 40 Rwandan Hutu rebels are killed in air strikes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (BBC)
  • How about this one which we seem to have missed? It would have happened between the U.S. plane crash and the Indian train derailment which are both still on ITN.

The numbers killed in the air raids - 75km west of the provincial capital Goma - make them the deadliest since the arrival of Rwandan forces in January.

--➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:10, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

Turkey

• This probably needs to be watched in case of further developments. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:14, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

February 14

February 14, 2009 (2009-02-14) (Saturday)

• An oil spill occurs in the Celtic Sea near County Cork, Ireland. (Department of Transport)
• Peruvian director Claudia Llosa's The Milk of Sorrow wins the Golden Bear at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival. (ABC/Reuters)
• Two missiles fired from American drone aircraft kill at least 25 people in South Waziristan, Pakistan. (New York Times)
• Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel will not negotiate any long-term ceasefire in its conflict with Hamas unless prisoner-of-war Gilad Shalit is released. (Al Jazeera)
• Japan's National Astronomical Observatory completes the first topographic map of the Moon. (Daily Yomiuri)
• Somali pirates release the Japanese oil tanker Chemstar Venus and its 23 crew members. (Reuters)

February 13

February 13, 2009 (2009-02-13) (Friday)

• The United States Congress approves the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. (BBC)
• Zimbabwe's Republic Police charge Roy Bennett of the Movement for Democratic Change with treason. (BBC)
• The Peanut Corporation of America files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidation. (Reuters via Forbes)
• Germany's economy shrank by 2.1 percent in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2008. (AFP via ABC News Australia)
• A suicide bomber kills 40 people and injures 60 others in Karbala, Iraq. (AP via Fox News)
• China's government urges Yves Saint Laurent's estate to return two Qing Dynasty sculptures scheduled for auction in Paris. (Bloomberg)
• Australia's Senate approves a $42-billion economic stimulus package. (BBC)
• Israeli Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip discover grenades made by Hamas from humanitarian supplies. (Jerusalem Post)
• Germany's Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the United States' 454 Life Sciences map the Neanderthal genome. (AP via Google News)
• Lloyds Banking Group warns that HBOS will register a loss of £8.5 billion for 2008. (Sky News)
• Unix time equalled "1234567890" at 23:31:30 UTC. (The Times)
• British Airways CityFlyer Flight 8456 crash-lands at London's City Airport. (RTÉ)
• A passenger train derails in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, killing at least 15 people and injuring 150 others. (Thaindian News)
• The Air Accident Investigation Unit finds that Virgin Atlantic Airways' Airbus A340s contain faulty electrical wiring. (AAIU)
• Six crew members are missing after China's MV Changhai 178 capsizes in the South China Sea. (Xinhua)
• At least 40 FDLR members are killed in airstrikes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (BBC)

ITN candidates for February 13

American money and its relevance on a global scale

• Nom: Once Obama signs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, perhaps it could be combined in a blurb with the Australian stimulus package. If someone doesn't think this is notable, I think the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 itself is worth about 10% of the US' GDP or something like that. Spencer^T♦C 18:38, 14 February 2009 (UTC)
  • However, the Australia stimulus is only approved in the Senate, and I can't currently find an article for it. Spencer^T♦C 18:39, 14 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Would something worth 10% of, for some slightly broad examples, Iceland's, Turkey's, Argentina's, Costa Rica's or Mali's GDP make it onto ITN? You also seem a bit uncertain even that it's 10% – which doesn't seem all that high a figure... but any country could sign such a deal so surely you should give a valid reason as to why this is significant to anyone outside the U.S.? --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 14:29, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Isn't it 100% of Mali's economy less than 10% of the U.S. economy? Or something like that. Plus these American companies are outsourced everywhere once the American economy contracts the first things they'll do is too pull out their foreign outsourcing. Of course they are not outsourcing in Europe since labor is expensive there so... –Howard the Duck 15:33, 15 February 2009 (UTC)
        • So what relevance does it have to the people of Europe? --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 23:17, 15 February 2009 (UTC)

Plane House Collision

• A Continental Airlines airplanes crashes into a house in Clarence Center, New York, USA, killing 49 people. Buffalo News
  • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 07:31, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

Neanderthal

• Nom: The completion of the first draft of the Neanderthal genome is announced by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany. --BorgQueen (talk) 09:24, 13 February 2009 (UTC)
  • If consensus supports, I will update the article. --BorgQueen (talk) 09:24, 13 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Good one. Of course, the article needs considerable update first. By the way, should we put this on ITN now or when a more detailed sequence is revealed? --Tone 09:43, 13 February 2009 (UTC)
      • I tend to think it wouldn't harm to feature it now, since an official announcement (scheduled on Darwin's 200th birthday) was made by the institute. But I will wait for consensus first. --BorgQueen (talk) 09:47, 13 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Ok, I am working on it. --BorgQueen (talk) 15:35, 13 February 2009 (UTC)
          • Updated and posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 00:15, 14 February 2009 (UTC)

Orissa

• A passenger train derails the Indian state of Orissa, killing at least 15 people and injuring 150.
  • Just happened. All the available info is in the article awaiting posting to ITN. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 22:39, 13 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 00:15, 14 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Surely this ought to be above the neanderthal? It has just happened in the last number of hours... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 00:53, 14 February 2009 (UTC)
        • If its on the same date, we try to put the pictured item on top/as high as possible. Spencer^T♦C 18:40, 14 February 2009 (UTC)
          • This may have no relevance to the people of Europe, but it may have relevance to people somewhere else not just in the U.S. Perhaps the people of Europe, or more specifically the European governments, may have an interest concerning on how to prop up their economies. –Howard the Duck 04:08, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

February 12

February 12, 2009 (2009-02-12) (Thursday)

• Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashes in Clarence Center, New York, killing 50 people. (Buffalo News) (CNN)
• The United States National Transportation Safety Board concludes that Canada geese caused US Airways Flight 1549 to ditch into New York City's Hudson River. (CNN)
• Pope Benedict XVI condemns any denial of the Holocaust as "intolerable and altogether unacceptable". (New York Times)
• Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire withdraws his nomination as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. (BBC)
• Iraq's Parliament demands reparations from Israel for an attack on a nuclear reactor in 1981. (Haaretz).
• Hamas agrees to an 18-month truce in its conflict with Israel, which has not yet responded. (Al Jazeera)
• Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. reopens for the bicentennial of assassinated U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's birth. (BBC)
• Late 2000s recession:
  • Japanese electronics company Pioneer Corporation will leave the television business and cut 10,000 jobs. (AFP via Google News)
  • European steelmaker Corus Group cuts 3,500 jobs. (Business Standard)
• A man is arrested after threatening self-immolation outside the Government Buildings in Dublin, Ireland. (RTÉ)
• Taliban militants kill 26 people in attacks on three government buildings in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Sky News)
• Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez alleges that the Army attempted to overthrow his government. (AFP via France 24)
• Australia announces a national day of mourning for victims of bushfires in Victoria. (CNN)
• The European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, is robbed. (RTÉ)
• Indian businessman Moninder Singh Pandher and his servant, Surender Koli, are convicted of murder. (BBC)
• Dutch Member of Parliament and Islam critic Geert Wilders is denied entry into the United Kingdom. (BBC)
• Microsoft places a US$250,000 bounty on the Conficker computer worm's creator. (PC World)
• China's Sanlu Group declares bankruptcy, due to the country's 2008 milk scandal. (BBC)

February 11

February 11, 2009 (2009-02-11) (Wednesday)

• Economy of the United States:
  • The budget deficit reached US$84 billion in January 2009, due to the financial crisis. (Market Watch)
  • The Senate and House of Representatives reach a compromise on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. (Reuters)
• The number of worldwide connections to cellular networks reaches four billion. (Reuters)
• Azerbaijan Air Force Lieutenant General Rail Rzayev is killed in Baku. (BBC)
• Palestinian militants launch four mortar shells and one Qassam rocket from the Gaza Strip into Israel. (Haaretz)
• Movement for Democratic Change President Morgan Tsvangirai becomes Zimbabwe's new Prime Minister. (BBC)
• A mysterious deposit of cosmic dust is discovered inside the Red Rectangle Nebula. (MSNBC)
• Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History announces the discovery of a 16th-century mass grave at the Tlatelolco archaeological site in Mexico City. (Reuters)
• Twenty-seven people die during a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Sky News)
• Chinese fishing vessels desert the Northern Limit Line, signaling a possible North Korean missile test. (Reuters)
• An oil tanker and a container ship collide off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP via Google News)
• The Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources rescues more than 200 dolphins after a mass beaching in Bataan. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• U.S. Democrat John Dingell of Michigan becomes the House of Representatives' longest-serving member. (NPR)
• Oscar Temaru is elected President of French Polynesia for the fourth time in five years. (RNZI)
• The United Kingdom's Conservative Party admits to altering the Italian painter Titian's Wikipedia entry following a confrontation with Prime Minister Gordon Brown. (BBC)
• Renowned Molecular Biologist Dr Abdul Majid Cheema escaped death when unknown armed men opened fire on his vehicle on Quetta,Pakistan. [21]

ITN candidates for February 11

Zimbabwe

Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change party has been sworn in as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. Rambo's Revenge (talk) 10:29, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

Support. Consider including a link to 2008–2009 Zimbabwean political negotiations in the blurb. --Tone 10:41, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:44, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

I'm not going to use Tsvangirai's pic because it has been uploaded by a commons user with a long history of uploading copyvio images. --BorgQueen (talk) 11:05, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

Satellite collision

The collision of two satellites was the first time in history, so probably significant enough to be on ITN. Does anyone agree? --BorgQueen (talk) 05:35, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Yep. 2009 satellite collision --Stephen 06:33, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

That was fast. Grundle beat me to it. --BorgQueen (talk) 07:47, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Good one. Support. --Tone 08:08, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Ok, hang on, I am just polishing it before putting it on MP. --BorgQueen (talk) 13:13, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, I can see I was beaten to this one too. :) --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 14:43, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. Can someone give me the credit for nominating the article? Thanks. --BorgQueen (talk) 15:13, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Mexico

• The discovery of a 16th-century mass grave at the Tlatelolco archaeological site in Mexico City is announced. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 20:18, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

Interesting sure. But there was also a discovery of mummies in Egypt recently so I don't know which of those two could be featured. How significant is the discovery anyway? The article says it is interested and unexpected but is it a big breakthrough? I don't know... --Tone 12:16, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

It's the first South American discovery of a mass grave of bodies laid out carefully as opposed to just being tossed in a pit. I think they're saying it represents the spread of Christianity to the continent. It's also crucial because it covers a wide age demographic due to the discovery including males and females from all age groups - children to the elderly. I would say it's more significant than the unearthing of a few mummies which would be a more regular occurrence and tend to be linked to royalty more than ordinary folk. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:25, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 00:14, 14 February 2009 (UTC)

February 10

February 10, 2009 (2009-02-10) (Tuesday)

• Collision of Iridium Satellite LLC's Iridium 33 and Russia's Kosmos-2251 in low-Earth orbit. (Reuters) (New York Times)
• South Africa announces that a general election will be held on April 22, 2009. (CNN)
• Automotive industry crisis of 2008-2009:
  • United States automaker General Motors announces it will cut 10,000 jobs in its salaried workforce and the pay of remaining employees. (AP via Google News)
  • English automaker Bentley cuts 220 jobs and all salaries by 10 percent. (Press Association via Google News)
• Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is named Germany's Federal Minister of Economics and Technology. (IHT)
• Russian financial crisis of 2008–2009:
  • Russia will request postponement of repayment of US$400 billion in private-sector debt to foreign banks. (Reuters)
  • The Russia Tower will be reduced in size, due to funding issues and the construction of the Moscow International Business Centre. (Moscow Times)
• Swiss financial services company UBS AG lost 19.7 billion francs for fiscal year 2008 and will cut 15,000 jobs throughout 2009. (The Street)
• Israel's legislative election takes place. (Reuters)
• Zimbabwe's dollar depreciates and its cholera epidemic has killed more than 3,000 people. (Sky News)
• The United States Senate approves the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. (CNN) (New York Times)
• The United Kingdom imposes new visa requirements on nationals from Bolivia, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, and Venezuela. (BBC)
• Mexico will nationally register all its mobile phone users and catalog their fingerprints. (Reuters)
• An EF4 tornado kills at least eight people and injures 50 in Lone Grove, Oklahoma, United States. (The Oklahoman)
• Fifty thousand people protest living costs in Guadeloupe and Martinique. (MSNBC)

ITN candidates for February 10

Pakistan

• Does anyone think the beheading of Piotr Stanczak is notable enough? He's the first westerner beheaded in Pakistan since Daniel Pearl. --BorgQueen (talk) 04:25, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

Not ITN, in my opinion. Tragic for sure but many people get killed every day there. --Tone 07:43, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Eastern Europeans are by definition not westerners? --UweBayern (talk) 14:03, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

Europe is ment as West here, presumably. --Tone 14:57, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

No. East or west it is still a beheading in a part of the world where this isn't an unusual occurrence. I don't see how important such an incident becomes whether it is the first American, Japanese, German or South African since the last one... all of five minutes ago. I clicked on the link and the first thing that caught my eye were the words "seems to". What a blunder if he was proven to be alive and it was on the Main Page... it could be no better than the fuss over the "deaths" at Obama's inauguration. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 20:41, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

The video has been confirmed "authentic" since, and the reports suggest that it is one thing to kill locals and another to behead a foreigner and videotape it when his government refused to accept their demands, given the political implications. (Not that I insist, we have plenty of other news to focus on) --BorgQueen (talk) 04:00, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

We do indeed have plenty to focus on but I'm sorry as I was in a rush at the time, didn't know what was in the news and could only go on what the link was telling me. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 19:55, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

Germany

• The new German Federal Minister of Economics, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, should be included. Germany is the world's 3rd largest economy after all, and similar American appointments have been included on the Main Page. He has now been formally appointed. --UweBayern (talk) 14:00, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

Ministers in big countries are changed relatively often so I wouldn't include this one. By the way, some time ago we had China becoming 3rd largest economy on ITN ;-) --Tone 14:57, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

Hmm...I don't remember us posting any other appointees... Spencer^T♦C 01:20, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

Israel

• Israeli legislative election, 2009, certainly. When do we expect to have results? --Tone 15:07, 10 February 2009 (UTC)
  • I was thinking about this one but according to the BBC "Absentee ballots, including everyone from soldiers to diplomats, will only be counted on Thursday"[22] so I guess we won't get a result until after that. Rambo's Revenge (talk) 19:36, 10 February 2009 (UTC)
    • More info: The "first official results" will appear tonight and the "final results will come within days".[23] However I don't have enough ITN experience to know if we can post a story from the first official results tonight. Rambo's Revenge (talk) 21:15, 10 February 2009 (UTC)
      • We'll see how concrete the results are. If they are enough to determine an accurate victory, we'll probably post. Spencer^T♦C 01:19, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

February 9

February 9, 2009 (2009-02-09) (Monday)

• Ten-year-old Sussex spaniel Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee wins the 2009 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show's Best-in-Show Award. (Los Angeles Times)
• Thirty mummies are discovered in a 2,600-year-old ancient Egyptian tomb at Saqqara. (AP via National Geographic)
• Bishop Richard Williamson is removed from a Roman Catholic seminary in Argentina after denying the Holocaust. (BBC)
• Automotive industry crisis of 2008-2009:
  • Japan's Nissan Motors cuts 20,000 jobs because of the global economic downturn. (CNN)
  • France's government announces a €6.5-billion bailout for the automotive industry. (International Herald Tribune)
• Cécile Manorohanta resigns as Madagascar's Minister for Defense. (AFP via Google News)
• Bushfires in Victoria, Australia, have now killed at least 130 people and destroyed at least 750 homes. (Daily Telegraph)
• A Tamil Tiger suicide bomber kills 28 people and injures 90 others at a Sri Lankan refugee camp. (Sky News)
• The Associated Press receives a video showing Pakistani militants beheading kidnapped Polish engineer Piotr Stanczak. (AP via Google News)
• A video confirms that al-Qaeda has kidnapped Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler in Niger. (The Globe and Mail)
• Major League Baseball player Alex Rodriguez admits using performance-enhancing drugs between 2001 and 2003. (ESPN)
• A fire destroys the Television Cultural Center in Beijing, China. (New York Times)
• The mythical birthplace of Zeus is possibly discovered at Mount Lykaion, Greece. (FOX News)

ITN candidates for February 9

Amazon (continued from yesterday):

• 24 people, including several small children, are killed when a plane crashes into a river near the Amazonas state capital, Manaus, in Brazil. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 01:54, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Support, article looks good. How about this wording: An airplane crashes near Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, Brazil, killing 24 people.

Though the mention of children makes the incident more tragic, I don't think it really deserves mention. Spencer^T♦C 02:43, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Oh. Why? It seems to be one of the most notable things coming out of South America right now... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 02:59, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

I like the alternative wording by the way. :) --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:04, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Just to clarify my misunderstanding - I thought those were two separate comments - one left by an unsigned user. Checking the history has told me otherwise. Now it makes sense. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:07, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 04:03, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Oops, sorry about that. Spencer^T♦C 22:31, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Venezuela

• Since we're in South America how about the Venezuelan news from yesterday? --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:11, 9 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Sigh, probably ought to go to sleep. I somehow managed to mix it in with the Iraq story to produce 11 deaths in Venezuela. The reality doesn't look as notable... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:12, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Australia

• Reading this a second ago told me the death toll has increased to 128. If I mess up a third time I'm going to go to bed... :( --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:16, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Death toll even higher now. Spencer^T♦C 22:31, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Grammys

• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss win the 2009 Grammy Award for Record and Album of the Year.
  • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 13:45, 9 February 2009 (UTC)
• Coldplay wins the 2009 Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Grsz¹¹ 04:26, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Saudi most-wanted list

• Saudi Arabia's recent most wanted list is revealed to include former Guantanamo captives. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:18, 9 February 2009 (UTC)
  • They released the list on 3 Feb but the identifications were made a few days after that, so it's probably not too late. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:18, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

I'm going to have to oppose. Even though there's detainees formerly from Gitmo, I still don't find it especially notable. Spencer^T♦C 22:31, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Bolivia – updated as requested by BogQueen.

• The President of Bolivia Evo Morales enacts a new constitution which grants more power to the country's indigenous majority and allows for land reform. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:27, 9 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 21:33, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

February 8

February 8, 2009 (2009-02-08) (Sunday)

• 51st Grammy Awards: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss win Record of the Year for "Please Read the Letter" and Coldplay wins Song of the Year for "Viva la Vida." (Billboard)
• Venezuela arrests 11 people over an attack last week on a Caracas synagogue. (Haaretz)
• A roadside bomb kills at least two people and injures 11 near Karbala, Iraq. (CNN)
• Palestinian militants fire two rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel. (Haaretz)
• Switzerland votes on a referendum to make permanent freedom of movement for workers from the European Union. (BBC)
• Bushfires in Victoria, Australia, have killed at least 108 people and destroyed at least 750 homes. (The Times)
• Twenty-four people are confirmed dead in the crash of an Embraer 110P1 air taxi in Amazonas, Brazil. (Bangkok Post)
• Romanian handball player Marian Cozma is killed and two others are injured after a knife attack in Veszprém, Hungary. (EHF)
• United States Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner delays announcing a bailout of the banking industry until Tuesday. (MSNBC)

ITN candidates for February 8

Madagascar

• At least 50 people are killed and hundreds are injured when police open fire on a protest in Madagascar's capital city, Antananarivo.
  • I've updated yesterday's Malagasy massacre for anyone who wants to post the article back on the Main Page. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 14:29, 8 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 17:17, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Amazon

• Would anyone object to the Amazon crash going on ITN? Lots of deaths and South America has the least ITNs this year with 2 so far. I would be happy to create it. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 14:33, 8 February 2009 (UTC)
  • That's nice too but I would prefer the Bolivian news. --BorgQueen (talk) 14:54, 8 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Let's have both! :D --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:03, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Marian Cozma

• Romanian handball player Marian Cozma is killed and two other players suffer serious injuries after a knife attack in Hungarian town of Veszprém. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Avala (talk • contribs)

Um, no. We're not exactly short of options at the minute. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 17:02, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Unless of course he had some historic effect which changed the world... but he doesn't seem to be quite at the level of Nelson Mandela or Lech Wałęsa... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 17:08, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Please see Death criteria. --BorgQueen (talk) 17:03, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Ahaha I have fallen of the chair laughing on Mandela comment. Not. The other two players are national team players of Serbia and Croatia. So this has been the main breaking news headlines in four countries - Hungary, Romania, Croatia and Serbia.--Avala (talk) 17:20, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Oh dear, that's very tragic. Nelson will never be able to top that. :P --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 00:35, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Just a comment, the death criteria were recently amended and changed. The newest version is here: Wikipedia:ITNMP#Deaths.

About the candidate: I wouldn't say that Cozma was a "very important figure in their field of expertise" nor that the "death has a major international impact that affects current events." I'm going to have to oppose.

Also with deaths, the rest of the subject's article needs to be well-filled-in too, and Cozma has very little about anything else he did. Spencer^T♦C 02:49, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

February 7

February 7, 2009 (2009-02-07) (Saturday)

• 2009 Southeastern Australia heat wave continues:
  • Bushfires in Victoria kill at 173 people. (Herald Sun)
  • More than 100,000 Victorians may be without electricity due to a rolling blackout. (ABC News Australia)
  • The towns of Marysville, Kinglake, Strathewen and others are almost completely destroyed by bushfires.(ABC News Australia)
  • Melbourne CBDs temperature peaks at 46.4°C (115.5°F) and Melbourne Airports temperature peaks at 46.8°C (116.2°F) marking the hottest day for Victoria's capital.
• Bolivia's new constitution enters into force. (BBC)
• Pakistan:
  • Seven Pakistani police officers are killed in Mianwali, Punjab. (BBC)
  • The Students' Movement claims to have executed kidnapped Polish engineer Peter Stanczak. (Xinhua)
• The Israeli Air Force attacks the Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants fire two rockets into the country. (Haaretz)
• Brazilian Federal Police confiscate 3.8 tons of cocaine from a ship at a Paranaguá port. (Trend News)
• Major League Baseball player Alex Rodriguez allegedly tested positive for two anabolic steroids in 2003. (Sports Illustrated)
• An Embraer EMB-110P1 air taxi carrying 20 people crashes in Amazonas, Brazil. (IHT)
• Madagascar police kill at least 23 protesters during anti-government demonstrations in Antananarivo. (BBC)
• Jennifer Frigge becomes the first woman to swim across the Atlantic Ocean. (Kansas City Star)
• French Polynesian President Gaston Tong Sang resigns. (The Age)

ITN candidates for February 7

Victorian bushfires

• As well as the hottest day in Melbourne, Australia since records began in 1855, Bushfires covering much of Victoria have left at least 14 people dead and it is expected there will be many more. -- Mattinbgn\^talk 11:34, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
  • The article requires a major cleanup and more citations. --BorgQueen (talk) 11:36, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Working on it as quick as we can. -- Mattinbgn\^talk 11:40, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Adding my support for when it is updated. Fire goes nicely with all this snow. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:50, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
        • The article is a little tidier now, news is still changing rapidly. 25 confirmed fatalities, with more expected later. The town of Marysville, Victoria has been destroyed. -- 21:50, 7 February 2009 (UTC)~
          • Good grief! Definitely ITN! :O --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 21:57, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
          • Yes, but can you guys do something about those [citation needed] tags? It won't be too difficult to find news sources. --BorgQueen (talk) 22:18, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

(unindent)Removed uncited claims. They happened but the media is still focusing on consequences and current threats rather than analysis of causes etc. -- Mattinbgn\^talk 22:41, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

Check out the SMH now. Estimates up to 40 dead and fires are still burning out of control. Just adding my support for inclusion. Cheers, Ben (talk) 23:34, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 23:56, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

Bolivian costitutional overhaul

• The Bolivian news seems to be significant. But is this the right article? --BorgQueen (talk) 20:59, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Seems to be. We wouldn't require another article yet, would we? Unless there are riots and fires and looting and lots of people dying and in pieces and lots of other graphic extremities? --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 22:05, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Support inclusion by the way. Plus Queensland and Madagascar (below) when ready. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:28, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Queensland floods

• What about the floods in Queensland, Australia? 60% of the state (about 430 000 sq mi.) is flooded, according to the news. - http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25009271-952,00.html
  • If an article is created I guess it could be added onto the end of the Victorian bushfires in ITN like we had with the Kenyan fires a while ago... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:20, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Madagascar

• Magagascar is back again for anyone with time to update 2009 Malagasy protests --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:24, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

February 6

February 6, 2009 (2009-02-06) (Friday)

• Sweden ends its moratorium on the construction of nuclear power plants. (Financial Times)
• The United States Food and Drug Administration approves ATryn, the first drug made using genetically engineered animals. (Reuters)
• Late 2000s recession:
  • U.S. President Barack Obama creates the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. (ABC News)
  • The U.S. economy lost 598,000 jobs during January 2009, with unemployment rising to 7.6 percent. (New York Times)
  • Canada's economy lost 129,000 jobs during January 2009, an all-time record, with unemployment rising to 7.2 percent. (AP via Google News)
  • Bankruptcies in the United Kingdom rose during 2008 by 50 percent to an all-time high. (ABC News Australia)
  • California's Alliance Bank and Georgia's FirstBank are closed, raising the number of 2009 U.S. bank failures to eight. (Reuters)
• A teething drug is withdrawn from circulation after killing 84 Nigerian children in three months. (AFP via ABC News Australia)
• Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan is released from house arrest in Islamabad. (BBC)
• United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits Iraq to meet with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. (AFP via Google News)
• Sri Lanka's government refuses to negotiate with the Tamil Tigers at what it calls a "crucial and final stage" of the ongoing civil war. (Sky News)
• Russia's government will allow the U.S. Armed Forces to ship nonlethal equipment to Afghanistan through Russian territory. (International Herald Tribune)
• Somali pirates will release the MV Blue Star and her crew of 28 Egyptians upon receiving a ransom. (IHT) (Melbourne Herald Sun)
• The USS Port Royal runs aground off Hawaii. (Inquisitr)
• Chief Minister of Perak, Malaysia, Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is forcibly removed from office and threatens legal action. (BBC)
• Archbishop Desmond Tutu will help establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the Solomon Islands. (Radio Australia)

ITN candidates for February 6

Ireland and UK weather: I've updated it at yesterday's date. It is still relevant due to this just today and this yesterday-running into today. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:53, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 16:16, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves ATryn, the first medicine created using genetically-engineered animals. (Any alt suggestions?) --BorgQueen (talk) 15:36, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Support. It's just the type of thing I'd expect to find in an up-to-date edition of a decent encyclopedia. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 18:44, 7 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Posted. I can use FDA logo but somehow I don't think people will like it when they see it on MP. --BorgQueen (talk) 18:55, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

February 5

February 5, 2009 (2009-02-05) (Thursday)

• USA Swimming suspends Michael Phelps from competition for three months following the publication of a photograph of him inhaling from a marijuana pipe. (AP via Sports Illustrated)
• Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka's national cricket team becomes the highest wicket-taker in One Day Internationals with 503. (Sports 24)
• Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan agree to form a rapid reaction force based in the Federation. (AFP via The Australian)
• China declares a national emergency due to severe droughts throughout the country. (BBC)
• Somali pirates release Ukraine's MV Faina following a US$3.2-million ransom payment. (BBC)
• Late 2000s recession:
  • The Bank of England reduces the base rate of interest to a new historic low of 1%. (Sky News)
  • The number of Americans applying for first-time unemployment benefits reaches its highest level since October 1982. (CNN Money)
• At least 10 people are killed in a Brazilian Federal Police raid in Rio de Janeiro. (BBC)
• Heavy snowfall closes Ireland's Dublin Airport and disrupts flights for several hours. (RTÉ)
• Businessman Kazutsugi Nami is arrested by Japanese police over a US$1.4-billion investment scam. (BBC)
• Three members of the State Legislative Assembly in Perak state, Malaysia from the People's Alliance declare themselves independent and pledge support for the National Front, sparking a constitutional crisis. (New Straits Times)
• Zimbabwe's House of Assembly allows power-sharing between the African National Union – Patriotic Front and the Movement for Democratic Change. (Reuters)
• A suicide bomber kills 24 people and injures at least 40 in Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. (MSNBC)
• Undefeated Welsh boxer Joe Calzaghe announces his retirement. (BBC)

ITN candidates for February 5

Here it is. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 16:22, 5 February 2009 (UTC)

• • The chairman of a Tokyo bedding supplier is arrested by Japanese police following the exposure of an investment scam reportedly worth US$1.4 billion.
    • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 16:59, 5 February 2009 (UTC)

File:Enten.svg

• I could replace the outdated superbowl picture with this one. (Kanji for "Enten". Ideally it should be in svg format though) Please let me know what you guys think. --BorgQueen (talk) 18:10, 5 February 2009 (UTC)
  • For now, I used a Colombian map image instead. --BorgQueen (talk) 18:35, 5 February 2009 (UTC)
    • I think that would be a good idea - I was just about to ask you if you were near Tokyo so you could take a photo of his company headquarters. But the symbols certainly make a change from all these images of maps and male politicians we've been having recently. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:05, 6 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Ok, I've converted it to svg, using Inkscape... --BorgQueen (talk) 03:14, 6 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Done. --BorgQueen (talk) 04:26, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

• Anyone else think we should have something on the Main Page concerning the February 2009 United Kingdom snowstorm? IMO this is very notable, being the biggest in 18 years. Plus, we had something of the opposite in Australia which went onto the mainpage. D.M.N. (talk) 19:59, 5 February 2009 (UTC)

• I would've supported this but I think it's too late, but as I say here, it's never too late here for UK+ROI stories... –Howard the Duck 03:03, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

• No, tisn't at all... anyway there's something odd about this article. I remarked on the talk page at the inclusion of IRE in a UK titled article - if that had gone on the Main Page there would have been uproar... now all the IRE stuff has been removed from what I can see but the opening line says UK + IRE, yet the article is just called UK. The simplest solution would have been to include Ireland in the title and keep the info there. Especially since Ireland is presumably being affected by the same thing as the UK and numerous disruptions have been caused.

• • Dublin Airport was shut for most of today.
  • Four motorists were stranded yesterday.
  • Bus services were delayed the day before.
  • Schools have been shut and runways covere in snow.

I'd support this if all these were included and the title had the word "Ireland" or "Irish". It does go rather nicely with Australia. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:15, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

More refs from different sources for anyone interested in updating the article. [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:25, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

The verb tense used in the first sentence was the past tense so I thought it was pretty much over before it was proposed. –Howard the Duck 03:18, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

Also I wouldn't think it's too late when a major airport was shut down a number of hours ago. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 03:26, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

The article needs to be updated first before this should ever go up. –Howard the Duck 04:30, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

I know. It's also back ITN again... 200 people rescued in Devon, England Widespread frost and ice on roads --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 08:44, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

• I've updated it to include Ireland since nobody else had done so. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:44, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

• The heaviest snowfall for 18 years disrupts air and road traffic and shuts schools across much of Ireland and the United Kingdom. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:50, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 16:16, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

• Infrastructure across Great Britain and Ireland is disrupted following heavy snowfall (snowfall in London pictured). It was the heaviest snowfall for 18 years across some parts, heaviest for 22 years in other parts. Basicaly it's a mixture of the worst snow depending on different areas and not the overall for Britain and Ireland. I also think that a geographical term would be better for a geographical headline, although a political term of UK and ROI is fine by me. Jolly Ω Janner 21:38, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

NOM University of Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summit wins her 1000th game, the first NCAA coach to do so. Grsz¹¹_Review 04:36, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

No. –Howard the Duck 05:07, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

Even the weather makes more sense than this somehow... if somebody would update it... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 08:42, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

I'm afraid NCAA sports dont cut it...it would have to be a major professional sports team. Spencer^T♦C 21:43, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

I don't even think a professional sports team would make it. –Howard the Duck 17:20, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

February 4

February 4, 2009 (2009-02-04) (Wednesday)

• 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict:
  • An Israel Defense Force investigation concludes that the attack on Izzeldin Abuelaish was reasonable. (Jerusalem Post)
  • The United Nations backtracks on a claim that a deadly Israeli Defense Force strike hit a Gaza school. (Haaretz)
  • Hamas police storm a United Nations warehouse in Gaza and seize blankets and food intended for Palestinian civilians. (Haaretz)
• Late 2000s recession
  • The United States Treasury moves to broaden its debt ranging options to raise the trillions of dollars needed to cope with the current recession. (Reuters)
  • German legendary model train manufacturer Märklin goes bankrupt after the failure of long-running restructuring efforts. (Der Spiegel) (Financial Times)
  • Panasonic Corp. announces plans to shut down 27 plants throughout the world and slash 15,000 jobs due to a slump in demand for its electronic products resulting from the worldwide recession. (AP via Google News)
  • Icelandic retail group Baugur has applied to a district court in Reykjavík to enter into a moratorium process. (Sky News)
  • Unemployment in Ireland sees the highest monthly increase in 40 years, with the equivalent of 1,500 people being laid off daily. (RTÉ)
• Russian financial crisis of 2008-2009:
  • Fitch Ratings downgrades Russia's long-term foreign and local currency ratings to BBB and places its outlook on negative. (Dow Jones via Easy Bourse)
• Samira Ahmed Jassim, who allegedly recruited more than 80 suicide bombers, is arrested in Iraq. (Times Online)
• The High Court of Justice alleges British resident Benyam Mohammed was tortured and that the US threatened to withdraw intelligence help from the United Kingdom if details were released. (BBC)
• A senior British Army officer is arrested in Afghanistan on suspicion of breaking the Official Secrets Act by leaking information on civilian casualties to a human rights campaigner. (Press Association via The Guardian)
• Sri Lankan artillery attacks in the last 24 hours in the Vanni result in the deaths of at least 52 Tamils. (The Guardian)
• Latvia's Minister of Agriculture resigns in the wake of growing protests by farmers. (BBC)
• The director of Somalia's independent HornAfrik radio station, Said Tahlil Ahmed, is killed in Mogadishu. (BBC)
• An estimated 15,000 students in Dublin, Ireland, protest the threatened reintroduction of university fees. (RTÉ)
• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announces a commission to investigate the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto. (AFP via Google News)
• Fossils from Colombia reveal Titanoboa cerrejonensis, the largest snake ever discovered. (Nature)
• German public television station ZDF reports that Nazi fugitive Aribert Heim died in 1992. (AFP via Google News)
• Eight trucks are attacked en route to Afghanistan by suspected Taliban militants. (BBC News)

ITN candidates for February 4

• The discovery of Titanoboa fossil, the biggest snake ever found, is announced. (Any alt wordings are appreciated.) --BorgQueen (talk) 19:34, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

This seems like a good choice. I support this, although it would be nice if the article (Titanoboa) was expanded a bit if possible. Thanks, Anonymous101 (talk) 20:29, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

Expanded a bit, and the citations have been improved as well. --BorgQueen (talk) 22:04, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

• Yes. I noticed it above and was just coming down here to suggest it. This keeps the two linked words apart; I also linked snake in this case as it seems an important word here. Double support for the story being South American, the most under-represented continent on ITN in January 2009 (apart from Antarctica). --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 22:07, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Fossils of the largest snake currently known, Titanoboa, are discovered in Colombia.
    • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 22:37, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Technically they announced the discovery of the snake, just as they announced the discovery of the smallest exoplanet below? --Stephen 22:44, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
        • That's right, but could you rephrase the blurb in some way that wouldn't look too similar to the exoplanet entry just below? --BorgQueen (talk) 22:48, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
          • I originally considered "The discovery in Columbia of fossils of the largest snake currently known, Titanoboa, is announced." But two "ofs" seem a bit messy... and the planet creates a problem too... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 22:52, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
• IDEA: Insert "revealed to have been" between the words "are" and "discovered". --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 23:06, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
  • So fixed, except that I used "announced" instead of "revealed". --BorgQueen (talk) 23:10, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

• Isn't this noteworthy? --Ouro (blah blah) 10:06, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

(Moved) HMS Victory (1737) has been updated. --Stephen 20:04, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

She was the last British First Rate to be armed entirely with bronze cannon.

• Is there anything other than this that marks the ship out as being special? I find the British weather at the minute more interesting than this story... not nearly as exciting as the discovery of a planet and a fossil... and three discoveries in a row? We had difficulty enough phrasing the second one... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 23:14, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

• Saw this in the news earlier... the so-called papal infallibility has been contradicted... just like the flat earth theory... doesn't happen too often... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 23:55, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

• Does anyone think that this news is notable enough for ITN? MySpace is used by people all over the world, if I am not mistaken, and "90,000 registered sex offenders" is eyebrow-raising to say the least. The company confirmed it Tuesday so it is probably not too late by the ITN standard. --BorgQueen (talk) 23:55, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

• Eyebrow-raising exactly. But that's how it's designed. The final paragraph:

None of the registered sex offenders found on MySpace have been convicted for actions on the site, Nigam said. Facebook's statement said no sex offenders had been convicted of wrongdoing on its site either.

Incidentally we'd nearly need another image... which would be somewhat sickeningly ironic... :/ --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 00:02, 5 February 2009 (UTC)

Since we're going through news stories, how about what's going at Waterford Crystal? It's a world famous brand, it's about to close, all the workers were suddenly laid off on Friday and have been staging a sit-in since, the company is/was 250 years old, it's apparently being reported across the world, has been ongoing for a few days, today there was a protest in the city and it pretty much symbolises the sudden downturn in the Irish economy. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 00:18, 5 February 2009 (UTC)

I'm going to say no...there's plenty of rather important businesses all over that are closing, and even with your reasoning, I don't think its overly notable enough. Spencer^T♦C 00:32, 6 February 2009 (UTC)

February 3

February 3, 2009 (2009-02-03) (Tuesday)

• Presidency of Barack Obama:
  • Tom Daschle withdraws his nomination to serve as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and Nancy Killefer withdraws her nomination to serve as Chief Performance Officer. (MSNBC.com)
  • President Obama nominates Republican Senator Judd Gregg for the position of Secretary of Commerce. (New York Times)
  • New Hampshire Governor John H. Lynch nominates Republican J. Bonnie Newman to replace Gregg in the Senate. (Bloomberg)
• 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict:
  • Israel announces restrictions on Al Jazeera broadcasts within its borders. (BBC)
  • The Palestinian National Authority demands an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip. (Washington Post)
• California's government goes broke and issues IOUs on all expenditures not required by law. (ABC7)
• Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security eliminates a Pakistani terrorist cell responsible for at least six suicide bombings in Kabul. (AFP via Google News)
• Sri Lankan Civil War:
  • The Armed Forces claim to have captured an underground bunker used by the Tamil Tigers. (AFP via The Australian)
  • The United States, European Union, Japan, and Norway urge the Tigers to cease fighting and negotiate with the government. (BBC)
  • At least 52 Tamil civilians are killed in recent combat. (The Guardian)
• Australia:
  • The government announces a $42-billion stimulus package to revive the economy. (Sydney Morning Herald)
  • The Reserve Bank reduces interest rates by 100 basis points to 3.25%. (NineMSN Money)
• Iran announces the launch of its first domestically constructed satellite, Omid. (Reuters)
• Suspected Taliban militants suspend NATO supply lines by destroying a bridge on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. (CNN)
• The United Kingdom struggles to cope with its heaviest snowfalls since 1991. (BBC)

ITN candidates for February 3

• Iran announces the launch of its first domestically made satellite Omid into orbit. (Please feel free to suggest alt blurbs.) --BorgQueen (talk) 09:57, 3 February 2009 (UTC)
  • OK, two things at first glance. Should the satellite's name be in italics? I seem to remember something about that from the recent Japanese satellite ITN. Also the most problematic word is "made" - it's very bland. I shall now attempt to construct a wording. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 10:26, 3 February 2009 (UTC)
    • The recent Japanese satellite's name was italicized by User:Spencer as I recall, although we don't have a guideline on satellite names, AFAIK. I tend to think it's acceptable either way. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:30, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

It's common practice in the English language to 'italicise' the name of inanimate objects. (e.g. ships, planes). Thus really the name of this one should be as well. --Daviessimo (talk) 15:41, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

• ALT: Iran sends into orbit its first domestically constructed satellite, Omid.
  • I believe upon my recent perusal of the ITN archives that someone later unitalicised it but that's OK, just pointing that out. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 10:35, 3 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Don't you think it's a bit overlinked...? --BorgQueen (talk) 10:37, 3 February 2009 (UTC)
      • Yes. However it's a matter of word condensing vs. overlinking. I suppose satellite could go unlinked since it can be found in Omid and is probably contained within space exploration too. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 10:42, 3 February 2009 (UTC)
        • Posted, with some de-linking and slight tweaking. Thanks for your help. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:44, 3 February 2009 (UTC)
          • Glad to be of assistance. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 10:51, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

I checked the italics, and it doesn't appear to have been removed...I have added them in. Spencer^T♦C 22:30, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

• Nom French astronomers have found COROT-Exo-7b, an extrasolar planet no more than 11 Earth masses with a diameter about twice that of Earth. ScienceNews --bender235 (talk) 00:25, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 00:49, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
    • About time something happened that would have a new image as Miss Prime Minister of Iceland is ever so slowly slipping down the list... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 01:19, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

Perhaps a photo of Holmes, the Super Bowl MVP: here's an image, but it needs to be cropped. Spencer^T♦C 02:07, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

I found a bit more relevant image and used it instead. It is dark (it's not out fault that the game was held in the evening) and not exactly spectacular at 100x100px though. --BorgQueen (talk) 02:29, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

February 2

February 2, 2009 (2009-02-02) (Monday)

• The United States Senate confirms Eric Holder as Attorney General. (AP via Google News)
• U.S. department store Macy's announces it will cut 7,000 jobs. (CNNMoney)
• Muammar al-Gaddafi is elected Chairman of the African Union. (Reuters)
• A human rights protester throws a shoe at Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during a speech at Cambridge University. (CNN)
• Nine people are killed when a hospital is shelled in Puthukkudiyiruppu, Sri Lanka. (BBC)
• Japan's Mount Asama erupts. (Reuters)
• Heavy snow across England closes London City Airport and one runway of Heathrow Airport and shuts down all public transport in London. (BBC)
• The International Criminal Court announces it will investigate Israeli war crimes possibly committed during Operation Cast Lead. (Jerusalem Post)
• Chairman Mahmoud Abbas says he will not deliberate with any group that does not recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization. (Al Jazeera)
• The Israel Defense Forces bomb the Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian rocket and mortar fire. (Al Jazeera)
• Wildcat strikes spread across the United Kingdom. (Sky News)

ITN candidates for February 2

• Johanna Sigurdardottir, Prime Minister of Iceland, becomes the first openly gay head of government of the modern world.(BBC News)
  • Properly it should be Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, or Jóhanna Sigudhardóttir if we want to transliterate the ð. —Verrai 19:21, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
    • Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 19:23, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
      • How about "... in modern times." The world does not have a head of government; that really WOULD be modern. BTW What openly gay head of government are you thinking about in pre-modern times? --Blake the bookbinder (talk) 21:19, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
        • To name one randomly. Hadrian. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 00:29, 2 February 2009 (UTC)
• In American football, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Superbowl XLIII. AP1787 (talk) 03:45, 2 February 2009 (UTC)

• Due to hyperinflation the Zimbabwean dollar has been revalued, removing twelve zeros from the currency. (BBC News) Rambo's Revenge (talk) 16:00, 2 February 2009 (UTC)
  • I don't think we should feature a cleanup-tagged article on MP. --BorgQueen (talk) 16:26, 2 February 2009 (UTC)
    • I don't think the article is in that bad condition, although I can't remove the cleanup tag as that would be a COI. I will attempt tp cleanup some things now though. Rambo's Revenge (talk) 16:57, 2 February 2009 (UTC)

February 1

February 1, 2009 (2009-02-01) (Sunday)

• The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 to win Super Bowl XLIII. (ESPN.com)
• The wreck of the British warship HMS Victory is discovered in the English Channel. (The Melbourne Age)
• Four people are killed in a café shooting in Russia's Dagestan Republic. (Reuters via IHT)
• Rafael Nadal of Spain defeats Roger Federer of Switzerland to win the 2009 Australian Open men's singles. (AP via Google News)
• Japan Airlines conducts the first successful test flight of a Boeing 747-300 partly powered by biofuel. (Sky News Australia)
• Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fire four rockets and sixteen mortar shells into Israel's Negev region. (Haaretz)
• The Japan Meteorological Agency warns that Honshū Island's Mount Asama could erupt within the next two days. (Reuters)
• Kirill I is officially enthroned as Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. (BBC)
• The Sri Lankan Army bombs a hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu twice, killing at least six Tamil civilians and wounding countless more patients. (AP)
• France defeats Croatia to win the Men's World Handball Championship. (Croatia 2009)
• The International Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System ceases monitoring for 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz (Class B) signals from ELTs, EPIRBs, and PLBs. (Cospas-Sarsat.org)

ITN candidates for February 1

• Kirill of Moscow became the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church! Please someone update the article (including moving it to suit his new title) and we have a new entry with a MP-ok picture. --BorgQueen (talk) 05:02, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
  • The article has been moved. --BorgQueen (talk) 06:40, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
• Done. Kirill of Moscow becomes the sixteenth Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 08:20, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Thanks, posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 10:33, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

• I made an article on the January 2009 Gaza attacks, a series of related reprisal attacks targeted at civilians, Israeli informers and members of the Fatah that occurred during the ceasefire in the current Gazan war. —Anonymous Dissident^Talk 09:59, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
  • "A series of reprisal attacks leaving up to 50 dead occurs in Gaza during a ceasefire in the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict." —Anonymous Dissident^Talk 15:29, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

Support. Article appears to be in good shape and 50 dead is quite a couple. Spencer^T♦C 22:03, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

Posted. --BorgQueen (talk) 01:55, 2 February 2009 (UTC)

• Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams win the men's and women's singles respectively at the 2009 Australian Open --D.M.N. (talk) 14:46, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
  • Posted, along with Rafael's new, nice picture. I have a better one but he's looking to the right in it and flipping is not an option. --BorgQueen (talk) 15:16, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

• Whoever wins Super Bowl XLIII should be up on ITN ASAP. ViperSnake151 14:47, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

• Why? There's clearly a delay with the tennis so what valid reason is there for the Super Bowl thingummybob getting instant promotion? Thanks for informing me about Nadal. The wonderful advantage of Wikipedia being that I don't have to check the news for such things... --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 15:06, 1 February 2009 (UTC)
  • As long as the prerequisites are met, this'll be posted as per WP:ITNSPORTS, just as the Aussie Open. Now that means I'll have to keep off this page for the next 5 days so I won't know who won.
  • (P.S. My prediction is on its way to fruition LOL. Too bad I won't see the long discussion here. –Howard the Duck 16:39, 1 February 2009 (UTC))

• • • Oh, I know about that. I was just commenting on the slowness that was occurring earlier in the posting of the tennis. --➨♀♂Candlewicke _S^T _# :) 01:35, 2 February 2009 (UTC)

Nominate an alternate hook: The Pittsburgh Steelers win their sixth Super Bowl, the most of any team, over the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII. Grsz¹¹--Review 04:35, 2 February 2009 (UTC)