Wikipedia:In the news/Candidates/6 January 2010

Japan replaces finance minister

 * "Japan's PM Yukio Hatoyama is forced to replace his experienced finance minister, who has resigned over ill health". This sort of event usually affects the markets, doesn't it? -- can  dle &bull; wicke  23:49, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Neutral. It usually has to be a complete governmental collapse, if possible with violent street protests, for it to feature on ITN. Still, I shaln't oppose if anyone else thinks we should feature this. The article is very short. Physchim62 (talk) 00:14, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Oppose Don't think its significant enough. Nirvana888 (talk) 02:09, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * 'Neutral. Although I'd like to make a note that if the U.S. or even U.K. finance minister resigned suddenly, it is guaranteed to be posted simply because of systemic bias. Note below recent Chinese snowstorms were not posted, but European and American snowstorms were. Colipon+ (Talk) 03:08, 8 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I don't remember any single cabinet secretary/minister resignation from any country that was added here. – Howard  the   Duck  15:50, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

25 dead in China
International coverage: Africa Iran India, Ireland United States. -- can  dle &bull; wicke  23:44, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Neutral after reading the RTÉ story: "China has the world's deadliest coal-mining industry with more than 3,000 people killed in mine floods, explosions, collapses and other accidents in 2008 alone. A gas blast at a coal pit in China in November killed at least 104." Physchim62 (talk) 00:20, 7 January 2010 (UTC)

Severe weather across Europe
122 deaths in Poland, according to the BBC. European winter storms of 2009–10 is up to date on UK stuff, but doesn't have the Polish deaths yet. Physchim62 (talk) 23:19, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * This seems to be affecting most of Europe, for example, the avalanche deaths in Switzerland, most extreme weather since 1963 in Ireland, something in the UK as well apparently. Poland seems to have been hit hardest though. That's a lot of deaths. -- can  dle &bull; wicke  23:31, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support This seems quite unusual weather conditions, even deaths are too high.-- '''yousaf465'  06:11, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * We're short on new items and this one is updated. Could you suggest a blurb? --Tone 09:37, 7 January 2010 (UTC)


 * A new wave of very cold weather, with temperatures dropping to −41 °C (−42 °F), affects much of Europe, killing at least 122 people in Poland.
 * modify as necessary ;) Physchim62 (talk) 10:18, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Posting. Omitting the number in Poland because that was for all the winter. --Tone 10:59, 7 January 2010 (UTC)

π

 * Computer scientist Fabrice Bellard claims that he has computed π to almost 2.7 trillion digits. (BBC) (The Times of India) (The Daily Telegraph) --BorgQueen (talk) 19:43, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support - really interesting information - TouLouse (talk) 20:15, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * It says: "The prior record of about 2.6 trillion digits was set in August 2009 by Daisuke Takahashi at the University of Tsukuba in Japan". Is this a record that is broken regularly? -- can  dle &bull; wicke  20:34, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Oppose. Tabloid maths. Bellard himself says "Arbitrary-precision arithmetic with huge numbers has little practical use, but some of the involved algorithms are interesting to do other things." Those algorithms have not been published in peer-reviewed journals. To reply to Candlewicke, yes, this is a record that gets broken regularly. Physchim62 (talk) 20:46, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Thought so. Cleverly disguised to interest those who don't work in this field. Oppose. -- can  dle &bull; wicke  20:50, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Wow. "Cleverly disguised"? Talk about assumptions of bad faith. Unit  Anode  05:44, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Sigh.. Withdraw the nomination. --BorgQueen (talk) 21:20, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * For the record, I would have supported this nomination, had it not been withdrawn. Unit  Anode  05:49, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * There was no assumption of bad faith intended. I meant that the media have a habit of dressing up events and discoveries like this. -- can  dle &bull; wicke  18:59, 7 January 2010 (UTC)

Dauletabad – Salyp Yar pipeline

 * Opened today. It is an important project, regarding energetics and politics. And for a change, Iran-related topic that is not about protests. The article is a bit short but contains the basic information. --Tone 18:33, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Yes, it is quite short. -- can  dle &bull; wicke  19:33, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * The article (4 sentences) or the pipelins (37 miles)? ~ DC (Talk&#124;Edits) 19:37, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support. The article is short, but could be improved through Main Page coverage. The subject is notable in global energy markets, and hence geopolitics. Physchim62 (talk) 20:49, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I was under the impression that the article was improved before it reached the Main Page. Or is this an exception? -- can  dle &bull; wicke  22:09, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * As the long as the article says something a bit more than the blurb, I'm OK. We're here to provide information first and foremost. The China high-speed rail link article, for example, was vastly improved during its first six hours on ITN. Physchim62 (talk) 22:23, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I understand what you mean but I thought the article had to be in good condition before it appeared on the Main Page. If it is posted too early another administrator removes it and says it is not ready. -- can  dle &bull; wicke  23:15, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Our absolute minimum is five sentences and three references ("5/3"), and we have have posted an article in that state quite recently. The guidelines say that the update should be "5/3", but I'm a little wary of being too pedantic on that criterion if the article says something which isn't in the main media outlets (eg, background information) and if it is clear that it has potential for further expansion. It's pretty rare for an admin to pull a story unless there are complaints on WT:ITN: it is more usual to have opposes on this page on the basis of poor article quality, but then none of us get our way all the time! I'm still waiting for Dongo conflict to be posted ;) Physchim62 (talk) 23:56, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I'm working on adding to this... (If anyone wants to help, you are very welcome).  Spencer T♦ Nominate! 02:58, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Spencer have done a good work to expand this article. However, there was not enough substantial information (e.g. technical information, constructors etc) published about this pipeline. I really hope it changes as we have more public coverage now. As of importance, it can't be compered with the Central Asia – China pipeline, which was on the main page just two weeks ago. 6 bcm is not very significant and this is not a totally new direction of Turkmen gas export as there is already link to Iran. Therefore I did not nominate this article when information about the inauguration ceremony became available on Monday. But of course, I have nothing against to publish it on the main page. Beagel (talk) 05:21, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I agree this is not of same importance as the last one but it's still important in the region. And it's been expanded. Everyone fine if this goes up? --Tone 09:37, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * As the hesitations above seem to have been about the article length, and this has now been fixed, I'd say there's no problem with posting this. Physchim62 (talk) 10:42, 7 January 2010 (UTC)


 * Turkmenistan gains a new route to export its natural gas production with the opening of the Dauletabad – Salyp Yar pipeline.
 * Probably one more thing we need to clarify before the posting. Previously when the article was created, this pipeline was dominantly referred as the Dauletabad – Salyp Yar pipeline. Right now it seems that the commonly used name is the Dauletabad–Sarakhs–Khangiran pipeline. Maybe we should change the name before posting? Beagel (talk) 11:21, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Yes, I'd rather change the name before posting, if possible and if Dauletabad–Sarakhs–Khangiran pipeline is really the more common name now. I know nothing of the issue, so could you move the article and leave a note on the article talk page explaining the move? However, the situation regarding ITN updates is getting critical, so we might to post under Dauletabad – Salyp Yar pipeline (as it is not 'incorrect') and change later. Physchim62 (talk) 12:12, 7 January 2010 (UTC)

UDA decomissions
(BBC) The Ulster Defence Association, a loyalist group responsible for 400 murders during and after The Troubles has announced that it has completed the decommissioning of all of its weapons and renounces violence. The decommissioning has been confirmed by General John de Chastelain the head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. The UDA article is probably the main one, but needs updating - Dumelow (talk) 14:13, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support when updated. --BorgQueen (talk) 15:09, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support pending update Modest Genius talk 15:50, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Comment These articles still need work on them, if anyone has a bit of time and motivation. Some parts of the IICD article have not been updated since May 2006! The UDA has a one sentence update with a single ref: I'm not too bothered about the number of references, but the news story needs to be integrated with the rest of the article. Physchim62 (talk) 10:50, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I have updated the UDA and IICD articles (the IICD one was particularly poor), hopefully they are OK now. Possible blurb: "The loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association is confirmed by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning to have decommissioned all of its weapons".  It could probably use a link to The Troubles somewhere and maybe mention Northern Ireland, but it is a start - Dumelow (talk) 11:49, 8 January 2010 (UTC)
 * There is a picture of their flag at File:Uda flag.jpg which could be used but we have had complaints in the past about featuring symbols of terrorist groups - Dumelow (talk) 11:52, 8 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Posting. --BorgQueen (talk) 11:58, 8 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I oppose this post. Of great importance in the British Isles but would not make much of a dent outside them. Colipon+ (Talk) 14:00, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Death of Tsutomu Yamaguchi

 * The only person recognized by the Japanese government to have survived the two atomic bombs has died. – Howard  the   Duck  09:40, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Oppose - I am very tired. Too many people who had died due to natural causes. TouLouse (talk) 10:05, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Oppose per above. Wizardman  Operation Big Bear 15:13, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Weak support I think he did died of natural causes but didn't he also survived some most unnatural cause. Who could even think of surviving such a double nuclear attack.-- '''yousaf465'  15:23, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Oppose very tabloid like.  ~ DC (Talk&#124;Edits) 15:32, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support not very tabloid to survive two atomic bombs and live on for decades. -- can  dle &bull; wicke  17:50, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support, as these are the kinds of stories that normal people poke araound ITN to find. Also, the only person to have survived two atomic bombs passing away is, well, kind of a big deal. Unit  Anode  05:53, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support - if nothing else, he was a real medical phenomenon. And the article is well-written. The story is not only about this man but also about atomic bombs. --Tone 09:37, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support. There's absolutely no way that this story could set a precedent, which seems like a good check that it is very unusual. Physchim62 (talk) 10:38, 7 January 2010 (UTC)


 * Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the only person to have survived both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, dies of stomach cancer aged 93.

"We know airport security is a problem when European governments are planting plastic explosives on travellers"

 * Suggest:  Or something like that. If it is supported. It has even been compared to the Detroit incident (and involved more explosives). --  can  dle &bull; wicke  02:29, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I'm wary. It's not the first time that tests like this have ended up with explosives taken onto a plane. The crazy thing is that Slovakia didn't tell Ireland about this until after the guy had been arrested… to compare the incident to the recent Detroit attempted bombing is pure hyperbole. Physchim62 (talk) 02:51, 6 January 2010 (UTC)


 * Weak Oppose - not really important - TouLouse (talk) 05:58, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Oppose per above. ~ DC (Talk&#124;Edits) 06:38, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Death of Sandro

 * Roberto "Sandro" Sanchez, a popular Argentinian singer, died 45 days after having a heart transplant. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Fixman (talk • contribs)
 * Heard about this earlier but thought I wouldn't nominate him since death of politicians hasn't been well-received lately but anyway support when ready the inclusion of "Argentina's Elvis" who is in the news from India to the Netherlands, sold millions of records and "He enjoyed international success, twice winning the prestigious Viña del Mar festival in Chile and performing as the first Latin American artist to play to a full house in the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York". --  can  dle &bull; wicke  02:56, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support once the article is expanded a bit. This gentleman really does seem to have been 'someone' in his field. Physchim62 (talk) 03:10, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Weak oppose. Some of the notes are compelling, but my death criteria is stricter then the recent movement, so it doesn't quite work for me. Wizardman  Operation Big Bear 04:09, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Oppose. I'd think that if he really were extraordinarily notable, he'd have more than a few paragraphs in his English Wikipedia article already. I'm sure he is extraordinarily notable to Argentinians, but perhaps only plain old "notable" from the perspective of the English Wikipedia. Note that the "Indian" news source cited above is simply the Indian version of the Reuters website and carries the same material as Reuters websites worldwide; it doesn't indicate there was a separate story written about Sandro in India. Google News finds only a couple hundred English-language hits on the story, a very modest figure. Kudos to Fixman for suggesting it, though. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 04:24, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Oppose per above, he wasn't overly notable in the English-speaking world. ~ DC (Talk&#124;Edits) 05:30, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Oppose - TouLouse (talk) 05:49, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Care to give a reason? --190.226.50.130 (talk) 17:18, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Support He was extremely notable not only in Argentina, but in all of Latin America, and also he was known around the world. --190.226.50.130 (talk) 17:18, 6 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Oppose, the article is simply too short. --Tone 12:47, 7 January 2010 (UTC)