Wikipedia:In the news/Candidates/July 2006

This page is an archive and its contents should be preserved in their current form; any comments regarding this page should be directed to Template talk:In the news. Thanks.

Archived discussion for July 2006 from In the news section on the Main Page/Candidates.

July 31

 * 300 Game Winner and future Hall Of Famer Greg Maddux was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Los Angeles Dodgers for shortstop Cesar Izturis.
 * Thumbs-down The Tom 20:52, 31 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Second thumbs-down. Lack importance or significance, maybe except in the NL West where every team sucks. --PFHLai 22:17, 31 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Fidel Castro transfers power to brother Raul Castro following serious health problems. Abel 01:41, 1 August 2006 (UTC)
 * Thumbs up. I am still usure of this page's procedures, but this seems pretty significant at this moment. Here is an [article].
 * Thumbs down. It's normal for a leader to transfer power if he has surgery. Unless the transfer turns permanent (ie. Castro dies), I don't think it's worthy. Preston 03:01, 1 August 2006 (UTC)
 * Well, this is Cuba - a world-famous player. Also, the implications of an illness of a world leader at 80 are very serious. This is especially true in Cuba, where many believe the whole regime depends on the power of a single person - a seriously ill one. No matter what happens next, there are great chances that this moment will be considered the beginning of the end of Fidel. --Cryout 03:30, 1 August 2006 (UTC)
 * I agree with Cryout. (Er, Thumb's up.) Johndodd 06:10, 1 August 2006 (UTC)
 * I agree completely too. There is a chance that this moment will be considered the beginning of the end of Fidel. And as soon as something happens to signify that this moment will be such, I'll support it's inclusion. If he dies, is his surgery goes wrong, if his brother indicates that he doesn't intend to give power back, etc. There's a chance this could be very big in the near future. Key words, chance, could, and future. Preston 07:39, 1 August 2006 (UTC)
 * I agree with Preston.--Peta 03:04, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

July 30

 * Change "carrier, Graf Zeppelin" to "carrier.  It was named after the Graf Zeppelin," because the airship Graf Zeppelin is famous; the carrier is not.  In fact, the word zeppelin in English means big airship, because there used to be so many of them.  155 zeppelins were built in Germany between 1900 and 1919.  Graf Zeppelin flew from one airport to another around the world for the first time in 1929.--Chuck Marean 16:52, 30 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Actually, both the aircraft carrier and the airships were named after pioneer aviator Ferdinand von Zeppelin. The ITN blurb has been revised to mention the German Navy at the time. It should be obvious now that it's not about an airship. --PFHLai 00:20, 31 July 2006 (UTC)


 * The Israeli-Lebanese conflict should go back to the top of the news section after Qana bombings. I suggest something like that :" Israeli forces attack Qana, as part of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict killing 57 civilians."--Wedian 13:30, 30 July 2006 (UTC)
 * This is, since last night (I think), the second item from the top, instead of the bottom-most item. The blurb now mentions Qana. Hope this is good enough. -- PFHLai 22:20, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

July 28

 * Something on the heatwaves would be good (90 dead in California, 60+ in France), it probably doesn't need an article of its own though.--Peta 05:30, 28 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Please see 2006 European heat wave & 2006 United States heat wave. --PFHLai 05:40, 28 July 2006 (UTC)
 * How about - Heat waves in Europe and the United States kill more than 150 people. --Peta
 * I suggest including a time frame in the blurb. -- PFHLai 05:54, 28 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I am uncomfortable with "kill more than 150 people" without qualifying when and where. Also, I can't find the "150" number in either articles.Posted a shorter version, anyway. -- PFHLai 15:54, 29 July 2006 (UTC)

July 26

 * An ancient Irish manuscript described by Pat Wallace, the director of the National Museum of Ireland, as being of "staggering significance' has been found in a bog in the Irish midlands by a farmer. Dr. Bernard Meehan of Trinity College Dublin was astounded at the discovery, "I only heard about this yesterday, and since then I've been trying to come to terms with it. I cannot think of a parallel anywhere . . . What we have here is a really spectacular, completely unexpected find.' It is estimated that it could be between 1,000 and 1,200-years-old and unashamedly ecstatic staff at the museum said yesterday its discovery was an Irish equivalent to that of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. El Gringo 11:02, 26 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Fascinating but is there an updated article? --Golbez 15:12, 26 July 2006 (UTC)
 * It is here. It is quite short at the moment, but maybe putting it on the front page would help it? Maybe wording like "A 1200 year old manuscript provisionally called the Irish Psalter is found in an Irish bog"? Batmanand | Talk 21:54, 26 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Posted. (Have been waiting for the article to grow.) -- PFHLai 14:50, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

July 25

 * Creditors decide to bankrupt Russian oil producing company Yukos after rejecting a financial restructuring plan. Errabee 10:58, 25 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Not sure this qualifies for ITN. Seems like local business news to me. The fight between the management and the Russian government was big news, but not anymore. -- PFHLai 14:54, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

July 24

 * The Doha round of the WTO global trade talks suffered a major setback, when negotiators of the U.S. and the European Union failed to reach an agreement on reducing farming subsidies and lowering import taxes. Errabee 12:30, 24 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I think this is a major issue; can I suggest wording such as "The Doha round of the WTO global trade talks are suspended in Geneva, amid substantial disagreements over farming subsidies and import taxes between the USA, the EU and the developing world". Batmanand | Talk 21:58, 24 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Fine by me. Errabee 22:57, 24 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Posted a while ago (not by me). -- PFHLai 14:51, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

July 23

 * Tiger Woods wins the 2006 British Open, his second consecutive Open Championship and eleventh major. -- Howard   the   Duck   02:01, 24 July 2006 (UTC)
 * He is crying, too.--Patchouli 03:14, 24 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Posted a few days ago, but we didn't mention his tears. -- PFHLai 14:57, 27 July 2006 (UTC)


 * There is an administrator who is posting vanity for the In the news section just to irk Wikipedians.--Patchouli 03:11, 24 July 2006 (UTC)
 * C'mon. Rogue admins posting weird stuffs on ITN is hardly news at all ! :-p --PFHLai 14:57, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

July 21

 * Ta Mok, Khmer Rouge Butcher dies at age 80 before his trial can be started. --Ionius Mundus 08:19, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Posted a few days ago. -- PFHLai 05:48, 28 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Sheik Hassan Aweys, in a radio broadcast, urges holy war on Ethiopian troops stationed in Baidoa to support the UN-backed government of Somalia.--Patchouli 21:41, 21 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Updated article? -Fsotrain09 21:43, 21 July 2006 (UTC)


 * In the Philippine Basketball Association, the Purefoods Chunkee Giants defeated the Red Bull Barako for their seventh championship. --Howard t he Du c k 02:47, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Heh heh. This has great potential to open a huge debate as to what sporting events get put up. --Golbez 05:10, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Lol, I'm just hoping against hope, of course this is a professional league a la NBA (which is also a national-based league), but whatever. -- Howard   the   Duck   05:40, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I opine that no sport from any country should be included.--Patchouli 08:30, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Even The Open Championships? -- Howard   the   Duck   09:26, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Does that mean the NBA (which is multinational) or NFL Europe (which is pan-European) are allowed, but Wimbledon and the Kentucky Derby are not? --Golbez 14:29, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * OMG! The Super Bowl won't be there too?! They're all American teams, right? -- Howard   the   Duck   14:41, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I dunno, Texas is a whole 'nother country. --Golbez 14:52, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * LOL. But is my news piece ever gonna be posted at the main page? Can an admin answer this? -- Howard   the   Duck   15:01, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I'm an admin but I want to see how others handle this. :) --Golbez 15:05, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * We've been bombarded by European and American-centric sports news already (was the African Nations Cup ever added at the ITN?). Perhaps an Asian sports news should be added. Even the Japan Series should be added or the AFC Champions League (when it is concluded). -- Howard   the   Duck   15:14, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Here's an idea. The recent Main Page redesign has given us more room for ITN, shown by the larger number of stories it's handling. Why not split out two sections - Recent notable deaths, and recent sporting championships? Not news, just championships. Right now, ITN has five rather long stories, and it could easily support 7 or 8 shorter ones. How about we confine ITN to 4 or 5 shorter stories, grant one of these to the most recent major sporting championship, and one of these to the most recent major death? Or just ignore the death thing for now. --Golbez 17:21, 22 July 2006 (UTC)


 * My opinion: No sports please. Neither ballet nor bodybuilding.--Patchouli 16:45, 23 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Well, the 2006 Tour de France was there. Maybe some admin can expand it a little bit. -- Howard   the   Duck   16:47, 23 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Not posted because Phillipino Basketball is not at the top level of basketball in the world. For this sport, I would only consider the NBA Finals and the FIBA Men's World Championship, the only two tourney with a worldwide following that I can think of. --PFHLai 05:48, 28 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Thanks, that finally settles it. And for the record it's Filipino. -- Howard  the   Duck  15:09, 29 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Thanks for pointing out my sloppy spelling. BTW, my comment above was by no means a final editorial decision on sports-related news, it was just my personal criteria as a "licensed editor" of ITN. There will be circumstances when news other than world championships may be considered. One example I can think of is a Japanese import in the USA breaking a 85-year baseball record the year before. That was on ITN for a couple of days, I think.  And then there are days when we have several other bigger news stories available to choose from, we leave out the sports items due to lack of space. I hope people don't get too upset when their suggestions don't get picked for the MainPage. --PFHLai 15:32, 29 July 2006 (UTC)
 * OK. Although I expected already that this won't be at the Main Page. But sporting events in the ITN are grossly North American/European centric. I won't be surprised if Euroleague makes it there. ITN must be diverse too. -- Howard  the   Duck  09:23, 30 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Agree that sporting events in the ITN are grossly North American/European-centric, which probably reflects how successful the professional leagues have been in marketing their sport around the world. I was quite happy to see some rugby news on ITN about some championship game between teams from New Zealand and South Africa a few months ago. Hopefully, we'll see more things like African Cup of Nations and the Asian Games on ITN. Large-scale, high-profile international sports events should be included, provided that Wikipedia has the contents to feature. -- PFHLai 16:06, 31 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Now I'm wondering if the Asian Games, the second largest multi-sporting event in the world, in terms of population, would have the same status given to the Commonwealth Games. Oh well, we can only dream (lol). -- Howard  the   Duck  11:14, 1 August 2006 (UTC)
 * IMO, yes, as long as Wikipedia has the relevant contents available to feature. This would include pages on the various events and the winning athletes. However, ITN should not be used as a scoreboard for the 2006 Asian Games. -- PFHLai 15:47, 6 August 2006 (UTC)
 * We really need policy on this kinda stuff.-- HamedogTalk|@ 15:38, 29 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Feel free to discuss such a policy at Template talk:In the news. --PFHLai 16:06, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

July 20

 * Archaeologists uncover an aristocratic house believed to be the birthplace of Rome's first Emperor, Augustus, under the Palatine Hill. &mdash; BRIAN 0918 &bull; 2006-07-20 19:25


 * The 135th Open Golf Championship is taking place at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England from 20th-23rd July 2006.
 * The major sporting event at the moment, should probably replace the italian football/soccer scandal.Andymarczak 11:51, 20 July 2006 (UTC)
 * We don't have a rule that the most major sporting event of any moment has to be on ITN. --Golbez 14:52, 20 July 2006 (UTC)
 * True. When does news become Old News though? Andymarczak 19:07, 20 July 2006 (UTC)
 * We usually don't post on ITN till we have a winner. Many people object to using ITN as a live scoreboard. -- PFHLai 16:10, 31 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Who won ? --64.229.231.181 18:27, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

July 19

 * Heat waves are responsible for more than a dozen deaths in the United States and in Europe, including heat related deaths as far north as the Netherlands.
 * The reason this makes a good current event is that it is affecting millions, and gets proportionately little coverage as a natural disaster. It will likely persist for days to come.  As explained in the Chicago Heat Wave of 1995 and heat wave articles and scholarship done on that disaster, the loss of human life in hot spells in summer exceeds that caused by all other weather events combined, including lightning, rain, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.  Wikipedia should endeavor to avoid this historical news bias. Castellanet 02:47, 20 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Surely this should be added. Weather events are not just confined to hurricanes. -- Howard   the   Duck   08:27, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

July 18

 * President George W. Bush vetoes the stem cell bill that came before him,adding to the already controversial stem cell controversy. This is also the first veto of his 6 years in office. Many political leaders, such as Bill Frist and Nancy Reagan have expressed opposition to his veto.-- C h  i  l  i  1  4  22:48, 19 July 2006 (UTC)
 * British Police will not be prosecuted for killing Jean Charles de Menezes in the London bombing investigations. Police kill innocent people all the time, but this has signficant international media coverage - and the decision was criticised by Brazil.--Peta 04:17, 18 July 2006 (UTC)
 * The topic may be good, but the Jean Charles de Menezes article carries an unreferenced-section tag. Let's avoid featuring problem articles on MainPage. Anyway, if we are posting this, a link to Crown Prosecution Service is suggested, as these are the guys who decided not to prosecute. -- PFHLai 17:36, 19 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Tropical Storm Beryl forms off the coast of the Carolinas.-207.161.4.230 04:11, 19 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Minor story. --Golbez 16:12, 19 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Let's wait till Tropical Storm Beryl (2006) does something more newsworthy. -- PFHLai 17:36, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

July 17
A tsunami hits the West Coast of Java.

Space Shuttle Discovery has landed successfully on Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center, ending a successful 12-day mission. --Kitch 13:30, 17 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Posted a shorter version. -- PFHLai 14:09, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

July 14
Three of Italy's most powerful and best-known soccer clubs, Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina, have been relegated from Serie A for their role in the Serie A scandal of 2006 just days after Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Link from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/5164194.stm

--Bveale 20:14, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Serie A scandal: Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina have all been relegated to Serie B, due to match fixing. AC Milan will stay in Serie A but will have a 15 point deduction and lose their UEFA Champions League place. Jimmmmmmmmm 20:17, 14 July 2006 (UTC)


 * This has to go on, this is big news Ch ild zy  ( Talk 21:14, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
 * There should only be one bolded link. Why not:
 * Three of Italy's best-known soccer clubs, Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina, have been removed from the Serie A soccer league for their role in the 2006 Serie A scandal just days after Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
 * Some people may not understand the concept of relegation, too. --Howard t he Du c k 06:30, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Then those people can look up the word in a dictionary. --68.239.122.76 16:21, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I've added a link to Promotion and relegation. -- PFHLai 20:38, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

On Wednesday, July 12, Darryl Sutter stepped down as the Calgary Flames head coach. The reason for stepping down is because Sutter said it was difficult to do both the GM and head coaching duties.

Sutter and the Flames compiled a 46-25-11 record this past season for third spot in the Western Conference.

Sutter compiled Sutter compiled a 107-73-26 record in two plus seasons behind the bench of the Flames. The new coach of the Flames is Jim Playfair. Mr. C.C. 06:08, 14 July 2006 (UTC)


 * IMO, this is not "major" enough to get on ITN. And, this is somewhat old news now. -- PFHLai 22:41, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

July 12

 * 2006 Tour de France continues - one of the worlds great spectacles, dont see why it is not in this section when Wimbledon that finished 4 days ago still is. (dark horse 03:06, 13 July 2006 (UTC))
 * ITN on Wikipedia's MainPage is not a news service, but a section to feature encyclopedic articles updated with recent news. 2006 Tour de France is not done yet. Nothing to feature yet. Let's wait till we have a winner and try again. Wimbledon is still there because we don't have newer items to displace it yet. Hopefully, we will soon. -- PFHLai 05:38, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

Hello32020 13:28, 12 July 2006 (UTC) Hello32020 12:23, 12 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert describes the capturing and killing of Israeli soilders by Hizbollah an "act of war" by Lebanon and he promises a "very painful and far-reaching" response.
 * The Israel Air Force targeted a meeting of Hamas operational wing, killing 5 civillians and one Hamas leader, and injuring Mohammed Deif.
 * Operation Just Reward is now on ITN. -- PFHLai 12:39, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

July 10

 * Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, the lead singer and guitarist of The Bothy Band, one of Irish Traditional Music's most acclaimed and influential bands of the twentieth century, dies suddenly at his home in Dublin at the age of 54.
 * No. --Golbez 16:21, 10 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Is this guy as least as notable as Bono? His article probably needs a massive expansion to convince admins not familiar with Irish music. --64.229.228.236 16:28, 10 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Instead of ITN, please consider posting at Recent deaths and on the right side of Current events. -- PFHLai 22:41, 10 July 2006 (UTC)


 * 41 passengers and 4 crew die in the crash of Pakistan Airlines Flight 688 in Multan. Errabee 09:23, 10 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Yes. --Golbez 16:21, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

July 9

 * As many as 150 may have died in the crash of an S7 Airlines Airbus A310 in Irkutsk, Russia. Daniel Case 04:21, 9 July 2006 (UTC) (OK, it's kind of sloppy but other people will improve it and rename it when we know the flight number).
 * Already posted. (not by me) -- PFHLai 19:23, 9 July 2006 (UTC)


 * In tennis, Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal in the Men's singles competition, whilst Amélie Mauresmo defeats Justine Henin-Hardenne in the Women's singles at the 2006 Wimbledon Championships finals. ellisjm 18:53, 9 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Posted. -- PFHLai 19:23, 9 July 2006 (UTC)


 * In football (soccer), Italy beat France 5-3 on penalties to win the FIFA World Cup, having drawn 1-1 after 90 minutes. ellisjm 20:45, 9 July 2006 (UTC)
 * -Actually, after 120 minutes (two overtimes). Glc17
 * Already posted. (not by me) -- PFHLai 03:07, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

July 8

 * Germany defeat Portugal 3-1 in the 2006 FIFA World Cup third place play-off. Batmanand | Talk 23:50, 8 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Will wait till after the Franco-Italian War match. -- PFHLai 19:23, 9 July 2006 (UTC)


 * In tennis, Amélie Mauresmo wins the 2006 Wimbledon women's singles title, defeating Justine Henin-Hardenne 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. --199.71.174.100 22:21, 8 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Posted. -- PFHLai 19:23, 9 July 2006 (UTC)


 * One teen sent a letter of appology to the Ottawa police while the other teen appologized to the legion, the veterans of Canada, and the citizens of Canada. A man has been identified as 23 year old Stephen Fernandes and was charged Friday with mischief for allegedly urinating on Canada's national war memorial.

All three urinated on Canada's war memorial on Canada day. Mr. C.C. 16:33, 8 July 2006 (UTC)


 * This is a unique story, but I don't think it falls under international interest. joturn e r 16:34, 8 July 2006 (UTC)
 * And I don't think such bad behaviour of some drunk kids deserves any mention in an encyclopedia. -- PFHLai 19:23, 9 July 2006 (UTC)


 * It is announced that the FBI and Lebanese authorities have foiled a suspected terrorist plot to bomb New York tunnels. Sherurcij (talk) (Terrorist Wikiproject) 18:30, 8 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Something to think about. Let me read.... -- PFHLai 19:23, 9 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Posted. Hope it's not too late. -- PFHLai 03:30, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

July 7

 * Two members of the Tongan royal family have been killed in a car accident in San Francisco
 * ʻUluvalu Takeivūlai Tukuʻaho probably deserves his own article and get listed at Recent deaths. But since he has little political power at the time of his death, this news is probably not significant enough to get onto ITN. -- PFHLai 23:15, 7 July 2006 (UTC)


 * The official results of Mexico's presidential election indicate Felipe Calderón (pictured) has defeated runner-up Andrés Manuel López Obrador by a margin of less than 0.6 percent. joturn e r 02:13, 7 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Posted a shorter version. -- PFHLai 23:28, 7 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Three have been charged with trying to sell [Coca-Cola|Coke] secrets to Pepsi. Apparently one of the people involved was an employee with Coke.  The three people were trying to sell Coca-Cola Co. recipe secrets to rival Pepis Co. Inc.  Mr. C.C. 16:01, 7 July 2006 (UTC)
 * What updated article(s) in Wikipedia should be featured on MainPage ? -- PFHLai 23:31, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

July 6

 * The Nathula Pass between India and China reopens for trade 44 years after it was sealed during the Sino-Indian War.--Peta 05:57, 6 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Posted. -- PFHLai 09:28, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

4 July

 * North Korea launched two short range missiles, both of which landed in the Sea of Japan and a Taepodong-2 missile, however the third missile failed or was aborted in flight.Crazynast 21:36, 4 July 2006 (UTC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13704198/
 * There is also a short article solely on the test: North Korean Missile Test (2006). -Fsotrain09 22:49, 4 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I couldn't find that article, but it looks better. Crazynast 23:32, 4 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I went ahead and posted, as we have leftover space otherwise. The headline is rather rudimentary at present. The Tom 01:15, 5 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Space Shuttle Mission STS-121 launches from Cape Canaveral on a mission to dock with the International Space Station. Sum0 18:47, 4 July 2006 (UTC)
 * posted. The Tom 19:05, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

3 July

 * Over 30 people die when in Valencia a subway train derails. Errabee 21:19, 3 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Gonna need an article on that. --Golbez 21:41, 3 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Sudan refuses to let United Nations peacekeepers into the Darfur region to mediate the ongoing Darfur conflict --Peta 02:48, 3 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Asteroid 2004 XP14 exterminates most of mankind and c'roaches inherit the Earth, almost: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5133900.stm

1 July 2006

 * The 2006 Tour de France begins after riders Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso and several others are disqualified agfter being named in Operación Puerto.
 * The countdown towards the launch of Space Shuttle Mission STS-121 continues towards a planned lift off at 3:49pm EDT on 1 July 2006.
 * And the shuttle remains on the pad. Worth posting once we get liftoff. The Tom 18:36, 2 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Trial operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway begins today.
 * Posted, albeit reworded as article indicates passenger service is underway. Crossing my fingers that using the words "China proper" doesn't provoke an international incident. The Tom 18:36, 2 July 2006 (UTC)