Wikipedia:In the news/Candidates/March 2017

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

March 31

Portal:Current events/2017 March 31

March 31, 2017 (2017-03-31) (Friday) Armed conflict and attacks War in North-West Pakistan A bomb targets a mosque in the city of Parachinar near the border with Afghanistan killing at least 22 people and wounding dozens more. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents Cyclone Debbie Authorities find a woman's body near the town of Murwillumbah, New South Wales, bringing the number of confirmed storm fatalities to at least two people. There are fears that more people could be missing in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. (The Australian) Interstate 85 bridge collapse Officials state that repairs will take months following a fire that collapsed a bridge on Interstate 85 in Atlanta, Georgia. Police arrest three individuals in connection with the disaster, charging two with criminal trespass and one with first degree criminal damage. (WSB TV) International relations At a NATO meeting, German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel rejects as "quite unrealistic" the belief that Germany would spend 2% of GDP on the military. He says other spending such as development aid should be taken into account. (BBC) A Japanese fleet returns home after hunting 333 whales in the Antarctic. The Japanese government states that the purpose was for research. (New York Magazine) Law and crime The Indian state of Gujarat passes a law which makes the slaughter of a cow punishable by life imprisonment. (BBC) Politics and elections 2017 dissolution of Venezuelan National Assembly Luisa Ortega Díaz, Venezuela's attorney general, denounces a rupture of the constitutional order. Some protesters hold banners reading: "No To Dictatorship". (Reuters) New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces that he is developing a plan to close the Rikers Island prison within 10 years. (BBC) President of South Africa Jacob Zuma fires finance minister Pravin Gordhan amid a major cabinet reshuffle. The South African rand plunges. (CNN) 2017 Paraguay protests Some individuals set the Congress of Paraguay on fire. The attack occurs during a protest against a bill that would let the president seek re-election. (BBC) Sports 2017 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament Women's basketball Mississippi State defeats four-time defending national champion Connecticut 66–64, ending the Huskies' NCAA-record winning streak at 111 games. (AP via ESPN) The MSU Bulldogs advance to the title game against fellow Southeastern Conference team South Carolina, which defeated Stanford 62–53 in the evening's other semifinal. (AP via ESPN)

---

[Posted] RD: James Rosenquist

Article: James Rosenquist (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Guardian, The New York Times
Credits:

• Nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 11:15, 2 April 2017 (UTC)

• Support. For what's a top twenty list of Pop art icons without his name on it? That would be a total fail. --Bagoto (talk) 00:50, 4 April 2017 (UTC)
• Support Article is fine. Pictures have been a snagging point for RD noms lately.128.214.163.208 (talk) 06:52, 4 April 2017 (UTC)
• Weak support too many external links but article content is satis. The Rambling Man (talk) 07:05, 4 April 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 03:12, 5 April 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Gilbert Baker

Article: Gilbert Baker (artist) (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): BBC, Rolling Stone
Credits:

• Nominated by Muboshgu (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 – Muboshgu (talk) 04:40, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

• Support. It would be nice to add his picture, if anyone has one.Zigzig20s (talk) 04:52, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
  • Nothing available via Free Image Search Tool. – Muboshgu (talk) 05:08, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

I've asked someone who may have one to upload it, but haven't heard back yet. By the way, we are citing his own website in three instances, which should be avoided. Is there a way to replace this with an RS please?Zigzig20s (talk) 06:27, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

Only one instance now. Perhaps we could just remove the sentence?Zigzig20s (talk) 06:32, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

We have a picture now.Zigzig20s (talk) 07:06, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

• Support. Article seems to be in good shape. Capitalistroadster (talk) 05:22, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
• Support — Article is in good shape. —MBlaze Lightning ^T 06:01, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
• Support good to go. The Rambling Man (talk) 08:12, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
• Support Article in good shape for posting. --TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 08:24, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
• Posted. Black Kite (talk) 13:57, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

RD: Mike Hall

Article: Mike Hall (cyclist) (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination
Blurb:  RD only (Post)
News source(s): ABC News Corp, Wales Online
Credits:

• Nominated by Kevin McE (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Cyclist extraordinaire, died near completion of extreme marathon event while in 2nd place. Kevin McE (talk) 16:16, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose mostly unreferenced or abuse of external links interwoven inline into the article. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:31, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose at the moment due to referencing issues. If referencing issues are fixed, I will support. Capitalistroadster (talk)
• Support, seems well referenced. Don't see any abuse. Martinevans123 (talk) 10:29, 5 April 2017 (UTC)

  It applied to a version of the article five days ago, which was edited here to remove the embedded external links. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:36, 6 April 2017 (UTC)

  So not sure why still any oppose. Martinevans123 (talk) 21:49, 6 April 2017 (UTC)

March 30

Portal:Current events/2017 March 30

March 30, 2017 (2017-03-30) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the total number of refugees from Syria reaches over five million. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Turkish constitutional referendum, 2017 Several people are wounded in clashes outside the Turkish consulate in Brussels. (Daily Star) Disasters and accidents Cyclone Debbie Authorities of New South Wales issue a State Emergency Service for the towns of Murwillumbah and Lismore, and at least 12 flood rescues are underway as former Cyclone Debbie moves south from north Queensland. (Weatherzone) (9 News) Authorities shut down the city of Brisbane and South East Queensland as remnants of Cyclone Debbie move south. (Brisbane Times) A private Twin Squirrel helicopter crashes in the Rhinog mountains of North Wales, killing all five people aboard. (BBC) Interstate 85 bridge collapse A fire results in the collapse of a bridge on Interstate 85 in Atlanta, Georgia, during rush hour, stranding motorists and resulting in a state of emergency. Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed calls the situation a "transportation crisis" that could close the affected stretch of highway for days or weeks. A 2015 report stated that the highway carried nearly a quarter-million vehicles a day. (NBC News) International relations Russian president Vladimir Putin attends the International Arctic Forum in Arkhangelsk, Russia. He says there that he is ready to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Helsinki, Finland. (Reuters) United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says he thinks the longer term status of president Bashar al-Assad is to be "decided by the Syrian people". This appears as a policy shift, since under president Barack Obama’s administration, the United States made the departure of Assad a key policy aim. (The Times of Israel) Law and crime Italian police arrest 34 people of a drug gang who reportedly planned to steal Enzo Ferrari's corpse, and hold it for ransom. (NBC) 2016 South Korean political scandal Authorities arrest Impeached South Korean President Park Geun-hye on charges of bribery, abuse of authority, coercion, and leaking government secrets. (BBC) North Carolina House Bill 2 The state legislature of North Carolina repeals the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, more commonly known as the "transgender bathroom bill." In its place, the legislature enacts a ban on cities in North Carolina from enacting "civil rights" protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people through 2020. (Reuters) Politics and elections 2017 dissolution of Venezuelan National Assembly In a ruling, Venezuela's Supreme Court says it "guarantees congressional functions will be exercised by" itself, authorizing president Nicolás Maduro to create oil joint ventures without the previously mandated congressional approval. Opposition leaders call it a "coup", while Peru recalls its ambassador. (Reuters) (BBC) Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections Michael T. Flynn is willing to testify under the condition of immunity in the ongoing congressional probe on Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. (CNN) A Congressional witness states that Russia hired 1,000 people to create anti-Clinton 'fake news' in key U.S. states during the election. (The Independent) During a Senate hearing, United States Senator Marco Rubio states that there have been post-election hack attempts against the U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rubio himself. (CNN) Science and technology Scientific Reports publishes Carthage College research that Daspletosaurus horneri, from the same Tyrannosauridae family as the Tyrannosaurus rex, had a sensitive nose. The research describes that foramina sprouted from the trigeminal nerve at the snout and jaws possibly enabling the behavioral functions of exploration, courtship, nesting, foreplay, and parental investment. (The Guardian) SpaceX successfully places the SES-10 telecommunications satellite on a geostationary transfer orbit. The event is notable because of the implied economic cost savings of reusing, for the first time, a used Falcon 9 first stage which had previously been recovered. That first stage had previously launched a Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station and landed on an autonomous drone ship during the CRS-8 mission. (The New York Times)

---

[Closed] Interstate 85 bridge collapse

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Interstate 85 bridge collapse (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ A bridge collapse on Interstate 85 closes the highway in Atlanta. (Post)
News source(s): CNN, CBS
Credits:

• Nominated by Muboshgu (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: Major infrastructure failure, called a "transportation crisis" by the city's mayor – Muboshgu (talk) 18:17, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose good faith nomination. This is far too trivial for ITN. -Ad Orientem (talk) 18:20, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - Infrastructural disasters happen all the time. And considering how little money and resources the U.S. federal government is willing to allocate to improve infrastructure, this should come as no surprise; incidents of this sort in the U.S. are likely to be more frequent overtime as are mass shootings.--WaltCip (talk) 18:22, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose the UK had a trivial traffic incident like this six months back, it's a big deal to the people inconvenienced but nothing more. The Rambling Man (talk) 19:24, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose Relatively minor accident due to a fire; no casualties. 331dot (talk) 19:32, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose Given the lack of any injuries even related to the collapse, this is not a severe incident (compared to something like I-35W Mississippi River bridge's collapse that killed 14). --MASEM (t) 19:35, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Closed] Falcon 9 reused

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Falcon 9 (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ SpaceX successfully launches a previously-used Falcon 9 booster rocket for the first time (Post)
News source(s): [1] [2]
Credits:

• Nominated by Banedon (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Evanhatesspam (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: Needs a better-worded blurb in my opinion, the current one makes it seem like it's something internal to SpaceX. Targetting SES-10 is also possible. Banedon (talk) 03:28, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support - Top news in BCC Science section. Starts the age of reusable rockets. Sherenk1 (talk) 06:38, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - The blurb needs to be reworded. With the current wording, why is it so important that this type of rocket was reused? Is it not a first for any type? LordAtlas (talk) 07:01, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comments It is not clear to me why the partial re-use of a rocket is significant in the field of space exploration, and the article was no help in this regard, despite being overly detailed and quite long. I had to click on another article linked within, also very detailed and long, to find a partial answer. Additionally, I found the article to be jargon loaded, e.g. "They were equipped with parachutes but SpaceX was not successful in recovering the stages from the initial test launches using that approach due to their failure to survive post separation aerodynamic stress and heating". The update is two sentences long. I don't think readers are going to read through ca. 22,000(!) words, so the blurb really needs to get across why this is in ITN.128.214.163.211 (talk) 10:53, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - Not notable. Not 'In the News' enough. Rocket launches happen all the time. If this is posted on ITN section, it will open a floodgate of other rocket launch ITN candidates. mfarazbaig --mfarazbaig 19:02, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

  I think you've missed the crux of the story, that the booster is reusable. If it was simply a reusable space vehicle, I'd be with you, e.g. Space Shuttle. But it's more than that. The Rambling Man (talk) 19:22, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

• I think I'll need to weakly oppose. I'm a lifelong space enthusiast so I understand what a momentous achievement this was, and that the implications for the future of spaceflight are difficult to overstate. That said, I don't think the general interest is there outside of the industry and its followers. From what I've seen, the response from the general public has ranged from "so what?" among those who know nothing about rocketry, and "didn't NASA already do that decades ago?" from those who know just slightly more than that. I'm afraid that fleshing out the blurb enough to give the layperson any idea of why this is significant will result in an unwieldy and convoluted spiel not suitable for ITN. I'm willing to be persuaded if someone can craft a satisfactory blurb and/or indicate somehow that this story has adequately broad appeal. – Juliancolton | ^Talk 20:40, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose I agree, it's incremental, not some kind of revolution in space exploration technology. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:44, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose Re-usable boosters are not new – see Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster. Andrew D. (talk) 11:20, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

• No, but landing one back on the launch pad rather than it falling into the sea for recovery certainly is. Black Kite (talk) 14:07, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] Dissolution of Venezuelan legislature

Article: 2017 dissolution of Venezuelan National Assembly (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The Venezuelan Supreme Court announces the dissolution of the national assembly. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ The Venezuelan Supreme Court rules that all powers of the national assembly are to be transferred to the court.
Alternative blurb II: ​ The Venezuelan Supreme Court strips the National Assembly of legislative power in a move widely described as establishing a dictatorship.
Alternative blurb III: ​ The Venezuelan Supreme Court reverses its decision to strip the National Assembly of legislative power.
News source(s): CNN NYT
Credits:

• Nominated by EternalNomad (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: Described by NY Times as a step closer to a dictatorship in Venezuela, and condemned as a coup by many. EternalNomad (talk) 21:58, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose latter sections entirely unreferenced. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:02, 30 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support major unexpected development with serious consequences. International reactions are coming in as well as domestic ones. I've expanded National_Assembly_(Venezuela)#Removal_of_powers to hopefully an adequate length. Note that this is an effective but not literal dissolution, so the altblurb should be used. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 22:24, 30 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose per TRM. No citations in the "1961 Constitution", "1999 Constitution", "Structure and Powers" sections, additional cites needed for the "Political composition" section. Improve those issues and I would support this. --Jayron32 00:41, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support per LukeSurl. To quote the CNN article, "The ruling sent shock waves across the region. The Peruvian government broke off diplomatic relations with Venezuela over the matter, recalling Mariano López Chávarry, its ambassador to Caracas". Banedon (talk) 00:44, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support per LukeSurl on importance. Quality isn't there yet. (Would probably argue that this deserves a separate article.) Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 01:04, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose per TRM/Jayron, only on article quality. This is clearly something that should be at ITN, but the article needs a lot of fixing up, and following Ed, perhaps should be a separate article in the long-term (though that make take a lot more time). --MASEM (t) 02:11, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support after fixing article - As per above arguments. Sherenk1 (talk) 02:31, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• A standalone article has been created at 2017 Venezuelan self-coup d'état, and is already extensive. This avoids the sourcing issues with the National Assembly (Venezuela) article. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 11:04, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

  Still oppose the stand-alone article on the following issues 1) first paragraph on Background section lacks sourcing. 2) Outside of lead, NONE of the events of the actual Coup d'Etat are discussed at all. Indeed, outside of one sentence in a very short lead section, there is NO discussion of the events of the coup. The main body's last mentioned event is "a 7 February 2017 meeting" We'd need an entire new section to give the chronology and details of the dismissal by the judiciary. We have none of that yet. Still needs expansion before it is ready. --Jayron32 11:47, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

  Support coup article now. Currently in sufficient shape for posting. Thanks to all who expanded it. --Jayron32 00:42, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

• Conditional Support It needs a little expansion and there is a CN tag. But otherwise this is major news that needs to be posted. -Ad Orientem (talk) 13:29, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Article is no longer a stub and has some substance. International recognition has occurred, especially among controversy with OAS states.--ZiaLater (talk) 20:57, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Slide toward dictatorship is a major story and the article is now of sufficient quality.Pawnkingthree (talk) 01:38, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
• Support AltBlurbII and the self-coup article that it focuses on, but without the last bit about dictatorship (leave it up to the reader to come to that conclusion). --Tocino 04:05, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
• Comment There is still a CN tag but otherwise it looks good. Fix the tag and I think we can post this. Side note- the article was briefly locked due to some POV Edit/Move warring. I have lowered the PP to extended confirmed and will be keeping an eye on it. -Ad Orientem (talk) 15:10, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
• Comment Article and blurb may need updating prior to posting. Fuebaey (talk) 15:32, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

Indeed. This is a rapidly evolving situation. It appears the Venezuelan Supreme Court is backpeddling on its decision after enormous international condemnation. -Ad Orientem (talk) 18:36, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

Added altblurb III. Fuebaey (talk) 17:29, 2 April 2017 (UTC)

• Ready The article now looks to be in good shape now. I am going to suggest that the posting admin adjust the blurb to reflect recent developments. -Ad Orientem (talk) 21:19, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - I suggest changing it to something like "The Venezuelan Supreme Court strips the National Assembly of legislative power in a move widely described as a "self-coup". After, internal criticism, the ruling was reversed." Some called it a dictatorship move, but a more neutral description that is being used is an attempted "self-coup".--ZiaLater (talk) 21:23, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 01:24, 3 April 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] Arrest of Park Geun-hye

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: 2016 South Korean political scandal (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Former President of South Korea Park Geun-hye is arrested on corruption charges. (Post)
News source(s): BBC
Credits:

• Nominated by LukeSurl (talk · give credit)

Article needs updating

Nominator's comments: Park Geun-hye could also be the bold article. We posted Park's impeachment, but I feel it is at least worth a discussion whether this development merits a further ITN item. LukeSurl ^{t c} 18:55, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose good faith nom. We posted her impeachment and removal from office. Since she is no longer a sitting head of state/government I think we should follow our normal procedure for high profile criminal cases, which is to post convictions, not arrests. -Ad Orientem (talk) 19:17, 30 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. Even former heads of state are not typically arrested. This seems like a big deal. 331dot (talk) 19:20, 30 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose anyone can be arrested, even momentarily, so let's wait until charges are levelled, or convictions are made. The Rambling Man (talk) 19:48, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

It would seem she has been charged; the BBC writing "The Seoul Central District Court earlier issued a warrant to detain Ms Park on charges of bribery, abuse of authority, coercion and leaking government secrets, after a nearly nine-hour court hearing on Thursday." 331dot (talk) 19:54, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose normally we wait until conviction at least, and in this case we posted the impeachment so it's not as though the issue has not been looked at. Arrest by itself is not an encyclopaedic development, since either nothing will come of it, or we will have a no-doubt high profile trial and conclusion (either way) to consider including in due course. Bencherlite^Talk 19:52, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

I would respectfully disagree with the assertion that the arrest of a former head of state on charges related to her conduct while in office is not encyclopedic. This also does not happen every day. 331dot (talk) 19:56, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

• I came here to read the discussion. I had been leaning on 331dot's side because the story of the arrest is in fact in the news right now and the article could surely use some attention. I think adding a news story like this would typically capture the spirit and purpose of this main page section. Also, to be honest, I keep seeing Carrie Lam and being like "is that the woman from the news that just got arrested?" and the answer continues to be no.

  On the other hand, I find Ad Orientem's argument compelling enough, so I'm a neutral, I guess. --MZMcBride (talk) 00:24, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support she's a former head of state. This kind of event is rare. Plus it has been reported in the news for quite a while, see [3] which showed that the preceding developments was reported in a major newspaper. Also: fighting the US/UK bias also involves supporting non-US/non-UK nominations. Banedon (talk) 00:41, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

Compare [4] for all the irony ... if Tony Blair had been arrested, would it have been posted even if he weren't found guilty? Banedon (talk) 05:30, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

• Support per Banedon. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 01:03, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment the article quality is very low, it suffers terribly from WP:PROSELINE so regardless of notability, we should definitely not be featuring such on the main page. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:45, 31 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose, there is a longstanding ITN consensus to post convictions only. Abductive (reasoning) 00:35, 1 April 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Closed] RD: Alexei Abrikosov

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Alexei Alexeyevich Abrikosov (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): TASS
Credits:

• Nominated by Brandmeister (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Nobel laureate in physics, a bit more refs are needed. Brandmeister^talk 11:56, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment Death is uncited in the article, and I'd want to see a better source than TASS for it especially given that he lived in California, not Russia; it's putting it mildly to say that TASS has got facts wrong on occasion. ‑ Iridescent 19:20, 30 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose no clear "in the news" indication and the article is very poor, serious lack of referencing. The Rambling Man (talk) 19:50, 30 March 2017 (UTC)
• Given that there were two separate citations for his death prior to the first comment (TASS here and Interfax in the article), to suggest that it was uncited and/or not in the news is odd. I'm not sure why a Russian-based wire service would be considered unreliable, nor can I think of a [political] reason for why they would misreport the death of a scientist. Elsewhere, an American citation is available here from his former employer and a non-Russian news source can be found here from a Brazilian wire. I do agree, however, that the article itself needs substantial improvement with referencing. Most of the prose is unsourced, save the last paragraph in the career section and a handful of awards. Fuebaey (talk) 01:41, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 29

Portal:Current events/2017 March 29

March 29, 2017 (2017-03-29) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Turkish military intervention in Syria Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım announces an end to the operation Euphrates Shield, which was part of international military operations against ISIL. He adds: "Any operation following this one will have a different name." (Deutsche Welle) (Al Jazeera) Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) A car bomb attack on a police checkpoint in Baghdad kills at least 15 people and injures 40 others. (BBC) Arts and culture The Swedish Academy announces that American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has agreed to accept his Nobel Prize in Literature this weekend at a private location in Stockholm. (BBC) Business and economy The European Commission blocks the third attempt of the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse at a merger, citing the danger of a "de facto monopoly in the crucial area of fixed income instruments". (The Guardian) Disasters and accidents A head on crash between a pickup truck and a church bus outside Garner State Park in the American state of Texas kills at least 12 people and injures 3 others. (Fox News) Law and crime United States immigration ban In response to a federal appeal, U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson (Hawaii), who on March 15 issued a temporary, national restraining order on implementation of the revised federal immigration/refugee rules, upgrades his earlier ruling to a preliminary injunction until Hawaii's lawsuit is resolved. (Los Angeles Times) (AP via Chicago Tribune) Politics and elections Brexit The United Kingdom formally notifies the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community. There is not yet agreement on a negotiations roadmap. (ARD) (Business Green) French presidential election, 2017 Former candidate Manuel Valls (PS) announces his support for Emmanuel Macron (En Marche!) rather than for his own party's nominee, Benoît Hamon. (Bloomberg)

---

[Posted] United Kingdom invocation of Article 50

Article: United Kingdom invocation of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The United Kingdom invokes Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, beginning the formal EU withdrawal process (Post)
News source(s): BBC News
Credits:

• Nominated by Sherenk1 (talk · give credit)
• Updated by 2a02:c7f:5621:2a00:b1d1:7901:4dc:889d (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: Notable. Will start reactions. Sherenk1 (talk)

• Support if and once it happens (far as I can tell, it hasn't happened yet). This has been lingering in the background for quite some time, and will likely be in the news for a while longer. Adding a blurb. Banedon (talk) 06:35, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support this should be posted at 12:30 p.m. today when Tusk receives the letter. The Rambling Man (talk) 06:50, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
  • @The Rambling Man: That will be 11:30 (UTC) correct? — Coffee // have a ☕️ // beans // 07:13, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
    • Yep. The end of the Union is nigh... The Rambling Man (talk) 07:16, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Major political event, possibly the start of the collapse of the EU. Mjroots (talk) 07:23, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. The major world papers are covering it. Although it's been sort of inevitable since the referendum result, much like Trump's inauguration it's still headline news.  — Amakuru (talk) 08:13, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose this is the 3rd time this story would reach ITN. And there is going to be another nomination for the actual exit. Four entries for basically the same story is excessive. Nergaal (talk) 08:57, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

  Yep, the fourth one will be in two years time. The Rambling Man (talk) 09:03, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

And the second time was a month ago. Nergaal (talk) 09:17, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Never mind! The Rambling Man (talk) 09:21, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Do you have a link to the second nomination? I only remember the first, and can't find the second after searching the February archives. Banedon (talk) 09:22, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

1st in June 2016, 2nd on January 26, 2017. Nergaal (talk) 10:36, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Oh, more than two months ago then? The Rambling Man (talk) 10:40, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Fair point. I opposed the 2nd nomination, but it was posted anyway (and the fact that the objection at the time was overcome in two months says something about how it shouldn't have been posted ...). Still, having posted that isn't a very good argument against posting this - after all, this is the significant event that the 2nd nomination was referring to. Banedon (talk) 11:49, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Oh, and I am surprised nobody mentioned that the current update is just one sentence long. Nergaal (talk) 10:38, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

I think since the entire article is dealing with the invocation of Article 50, and is in very good condition, it's just fine as it is! The Rambling Man (talk) 10:40, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support Such major and far-reaching geopolitical shifts do not come along very often. - The Bounder (talk) 09:23, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Yes, this is the third major news related to the same story, but it is not less significant than the previous two. The news enjoys popularity and is widely covered in the media, which easily meets our notability requirements. I'd also support the news pertaining to the actual exit once it happens in two years from now.--Kiril Simeonovski (talk) 09:24, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. Should we add to the blurb that the pound has fallen drastically?Zigzig20s (talk) 11:23, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

  No, because it hasn't. Or at least if it did, it has rebounded!  — Amakuru (talk) 12:10, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Fair enough.Zigzig20s (talk) 12:20, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted. Good luck to all of you editors across the pond. — Coffee // have a ☕️ // beans // 11:30, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Post-posting Support. It may have featured before but this time it's the big one. It's really happening now...--Pawnkingthree (talk) 12:18, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose posting until something actually happens (ie they leave the EU), as per our normal non-UK news practices. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 13:50, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Not going to recommend pulling but will voice my Oppose. This is the start of a process (the signature on a letter) that will take many months/years to complete, and thus far too early in the situation to be at ITN. When the withdrawl is actually complete, then that was the appropriate point for posting. --MASEM (t) 14:07, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

It's definitely "in the news" all over the world though.Zigzig20s (talk) 14:19, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Just being in the news is not a metric for inclusion; it's a minimum requirement but there are plenty of other factors to avoid having stories keep popping up over and over and over again (the same logic about being in the news means we should have a daily Trump ITN entry for all matters, and no, that's not going to happen). And historically, on things like this, where we know the end result (when the UK withdraw from the EU is completed) will definitely be a major bit of news, we generally wait on posting until all the red tape is resolved. We posted when the vote to affirm Brexit happened, we posted that the last internal legal challenge in the UK court was resolved assuring this was going forward, and so the next major point is either the completion of the process, or if there is some significant legal huddle from outside the UK that might stop it (I dunno if there is or not). --MASEM (t) 14:24, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

This was a major point in the process, however. This was the point of no return that begins the withdrawal process. At any point before the receipt of the letter, the UK could have decided to do nothing, and Brexit would have not happened. The letter is the trigger that initiates the process, and for that reason, it receives the attention. It wasn't a mere formality, it literally is the only event that actually matter to start the withdrawal process. --Jayron32 14:29, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Arguably, it feels like any of these points already posted were points of no return, given 1) the referendum vote result and 2) the intention by the PM to follow through on it, only hampered by the need to pass Parliamentary law to enable it. That this was signed was effectively no surprise, once that law passed. I agree that in the overall timeline of Brexit, this letter is a critical date as the official start of the process, but we have to be a bit more selective to avoid every step of this otherwise major ITN-appropriate process from being blurbed every time something happens. I'm not asking for anything to be pulled, there was clear consensus to post, but I'm concerned there's not long-term thinking going on here with Brexit in ITN, hence my oppose. (Whereas we have taken extremely great strides with things like the Syrian civil war or the US presidental election to post the very key highlights) --MASEM (t) 15:19, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

I'd argue that this is one of the very key highlights. Assuming that the UK actually does leave the EU (whether it is possible to withdraw an article 50 notification is not clear in the legislation), this is one of the four most important points: from most to least important: Referendum result, leaving, triggering of article 50, passing to legislation to enable article 50 be triggered. Four stories in 2¾ years is hardly excessive in my view. Thryduulf (talk) 18:56, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Yep, this is the key moment. Everything that preceded it and everything that follows it is somewhat irrelevant now. We can't go back and we are on a destined path. It's unique, it's something that could destroy both the United Kingdom and the European Union. So it's notable. Of course I understand that those outside this tiny blob "off of France" may not quite grasp it. But that's not relevant I'm afraid. It's in the news, it has strong consensus and it's here to stay. The Rambling Man (talk) 19:09, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment Is there any merit to noting Proposed second Scottish independence referendum within this? I don't know that it warrants it's own ITN bullet, but perhaps merging it with this? --Natural R_X 14:53, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

  When it becomes a formal proposal, I'd say we should consider it. --Jayron32 15:15, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

  I'd oppose that, even if it becomes a formal proposal. Per longstanding precedent, we don't post the initiation of referendums, only the results. Banedon (talk) 05:29, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support. Those above saying that the referendum was the key moment are missing the point; that was a purely advisory referendum which carried no legal powers, and the government was perfectly free to disregard it had they so wished. (Catalonia voted to withdraw from Spain in 2014 yet remains singularly non-independent; except in a few places like California and Ireland where they're written into the law, governments are under no obligation to respect referendum results.) The formal triggering of Article 50 is the declaration of independence; 12:30 today was when Brexit—and consequently the near-certain dissolution of the UK—went from "something that is likely to happen" to "something that is certain to happen". ‑ Iridescent 19:05, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

2888 months later.. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 23:01, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

March 28

Portal:Current events/2017 March 28

March 28, 2017 (2017-03-28) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2017 Congolese police decapitation attacks Authorities find the remains of two missing U.N. investigators—former Swedish politician Zaida Catalán and U.S. national Michael Sharp—in a shallow grave in the province of Kasaï-Central, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Reuters) (BBC) (UN News Centre) Business and economy Police investigate the discovery of human excrement in cans of Coca-Cola in a Northern Ireland bottling facility. None of the contaminated product left the facility. (The Guardian) Disasters and accidents Cyclone Debbie A Category 4 severe tropical cyclone travels over the Whitsunday Islands and crosses the coast of Queensland, Australia, near the town of Airlie Beach. (ABC) Over the last week, a meningitis outbreak has killed at least 140 people in Nigeria. (BBC) All 141 people on board Peruvian Airlines Flight 112 escape when the aircraft crashes on landing at Francisco Carle Airport, Jauja, Peru. (The Aviation Herald) International relations Georgia–European Union relations Georgia's visa-free regime, which allows travel to most member states of the European Union, with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom, enters into force. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May signs a letter invoking Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. Its notification to the European Council tomorrow will formally begin the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. (BBC) Law and crime A Belgian Court in Brussels declares that Delphine Boël’s case against former king Albert II of Belgium is inadmissible even though genetic testing has proved that her legal father Jacques Boël is not her biological father. (The Royal Central) Simone Gbagbo, the former First Lady of Ivory Coast, is acquitted of crimes against humanity. She remains in prison for a previous conviction for undermining state security. (BBC) Politics and elections Proposed second Scottish independence referendum Lawmakers in the Scottish Parliament vote in favor of holding a second independence referendum for the country within two years. (Al Jazeera) List of executive actions by Donald Trump U.S. President Trump signs an executive order undoing former President Obama's climate change policies. (BBC) Science and technology Accounts of sightings of animals thought to resemble the extinct thylacine, the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times, prompt a search in the Far North of the Australian state of Queensland. (The Guardian) Sports In association football, and as CONMEBOL qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup continues, the Argentina forward Lionel Messi is banned for four matches, five and a half hours before kickoff in his team's match against Bolivia. (BBC)

---

[Closed] 2017 Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal repeal

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: 2017 Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal repeal (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ On 28 March 2017 the United States' House of Representatives passes resolution S.J.Res 34, turning over the Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal and allowing Internet service providers to sell Web browsing histories and other data directly to companies without consumers' consent. (Post)
News source(s): Washington Post, The Guardian, New York Post
Credits:

• Nominated by Fixuture (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: This a highly notable development that affects all Internet users of the United States Fixuture (talk) 20:53, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose parochial Trumpism. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:57, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

@The Rambling Man: Not sure what you mean / what your point is here? --Fixuture (talk) 21:19, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Yet another "Trump repeals", and yet another "America is appalled" story. Not interesting, not even that "in the news". The Rambling Man (talk) 21:20, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Strongly oppose. A law that was never actually implemented is now not going to be implemented? The very embodiment of "parochial non-story". ‑ Iridescent 20:59, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

@Iridescent: Why would that be a "non-story" when considering its tremendious contents/repercussions? Also it's barring the FCC from similar regulations in the future and moves away its authority, more or less explicitly allows these things to be done and now it's "opt-out" while it has been "opt-in" previously. --Fixuture (talk) 21:19, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose Six-month old protection (added in Oct 2016) is repealed by change of executive branch party. This really is a non-story but the US press is freaking out over something that has existed for more than a decade. --MASEM (t) 21:00, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

@Masem: Again, why would that be a "non-story" when considering its tremendious contents/repercussions? This hasn't "existed for a decade". --Fixuture (talk) 21:19, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose It's close to 90 degrees where I live but I see SNOW in the forecast for this nom. Good faith nom to be sure, but this is going nowhere. -Ad Orientem (talk) 21:25, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose : It's not viable for ITN to follow developments of one country's domestic politics at with the thoroughness that posting this item would imply. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 21:33, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

@LukeSurl: Well, that's a good point. (It's different for other language Wikipedias which are typically associated with one, or a few, countries.) --Fixuture (talk) 21:42, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• I would support this if it were actually passed, since it would be of interest to at least half of our readers (those who get only the newsstand version of wp excluded). But it is a bill, not a law. Sixty votes in the Senate and the President's signature would be necessary. I suspect it won't go to cloture unless there is significant Democrat support. μηδείς (talk) 21:54, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Where do you get "at least half our readers"? Only about 40% of Wikipedia readers are in the US, so 60% of readers have no interest straight away, and a sizeable chunk of that 40% aren't going to care. ‑ Iridescent 22:14, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose It's not a non-story; there are important privacy concerns for US consumers. But it's not ITN material, sorry.Pawnkingthree (talk) 23:44, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] RD: Ahmed Kathrada

Article: Ahmed Kathrada (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): New York Times
Credits:

• Nominated by HaEr48 (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: A prominent anti-apartheid activist. Article is in OK state, updated after his death. HaEr48 (talk) 06:20, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose several unreferenced claims, bare URLs need to be fixed. The Rambling Man (talk) 07:09, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Went through the article and added references when needed. Also fixed the bare URLs. HaEr48 (talk) 05:41, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

Imprisonment and Awards sections still lacking refs. The Rambling Man (talk) 06:48, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

Gave it another round. Fixed those sections as well, removed some unsourced statements, and added some pictures. HaEr48 (talk) 15:24, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

• Provisional support conditional on problems with article identified by The Rambling Man being fixed. Capitalistroadster (talk) 08:08, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support — looks good to go. —MBlaze Lightning ^T 15:57, 30 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 01:13, 3 April 2017 (UTC)

March 27

Portal:Current events/2017 March 27

March 27, 2017 (2017-03-27) (Monday) Arts and culture The Big Maple Leaf, a solid gold 1 million dollar Canadian coin weighing 100 kilograms (220 lb), is stolen from the Bode Museum in Berlin, Germany. (CBC) Disasters and accidents An avalanche on Mount Nasu in Japan's Tochigi Prefecture, kills at least eight schoolchildren while the students were on a mountaineering excursion. There are three students and three teachers missing. (AFP via Channel News Asia) (CNN) 2016–17 Australian region cyclone season More than 25,000 people are evacuated from the city of Mackay, Queensland, ahead of Cyclone Debbie which is expected to make landfall in northern Queensland tomorrow. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology warns that Cyclone Debbie will be the worst storm to hit Queensland since Cyclone Yasi in 2011. (ABC) Politics and elections Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2017 Official results of yesterday's election are released today. An exit poll showed the centre-right GERB winning the most votes. (Yahoo! News) Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2017 The deadline for the Government formation in Northern Ireland has expired following the refusal of the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin to enter a power sharing agreement with each other, with both parties blaming each other for the impasse. (BBC) Science and technology The U.S. FDA approves Tesaro's ovarian cancer drug, Niraparib. (Reuters) Sports The National Football League (NFL) owners approve, by a 31–1 vote, the move of the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the 2019 or 2020 season. The Las Vegas Raiders will become the second top-level professional sports franchise in the city, following the National Hockey League's Vegas Golden Knights, which will begin play in October 2017. The move now awaits completion of a new Raiders stadium, until which time the Raiders will continue playing home games in Oakland. Bank of America has issued the Raiders $650 million in credit to purchase land and build the new stadium in Clark County. (NBC Sports) (The Washington Post)

---

[Posted] RD: David Storey

Article: David Storey (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Guardian, The New York Times, BBC
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 03:55, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose Why is this person's death considered in the news? The fact that a person has an article does not make his death notably in the news. The nominator should explain this. ITN is not an obituary, and that a dead person has an article does not make him ipso facto "in the news". μηδείς (talk) 04:06, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
  • @Medeis: You are aware of the consensus we've been working under for a good while now? The one that's mentioned in the nomination template? – Muboshgu (talk) 04:10, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
    • Thanks, I always like to be spanked. Unfortunately, the RfC held that having an article establishes the decedent's notability. But what matters here is whether the death is notable; whether it is a notable death. Dozens of people who have articles about them die daily, we don't postevery stiff. It is the nominator's duty to show that the "death is in in the news". μηδείς (talk) 04:18, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
      • No, that's not the metric. As long as the death has been verified, and the person was notable, then the RFC says we can post the RD (as long as quality is met). It is not about the death itself being notable. (I do note that to the best I can tell, we have yet to have a case where a notable person's death has only been noted through way of the common "short form obit" used to document the average person's death; all deaths have been documented in at least one long-form obit, such as the NYTimes in this example). --MASEM (t) 05:12, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
        • I suppose what I meant was a widely noted death; I did not mean to imply that an unordinary death was necessary. It behooves the nominator to show this, as well as to justify the nomination in his comments. The RfC certainly does not say that we post any dead person with an article--the nominator has to justify the nomination. μηδείς (talk) 20:23, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
          • "Discussion should focus only on the quality of the article. See also WP:ITNRD.". The Rambling Man (talk) 04:43, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment "in the news"? Well if the BBC, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Spectator, The Times &c. &c. &c. are anything to go by, it's "in the news". A quick Google search demonstrates that perfectly adequately. The Rambling Man (talk) 04:39, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
• Weak oppose the article needs a bit more, certainly from a reference perspective, and is sadly a little bit weak, but there's little doubting this individual's prominence given the wide and mainstream coverage around the world. The Rambling Man (talk) 04:40, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - There's no question the person is notable. But is the death notable? That notability needs to be verified within the article.--WaltCip (talk) 16:16, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
  • There's no such requirement for the "death" to be notable, per the RD RFC. It only needs to be verifiable. (That said, the fact the NYTimes and BBC have a long-form obit leaves no question about the death being notable). --MASEM (t) 16:19, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
    • "Discussion should focus only on the quality of the article. See also WP:ITNRD." The Rambling Man (talk) 04:43, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support once the article has been expanded and the lede fleshed out. Notable and all over the newspapers.Zigzig20s (talk) 17:18, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support once minor improvements are made. Storey was a notable person and his death has received widespread coverage as per Rambling Man. It is quite likely that a notable person's death will receive widespread publicity in their native country and other countries where they are well known. Their death will not be as publicised in other countries as not every notable person is a household name throughout the world. Capitalistroadster (talk) 23:02, 28 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support good to go. The Rambling Man (talk) 07:06, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 14:03, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] Cyclone Debbie

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Cyclone Debbie (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Cyclone Debbie (pictured) strikes Queensland, Australia, killing at least one person and causing extensive damage. (Post)
News source(s): BBC News
Credits:

• Nominated by Sherenk1 (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Typhoon2013 (talk · give credit) and Cyclonebiskit (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: Stub as of now but will be expanded as more information comes in. It is being compared to Cyclone Yasi. Sherenk1 (talk)

Done. Though the one for TCs should stay as Current until we see what the page look like when it dissipates. Thank you for this, though. Typhoon2013 (talk) 08:26, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

• Too early to tell if this cyclone will be significant enough for an ITN item but worth keeping an eye on. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 09:46, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment – on a global level, most major Australian cyclones fall far short of reaching ITN level as they strike largely unpopulated/sparsely populate areas (namely Western Australia) or effective preparations limit loss of life (ex: Cyclone Yasi). Would have to wait a day or two to see if the damage warrants this being posted. ~ Cyclonebiskit (chat) 18:24, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

Curious: Has an cyclone ever affected a major Australian city that's not Darwin? Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 17:01, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

@Sagittarian Milky Way: the entire country can be affected by cyclones in one way or another (i.e. Cyclone Alby infamously affected areas around Perth as a non-tropical system). The two largest cities I can think of that are somewhat regularly impacted are Cairns and Mackay. Brisbane has been his multiple times by severe floods related to topical cyclones: 1974, 2010–11, and 2013 are the first three events that come to mind. Western Australia doesn't have any major cities along the cyclone-prone coastline, just towns. But it's the smaller towns that usually suffer the brunt of major cyclones, such as Innisfail in Cyclone Larry. ~ Cyclonebiskit (chat) 17:45, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

• Wait until impacts are clearer. Being the largest storm in 2+ years seems potentially noteworthy, but we can't post on potential article content, only actual article content. Once we have the article fleshed out with the impacts, which may include the effectiveness of preparations etc., then we can assess the article. --Jayron32 18:39, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support because the article looks in good shape and because this is a significant storm with at least 1 fatality. Brian Everlasting (talk) 01:20, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment – Damage thus far seems to be less than expected, but the storm has been significantly disruptive. The event is still ongoing, however, with torrential rains continuing to fall. Some areas have seen over 1,000 mm (half a year's-worth) in just 48 hours. ~ Cyclonebiskit (chat) 19:25, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose although the article is top notch (as is usually the case with such strong support from the various weather-based Wikiprojects) the impact is not significant at this time. A lot of rain, sadly one fatality, and a lot of inconvenience, but not really rising to the level of ITN blurb. The Rambling Man (talk) 19:31, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose – I don't see this reaching ITN level with the damage that has already taken place. The worst damage is relatively localized and thankfully there were minimal casualties. Can always be renominated if the flooding proves more notable. ~ Cyclonebiskit (chat) 05:19, 30 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support, currently the main national news story in Australia and one of the biggest floods in a long time (decades?), with millions of dollars of damage. Just scrapes into ITN in my opinion. Laurdecl ^talk 05:00, 1 April 2017 (UTC)
• Comment – The death toll has risen to five. Laurdecl ^talk 03:01, 2 April 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - doesn't rise to the level of significance that we usually require for ITN weather events. Landfalling tropical cyclones almost always dominate the news cycles in their respective regions, and while the damage is widespread, it's not exceptional by any means. – Juliancolton | ^Talk 03:20, 2 April 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 26

Portal:Current events/2017 March 26

March 26, 2017 (2017-03-26) (Sunday) Disasters and accidents A Ukrainian military Mi-2 transport helicopter crashes after hitting a power line near Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, killing all five people aboard. (Reuters) Law and crime A shooting in Cincinnati, Ohio, kills one person and injures fourteen others. (CNN) 2017 Russian protests Authorities detain hundreds of people, including Alexei Navalny, at anti-corruption protests across Russia. (Reuters) (Reuters) Politics and elections Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2017 Bulgarians vote to elect a new Prime Minister after the resignation of Boyko Borissov. Opinion polls predict a close contest between Borissov's centre-right GERB and the Socialist Party. (The Economist) Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2017 The Hong Kong Election Committee meets to select a new Chief Executive. Carrie Lam becomes the first female Chief Executive. (The Telegraph) (The New York Times) Wallis and Futuna Territorial Assembly election, 2017 Voters in Wallis and Futuna re-elect nine members and elect eleven new members to the 20-seat Territorial Assembly. (Radio New Zealand International) Sports 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament The last two places in the Final Four are decided. In the East Region in New York City, South Carolina defeats Southeastern Conference foe Florida 77–70 for the Gamecocks' first-ever Final Four appearance. (AP via ESPN) In the South Region in Memphis, Tennessee, North Carolina defeats Kentucky 75–73, sending the Tar Heels to their 20th Final Four. (AP via ESPN)

---

[Posted] Hong Kong Chief Executive election

Articles: Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2017 (talk · history · tag) and Carrie Lam (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Carrie Lam wins the Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2017, becoming Hong Kong's first female leader (Post)
News source(s): See article
Credits:

• Nominated by Banedon (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Lmmnhn (talk · give credit)

Both articles updated

Nominator's comments: Hong Kong "isn't even a country", but it is a SAR. Marking this ITNR as a result. Banedon (talk) 02:06, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

• Hong Kong isn't a sovereign state. This isn't ITN/R. – Muboshgu (talk) 03:35, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support – This not being ITN/R doesn't bother me, as I think it meets ITN standards on its own strength. Hong Kong's political situation has been awkward for the past twenty years and from what I've heard on the Dutch news about this, there are a lot of protests going on regarding this election. The fact that it is getting international attention elevates it to ITN in my opinion. I'd personally change the blurb to mention the allegations of Beijing manipulations rather than the president's gender, however. ~Mable (chat) 07:19, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Notable. Article looks good. Sherenk1 (talk) 07:47, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose as written. The Carrie Lam article is tagged for neutrality issues and poor quality standards. The election article is good, but we shouldn't be featuring Lam at all with her article in its current condition. The Rambling Man (talk) 08:23, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - we don't post California's gubernatorial elections either. Nergaal (talk) 11:23, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

Is California a communist Special Administrative Region of the United States under a One Country, Two Systems system that doesn't use dollars, drives on the left, uses Fraktur or Blackletter or some other type that mainland Americans find hard to read and has border controls to prevent illegal crossing? Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 11:41, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

Some Americans seem to think so. We do inspect stuff at the border! --47.138.161.183 (talk) 18:21, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support on notability grounds. This isn't ITN/R, but ITN/R states "…dependent territories should be discussed at WP:ITN/C and judged on their own merits.". Hong Kong is a significant, populous, and geopolitically important entity with substantial autonomy and substantial differences from the rest of China (see One Country, Two Systems). The Chief Executive is an important office. If Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2017 is the sole bold article (and that looks ready), the quality of Carrie Lam at present should be sufficient. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 12:10, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support This is notable enough for ITN. Both article appear to be of acceptable quality. I've engaged on the talk page to inquire about why an orange tag was applied. Mamyles (talk) 14:21, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support the Lam article didn't seem to need those tags, removed until specific issues are highlighted. This is good to go. The Rambling Man (talk) 14:42, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose for now. I've added some vital CN tags. There's some overt analysis and speculation which has no source. Also in the Personal Life section. --Jayron32 15:15, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

  Just de-bold Lam. The Rambling Man (talk) 15:26, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

  I'd be OK with that. The election article looks fine. --Jayron32 17:00, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

  You have the power. The Rambling Man (talk) 17:04, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

  Not anymore. I've voted. See WP:SUPERVOTE. I've ineligiblized myself to commit an admin action because I have a preferred outcome. When an admin who hasn't taken a position comes along, they can assess consensus. --Jayron32 17:54, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

  (1) you opposed (2) we have WP:COMMONSENSE for a reason too. The Rambling Man (talk) 04:41, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

  There's hundreds of admins anyways, and it got posted. I'm not very important to this process; that's the beauty of Wikipedia, no one is important at all. It gets done by somebody. Furthermore, no one has ever filed a complaint against an admin for declining to use his/her tools, whereas we have thousands of cases where such complaints are filed for using one's tools where one was not supposed to. Simply put, nothing bad can come to any admin, of the hundreds of us, who just ignored this request to post the item and moved on; indeed we don't even know how many of such admins there are. Rather, if I had posted this, someone would have the right to be a pain in the ass about it. Its much easier to simply avoid all of that and let someone else deal with it. I can't possibly be sanctioned for simply passing by and not using my admin tools. --Jayron32 18:52, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Stephen 22:26, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - I think "first leader" is too broad of a label. Hong Kong has had plenty of "female leaders," at least in the business field (see [5]). The article supports the statement "first female Chief Executive". Maybe "first political leader" could work. ^Falling_Gravity 06:48, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

@FallingGravity: It's not wrong per se to post your concern here, but you will get a faster response by posting to WP:ERRORS. 331dot (talk) 07:24, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

Bulgarian parliamentary election

Article: Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2017 (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ In the Bulgarian parliamentary election, the center right party GERB, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, wins a plurality with 32.65% of the vote (Post)
News source(s): Washington Post
Credits:

• Nominated by EternalNomad (talk · give credit)

The nominated event is listed on WP:ITN/R, so each occurrence is presumed to be important enough to post. Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article and update meet WP:ITNCRIT, not the significance.

Nominator's comments: News is breaking, there is still a slim possibility that Bulgarian Socialist Party actually won (will update blurb if that happens). EternalNomad (talk) 17:16, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose not ready. The Rambling Man (talk) 08:25, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

  Weak support results are in there now, the article could use a bit more around the results, but the fact of the matter is that the data is now available and mainly sourced. The Rambling Man (talk) 07:11, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose article does not yet have sufficient prose describing the results of the election. --Jayron32 17:53, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

  Weak oppose Results and aftermath still lack sufficient prose. Data completion and sourcing has improved, but right now all we have is tables with no real prose to give context or anything. --Jayron32 17:02, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose Bulgaria has a smaller population than NJ, and we wouldn't even post the results of the NJ legislatorial election. μηδείς (talk) 04:25, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

• What on earth has that got to do with anything? All results of general elections in states on the List of sovereign states are ITN/R and therefore will be posted (assuming that the article is up to scratch, of course, which this one isn't quite yet). Black Kite (talk) 14:08, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

There are plenty of elections in small nations which have not been posted. This might be a borderline case. ITN/R is irrelevant, since the list was simply compiled by admins without consensus. Unless there's an RfC that decided all general elections would be posted, there's no policy, just a fiat. μηδείς (talk) 20:28, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

@Medeis: It is well established that everything currently on ITN/R should be there, however it got there, until at discussion at WT:ITN/R arrives at a consensus that it should be removed. If you disagree with the current entry regarding general elections then start a discussion there, arguing on individual entries will get you nowhere. Thryduulf (talk) 20:53, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

Thryduulf, you simply confirm my argument, everything is there by fiat. The burden is not on me to prove otherwise, nor will I comment further on the matter. μηδείς (talk) 02:15, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Until any effort is made to remove elections of heads of sovereign states from ITNR, it is safe to ignore this kind of protest vote. The Rambling Man (talk) 07:13, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

I've started a discussion at WT:ITNR so we can resolve this once and for all. Then when we have consensus, we will record it against that ITNR item, and/or modify or remove it, and there will be no grounds for such future protest !votes. The Rambling Man (talk) 07:23, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Well that was easy enough. The Rambling Man (talk) 12:25, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

2017 Russian Protests

Articles: 2017 Russian protests (talk · history · tag) and Alexei Navalny (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Alexei Navalny, the main Russian opposition leader, is arrested during anti-corruption protests in Moscow. (Post)
News source(s): BBC News
Credits:

• Nominated by Sherenk1 (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: Breaking headlines. Article just added by another user but I am expecting this to blow up. Feel free to remove if I am wrong. Sherenk1 (talk)

• Oppose - More of the same. I enjoy sandwiches (talk) 13:20, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Weak support The protests seem to have developed into something of note, but the article needs heavy work. I enjoy sandwiches (talk) 22:50, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Leaning oppose, but wait. BBC is reporting that the main opposition leader was arrested as part of this, so this might turn out to be something more, but right now, it's basically <10,000 ppl, which is a rather small protest and the type that tends to happen all the time, failing NOT#NEWS. --MASEM (t) 13:24, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose We almost never post domestic political stuff like this. If the protests become massive (millions of people) or reach the point where they are credibly threatening the government we can revisit this. -Ad Orientem (talk) 14:13, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

  We do post domestic political stuff like this - [6] [7] [8]. Still, this looks pretty small-scale in comparison and the article is very poor. Banedon (talk) 14:23, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

None of those resemble the protests going on in Russia. As I noted, if the protests become massive, or threaten the government we can revisit this. We don't do run of the mill domestic political stuff like this. -Ad Orientem (talk) 14:45, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

Uh, they are massive. Although I see what you did there - you pulled this ridiculous threshold "millions" out of your thin air, just to make sure that these protest could never pass that kind of silly test. Per sources [9]: "the marches appear to be the biggest since anti-government demonstrations in 2011 and 2012.". Add the arrest of THE main opposition figure in Russia, and yeah, it's very newsworthy and notable.Volunteer Marek (talk) 06:52, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose for now per reasons above "this looks pretty small-scale in comparison and the article is very poor". Banedon (talk) 14:23, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

  Striking opposition given the developments. I'm neutral now, leaning support, per LukeSurl. Banedon (talk) 02:16, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support - major protests. Above the usual. I would support this for inclusion.--BabbaQ (talk) 15:02, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support (on notability, article is currently a stub) - the main story here is the arrest of Alexei Navalny, the main opposition leader in Russia. This takes precedence over the protests themselves. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 16:02, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Going just on the arrest, that doesn't assume any crime has been committed yet. I'm fully aware of the political issues in Russia that this definitely could mean something else, but we shouldn't lower the bar just because an arrest was made. --MASEM (t) 17:11, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. I understand that the protests are nationwide, that hundreds were arrested including the Opposition leader and the protests are about alleged corrupt practices by the Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev. [10] Capitalistroadster (talk) 04:39, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose. For one, Denis Voronenkov should not be posted as a blurb (see below). Now this one is just a stub with one reference about a one-day protest. This is Wikipedia, not Russophobiapedia.Zigzig20s (talk) 04:53, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

I'm sorry but calling this "Russophobic" is frankly ridiculous. "Russophobia" is a form of bigotry against ethnic Russians. How in the world does including the fact that there are large scale protests in over 80 Russian cities constitute a form of bigotry? These are Russian protesting, no? Please stop ... well, at least being blatantly obvious in your POV pushing.Volunteer Marek (talk) 06:48, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

The lede of Russophobia says, "Anti-Russian sentiment or Russophobia is a diverse spectrum of negative feelings, dislikes, fears, aversion, derision and/or prejudice of Russia, Russians and/or Russian culture.". It does not talk about "ethnic" anything. I for one do not believe in ethnicity.Zigzig20s (talk) 06:55, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

I might as well add that by making such a charge you are insulting your fellow editors.Volunteer Marek (talk) 06:49, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

No. Please assume good faith. We are talking about the nomination here, not editors. I am not interested in Wikidrama, so please stop.Zigzig20s (talk) 06:55, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

"Not interested in Wiki-drama" after essentially repeating the same oppose screed to the ITN talk page. OK.--WaltCip (talk) 12:48, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

• The nominator provided one reference, but that doesn't mean there aren't more. E.g. I put "Russia protest" into Bing and there are results from CNN, CBC, CBS, and Reuters. Banedon (talk) 05:48, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support tons of sources, seeing as how these are the biggest protests in years. I thought I'd list sources, but... there's so many it doesn't make sense to do it that way. So how about this - you name a major news source and I will provide you the link? I mean, pretty much EVERY major news source is reporting on this.Volunteer Marek (talk) 06:48, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support definitely newsworthy, and very much still happening. The Rambling Man (talk) 08:26, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• strongly Support definitely newsworthy. --Panam2014 (talk) 08:49, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. Significant, given the restrictions on protests and free speech in Russia. 331dot (talk) 08:56, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support not sure about the blurb, but two things are noteworthy, the fact that the prime minister of a country is accussed of having embezzled more than a billion USD is noteworthy. And the demonstrations itself, in particular given the heavy-handed crackdown by police. 2A02:A451:8B2D:1:3D10:EE4B:CB0F:30BA (talk) 11:15, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose for now on article quality. The "events" section of the bolded article is sparse, has an empty subsection, and has zero references. If this were expanded and fully fleshed out, I'd support this. The article quality just isn't good enough yet to put on the main page. People who have supported posting this don't seem to have assessed article quality. Any admin who decides to post this should please double check to see that the article quality honors Wikipedia. --Jayron32 17:23, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose Don't see this as main page material. At least not for now. The number of protesters also appears low. If it grows and intensifies, maybe we can add it. Étienne Dolet (talk) 23:33, 30 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose Agree with Étienne. Still not very large-scale. Also, not the first time Navalny is arrested. --Երևանցի ^talk 11:20, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] 2017 Cincinnati nightclub shooting

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: 2017 Cincinnati nightclub shooting (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ 14 injured and 1 killed in Cincinnati nightclub shooting (Post)
News source(s): Reuters, Xinhua
Credits:

• Nominated by I enjoy sandwiches (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: Unusual in that multiple shooters are suspected to have been involved, and who appear to still be at large. I enjoy sandwiches (talk) 11:46, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose - Stub. Don't see this as breaking headlines. Sherenk1 (talk) 12:06, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose – Not particularly notable as it currently stands. I don't think this will even appear in newspapers outside of the US, let alone make cover stories. ~Mable (chat) 12:49, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose They have seemed to take this as domestic violence, nothing to do with terrorism, so relatively small incident on the scale of where mass shootings in the US typically occur. --MASEM (t) 13:26, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose absent a large body count or evidence of terrorism. Sadly mass shootings are just too common in the US to post most of them. -Ad Orientem (talk) 13:44, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose not even notable among the mass shootings of the month. This happened just four days ago, four killed... Or this one from just over a week back, three dead and two injured. The Rambling Man (talk) 13:58, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose. ASITUSA.--WaltCip (talk) 14:22, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose – Sadly (and morbidly) not notable enough within the plethora of shootings in the United States to warrant inclusion on ITN. ~ Cyclonebiskit (chat) 14:58, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 25

Portal:Current events/2017 March 25

March 25, 2017 (2017-03-25) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks Four people are killed in twin bombings in Sylhet, Bangladesh. (BBC) War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) According to a local police chief, at least seven militants are killed by Afghan security forces in Logar Province. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Syrian Civil War At least 16 people are killed by multiple airstrikes on a prison in Idlib, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) March 2017 Israel–Syria incident In response to several Israeli airstrikes against suspected Hezbollah-related targets inside Syria, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has threatened wider war with the State of Israel, stating its intention to fire Scud missiles, and specifically target the Israeli city of Haifa. Israel responded by stating that any such actions by the Assad regime, or attacks on its aircraft, will cause Israel to "annihilate" Syrian air defense systems. (The Times of Israel) Sinai insurgency A roadside bomb kills four Egyptian Army soldiers near the town of Arish, North Sinai Governorate. (Reuters) A vehicle mounts the pavement and runs into pedestrians in Islington, London, injuring 4. The teenage perpetrators are found carrying offensive weapons, but are not assumed to be terrorists. (BBC) Arts and culture The Driehaus Architecture Prize for New Classical architecture is awarded to Robert Adam in Chicago. (The Architect's Newspaper) Disasters and accidents A 45-meter long escalator at Langham Place in Hong Kong malfunctions injuring at least 18 people. (RT) International relations European Union leaders gather in Rome to mark 60 years since the Treaty of Rome was signed. (BBC) The UK-US air travel ban on laptops and other electronic devices in the passenger cabin comes into effect. (BBC) China, Chile and Egypt lift their bans on importing meat from Brazil. (BBC) Politics and elections Northern Mali conflict The Coordination of Azawad Movements, a coalition of Tuareg groups, announce that they will boycott a peace conference scheduled next week on implementing a 2015 peace agreement saying it was "not sufficiently inclusive". (Al Jazeera) The UK Independence Party (UKIP)'s only MP, Douglas Carswell, quits the party to become an independent MP. (The Guardian) 2017 Belarusian protests Thousands of people protest in Minsk, Belarus, despite a ban on protests, against a so-called "social parasites" tax on the unemployed. (BBC) Sports 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament The first two places in the Final Four are decided. In the West Region in San Jose, California, Gonzaga defeats Xavier 83–59, advancing to the first Final Four in the program's history. (AP via ESPN) In the Midwest Region in Kansas City, Missouri, Oregon defeats Kansas 74–60, giving the Ducks their first Final Four appearance since winning the first NCAA Tournament in 1939. (AP via ESPN)

---

[Withdrawn] Yemeni President sentenced to death

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The President of Yemen, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi is sentenced to death in absentia by the court in Sana'a. (Post)
News source(s): Reuters, Xinhua
Credits:

• Nominated by Brandmeister (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: From what I see Houthis are currently running the show in the country, but could be a kangaroo court. Brandmeister^talk 07:54, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

• Meah, civil war stuff. Nergaal (talk) 08:16, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose as non-story—this is just a symbolic piece of posturing by the Houthi rebels (the Aden government is the internationally-recognised one, even by countries which are politically opposed to it). Since there's no possibility they'll ever be in a position to carry it out, this doesn't have any more significance than the death sentences they pass on the leaders of the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia. ‑ Iridescent 08:53, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose per aboves. -- KTC (talk) 09:24, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose. Means little unless they 1)are the legitimate government and 2) can actually carry it out. 331dot (talk) 09:35, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose per aboves. It is a biased court. --Panam2014 (talk) 13:54, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Fair enough, kangaroo court it is. Withdrawn. Brandmeister^talk 15:23, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 24

Portal:Current events/2017 March 24

March 24, 2017 (2017-03-24) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks Insurgency in the North Caucasus Six Chechen soldiers, along with six militants, are killed in a nighttime attack on a Russian National Guard base in Chechnya. (BBC) War in Afghanistan (2001–present) Russian Special Envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov denies allegations by NATO Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti that Russia was "perhaps" supplying the Taliban. (BBC) A suicide bomber blows himself up at a checkpoint at Shahjalal International Airport, Bangladesh, with no other casualties reported. (Reuters) On Friday night a man begins to shoot in a Lille Metro station in Lille, France. Three people are injured, including being shot in the leg and neck. The gunman is not thought to be a terrorist, and is still on the run. (The Independent) Disasters and accidents Proactiva notes the finding of five corpses the Libyan coast; these were floating near two capsized boats which could each hold more than 100 people. (BBC) International relations France–Russia relations French National Front presidential candidate Marine Le Pen meets with Russian president Vladimir Putin and afterwards urges that European Union sanctions on Russia be lifted. (BBC) Law and crime Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is released from detention in Cairo. (AFP) The Gambia's justice minister Abubacarr Tambadou states that the country will establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission "within the next six months" to investigate allegations of abuse dating from the time of former President Yahya Jammeh. According to Tambadou, public hearings are scheduled to get underway by year's end. (BBC) Imprisoned former Congolese warlord Germain Katanga is ordered by the International Criminal Court to pay reparations to some of his victims in the first such ruling by the court. (BBC) Politics and elections United States President Donald Trump approves the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. (CNN) 2017 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act replacement proposals The replacement plan for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) is withdrawn after Republican leaders fail to gain enough support. The failure of the Trump administration to repeal the act means it will remain law in the United States. (BBC) Gilmar Pisas is sworn in as Prime Minister of Curaçao. (The Curaçao Chronicle) Science and technology NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet take a spacewalk outside of the International Space Station to prepare the vessel for new arrivals. (Space.com)

---

[Closed] Hosni Mubarak freed

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Hosni Mubarak (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Former Egyptian prime minister Hosni Mubarak is freed after the Court of Cassation cleared him over the deaths of protesters in the Egyptian revolution of 2011. (Post)
News source(s): [11] [12]
Credits:

• Nominated by Banedon (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Alligators1974 (talk · give credit) and Richard-of-Earth (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: Technically, he was cleared on 2 March, but only just released now. Banedon (talk) 02:24, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose - Because it is stale now Sherenk1 (talk) 05:49, 27 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose stale. The Rambling Man (talk) 08:27, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Closed] American Health Care Act of 2017

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: American Health Care Act of 2017 (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The United States House of Representatives fails to pass U.S. President Donald Trump's American Health Care Act of 2017. (Post)
News source(s): https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/us/politics/health-care-affordable-care-act.html
Credits:

• Nominated by Brian Everlasting (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: huge news in U.S. politics Brian Everlasting (talk) 23:37, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• Strongest oppose A bill that didn't even get voted on. Let's not get sucked into the 24-hour news cycle. – Muboshgu (talk) 23:47, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• Strongest oppose Status quo remains. Additionally, I'm sure this is not the end of story, as the bill could go back to committee discussions, etc. --MASEM (t) 23:49, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
  • It sounds like they're going to move on to other business for the time being, but yes, there's still 3 years and 10 months (shudder) left in this presidency. Barring really good news. – Muboshgu (talk) 23:57, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• STRONGEST POSSIBLE OPPOSE This is a severe case of USA bias, if you ask me. This has no place on ITN. If Uzbekistan (or any other country not the USA or Britain) canceled the voting on of a healthcare bill to repeal the plan of the ex-president, would it be nominated to ITN? Heck no, and the same applies to this. -A lad insane (Channel 2) 00:03, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 23

Portal:Current events/2017 March 23

March 23, 2017 (2017-03-23) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2017 Westminster attack Authorities arrest at least eight people in connection with yesterday's attack. (Fox News) London's Metropolitan Police Service announces that the attacker is British-born Khalid Masood, previously questioned by British authorities for connections to terrorism. (Reuters) The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claims responsibility. (The Telegraph) A former Ukrainian soldier assassinates former Russian Duma deputy Denis Voronenkov in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. In December 2016, he received Ukrainian citizenship. Ilya Ponomarev says Voronenkov was heading to a meeting with him. (The Moscow Times) War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Taliban insurgents seize control of the strategic town of Sangin in the southern Helmand Province after a year-long battle with Afghan security forces. (BBC) 2017 Antwerp attack A man drives into a crowd of pedestrians in Antwerp, Belgium, injuring several people. Police arrest the man, who is believed to be North African born and living in France. (The New York Times) Arts and culture The American city of Fort Collins, Colorado, announces its intention to appeal a federal judge's ruling that blocked the city’s ban on women appearing topless in public. (USA Today via MSN) Cardinal William Henry Keeler, who was Archbishop of Baltimore from 1989 to 2007, dies at the age of 86. At the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), he served as the moderator for Catholic-Jewish relations as well as the Chair for the Bishops’ Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs between 1984 and 1987. (Catholic News Agency) Disasters and accidents A series of explosions on a military base near the Ukrainian city of Balakliya forces thousands to be evacuated from their homes. (BBC) Sinking of MV Sewol The South Korean government raises the wreckage of the MV Sewol from the sea near the South Korean island of Donggeochado. The ferry sank in April 2014, killing 304 people. (BBC) Politics and elections American Health Care Act of 2017 The United States House of Representatives approaches a vote on a replacement plan for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). (CNN) The U.S. House postpones the vote due to a lack of support and slow progress in dealmaking. (CNN) Science and environment The night parrot is confirmed sighted (and photographed) in Western Australia for first time in nearly 100 years. (The Guardian)

---

[Posted] RD: William H. Keeler

Article: William H. Keeler (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Washington Post
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 11:18, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support RD, refs seem more than adequate. - Smerdis of Tlön - killing the human spirit since 2003! 20:03, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support All sourcing seems to be in order and sufficient for front page. --MASEM (t) 23:50, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• Weak support refs could use a serious overhaul, but nothing overtly problematic. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:26, 25 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Sourcing looks good, and no other obvious issues. Reach Out to the Truth 22:46, 25 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose No reason given for nominating the subject. μηδείς (talk) 22:58, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

  Per the template: "Per this RFC and further discussion, the nomination of any individual human, animal or other biological organism with a standalone Wikipedia article whose recent death is in the news is presumed to be important enough to post. Discussion should focus only on the quality of the article. See also WP:ITNRD." The Rambling Man (talk) 22:06, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Stephen 11:10, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted as blurb] Denis Voronenkov

Article: Denis Voronenkov (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination
Blurb:  Former Russian MP and critic of the Russian government Denis Voronenkov is murdered in Kiev. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ Former Russian MP and government critic Denis Voronenkov is shot to death in Kiev.
Alternative blurb II: ​ Government critic and former Russian MP Denis Voronenkov is shot to death in Kiev.
News source(s): The Guardian, BBC, Reuters
Credits:

• Nominated by Ad Orientem (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Former Russian MP living in exile assassinated in Kiev. Article is a bit short but appears to be adequately sourced. Ad Orientem (talk) 14:06, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support blurb - A political assassination, as this looks very much like, has a strong case for being a blurb. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 14:16, 23 March 2017 (UTC),
• Support, and have been expanding the article and providing sources. Yakikaki (talk) 14:22, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Wait, but Support - regardless if it was state-sponsored assassination or just a random shooter, the death warrants a blurb. CNN reports that they have the potential suspect in custody in a hospital, so I would assume that in a few hours we will have a clearer picture how "motivated" this attack was. The target article seems in good shape but obviously should be updated if new info becomes available. --MASEM (t) 14:30, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Update: The attacker has now died in hospital and the police say they believe he was a hired killed with a Ukrainian passport. I've updated the article. My bet is that's all clarity we will ever get. The Ukrainians will keep blaming Russia and the Russians will keep claiming that's absurd. In perpetuity. Yakikaki (talk) 15:35, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Sounds likely. The blurb I suggested avoids using the term "assassinated", but includes the political background that makes this story particularly notable. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 16:23, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• I'll support leaving it as "murdered", with obvious consideration that if it is determined an assassination, that can be changed. --MASEM (t) 17:18, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support for blurb per above. 45.116.232.22 (talk) 14:33, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb Quite a few Putin critics have been experiencing some bad fortune of late. For instance, Vladimir Vladimirovich Kara-Murza and Nikolai Gorokhov. – Muboshgu (talk) 17:37, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose as written. Was he a Russian critic? Yes. Was he murdered on the orders of Moscow? Very possibly. But it is not the job of Wikipedia to insinuate things that have not been proved. RD only at the moment, please. We're not a tabloid newspaper. Black Kite (talk) 18:56, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Agree that the blurb should not include the "critic" part to imply that's why he was murdered. --MASEM (t) 21:06, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose blurb - Former MP. Not current. And he's no Mandela or Thatcher.--WaltCip (talk) 19:49, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Justification for the blurb is not based particularly on the prominence of the individual, but on the violent, sudden and politically important nature of the event of his death. --LukeSurl ^{t c}

• Not the point - the blurb as written is suggesting something that is not proven. Is he worthy of an RD? Yes. If he had been run over by a bus would he be worthy of a blurb? No. If he had definitely been assassinated on the orders of Moscow would it be blurb-worthy? Possibly. Do we have that proof? No. Black Kite (talk) 20:43, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Can we proceed on the assumption that there are no objections to RD while we sort out the blurb? FTR I am not wild about a blurb for the reasons noted in the two previous comments. -Ad Orientem (talk) 19:54, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Fine to post an RD, the article is OK. Black Kite (talk) 20:43, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support blurb, but weak. Since the man was not supper noticeable I do support the blurb more for refreshing Wikipedia's homepage. (A more interesting blurb can always take this blurb's place.) Support from me for RD obviously. — Yulia Romero • Talk to me! 21:17, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Altblurb offered above. There's no doubt he was shot to death. (If that's not murder, what is?) However, suggest more than one source. Sca (talk) 21:26, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

See also Altblurb2, with different word order, above. Sca (talk) 21:36, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

Added two sources. Sca (talk) 21:57, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted to RD, may be escalated to a full blurb after further discussion. Stephen 01:31, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• Weak support blurb - timing is unfortunate since it's right after the London attack, which is still dominating news and is likely to keep doing so for a while longer, thereby keeping coverage of this down. Still, it is a political assassination which isn't a common thing. If the Kim Jong Nam assassination was anything to go by this might continue to be reported in the media for weeks to come. Weak support for now, and if it stays in the news (even against competition from the London attack) I'll switch to full support. Banedon (talk) 02:14, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

I agree London aftermath will be a story for some time, but I'd like to see a Voronenkov blurb out there soon, as his death is likely to drop off the radar much more quickly. Sca (talk) 14:51, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

That's a reason to not post this as a blurb in my opinion. Banedon (talk) 01:03, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

• Time to close or post? I think this discussion has gone on long enough. Let's either post this or close the discussion and move on. -Ad Orientem (talk) 17:31, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment what makes that image fair use? The Rambling Man (talk) 20:28, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

What image? -Ad Orientem (talk) 20:39, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

File:Denis Voronenkov.jpg. We don't usually allow fair use images literally moments after the death. Six months is considered standard. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:45, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Good question and I don't know. The article talk page is probably a better place for that question. But absent a good explanation it might well be nominated for deletion. -Ad Orientem (talk) 20:49, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

It's becoming more and more commonplace, without regard to the individual or the likelihood of obtaining a free image of the recently deceased. In most cases there's absolutely no excuse for not trying to get a free image, and in the meantime, non-free images should be discouraged. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:45, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

The pic isn't essential to posting blurb. Sca (talk) 00:40, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Note: I've formally disputed the fair use rationale for the image. 08:31, 25 March 2017 (UTC)

Preceding comment posted by Thryduulf.

• This really needs attention from an uninvolved admin. Either way is not a big deal to me, but let's post this or close the discussion. -Ad Orientem (talk) 00:52, 25 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted as a blurb. Spencer^T♦C 18:08, 25 March 2017 (UTC)
• I think you misspelled his name in the posted blurb, should be Denis not Denys. 45.116.232.21 (talk) 05:25, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose/Remove. Recent Death maybe, Blurb certainly not. This politician was certainly not known internationally, and a blurb is undeserved, unless Wikipedia wants to insinuate he was murdered by Russia, which is nothing but a rumour that they deny. Bear in mind that if American businessmen who disagree with Trump get murdered/killed, the Russian media could start spreading similarly absurd rumours. The bottom line is, he may have been murdered because of bad business deals. Hence we may have a blurb about an obscure Russian politician who was murdered over bad business deals. Who cares?Zigzig20s (talk) 22:01, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

March 22

Portal:Current events/2017 March 22

March 22, 2017 (2017-03-22) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2017 Westminster attack An attacker carries out a vehicle-ramming attack outside the Houses of Parliament in London, before stabbing a police officer and subsequently being shot by security forces. Including the attacker, there are at least four people dead. (BBC) (Sky News) (Fox News) Syrian Civil War Raqqa campaign (2016–2017) A U.S.-led coalition airstrike on a school west of Raqqa, kills at least 33 people. (The Guardian) Syrian rebels, led by Tahrir al-Sham, launch an offensive in the Hama Governorate, capturing the towns of Suran, Khitab and Al-Majdal. (Reuters) Boko Haram insurgency 2017 Maiduguri attack Multiple suicide blasts occur at a refugee camp near Maiduguri, Nigeria, leaving eight people dead and wounding 18 others. (Al Jazeera) (All Africa) An Israeli Army tank kills a Palestinian teenager and wounds two others near the Gaza border. (The Jerusalem Post) March 2017 Israel–Syria incident The Israeli Air Force resumes bombing against suspected Hezbollah-related targets in Syria, with a fourth round of bombings occurring near military sites near Damascus. (The Financial Times) Arts and culture Near the town of Ramle, Israeli archeologists uncover hundreds of gin and whiskey bottles dating back to the First World War at the site of a former British Army barracks. (The Guardian) Eurovision Song Contest 2017, Russia–Ukraine relations The Security Service of Ukraine bans Yuliya Samoylova, Russia's entrant in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, from entering the country. This follows allegations that she had toured in Crimea following its annexation by Russia. (The Washington Post) International relations North Korea and weapons of mass destruction According to South Korean and United States officials, a missile test in North Korea ends in failure, with the missile exploding seconds after launch. (Al Jazeera) Law and crime Former Congolese Vice President and warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, sentenced last year by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to 18 years in prison for war crimes, is given an additional 12 months and fined 300,000 euros for bribing witnesses during an earlier ICC trial. The court also handed jail terms and fines for alleged interference in his trial to members of his legal team. (The Guardian) A series of shootings in Rothschild, Wisconsin, leave at least four people dead, including a police officer. (WTOP) A jury acquits the former head of the now-closed Massachusetts pharmacy, New England Compounding Center, Barry Cadden, on 25 counts of second-degree murder but convicts him of racketeering and other crimes in a meningitis outbreak that was traced to fungus-contaminated drugs and killed 64 people across the country. Cadden disregarded sanitary conditions to boost production and make more money. (Boston.com) Sports 2017 World Baseball Classic In the final, the United States defeats Puerto Rico 8–0 to claim its first title in the event. Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, who threw six hitless innings in the final for Team USA, is named tournament MVP. (AP via ESPN)

---

[Posted] International Cloud Atlas

Articles: International Cloud Atlas (talk · history · tag) and World Meteorological Organization (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The World Meteorological Organization adds twelve new cloud types to the International Cloud Atlas, the first update to the official cloud classification scheme since 1986. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ The World Meteorological Organization adds twelve new cloud types to the International Cloud Atlas (volutus pictured), the first update to the official cloud classification scheme since 1986.
News source(s): https://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/cloud-atlas-leaps-into-21st-century-with-12-new-cloud-types/80685/
Credits:

• Nominated by 207.107.159.62 (talk · give credit)

Article updated

 207.107.159.62 (talk) 07:30, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• Currently the only mention of this in International Cloud Atlas is "The 2017 edition of the atlas is available online" in the Later editions section. This is a type of ITNC item where the update to the article makes a stronger case than anything that can be written here. Please add a paragraph or two to International Cloud Atlas and then editors here can make a more informed assessment of whether an ITN posting would be justified. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 10:38, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
•  Done. [13] 207.107.159.62 (talk) 11:31, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• I'm interested in supporting this, but I would like to see a tad more news coverage shown, especially in some more general media. 331dot (talk) 11:33, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• BBC. Support - any chance of an image of one of the more interesting new ones? Not Contrails obvs, no need to get the lunatic fringe worrying ;) Only in death does duty end (talk) 12:39, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• That works for me. Support. 331dot (talk) 12:40, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• Great idea Only in death! Plenty of options for a good picture here. I've added a couple in this section of the article. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 13:47, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support Sounds interesting and newsworthy from an encyclopedic point of view. News pertaining to scientific extensions (similarly to scientific discoveries) should find their place on the main page.--Kiril Simeonovski (talk) 12:31, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• I'd support this but @Cyclonebiskit: for expert opinion first. Banedon (talk) 13:24, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• I'd support this, but some of the info is contradictory. This cited source says there are 12 new cloud types, but the text of the article says 11 new "formations". The article also currently says "Its modifications comprised the following" and then lists only 7 cloud types. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 13:27, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• I've figured out what's going on here (and learnt a bit about meteorological classification, hooray!). I've edited the article accordingly, hopefully adding a bit of clarity, and am now happy to support posting to ITN. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 13:38, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• This needs some sort of pictures for the update to be considered sufficient. Nergaal (talk) 16:24, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• International Cloud Atlas#2017 Edition has two pictures of the newly named clouds, and more could easily added but two is probably sensible for layout reasons. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 18:38, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

Let me clarify my point: without pictures, the update is meaningless to any non-specialist. Nergaal (talk) 23:50, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

"they have also added one new "species" - the volutus, or roll-cloud"

• Support I read this item on the BBC the other day and thought then that it was excellent. We have plenty of pictures available. For example, the volutus (pictured) is now recognised by the WMO as a new species of cloud. "Truth is stranger than fiction". Andrew D. (talk) 21:54, 25 March 2017 (UTC)
• Okay, I've suggested an alternative blurb with the picture of volutus, or we can also use Asperitas as it's a nice one. The article looks about ready. I don't like red links, so can someone help redirect International Meteorological Committee to International Meteorological Organization (i.e. WMO's precursor) in the main article? I think a redirect is better because there's not that much info about the IMC to mandate an article separate from the IMO; the connection is mentioned within IMO. If any of our auxiliary articles require more referencing, I'd be happy to help supply that (but I am quite busy with some thesis work; other than that, good references for arcus clouds are very abundant). If nobody objects, I'd like to mark this [Ready]. 207.107.159.62 (talk) 10:08, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 11:36, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Post Posting Comment That image is really outstanding. It might be a viable candidate for Featured Image if anyone were to nominate it. -Ad Orientem (talk) 15:52, 26 March 2017 (UTC)
• Post-posting comment. It does look great! I noticed the red links in the article. We already have articles on most of those, except for the -genitus type clouds. You can see them in my Special:Contributions. For example, Cauda is in Wall cloud#Associated features (here). We can create redirects from each of those red links (again, because I'm IP and I don't like red links). But all the other ones already have articles; it may make more sense to let those be moved around to new titles and developed from here, if Wikipedia community deems it beneficial. Thanks. 207.107.159.62 (talk) 21:14, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Dallas Green

Article: Dallas Green (baseball) (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): Philly.com, Chicago Tribune, ESPN
Credits:

• Nominated by Muboshgu (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: It's not up to snuff yet, but I can get it there today. Now I think it's ready. Let me know. – Muboshgu (talk) 17:17, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support Looks fine to me - nice work. Black Kite (talk) 18:27, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support article quality is good. Lepricavark (talk) 18:34, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Thanks. Marking ready then. – Muboshgu (talk) 22:22, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted -Ad Orientem (talk) 00:13, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

2017 Maiduguri attack

Article: 2017 Maiduguri attack (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ At least 8 people killed and 20 injured in a series of bombings in Maiduguri, Nigeria. (Post)
News source(s): http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/multiple-bomb-blasts-rock-nigeria-maiduguri-170322074812422.html
Credits:

• Nominated by Gfcvoice (talk · give credit)

 Gfcvoice (talk) 04:45, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose for now. Article is currently (as of my writing) a stub which contains little more information than is already in the proposed blurb. When article is expanded, I will re-assess. --Jayron32 04:47, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - On quality - Article is stub but subject is more than notable. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 10:07, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose stub and lack of in depth coverage.Alexplaugh12 (talk) 11:59, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• @Alexplaugh12: - Please sign your comment next time using ~~~~. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 11:57, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Ok, thanks.Alexplaugh12 (talk) 12:02, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose due to article quality and lack of demonstrated news coverage. I'm also concerned about the merits as Boko Haram attacks are not infrequent in Nigeria, but I wouldn't stand in the way of posting if the article quality and news coverage issues are resolved, since we aren't loaded down with such postings. 331dot (talk) 12:05, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] 2017 World Baseball Classic – Championship

Article: 2017 World Baseball Classic – Championship (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The United States defeats Puerto Rico to win the World Baseball Classic. (Post)
News source(s): MLB.com, NYT
Credits:

• Nominated by Muboshgu (talk · give credit)

Article updated
The nominated event is listed on WP:ITN/R, so each occurrence is presumed to be important enough to post. Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article and update meet WP:ITNCRIT, not the significance.

Nominator's comments: The championship game is starting as I post this. The article is up to date except for the game that hasn't happened yet. Any feedback on problems is appreciated. – Muboshgu (talk) 01:03, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

• Withholding assessment until a prose synopsis of championship game is available to be assessed. The current article has minimal summaries of other games, so I am hopeful, but I will not assess until article is in a state to be assessed. --Jayron32 01:09, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
  • I plan on writing a similar summary for the championship game before I go to bed tonight. – Muboshgu (talk) 01:11, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
    • When you do, let us know. Asking us to assess something which does not yet exist seems a bit presumptuous... --Jayron32 02:06, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
      • I was asking you to assess what's already there. – Muboshgu (talk) 03:38, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
        • But what good would that do? The blurb isn't about the semi-final game results, is it? Just post the nomination when you're done with the article; it will save everyone the need from having to assess it twice. --Jayron32 03:52, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
          • It would tell me if anything in the article needed to be fixed. – Muboshgu (talk) 04:55, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Game's over USA! USA! – Muboshgu (talk) 04:55, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• I'm taking the liberty of marking this ready since it's ITN/R, I've made the updates, and nobody is objecting to anything. – Muboshgu (talk) 15:22, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted. Spencer^T♦C 16:04, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] 2017 Westminster attack

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: 2017 Westminster attack (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ A man is shot at the Palace of Westminster and numerous civilians are struck by a vehicle on Westminster Bridge in separate attacks in London. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ A man is shot at the Palace of Westminster and numerous civilians are struck by a vehicle on Westminster Bridge in what is being treated as a terrorist attack in London.
News source(s): BBC, Reuters, AP, Yahoo News
Credits:

• Nominated by The Rambling Man (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: Ongoing.... The Rambling Man (talk) 15:35, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• support - major incident. involving even the Prime Minister. Even if death toll might be low if any.--BabbaQ (talk) 15:37, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Shootings never happen in that country.--WaltCip (talk) 15:39, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support (when the article is ready) - passes the Le Monde and New York Times test. It's their lead story. Clearly worldwide news!  — Amakuru (talk) 15:41, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support upon an adequate update. Seems to be a terrorist incident. 331dot (talk) 15:43, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Although, not sure it should be described as "separate attacks": it looks like part and parcel of the same thing (at the moment, at least). - The Bounder (talk) 15:50, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Wait until the dust sets. In the grand scheme of evil things so fair looks like a minor incident. Brandmeister^talk 15:44, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• The way the fog of war on these stories work, we might not know all the details until a week from now.--WaltCip (talk) 15:45, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Not to mention this is not Eastern Europe, the Middle East, or the United States. Attacks like this are extraordinarily rare in the UK. The Rambling Man (talk) 15:47, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support but wait until developing story becomes clearer. (At this moment Reuters seems a little more current.) Sca (talk) 15:45, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• I'll say Wait until more is clear. Will probably support once that happens. -- KTC (talk) 15:46, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• I'm pretty skeptical. This could evolve into something similar to the attack in Nice, but there's no confirmation whether it's an actual terror attack. It's just being treated as one. Article quality isn't great either. Dat Guy^Talk_Contribs 15:47, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  I'm not sure what about a man stabbing a policeman at the Houses of Parliament while another simultaneously mows down civilians on the bridge isn't a "terror attack". The Rambling Man (talk) 15:48, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  In a broadway, it's considered terrorism. Also, just wondering, there are different reports of stabbing, manslaughter (is that the right word?), and gunshots. How many are confirmed? Dat Guy^Talk_Contribs 15:53, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  Stabbing, the car running down multiple people and gunshots have all been confirmed. - The Bounder (talk) 15:55, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Sky News reports that police have labelled it a "Terrorist attack". But I guess waiting is better.BabbaQ (talk) 15:52, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. The police have confirmed it is being treated as a terrorist attack.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 15:54, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

Gunman shot dead, says Yahoo News. Sca (talk) 15:57, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support as per statements above. Midnightblueowl (talk) 15:58, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Wait for at least an hour or two so the article can settle down. The emergency services are still responding. Modest Genius ^talk 16:00, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support when updated - No accurate numbers are available yet so definitely not ready for posting. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 16:08, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Wait for reasons discussed above. Also, think about the blurb. The picture emerging from reports is that the man who was shot was shot by police as they attempted to assault people with a knife. Current blurb implies the shooting was done by an attacker. Also, it appears that this was the same person as drove the car that hit the pedestrians so "separate attacks" is probably misleading/false. Still unclear however. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 16:09, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted -Ad Orientem (talk) 16:11, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• FYI When I posted this I boldly tweaked the blurb to avoid details that are less than clear right now with the expectation that it will be updated as more information becomes available. -Ad Orientem (talk) 16:25, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment - Posting a blurb this quickly about circumstances that are still fluid goes against the prevailing arguments that ITN should only showcase the highest quality articles. This is not a complaint, but a note of encouragement. If we are finally accepting that what goes into the ITN box should be timely and in service to readers looking for the latest Wikipedia articles related the current news cycle, this is a good thing. -- Fuzheado | Talk 16:28, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Due to how quickly information can change, recently developing events are generally subject to more nebulous standards of quality than are predictable, routine events like the Academy Awards, the Boat Race, or some other sporting event.--WaltCip (talk) 16:32, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Wait until some actual concrete information is available. I am watching the feed on BBC news; Wikipedia should only sum up final events. It might be the article becomes an FA, it might be deleted in two weeks per WP:NOTNEWS. We just don't know right now. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 16:34, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  Well, we know a car was driven by an individual into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, crashed shortly afterwards, the occupant then ran into the Palace of Westminster, stabbed a policeman and was shot to death. So that's not going to be NOTNEWS, ever. The Rambling Man (talk) 16:36, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

Its unclear at the moment (if you follow the BBC's live updates) if the stabber and the driver are the same person. Looks like they have decided its one person. Only in death does duty end (talk) 16:39, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

The police have read a statement saying that safety is the prior concern, full facts will come out in due course, and it is better to wait and be factually correct than to speculate and be factually wrong. That's good enough for me. Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 17:09, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support per Fuzheado. It makes me very happy to see how far attitudes at ITN have come since last July with major unexpected events like this. :-) We're here for readers, and they're coming to us whether or not the articles are ready. All that being said, this is still a stub article, which violates ITN's guidelines—so it's very interesting to see some of the people above supporting it for the main page (especially The Rambling Man, after this and all of his desire for quality on the main page). Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 16:38, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Wikipedians coming closer together through mass stabbings and ramming attacks! /s. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 16:41, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• The ed17 I didn't support it, I nominated it. And I didn't say it was ready. Please correct your false assertion and redact your attempt to drag me down once again. The Rambling Man (talk) 16:57, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Clearly you're opposed to having a stub on the main page. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 17:11, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• I respectfully request that you now drop the stick, acknowledge that I have not uttered a word about the article quality, and resist the temptation to continue to bait me, you're an admin and you should know better than that. If you wish me to pursue a IBAN, that will be fine, then you can spend your time productively rather than attempting to reignite arguments with me when you know I can't respond in kind, without one of your cadre interpreting it in such a way as to ban me from the site. Thanks. The Rambling Man (talk) 18:02, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• @The ed17: One more comment of this nature and I will place the i-ban myself. You have been around long enough to know that WP:BAITING is not acceptable behaviour. Thryduulf (talk) 18:18, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• The blurb at present says "A man is shot at the Palace of Westminster...". While that is literally correct, it implies to someone unfamiliar with the story that the shooting was the attack, rather than the police response to it. Suggest change to "A man is shot by police at the Palace of Westminster..." --LukeSurl ^{t c} 17:01, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

Suggest also that is being treated as be changed to was. Sca (talk) 17:39, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

Three sources, Guardian, Spiegel (German) and Zeit (German), say a woman was killed. Sca (talk) 17:49, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Compare 2016 Normandy church attack which was not posted. One reason for that was that the 2016 Ansbach bombing wasn't posted either. There doesn't seem to be any consistency in the treatment of these incidents. Andrew D. (talk) 17:52, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose Just some random vehicle-ramming and stabbing. It isn't even declared as a terrorist attack as yet. Just some deranged person on about things. Its not a ITN material. Does 2 deaths in the West carry more weight-age than 20 in the East? mfarazbaig —Preceding undated comment added 18:02, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Now four deaths, and everything else you say is factually incorrect. It has been officially a terrorist incident for several hours already, and I believe this is the first vehicle-ramming and knife attack in the United Kingdom since the Murder of Lee Rigby in May 2013. It is major news in many countries. If this had happened in an eastern country that is not (effectively) a war zone then there is good chance it would also have been posted. Thryduulf (talk) 18:14, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Indeed, latest update from the Metropolitan Police was 4 dead and 20 injured. The examples of not-posted-but-similar-incidents provided by User:Andrew Davidson don't seem to involve this level of fatality, this significance in location (the Houses of Parliament and environs of the United Kingdom), &c. &c. so it's apples and pears. The Rambling Man (talk) 18:23, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
  • I'm not sure it has been officially confirmed that it's a terrorist incident just yet. - The Bounder (talk) 18:25, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
    • No, the police have been careful to say they're "treating it as a terror attack" and did so pretty much right from the start. They're no idiots.... The Rambling Man (talk) 18:28, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

Indeed. Even if it turns out eventually to not be terror related, treating it as if it is is absolutely the correct thing to do - the idea is to send a very strong message to other terrorists saying "don't even think about it". Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 18:36, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• • I suspect you only have to look at this editor's history at ITNC to see why they are whining about this (and other stories) being posted. Black Kite (talk) 18:27, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

It's ITN because it's London, it's Parliament, and it looks like terrorism. The number of victims isn't the key factor. Sca (talk) 18:35, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment "3 people as well as the perpetrator" would been a better description. I read "At least four people are killed" as being people killed in the attack, not as 3 being killed in the attack and the perpetrator as a result of it. It wasn't an accident like a landslide. --Inops (talk) 19:08, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Best to avoid exact numbers entirely, as they inevitably end up out of date. Just say 'several people, including an attacker'. Pinging @There'sNoTime: who added the current number. Modest Genius ^talk 19:43, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - There are far more deadly terrorist attacks throughout the world on a weekly basis. The only reason this one is getting so much media coverage is because it happened in London. Do we want to perpetuate the biases of the media (and our own biases) or act as a neutral world-wide news source? Personally, I prefer the later. Kaldari (talk) 21:13, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  Are you suggesting this isn't in the news? Are you suggesting English-language readers won't be coming here to find out about this story? Do you not think this is working to demonstrate Wikipedia as a dynamic source? The Rambling Man (talk) 21:17, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  @The Rambling Man: I agree it is "in the news", but so is the terrorist attack that happened in Nigeria today that killed 8 people. It just seems really biased that we focus on one and ignore the other, but I suppose we are only reflecting the biases of the media and I should get used to it. Kaldari (talk) 21:42, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  Did you nominate the terrorist attack in Nigeria at ITNC? The Rambling Man (talk) 21:51, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  No, because I don't think it's especially notable either. Small terrorist attacks are common-place on a global scale (i.e. the scale of Wikipedia). Kaldari (talk) 22:00, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  But terrorist attacks, small or otherwise, are clearly not common-place in the UK, especially just outside Parliament. Equally, this attack is in the news pretty much all over the world. Hence the title of this page. Black Kite (talk) 22:03, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  With all due respect, it's very simple to complain about the status quo be it here at ITNC or any other part of Wikipedia. But to actually change it requires some effort, e.g. nominating other articles for inclusion on the main page, working up some niche articles to a high standard to make it difficult to turn them away, to make convincing arguments as to why a terror attack being reported globally that took place at the heart of London shouldn't be posted, just because you haven't nominated one about an attack in Nigeria. Until then, and until more people are active in addressing these perceived biases, nothing will change. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:10, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Post-posting support — Highly unusual attack in the United Kingdom and in a high-profile area. Given circumstances I feel this is worth maintaining on ITN. Had it been in a more terrorist attack-prone nation, this likely would not pass the bar. ~ Cyclonebiskit (chat) 22:08, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  Don't forget, the British Isles had been subject to terrorism from the IRA for decades, with thousands killed in the process. Although that was a couple of decades ago, some of us still remember those days clearly. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:11, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  I think that if the Troubles were still going on today, they'd most likely be in the 'Ongoing'. I think that an IRA 'terrorist attack' (in quotes because of my differing political opinion) would not receive the same treatment as an Islamic terrorist attack because Northern Ireland is part of the U.K., making it domestic terrorism. I wouldn't give it the same treatment, for an array of reasons (which I will not get into, because I don't want to start a political argument), and I'm sure others would as well. Just adding my 2¢. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 22:28, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  The point is that the UK isn't a stranger to terrorist attacks on its soil, it happened frequently and for years and years. Perhaps that's why we're so stoic and just crack on with life. That and the Blitz etc. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:34, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Post-posting Support - problem with this is that the death toll is pretty low, so it can set a dangerous precedent. This is counterbalanced by the fact that the UK is a great power + the attack is occurring outside UK parliament. This event will probably be covered by most newspapers worldwide for quite a while. I will support this, but point out that next time we should not judge any such blurb by body count. Banedon (talk) 23:40, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

RD: Ronnie Moran

Article: Ronnie Moran (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): BBC
Credits:

• Nominated by The Rambling Man (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Liverpool F.C. legend. The Rambling Man (talk) 10:13, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose for now due to inadequate sourcing. There are no references at all for his playing career.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 14:00, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose woefully underreferenced, ironic given that the nominator is usually the one to note such things themselves. If TRM would get on that referencing, I would get on supporting this. --Jayron32 02:08, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

  It's not exclusively down to TRM to get on that referencing. I was surprised by the lack of interest in this given his stature at one the world's most significant football clubs. The Rambling Man (talk) 08:16, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

March 21

Portal:Current events/2017 March 21

March 21, 2017 (2017-03-21) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Citing security concerns because of recent terrorist activity, the American and British governments impose a ban affecting inbound-passengers flying from much of the Middle East and North Africa. The ban includes airplane cabin passenger-accessible items such as laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices which are larger than a smartphone. Larger such electronic devices will still be allowed on board in checked baggage which is thus more closely screened and passenger-inaccessible. (CNN) (BBC) War in Somalia A car bomb explodes at a checkpoint near the Villa Somalia, the President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed's official residence in Mogadishu, killing at least five people. (The Citizen) International relations Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Tasnim News Agency reports that, in a Nowruz speech, Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei said experts in his country can enrich uranium to 99 percent. ISNA reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is threatening to quit the Iran nuclear deal if the United States blocks Iran's version of the deal's implementation. (Kleine Zeitung) Law and crime In a 6–2 decision (NLRB v. SW General, Inc), the U.S. Supreme Court puts new restrictions on presidential powers, limiting a president's authority to staff certain top government posts in a case involving an appointment to the National Labor Relations Board saying that under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, a person cannot serve as the acting head of a federal agency once the president nominates him or her to permanently serve in the role if it is a position that requires U.S. Senate confirmation. The court upholds a lower court's ruling that then-President Barack Obama exceeded his legal authority with his temporary appointment of an NLRB general counsel in 2011. The ruling will give President Donald Trump and future presidents less flexibility in filling jobs that require Senate confirmation. (Reuters) Politics and elections Bruno Le Roux resigns as France's Minister of the Interior amid a jobs scandal involving two of his daughters. Using public funds, Bruno had hired his 15 and 16-year-old daughters as parliamentary assistants while he was serving as a deputy in the French National Assembly. (BBC) Sports In International professional baseball The United States defeats Japan 2–1 at Dodger Stadium to advance to the 2017 World Baseball Classic's final. This is the first time that the U.S. has done so in the tournament's 11-year history. (USA Today)

---

[Posted] Abel Prize

Articles: Yves Meyer (talk · history · tag) and Abel Prize (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ French mathematician Yves Meyer wins the Abel Prize for his work on the mathematical theory of wavelets. (Post)
News source(s): The Guardian
Credits:

• Nominated by The Rambling Man (talk · give credit)

One or both nominated events are listed on WP:ITN/R, so each occurrence is presumed to be important enough to post. Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article and update meet WP:ITNCRIT, not the significance.

 The Rambling Man (talk) 22:01, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose for now, only on the fact that while Meyer's article is sourced, it seems woefully absent any serious discussion of his academic contributions outside of the recognizition. I'm thinking a para or two to describe his research and why it is important. --MASEM (t) 22:21, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Interesting and unusual. Wikipedia needs more math.Zigzig20s (talk) 23:10, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• The blurb should say "French mathematician" since the Abel Prize is a mathematics prize. I don't understand why the article says "French scientist and mathematician" either, going to remove the word 'scientist' there. Banedon (talk) 00:52, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support but suggest that bolded article be changed to Abel Prize. There seems to be a wealth of prose on the DE version of the article, but I can't reliably translate from this.128.214.163.201 (talk) 09:03, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

  Per ITNR, "Unless otherwise noted, the winner of the prize is normally the target article." and it isn't otherwise noted here. The Rambling Man (talk) 09:10, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Meyer's article is indeed sourced but very short. An alternative might be to add an update to Wavelet#History and use that as the bold link. Modest Genius ^talk 14:44, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support The quality of the linked articles is quite poor but the key fact – that Meyer has won this prize – is indisputable and we should strike while the iron is hot. Andrew D. (talk) 08:47, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
  • ITN does not value timeliness over quality for a front page item. Meyer's article needs more details about his research, period. --MASEM (t) 13:40, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
    • The Westminster attack was posted about 90 minutes after it started and its article is still a work-in-progress. In this case, the wavelet article needs lots of work too - it has an orange cleanup tag, for example. It should get more attention now that it has been posted and that's a good thing. Andrew D. (talk) 09:04, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Definitely for ITN. Interesting.--BabbaQ (talk) 13:35, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 03:41, 24 March 2017 (UTC)
• Meyer's article is a pitiful stub with a mere footnote detailing the reason why he won this award. Most of his academic career and publications are unsourced. Is a bit sad this can pass muster at ITN but would be rejected DYK and pulled at OTD. Fuebaey (talk) 00:29, 26 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Colin Dexter

Article: Colin Dexter (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): BBC
Credits:

• Nominated by The Rambling Man (talk · give credit)
• Updated by The Bounder (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Needs a bit of work.... The Rambling Man (talk) 14:12, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak oppose: Needs more sourcing, once that gets out of the way then its a go for me. --TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 19:47, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose. Too many "citation needed" tags.Zigzig20s (talk) 23:11, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Zigzig20s, this has now been sorted, and the information is now either supported or removed. All the best, The Bounder (talk) 14:25, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• There is a additional citations tag on top of the article. Once the problem with sourcing is cleared up, then I will support. Capitalistroadster (talk) 03:50, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• As per Capitalistroadster - support once the sourcing is sorted. - The Bounder (talk) 09:37, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Refs now added where required and no tags remain on the article - The Bounder (talk) 11:00, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Looks good to be posted. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 13:55, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. Marked ready. Newyorkbrad (talk) 18:30, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted -Ad Orientem (talk) 19:57, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Martin McGuinness

Article: Martin McGuinness (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination
Blurb:  Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland politician, dies at the age of 66. (Blurb added by The Bounder (talk)) (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ Former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and chief Republican negotiator in the peace process Martin McGuinness dies aged 66.
Alternative blurb II: ​ Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin's chief negotiator in the Northern Ireland peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement, dies aged 66.
News source(s): BBC News
Credits:

• Nominated by Jolly Janner (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: I see no maintenance tags and article is updated. Jolly Ω Janner 06:28, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support with blurb Was edit conflicted in posting - The Bounder (talk) 06:31, 21 March 2017 (UTC) Added support for blurb. - The Bounder (talk) 11:09, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - a couple of minor cn's, but these shouldn't stop posting. Mjroots (talk) 06:46, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Better article than 99% at RD. Joseph2302 (talk) 07:07, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support good to go. The Rambling Man (talk) 07:17, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted. Black Kite (talk) 08:29, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb - I think this deserves a blurb. He was a major figure in both the IRA and the NI peace process. This is the top story in the UK (BBC, Guardian), and also on the main page of major worldwide online newspapers, that I've looked at:Frankfurter Allgemeine, Sydney Morning Herald, New York Times, Le Monde, CNN.  — Amakuru (talk) 10:32, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb. Major figure in the region; I think he was influential enough to merit a blurb. 331dot (talk) 10:40, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Suggested blurb added. - The Bounder (talk) 11:09, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb. Has been headline news all day even outside of NI. GRAPPLE ^X 11:43, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• We should give a little thought to the blurb. "Northern Ireland politician" is a little underwhelming. "Former deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland" is descriptive (note that due to the bizarre nature of Northern Ireland politics, the deputy First Minister and the First Minister are effectively the co-leaders of the province). "Former IRA leader" would be informative, though it is only verifiable that McGuinness was a leader rather than the leader. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 11:57, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

  I agree that we should mention IRA and deputy first minister roles in the hook. WJBscribe (talk) 12:30, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose blurb From what I can tell, his highest political position was Deputy First Minister of NI and he has already left office (if he were incumbent I probably would support it). He was an IRA leader, but I don't see how that distinguishes him from the leader(s) of the other innumerable terrorist/separatist groups around the world. Maybe I am missing it, but the article doesn't convince me that he is a world leader on the scale of Castro or even Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. EternalNomad (talk) 12:39, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• For what it's worth, "deputy" in this context is misleading. As First Minister and deputy First Minister discusses, these are equal offices. McGinness was probably more notable for his role as the chief Republican negotiator in the Northern Ireland peace process than his later governing. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 14:28, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose blurb - Comparable to death of Ian Paisley in September 2014 - we posted as an RD but there was never even a suggestion of a blurb in the discussion back then.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 13:17, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose blurb - Northern Ireland isn't even a country. Banedon (talk) 13:23, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Really. That's really your argument.--WaltCip (talk) 14:30, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Yes. See [14]. I quote: "with all due respect, she was not a world-transforming figure that merits a blurb"; the same applies here. Even if he did transform Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland isn't even a country let alone the "world", he was only one of two leaders of NI, and there've been lots of other terrorist / separatist group leaders (e.g. Chin Peng). If this ends up as a blurb I'll take it as a strong indication of pro-UK bias. Banedon (talk) 14:48, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

One of the architects of a peace plan that brought an end to an armed conflict that dates back to the 1960s (and arguably back to 1609), which needed involvement from the governments of the UK, USA, Ireland and those involved in the conflict? A conflict that was thought around the world to be as intractable as that of the Middle East, and you see this as evidence of a "pro-UK bias"? I suppose the excuse for posting Princess Leia was that she was a separatist group leader? – The Bounder (talk) 14:59, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

"One of the" is another dead giveaway that this should not be a blurb, since it indicates there are several others who are just as significant as he is. As for Princess Leia - her death not was not only reported, there were follow up articles like this and this, continuing for weeks after her death. These were obviously inspired by her death and went beyond mere "Carrier Fisher has died" news. That's not to say that pro-US bias does not occasionally surface in ITN, but pro-UK bias is stronger (this is not the only piece of evidence of pro-UK bias). Banedon (talk) 15:07, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Fisher? a decision to post a blurb was taken very quickly, certainly way before the claimed "continuing for weeks after her death" rationale you claim. - The Bounder (talk) 15:30, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

About 13 hours. The Rambling Man (talk) 15:31, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

As for "pro-UK bias" the way to address that is not to suppress UK related stories(and this goes beyond just the UK)> 331dot (talk) 15:35, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Maybe, but the way the news panned out vindicated the decision to post. And of course there were similar articles in the immediate aftermath of her death. Example. Banedon (talk) 01:43, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• Don't worry. I think that one's going to be quoted quite a bit in future. For example, when an ITN regarding, say, New York comes up. "New York's not even a country". Black Kite (talk) 19:55, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• One day I'll nominate my father's death for a blurb, on the grounds that he had "great influence" on the "politics of my family", and wait for someone to respond with "your family's not even a country". Banedon (talk) 01:45, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• (edit conflict) Support RD, oppose blurb. A significant figure in Northern Ireland, but nowhere near the global stature of Mandela or Thatcher, which should be the standard we apply. Paisley's RD is an exact precedent. Modest Genius ^talk 13:24, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

We just posted Chuck Berry. What do you mean global stature?--WaltCip (talk) 14:30, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

You'll notice I didn't !vote on that candidate, which was posted before I saw it. WP:OTHERSTUFFEXISTS Modest Genius ^talk 16:29, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support blurb there's a reson why this is headline news across the whole world. The Paisley example is false as that was before the RD RFC. We've already established that blurb thresholds are now comfortably lower than they used to be, this is an ideal candidate. The Rambling Man (talk) 13:26, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

  Precisely. Our guideline should be what sources are doing, not personal opinions or trying to compare to other cases. The RfC established the guidelines for how to do this, and for consistency we should stick to them.  — Amakuru (talk) 14:12, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

This isn't headline news across the whole world. You can find it if you look hard enough, but it's not headline news. For example in Malaysia, it's not even front page in the world section [15], let alone headline news [16]. For another example, take an Indian newspaper. World section, headline news. Banedon (talk) 15:07, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

You can cherry pick sources as much as you want, but please do so in a less evasive way than this. If you want India: report in The Times of India, for example. (South Africa, maybe?) And yes, despite your claims above, even Malaysia (and that's a link from the front page). Please let me know how many other countries you'd like me to search for to show the global coverage. - The Bounder (talk) 15:30, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Look at the sources you cite carefully. The front page of the Malaysian newspaper you cited is this: [17]. The headline news as of time of writing is "Wife dies, husband survives single-vehicle accident with minor injuries" followed by "Secondary school student, three teachers lost in Mount Santubong", "BAE Systems to support more M'sian graduates via Chevening Scholarship" and "Nazri to LPF: Don't ban Power Rangers, slap on P13 rating instead." This clearly refutes the idea that this item is headline news. You could make the lesser case that this is headline news in the world section, except that also falls flat on its face. The first item in the world section is "Google, Jigsaw to offer cyber security to election groups", followed by "S.Korea's Park goes home after 14-hour interrogation in graft probe", and then only "IRA fighter turned peacemaker McGuinness dies". Note I didn't say that this isn't covered; in fact I specifically said if you look heard enough you can find it. But it is not headline news. Banedon (talk) 00:43, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

I'll check your India source as well, just for the sake of it. Main page is: [18]. As of time of writing the top story is "SC calls for talks to resolve Ayodhya dispute", followed by "I’ll personally keep tabs on absentee MPs: PM", "CBSE unveils new exam format for classes VI to IX", "SC: Will Centre extend deadline for old notes?", "A man few knew of is richer than big billionaires", "Cash transactions over Rs 2L to be made illegal" and "I came between Rahul and Akhilesh, says Yogi". In the world section the top item is "Eye on China: Taiwan plans to build own submarines", followed by "Donald Trump: Different strokes", "UK bans laptop, tablet in cabin for flight from six" and then only "Martin McGuinness, Irish rebel-turned-politician". Clearly this is NOT headline news, no matter how you spin it. Banedon (talk) 00:48, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

• The RD RFC is completely irrelevant to blurbs. It set the current guidelines for the RD section, where this is already (correctly IMO) listed. Modest Genius ^talk 16:31, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support blurb as one of the three most significant figures in Northern Irish politics of the late 20th and early 21st century (the others being Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams). I've added an altblurb but that is possibly a bit long. Thryduulf (talk) 14:38, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

What about the Nobel Peace Prize winning David Trimble and John Hume?--Pawnkingthree (talk) 15:03, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose blurb he has no real political significance outside the British Isles. Also we didn't posted Ian Paisley so why threat Martin McGuinness differentially. --Jenda H. (talk) 14:58, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Paisley was pre the RD RfC, so it's a false equivalence. Being an architect of the peace process that brought an end to The Troubles gives a much, much wider political significance outside Britain, as clearly evidenced by the news reports from global sources, not just from within the British Isles. - The Bounder (talk) 15:01, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak Support altblurb Because I'm on the wrong side of the pond, the name has little meaning alone (even though I can read how important he was), but the added context of the altblurb is necessary to establish the appropriateness of the blurb. I'd personally prefer on just keeping the RD as to avoid eroding the limited cases that we should have blurbs about people's deaths, but this is an edge case for certain. --MASEM (t) 15:06, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose blurb per Jenda H. If ITN were in one of our periodic dry spells I'd think about it. But really his significance was limited to the UK and Ireland and he does not rank in the top tier of any given field. No issue with RD. -Ad Orientem (talk) 15:10, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

I have removed the Blurb Ready heading. We are not even close to a consensus for a blurb. -Ad Orientem (talk) 15:12, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

I would hope you wouldn't have an issue with RD, as the only two things keeping this person off RD would be 1) they don't merit an article and 2) if the article isn't updated, neither of which is the case here. He certainly is in the top tier of his field, that of peacemaking- especially from someone who had advocated armed action. 331dot (talk) 15:25, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

(ec) Given that much of the funding for the IRA came from America, this story is far from limited to the UK. Given The Troubles resulted in a similar number of deaths to 9/11, it's fair to say peace-broking to stop that would make him top of that field. The Rambling Man (talk) 15:28, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• "Dry spell" or not, the impeachment headline is out of date enough for removal, given it's been on the MP for 8 or 9 days and covers an impeachment that took place on 9 December last year and a court case that ended on 10 March. Have we had so many articles coming through that this remains in place (or isn't more appropriately placed in the "Ongoing" section. - The Bounder (talk) 16:30, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment so we posted a blurb for the guy from Fast and Furious and a blurb for the actress most notable for playing Princess Leia and a blurb for her mother, but we won't post a blurb for someone who was instrumental in the resolution of The Troubles? To whose widow the Queen has sent a private message of condolence? There's a theme here. The Rambling Man (talk) 15:21, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Yep, that just about sums it up, doesn't it? I seriously do wonder what the mentality on display here must look like to anyone watching from outside. Meanwhile, the main page still proudly displays a story about a statue that might be someone, or might be someone else (we're not really sure). Well done, everyone! Black Kite (talk) 16:07, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Of course the elephant in the room is that the biography of one of the leaders of a terrorist organisation does not use the word 'terrorist' once. Only in death does duty end (talk) 16:15, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, and both are non-neutral terms to everyone. "Member of the IRA" says the same thing, without the POV. - The Bounder (talk) 16:25, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Of course the next man is Gerry Adams, a trustworthy source indeed. Only in death does duty end (talk) 13:28, 24 March 2017 (UTC)

• Fisher and Reynolds were global icons. This guy doesn't come close. Heck, he wasn't even president of a country. If you support a blurb so badly then why did you turn down Rafsanjani and Jayalalithaa? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.62.75.240 (talk) 16:20, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• • I agree that the contrast is jarring. None of those should have had blurbs. Modest Genius ^talk 16:33, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
    • IMHO none of them merited a blurb. Fisher in particular got blurbed on the basis of fan support, not the merits. But in any event past errors are a poor argument for new ones. -Ad Orientem (talk) 17:34, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
      • But it's not the "argument for new ones", it's just an example of the level we now accept. And actually the prominence of this individual far surpasses the guy from Fast and Furious, by quite some distance, so it's not making a "similar mistake" if you will, it's just demonstrating that this individual is by far and away more notable encyclopedically than a fun movie franchise actor. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:33, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
        • I'd be absolutely floored if the total number of people who know who McGuinness is > those who know Carrie Fisher or Paul Walker. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 02:27, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
          • I don't recall "the total number of people who know who ... is" as being part of the ITN criteria, nor how to judge a blurb. I thought it was more down to impact, longevity, encyclopedic value, etc. But then again, judging by the fact we load up the blurbs with American actors and actresses, I must be in the minority. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:39, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
            • If we posted everyone with a blurb who was "well known by Wikipedians" at ITN we'd be snowed under with minor American soap actors. The fact that the other 94% of the world exists appears not to be an issue, apparently. Black Kite (talk) 22:46, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support RD, Oppose blurb per Ad Orientem. --AmaryllisGardener ^talk 15:23, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Strongest oppose in history If Jayalalithaa and Rafsanjani didn't get blurbs, no way in hell. Jayalalithaa was sitting CM of a province with 80 million people (50 times NI's population), Rafsanjani was president of an independent country for 8 years and was a leader of the Iranian Revolution (more so than this guy of IRA). This guy doesn't come close to either.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.62.75.240 (talk • contribs)

IP user who seems very familiar with ITNC, did those two people receive equivalent news coverage to Mcguinness? Were they notable peacemakers? Looks to me like apples and oranges. 331dot (talk) 16:33, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Are you kidding? Rafsanjani had nonstop coverage for WEEKS, and the whole globe reacted to his death. Yet he didn't get posted because he is not from US or UK. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.62.75.240 (talk) 16:45, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Or, he wasn't finally posted because his article was not improved(he was briefly posted but pulled). Nothing to do with bias. Please sign your posts. 331dot (talk) 16:49, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Here's a good idea. Why not post under your normal account? Because the chances of an IP address that's never found this small corner of Wikipedia before posting here is vanishingly small. Embarassing, really. Black Kite (talk) 19:52, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• (edit conflict) Please read WP:OTHERSTUFFEXISTS. "X didn't happen so I don't want Y to happen" is not a valid argument. GRAPPLE ^X 16:34, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

In the IP's defence, WP:OTHERSTUFFEXISTS is really to do with deletion discussions. Deciding on ITN blurbs is about making judgements regarding the relative importance of different events. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 17:30, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

I disagree. WP:OTHERSTUFFEXISTS applies anywhere, and while it isn't any sort of policy, it serves simply to remind us that because things were done a certain way for a certain article at a certain time, that doesn't make that thing ipso facto correct. As with anything, it's the policies and the sources that guide us, not previous decisions or editors' personal opinions about which things are more important than others.  — Amakuru (talk) 17:55, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support blurb - if it's a bit more provocative in its word choice, yet solemn in tone and without sacrificing integrity, possibly along the lines of alternative blurb II. Christian Roess (talk) 16:59, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - shouldn't it be "dies aged 66" rather than "dies age 66"? Or is that an ENGVAR issue?  — Amakuru (talk) 18:00, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• No, "aged 66" not "age 66" is the correct form in all versions of English. (Consider "my house is painted brown" vs "my house is paint brown", or "he is a middle aged man" vs "he is a middle age man".) The shortened "age 66" usage has crept into the language via print newspapers, who are in the business of saving characters, but isn't grammatically correct. ‑ Iridescent 18:11, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

indeed, and corrected above. Thanks. Christian Roess (talk) 18:18, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support blurb. One of the key players in Northern Irish political history. WJBscribe (talk) 20:12, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb per WJBScribe and others above (note: I originally posted the RD, but there was no discussion about a blurb at that point). Black Kite (talk) 20:23, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support RD, oppose blurb - I'm not completely against a blurb simply because I think we should be posting more blurbs as a general rule. That said, there's a pretty transparent UK bias in some supports above. Northern Irish politics and The Troubles just isn't that important on a global scale. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 23:59, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose blurb Topics associated with the Troubles are subject to Arbcom discretionary sanctions. An RD entry is safer and will suffice. Andrew D. (talk) 00:24, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose blurb RD is sufficient, proposed altblurbs add little of use to original blurb (essentially RD already) in terms of the importance of his death. Mélencron (talk) 02:31, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb - It's not every day I see American news covering a foreign political leader's death to this extent. — Coffee // have a cup // beans // 06:25, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

March 20

Portal:Current events/2017 March 20

March 20, 2017 (2017-03-20) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) A car bomb in Baghdad's southwestern Hayy Al-A'amel neighborhood kills at least 23 people, and wounds 45 others. (AP via Fox News) Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian Civil War, March 2017 Israel–Syria incident The Syrian Army shoots down an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Skylark drone over Syria's Quneitra Governorate. (The Times of Israel) Disasters and accidents A large tree falls into a pool at the base of the Kintampo waterfalls in Ghana, killing at least 18 people and injuring 22 others. (Al Jazeera) 2017 South Supreme Airlines Antonov An-26 crash An Antonov An-26 of South Supreme Airlines crashes upon landing at Wau Airport, South Sudan, the 43 people on board survived. (The Aviation Herald) (CNN) Politics and elections East Timorese presidential election, 2017 Elections are held in East Timor to vote for the nation's 4th President. Francisco Guterres, runner-up in the 2007 and 2012 elections, is expected to win due to the support of Xanana Gusmão. (The Sydney Morning Herald) Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections The United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence holds a hearing about Russian interference in the 2016 election and confirms that there is an ongoing investigation into ties between Trump's team and Russia. (The Washington Post) Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court nomination The Senate Judiciary Committee begins hearings on the nomination of Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court of the United States. (CNN) Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May announces that her government will trigger article 50, which begins the process of withdrawing from the European Union, on March 29. (The Guardian)

---

[Posted] RD: Robert B. Silvers

Article: Robert B. Silvers (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): NPR
Credits:

• Nominated by rhodesisland (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —Rhodesisland (talk) 02:04, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support good condition, pretty much ready to go. The Rambling Man (talk) 07:16, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Marked ready Support on high quality and sourcing for a bio. --MASEM (t) 13:58, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - very good article and agree that it's ready per TRM and Masem. Note: that I added the middle initial B, which is this article's title. Christian Roess (talk) 15:18, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted -Ad Orientem (talk) 18:09, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: David Rockefeller

Article: David Rockefeller (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The New York Times
Credits:

• Nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 16:09, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

• Needs citations. I placed tags in various places. – Muboshgu (talk) 16:20, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Part of an extremely famous family, worth billions, died as a centenarian. What about him isn't notable? UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 23:53, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

• The notability of the subject doesn't matter anymore for RD. Only comment on the updatedness and the quality of the article. HaEr48 (talk) 01:54, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• The article is good; I'll say what I want! Person is notable. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 15:34, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Rated as a B class article but some citations needed. Support provisional on citations being added. Capitalistroadster (talk) 06:38, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose reminder: for RD, we're only looking at article quality, and it's not good enough. The Rambling Man (talk) 07:15, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Article is in reasonable shape and several papers are reporting his death as the last in a generation of a famous family. The C of E God Save the Queen! (talk) 08:47, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

  The notability is not in question. The article has at least six [citation needed] tags which need to be resolved in this BLP. The Rambling Man (talk) 09:11, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

@The Rambling Man: looks like they've all been fixed. Only maintenance thing left seems to be the tone tag at the top. Elisfkc (talk) 15:47, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• All tags seem to have been removed. μηδείς (talk) 18:44, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted -Ad Orientem (talk) 19:16, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] Afghanistan–Pakistan border

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Afghanistan–Pakistan border (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif orders reopening of Afghanistan–Pakistan border, a month after it was closed following the Sehwan blast. (Post)
News source(s): DAWN Al Jazeera Reuters
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by Mfarazbaig (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: A month long closing of one of the busiest migration routes is notable enough to make it to ITN. mfarazbaig 19:42, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

• No it's not. Nergaal (talk) 22:17, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - I think it is. Very busy route and closed for a very important reason. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 23:53, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose, considering we're talking about Pakistan, a country where explosions are almost commonplace. If this were most borders of countries their size, I would support, but this is not like most cases. --AmaryllisGardener ^talk 02:28, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose Article not updated. I am more than happy to switch to support if a suitable update is included. This border directly affects more than 200 million people, and indirectly affects many more. The border has a fascinating and controversial history for which the article does justice. This is an excellent opportunity to bring an obviously encyclopedic topic to readers' attention, but it needs to have an update.128.214.214.67 (talk) 09:52, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Article has been updated. mfarazbaig
• Oppose end to a temporary border closing. 331dot (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support for the reasons given by 128.214.214.67. One cannot say it is "just" a temporary border closing. The US travel ban was also a border closing of sorts, and that wound up on ITN and ongoing to boot. Banedon (talk) 13:27, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose temporary border crossing in unstable location. The Rambling Man (talk) 13:28, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Now that the article has been updated. In addition to the reasons given above, it should be noted that at least 24,700 people were locked out of their home country for over a month because of this. How many US citizens were denied entry during the temporary US travel ban? A few hundred? People describing such border closures as routine are badly misinformed.128.214.163.201 (talk) 08:43, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose per TRM and 331dot. And because "This isn't headline news across the whole world". - The Bounder (talk) 09:35, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 19

Portal:Current events/2017 March 19

March 19, 2017 (2017-03-19) (Sunday) International relations New Zealand–United States relations New Zealand expels an unnamed United States diplomat after the embassy refused to waive his immunity during a police investigation. (BBC) Politics and elections The Social Democratic Party of Germany endorses Martin Schulz as its leader. (Reuters) Sports Racing 92 and Stade Français, two French rugby clubs, announce that they are calling off their proposed merger following widespread opposition to the project. (BBC)

---

[Posted] RD: Jimmy Breslin

Article: Jimmy Breslin (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): NYT
Credits:

• Nominated by Muboshgu (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 – Muboshgu (talk) 18:09, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose for now. There's a "citation needed" tag and the article as a whole could do with more references. This should be easy to do with obituaries though.Zigzig20s (talk) 19:20, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
  • It's a work in progress. I'll ping you when it's ready. – Muboshgu (talk) 19:22, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

Thank you.Zigzig20s (talk) 19:52, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

@Zigzig20s: It's better now, and I'll keep working on it. Let me know what you think. – Muboshgu (talk) 20:07, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

Do you have access to Newspapers.com? It may be worth looking for more articles about his connections to restaurant owners like Henry Hill. In any case, I now Support this.Zigzig20s (talk) 20:40, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

Thanks. Yes I do, I'll look into that later. – Muboshgu (talk) 20:58, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support. Article has been updated and sourced very well! Good shape for posting I see. --TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 20:28, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• support Though a very local figure, Breslin was a legend in New York for decades and transcended the role of a journalist and certainly known outside the city. He was known for generations for writing about working class New Yorkers. He wrote extensively about the mafia and police corruption which he helped exppose. He was beaten up by Jimmy Burke (Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas). The serial killer David Berkowitz wrote letters to Breslin which were reprinted in media--Breslin appeared as himself in the Spike Lee movie Summer of Sam. He wrote several bestselling books; at least one, The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight, was turned into a movie. He won the Pulitzer Prize and many other awards --Johnsemlak (talk) 20:34, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose indeed he won many awards including the "Golden Turkey Award nomination for "Worst Performance by a Novelist".", but the article needs more referencing. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:10, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
  • How does a list of books with ISBNs need citations? Aren't they their own citations? – Muboshgu (talk) 21:22, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
    • You yourself removed one, there's one left. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:29, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
      • It had a wikilink, which I thought sufficed? It has its ASIN now. – Muboshgu (talk) 21:39, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
        • I was talking about "1969 Running Against the Machine: A Grass Roots Race for the New York Mayoralty" which was removed about 20 minutes ago. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:54, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Article in decent shape; personifies the avuncular guy-in-the-street newspaper columnist as much as the late Mike Royko did. Daniel Case (talk) 01:41, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Ready the article is well sourced, has no tags, all the works are fully cited, and opposition based on his having written a novel some foreigner doesn't like is irrelevant, given the RD RfC. μηδείς (talk) 02:22, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

  There was no opposition based on "his having written a novel some foreigner doesn't like" (sic). The Rambling Man (talk) 11:00, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted - Fuzheado | Talk 13:51, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

March 18

Portal:Current events/2017 March 18

March 18, 2017 (2017-03-18) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War Around 1,500–2,000 people leave al-Waer district of Homs today for their preferred destination of either Northern Homs Governorate, Idlib Governorate or Turkish Army positions in Northern Aleppo Governorate. Up to 15,000 to 20,000 people including armed militants, their families and supporters will leave the besieged district in the coming weeks with the rest of the population reconciling and receiving aid. (BBC) (Al Masdar News) Battle of Mosul Thousands of Iraqis flee western Mosul as the battle between Iraqi and allied forces and ISIL militants escalates in the densely populated Old City. (Reuters) Arts and culture Chuck Berry, pioneering rock music singer and guitarist, dies in the U.S. state of Missouri at the age of 90. Berry was one of the first inductees in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (BBC) International relations Estonia–United Kingdom relations Eight hundred British Army troops arrive in Estonia as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. (The Guardian) Law and crime March 2017 Île-de-France attacks French security forces shoot suspect Ziyed Ben Belgacem dead in Paris' Orly Airport after he put the pellet gun to her head and took away an assault rifle from one of three soldiers from "Sentinelle" operation patrolling the airport. Belgacem had earlier shot a police officer with a pellet gun. Later, he had threatened a bar and then carjacked another vehicle to the airport. (BBC)

---

[Closed] RD: Trisha Brown

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Trisha Brown (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): NPR
Credits:

• Nominated by rhodesisland (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —Rhodesisland (talk) 02:04, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose there has been no demonstrable effort to secure a free image within the three or four days since she died. That non-free image is, in my opinion, being incorrectly used and so we should not link to this article from the main page. It's pretty obvious she was commonly seen in public, and many images exist of her on Flickr, albeit they need to be re-licensed for inclusion here. The Rambling Man (talk) 09:15, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] Chuck Berry

Article: Chuck Berry (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination
Blurb:  Chuck Berry, guitarist, singer, and rock and roll pioneer, dies at the age of 90. (Post)
News source(s): BBC
Credits:

• Nominated by Muboshgu (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Article is GA – Muboshgu (talk) 22:20, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support and consider blurb. Certainly as influential, if not far more so, than George Michael and Carrie Fisher, and her mum. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:27, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Much more influential than the examples you mentioned, but I thought RD vs. blurb was more about the nature and extent of the news coverage than the specific influence of the subject. In which case, a possible blurb for Berry is too early to determine, because the news is still breaking. – Muboshgu (talk) 22:32, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
    • Sure, give it a couple of hours... The Rambling Man (talk) 22:33, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - per TRM.--BabbaQ (talk) 22:32, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Blurb - Possibly one of the most influential rock and roll musicians ever. We have a good article and a good reason to post blurb. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 22:35, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb: Music pioneer of sorts. Thechased (talk) 22:36, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Known worldwide as a founder or Rock 'n' Roll, and I'm supporting a blurb.. Jusdafax 22:37, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb Calling him a Rock 'N' Roll pioneer is an understatement. He was a true global icon. EternalNomad (talk) 22:39, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted - May be a blurb eventually. Fuzheado | Talk 22:54, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb, Berry image has been added for cascading protection in case of this eventuality. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 23:00, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Has been added by Fuzheado. Would also support a blurb. — foxj 23:03, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Strongly support blurb The article is GA quality, and the man was a major pioneer of rock and roll. -A lad insane (Channel 2) 23:10, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Blurb One of the most important figures in popular music history, period. There are not many musicians whose unsurprising deaths would get blurb support from me, but Chuck Berry is definitely one of them. Kicking222 (talk) 23:13, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Blurb per above reasons. --MASEM (t) 23:14, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• support blurb, per above. © Tbhotch^™ (en-2.5). 23:18, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• support blurb, especially given it's a GA. Absolute legend.--Johnsemlak (talk) 23:23, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support but Chuck Berry is one of the most influential musicians in the last hundred years. This deserves more attention that simply a mention in recent deaths. It belongs in recent news. A Quest For Knowledge (talk) 23:25, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted as blurb Stephen 23:36, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Post-Posting Blurb Support! User:Medeis 00:22, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - C'est la vie said the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell. Kurtis ^(talk) 01:13, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Post-posting blurb support An example of when we should absolutely be using the blurb on an RD. Unlike some others... Black Kite (talk) 01:56, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Post-posting blurb support, this is fully deserving of a blurb, per above supporters. Mjroots (talk) 06:07, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Pile on support Hail, hail, rock and roll Ritchie333 ^{(talk) (cont)} 07:55, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] Rima Khalaf

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Articles: Rima Khalaf (talk · history · tag) and Israeli Apartheid (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf resigns after the United Nations withdrew a report accusing Israel of establishing "an apartheid regime". (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ The United Nations withdraws a report accusing Israel of establishing "an apartheid regime".
News source(s): The Independent Al Jazeera Reuters APP
Credits:

• Nominated by Mfarazbaig (talk · give credit)

Article updated

 mfarazbaig 20:38, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support - High level UN resignation is more than notable. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 23:54, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - Alphabet soup ESCWA turns out to be the Economic Commission for Western Asia, which "provides a framework for the formulation and harmonization of sectoral policies for member countries, a platform for congress and coordination, a home for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA activities are coordinated with the divisions and main offices of the Headquarters of the United Nations, specialized agencies, and international and regional organizations, including the League of Arab States and its subsidiary bodies, and the Gulf Cooperation Council." This is the very definition of low level UN agency, and barely notable. Abductive (reasoning) 05:34, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose minor. The Rambling Man (talk) 07:14, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose on notability. Subject is a Secretary for a Secretary for a Secretary at the UN. A comparable national position would not even be considered. Blurb puts emphasis on animosity between this subject's Commission and Israel, but because the Commission represents Sunni Arab interests this is entirely predictable.128.214.214.67 (talk) 09:45, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose. Minor resignation. 331dot (talk) 10:26, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose per Abductive. ESCWA is "one of five regional commissions under the administrative direction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council". Given that the UNESC is itself one of six principal organs of the UN, this is too minor for ITN. Banedon (talk) 13:29, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - Added the alternative blurb. mfarazbaig

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 17

Portal:Current events/2017 March 17

March 17, 2017 (2017-03-17) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks March 2017 Israel–Syria incident, Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian Civil War The Israeli Air Force launches several airstrikes on targets inside Syria, and for the first time, publicly claims responsibility. Syrian air defenses responded by launching missiles at the aircraft, and thereupon Israeli Arrow 3 missiles were launched in response to the counter-offensive. Israel stated that it was targeting suspected weapons shipments to Hezbollah in Lebanon, adding that the Israeli military will keep intervening until they believe such shipments have ceased. According to the Syrian Army, four Israeli jets entered its airspace and struck targets near Palmyra. (CNN) (AP) Yemeni Civil War (2015-present) An unknown perpetrator using an Apache helicopter fires upon a boat carrying Somali refugees off the coast of Yemen, killing at least 40 of them, injuring 35 more. (Reuters) (AFP via MSN) War in North-West Pakistan Gunmen raid a Pakistani military post near the border with Afghanistan, killing at least eight people. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, claim responsibility. (Al Jazeera) Basque conflict In Spain, the Basque separatist group ETA announces that it will fully disarm by April 8, 2017. (BBC) Disasters and accidents Heavy flooding in Peru kills at least 67 people and forces thousands to abandon their homes. (The Guardian) Politics and elections The former Democratic National Committee chair and ex-CNN contributor Donna Brazile admits that she had forwarded some debate questions to Hillary Clinton's campaign during last year's Democratic primary before two debates with Bernie Sanders. (The New York Daily News) Science French mathematician Yves Meyer wins the Abel Prize for his work on the mathematical theory of wavelets. (The Guardian)

---

[Closed] RD: Auntie Fee

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Auntie Fee (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): AOL
Credits:

• Nominated by Count Iblis (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: The article has yet to be written, but it seems to me that she was very popular. Count Iblis (talk) 03:05, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose - Per the fact that there's no damn article! UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 06:36, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

  Still Oppose - Due to the fact that the deceased was an Internet vlogger/YouTuber who isn't notable outside of her (relatively small) YouTube channel. I don't understand her notability when we don't have articles for significantly larger YouTubers like Leafy, Pyrocynical and Keemstar (to name a few that I can think of). UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 13:45, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

  Feel free to create these articles, providing the individuals meet WP:N. The Rambling Man (talk) 13:48, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose - There is not article to the nominated individual. --TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 06:54, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - needs a SNOW close immediately because there's no article. Christian Roess (talk) 10:19, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Article has been created. Stephen 22:01, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose good stuff we now have an article, yet it's a stub and not enough for main page. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:09, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - I spent a few hours revising and updating it after someone created the article. But in my opinion, there's not enough reliable info out there yet to get this up to ITN standards. Christian Roess (talk) 23:24, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose. Subject was an Internet video celebrity. A few obits or announcements on websites of her tragic passing does not really make her death 'in the news'. - Smerdis of Tlön - killing the human spirit since 2003! 04:06, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

Her death has been reported by the LA Times. There's no question that qualifies as "in the news." The only valid rationale for an oppose is article quality.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 13:37, 20 March 2017 (UTC)

• Neutral – Article looks pretty good now, but still a bit short. If some more sources could be dug up, I think this could turn into a solid support. It's difficult, though, as online video celebrities just don't get the kind of reliable coverage they deserve... ~Mable (chat) 12:45, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment The article needs to incorporate more sources that existed before her death (which do readily exist, I just checked, heck we even have a Le Monde article) I really would want to see more of these past sources included and used to establish her notability before death rather than relying on too many obit pieces. --MASEM (t) 13:44, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose I know we had an RFC about RD notability but I just don't think this is notable enough for ITN. The article was created as a result of the death. Seems kind of dubious.128.227.202.61 (talk) 14:11, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Per my comment above, I have affirmed that she was notable before her death with major non-trivial coverage from about 2014 onward. It is just that no one created an article about her until now, and the article is reflecting too much of the post-death insight. --MASEM (t) 14:22, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
    • According to the page history, the article dates from December 2014. That version must have been speedily deleted.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 14:37, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
      • After some editing, five of the eight references are pre-2017, showing notoriety before the obits were written. However, this should not be dwelled upon as it is not one of the main criteria we have for notability. Similarly, the article being "created" only after death is also not a valid reason to oppose. In this case, it's even less convincing as the article existed in 2014, but was speedy deleted, which was then revived. -- Fuzheado | Talk 14:40, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
      • The text of that version prior to deletion was exactly all of this: Felicia Auntie Fee O'Dell (pronounced as Ain't Fee) is an online cooking show guru. The homemade chef became a viral sensation in July of 2014 with a series of videos including "Auntie Fee's Baked Chicken" and "How to feed Seven people with just $3.35." All of her videos are recorded in her kitchen, mostly by her son Tavis Hunter. Since then, Auntie Fee has created over 50 videos (with 10 million views) and counting on her YouTube channel, titled 'Cooking With Auntie Fee.' Auntie Fee has made appearances on: The Jimmy Kimmel Show, The Steve Harvey Show and TMZ. She is known for making food and saying that it's "for the kids." In November, Auntie Fee created a cooking video sponsored by Dumb and Dumber To.. No sources, though all those details appear to be things that can be corroborated with pre-obit articles. It was speedied on an A7 claim... which given that text, probably was not appropriate, though w/o sources, definitely would be a potential promotional concern. --MASEM (t) 14:43, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
        • Agree - not the best starter text for an article. -- Fuzheado | Talk 15:09, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
        • The presence of obituaries in highly-regarded publications is strong evidence of notability. I feel it is legitimate to question in ITN the notability of a person for whom an article was created after a recent death, however in this case I feel the answer is a clear "is notable". --LukeSurl ^{t c} 19:40, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
          • We have to be a bit careful, as sometimes it is the cause of death that is more of interest than the person, as to give a false impression that the person was notable. Not a major example, but there was a case of a video game stream who died in the middle of a 24-hr stream. The reason for death caught various media, but the stream himself was not notable (or least, to meet WP:N standards). There's no question here, though: Auntie Fee was notable before her death, just that we didn't have an article at the time of death. --MASEM (t) 20:54, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Now that the article is substantial and well sourced. -- Fuzheado | Talk 15:09, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Now no longer a stub and sufficiently referenced.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 15:36, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - Did a thorough check, and all the statements in the article can be corroborated via the citations used. The single exception is that there is no source verifying her birth day and year, and so I tagged that. Otherwise, weak support at this point. Christian Roess (talk) 23:12, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Article is now sufficiently long enough and well-sourced. It probably still can be expanded but it's passed the bar needed for ITN. --MASEM (t) 14:00, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - still rather short - if she wasn't considered notable enough for an article until her death, I doubt this should be posted as an RD. Bob talk 00:27, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Sorry, that's not an accepted rationale for not posting. See: Wikipedia:In_the_news#Recent_deaths_section -- Fuzheado | Talk 16:36, 22 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] RD: Derek Walcott

Article: Derek Walcott (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): BBC
Credits:

• Nominated by EternalNomad (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Nobel Prize-winning writer. Maybe even worth a blurb? EternalNomad (talk) 14:57, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak support a few unreferenced claims but at a first glance nothing overly controversial. The Rambling Man (talk) 17:03, 17 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment. I have added two "citation needed" tags and fixed a couple of grammatical errors. Once the citations have been fixed, I will support this. Please ping me when this is done. Thank you.Zigzig20s (talk) 18:03, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

The "citation needed" tags seem to have been fixed, so I now support this.Zigzig20s (talk) 16:59, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

• support - when everything mentioned by TRM above has been fixed.--BabbaQ (talk) 09:55, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 18:40, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Pull referencing is considerably worse than I first feared, an unreferenced section and at least five other [citation needed] tags. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:12, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
  • You supported this, then added ref tags after it was posted? Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 23:01, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
    • Yes, I was mistaken, there are too many issues with the article, hence my update. The Rambling Man (talk) 11:39, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
    • But, whatever. It doesn't matter that much. Most of the inline stuff is fixed, the awards are still mainly unreferenced, but that's not important to most people here. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:47, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

[Pulled] Psamtik I statue

Article: Psamtik I (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ A colossal ancient Egyptian statue, discovered on 9 March, is preliminarily identified as depicting pharaoh Psamtik I. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ A colossal ancient Egyptian statue is discovered in Cairo, believed to be depicting pharaoh Psamtik I
News source(s): [19]
Credits:

• Nominated by Banedon (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Whaleyland (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: So as not to leave a nomination hanging ... Banedon (talk) 03:54, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment - Note that the BBC article relies entirely upon a local news article,[20] which states: "Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany said on Thursday that the royal colossus discovered last week in Matariya district, Cairo is probably a statue of 26 dynasty king Psammetich I not King Ramses II as believed earlier." The actual quote from the government Minister is: "If it belongs to this king, then it is the largest statue of the Late Period that was ever discovered in Egypt," I still don't think we have anything particularly strong. We also don't appear to have any quotes from the research team that is conducting the excavation. Last time they were more cautious than the government Ministers. All we really know for sure is that we made the correct call not to post this a few days ago. I wonder if we shouldn't exercise the same degree of caution again, or if we are to post it, to make the blurb appropriately qualified. (As a minor point, in the blurb "belonging to" would be better as "depicting".) --Mkativerata (talk) 07:38, 17 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support, probably the largest archeological discovery in a long time; until the British Museum takes it and then gets renominated here when they put it up for visitors near the golden torcs. Nergaal (talk) 09:01, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

  Jesus Christ can you just stop talking about the Golden Torcs? UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 00:07, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose better suited for DYK. The Rambling Man (talk) 10:32, 17 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support This time the ID clue looks more reliable (I've slightly tweaked the blurb per Mkativerata ). It's not every day that such major discoveries are made. If it turns out not to be Psamtik I, then it could be updated, just like other items, such as casualties. Brandmeister^talk 10:50, 17 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support I've moved some text prematurely written in Ramesses II over, so now there is a decent paragraph about the statue in Psamtik I. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 11:00, 17 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - Per TRM - DYK. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 11:03, 17 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment Pull – In retrospect, the main news was finding the statue. Being "preliminarily identified" as a pharaoh whose name relatively few would recognize seems underwhelming. Sca (talk) 14:17, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

  Yes, that's my feeling too, hence a suggestion to take it to DYK. The Rambling Man (talk) 14:19, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

  @Sca: It was nominated at the time of the finding, yet not everyone supported back then. Brandmeister^talk 14:44, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

Yeah, that's why I said "in retrospect." But at the time an ITN blurb about pieces of an unidentified statue seemed problemmatic. Sca (talk) 14:46, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

Now if the statue were identified as Sam the Sham, that would be a different matter! Sca (talk) 14:51, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support, now that it has been IDed. ---- Patar knight - ^chat/_{contributions} 02:44, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

I'm just going to close this before a fight breaks out. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 17:56, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
@The Rambling Man: In all honesty, how is this objectively better suited for DYK than the golden jewelry a few weeks ago? Nergaal (talk) 12:34, 18 March 2017 (UTC) This is trivial. The torcs were not and received global coverage. The Rambling Man (talk) 12:45, 18 March 2017 (UTC) I am curious what is your definition of trivial. I mean this is a colossal statue, even by Egypt's standard, vs several grams of gold. Are you saying this didn't receive global coverage, because I remember differently a few days ago? Isn't this the perfect example of "Anglosphere-bias" suffered by ITN? Nergaal (talk) 13:53, 18 March 2017 (UTC) @Nergaal: - This nomination is just stating that the statue discovered last week was determined to be Psamtik I and not Rameses II. I'm not sure what the alt-blurb is trying to say because a new statue wasn't discovered. The Torcs were internationally recognized and therefore they were more than notable. They aren't even relevant as an argument now because they've been off of ITN for almost two weeks. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 15:55, 18 March 2017 (UTC) My impression is that we agreed last week to postpone this till identification. If it had been posted then, it would still be on ITN now, and it would probably get bumped up. Nergaal (talk) 16:39, 18 March 2017 (UTC) @Nergaal: - I didn't have a chance to vote on the other nomination, but I voted oppose per DYK because I think that it's interesting but not newsworthy. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 17:07, 18 March 2017 (UTC) I was not talking about you, I was talking about consensus. If it was up to people like you all trash archeological finds from Britain would get posted, while colossal statues and alike from elsewhere would never make the main page. Nergaal (talk) 17:19, 18 March 2017 (UTC) I'm just going to close this before a fight starts and we both get in trouble. This has nothing to do with a difference of opinion. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 17:56, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 18:39, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Pull reported at ERRORS, the update is sub-standard, the hook is wrong, the "fact" is "speculation", it's not actually as "interesting" as it would have been if it were Rameses II, in conclusion it's a duff hook. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:10, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Pull – Per TRM and my comment above. (It's getting stale fast anyway.) Sca (talk) 21:29, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose Pull - This is an interesting find. And an ok article. Pullong it does not serve anyone any good.--BabbaQ (talk) 21:49, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

  I think your summation is perfect, it's interesting/ok, but the one thing you didn't note was that it's no different from the Rameses II claim, not actually confirmed. Pulling does serve a good purpose if it prevents Wikipedia looking like a tabloid sniffing after a story without due diligence and just based on speculation, second time running. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:54, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

  As the article notes, they found the name of Psamtik I inscribed on the statue, which was enough for them to make a preliminary identification, which is what the article/blurb claims anyway. In any case, the news is really the discovery of a massive statue of a pharaoh, not precisely which pharaoh it belongs to. ---- Patar knight - ^chat/_{contributions} 22:21, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

  In that case, why wasn't it posted when it was discovered? The Rambling Man (talk) 22:25, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

  Because people (reasonably) wanted a firmer identification than "this is a large statue of a pharaoh, so it might be the most famous pharaoh who did large statues" to know which article a section on the discovery should go. Now that we have actual evidence linking the statue to a specific pharaoh, it's okay to post. ---- Patar knight - ^chat/_{contributions} 23:04, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

  Just noting that news is still coming in. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 22:59, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

  Yes, thank you. But the identification is speculative. And it's unclear why we posted this speculative guess rather than the previous speculative guess. I guess more evidence reduces the guesswork, but it's still guessing. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:41, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose pull consensus was and still is quite clear. In this case we have a statue of a relatively unknown pharaoh, which was at the time by far the leading civilization in the world; very little is known about him BECAUSE this sort of discoveries have been lacking. Nergaal (talk) 12:38, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Pull per my comments at WP:ERRORS - the sources do not support that a preliminary identification has been made in any final sense, the experts are just speculating. WJBscribe (talk) 09:20, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

March 16

Portal:Current events/2017 March 16

March 16, 2017 (2017-03-16) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks Piracy off the coast of Somalia The Somali pirates that hijacked the Aris 13, a United Arab Emirates-owned oil tanker, release it without condition. (BBC) Syrian Civil War 2017 al-Jina mosque airstrike An unknown perpetrator carries out an airstrike on a mosque in the rebel-held village of al-Jineh near Aleppo, killing at least 42 people. (BBC) Disasters and accidents An eruption at Mount Etna on the Italian island of Sicily injures at least ten people, including several in a BBC News crew. (The Independent) (Reuters) A fire in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, damages 10 buildings. (WNCN) Law and crime A shooting at a school in Grasse, France, injures at least eight people. Authorities arrest a 17-year-old student. (The Telegraph) A letter bomb explodes at the office of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Paris, injuring one person. (BBC) Kidnapping of Elizabeth Thomas The Federal Bureau of Investigation becomes involved in the search for Elizabeth Thomas and the manhunt for her suspected kidnapper, Tad Cummins. (FOX 17 Nashville) An all-points bulletin is issued for Cummins. (FOX 17 Nashville) Politics and elections United States immigration ban A second U.S. federal judge, Theodore D. Chuang of Maryland, grants that state's motion for a temporary restraining order on President Trump's revised travel ban. (The Washington Post) Science and technology List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches SpaceX successfully launches the EchoStar 23 satellite, a Direct-to-home television broadcast services for Brazil, into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, using the fully expendable version of their Falcon 9 launch vehicle. (NASA Spaceflight)

---

[Posted] 2017 Syrian mosque airstrike

Article: 2017 Syrian mosque airstrike (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ An airstrike on a mosque in the rebel-held al-Jinah village near Aleppo, kills at least 42 people and injures more than 100. (Post)
News source(s): Reuters, The Guardian
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by Mhhossein (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Editor abcdef (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: The event is regarded as "massacre" by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.[21] Mhhossein ^talk 12:21, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose as cours de la guerre. It's a war, and a long and complicated one at that. I don't see anything here that would be any more ITN worthy than what happens over there on a daily basis. As an example, just today in a war going on nearly next door to this one, an airstrike just blew up a boat full of unaligned Somalians.128.214.163.201 (talk) 14:45, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

The Yemen/Somali boat thing is currently having contradictory info. Sources from the scene indicate small arms fire rather than airstrike. The mosque airstrike is being denied by the US - as would be expected. Only in death does duty end (talk) 14:50, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment: please expand the article (it is barely more than a stub right now), and explain in the article why it is more than a routine part of war, to address 128.214.163.201's concerns above. For example, by citing responses from political leaders or international organizations, discussing the possible US factor (if RS'es substantiate it), etc. HaEr48 (talk) 16:03, 17 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - Why is this specific airstrike so special? The intervention has been occurring since 2014, over 7,000 have been killed (including 900 civilians) in over 5,000 strikes by the USAF alone. I don't see why one airstrike is more important than the others simply because a few more people were killed. The Syrian intervention isn't even in the 'Ongoing'. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 16:15, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

  Um, even in war you're not supposed to bomb a mosque full of civilian worshippers without a proper justification? Especially if it's a state actor, who are bound by various conventions HaEr48 (talk) 16:22, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

  I'm knowledgeable on the rules of war, I'm asking why this specific airstrike is so notable when plenty of other things happen that don't get recognition, even if it is a big deal. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 16:25, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

  Probably because they are seldom nominated. In this case, the article is a stub. The event is tragic and shouldn't happen, and ought to be enough to get onto ITN but we have hard hearts, and have become battle-hardened against bombings in Syria, Pakistan, Turkey etc, shootings in America, etc. The Rambling Man (talk) 17:06, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

  Also, 40+ deaths with mostly civilians are a lot. Going with UNSC Luke 1021's numbers, it's much higher than the average strike (900 civilians in 5,000 strikes) - so even within the context of US airstrikes it is already an outlier.. Also there's the fact that it's a house of worship. HaEr48 (talk) 21:01, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

• @The Rambling Man and HaEr48: I added more info to the article. --Mhhossein ^talk 04:59, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Notable. Sherenk1 (talk) 11:18, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - high casualty and given the possible US involvement, it is potentially an international affair. Article has sufficient content. HaEr48 (talk) 21:01, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 23:09, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose That it is a mosque is still disputed, and so is who was actually killed. Regardless, people are being killed everyday in war time. Whenever a large war occurs I would rather not have the entire ITN be filled with the daily bombings.75.73.150.255 (talk) 02:59, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - high number of casualties..--BabbaQ (talk) 08:21, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment it's ready to go, plenty of support, article is okay (at best), but probably enough for regular posting. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:07, 19 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support: A mosque is raided and many civilians are killed. US involvement is also probable per some sources. --Seyyed(t-c) 00:51, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose per 128.214.163.201 and UNSC Luke 1021. Banedon (talk) 01:09, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Apparantly in my above comment I forgot to support. Only in death does duty end (talk) 11:05, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment this has been good to go for 36 hours now, could an admin address the issue, one way or another please? The Rambling Man (talk) 07:13, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - @Stephen: - pls b0ss, just p0st already. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 10:19, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose reiterated. The US denies the mosque was hit, and apparently now provides pictoral evidence to that end. Footage showing rubble is of the building across the street, who people have just now asserted is also a mosque of the exact same name as the one still standing. This is highly dubious. The use of Bellingcat as an RS for this article is also worrisome because they are rubes who have been had before.128.214.214.67 (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

You have already opposed this nomination. US has admitted that the mosque is raided. Read this this source to see other resources being skeptical of US innocence in this attack. --Mhhossein ^talk 13:14, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Not a single source in the article states that the US raided/targeted/bombed the mosque. In fact, they all note that the US denies doing this and instead claims to have bombed another building across the street. Source 11 (M.E. Eye) in the article even points out the odd paradox of two separate, identically named mosques in such close vicinity. Post-strike and pre-strike aerial photograms show a building that looks like a mosque, undamaged and standing, and the target of the strike, an unadorned building that looks like a warehouse.128.214.163.180 (talk) 13:26, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Do you really expect US to admit the strike on mosque? ALL of the sources agree that the mosque is raided. -Mhhossein ^talk 13:31, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Can I just slash this out so it isn't accidentally taken into account by an admin? UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 14:11, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment - I am uncomfortable about RT being used a source for the US missile fragment. Can't we find a less controversial source to back up that statement?--Pawnkingthree (talk) 13:48, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• I agree with this. With what's been going on between the US and Russia, with the election and Trump and Syria, we can't rule out the idea of Russia cobbling together something to make America look bad and draw attention away from them. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 14:05, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

There are already other sources in the article confirming (or heavily indicating remnants of US weapons. Only in death does duty end (talk) 14:12, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• @UNSC Luke 1021: (edit conflict) Despite the infobox listing the USAF as the perpetrator being sourced by 2 western sources? Am I seeing someone pulling a Chrystia Freeland and jingoistically dismiss well-sourced, Western-reported, news as 'Kremlin propaganda'? CaradhrasAiguo (talk) 14:15, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• @CaradhrasAiguo: - I'm just saying that we can't rule it out; The Russian state-sponsored news hasn't exactly proven itself to be honest or unbiased, especially when relating to North American and Western European affairs. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 14:19, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• RT is a state mouthpiece for the Russian government. There is a vested interest in them pointing fingers at the US since it was originally thought to be Russia/Syria responsible. So no, they are not a good source for 'who bombed a mosque' in a geographical area where the Russian state is bombing things. Fortunately its not necessary as other sources (not related to Russia) make the same claim. Only in death does duty end (talk) 14:22, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

• Just post already - Boi can somebody post this before it gets stale? It's been like 40 hours! UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 15:35, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - @Ad Orientem: - On the verge of stale. Pls b0ss. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 17:33, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted -Ad Orientem (talk) 17:54, 21 March 2017 (UTC)
• Why was this posted? Didn't Russia kill like thousands already? Nergaal (talk) 22:02, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
• @Ad Orientem: Shouldn't we mention the perpetrator in the blurb? --Mhhossein ^talk 11:05, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

  @Mhhossein: - While it is highly likely that the USAF or USN was the perpetrator of the mosque bombing, there is no real concrete evidence yet, hence why the article says 'alleged' US involvement. I don't think mentioning the US is appropriate until it's confirmed. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 11:37, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

Indeed. The perpetrator is not known with certainty. -Ad Orientem (talk) 13:34, 23 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Hasyim Muzadi

Article: Hasyim Muzadi (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Jakarta Post
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by HaEr48 (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: former Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (Indonesia's biggest Muslim organization). I recently expanded the article to cover his career and death HaEr48 (talk) 07:27, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

• Looks OK to post. Good work. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 10:45, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - It needs a careful and thorough check before posting. I fixed the bare url's and removed the tag. But the article still needs some copy editing. Also we need to ensure that it conforms to standardized English, particularly the last section "Illness and death." Christian Roess (talk) 13:44, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment. Why use the word "Islamic" instead of "Muslim"?Zigzig20s (talk) 21:22, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

  I'm not sure I understand the issue here. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:43, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

  @Zigzig20s: - "Islamic" is an adjective referring to the religious denomination of Islam and anything related to it, while "Muslim" is a proper noun or adjective that identifies followers of Islam. - UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 22:18, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

Agree I don't think there's a problem here. As UNSC Luke 1021 says, those two words have a different meaning, and Islamic is certainly appropriate here. HaEr48 (talk) 00:51, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support - after the nominator of this RD has continued to improve and update the article with small, but significant, fixes. These would include additional sources in English. Also, the article's sentence structure is a bit clearer. Christian Roess (talk) 00:12, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

I've added some more English sources and continued to update it. Multiple editors recently copy-edited it too. HaEr48 (talk) 06:09, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

Very good work getting this ready. Thank you. Christian Roess (talk) 13:24, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support I think the article is in a good condition balanced by the currency of the topic. I'm not sure I entirely agree with holding it pending the addition of English-language sources, but perhaps I don't understand the suggestion. DarjeelingTea (talk) 05:56, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• support - good condition article. RD worthy.--BabbaQ (talk) 09:56, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Article is in good condition. -Yogwi21 (talk) 11:03, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support The article meets the qualifications. --Mhhossein ^talk 13:20, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted. Black Kite (talk) 13:27, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

March 15

Portal:Current events/2017 March 15

March 15, 2017 (2017-03-15) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Israeli authorities shoot into a car that was on a ramming attack at a bus shelter at the Gush Etzion Junction in the West Bank where 13 Palestinians and 3 Israelis have been killed since October 2015. A 16-year-old Palestinian, Fatima Jibrin Taqatqa, had lost control of her car and the teenager now remains in critical condition. (Jewish Press) (Fars) Syrian Civil War According to Syrian state media, two suicide bombers attack in Damascus, killing at least 31 people. (The Guardian) A second explosion occurs in the Rabwah area of Damascus. (Al Masdar News) Suspected Russian warplanes carry out airstrikes on the city of Idlib at dawn, killing 21 people including at least 14 children. (The New Indian Express) Boko Haram insurgency Four suicide bombers kill at least two people and wound 16 others in Maiduguri, Nigeria. (Al Jazeera) Disasters and accidents An avalanche kills four skiers in Tyrol, Austria. (BBC) Politics and elections Dutch general election, 2017 Voters in the Netherlands go to the polls for a general election. Exit polls suggest that incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte's People's Party for Freedom and Democracy will win the most seats in the election. (BBC) United States immigration ban A U.S. federal judge in Hawaii, finding the revised federal immigration/refugee executive order violates the U.S. Constitution's religious establishment clause, grants the state of Hawaii's motion for a nationwide temporary restraining order on these rules that were set to become effective at midnight. President Donald Trump vows to appeal this ruling. Two other federal courts held hearings on similar requests filed by the states of Maryland and Washington; neither of these judges issued a ruling. (Reuters) (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

---

Whanganui River

Article: Whanganui River (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The Whanganui River in New Zealand is granted legal personality by the country's parliament. (Post)
News source(s): The Guardian, NZ Herald
Credits:

• Nominated by Brandmeister (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: The decision was passed into law on 15 March, ending 140-year-old (at least) talks between Maori and the government. Legally unusual, but noble decision IMO. Brandmeister^talk 20:49, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose this is proper DYK territory. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:56, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
  • I agree that this is more DYK and not really ITN -- except that it would fail all DYK inclusion allowances (article long established, and this factor is nowhere close enough for a 5x increase in size of an already hefty article). I wonder if DYK allowances can be relaxed for these fascinating tidbits that get covered by news but clearly fail ITN standards. --MASEM (t) 21:20, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
    • It could be taken to GA, then it gets a pass at DYK. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:22, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose per TRM. Not really ITN-like. --AmaryllisGardener ^talk 22:01, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - belongs in DYK or something of the like. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 22:12, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. According to the Guardian article, this was the longest litigation case in New Zealand history, and the first case that granted legal personhood to a natural feature. William O. Douglas, vindicated at last. ---- Patar knight - ^chat/_{contributions} 02:43, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support in the news and something different from our normal fare. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 18:41, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. Seems notable to me and the article is in decent shape.Pawnkingthree (talk) 18:49, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment just a note, especially to the supporters, did any of you review the quality of the article? Since two of you are admins, you must already have seen that the article which is grossly under-referenced, poorly written, including whole sections without a single citation, and as such, entirely unsuitable for the main page. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:07, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

  Looking at the article again I agree the referencing isn't up to scratch. A shame as it is a great story.Pawnkingthree (talk) 15:32, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support - reading the Guardian article the first line provides good reason for support: "In a world-first ...". I would use "New Zealand Parliament" in the blurb though, instead of "the country's parliament". Banedon (talk) 01:12, 20 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - could run this in "on this day" in future if the referencing is brought up to scratch. WJBscribe (talk) 09:51, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] Dutch election

Article: Dutch general election, 2017 (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, led by incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte, wins the Dutch general election with 30/31/32/33 seats. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, led by incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte, comes in first place in the Dutch general election with 30/31/32/33 seats.
Alternative blurb II: ​ The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy wins a plurality of House of Representatives seats in the Dutch general election.
Alternative blurb III: ​ The VVD, led by incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte, wins the most seats in the Dutch general election, but the governing coalition loses its majority.
Alternative blurb IV: ​ The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy of incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte wins the most seats in the Dutch general election.
News source(s): The Guardian
Credits:

• Nominated by EternalNomad (talk · give credit)

The nominated event is listed on WP:ITN/R, so each occurrence is presumed to be important enough to post. Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article and update meet WP:ITNCRIT, not the significance.

Nominator's comments: When results are fully in, of course. Actual number of seats may vary, but usually not more than one seat apart from exit polls' predictions. EternalNomad (talk) 20:48, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support - Everything looks fine and the election was especially notable because of the ongoing Turkish-Dutch commotion. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 20:57, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
  • It's not updated. The results table is empty. – Muboshgu (talk) 21:31, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
    • I'm still supporting on a basis of importance. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 22:07, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
      • With all due respect, the fact it's ITNR means that you don't need to support it based on its importance. Previous consensus has already established its importance. All this nomination now needs to do is establish its quality. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:13, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment If I understand the Dutch/Turkey relationship issues, these elections were part of the problem, but there's not a mention of this in the election article. I don't expect the blurb to mention it, but I do think that if that diplomatic incident was at least a point of concern during the election, it should be mentioned in that article. --MASEM (t) 21:06, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Not ready Table needs to be filled in, I agree with Masem that the Turkey issue needs to be mentioned in the page. – Muboshgu (talk) 21:32, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose there's not much point in supporting an ITNR when it's clearly bereft of the detail required to bring it to the standard we require. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:48, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - when ready.BabbaQ (talk) 21:51, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Note, the numbers circulating come from (historically quite accurate) exit polls and early projections, and by now news reports are certain that Rutte's party have the plurality. The actual vote count is likely to take on the order of a few days so those tables and seat counts in the article won't be ready for a while. We should consider the article ready once it adequately outlines the overall picture, but we will be implementing a long delay if we insist on the precise results. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 00:00, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
  • We're sure the exit polls are reliable? In the U.S., exit polls are terrible. – Muboshgu (talk) 00:29, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

• They've historically been very good, and have been confirmed this time by the initial counts. The electoral system in the Netherlands (simple proportional representation) is more conducive to such projections than other systems. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 09:40, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

• Wait for official results this time. Abductive (reasoning) 00:59, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Wait, the results are not yet quite clear enough. --AmaryllisGardener ^talk 02:08, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support when ready - Sherenk1 (talk) 05:03, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment I think the altblurb is more accurate - while it's true that PPFD has come first, that's not the same as a "win". They don't have a majority and will have to come up with a workable coalition to form a government. While that looks likely, if only because everyone else opposes whatever Wilders' party is called, it's not an outcome of the election per se. GoldenRing (talk) 09:59, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• As discussed here the current ANP projection is based on 95% precincts reporting, though the official results won't be out until 21 March. Waiting that long is inappropriate and we posted the US result well before the final popular vote totals were known. Our blurb should mention that the VVD have the plurality (which news orgs are reporting as a certainty now) but shouldn't be precise as to the exact number of seats. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 10:02, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment Those graphs in the opinion polls section are very off-putting and take up a lot of space. Anyone else think so? I don't really work with images, so I'm not sure what's the best approach with them. Lugnuts ^{Precious bodily fluids} 11:06, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

• I've written a one-paragraph summary and put the charts in a collapse box. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 12:58, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support alternative blurb 3. The VVD went from 41 to 32 seats, losing almost ¼ of its voters; I think it's potentially misleading to call that "winning the elections". VVD became the largest party but it's the smallest "largest party" in Dutch political history with just 21% of the vote. I would propose a slight change to the alternative blurb, with seats replaced by 21.2% of the vote (or whatever the final projection is). --Gerrit ^CUTEDH 12:17, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Blurb comment: how about 'remains the largest party'? That avoids the problems with 'wins' and the jargon term 'plurality'. Modest Genius ^talk 12:24, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment We should also mention that the coalition partners Labour Party (Netherlands) have collapsed, which means that a governing coalition needs to be reformed. I've added an altblurb Smurrayinchester 15:04, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support – For Altblurb 3 or Altblub 4. No. 1 story in Europe. – Sca (talk) 15:10, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Its time to write about it. 46.70.205.85 (talk) 17:23, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Propose altblurb4. Mélencron (talk) 22:01, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted with altblurb 3. Black Kite (talk) 23:49, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

March 14

Portal:Current events/2017 March 14

March 14, 2017 (2017-03-14) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Piracy off the coast of Somalia Off the northern coast of Somalia, Somali pirates hijack the Aris 13, a United Arab Emirates-owned oil tanker, kidnapping eight Sri Lankan crew members. This is the first hijacking of a large commercial vessel in five years. (AP via The Independent) Disasters and accidents A blaze at a fireworks warehouse near Netanya, central Israel, kills two people and injures five others. (Reuters) 2017 Irish Coast Guard S-92 crash An Irish Coast Guard helicopter crashes off the coast of County Mayo, killing one person and leaving three others missing. (RTÉ) March 2017 North American blizzard The destruction from snow fall kills six people and leaves over 100,000 others without electricity, with some areas in the Northeastern United States receiving over 4 feet (1.2 m) of snow. (The Weather Channel) Law and crime Europol reports a total of more than 10,000 assault rifles and 400 shelling weapons were seized in northern Spain during an anti-trafficking operation in January. (News Front) An AMBER Alert is issued in Tennessee and Alabama for Elizabeth Thomas, who is believed to have been kidnapped by her former high school teacher Tad Cummins. (WKRN)

---

[Posted] RD: André Tosel

Article: André Tosel (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): "André Tosel, philosophe niçois de renom, nous a quittés". Nice Matin. March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.; Barbancey, Pierre; Chaillan, Pierre (March 15, 2017). "Disparition. André Tosel, ou l'action avec Marx, Spinoza et Gramsci". L'Humanité. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
Credits:

• Nominated by Zigzig20s (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: French Marxist philosopher and academic administrator. Former vice president of a major university (20,000+ students) and promulgator of Marxist theories in academia. Zigzig20s (talk) 18:31, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support - Looks ready to post. Christian Roess (talk) 06:46, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• support - ready. and RD worthy.--BabbaQ (talk) 09:56, 18 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 18:42, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] Raja Ampat reef destruction

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Raja Ampat Islands (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ A Bahamian cruise ship accidentally destroys a large section of the Raja Ampat Islands' coral reefs (Post)
News source(s): [22] [23]
Credits:

• Nominated by Banedon (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Gsarwa (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: The updated section badly needs copyediting, and possibly rearranging as well. From first looks it seems more natural to put the incident into the "geography" section. Banedon (talk) 15:04, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• The news reports are a bit unclear when the collision actually happened, but the Guardian reported the story on 10 March [24]. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 15:36, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Collision happened on 4 March and was reported at least as early as 7 March. [25] --LukeSurl ^{t c} 15:45, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose stale, The Guardian says it ran aground in an uncharted shoal in West Papua province after completing a bird-watching trip on Waigeo Island on 4 March. The Rambling Man (talk) 15:52, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - Per TRM; Stale. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 16:13, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• I imagine news doesn't travel very fast in that region of the world, and also it probably took time to determine the scope and impact of the damage. It's a bit presumptuous to call this stale.--WaltCip (talk) 17:10, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

  It was a British cruise ship; I'd assume Britain would report quickly on it. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 18:45, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

  The story isn't the cruise ship itself. The story is the damage to the reef.--WaltCip (talk) 18:47, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

  I understand that; I just assumed that since Britain was involved they would report quick. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 19:29, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

  Point of order - the ship is Bahamian, not British. Blurb amended to reflect this. Mjroots (talk) 19:32, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

  Getting back to the point, it was reported in mainstream press on 10 March, a whole four days before this nomination listing. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:50, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

• Well two options. One, move this to March 10; two, close as stale. I don't mind either. Banedon (talk) 00:35, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 13

Portal:Current events/2017 March 13

March 13, 2017 (2017-03-13) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) At least one person is killed and another eight are wounded after a suicide bomber attacks a bus carrying government employees in Kabul. (Al Jazeera) Two UN officials with MONUSCO—an American and a Swede—are among six people kidnapped near the village of Ngombe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Kasaï-Central province. Congolese officials have not identified the kidnappers nor has any group claimed responsibility. (AP) Somali Civil War (2009–present) A vehicle filled with explosives detonates near a hotel in Mogadishu, killing at least six people and wounding four others. (Al Jazeera) Syrian Civil War According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the total number of people killed and missing in Syria's war is now 465,000. (Reuters) International relations 2017 Dutch–Turkish diplomatic incident Turkey bans the Dutch ambassador, Cornelis Van Rij, from returning to the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ankara, and closes its airspace to Dutch diplomats in response to a Dutch ban on Turkish ministers speaking at pro-Erdoğan rallies. (The Guardian) Politics and elections Proposed second Scottish independence referendum Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces she will seek a second referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. (BBC) United States immigration ban The state of Washington, joined by the states of California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Oregon, asks a federal judge to stop, on constitutional grounds, the revised federal immigration/refugee rules from taking effect on Thursday, March 16. The state of Hawaii has filed a separate, similar request. (Reuters) Hungarian presidential election, 2017 János Áder is re-elected President of Hungary by the National Assembly. (UPI) Sports In rugby union, the two Paris-based clubs in France's Top 14, Racing 92 and Stade Français, announce plans to merge effective with the 2017–18 season. (ESPN (UK))

---

[Posted] RD: Henri Cueco

Article: Henri Cueco (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): Duponchelle, Valérie (March 14, 2017). "La mort du peintre Henri Cueco". Le Figaro. Retrieved March 15, 2017.; "Le peintre Henri Cueco est mort". Libération. March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.; Dagen, Philippe (March 15, 2017). "Henri Cueco, peintre politique et écrivain, est mort". Le Monde. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
Credits:

• Nominated by Zigzig20s (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: French painter, essayist, novelist Zigzig20s (talk) 21:41, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak support nothing amazing about the article, but well-referenced, and covers major aspects. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:47, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

I worked very hard on it.Zigzig20s (talk) 22:14, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

Well done! The Rambling Man (talk) 22:16, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

Thank you.Zigzig20s (talk) 22:35, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

• Marking ready Well sourced albeit on the shorter side, but nothing amiss for posting RD. --MASEM (t) 22:18, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 22:53, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Post-posted support Nice work on the article. Thank you! Christian Roess (talk) 12:11, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

RD: Eamonn Casey

Article: Eamonn Casey (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): BBC
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 18:20, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak oppose the article seems weak on what he actually did, the majority of the article being his "views", his "controversy" and his "health". A 66-year career in the church summarised in five or six sentences clearly isn't comprehensive. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:29, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Danehill Dancer

Article: Danehill Dancer (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): ESPN
Credits:

• Nominated by Anarcho-authoritarian (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Horse who was successful as a racer, and as a sire. Article is surprisingly thoroughly well sourced Anarcho-authoritarian (talk) 16:56, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support very nice article, as the nom says "surprisingly thoroughly well sourced"! The Rambling Man (talk) 20:52, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Marking Ready Well sourced and seems complete for a race horse. --MASEM (t) 22:23, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted an animal name that might be mistaken for a human. I expect to be pulled up at ANI shortly. Stephen 22:44, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

March 13

Portal:Current events/2017 March 13

March 13, 2017 (2017-03-13) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) At least one person is killed and another eight are wounded after a suicide bomber attacks a bus carrying government employees in Kabul. (Al Jazeera) Two UN officials with MONUSCO—an American and a Swede—are among six people kidnapped near the village of Ngombe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Kasaï-Central province. Congolese officials have not identified the kidnappers nor has any group claimed responsibility. (AP) Somali Civil War (2009–present) A vehicle filled with explosives detonates near a hotel in Mogadishu, killing at least six people and wounding four others. (Al Jazeera) Syrian Civil War According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the total number of people killed and missing in Syria's war is now 465,000. (Reuters) International relations 2017 Dutch–Turkish diplomatic incident Turkey bans the Dutch ambassador, Cornelis Van Rij, from returning to the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ankara, and closes its airspace to Dutch diplomats in response to a Dutch ban on Turkish ministers speaking at pro-Erdoğan rallies. (The Guardian) Politics and elections Proposed second Scottish independence referendum Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces she will seek a second referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. (BBC) United States immigration ban The state of Washington, joined by the states of California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Oregon, asks a federal judge to stop, on constitutional grounds, the revised federal immigration/refugee rules from taking effect on Thursday, March 16. The state of Hawaii has filed a separate, similar request. (Reuters) Hungarian presidential election, 2017 János Áder is re-elected President of Hungary by the National Assembly. (UPI) Sports In rugby union, the two Paris-based clubs in France's Top 14, Racing 92 and Stade Français, announce plans to merge effective with the 2017–18 season. (ESPN (UK))

---

[Posted] RD: Henri Cueco

Article: Henri Cueco (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): Duponchelle, Valérie (March 14, 2017). "La mort du peintre Henri Cueco". Le Figaro. Retrieved March 15, 2017.; "Le peintre Henri Cueco est mort". Libération. March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.; Dagen, Philippe (March 15, 2017). "Henri Cueco, peintre politique et écrivain, est mort". Le Monde. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
Credits:

• Nominated by Zigzig20s (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: French painter, essayist, novelist Zigzig20s (talk) 21:41, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak support nothing amazing about the article, but well-referenced, and covers major aspects. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:47, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

I worked very hard on it.Zigzig20s (talk) 22:14, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

Well done! The Rambling Man (talk) 22:16, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

Thank you.Zigzig20s (talk) 22:35, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

• Marking ready Well sourced albeit on the shorter side, but nothing amiss for posting RD. --MASEM (t) 22:18, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 22:53, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Post-posted support Nice work on the article. Thank you! Christian Roess (talk) 12:11, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

RD: Eamonn Casey

Article: Eamonn Casey (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): BBC
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 18:20, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak oppose the article seems weak on what he actually did, the majority of the article being his "views", his "controversy" and his "health". A 66-year career in the church summarised in five or six sentences clearly isn't comprehensive. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:29, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Danehill Dancer

Article: Danehill Dancer (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): ESPN
Credits:

• Nominated by Anarcho-authoritarian (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Horse who was successful as a racer, and as a sire. Article is surprisingly thoroughly well sourced Anarcho-authoritarian (talk) 16:56, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support very nice article, as the nom says "surprisingly thoroughly well sourced"! The Rambling Man (talk) 20:52, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Marking Ready Well sourced and seems complete for a race horse. --MASEM (t) 22:23, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted an animal name that might be mistaken for a human. I expect to be pulled up at ANI shortly. Stephen 22:44, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

March 12

Portal:Current events/2017 March 12

March 12, 2017 (2017-03-12) (Sunday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War Tahrir al-Sham, al-Qaeda's branch in Syria, claims responsibility for yesterday's twin bomb attacks in Damascus which left dozens dead. (BBC) Disasters and accidents A landslide at a rubbish dump on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, kills at least 48 people. (BBC) A bus driver in the Haitian city of Gonaïves ploughs into crowds of people celebrating Rara while speeding away from an earlier accident which left one person dead, killing at least 38 people, including a group of street musicians, and injures 17 others. (Reuters) Law and crime Ahmad Daqamseh, the Jordanian soldier who shot seven Israeli schoolchildren on March 13, 1997, is released from prison in Jordan. (Reuters) Politics and elections Abkhazian parliamentary election, 2017 People in the breakaway state of Abkhazia go to the polls for an election. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama dismisses four cabinet ministers, including Minister of Internal Affairs Saimir Tahiri and Minister of Health Ilir Beqaj, in a bid to make the government more technocratic following opposition Democratic Party protests. (Reuters) Former President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Artur Mas, is banned from holding public office for two years after organising an unofficial, unconstitutional independence referendum in 2014. (The Guardian) Sports 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament The field of 68 teams is announced. The overall top seed is defending national champion Villanova; the remaining #1 seeds are Kansas, North Carolina, and Gonzaga. (ESPN)

---

Ethiopia landfill landslide

Article: 2017 Ethopian landfill landslide (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ A landslide kills at least 113 people at a landfill in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Post)
News source(s): CNN
Credits:

• Nominated by 2607:fea8:a260:4ae:f5d8:e204:8133:446f (talk · give credit)

Article needs updating

Nominator's comments: Unusual, and high death toll.

• Comment Obviously we're going to need an article, but this is an ITN-appropriate event; I think we also did post the 2015 landfill landslide that happened in 2015 in China too. --MASEM (t) 03:26, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose stub article, the event itself is covered in one sentence. The Rambling Man (talk) 09:05, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Neutral/Comment - I'm neutral on this because fifty~ dead is definitely notable but the article sucks. We've been getting a lot of shitty article in ITN/C lately; I'm not sure if it reflects the process as a whole but I wish people put a little more effort into articles that they are nominating. I'd do more myself but I'm not suited in scouring news sources, possibly in other languages, and paraphrasing as to prevent plagiarism. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 11:49, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose article is a stub with barely more information than is already in the proposed blurb. Not of sufficient quality for posting on main page. --Jayron32 12:50, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - In the past 5-6 hours barely any work has been done on the article, so I'm moving to oppose because the article is garbage (no morbid pun intended). UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 17:51, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support based on noteworthiness, pending expansion of the article itself. It shouldn't take too long to churn out a half-decent page for ITN. Kurtis ^(talk) 17:58, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• As above, notable but nowhere near ready at the current time. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 18:03, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose The lack of coverage on the landslide currently on Wikipedia is disappointing. --AmaryllisGardener ^talk 17:07, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - when updated and ready.--BabbaQ (talk) 08:22, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] 2017 Dutch–Turkish diplomatic incident

Article: 2017 Dutch–Turkish diplomatic incident (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ A diplomatic incident is caused by the Netherlands refusal to allow Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (pictured)to attend a rally in Rotterdam and Turkey's response of calling the Dutch Fascists and remnants of Nazis. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ Dutch and Turkish diplomats are banned in response to a diplomatic incident ahead of Dutch elections and a Turkish referendum.
Alternative blurb II: ​ The Netherlands and Turkey bans each others' diplomats in response to a diplomatic incident ahead of Dutch elections and a Turkish referendum.
News source(s): Der Spiegel (German language)
Credits:

• Nominated by Mjroots (talk · give credit)
• Updated by AKAKIOS (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: I have started a discussion re the Multiple Issues tag at talk. Afd discussion so far is a unanimous keep. Mjroots (talk) 13:21, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose War of words so far, like in old times ("When the British came out and said Gamal Abdel Nasser is a dog, we can come back and call you the sons of sixty dogs"). Brandmeister^talk 13:38, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Strong oppose political mudslinging is not ITN worthy. --MASEM (t) 13:40, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  Can you point out where in Wikipedia:In_the_news it says that "political mudslinging is not ITN worthy"? The only criteria are that there is an update and that the event is significant. Note also: "Arguments that deal with the appropriateness of topics in general but also ignore the specific story being discussed are also usually not supported by the community." 81.204.120.137 (talk) 21:51, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  • Switch to Support given the escalation of the situation. --MASEM (t) 13:41, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose posting a war of words. Not even sure it merits an article. If ambassadors are withdrawn or diplomatic relations broken, maybe. 331dot (talk) 13:45, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

I'd like to point out that ambassadors are now, effectively, withdrawn.128.214.69.166 (talk) 07:52, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Changing to post-posting support given the escalation. 331dot (talk) 17:16, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose - ITN will get 30+ postings a day if we post every rhetorical back-and-forth at the national political level. That would not be a good thing.--WaltCip (talk) 13:47, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  Can you provide evidence for this rather absurd statement. Should be discounted by the closing admin. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 18:31, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  Yes, my oppose vote should be discounted among the waves and waves of other oppose votes snowing in. Bugger off.--WaltCip (talk) 20:20, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  So in summary, no evidence for your absurd statement. Now I know why Trump won the election. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 21:42, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  If you are as familiar with ITN as you seem to be, you should know that we do not just parrot what is reported in the press, we weigh the notability of the nominations presented. People can disagree about what is notable in good faith- and the notability of something can certainly change over time. What all of those who oppose this are saying is that this does not seem notable at this time. If anything changes- we can all reevaluate our positions. Please stop personally attacking those who disagree with you. 331dot (talk) 22:06, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  Can you point me towards the part of his statement where he is discussing notability? Thanks. And please, do not hararass me on my talk page. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 22:17, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  You have a very different definition of "harassment" than the rest of us if you consider one warning made in good faith harassment. 331dot (talk) 22:21, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  Hardly in good faith, if you use these template in content disputes, one-sidedly. But back to the content dispute, can you please point out where WaltCip is discussing notability in his statement? All I see are some alternative facts. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 22:27, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  You clearly have made up your mind-which is your right- so I see little point in further comment. 331dot (talk) 22:48, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose – Per 331. Entertaining episode, but so far without substantive effect. Sca (talk) 16:23, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - I argued to keep the article because of notability but it isn't newsworthy until something more than a shouting match happens. If we posted every notable event of mudslinging, Donald Trump would be in the news every five minutes. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 18:13, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - the foreign minister refused a landing permit, another minister deported out of the country, the Dutch ambassador being refused re-entry into Turkey, that's anything but just "political mudslinging". 81.204.120.137 (talk) 21:48, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Weak Oppose As diplomatic pissing contests go this one is a little more intense than usual, but for now that's still what it is. If there is an actual break in diplomatic relations I would reconsider supporting. -Ad Orientem (talk) 22:57, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment Post-posting support I'm with Ad Orientem here; this is well above the usual complaints at each other but I think it would need an actual diplomatic break to rise to the level of ITN. Erdogan making a complete dick of himself (and pretty much wiping out any chance of Turkey joining the EU for the forseeable future) can of course be included in his article. Well, that escalated quickly Black Kite (talk) 23:23, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - per Ad Orientem. Example of other "diplomatic pissing contests", Vietnam demands China stop cruises in South China Sea . If this kind of event isn't very uncommon then it's hard to justify posting. Banedon (talk) 05:26, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

In order to make the comparison, Vietnam would have to PNG the Chinese ambassador, with China doing the same, and Japan canceling state visits, and violent protests breaking out. This is a little more than your standard piss and moan.128.214.69.166 (talk) 07:57, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

True. I switch to support. Banedon (talk) 08:52, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Adding alt blurb 2 since I don't understand alt blurb. The information in alt blurb 2 isn't actually in the article though. Article only says that Turkey banned the Netherlands' diplomat, not vice versa. Banedon (talk) 11:26, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

"Although not arrested, she was declared as persona non grata[9] and eventually escorted to the Dutch-German border"128.214.69.166 (talk) 11:33, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

That sounds like one particular ambassador is banned. Kind of like if one country's ambassador breaks the law, but claims diplomatic immunity, the other country can declare the violator persona non grata but do not break off relations. All the first country has to do is send a different ambassador. Betül Sayan Kaya is also not actually an ambassador. In fact reading the article again what exactly is the cause of this diplomatic incident is not well communicated. The first section makes it seem like it's got something to do with campaigning, but the "escalation" section says nothing about campaigning. Why is the Turkish government sending ministers to its consulate in the Netherlands, and why is the Netherlands refusing them entry? Banedon (talk) 11:47, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

The questions you are asking are answered in the articles in the altblurbs. Briefly: the government of Turkey (contrary to the principles of the EU and its own laws) is trying to change the constitution in favor of a strongman, and is agitating amongst Turkish expats abroad. The countries where this is happening do not look on this kindly, as it makes a mockery of their sovereignty, creates security problems (riots), and involves them in a civil dispute of a foreign government against their will. Turkey was clearly notified that their government officials were not welcome to do this, but those government officials went anyway, abusing various diplomatic privileges and using outright subterfuge to enter the countries. These people were turned back, expelled or PNG'ed (a very serious designation that is usually reserved for spies). Turkish strongman takes offense to this, and here we are.128.214.163.204 (talk) 13:21, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Thanks. It's not well-communicated in the article, however. The background section ends with "campaigning is not allowed", but the escalation section begins with "Turkish minister entry denied". It doesn't say why the minister is going there, or what the rationale behind denying him entry is. The next paragraph says the minister requested for a gathering and the Netherlands retaliates by revoking landing privileges for his plane. Again it doesn't say why the Netherlands is acting like this. But in any case I expect the article to be improved quickly now that it's on ITN. If it isn't I'll improve it myself over the next few days. Banedon (talk) 15:07, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support. Dutch-Turkish relations are effectively severed, Turkish government visits to Denmark are postponed for the foreseeable future, and the event has opened up a rift in the German government. The article is quite nice (as far as developing news articles go), giving concise background which is digestible to the naïve reader. I would like to compare this to the US-Russian diplomatic back-and-forth in the waning days of the Obama Administration. In that incident (which was proposed here at ITN and rightly closed), it was merely the government of one side making claims and ejecting diplomats without a quid pro quo from the other, and there was little if any public demonstration. Here, we have quid pro quo abound, mass demonstrations on both sides and the incident spreading beyond the two principle states.128.214.69.166 (talk) 07:52, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support – as someone who is caught right in the middle of this, it is difficult to judge how major an event this is exactly. I need to point out, however, that this happened merely two days before the Dutch election, and this incident is caused by an upcoming Turkish referendum that is going to have a huge impact. Turks in the Netherlands is a very large minority in the country and this incident puts a negative light on all of them, I'm afraid. This incident puts EU-Turkey relations at risk as well, and may impact things such as the refugee crisis. I can't not support this news blurb. ~Mable (chat) 08:46, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support I know some of the opposes above were made when this was a little diplomatic spat between Turkey and the Netherlands, but it's got bigger than that. Turkey's relationship with the EU as a whole is now on the line. With the implications for Turkey's (increasingly unlikely) accession to the EU, and the context of the rise of populist / anti-immigration / anti-Islam politics in Europe, this is a significant development that we should post. GoldenRing (talk) 09:41, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment The original blurb is somewhat POV, and I don't think a specific diplomat is worthy of being singled out with a link and a picture since this now includes multiple diplomats from both sides. So, I added an altblurb.128.214.69.166 (talk) 10:06, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
  • I think the altblurb is indeed an improvement. ~Mable (chat) 10:31, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support alt blurb. The Rambling Man (talk) 11:06, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support whichever way you look at it this is a very unusual powerplay at international level. Nergaal (talk) 12:00, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - This has severely escalated since yesterday. On the other hand, holy fucking shit guys; we're all going to die. /s UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 12:02, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - This has escalated beyond minor diplomatic tit-for-tat.--WaltCip (talk) 12:13, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted a variation of Alt-blurb II, also shortened it up a bit. --Jayron32 14:18, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Well, that was unexpected. Thanks all, especially those who changed from oppose to support. Mjroots (talk) 16:59, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Photo- File:Turkish people protesting the Netherlands.jpg is available for use, could be presented as (protestors pictured). Mjroots (talk) 21:56, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

  WP:ERRORS. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:57, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

March 12

Portal:Current events/2017 March 12

March 12, 2017 (2017-03-12) (Sunday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War Tahrir al-Sham, al-Qaeda's branch in Syria, claims responsibility for yesterday's twin bomb attacks in Damascus which left dozens dead. (BBC) Disasters and accidents A landslide at a rubbish dump on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, kills at least 48 people. (BBC) A bus driver in the Haitian city of Gonaïves ploughs into crowds of people celebrating Rara while speeding away from an earlier accident which left one person dead, killing at least 38 people, including a group of street musicians, and injures 17 others. (Reuters) Law and crime Ahmad Daqamseh, the Jordanian soldier who shot seven Israeli schoolchildren on March 13, 1997, is released from prison in Jordan. (Reuters) Politics and elections Abkhazian parliamentary election, 2017 People in the breakaway state of Abkhazia go to the polls for an election. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama dismisses four cabinet ministers, including Minister of Internal Affairs Saimir Tahiri and Minister of Health Ilir Beqaj, in a bid to make the government more technocratic following opposition Democratic Party protests. (Reuters) Former President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Artur Mas, is banned from holding public office for two years after organising an unofficial, unconstitutional independence referendum in 2014. (The Guardian) Sports 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament The field of 68 teams is announced. The overall top seed is defending national champion Villanova; the remaining #1 seeds are Kansas, North Carolina, and Gonzaga. (ESPN)

---

Ethiopia landfill landslide

Article: 2017 Ethopian landfill landslide (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ A landslide kills at least 113 people at a landfill in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Post)
News source(s): CNN
Credits:

• Nominated by 2607:fea8:a260:4ae:f5d8:e204:8133:446f (talk · give credit)

Article needs updating

Nominator's comments: Unusual, and high death toll.

• Comment Obviously we're going to need an article, but this is an ITN-appropriate event; I think we also did post the 2015 landfill landslide that happened in 2015 in China too. --MASEM (t) 03:26, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose stub article, the event itself is covered in one sentence. The Rambling Man (talk) 09:05, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Neutral/Comment - I'm neutral on this because fifty~ dead is definitely notable but the article sucks. We've been getting a lot of shitty article in ITN/C lately; I'm not sure if it reflects the process as a whole but I wish people put a little more effort into articles that they are nominating. I'd do more myself but I'm not suited in scouring news sources, possibly in other languages, and paraphrasing as to prevent plagiarism. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 11:49, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose article is a stub with barely more information than is already in the proposed blurb. Not of sufficient quality for posting on main page. --Jayron32 12:50, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - In the past 5-6 hours barely any work has been done on the article, so I'm moving to oppose because the article is garbage (no morbid pun intended). UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 17:51, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support based on noteworthiness, pending expansion of the article itself. It shouldn't take too long to churn out a half-decent page for ITN. Kurtis ^(talk) 17:58, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• As above, notable but nowhere near ready at the current time. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 18:03, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose The lack of coverage on the landslide currently on Wikipedia is disappointing. --AmaryllisGardener ^talk 17:07, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - when updated and ready.--BabbaQ (talk) 08:22, 19 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] 2017 Dutch–Turkish diplomatic incident

Article: 2017 Dutch–Turkish diplomatic incident (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ A diplomatic incident is caused by the Netherlands refusal to allow Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (pictured)to attend a rally in Rotterdam and Turkey's response of calling the Dutch Fascists and remnants of Nazis. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ Dutch and Turkish diplomats are banned in response to a diplomatic incident ahead of Dutch elections and a Turkish referendum.
Alternative blurb II: ​ The Netherlands and Turkey bans each others' diplomats in response to a diplomatic incident ahead of Dutch elections and a Turkish referendum.
News source(s): Der Spiegel (German language)
Credits:

• Nominated by Mjroots (talk · give credit)
• Updated by AKAKIOS (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: I have started a discussion re the Multiple Issues tag at talk. Afd discussion so far is a unanimous keep. Mjroots (talk) 13:21, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose War of words so far, like in old times ("When the British came out and said Gamal Abdel Nasser is a dog, we can come back and call you the sons of sixty dogs"). Brandmeister^talk 13:38, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Strong oppose political mudslinging is not ITN worthy. --MASEM (t) 13:40, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  Can you point out where in Wikipedia:In_the_news it says that "political mudslinging is not ITN worthy"? The only criteria are that there is an update and that the event is significant. Note also: "Arguments that deal with the appropriateness of topics in general but also ignore the specific story being discussed are also usually not supported by the community." 81.204.120.137 (talk) 21:51, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  • Switch to Support given the escalation of the situation. --MASEM (t) 13:41, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose posting a war of words. Not even sure it merits an article. If ambassadors are withdrawn or diplomatic relations broken, maybe. 331dot (talk) 13:45, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

I'd like to point out that ambassadors are now, effectively, withdrawn.128.214.69.166 (talk) 07:52, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Changing to post-posting support given the escalation. 331dot (talk) 17:16, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose - ITN will get 30+ postings a day if we post every rhetorical back-and-forth at the national political level. That would not be a good thing.--WaltCip (talk) 13:47, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  Can you provide evidence for this rather absurd statement. Should be discounted by the closing admin. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 18:31, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  Yes, my oppose vote should be discounted among the waves and waves of other oppose votes snowing in. Bugger off.--WaltCip (talk) 20:20, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  So in summary, no evidence for your absurd statement. Now I know why Trump won the election. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 21:42, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  If you are as familiar with ITN as you seem to be, you should know that we do not just parrot what is reported in the press, we weigh the notability of the nominations presented. People can disagree about what is notable in good faith- and the notability of something can certainly change over time. What all of those who oppose this are saying is that this does not seem notable at this time. If anything changes- we can all reevaluate our positions. Please stop personally attacking those who disagree with you. 331dot (talk) 22:06, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  Can you point me towards the part of his statement where he is discussing notability? Thanks. And please, do not hararass me on my talk page. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 22:17, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  You have a very different definition of "harassment" than the rest of us if you consider one warning made in good faith harassment. 331dot (talk) 22:21, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  Hardly in good faith, if you use these template in content disputes, one-sidedly. But back to the content dispute, can you please point out where WaltCip is discussing notability in his statement? All I see are some alternative facts. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 22:27, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

  You clearly have made up your mind-which is your right- so I see little point in further comment. 331dot (talk) 22:48, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose – Per 331. Entertaining episode, but so far without substantive effect. Sca (talk) 16:23, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - I argued to keep the article because of notability but it isn't newsworthy until something more than a shouting match happens. If we posted every notable event of mudslinging, Donald Trump would be in the news every five minutes. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 18:13, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - the foreign minister refused a landing permit, another minister deported out of the country, the Dutch ambassador being refused re-entry into Turkey, that's anything but just "political mudslinging". 81.204.120.137 (talk) 21:48, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Weak Oppose As diplomatic pissing contests go this one is a little more intense than usual, but for now that's still what it is. If there is an actual break in diplomatic relations I would reconsider supporting. -Ad Orientem (talk) 22:57, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment Post-posting support I'm with Ad Orientem here; this is well above the usual complaints at each other but I think it would need an actual diplomatic break to rise to the level of ITN. Erdogan making a complete dick of himself (and pretty much wiping out any chance of Turkey joining the EU for the forseeable future) can of course be included in his article. Well, that escalated quickly Black Kite (talk) 23:23, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - per Ad Orientem. Example of other "diplomatic pissing contests", Vietnam demands China stop cruises in South China Sea . If this kind of event isn't very uncommon then it's hard to justify posting. Banedon (talk) 05:26, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

In order to make the comparison, Vietnam would have to PNG the Chinese ambassador, with China doing the same, and Japan canceling state visits, and violent protests breaking out. This is a little more than your standard piss and moan.128.214.69.166 (talk) 07:57, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

True. I switch to support. Banedon (talk) 08:52, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Adding alt blurb 2 since I don't understand alt blurb. The information in alt blurb 2 isn't actually in the article though. Article only says that Turkey banned the Netherlands' diplomat, not vice versa. Banedon (talk) 11:26, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

"Although not arrested, she was declared as persona non grata[9] and eventually escorted to the Dutch-German border"128.214.69.166 (talk) 11:33, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

That sounds like one particular ambassador is banned. Kind of like if one country's ambassador breaks the law, but claims diplomatic immunity, the other country can declare the violator persona non grata but do not break off relations. All the first country has to do is send a different ambassador. Betül Sayan Kaya is also not actually an ambassador. In fact reading the article again what exactly is the cause of this diplomatic incident is not well communicated. The first section makes it seem like it's got something to do with campaigning, but the "escalation" section says nothing about campaigning. Why is the Turkish government sending ministers to its consulate in the Netherlands, and why is the Netherlands refusing them entry? Banedon (talk) 11:47, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

The questions you are asking are answered in the articles in the altblurbs. Briefly: the government of Turkey (contrary to the principles of the EU and its own laws) is trying to change the constitution in favor of a strongman, and is agitating amongst Turkish expats abroad. The countries where this is happening do not look on this kindly, as it makes a mockery of their sovereignty, creates security problems (riots), and involves them in a civil dispute of a foreign government against their will. Turkey was clearly notified that their government officials were not welcome to do this, but those government officials went anyway, abusing various diplomatic privileges and using outright subterfuge to enter the countries. These people were turned back, expelled or PNG'ed (a very serious designation that is usually reserved for spies). Turkish strongman takes offense to this, and here we are.128.214.163.204 (talk) 13:21, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Thanks. It's not well-communicated in the article, however. The background section ends with "campaigning is not allowed", but the escalation section begins with "Turkish minister entry denied". It doesn't say why the minister is going there, or what the rationale behind denying him entry is. The next paragraph says the minister requested for a gathering and the Netherlands retaliates by revoking landing privileges for his plane. Again it doesn't say why the Netherlands is acting like this. But in any case I expect the article to be improved quickly now that it's on ITN. If it isn't I'll improve it myself over the next few days. Banedon (talk) 15:07, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support. Dutch-Turkish relations are effectively severed, Turkish government visits to Denmark are postponed for the foreseeable future, and the event has opened up a rift in the German government. The article is quite nice (as far as developing news articles go), giving concise background which is digestible to the naïve reader. I would like to compare this to the US-Russian diplomatic back-and-forth in the waning days of the Obama Administration. In that incident (which was proposed here at ITN and rightly closed), it was merely the government of one side making claims and ejecting diplomats without a quid pro quo from the other, and there was little if any public demonstration. Here, we have quid pro quo abound, mass demonstrations on both sides and the incident spreading beyond the two principle states.128.214.69.166 (talk) 07:52, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support – as someone who is caught right in the middle of this, it is difficult to judge how major an event this is exactly. I need to point out, however, that this happened merely two days before the Dutch election, and this incident is caused by an upcoming Turkish referendum that is going to have a huge impact. Turks in the Netherlands is a very large minority in the country and this incident puts a negative light on all of them, I'm afraid. This incident puts EU-Turkey relations at risk as well, and may impact things such as the refugee crisis. I can't not support this news blurb. ~Mable (chat) 08:46, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support I know some of the opposes above were made when this was a little diplomatic spat between Turkey and the Netherlands, but it's got bigger than that. Turkey's relationship with the EU as a whole is now on the line. With the implications for Turkey's (increasingly unlikely) accession to the EU, and the context of the rise of populist / anti-immigration / anti-Islam politics in Europe, this is a significant development that we should post. GoldenRing (talk) 09:41, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment The original blurb is somewhat POV, and I don't think a specific diplomat is worthy of being singled out with a link and a picture since this now includes multiple diplomats from both sides. So, I added an altblurb.128.214.69.166 (talk) 10:06, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
  • I think the altblurb is indeed an improvement. ~Mable (chat) 10:31, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support alt blurb. The Rambling Man (talk) 11:06, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support whichever way you look at it this is a very unusual powerplay at international level. Nergaal (talk) 12:00, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - This has severely escalated since yesterday. On the other hand, holy fucking shit guys; we're all going to die. /s UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 12:02, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - This has escalated beyond minor diplomatic tit-for-tat.--WaltCip (talk) 12:13, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted a variation of Alt-blurb II, also shortened it up a bit. --Jayron32 14:18, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Well, that was unexpected. Thanks all, especially those who changed from oppose to support. Mjroots (talk) 16:59, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Photo- File:Turkish people protesting the Netherlands.jpg is available for use, could be presented as (protestors pictured). Mjroots (talk) 21:56, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

  WP:ERRORS. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:57, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

March 11

Portal:Current events/2017 March 11

March 11, 2017 (2017-03-11) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War Twin bombings kill at least 40 people, mostly Shia Iraqi pilgrims, and wound over 100 in the Bab al-Saghir area of Damascus. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Naxalite–Maoist insurgency At least 11 Central Reserve Police Force troops are killed after their convoy is attacked by suspected Communist Party of India militants in Chhattisgarh. (Al Jazeera) Disasters and accidents At least nine people are killed in fires overnight in Cape Town, South Africa. (All Africa) 2017 Guatemala orphanage fire The death toll at the fire at an orphanage in San José Pinula, Guatemala, rises to at least 38 children. (ABC) International relations 2017 Dutch-Turkish diplomatic incident Dutch authorities withdrew landing permission for a plane carrying Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who was due to speak at a Rotterdam rally in support of a 'Yes' vote in April's constitutional referendum. (BBC) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says the Netherlands are "Nazi remnants and fascists", after the plane was turned back. (BBC) Dutch authorities expelled the Turkish Family minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya from Rotterdam, and escorted her to the German border. (BBC) Politics and elections Western Australian state election, 2017 After eight years in power, the Liberal Party is defeated by the Labor Party in a landslide election. Mark McGowan is set to become the Australian state's new Premier. (The West Australian) Sports 2017 Six Nations Championship England beat Scotland 61–21 at London's Twickenham Stadium to retain the Six Nations Championship title. In doing so, they equal New Zealand's record for consecutive test victories. (The Guardian) (Radio New Zealand)

---

March 10

Portal:Current events/2017 March 10

March 10, 2017 (2017-03-10) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) A Saudi-led coalition airstrike on a market in Al Hudaydah Governorate, Yemen, kills at least 20 civilians and six Houthi militants. (AFP via Daily Mail) Disasters and accidents A helicopter crashes in Istanbul's Büyükçekmece district, killing at least seven people. (Daily Sabah) 2017 Guatemala orphanage fire The death toll at the fire at an orphanage in San José Pinula, Guatemala, rises to at least 35 children. (Reuters) International relations Pope Francis donates 100,000 euros for the poor of Aleppo. (Reuters) Stephen O'Brien, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reports that the world is experiencing its most severe humanitarian crisis since World War II, with over 20 million people suffering from severe lack of food security in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, and Northeast Nigeria. (BBC) Politics and elections Impeachment of Park Geun-hye South Korea's Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, removing her from office. Hwang Kyo-ahn assumes powers as Acting President. (Reuters) Subsequent riots in Seoul kill at least three people. (CNN) 2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions requests the resignations of 46 Barack Obama-era chief federal prosecutors, including United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, who was previously told to stay on by then President-elect Donald Trump in November. (Reuters)

---

[Closed] Ramesses statue

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Ramesses II (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Archaeologists find a colossal ancient Egyptian statue, believed to be that of pharaoh Ramesses II. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ Archaeologists find a colossal ancient Egyptian statue at the Heliopolis site in Cairo.
News source(s): CNN, National Geographic
Credits:

• Nominated by Brandmeister (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: Found on March 9, but still being reported. Brandmeister^talk 16:37, 12 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment. I think "believed to be that of Ramesses II" is too strong (as well as too vague). The New York Times says: "If they are especially lucky, the colossus will be determined to be a likeness of Pharaoh Ramses II, one of the most famous rulers of ancient Egypt. That mystery will not be solved until next week, when they hope to finish the excavation and can look for any inscriptions on the quartzite statue."[26]. CNN attributes the following to the head of the German research team conducting the excavation: "But Raue says although the statue was certainly placed there by Ramses II, the jury is still out on who it depicts." The bolder comments seem to be coming from the media (other than the always careful New York Times) and from Egyptian Ministers. I'm in two minds about whether to post, but if we do, any link to Ramesses needs to be drawn very carefully.--Mkativerata (talk) 18:43, 12 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Added alt, omitting Ramesses. Brandmeister^talk 21:20, 12 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support This is an interesting discovery and a story full of information that deserves inclusion on the main page.--Kiril Simeonovski (talk) 19:22, 12 March 2017 (UTC)
• Is the British Museum going to come and take this one too like they did 100 years ago? Because if yes, we will get another media tour when they put it on exhibit. /s Nergaal (talk) 20:05, 12 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support regardless of whether the statue is of Ramesses II or not: we're still talking a key archeological find. But I agree with Mkativerata the blurb should emphasize the caution there's some confidence, but not a great amount, this is Ramasses. --MASEM (t) 20:24, 12 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose It's inappropriate to link to Ramesses II when there's this level of doubt about who the statue is depicting. I would consider changing my !vote if there was a standalone article on the statue. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 21:11, 12 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains. Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, the lone and level sands stretch far away." Sorry, thought the quote was semi-relevant. I agree with Mkativerata and Masem that the blurb should be annointed to emphasize that there is doubt as to which pharaoh is being depicted, but that it is believed to be Ramesses II. Kurtis ^(talk) 21:32, 12 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - unclear how this is notable, especially as right now not even the age and provenance is clear. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 22:12, 12 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - The identify (and authenticity?) of the statue is yet to be established, and the target article only contains a paragraph on this particular statue. Nick-D (talk) 22:25, 12 March 2017 (UTC)
• Suggest wait. This should be posted, but the links say identification will be done next week, once the statue is actually taken out. Even if it is not Ramses 2, it will still be worthwhile posting it. Nergaal (talk) 22:56, 12 March 2017 (UTC)
• Wait - since the identity of the statue is yet to be confirmed, plus since the linked section is rather poor. I saw the "further information" redirect and thought there was a better article to link, but it turned out to be inappropriate. This can still be featured, but only after 1) confirming it and 2) an appropriate section or article. Banedon (talk) 01:37, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Wait – Developing. (Perhaps eventually there'll be a photo of a restored statue.) Sca (talk) 16:25, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Wait, but then post upon confirmation of identity. ---- Patar knight - ^chat/_{contributions} 20:44, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Update and confirmation we got this right: [27] --Mkativerata (talk) 03:48, 17 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] RD: Samuel Ogbemudia

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Samuel Ogbemudia (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): Daily Post, Nigerian Tribune, The News
Credits:

• Nominated by Fuebaey (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Aymatth2 (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Nigerian politician. Fuebaey (talk) 14:36, 12 March 2017 (UTC)

• Conditional Support There's a CN tag and it could use an actual line or three about his personal life/death. But otherwise it's in passable shape. -Ad Orientem (talk) 14:47, 12 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose It has a CN tag. Alexplaugh12 (talk) 12:48, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] RD: Neila Sathyalingam

Article: Neila Sathyalingam (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Straits Times
Credits:

• Nominated by EternalNomad (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Singaporean dancer, GA quality EternalNomad (talk) 21:22, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment Needs update, the article is currently in present tense. Brandmeister^talk 22:13, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted, after changing the tense. Stephen 01:23, 11 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: John Surtees

Article: John Surtees (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): BBC Sport; The Guardian
Credits:

• Nominated by Bcp67 (talk · give credit)
• Updated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Only man to be World Champion in two-wheel and four-wheel motorsports. Article appears to provide good coverage of his career and is decently sourced. Bcp67 (talk) 16:34, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak oppose for now. Several paragraphs of career section have no source. There's an honorary doctorate noted as well that has no source. Text about death in article is woefully un-encyclopedic in tone and could be expanded (if known) with cause of death. --Jayron32 16:41, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Article has been improved with good references being included just to make the article in good enough shape for posting. --TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 02:43, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support MBlaze Lightning has been doing some fine work. Needs two more citations that I can see (one CN and one open para) but overall good enough for RD. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 06:24, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment — All the [citation needed] tags have been fixed. —MBlaze Lightning ^T 07:10, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
• The last two results tables could do with a reference as to where the official results are maintained. Stephen 07:28, 11 March 2017 (UTC)

•  Done —MBlaze Lightning ^T 16:25, 11 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Stephen 23:39, 11 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Bill Leak

Article: Bill Leak (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Australian ABC News Sydney Morning Herald
Credits:

• Nominated by Dmmaus (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Canley (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Prominent political cartoonist, article looks comprehensive and well-referenced to me. dmmaus (talk) 03:48, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment - there are three CN tags that need fixing.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 16:50, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
  • I have added two citations and removed the third. No tags remain. --dmmaus (talk) 22:42, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 01:13, 11 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] South Korean president removed

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Impeachment of Park Geun-hye (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Park Geun-hye is removed as President of South Korea by the Constitutional Court of Korea, with Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn assuming the office. (Post)
News source(s): NY Times USA Today The Guardian Le Monde
Credits:

• Nominated by 331dot (talk · give credit)

The nominated event is listed on WP:ITN/R, so each occurrence is presumed to be important enough to post. Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article and update meet WP:ITNCRIT, not the significance.

Nominator's comments: A change in head of state is ITNR. Not sure if or how to mention that this is a first for South Korea- as well as elections that must occur in 60 days. 331dot (talk) 03:18, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support Blurb with current facets (1) former and succeeding presidents 2) link to impeachment article 3) judiciary affirmation of removal) takes highest priority, then time limit for next presidential election, then fact that this is the ROK's first such example. Blurb might be modified to '''[[Impeachment of Park Geun-hye|Park Geun-hye is removed]]''' as [[President of South Korea]] by the [[Constitutional Court of Korea]], with Prime Minister [[Hwang Kyo-ahn]] assuming the office, and a [[South Korean presidential election, 2017|new presidential election]] is to be held by 9 May 2017.
• Support No question of importance for ITN, and impeachment article is in good shape. --MASEM (t) 05:29, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support I think the setting of a deadline for an election is more important than the PM temporarily assuming the office. So if space is going to be an issue I support including the date instead of the PM. AtHomeIn神戸 (talk) 05:32, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted with Masem's blurb, minus the PM. ITNR + article is well done, per above. No objections to posting a more improved blurb if/when others comment. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 06:39, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

  Two sentences in the blurb is unusual. It's also somewhat surprising that Park Geun Hye's name is up there but clicking on it does not direct to her article. I'd do something like "South Korean President Park Geun Hye is removed by the Constitutional Court of Korea." Banedon (talk) 06:50, 10 March 2017 (UTC) Nevermind, fixed by Stephen. Banedon (talk) 06:50, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

post support this is massive. Another fight back against the globalist oligarchy. We should link to the new election in about 60 days or so. brexit, Trump, Rome (which we dint post), Bulgaria, Moldova, Ghana and now re-affirmed in Korea. Like father, like daughter.Lihaas (talk) 14:20, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

@Lihaas: You should know by now that this is not a place to make political statements. Let's keep things on the subject of this nomination. 331dot (talk) 14:24, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

Yu should know I suggested the reasons for its notability as well addin the election link (suggestion)

procedural oppose the article has ONE sentene on the verdict update. D o yall read the blind posting of such artilces? TRM makes heck of a lot of sense here.Lihaas (talk) 14:26, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

After a 2 month trial (which was already documented), how much more of an update could you expect? In time, I would expect reactions and the like, but its the result of a trial, and both the lede and body reported that result. --MASEM (t) 14:34, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

(ec)"Another fight back against the globalist oligarchy" is an unnecessary political flourish. 331dot (talk) 14:35, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 9

Portal:Current events/2017 March 9

March 9, 2017 (2017-03-09) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War, American-led intervention in Syria According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, multiple suspected U.S.-led coalition air raids kill at least 23 civilians in the village of al-Matab in northern Syria. (Al Jazeera) Arts and culture German and Egyptian archaeologists uncover a humanoid statue with an approximate height of eight metres, believed to be of Ramesses II, at the former site of Heliopolis in northeast Cairo. (The Daily Telegraph) Disasters and accidents A motorway bridge near Ancona, Italy, collapses killing two Italians and injuring two Romanian workers. The Italian highway agency links the collapse with a temporary structure that was designed to support it. (BBC) An overcrowded bus veers off a mountain road in Jajarkot District, Nepal, killing at least 24 people. (Al Jazeera) Law and crime 2017 Düsseldorf axe attack An assailant injures seven people, one severely, in an axe attack at the central railway station in Düsseldorf, Germany. Police have arrested one suspect. (CNN)

---

[Closed] RD: Marilyn B. Young

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Marilyn B. Young (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): NYT
Credits:

• Nominated by The ed17 (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 06:12, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Stale - she died on 19 February...I'm not sure why obituaries are running now, because the one used in the article is dated 24 February. Black Kite (talk) 11:06, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] Kabul hospital attack

Article: March 2017 Kabul attack (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ As many as 30 civilians are killed in an attack on a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Post)
News source(s): BBC, Washington Post, Al Jazeera
Credits:

• Nominated by Andise1 (talk · give credit)

Article needs updating

Nominator's comments: This appears to be a notable attack, more so than other recent attacks in Afghanistan. The article is short but if anyone wants to help expand it that would be greatly appreciated. Andise1 (talk) 05:42, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support on principle of being an ISIS-linked terrorist attack of large # casualties, but article quality is very poor in both length and tone. --MASEM (t) 14:06, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Weak Support - Per Masem, the event is significant but the article is crap. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 14:17, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• I've expanded the article; it's not extensive but should be suitable for posting. The Wicked Twisted Road (talk) 15:53, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Agree: while still short, the expansion is sufficient for an article now and ITN material --MASEM (t) 21:25, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 01:11, 11 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] Donald Tusk re-elected

Articles: Donald Tusk (talk · history · tag) and President of the European Council (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Donald Tusk is re-elected President of the European Council despite opposition from his home country, Poland. (Post)
News source(s): BBC
Credits:

• Nominated by Andrew Davidson (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Glentamara (talk · give credit) and Neun-x (talk · give credit)

Both articles updated
One or both nominated events are listed on WP:ITN/R, so each occurrence is presumed to be important enough to post. Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article and update meet WP:ITNCRIT, not the significance.

Nominator's comments: Prominent election with an element of controversy Andrew D. (talk) 19:27, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment – This is an interesting story, particularly for anyone trying to follow murky, quirky Polish politics. But I'm not sure the president of the European Council is sufficiently notable for ITN. Undecided. Sca (talk) 21:17, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
  • This appears to be on WP:ITNR and is a highly prominent position, so it is assumed to be sufficiently notable. Morningstar1814 (talk) 21:51, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. I have nothing to add to the nominator's reasons. I agree with the blurb mentioning Poland's opposition. --Mkativerata (talk) 21:22, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• If the blurb is going to highlight Poland's objection then the bolded article needs to have some prose explaining why this happened and what this means. Currently it simply states that Tusk didn't get the Polish PM's vote, which isn't sufficiently illuminating. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 21:59, 9 March 2017 (UTC) This has now been covered in Donald_Tusk#President_of_the_European_Council --LukeSurl ^{t c} 11:02, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support on notability if that's a question we need to answer. Fairly big geopolitical news, it's an important office in an important international institution. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 22:15, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment – Would like to confirm if this is actually on WP:ITNR. The section "Elections and Heads of State" does not seem to cover the President of the European Council, as EU elections refer to parliamentary elections, and this position, indirectly elected, is not really a head of state. It's a fairly prominent position and seems to have grown in influence recently. The nomination on the election in 2014 did not pass, which I assume was due to article quality. Morningstar1814 (talk) 22:02, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• As far as I can tell, this isn't ITN/R. However if this passes (as I suspect it will do comfortably), I will make a proposal to add it. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 22:31, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Is this not a "European Union election" as ITNR states? 331dot (talk) 22:49, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• I believe that refers to Elections to the European Parliament --LukeSurl ^{t c} 23:25, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• I agree - this doesn't count as an EU election; that's referring to parliamentary elections. Therefore this is not a ITN/R item.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 16:28, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose until updated with at least a paragraph. This seems like a curious story where a group a people choose in a room a position that is supposedly significant despite one party "vetoing" it. Nergaal (talk) 23:23, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• For those wondering why the one country voting against Tusk is his own, this gives you the basic background. Meanwhile, Weak Support once articles are updated; this is an influential position. Black Kite (talk) 00:02, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• I've updated the Donald Tusk article, which I think should be the bold link, as the President of the European Council article deals more with the position of the office rather than the holder, and has an inconveniently large and outdated section about the previous president. The Wicked Twisted Road (talk) 01:51, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• It lacks far too many references to be the bolded article. Stephen 02:36, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• I suppose we'll just have to do something about that. The Wicked Twisted Road (talk) 03:20, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Through judicious application of the delete key, I think all sourcing gaps have been addressed. The Wicked Twisted Road (talk) 04:19, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Still an orange tag and a few cns? Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 06:41, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• I've made some additions. Should be OK now. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 11:01, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Stephen 11:06, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Howard Hodgkin

Article: Howard Hodgkin (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Guardian, The Telegraph
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 14:19, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support It seems adequate. Andrew D. (talk) 17:58, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. Referencing looks good.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 19:10, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 06:43, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] US involvement in Syria

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Syrian Civil War (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The United States is sending an additional 400 troops to Syria to help prepare for the expected fight for Raqqa. (Post)
News source(s): NY Times The Guardian Salon
Credits:

• Nominated by Adûnâi (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: The articles have not been updated. --Adûnâi (talk) 13:47, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Strong oppose Troop movement from one country is not a significant ITN topic. --MASEM (t) 14:07, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose. Too small a troop number. If tens of thousands of US troops were going, maybe. 331dot (talk) 14:12, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose there is no updated content to assess the quality of. --Jayron32 14:13, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - Not the first deployment in Syria, and not in significant numbers. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 14:15, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 9

Portal:Current events/2017 March 9

March 9, 2017 (2017-03-09) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War, American-led intervention in Syria According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, multiple suspected U.S.-led coalition air raids kill at least 23 civilians in the village of al-Matab in northern Syria. (Al Jazeera) Arts and culture German and Egyptian archaeologists uncover a humanoid statue with an approximate height of eight metres, believed to be of Ramesses II, at the former site of Heliopolis in northeast Cairo. (The Daily Telegraph) Disasters and accidents A motorway bridge near Ancona, Italy, collapses killing two Italians and injuring two Romanian workers. The Italian highway agency links the collapse with a temporary structure that was designed to support it. (BBC) An overcrowded bus veers off a mountain road in Jajarkot District, Nepal, killing at least 24 people. (Al Jazeera) Law and crime 2017 Düsseldorf axe attack An assailant injures seven people, one severely, in an axe attack at the central railway station in Düsseldorf, Germany. Police have arrested one suspect. (CNN)

---

[Closed] RD: Marilyn B. Young

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Marilyn B. Young (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): NYT
Credits:

• Nominated by The ed17 (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 06:12, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Stale - she died on 19 February...I'm not sure why obituaries are running now, because the one used in the article is dated 24 February. Black Kite (talk) 11:06, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] Kabul hospital attack

Article: March 2017 Kabul attack (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ As many as 30 civilians are killed in an attack on a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Post)
News source(s): BBC, Washington Post, Al Jazeera
Credits:

• Nominated by Andise1 (talk · give credit)

Article needs updating

Nominator's comments: This appears to be a notable attack, more so than other recent attacks in Afghanistan. The article is short but if anyone wants to help expand it that would be greatly appreciated. Andise1 (talk) 05:42, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support on principle of being an ISIS-linked terrorist attack of large # casualties, but article quality is very poor in both length and tone. --MASEM (t) 14:06, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Weak Support - Per Masem, the event is significant but the article is crap. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 14:17, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• I've expanded the article; it's not extensive but should be suitable for posting. The Wicked Twisted Road (talk) 15:53, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Agree: while still short, the expansion is sufficient for an article now and ITN material --MASEM (t) 21:25, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 01:11, 11 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] Donald Tusk re-elected

Articles: Donald Tusk (talk · history · tag) and President of the European Council (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Donald Tusk is re-elected President of the European Council despite opposition from his home country, Poland. (Post)
News source(s): BBC
Credits:

• Nominated by Andrew Davidson (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Glentamara (talk · give credit) and Neun-x (talk · give credit)

Both articles updated
One or both nominated events are listed on WP:ITN/R, so each occurrence is presumed to be important enough to post. Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article and update meet WP:ITNCRIT, not the significance.

Nominator's comments: Prominent election with an element of controversy Andrew D. (talk) 19:27, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment – This is an interesting story, particularly for anyone trying to follow murky, quirky Polish politics. But I'm not sure the president of the European Council is sufficiently notable for ITN. Undecided. Sca (talk) 21:17, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
  • This appears to be on WP:ITNR and is a highly prominent position, so it is assumed to be sufficiently notable. Morningstar1814 (talk) 21:51, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. I have nothing to add to the nominator's reasons. I agree with the blurb mentioning Poland's opposition. --Mkativerata (talk) 21:22, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• If the blurb is going to highlight Poland's objection then the bolded article needs to have some prose explaining why this happened and what this means. Currently it simply states that Tusk didn't get the Polish PM's vote, which isn't sufficiently illuminating. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 21:59, 9 March 2017 (UTC) This has now been covered in Donald_Tusk#President_of_the_European_Council --LukeSurl ^{t c} 11:02, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support on notability if that's a question we need to answer. Fairly big geopolitical news, it's an important office in an important international institution. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 22:15, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment – Would like to confirm if this is actually on WP:ITNR. The section "Elections and Heads of State" does not seem to cover the President of the European Council, as EU elections refer to parliamentary elections, and this position, indirectly elected, is not really a head of state. It's a fairly prominent position and seems to have grown in influence recently. The nomination on the election in 2014 did not pass, which I assume was due to article quality. Morningstar1814 (talk) 22:02, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• As far as I can tell, this isn't ITN/R. However if this passes (as I suspect it will do comfortably), I will make a proposal to add it. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 22:31, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Is this not a "European Union election" as ITNR states? 331dot (talk) 22:49, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• I believe that refers to Elections to the European Parliament --LukeSurl ^{t c} 23:25, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• I agree - this doesn't count as an EU election; that's referring to parliamentary elections. Therefore this is not a ITN/R item.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 16:28, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose until updated with at least a paragraph. This seems like a curious story where a group a people choose in a room a position that is supposedly significant despite one party "vetoing" it. Nergaal (talk) 23:23, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• For those wondering why the one country voting against Tusk is his own, this gives you the basic background. Meanwhile, Weak Support once articles are updated; this is an influential position. Black Kite (talk) 00:02, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• I've updated the Donald Tusk article, which I think should be the bold link, as the President of the European Council article deals more with the position of the office rather than the holder, and has an inconveniently large and outdated section about the previous president. The Wicked Twisted Road (talk) 01:51, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• It lacks far too many references to be the bolded article. Stephen 02:36, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• I suppose we'll just have to do something about that. The Wicked Twisted Road (talk) 03:20, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Through judicious application of the delete key, I think all sourcing gaps have been addressed. The Wicked Twisted Road (talk) 04:19, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Still an orange tag and a few cns? Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 06:41, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• I've made some additions. Should be OK now. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 11:01, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Stephen 11:06, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Howard Hodgkin

Article: Howard Hodgkin (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Guardian, The Telegraph
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 14:19, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support It seems adequate. Andrew D. (talk) 17:58, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. Referencing looks good.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 19:10, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 06:43, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] US involvement in Syria

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Syrian Civil War (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The United States is sending an additional 400 troops to Syria to help prepare for the expected fight for Raqqa. (Post)
News source(s): NY Times The Guardian Salon
Credits:

• Nominated by Adûnâi (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: The articles have not been updated. --Adûnâi (talk) 13:47, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Strong oppose Troop movement from one country is not a significant ITN topic. --MASEM (t) 14:07, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose. Too small a troop number. If tens of thousands of US troops were going, maybe. 331dot (talk) 14:12, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose there is no updated content to assess the quality of. --Jayron32 14:13, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - Not the first deployment in Syria, and not in significant numbers. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 14:15, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 8

Portal:Current events/2017 March 8

March 8, 2017 (2017-03-08) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) March 2017 Kabul attack A suicide bomber and unidentified gunmen dressed as doctors attack a military hospital in Kabul, killing at least 38 people and wounding dozens more. ISIL claims responsibility for the attack. (The Guardian) Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) At least 21 people are killed after two suicide bombers attack a wedding party near Tikrit. (Al Jazeera) Syrian Civil War American-led intervention in Syria The United States Marine Corps' 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrives in Syria ahead of a Syrian Democratic Forces operation to take control of ISIL's de facto capital of Raqqa. (The Washington Post) Business and economy RadioShack files for chapter 11 protection from creditors for the second time in two years. (Reuters). Disasters and accidents The gigantic limestone natural arch Azure Window on the Maltese island of Gozo collapses due to a storm. (Times of Malta) 2017 Guatemala orphanage fire A fire breaks out at an orphanage in San José Pinula, Guatemala after students protesting conditions including alleged sexual and physical abuse set fire to their bedding, killing at least 19 children. (BBC) Law and crime Abdellatif Midras, a member of the Moroccan Parliament, is shot dead in Casablanca. (Reuters) Politics and elections The Day Without a Woman general strike occurs. (The Verge) Science and technology Timeline of Mars exploration U.S. Congress passes a bill that mandates NASA send humans to Mars by 2033. (Business Insider) (Gizmodo) Physicists synthesize space-time crystals for the first time. (Live Science) (Nature) Sports 2016–17 UEFA Champions League In association football, FC Barcelona becomes the first team to overturn a first-leg 4–0 deficit in the UEFA Champions League as they knocked out Paris Saint-Germain with a 6–1 victory in the second leg to reach the quarter-finals for the 10th successive season. (BBC)

---

[Posted] Time crystals

Article: Space-time crystal (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Physicists synthesize space-time crystals for the first time (Post)
News source(s): [28] [29]
Credits:

• Nominated by Banedon (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Sparkyscience (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: Seems like a pretty major thing in quantum physics, little coverage in mainstream media though. Maybe Masem & @Modest Genius: would know more? Banedon (talk) 09:56, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support There's little coverage in mainstream media but the Wall Street Journal has it. As this is quite a novel idea, the item provides good variety. The blurb should call them "time crystals", like the WSJ and other sources, as this is shorter, sounds better and seems to be the most common name. Andrew D. (talk) 10:59, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. I agree with Andrew; this isn't top headline news, but it is covered, and the novelty of this makes up for the lesser coverage. 331dot (talk) 11:01, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• To be honest I don't understand the science here either. It seems like one of those weird solid-state quantum oddities, most of which go nowhere but some do lead to real applications (like quantum cryptography). The article looks good and is well-referenced, so we might like to feature it for that reason. But the concept is very technical and confusing for non-specialists. I'll refrain from !voting because I don't understand the physics. Modest Genius ^talk 11:09, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment Appears to be stale (since at least 2016). Brandmeister^talk 13:29, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

It sounds like this is being reported now because they are confident about the merits of this. 331dot (talk) 13:32, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

Correct - the scientific papers describing experimental results have been around for a while, but the peer review process to check there is no obvious flaws in methodology can take some time, It was not until last week Nature published the papers.--Sparkyscience (talk) 15:09, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

For a science story such as this it's appropriate to post and date the story at the time of publication of the final, reviewed and revised, paper. I'm happy with the blurb as it stands but if we want to be more specific we should mention the research being published is the news story. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 15:44, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

I guarantee that if this were somehow nominated at the time this story actually occurred, the primary complaint against posting would be "not a peer reviewed study".--WaltCip (talk) 17:04, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak support with the only cavaets I have being some small gaps in inline sourcing and perhaps the lede being just a notch too high for the average reader (eg what practical applications does this have?) --MASEM (t) 15:19, 13 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Its a pretty important discovery: time translation symmetry is the only symmetry in nature thought not to be able to be broken and leads directly to the conservation of energy law, now it has been broken...--Sparkyscience (talk) 15:21, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

• Post-posting Support plus Comment on above: I fully support the posting. But in the light of some a seemingly misleading or incorrect points in the above comment by Sparkyscience, I'd like to mention that:

• 0) Apologies for the lengthy wall of text, but in this case concision seems to be the enemy of verifiability, plus it's a lot shorter if you just read the bold bits.
• 1) This is not the first direct observation of a T-symmetry violation. Space-time crystal#cite note-38 tells us that a T-symmetry violation was directly observed by Lees et al in 2012 (paper last revised in 2013). As item 3 below points out in more detail, the 1964 observation of a CP violation meant that T violation has long been widely expected under the CPT Theorem.
• 2) As Space-time crystal#Quasienergy points out: "In either case the apparent non-conservation is in reality a transfer to the vacuum field (i.e. zero-point field).[25]" (Note: it earlier makes clear the apparent non-conservations are of energy in this case, and of momentum in another case). In other words breaking Time Translation Symmetry does not invalidate the conservation of energy law (as "and leads directly to the conservation of energy law" would at least appear to imply, even though it does not explicitly state this).
• 3) As the lead of CPT symmetry points out: "Charge, Parity, and Time Reversal Symmetry is a fundamental symmetry of physical laws under the simultaneous transformations of charge conjugation (C), parity transformation (P), and time reversal (T). CPT is the only combination of C, P, and T that is observed to be an exact symmetry of nature at the fundamental level.[1]" The cited paper was published in 1998 - in other words it has not been true for a long time that "time translation symmetry is the only symmetry in nature thought not to be able to be broken". However, it was reportedly once briefly thought to be the case - CPT symmetry#History states: "For a short time, the CP-symmetry was believed to be preserved by all physical phenomena, but that was later found to be false too, which implied, by CPT invariance, violations of T-symmetry as well." The lead for CP violation adds: "The discovery of CP violation in 1964 in the decays of neutral kaons resulted in the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1980 for its discoverers James Cronin and Val Fitch.".Space-time crystal#Broken symmetry tells us that P violations were theorized in 1956 and that P and C violations were discovered in 1957 (resulting in the 1957 Nobel Prize being awarded for the 1956 theory), before adding "At around the same time questions of possible asymmetries under time-reversal T and CP violations (the product of C and P transformations) were also raised, though actual experimental confirmation did not come until quite a few years later.[16]" - so any widespread belief in CP and T inviolability may have been even briefer than the 1957-1964 interval suggested by the experimental results.

Tlhslobus (talk) 07:49, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Lol oh dear, I appreciate your vigilance, but its pretty clear you don't really know what your talking about: T-symmetry i.e time-reversal symmetry and time-translation symmetry are not the same thing. More or less the entire time crystal article including the bits you cite above was written by me in this edit [30] so thank you for pointing out things I have written in order to try and claim I am being misleading :-) Take any remaining pointers you wish to raise on the time crystal talk page.--Sparkyscience (talk) 08:30, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• OOPS. How embarrassingly stupid of me. My abject apologies, Sparkyscience (and my thanks to you for correcting me), regarding confusing Time Translation and Time Reversal, so my points 1 and 3 are clearly completely wrong, and I have now crossed them out.
• But I still think point 2 (about the conservation of energy) is sufficiently valid to leave in (unless you later correct me on that point too), even though it turns out that I'm quoting lines you wrote in the article to clarify the seemingly misleading stuff you wrote here. At least it certainly misled me into thinking that the conservation of energy was being called into doubt (after which I foolishly failed to notice the difference between the 2 time symmetries). So I'm leaving it here (at least until if and when you correct me) for the benefit of anybody else who may have been similarly confused (although clearly what I wrote in items 1 and 3 would have been at least as confusing if you had not corrected me, for which once again thanks). Tlhslobus (talk) 09:44, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
• Also, Sparkyscience, I hesitate to ask this for fear of yet another booboo, but is it correct to say that "time translation symmetry is (or was) the only symmetry in nature thought not to be able to be broken", given that I would have thought the CPT theorem says that CPT is a symmetry that supposedly can't be broken? I'm aware there's a 2011 paper questioning its connection to Lorentz invariance, but I didn't think that implied CPT was thought to be breakable (except in the seemingly irrelevant sense that nothing is ever 100% certain in science) - perhaps it does? I'm asking this here rather than on the time crystal talk page because the confusing statement is here, not there.Tlhslobus (talk) 10:52, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• On point 2 - Any broken symmetry in nature will, by definition, cause a corresponding conservation law to be altered by the Noether theorem. However, we can consider any apparent violation of a conservation law as a transfer to the vacuum state so overall symmetry is restored, in normal situations we can generally ignore the vacuum as it is not considered mutable. For example a transfer to the vacuum can cause momentum to appear "from nowhere" [31] [32] there is no reason to suppose the same is not true for energy under certain conditions. The term "quasienergy" instead of "energy" is used in the context of time crystals because it is a technical violation of the "normal" energy conservation law in which the effect of the vacuum does not come into play.
• On your last point - "Symmetry breaking is a pervasive concept in physics, explaining diverse phenomena such as spatial crystals, superconductivity, and the Higgs mechanism. Yet until recently, time-translation symmetry was the “lone holdout”"[33] Your point on CPT is a good one: the short answer is we just don't know. Don't hold me to this...but I understand it, one of the experiments created time crystals in a cold atom system being bombarded by lasers (to create an optical lattice), this same sort of set up is also currently being used to create gauge fields out of "nowhere" to test whether general relativity holds in such situations. I was reading about this the other week and... for the life of me... I cannot find the publications now. If i find them will update you on your talk page.--Sparkyscience (talk) 12:24, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

Thanks, Sparkyscience. Tlhslobus (talk) 19:49, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Stephen 23:46, 13 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: George Andrew Olah

Article: George Andrew Olah (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): AP via ABC News
Credits:

• Nominated by Shoy (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: 1994 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry. shoy (reactions) 18:14, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support A Nobel prize-winner. What are we waiting for? Andrew D. (talk) 19:09, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment: I added references for some (all?) of the unreferenced claims and fleshed out his educational and teaching history; that said, there is more expansion that could be done regarding his work in organic chemistry. Currently there's not much about what he contributed to the field (maybe 4 sentences total?); perhaps two complete paragraphs describing his professional work would bring this up to an acceptable standard. Spencer^T♦C 19:16, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• We should ask some chemists to take a look. Can EdChem or Smokefoot help, please? Andrew D. (talk) 20:24, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Ended up adding more myself; marking [ready], but additional look-overs on my additions are more than welcome. Spencer^T♦C 19:09, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment - a few CNs left in there, and needs info on his death. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 06:44, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Those issues should be resolved now. Spencer^T♦C 17:02, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. Looks good to go now.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 17:08, 10 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 01:05, 11 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] Azure Window collapses

Article: Azure Window (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The limestone natural arch Azure Window (pictured) on the Maltese island of Gozo collapses due to a storm. (Post)
News source(s): BBC, Times of Malta
Credits:

• Nominated by Bruzaholm (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: One of the most famous landmarks of Malta gone in a storm. Bruzaholm (talk) 12:42, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose - I don't see how notable this is. I mean, natural landmarks collapse fairly often. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 12:53, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Although not a natural organism per se, would this fall under the purveyance of RD?--WaltCip (talk) 13:04, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• No. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 13:05, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Definitely not. We already push the envelope for RD; this would be simply inappropriate. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 13:07, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• RD specifically says biological organism, so this is excluded. Banedon (talk) 14:39, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support The collapse of a famous natural arch is notable for me and a news of high encyclopedic value. I don't agree entirely that natural landmarks collapse fairly often or perhaps I fail to see them on the front page of the media.--Kiril Simeonovski (talk) 13:22, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose. Coastal features erode all the time; every arch like this will eventually collapse (see Aruba Natural Bridge and London Arch as examples). Although this one was unusually notable, that was enough to warrant an article but not an ITN entry. Modest Genius ^talk 14:04, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Azure Window was notable prior to its collapse, so I don't agree with Modest Genius. The BBC article also says "The Azure Window was one of Malta's most famous landmarks". That should suffice to qualify this for ITN. Banedon (talk) 14:39, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - it was one of the most beautiful and known icons of Malta. --Holapaco77 (talk) 14:52, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Yes, it's erosion and a natural process, but it is also a well-recognized landmark. Article is in good shape to post. --MASEM (t) 16:44, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - It was one of Malta's major tourist attractions, probably the best-known natural landmark on the islands. I just rewrote the article, almost doubling its size. Xwejnusgozo (talk) 16:50, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose – Per UNSC Luke. (Cf. Wall Arch.) While the Azure Window was no doubt a famous landmark in Europe, it doesn't rise to ITN-level significance. Sca (talk) 17:19, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted. I slightly reworded the blurb to avoid a false title problem. --Jayron32 17:22, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose per above. Not a UNESCO WHS or anything. --AmaryllisGardener ^talk 19:38, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - "every arch like this will eventually collapse"... yes, and every person will eventually die, but we regularly post things to RD. – Juliancolton | ^Talk 19:41, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Sad news. It was an inevitability, but it's still sad and a blow to Malta's geographic heritage. Kurtis ^(talk) 19:45, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Striking yet another pointy comment. 331dot (talk) 20:29, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
OpposeI agree with Luke, this has nothing to do with the UK, not visually appealing, not described by the British Museum as a "unique find" /s. Nergaal (talk) 20:19, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

I don't feel sad about it. Sca (talk) 23:13, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

March 7

Portal:Current events/2017 March 7

March 7, 2017 (2017-03-07) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War The Syrian Army captures at least 23 villages in North East Aleppo Governorate from ISIL in a matter of hours after an ISIL withdrawal caused by the SAA capturing Al-Khafsah. (Al Masdar News) Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) Battle of Mosul (2016–2017) The Iraqi Army retakes Mosul Museum as well as the main government building in Mosul. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents 2016–17 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season Cyclone Enawo makes landfall in Madagascar as a powerful Category 4 storm, making it the most powerful storm to strike the African nation in 13 years. (The Weather Channel) Dozens of tornadoes spawned by thunderstorms touch down in the American Midwest, damaging or destroying numerous homes and businesses and causing some injuries. The Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, Kansas is closed following heavy damage caused by the severe weather. (ABC News) A CSX Transportation freight train collides with a charter bus in Biloxi, Mississippi, killing at least four people and leaving dozens injured. (Fox News) 2016-2017 Cook Inlet natural gas leak An investigation by the United States Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration finds that the natural gas leak occurring in Alaska's Cook Inlet began earlier than first reported, and represents significant safety and environmental risks. The agency gives pipeline operator Hilcorp Energy until May 1, 2017 to fix the leak, or shut the pipeline down. (KTUU-TV) International relations Malaysia–North Korea relations North Korea temporarily bans all Malaysian nationals (estimated to be at least 11 people including embassy employees) from leaving the country amid a growing dispute between the two countries over the death of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of Kim Jong-un. Malaysian official Khairy Jamaluddin calls the move "tantamount to taking hostages". (BBC) (Channel News Asia) South Korea–United States relations The United States begins deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in South Korea. (BBC) Law and crime Vault 7 WikiLeaks releases thousands of documents that it claims provides details of surveillance software used by the United States Central Intelligence Agency. (The New York Times) Politics and elections European migrant crisis The National Assembly of Hungary approves the automatic detention of all asylum seekers who enter the country. (BBC)

---

[Posted] RD: Ron Bass (wrestler)

Article: Ron Bass (wrestler) (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): [34], [35]
Credits:

• Nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 07:43, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support Solid, well referenced article. --Jayron32 11:29, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 23:54, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Kamran Aziz

Article: Kamran Aziz (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): Kıbrıs (sorry, could not find anything in English, the title here reads "Kamran Aziz hayatını kaybetti!" = "Kamran Aziz has died!") + BRT (Turkish Cypriot state TV)
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by GGT (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Leading figure for Turkish Cypriot women and a key composer in the Cypriot musical tradition. GGT (talk) 00:17, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support — Short but well referenced. —MBlaze Lightning ^T 13:01, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment As all references are in Turkish (which is not disallowed, I should point out), it would be helpful if someone who knows that area could comment on the sourcing quality, but this otherwise looks fine. --MASEM (t) 16:58, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Since the nomination the Turkish Cypriot state TV released an article in English, linked above. There is also an English-language book cited in the article, which can be accessed online. --GGT (talk) 17:25, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 23:22, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] RD: Vince (rhinoceros)

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Vince (rhinoceros) (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): "White rhino shot dead in French zoo, horn sawn off". Reuters. March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2017.; Breeden, Aurelien (March 7, 2017). "Rhinoceros Is Killed for Its Horn at Wildlife Park Near Paris". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2017.; Willsher, Kim (March 7, 2017). "Rhino shot dead by poachers at French zoo". The Guardian. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
Credits:

• Nominated by Zigzig20s (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: The first rhinoceros to be murdered inside a zoo in Europe. A stub, with potential to be expanded. Zigzig20s (talk) 22:57, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support blurb - This is an unexpected death and the circumstances surrounding it are noteworthy. --WaltCip (talk) 22:59, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment – A good faith nom. about a bizarre story, but in general I haven't been comfortable with ITN blurbs about animal deaths. Highlighting such events in this way seems almost to cheapen the tragic human deaths in the news all the time. Sca (talk) 23:21, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

Well, the way Vince was brutally murdered (or "killed") is rather tragic, isn't it?Zigzig20s (talk) 23:52, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

Savage and revolting, but again tragic seems rather too anthropomorphic. Sca (talk) 17:28, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

PS: The death of Fritz the polar bear in the Berlin Zoo drew this headline – Tragic end for Fritz – in guess what publication? – Sca (talk) 17:41, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

I agree that applying RD to non-humans is wildly inappropriate. That guideline has got out of hand. IMO this either needs to be a notable enough story for a blurb, on its own merits, or nothing. RD for an animal is frankly distasteful and disrespectful of the people we list there. Modest Genius ^talk 14:12, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Run an RFC and get the consensus changed. Until then it's the law of the land.--WaltCip (talk) 14:36, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support - Good article and notable. On the other hand, what the fuck?! UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 00:20, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• We have consensus to post notable non-human organisms to RD so that's not an issue. That said, I'm not really convinced on quality. The article contains 132 words of readable prose – around 80 if you remove the quote and tweet (the latter of which seems of dubious significance). It's a stub with section headers. While I think a rhino being poached in a zoo is probably noteworthy and highly rare, the "First rhinoceros to be killed inside a zoo in Europe" claim to notoriety seems to be based on an emotionally charged comment from the zookeeper saying there has never "been a case [...] of such violence", which doesn't explicitly state it's the first time a rhinoceros has been "killed" (dubious wording – not even by accident?) in a European zoo. Not really comfortable posting in this condition. – Juliancolton | ^Talk 00:48, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Thanks for your concerns. I have added "probably" with two references and direct quotes. Probably hard to get real data about this--for example it's possible rhinoceroses were killed during the world wars--but this is definitely "in the news" as a most unusual event.Zigzig20s (talk) 07:27, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

By the way, in my "edit summary," I meant to type "re." Sorry about the typo.Zigzig20s (talk) 07:27, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose blurb - the only time I could see the death of an individual animal being blurb worthy is if it were the last of its species. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 13:06, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Do you support an inclusion in the RD section? UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 14:15, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• I haven't the time now to review the article and reference quality, but if it's adequate then yes. The new RD rules on notability are clear that they include individual animals with articles. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 14:18, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• For what it's worth, I don't really like this "animal inclusion" aspect of the current policy and would support an effort to amend. But as the rules currently stand animal nominations are OK for RD. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 14:42, 8 March 2017 (UTC) -- after reading some discussions in this thread I have some further thoughts on this, see below. ---LukeSurl ^{t c} 14:18, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support RD. But I hope the publicity doesn't encourage anyone. -SusanLesch (talk) 14:39, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose We shouldn't have an article on the animal, under the logic of WP:BLP1E. The article was created as a result of the crime, and ignoring everything about the crime, the animal had no notability before that point; being the victim of a crime, were this a human, would not qualify the person for an article, and the same logic should apply here. This is not like Cevil who was notable before killed, or the situation around Killing of Harambe which was the controversy about actions taken to protect the kid over the gorilla; there's no indication that there's a major controversy here, just a sad crime. --MASEM (t) 16:53, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Comment However, should this be posted as an RD, please make sure that since "Vince" is a common name, there is some clear labeling in the RD string as to distinguish this from any potential human named Vince. --MASEM (t) 16:54, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Perspective: There are 7.5 billion human beings, but only less than 20,000 Southern white rhinoceroses on this earth. And this was apparently the first time a rhino was poached inside a zoo in Europe. It has also been "in the news" internationally, which makes it relevant to this section.Zigzig20s (talk) 17:13, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Just because we are "in the news" does not mean that just because a topic is "in the news" that we feature it; we are looking at the encyclopedic nature of the topic which requires less focus on immediacy and a longer, farther-out view of the world. I'm starting from the premise that neither the animal itself is notable in the long-term, nor the event around its killing notable as a news story as it currently stands (there's no serious outrage or changing of laws to prevent this); I'm sure there's a topic on WP where this can be mentioned (perhaps White rhinoceros) but that again begs how important that is. If you discount everything beyond this being an near-extinct species, this is a average crime, and while the rhinos are nearly extinct, this is not like the last of a dozen here, so a blurb doesn't make sense either. --MASEM (t) 17:38, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Come now Masem, you can hardly describe a crime as 'average' which involves a white rhino being poached *inside a zoo*. How many crimes involve Rhinos? How many times have any animals been poached from inside a zoo in a built up 1st world country? Its one thing to poach on reserves, its another to waltz into a safari park enclosure. Only in death does duty end (talk) 17:42, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

@OID, this is straying somewhat from the point but animals are poached from zoos in Europe all the time, to the extent that the big inner-city zoos like London Zoo don't even bother to report it to the police when they discover it but just send in a monthly tally. (Google animals stolen from zoo and prepare to be shocked at how many hits it brings up.) What's unusual here is that the animal was killed (usually, it's a case of stealing-to-order for the exotic animal trade). ‑ Iridescent 18:39, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose per Masem. I have no problem with animals featuring in RD, if they are notable outside of their death. The article was created in response to the death and is the animal equivalent of a BLP1E.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 18:47, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose, not notable outside of its death. --AmaryllisGardener ^talk 20:06, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

@AmaryllisGardener: The RD process has been changed to remove debates about notability from the process; if a person/animal/organism merits an article, they merit posting to RD assuming a quality update and being in the news. If you are arguing that this animal does not merit an article, please bring it up for AfD. 331dot (talk) 20:34, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

This is the problem, the article was created due to the incident, so there's been no evaluation of notability yet. It would be pointy to AFD this while the ITN/C is open. --MASEM (t) 20:36, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Then I would ask if the intention is to nominate it for deletion after this discussion. As of now I don't think the article is in shape for posting. 331dot (talk) 20:45, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Yes, it is.--Pawnkingthree (talk) 21:03, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

I also suggest an article be created for Satao II (an article exists for Satao, but not the successor). See here: [36] 129.97.18.152 (talk) 22:19, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

This is not really the place to discuss this but for the record I believe you meant to link to Satao (elephant) :-)--Pawnkingthree (talk) 15:39, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment - Well, I guess there's no one to badger the oppose !votes opposing on the basis of notability since TRM got blocked, so it's up to me. Opposes based on notability for RDs are no longer relevant since the RFC on RDs. If there is truly an issue with notability, then nominate the article for deletion. Until then, the only thing that needs be determined here is the quality and sourcing of the article being nominated.--WaltCip (talk) 20:49, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

I think it should be sent to AFD, actually. I was going to wait until this debate has run its course. Did the RFC consider articles that were created on the same day they were brought to ITN/C? --Pawnkingthree (talk) 21:00, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Skimming the RFC it doesn't look like it was discussed in depth. The only mention of AfD in the proposal is that an article up for AfD would prevent its posting to ITN. 331dot (talk) 21:31, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose Whilst I agree sending the article to AfD whilst this discussion would be pointy, that is indeed where it needs to go. This is the animal equivalent of a BLP1E and whilst the news story should be mentioned somewhere, it almost certainly fits better as part of Southern white rhinoceros or a poaching-related article. Black Kite (talk) 23:32, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Yes. After reading these comments I think we've exposed an issue that needs addressing with the new RD criteria. The fact we're discussing an animal here is actually a bit of a distraction, the issue here is "BLP1E"-like noms (where the 1E is the death) that wouldn't meet blurb level.

For what it's worth, if an AfD on this animal came up I would suggest merging into Parc Zoologique de Thoiry (which would need to be created). As such, because I don't think an independent article should exist for this animal, I will !vote oppose with a side of WP:IAR for the by-the-letter following of the RD criteria. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 10:55, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• This would be posted as a RD if the article was more than a stub. We wouldn't post a human RD in this state, it's not going to happen with an animal either. Stephen 23:46, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] Vault 7

Article: Vault 7 (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ In a series of documents released by WikiLeaks, it is revealed that the Central Intelligence Agency has been performing electronic surveillance and cyber warfare since 2013. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ On March 7 WikiLeaks began releasing a series of documents, called Vault 7, that details exploits and cyberweapons targeting smart TVs, smartphones and PC operating systems used by the CIA for surveillance and cyberwarfare.
Alternative blurb II: ​ Documents released by WikiLeaks detail extensive electronic surveillance of smartphones and PCs by the U.S. CIA since 2013.
Alternative blurb III: ​ Wikileaks releases a series of documents that include the Central Intelligence Agency's database of exploits.
News source(s): New York Times, The Guardian, BBC
Credits:

• Nominated by Andise1 (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: Per the New York Times, "If the documents are authentic, as appeared likely at first review, the release would be the latest coup for the anti-secrecy organization and a serious blow to the C.I.A., which maintains its own hacking capabilities to be used for espionage." The Guardian claims this is the 'biggest ever leak of secret CIA documents'. Andise1 (talk) 20:30, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment if this runs, it needs a considerably better hook. The significance of the leak is that it details specific methodologies; if the CIA weren't engaged in intelligence-gathering activities I'd be asking some fairly pointed questions about why I'm still paying my taxes. ‑ Iridescent 20:33, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

Yes, I am not great at writing blurbs so any altblurb ideas are greatly welcomed. Andise1 (talk) 20:36, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment - Agreed with Iridescent. Current blurb reads like "The U.S. Army has been killing enemy combatants since 1901."--WaltCip (talk) 20:41, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment – The content of the leak is the important part, not what it shows about the CIA. How about A series of documents released by Wikileaks reveals the Central Intelligence Agency's database of security vulnerabilities? KSFT ^(t|c) 21:20, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support, but not the blurb. Added an altblurb. --Fixuture (talk) 22:48, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Altblurb 2, offered above. Serious stuff. Sca (talk) 23:29, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - I have a hard time answering the question "so what?". Should we expect intelligence agencies to engage in this kind of thing? I say yes, since that's what intelligence-gathering is about. Is there something special about CIA then? I don't see anything, since although they are obviously the biggest such agency, I'd be surprised if the intelligence agencies of other countries are not doing this. Heck, the fact that Kim-Jong Nam was tracked to Malaysia and killed is a sign of what the intelligence agencies of North Korea are capable of. What, then, is this leak worth? It's basically told us nothing we didn't already know. Banedon (talk) 00:44, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Did you know before today the CIA could record conversations remotely from your living room television?--WaltCip (talk) 01:05, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
    • No, but it's not surprising. Like, it is obviously (?) conceivable that the CIA has the capability to do that, and the people working in intelligence-gathering agencies are among the best and brightest of humanity. If you are interested in this topic you could look at articles such as Aldrich Ames or Cambridge Five to see the level of deception these people go to in order to outwit the other side. I would be more surprised if the CIA had the technological capability to do this but elected not to, even when there was good reason to record conversations. Banedon (talk) 01:39, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - I don't get the importance about this new leak? Didn't Snowden say all this stuff years ago? UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 00:51, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Many specific details makes this noteworthy. I am personally not that surprised, but many people are, and the revealed extend was not entirely predictable. Hence it is currently on the top of the front page of New York Times etc. One interesting angle is that the open security holes in e.g. the iPhone also affect Americans, but the intelligence services had largely promised to tell manufactures about security holes so they could be fixed. Thue (talk) 02:15, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Conditional Support Needs a couple CN's filled in. Beyond that, this is HUGE news not just because of what was being done, but because Wikileakds told everyone in the world how it was being done. This is probably the worst day the CIA has had since the Bay of Pigs Invasion. And conversely the champagne must be flowing in Moscow and Bejing tonight along with whatever the ISIS savages celebrate with. -Ad Orientem (talk) 02:26, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment and oppose as nominated. As I understand this, the story here is not that the CIA is spying (which is the "so what?" mentioned above), but that the hacking tools used by the CIA were leaked (and not just to WikiLeaks). This means that a large number of unaligned and unaccountable entities are able to hack just about any communication. That is a serious threat to everyone, from the top line governments of the world all the way down to anyone using WhatsApp or Instagram or mobile banking apps. That's a big news, but it's still too early to know what's going to happen with this. Lacking that certainty leaves us with the current situation where we're trying to post "government agency duly perform tasks" which is a bit uninspiring. This could change rapidly, and if it does I would like to urge a new nomination instead of re-tooling this one.128.214.163.201 (talk) 07:53, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support subject to the conditions that others such as Ad Orientem have laid out above. In this case the fact of the leak is significant enough; we need not parse or hypothesise about the consequences in the usual ITN amateur-guessing-game manner. I had a good read of the New York Times lead, which carefully and cogently explains the significance of the leak. If I can diverge from the topic for a moment, also of some significance to me is this fact, as stated by the NYT: "The codes names used for projects revealed in the WikiLeaks documents appear to reflect the likely demographic of the cyberexperts employed by the C.I.A. — that is, young and male. There are numerous references to 'Harry Potter,' Pokémon and Adderall, the drug used to treat hyperactivity." Sounds like the same kind of knob-brigade that runs wikipedia. --Mkativerata (talk) 09:30, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - Notable as per reasons given above. Sherenk1 (talk) 12:34, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - According to Snowden, "here's the big deal: first public evidence US Government secretly paying to keep US software unsafe." In another tweet, he says, "The CIA reports show the USG developing vulnerabilities in US products, then intentionally keeping the holes open. Reckless beyond words." I think the story is notable, but I'm not sure the current blurb accurately reflects the importance. Great Dessert (talk) 14:27, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

  [37] ... ? I still don't see this as anything we didn't already know. Heck, it's not even surprising. RSA encryption can be broken by brute force, and any software making use of RSA is inherently unsafe. If an entity with as much resources as the US government elects to hack my credit card, of course they will succeed. If the US government kept a hole that a hacker with limited resources can attack, and such an attack actually happened, then it'd be something to post. Banedon (talk) 14:35, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

  There's a question for the reference desk. When, exactly, did this mentality arise where it's become fait accompli to assume that if the government wants to turn your home into a remote wiretap, it can do so at will with little more than a few keystrokes entered by a CIA programmer?--WaltCip (talk) 15:18, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

  I could ask the same question from the opposite angle. When, exactly, did this mentality arise where it's become fait accompli to assume that the government has evil intentions, including to its own citizens? Banedon (talk) 23:42, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

  The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Moreover, my comment was objective and did not suppose good or evil intentions.--WaltCip (talk) 12:59, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak oppose I recognize there's a story here whether it is the claim the CIA has been doing unauthorized hacking, or that these supposed CIA tools are now in the open making the potential for more threats. My concern is the legitimacy of WikiLeaks' claim; not that they are not reliable but no corroborating proof or peer-review to assure these claims that these are CIA tools are true. It gets into the area of political speculation that we here should be avoiding as ITN. --MASEM (t) 16:47, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Well we should go with what WP:RS say. And they take it as legitimate. Also WikiLeaks has a good track record. Furthermore while the interesting part is the content of the disclosure the release in itself is also newsworthy itself. And I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "a story here whether it is the claim the CIA has been doing unauthorized hacking, or that these supposed CIA tools are now in the open making the potential for more threats" - this doesn't really matter as the blurb/s isn't stating anything about it. --Fixuture (talk) 19:51, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support. It's the biggest intel leak so far. ~★ nmaia ^d 17:32, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment – Some of us might no longer be surprised by anything the CIA does, but that's not the criterion; it's significance in the context of democratic-society norms. Sca (talk) 17:50, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

  Actually, significance is in the context of coverage by reliable sources. Everything else is personal opinion and WP:OR. --Jayron32 19:11, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Significance in terms of import, actual or potential, also is a criterion – otherwise ITN would be full of blather about celebrities (and zoo animals?). Sca (talk) 15:00, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment. The article needs to be expanded first. I suggested on the talkpage we should add a "reactions" section. Feel free to respond there.Zigzig20s (talk) 20:06, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Why do you think that it needs to be expanded further before getting added to the In the news? I think it's sufficiently good enough already, can still be expanded after getting posted there and as this (and reactions) develops and also already features some content that would be appropriate for a "Reactions" section. --Fixuture (talk) 21:37, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

It would make it more "newsy" for ITN. Otherwise we'd be tempted to think, so what, the CIA tracks everything to keep us safe, who cares?Zigzig20s (talk) 22:21, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Ever heard of Big Brother? – Sca (talk) 15:00, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Stephen 23:44, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] THAAD deployment

Articles: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (talk · history · tag) and Foreign relations of North Korea (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The United States begins deployment of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-ballistic missile system in South Korea, sparking Chinese diplomatic protests (Post)
News source(s): [38] [39] [40]
Credits:

• Nominated by Banedon (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Shaded0 (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: There's a shortage of blurbs right now, so why not? This deployment affects three countries after all, arguably four (NK, SK, China, US). Not sure whether to mention the Chinese diplomatic protests in; nothing concrete has happened there. Banedon (talk) 14:29, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support Article is in good shape, it's the subject of recent news coverage, looks like I have no reason to hold this up. --Jayron32 15:37, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support I would agree it is worth adding, there have been a couple of other edits since last night with added sources for the South Korea deployment. The Chinese government I believe has been pretty reserved with statements, although a non-government official had made a statement that was included in the New York times:

• https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/06/world/asia/north-korea-thaad-missile-defense-us-china.html?_r=0

"A retired general, Luo Yuan, even suggested that China destroy the system with a military strike.

“We could conduct a surgical hard-kill operation that would destroy the target, paralyzing it and making it unable to hit back,” General Luo wrote in Global Times, a state-run newspaper.""

Shaded0 (talk) 15:40, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support and Comment - Support per above. I've added a second relevant article. Feel free to challenge or uphold its inclusion. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 18:33, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

  I don't see how Foreign relations of North Korea can be added to the nomination. It doesn't mention THAAD, and besides this deployment doesn't look like it will fundamentally change anything in North Korea's foreign relations. Can you explain? Banedon (talk) 00:55, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Wasn't it in response to North Korea firing those ballistic missiles into Japanese territory? Or am I mistaken? UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 01:01, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support but leave off the "Chinese protests" aspect. A notable international development- but the Chinese protest just about everything the US government does. 331dot (talk) 20:57, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 02:58, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] Malaysia–North Korea relations

Article: Malaysia–North Korea relations (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Following the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, North Korea bans all Malaysian citizens from leaving the country. (Post)
News source(s): BBC, NKnews
Credits:

• Nominated by 81.204.120.137 (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: After the recall of ambassadors the diplomatic conflict is escalating. Important for two reasons. One, Malaysia-North Korea relations were close, so loosing this ally is big news. Second, this is essentially hostage taking, very rare for a country to do and a drastic step. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 06:25, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment BBC is (now?) saying its also the same for NK citizens in Malayasia. I will say this is an rather unusual situation so there may be some merit but would want to give this some time to make sure it's not both countries snipping at each other. --MASEM (t) 06:39, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

  A different story I read earlier indicated that Malaysia's response to North Korea's provocation was only to prevent North Korean diplomats from leaving Malaysia. If they are actually preventing all North Koreans from leaving that is obviously a bigger story, but we might want to be careful to ensure we know what the facts are. Dragons flight (talk) 10:39, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• According to the BBC article I read earlier today (don't have a link handy, sorry) this affects 11 Malaysians in North Korea. Malaysia initially said it was preventing NK diplomats from leaving, and later "clarified" this to say that all NK citizens would be prevented from leaving. This affects about 1,000 NKs in Malaysia. So it's not peanuts, but it's not enormous numbers of people, either. GoldenRing (talk) 14:45, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Ongoing, looks like a developing story, with NK ambassador being declared persona non grata or Malaysian government ban on their football team participation in NK. Brandmeister^talk 08:05, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Ongoing seems to be the sensible choice here, since it seems like this RW drama, sadly, won't end anytime soon. Nergaal (talk) 10:30, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support ongoing. Not really sure why there was so much opposition to doing this earlier, but the story has continued to grow in its importance to diplomatic relations. Dragons flight (talk) 10:50, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

  P.S. Also, no objection to posting a blurb, though I lean in favor of ongoing. Dragons flight (talk) 13:34, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support either a blurb or ongoing. Which target article (this or Kim Jong Nam) isn't that important for me. Banedon (talk) 11:27, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb. Highly unusual moves in international relations; this is now a sufficiently notable story on the diplomatic aspects alone. I'm not convinced we're learning enough day-by-day about the assassination to make putting Jong-nam's article in the ongoing section, but the latest development is worth a blurb. PS. are we okay calling this an assassination now, rather than suspected or alleged assassination? Suspects have been charged but not convicted. Modest Genius ^talk 11:51, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Suggest we go for a blurb and then think about ongoing once it reaches the bottom of ITN. We're pretty light on new blurbs at the moment (top story is a week old!) and there isn't another likely one at the moment. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 12:16, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support ongoing - Notable. Would not warrant a blurb though. Sherenk1 (talk) 12:21, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support blurb on this diplomatic incident; I don't feel the incremental events for updates are there(yet) enough for Ongoing. 331dot (talk) 12:39, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Ongoing - I initially opposed 'ongoing' for Kim Jong-Nam but this is just getting out of hand. Per above I support. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 12:47, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support Blurb but would recommend avoiding an ongoing at this point but not against reconsidering it as this blurb (assuming posted) falls off the list. The fallout of diplomatic relations is news, although this could be very short-lived, and we just don't know. --MASEM (t) 13:56, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted as blurb. Bolded the "relations" article and hashlinked to the section on the Kim Jong-nam stuff. --Jayron32 15:41, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment. This is pretty confusing. The bold link leads to a story that says Malaysia reacted in kind. I'm not sure it is fair to single out North Korea as the aggressor. -SusanLesch (talk) 18:57, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

Agreed that the blurb should refer to the actions of both governments. Neljack (talk) 20:51, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

Thanks to Stephen, the admin who fixed this. -SusanLesch (talk) 14:40, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

March 6

Portal:Current events/2017 March 6

March 6, 2017 (2017-03-06) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks Internal conflict in Myanmar According to the government of Myanmar, at least 30 people are killed in an attack on various police, military, and government installations by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army in Laukkai. Four police officers were also taken hostage. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents 2016–17 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season Intense, Category 4 Cyclone Enawo is intensifying, as it closes in on the northern tip of Madagascar. (The Weather Channel) International relations North Korea and weapons of mass destruction South Korea claims that North Korea has fired several missiles from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station into the Sea of Japan. (Agencies via Channel News Asia) According to the Japanese Government, three of them came down in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone. (NPR) Politics and Elections Presidency of Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump signs a revised version of Executive Order 13769 eliminating Iraq from the order and reducing the indefinite suspension of Syrian refugees to 120 days. The order will be in effect on March 16, 2017. (The New York Times) (CNN) Sports 2017 World Baseball Classic begins at the Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, South Korea, as tournament debutant Israel upsets host nation South Korea 2-1 in extra innings. (ESPN)

---

[Posted] RD Robert Osborne

Article: Robert Osborne (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): Washington Post etc.
Credits:

• Nominated by Ad Orientem (talk · give credit)
• Updated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Well known presenter for classic films. Article is not in horrible shape but it needs work especially in referencing. Ad Orientem (talk) 01:16, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose. Unreferenced.Zigzig20s (talk) 05:55, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support — All the {{cn}} tags have been fixed. —MBlaze Lightning ^T 07:21, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

Indeed. Referencing is vastly improved. Well done to all involved. -Ad Orientem (talk) 14:28, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 17:48, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

March 5

Portal:Current events/2017 March 5

March 5, 2017 (2017-03-05) (Sunday) Armed conflicts and attacks Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North releases 127 prisoners from captivity, mostly troops of the Sudanese military. (Al Jazeera) Law and crime Cannabis in Israel Israel changes its law regarding marijuana use. Instead of facing criminal charges, first-time offenders who smoke marijuana in public places will only receive a fine. (Haaretz) Politics and elections South Korea announces it will be raising its US$217,000 cash reward for classified information from North Korea by defectors to $860,000. (The Guardian)

---

[Posted] RD: Douglas Henry

Article: Douglas Henry (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): Ebert, Joel; Garrison, Joey (March 6, 2017). "Douglas Henry, longest-serving member of Tennessee legislature, dies at 90". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 6, 2017.; Hale, Steven (March 6, 2017). "Former Sen. Douglas Henry Dies at 90". The Nashville Scene. Retrieved March 6, 2017.; Mattise, Jonathan; Schelzig, Erik (March 6, 2017). "Former Sen. Douglas Henry, longest-serving lawmaker, dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
Credits:

• Nominated by Zigzig20s (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: The longest-serving member of the Tennessee legislature. Zigzig20s (talk) 14:10, 6 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment definitely start class, but there's nothing in the article about his legislative accomplishments, just the controversies he was involved in. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 04:32, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

We just relay the information from reliable third-party sources. His achievements may very well be what you call "controversies"!Zigzig20s (talk) 04:55, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

I've added more about his legislative positions, thanks to an obituary in The Washington Post. Tributes from Al Gore and the current Tennessee governor too.Zigzig20s (talk) 05:38, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

User:The ed17: What do you think please?Zigzig20s (talk) 15:29, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support nice work. It's not one of our best entries, but it's solid and good enough for RD. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 17:47, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Stephen 02:51, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] RD: Míriam Colón

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Míriam Colón (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): [41]
Credits:

• Nominated by The ed17 (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: NYT obit appeared on this date. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 05:01, 6 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment Deadline reported her death on the 3rd, so this should be filed there. --MASEM (t) 15:00, 6 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Closed] RD: Thomas Starzl

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Thomas Starzl (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): [42]
Credits:

• Nominated by The ed17 (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: NYT obit appeared on this date. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 05:01, 6 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose. Unreferenced content.Zigzig20s (talk) 06:00, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Closed] 2017 Pakistan Super League

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: 2017 Pakistan Super League (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ In cricket, the Peshawar Zalmi defeat the Quetta Gladiators in the final to win 2017 Pakistan Super League. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ In T20 league cricket, the Peshawar Zalmi defeat the Quetta Gladiators in the final to win 2017 Pakistan Super League.
News source(s): The China Post The Tribune The Indian Express IBTimes ESPN Gulf Times Gulf News
Credits:

• Nominated by Mfarazbaig (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: In the news in China, India, UK and the Persian Gulf. While the rest of the league was played in the UAE, the final was held in Pakistan despite the recent spike in terror attacks. mfarazbaig 18:54, 6 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support - Pakistan is a world cricket power, and from the 2017 Pakistan Super League Final article, "Demand for online tickets sales was extraordinary as all tickets were sold within an hour, and the revenues earned were more than ₨ 16 crore. Long queues of people seeking tickets for the final were observed for two consecutive days." Banedon (talk) 03:49, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

  Retract in view of the arguments presented below. I still think the heavy demand should count for something, but I defer to people who are serious fans of cricket. Banedon (talk) 14:49, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support with bolded link to 2017 Pakistan Super League Final. I'd like to see more prose coverage of the match, but I also don't know how cricket works... Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 04:29, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Reversed due to everyone below. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 19:13, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• Strong oppose. Sorry, we can't go posting the domestic T20 leagues (for non-cricket experts, that's just one of cricket's three formats) in every major cricket-playing nation. The world's biggest T20 competition, the Indian Premier League, is on ITNR. If we post Pakistan's equivalent then we would also have to post those in Australia, England and maybe the West Indies too, all of which are just as high-level and prestigious. One domestic T20 story per year is fine (plus international T20 in relevant years), five would be over the top. Plus, imagine if that opened the floodgates for five stories in each of the three formats... Modest Genius ^talk 11:57, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
  • As per voicing an opinion, please do not "oppose an item because it is not on WP:ITN/R." If you didn't do just that then why compare with something that is on ITNR? - mfarazbaig
    • That's not why I opposed this item. Please read my comment again. Modest Genius ^talk 12:57, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
• Strong support. This is receiving widespread coverage, and we have an opportunity to post some news from Pakistan that isn't just violence or unrest.--WaltCip (talk) 13:00, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose per Modest Genius. The IPL is the biggest T20 competition and it's fine to post that but I'm not sure the others are notable enough. --Pawnkingthree (talk) 13:32, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support. I know little of cricket, but I do know it is big in Pakistan and given the news links offered above seems to be followed to a degree elsewhere. I don't think this will open the floodgates of cricket stories which we don't post a ton of anyway. I think only systemic bias would prevent the posting of this. I would add that, as WaltClip states, it would be nice to have news from Pakistan that is not terrorism or violence. 331dot (talk) 13:35, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
  • That has nothing to do with the ITN criteria. If we really want a Pakistani good news story, a better moment would be when the first international cricket match returns to Pakistan (none has been held there since a 2009 terrorist attack on a cricket team), which is currently mooted for September this year. It's odd to allege systemic bias when the only domestic T20 tournament we have ever posted is from India... Modest Genius ^talk 14:18, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
    • I respect your views, though I disagree. 331dot (talk) 14:23, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
    • Not-so-geniuses, IPL is not the biggest T20 competition (WP:OR much) and the world's biggest T20 competition would be T20 World Cup. Besides international cricket did return to Pakistan in 2015 (see:Zimbabwean cricket team in Pakistan in 2015). mfarazbaig —Preceding undated comment added 18:17, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

      • I said "domestic T20 leagues" (emphasis added), which clearly excludes the world cup. I stand corrected on the Zimbabwe tour, which I was not aware of. Looks like no other team has done so since, and they did not play a Test match, but it was still an international tour. Modest Genius ^talk 18:44, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

      • Please refrain from using personal attacks.--WaltCip (talk) 18:21, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
      • It was obvious from the context that we were discussing domestic T20 competitions. From the article: "IPL is the most-attended cricket league in the world."--Pawnkingthree (talk) 18:42, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
        • That's just because India is the 2nd most populous country and the largest cricket playing nation (in terms of population). That doesn't make IPL the so-called 'biggest T20 competition'. What if China starts a cricket league? Should we then replace the IPL from ITNR with the Chinese T20 cricket league? - mfarazbaig
• Oppose at the moment. I'm a huge cricket fan, but I'm dubious this is suitable ITN material. Firstly, the PSL is very early in its franchise and it's not clear how notable it may be yet. Secondly, the final was a farce because the majority of the Gladiators' foreign players did not play. Third, the sub-linked team pages Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators have not even been updated to mention the final. Lastly, the target article itself is in need of attention. Much of it is in the wrong tense ("..will be played..") and there are a number of grammatical issues. Black Kite (talk) 18:58, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
  • If anyone has concerns about PSL's notability, they can go ahead moving it for AfD. That discussion is irrelevant for ITN. Gladiators' foreign players were replaced by other foreign players (see:Dawn). Third objection has been addressed. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mfarazbaig (talk • contribs) 20:38, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
    • I am talking about notable enough for ITN - notability for the article actually existing is clear. Target article still needs tenses and grammar sorting out. Black Kite (talk) 21:16, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment It might be worth noting that this is a significant match in itself in some ways as it actually took place in Pakistan and featured overseas players. It would be worth including something along the lines of in Lahore in the blurb. There is a case that can be made either way of course, but it strikes me as in need of some thought and consideration rather than strongly opposing or supporting (having said that, I'd very strongly oppose the alternative blurb for technical, cricket related reasons...). I'll try and find time tomorrow (UK time) to deal with the tense and grammar and to add more sources where possible fwiw. Blue Square Thing (talk) 22:04, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - There are several domestic T20 cricket leagues in the world. I don't see why the PSL is more notable than the others. If the PSL is posted, then the Big Bash League, NatWest t20 Blast, Sri Lanka Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, and every any other domestic T20 would also have to be posted. Even if only major cricket-playing countries are included, there would still be more than ten league results to post every year. Great Dessert (talk) 14:42, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Many of those domestic Twenty20 leagues are now defunct and not all of them include foreign players. Going by this logic, guess we should stop posting about IPL on ITN too. - mfarazbaig
• Comment - As per voicing an opinion, "address the notability of the event, the quality of the article, and whether it has been updated." This is about PSL being 'In the news'. Stop making it about other leagues. - mfarazbaig

• Here's an idea. Instead of attacking other editors, why don't you go and fix the grammar and tense problems in the article, which are still there 24 hours after I pointed them out the first time? I was going to fix them myself this evening, but your passive-agressive attitude has put me off that straight away. Black Kite (talk) 19:15, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Well, I have, although, to be honest, there weren't that many of them actually. I've seen worse anyway. I've also summarised the group stage and so on and developed the security issues - which is actually really the key point about the whole match in my opinion - and the refusal of some players to travel etc... In my view the article needs a lot of work still to bring it up to scratch - and I'm not sure how much time I have to do this. I've made notes on the talk page and would welcome any points of view on this. Thanks etc... Blue Square Thing (talk) 19:47, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose. One of the support !votes above starts with the caveat "I know little of cricket, but...", which really says it all about wikipedia today. Amateur ill-informed feelpinions guiding everything we do. On the other hand, Modest Genius's oppose is utterly incontrovertible. This is a long way down on the ladder of cricket significance, and by any measure. --Mkativerata (talk) 20:09, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 4

Portal:Current events/2017 March 4

March 4, 2017 (2017-03-04) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) According to provincial officials, at least eight people are killed and another 22 are injured by a roadside bomb in Farah Province. However, according to locals, the attack was actually an airstrike. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Second Libyan Civil War The Benghazi Defense Brigades, an ally of the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, claims to have captured five cities and two oil-production areas from forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar in the east of Libya. (Al Jazeera) Syrian Civil War East Aleppo offensive (February 2017) CJTFOIR deploys U.S. forces near Manbij to "reassure Coalition" members and to "deter aggression." This comes days after the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces' Manbij Military Council agreed to hand over territory west of Manbij to the Syrian Army to create a buffer zone between the SDF and Turkish-backed rebels. (Rudaw) A Syrian Air Force MiG-23 fighter jet crashes in Turkey's Hatay Province near the Syria–Turkey border after an engine failure. (Al Masdar News) (Daily Sabah) (Reuters) Disasters and accidents At least 110 people have died of starvation in the drought-hit region of Bay, Somalia, in the past 48 hours, according to Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre. This comes as the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations are warning of potential famine in the country. (The Independent) International relations Malaysia–North Korea relations Malaysia expels Kang Chol, North Korea's ambassador, after he criticised the former's investigation into the death of Kim Jong-nam. (BBC) Mexico–United States relations Mexico opens legal aide centers in its 50 U.S. consulates to defend its citizens' rights amid the United States "crackdown" on illegal immigration. In a video, Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray Caso said Mexico supports following the law but notes that current circumstances highlight the need for immigration reform. (Reuters) (AP via The Toledo Blade) Canada–United States relations Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says Canada will not tighten its border because more migrants, reacting to the United States immigration crackdown, are illegally crossing into Canada from the U.S. Goodale added the issue had not risen to a scale that required hindering the flow of goods and people moving across the world's longest undefended border. (Reuters) Law and crime Capital punishment in Jordan Jordan says the country executed 15 people today, including 10 who were convicted on terrorism charges with others related to incidents that go back as far as 2003. Amnesty International protests the executions which were carried out in "secrecy and without transparency." Jordan restored the death sentence by hanging in 2014. (Reuters) Politics and elections Trump Tower wiretapping allegations U.S. President Donald Trump accuses former President Barack Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower the month before the 2016 presidential election but offers no evidence to support his claim. A spokesman for President Obama rejects these claims. (The New York Times) (The Washington Post) (AAP via SBS)

---

[Posted] RD: Bonnie Burnard

Article: Bonnie Burnard (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): CBC News
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by Vivvt (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Canadian Scotiabank Giller Prize winner author - Vivvt (Talk) 17:06, 6 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak support – a basic and undeveloped article, but it lists most of the relevant facts of her life, and all of these are fully cited. Christian Roess (talk) 23:40, 6 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 04:37, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Edi Fitzroy

Article: Edi Fitzroy (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica Observer
Credits:

• Nominated by Fuebaey (talk · give credit)
• Updated by Michig (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Jamaican reggae artist. Fuebaey (talk) 21:38, 5 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support – It's ok as far as the "quality" and the in-line citations go. I'd call it "just good enough." - Christian Roess (talk) 01:57, 6 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 02:28, 6 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Dorothy Rice

Article: Dorothy Rice (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
Credits:

• Nominated by The ed17 (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 20:38, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak support very weak article but nothing wrong it with other than lack of depth. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:02, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 03:38, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

March 3

Portal:Current events/2017 March 3

March 3, 2017 (2017-03-03) (Friday) Disasters and accidents 2015 Shoreham Airshow crash The Air Accidents Investigation Branch determines that a pilot error was the cause of the crash. (BBC) 2016–17 Zimbabwe floods Since December, flooding in Zimbabwe has killed 246 people and nearly 2,000 more have been left homeless, according to officials. (Al Jazeera) 2016-2017 Cook Inlet natural gas leak A damaged natural gas pipeline operating under Cook Inlet offshore of Nikiski (near Anchorage, Alaska) continues releasing between 6,000–8,800 cubic meters (210,000–310,000 cubic feet) of gas per day. Pipeline operator Hilcorp Energy states that due to sea ice conditions, repairs will not be possible for weeks. (Popular Mechanics) (Peninsula Clarion) International relations United States–European Union relations The European Parliament votes to end visa-free travel for United States citizens after the U.S. government failed to agree to visa-free travel for citizens of five European Union member states, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania. The resolution is non-binding. (The Independent) Law and crime Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home A mass grave is discovered at a former Catholic orphanage in Tuam, Ireland, containing “significant quantities of human remains”, all of them children. It is alleged over 800 children died at this orphanage and most were buried in the 1950s. (The Guardian) Antisemitism in the United States Juan M. Thompson, a 31-year-old ex-journalist, is arrested and charged with making at least eight threats against Jewish Community Centers in the United States, as well as a threat made against the Anti-Defamation League, while allegedly impersonating a former girlfriend. (BBC) Politics and elections Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2017 Mike Nesbitt announces he is standing down as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) following the party's poor performance in yesterday's Northern Ireland Assembly election. (BBC)

---

[Closed] RD: Paula Fox

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Paula Fox (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
Credits:

• Nominated by The ed17 (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 20:58, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose under-referenced, as tagged. The Rambling Man (talk) 21:59, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Closed] RD: René Préval

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: René Préval (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The New York Times, BBC
Credits:

• Nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 04:36, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose. Unreferenced.Zigzig20s (talk) 04:47, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support not perfect, but solid C-class article. Good enough for RD. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 21:00, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - I always hate to stand in the way, but there are many unsourced statements here, among them being politically charged claims that are liable to be disputed and hard numerical figures (which absolutely require citations). Former president of a nation is an important figure, so hopefully someone steps up and makes the necessary improvements to allow for posting. – Juliancolton | ^Talk 21:51, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose not good enough for RD, loads of unreferenced claims. Admins should know better. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:02, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Tagged. Subsection on Latin American integration doesn't mesh very well with the rest of the article. Mainly tense issues, including unnecessary usage of "has"/"had"; could do with a thorough copyedit. Fuebaey (talk) 22:19, 5 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Closed] RD: Raymond Kopa

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Raymond Kopa (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): Guardian
Credits:

• Nominated by Harambe Walks (talk · give credit)

Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Legendary French footballer. Article is nearly adequate for posting, I guess. Harambe Walks (talk) 10:15, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support A true legend of European football, Ballon d'Or recipient. Vejvančický (talk / contribs) 12:13, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment Two unsourced paragraphs in the Career section, and the Clubs section under Achievements needs more sources. --MASEM (t) 14:35, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support, notable footballer. --AmaryllisGardener ^talk 16:32, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose for now Lede describing his legacy as well as his style is sourced to a post on a message board, which is unacceptable. His Légion d'honneur fame also needs to be sourced. The second paragraph under Football career - which details the better part of his footballing achievement - is almsot entirely unsourced. Morningstar1814 (talk) 16:44, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - needs better sourcing. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 17:46, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose, there are too many "notable footballers" also I don't see any significance that is relative to other RDs. --Fixuture (talk) 11:42, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

@Fixuture: As stated in the nomination template, anyone that merits an article can be posted to RD assuming the article gets a quality update and assuming the person's death is in the news. We no longer debate importance for RD nominations. 331dot (talk) 21:08, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

• Regretful oppose if I had more time...... too many unreferenced claims, the supporters, per 331dot, should be reminded that this isn't about how notable the individual is, as it's an RD. It's about the standard of the article. Right now, not good enough. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:03, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Closed] RD: Tommy Page

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Tommy Page (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
Credits:

• Nominated by 129.97.124.214 (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 129.97.124.214 (talk) 16:50, 6 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

March 2

Portal:Current events/2017 March 2

March 2, 2017 (2017-03-02) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War Palmyra offensive (2017) The Syrian Army and its allies recapture the ancient city of Palmyra from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. (Reuters) (Al-Masdar News) East Aleppo offensive (February 2017) The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces' Manbij Military Council, "after reaching a new alliance with Russia," hands over a vast expanse of territory west of Manbij to the Syrian Army to create a buffer zone between the SDF and Turkish-backed rebels. (BBC) (Al-Masdar News) (Rudaw) War in North-West Pakistan A United States drone strike kills two alleged militants in the Kurram district of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Disasters and accidents A methane gas explosion occurs at a coal mine in Lviv Oblast, Ukraine, killing at least eight miners, with another 20 unaccounted for. (Al Jazeera) An avalanche near the northern Italian town of Courmayeur, kills at least three people and injures another three, while two others are believed missing. (BBC) Law and crime Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is acquitted of involvement in the deaths of hundreds of anti-government protesters during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. (The Guardian) Politics and elections Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2017 Northern Irish voters go to the polls to elect their new MLA representatives after a snap election was called following the resignation of Deputy First minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin over the mishandling by Democratic Unionist Party over the recent Renewable Heat Incentive scandal. (BBC News) The government of Sweden submits a bill to the Riksdag to reintroduce conscription this summer in response to new global security challenges. (Al Jazeera) Political appointments of Donald Trump The U.S. Senate confirms Donald Trump's appointment of his former opponents in the presidential primaries, neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Governor of Texas Rick Perry, as Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development and Energy respectively, with the support of all Republicans and some Democrats. (CNN)

---

[Closed] AI beats humans at poker

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Articles: Libratus (talk · history · tag) and Computer poker player (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Libratus becomes the first Computer poker player to beat human professionals at no-limit Texas hold 'em (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ Two different programs, Libratus and DeepStack, successfully defeat human professionals at no-limit Texas hold 'em poker
News source(s): Nature, Science, Science Daily. Earlier Libratus coverage: [43]
Credits:

• Nominated by Banedon (talk · give credit)
• Updated by R49 (talk · give credit)

First article updated, second needs updating

Nominator's comments: We don't actually have a DeepStack article. An article on Libratus does exist, but the news dates to January this year. Unfortunately I did not see coverage then and so didn't nominate it. Options: 1) feature Libratus, but not DeepStack; 2) write a DeepStack article quickly and feature both (any volunteers ...?); 3) do nothing as the Libratus news is "stale". Banedon (talk) 04:15, 6 March 2017 (UTC)

• Computer poker player is probably pertinent to this nomination as well. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 11:45, 6 March 2017 (UTC)
• Reading this, the news story is the defeat of professional poker players, which was first achieved by Libratus in January. As such, this news item is too old for ITN. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 12:54, 6 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment - Just a moment ago I changed the related articles, so if somebody could change the alternate blurb that would be good. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 12:56, 6 March 2017 (UTC)
• Note - According to the Nature article, DeepStack, not Libratus, was the first to achieve this (in December).--Roentgenium111 (talk) 14:14, 6 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment: with science stories, we usually go by the date it was published in a peer-reviewed journal (in this case 2 March), not when the experiment was actually performed (usually months earlier). There are very good reasons for that, and I think calling this stale because of the time taken to write and review a paper would penalise the team that did things properly by publishing a peer-reviewed paper. As far as I can tell only DeepStack has published its results in a journal. Modest Genius ^talk 12:11, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Not to mention we'd be hard-pressed to find any news coverage of this at the time of the event. It doesn't sound like this was as widely covered as Deep Blue vs. Kasparov or IBM Watson--WaltCip (talk) 15:30, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
    • Well, even though this is not technically stale, the entire ITN template is now full of newer blurbs. Unless we need an extra one for length reasons, this is now moot. Modest Genius ^talk 12:55, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Closed] RD: David Rubinger

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: David Rubinger (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
Credits:

• Nominated by The ed17 (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 21:06, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support - Quality is adequate for me. – Juliancolton | ^Talk 22:03, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose death isn't covered. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:06, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Done! Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 22:11, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
    • Struck per note on TRM's talk page. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 03:45, 7 March 2017 (UTC)
• This is ready, I believe. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 03:45, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] Palmyra retaken

Articles: Palmyra offensive (2017) (talk · history · tag) and Palmyra (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ The Syrian Army and its allies retake Palmyra from ISIL. (Post)
News source(s): USA Today, LA Times, etc
Credits:

• Nominated by Brandmeister (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: Another major victory. Brandmeister^talk 22:26, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment So, this is now the 4th time this city has changed hands since May 2015, less than two years' time. The article suffers from a intense myopathy; reporting intricate tactical details of the offensive but providing little evidence of relevance in the broader theatre, outside of a few vague lines about location and other offensives. This would have been a nice bookend to our posting of the initial ISIS capture (and destruction of Roman architecture), but right now it reads like a field report. That is A LOT of references for such a short article. Is there some kind of bot that does that?128.214.53.104 (talk) 07:46, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
  • I guess overcite is easier to fix than insufficient refs - just trim the overkills. Brandmeister^talk 13:53, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - As ancient and amazing as it is, it doesn't seem to hold much tactical value. This city doesn't have a significant population like Mosul or Raqqa and many ancient structures were destroyed by ISIS. The control of the city, as mentioned above, has flipped between sides many times and this cannot be assumed to be the last. As sad as destruction of history and art is, the city isn't significant enough in my opinion. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 12:58, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• I honestly don't think this 'major victory' is major enough to warrant an ITN blurb, especially since the Palmyra Offensive was never in the 'Ongoing' section. If it was as major as it is made to sound, it would almost definitely be in the 'Ongoing' like the Mosul Offensive is. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 13:00, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• Palmyra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still hosts several such monuments. The retaking of the city means ISIL will not potentially destroy more of such monuments, which is pretty significant I think. Brandmeister^talk 13:53, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• While these monuments are extremely valuable to Roman history, I don't feel the event as a whole is notable enough for a blurb. There's no real tactical advantage or major population that would make this city notable otherwise and this is not the first time the city has been retaken from ISIS. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 13:57, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support This is a current event which major news sources are covering, the article is in good shape, the update is sufficient and well sourced. Check, check, check. --Jayron32 13:02, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose – As I understand it, Palmyra is primarily a historical/architectural site, not a contemporary city, so its significance is largely symbolic. Sca (talk) 16:27, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• No, the Syrian Army recaptured the modern city too. Abductive (reasoning) 19:33, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support, upon updating of article to reflect that population center Tadmor was recaptured. Abductive (reasoning) 19:33, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Done in The offensive section, Tadmor = Palmyra (modern), per article. Brandmeister^talk 11:29, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Weak oppose since most of the coverage of the war with IS that I've seen is focusing on the concurrent Battle of Mosul, and that article's already on ITN. Banedon (talk) 14:29, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 02:38, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

[Posted] RD: Tommy Gemmell

Article: Tommy Gemmell (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Guardian, BBC
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 12:48, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment Sourcing seems okay, but I would ask other editors to comment if there is enough detail on his assc. football career that we'd expect (I'm used to seeing major stats tables in these). --MASEM (t) 15:33, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 22:05, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] RD: Gustav Metzger

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Gustav Metzger (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Guardian
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 04:57, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Everything in the article appears to be adequately referenced. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 15:26, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment Sourcing looks fine but could we trim the overgrowth of section heads and single-line paragraphs? --MASEM (t) 15:31, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Also this should be filed under March 1st. --MASEM (t) 15:32, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
• Removing "ready"; huge gaps in coverage in Gustav_Metzger#Career...nothing listed between 1964 and 2005. Pretty bare bones, and imo falls below minimum standards for scope. Spencer^T♦C 17:56, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] RD: Aileen Hernandez

Article: Aileen Hernandez (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): NYTSF GateACLU
Credits:

• Nominated by The ed17 (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

Nominator's comments: Died in mid-Feb, obituaries appearing now. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 03:35, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment I agree that the reports are only visible now so this is the appropriate time, but that article is woefully bad for a woman of her influence; the only source is NOW's obit. Needs major expansion before posting. --MASEM (t) 03:54, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
  • @Masem: Done. :-) Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 05:19, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
    • Seems like this is article is at an adequate standard now. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 12:28, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
    • Support, expansion is good enough for ITN now. --MASEM (t) 14:58, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment article is just above start class but in itself is just about adequate. Perhaps RD exposure would lead to appropriate expansion. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:52, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment a BLP with three overused references? Take the second paragraph as an example, with its one reference at the end. Neither the master's degree, or "black taxi cab" are mentioned in the article. And those were the first two facts I tried to verify. Stephen 23:40, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Both these statements are supported by that obitaury:

"..While working there, she also received a degree in government from California State University, Los Angeles."

"...she later said, after she and her father arrived in Washington by train and asked how to get to Howard from the station. They were told to find a black cab." --LukeSurl ^{t c} 13:56, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• I've made two small edits to remove ambiguity in the wording relating to these. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 13:59, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• @Stephen: First, how is three sources not enough? Have the guidelines changed? :-) Second, everything in the article is sourced back to the obituaries. Please read more closely. :-) Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 17:32, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• I'm reading closely enough. The reference to a master's degree, as opposed to a degree, and the quoted term "black taxi cab" are not in the article. Stephen 21:42, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• @Stephen: I'm not sure where the disconnect is here. Have you used ctrl+f in this article? [44] Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 21:49, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• That's not the obituary that was used to source the paragraph. Stephen 21:55, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• Mmm, fair point. (It's actually still not being used to source it, *red face*. Apologies.) Regardless, it's now sourced to Black Women in America, which is actually much more comprehensive on that period of her life. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 21:58, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose as unreferenced. The three references included are short obits that do not contain any information that they supposed to source. Is it even suitable to write a BLP sourced entirely from obits?128.214.53.104 (talk) 07:37, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• An obituary from a reliable source is an excellent source for an encyclopedia's biography, as they are effectively doing the same thing as the article - trying to write a concise but adequate summary of a person's life.

If you've identified cases where these sources do not contain the information from the article, please add the {{Failed verification}} tag inline. My checking hasn't found any such statements. --LukeSurl ^{t c} 13:53, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support. I've added a citation to an entry about her in an academic encyclopedia which should definitively establish notability and more than satisfy any concerns about sourcing. Gamaliel (talk) 18:00, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
  • Thanks, Gamaliel. I've just added more info from that source. This is now more than ready. Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 21:38, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 21:59, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

March 1

Portal:Current events/2017 March 1

March 1, 2017 (2017-03-01) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) At least 16 people were killed and 40 more wounded after two suicide bombers attacked Kabul. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Business and economics The Dow Jones Industrial Average rises above 21,000 points, reaching an all-time high. (Los Angeles Times) International relations Georgia–European Union relations The European Union formally grants Georgian citizens visa-free travel to its member states, with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The signed documents will be published on March 8, and officially enter into force on March 28. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Syrian Civil War Russia and China veto a draft United Nations Security Council resolution sponsored by France, the United Kingdom and the United States calling for sanctions against the Syrian government and President Bashar al-Assad over allegations that the government used chemical weapons in the conflict. (RT) (The Guardian) Law and crime Philippine Drug War After a temporary suspension due to the kidnapping and killing of a South Korean national, Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte orders the Philippine National Police to resume his controversial campaign. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) Kim Jong-nam's assassination Two women, Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Đoàn Thị Hương, are charged with murder in relation to the death of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The women, who reportedly thought they were involved in a prank TV show, did not enter pleas. (CNN) (The Globe and Mail) Politics and elections Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir names Vice President Bakri Hassan Saleh as Prime Minister of Sudan, the first person to hold the post since it was abolished following the 1989 Sudanese coup d'état. (Reuters) Pakalitha Mosisili, the Prime Minister of Lesotho loses a confidence motion in the Parliament of Lesotho, and may call a snap election. (SABC) Science and technology Origin of life Scientists announce the finding of microfossils up to almost 4.3 billion years old, within rocks from the Hudson Bay shoreline in northern Quebec, Canada, that may represent the oldest-known evidence of life on Earth. (Reuters) An American Atlas V successfully launched an NRO payload from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The launch is the 70th successful Atlas V launch and the 14th successful mission for the NRO. (SpaceflightNow)

---

[Closed] RD: Marian Javits

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Marian Javits (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
Credits:

• Nominated by The ed17 (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 Ed ^{[talk] [majestic titan]} 21:08, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose stub with referencing and dab issues. Way, way too weak for main page. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:07, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] Oldest evidence of life on earth

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Abiogenesis (talk · history · tag)
Blurb: ​ Scientists find microfossils within rocks dated up to 4.28 billion years ago from northern Quebec, Canada, which may represent the oldest-known evidence of life on Earth. (Post)
Alternative blurb: ​ Scientists find microfossils within rocks dated between 3.77 and 4.28 billion years ago from northern Quebec, Canada, which would make them the oldest fossils of life on Earth.
News source(s): Reuters CNN
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by Natural RX (talk · give credit)

Article updated

Nominator's comments: Significant scientific find, oldest evidence of life on earth to date. Added as brief note to lead and appropriate section of larger article. --Natural R_X 21:51, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support: this is exactly the type of content that the In the news-section is for. However this is not (yet) evidence, see this. --Fixuture (talk) 21:59, 1 March 2017 (UTC)
  • I have created an alternative blurb to potentially address this, please tweak as you see fit. --Natural R_X 22:16, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

Striking pointy comment. 331dot (talk) 23:47, 1 March 2017 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
An actually important news that didn't happen in the UK, so using the rationales from below I have to call this an oppose /s. Nergaal (talk) 22:58, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

• Has Abiogenesis been substantially updated with information related to this news item? --LukeSurl ^{t c} 23:14, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

@LukeSurl: See here. --Natural R_X 18:54, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Weak Oppose This does not yet appear to be a result of a peer-reviewed analysis, and the CNN lists some scientists with doubts about the results. Everything else is good, but this "is it really this old?" is a question weighing down on the process. --MASEM (t) 23:16, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

experts have determined to be between 3.77 billion and 4.28 billion years old, according to the study published in the journal Nature. Nergaal (talk) 23:25, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

Nevermind then, I must have missed that. Support. --MASEM (t) 23:37, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support. Certainly important enough for ITN, but the target article could do with more information on the discovery. Black Kite (talk) 23:41, 1 March 2017 (UTC)
• Before I vote, that's a massive article; I see a single phrase in the lead that discusses the discovery somewhat obliquely. Is there a section in the body of the text that covers the discovery in more detail so we can direct readers to learn more about this discovery? It's a good article, but I'm not sure just sending readers to such a large text with no direction would lead them to learn more about the subject, per se. Do we have either a shorter article or a section of this one that may work better as a target?--Jayron32 23:59, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

Abiogenesis#Earliest_biological_evidence_for_life_on_Earth. Nergaal (talk) 00:46, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support but advocate targeting Life#Origin. The news is about when life started, and the abiogenesis article is mainly about the more technical "how". Current blurb is also not good since Life on Earth is a real article (a disambiguation page). Banedon (talk) 00:53, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

  I change my mind and support targeting Evolutionary history of life - thanks Harizotoh9. Banedon (talk) 03:15, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support very interesting science discovery. Is of international importance and focuses on the history of life. For the blurb, I don't see the point of linking to Abiogenesis, since this is not about the exact origin of life, but rather the earliest life so far discovered. As in, this discovery is much later (potentially many tens of millions of years) after the actual time that life began. Thus it can help illuminate the question of origin of life, but not answer it. The Abiogenesis article does in fact have a subsection that is relevant. But I can't find an article that directly discusses only the earliest evidence of life on earth. So what article instead? Early Earth, Evolutionary history of life? I'm not sure. Harizotoh9 (talk) 03:11, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment: I think it would be wise to mention the rock formation where the microfossils were found - change Abiogenesis to the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt. Volcanoguy 03:48, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

Yes, this actually solves the problem I was thinking of above. I think the article that the In the news focuses on should be "Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt" rather than "Abiogenesis". Harizotoh9 (talk) 05:47, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

I don't agree with this. The crux of what is in the news is that life on Earth may be older than once thought, not something that happened with the NGB. Banedon (talk) 06:11, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

The news sources make no mention of "Abiogenesis" but the CNN source does in fact mention the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt (aka Nuvvuagittuq Supracrustal Belt). If the given sources do not use "Abiogenesis" it shouldn't be used here, in fact this might fall under WP:OR. The hook is clearly referring to the discovery of microfossils in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt. Volcanoguy 06:50, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

I concur. Almost certainly these microfossils do not capture the exact moment of abiogenesis. Abductive (reasoning) 07:42, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

@Abductive: Might want to check out the peer-reviewed article. Nergaal (talk) 15:14, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

You mean the primary source? Which you have misinterpreted? Abductive (reasoning) 16:14, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

I also disagree that we should be linking Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt as the main article. The main thing here that makes it relevant is that it is the oldest trace of life, not where it was found. It could certainly be linked if you can fit it into the blurb, so I welcome anyone to create a second alternative blurb, but not with it as the primary. --Natural R_X 18:21, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

Then I oppose. Volcanoguy 18:38, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose until an appropriate article is properly updated. In particular, more is needed on the microfossils themselves.Abductive (reasoning) 07:48, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

The formation of syngenetic carbon preserved as graphite can be explained by the production of carbonaceous material via abiogenic synthesis5 , carbonate decarbonation2 , or from an original microbial biomass. Nergaal (talk) 15:00, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

That text means it could have been produced by a process that doesn't involve life. It weakens your argument that this should be posted and emphasizes why Wikipedia editors and science reporters get suckered into believing the hype. Abductive (reasoning) 16:12, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

Good that you checked out the actual article: Collectively, our observations cannot be explained by a single or combined abiogenic pathway, and therefore we reject the null hypothesis. The δ13Ccarb and δ13Corg values for jaspers from the NSB are −8.3 to −6.7‰ and −25.7 to −19.7‰, respectively10, consistent with a biogenic origin, although not unambiguously. Epifluorescence imaging of modern vent sam- ples has shown that cylindrical casts composed of iron oxyhydroxide are formed by bacterial cells and are undeniably biogenic Nergaal (talk) 17:33, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

You really are being dense. Abductive (reasoning) 01:03, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

Striking another pointy comment. 331dot (talk) 09:52, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
Question why us this not posted yet more than 4 h after it was initially proposed? Are we saying that discovering some gold artifacts is way more urgent than oldest evidence of life on Earth? Is unanimous support not good enough now unlike a day ago? Nergaal (talk) 08:11, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

@Abductive: See updates. --Natural R_X 18:54, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Support as this is a significant scientific discovery and nice ITN material.--Kiril Simeonovski (talk) 08:24, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose The National Geographic report indicates that there are many doubts about this. The presenters of the paper are not independent because it is in their interest to spin it as a big discovery. See Not breaking news. To accept the hype uncritically would be journalism. Andrew D. (talk) 09:16, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

@Andrew Davidson: Dude where were you yesterday to point out the same issues with the jewelry nomination which wasn't even the oldest from the area? Are you trying to say something published in Nature does not pass our threshold for reliable? Are you saying PR advertisements by the British Museum that get absolutely no review are more reliable? A PR stunt that provided no data proving the age estimate that wasn't even 2/3 as old as the oldest item? Your rational is impecable. Nergaal (talk) 14:54, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

@Nergaal: - Can you seriously stop with the jewelry thing? It's not a big deal and it'll be on the scroll for about a week. It's not a big deal that something you didn't like got approved for ITN. Just because it bothers you doesn't mean you have to disrupt the entire process by continually badgering editors and making pointy comments. It's annoying and disruptive. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 15:01, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

What am I disrupting? Showing complete lack of consistency when it comes to standards that people come to judge ITN entries? Nergaal (talk) 15:04, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

You are bringing up totally irrelevant topics under the guise of 'inconsistency'. You've had at least three comments collapsed for being pointy and you're honestly blowing a trivial thing way out of proportion. It would be nice if we could just drop the whole thing and move on. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 15:08, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

How is totally irrelevant topics when one is geology and the other is archaeology? One has a peer-reviewed process available to anyone, one is a PR-stunt by a profit-driven entity? He literally said there are many doubts about this. The presenters of the paper are not independent because it is in their interest to spin it as a big discovery. To accept the hype uncritically would be journalism. He applied exactly 0% of this yesterday. Why aren't we flipping coins to see what gets posted if we aren't going to bother with some consistencies? Nergaal (talk) 15:12, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

Maybe you forgot that yesterday people said "of international importance", "cool stuff", "A notable historical find", "widely reported, globally, as significant", "unique find and truly historic", "If reliable sources are used and consensus exists", "this story is far too interesting to be condemned to the esoteric". Which one applies less to this story to the yesterday's one? Cause that one took only 4h to post at a 7-2 vote with ample oppose reasonings, but this one has almost a day and 9-2 vote and isn't on the mainpage yet. Origin of life is less interesting than iron age jewelry from Britain? Nergaal (talk) 15:26, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

While I do agree that this story is significantly more important than the Leekfrith Torcs, I don't agree that these are the same in judging the notability. The other post was simply Iron Age jewelry, and it falls under the category of history. However, this is a groundbreaking find that breaks a record and is notable in the fields of history, biology and archaeology. I feel that this is held to a higher threshold due to the extreme notability and the importance in multiple fields. The idea that this is less interesting because it has been held for longer is absolute nonsense. If anything, the fact that a larger consensus is needed shows it's notability because more people stop and vote. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 15:46, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

Wait what? A 7-2 consensus was fine yesterday, but now 9-2 is not? I like this thinking. Nergaal (talk) 17:42, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• I continue to oppose this item. The facts in the case of the torcs seem fairly clear; the news was the result of a legal decision and we even have an excellent free picture too. In the case of the alleged microfossils, there is scepticism about the claim, as detailed by the National Geographic. And the study doesn't even agree with itself as its aging results differ by about 500 million years. And claims of this sort are not unusual. For example, see Scientists may have found the earliest evidence of life on Earth which made a claim of a similar magnitude in 2015 – 4.1 billion years. What's the status of that claim now? Do we have an article which brings these claims together with secondary reviews which assess and rank them? Individual papers are not reliable in matters of this sort because they often don't stand up. Andrew D. (talk) 08:54, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

You are saying that the jewelry was unanimously agreed that it wasn't the oldest jewelry in Britain (on small corner of the world) and was less than 2/3 old as the actual record holder (~2500 years vs 4000 years oldest evidence) for is worthwhile ITN, but this evidence for earliest-fucking life that gives an average age estimate right at the previous estimate (no uncertainty range given there) but at its upper limit puts it right when the oceans formed is not ITN worthy? Dude you should become a lawyer or something. Nergaal (talk) 09:48, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

You really need to get over this, man. If you don't like that we weigh the merits of each nomination individually, I'm not sure what you want done. What's done is done and you really should move past it. 331dot (talk) 09:56, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• My point is that this is not settled science and so we should be quite cautious about announcing such results. The Smithsonian has a good account of the difficulties, disagreement and debate in this field. Andrew D. (talk) 10:45, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

  The disagreement is typical of the fast-moving field. Geologist Christopher Fedo of George Washington University and geochronologist Martin Whitehouse of the Swedish Museum of Natural History have challenged the 3.83 billion year-old molecular trace of light carbon from Greenland, saying the rock had formed from volcanic lava, which is much too hot for microbes to withstand. Other recent claims also are under assault. A year ago, a team of scientists made headlines with their report of tiny tunnels in 3.5 billion-year-old African rocks. The scientists argued that the tunnels were made by ancient bacteria around the time the rock formed. But Steele points out that bacteria might have dug those tunnels billions of years later. “If you dated the London Underground that way,” says Steele, “you’d say it was 50 million years old, because that’s how old the rocks are around it.”

• Support - Is this not a significant discovery that relates not only to North America or English-speakers, but rather the entire human population? UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 13:13, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
• Comment. The secondary sources are indicating great concern about the dating claim of these rocks, which the blurb should reflect; "3.77 to 4.28 billion years old". Abductive (reasoning) 16:20, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

I have indicated the date range in my alternative blurb (3.77b still making them oldest). --Natural R_X 18:21, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Comment: There is no article specifically for the eartlest discovered life on Earth. I've suggested spinning such an article off on the Abiogenesis talk page. If it were to link to anything, it could work as linking to the subection covering this topic: Abiogenesis#Earliest_biological_evidence_for_life_on_Earth. Harizotoh9 (talk) 20:01, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
• We did it wikipedia! We can post a jewelry article in 4h but potentially oldest evidence of life doesn't cut the threshold in 24h. Nergaal (talk) 21:18, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

@Nergaal: - If you want it to get posted, why don't you vote? UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 21:54, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

I did, but the guy just below here rc-ed my vote. Nergaal (talk) 08:56, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

I must concur with UNSC above; can you stop bringing up the 'jewelry' thing? It didn't go your way, the horse is dead, please move on. 331dot (talk) 21:56, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

Me too. Sadly, Nergaal's message is getting lost in his pointy and pointless rantings. The boy who cried wolf, or is it the Dutch boy who fingered a dike? Impossible to tell right now. Glad to see we're ignoring it, no matter what. The Rambling Man (talk) 22:04, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• Posted Stephen 23:06, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• I am somewhat disappointed that the main article is abiogenesis. But with this trainwreck what can you do? Abductive (reasoning) 01:03, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• Abductive, your help would be welcomed at Earliest known life forms, and then we can link to that. Stephen 03:52, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• I thought it may be wise to mention these fossils are bacteria, but then I realized that they are too early in the Hadean to classify as anything, whether bacteria or Archaea. I also thought an individual article should be written on this find, but being the earliest fossil remnant of any kind, it would be almost impossible at this stage to classify phylogenetically. Interesting stuff. 129.97.18.150 (talk) 18:01, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• Post-posting oppose. As Andrew D cogently explains, ITN/C might really have jumped the shark this time and actually posted fake news. I t is doubly embarrassing that the blurb is cast in such strident and unambiguous terms. --Mkativerata (talk) 21:13, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

[Posted] RD: John Hampshire

Article: John Hampshire (talk · history · tag)
Recent deaths nomination (Post)
News source(s): The Guardian, BBC
Credits:

• Updated and nominated by MBlaze Lightning (talk · give credit)

Article updated
Recent deaths of any person, animal or organism with a Wikipedia article are always presumed to be important enough to post (see this RFC and further discussion). Comments should focus on whether the quality of the article meets WP:ITNRD.

 —MBlaze Lightning ^T 15:37, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose given he's got a template for it, his playing career at Tasmania needs suitable coverage in the article. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:59, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

•  Done[45] —MBlaze Lightning ^T 12:04, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• The Rambling Man — Do you still have concerns? —MBlaze Lightning ^T 16:53, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

• The references need to be correctly formatted, that's for sure. Detail is poor but probably passable for RD at this point. The Rambling Man (talk) 20:50, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

•  Done. —MBlaze Lightning ^T 04:17, 3 March 2017 (UTC)

• Stephen — Please post it before it becomes stale. —MBlaze Lightning ^T 04:16, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Posted Stephen 06:55, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

[Closed] Ongoing: Kim Jong-nam

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

---

Article: Kim Jong-nam (talk · history · tag)
Ongoing item nomination (Post)
News source(s): [46] [47] [48]
Credits:

• Nominated by Banedon (talk · give credit)

Nominator's comments: Kim Jong-nam's death continues to make the news (see links above) and the article's also being updated. Aside from the article title (a "Kim Jong-nam murder trial" or similar article title sounds more appropriate to me) this seems like a good candidate for ongoing. Banedon (talk) 10:41, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

Hiding inappropriate WP:POINTy disruption. Don't do this. Modest Genius talk 13:18, 1 March 2017 (UTC)
Oppose this has nothing to do with the UK so it shouldn't be posted /s. Nergaal (talk) 10:43, 1 March 2017 (UTC) Can you just stop already. Something you didn't like got posted, get over it. I'm opposing because I have a real reason, but you are still upset over the last ITN. You win some, you lose some, and you don't get upset over it. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 12:43, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose they have charged individuals and therefore a (probably) lengthy case will eventually be held. We can post the results of that. The Rambling Man (talk) 12:07, 1 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - While a (most likely) assassination is large news, which is why we posted the blurb, I think ongoing is a little too far. It hasn't affected any major politics and North Korea doesn't really care, so it's irrelevant at this point. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 12:43, 1 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - not so much because of the upcoming murder trial, but rather because of its ramifications for diplomatic relations. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 12:49, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

  Such as no-one will get along with North Korea? That can't be "ongoing", what's actually going to happen? Lot's of frowns, a missile test? Come on. The Rambling Man (talk) 13:35, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

  • No, TRM. Obviously, when 81 refers to ramifications, 81 means that there will be sanctions. In this day and age, sanctions are basically the equivalent of a declaration of hot war (even if nothing ever happens). Scary stuff!--WaltCip (talk) 14:23, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

    • So nothing to see here. Move along, y'all! The Rambling Man (talk) 14:27, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

      • Come one indeed, post a serious comment or question, but don't act like a clown. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 19:45, 1 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose – This story is of trifling significance in the Big Scheme and has been relentlessly hyped because of its bizarre character. Sca (talk) 14:36, 1 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose. I don't feel this meets the criteria for an Ongoing listing. I suspect the result of any trial or other resolution would be posted; possibly any breakdown in diplomatic relations as well. 331dot (talk) 20:09, 1 March 2017 (UTC)
• Unclosing in view of [49] and the fact that some of the opposes here are based on the lack of diplomatic consequences. Banedon (talk) 14:28, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

I would support a blurb about the expulsion of the ambassador assuming a quality update to an article, but I still feel this is not appropriate for Ongoing. 331dot (talk) 14:36, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

Kim Jong-nam crisis: North Korea and Malaysia ban each other's citizens from leaving My first impressions are that the two countries are behaving like children, but it's not ours to judge their conduct. @331dot if you can find an appropriate article (the NK ambassador doesn't have an article) feel free to nominate it. Replace this nomination if you think it's better - I won't mind. Banedon (talk) 06:25, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

Malaysia–North Korea relations might be a suitable target article but like Kim Jong Nam, it's a bit odd to see it as "ongoing". Banedon (talk) 06:27, 7 March 2017 (UTC)

• Oppose still. Not a big deal in any way. The Rambling Man (talk) 16:18, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Oppose - Per TRM above^. This isn't a big enough deal still to warrant an ongoing. To be frank, he wasn't a very important political person. If the President of the United States or the British Prime Minister was assassinated, or even somebody 'less important' like an active politician from some obscure country, it would warrant an addition to ongoing because of the repercussions. Kim Jong-Nam is was the estranged stepbrother of a dictator in East Asia. Even if the North Korean ambassador was expelled from Malaysia, it was predictable because North Korea already has no major ties to most of the world. Expulsion of their ambassador is just one more country breaking ties with a screwed up country. UNSC Luke 1021 (talk) 16:47, 4 March 2017 (UTC)
• Support - even more so now. Diplomatic relations to Malaysia were second only to China in terms of importance and strength. That's gone now, so it is a big deal. 81.204.120.137 (talk) 19:43, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.