text:
User talk:The 13th 4postle

Welcome
, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions; I hope you like the place and decide to stay! If you haven't done so already, you may want to create an account.

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! Brian | (Talk) | New Zealand Portal 21:21, 2 February 2006 (UTC)
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Welcome, buddy!
We need all the help we can get, Carlos. Let's get down to business!MattM 04:26, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

paragraph move
The Venezuela story, for flow I understand the change by moving my insertion of the "hero's return" paragraph to the front. However, I do wish to express the inverted pyramid style of reporting which puts the latest news first in a story. -Edbrown05 03:21, 8 February 2006 (UTC)
 * I now notice the Wikipedia's article stresses other criteria than "latest news" for inverted pyramid reporting. I think I have a problem with that :) -Edbrown05 03:26, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

Pyramid
Yes, I see your point too about the bias. Further development of the article could have mitigated that, but that wasn't going to happen and I knew it wouldn't, I probably should have left it alone (so, sorry in that regard). "Latest news" first is a sort of hot button for me. -Edbrown05 03:26, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
 * I don't object to you changing it back. I did last evening look at the source story for the "hero's welcome" to get an idea of the number of supporters that attending the rally. No number was mentioned, which left me wondering how important that aspect of the story was (Not very important probably), so please do revert if you haven't already. -Edbrown05 03:38, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

located source...
Don't mean to butt in, but after a quick search of google news, I've properly linked the source in the article. --Chiacomo (talk) 03:40, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
 * The concern was with the report putting Jenny Figueredo paragraph as the lead-in to story. -Edbrown05 04:05, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
 * This message to the user was in response to note xe left on User:NiNja's page... :D --Chiacomo (talk) 04:07, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

venezuela rally photos
could u please indicate the sources and copyright information for the photos. thanks, Doldrums 13:45, 8 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Did you take them yourself? Bawolff ☺☻ 05:33, 26 November 2006 (UTC)
 * Okay. Could you Please put who you received permission from, their exact words, how you received it (Email, in person, written etc), and if the picture is available online, where online on the image description page. (What would also be really great is if you did this but that's a little complicated and not required, but it would make it so all wikimedia projects in all languages could use that picture) thanks. Bawolff ☺☻ 08:01, 26 November 2006 (UTC)
 * Okay, thanks for the source. However I still need to know how you know these images are public domain (Did you email the author? Do you know the author? are you the aurthor?). Bawolff ☺☻ 00:07, 27 November 2006 (UTC)
 * I would like to email him just to confirm (sorry for all this double checking, its just often there's a slight problem with an image's copyright, which gets discovered around 6 months later, and the image has to be deleted, because no one can figure out anyone to contact at that time, to get the information necessary, so I'm trying to make sure the images copyright is 100% correct, as soon as they get uploaded). Anyways, I was wondering if you could tell me his/her email address. Bawolff ☺☻ 08:36, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

Iraqi military reports sharp drop in Baghdad violence
Hi 13th 4postle,

Sorry to revert your name-change on the article, but it is the Iraqi military reporting these figures. I, like you, however, disagree that independent numbers should be shown to contrast. I hope I didn't upset you too much. --SVTCobra 00:03, 15 March 2007 (UTC)
 * It seems that you don't understand what I am saying. Yes, the source of the info does matter. Your headline makes it seem like fact. Do you assume that what Atta (or whatever his name really is) says is the absolute truth and beyond questioning? --SVTCobra 00:11, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Why does it Matter?
Why does it matter. That doesn't change anything. Your making it sound like the Iraqi military is the only one saying it. And if you look here it says it is the Multi-National force press information centre.
 * But that source talks about the killing of US military personnel, not general Bagdhad violence. --SVTCobra 00:14, 15 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Oh, and please sign you comments. --SVTCobra 00:14, 15 March 2007 (UTC)
 * I like to think that I do remain calm, but thanks nonetheless :-) By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date (or press the signature button on the toolbar). --SVTCobra 00:32, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Re: Bloomberg
have replied on article's talk page. also, pls sign your comments. –Doldrums(talk) 16:30, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

recent comments
I don't have a clue what you mean by putting various people on notice, or saying someone is dead to you. However I'd like to remind you to be polite, and that there are many people you may not like, but they're here nonetheless. Putting them on notice doesn't change that, or get any outcome from them that you'd prefer. Bawolff ☺☻ 03:57, 16 May 2007 (UTC)

 * You're about this close to being On Notice. The 13th 4postle 13:18, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Your statements are considered personal attacks and are IMO disruption, If you have isues with users, talk to them. Adding them to a "on notice list" is not acceptable. Please remove it from your userpage. DragonFire1024 13:21, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Also, these "attacks" are not helpful to the project and can be considered by some as disruption. DragonFire1024 13:24, 16 May 2007 (UTC)

User page cleanup
Please clean up your userpage. I shouldn't have to point out which parts are offensive to the community. --Brian McNeil / talk 13:29, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Joke or not, these are offensive and should be removed. DragonFire1024 13:59, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
 * You are listing people as bad or good and those are personal attacks, especially when you tell users thaey are "this close" to being on notice. WN:NOT is one... DragonFire1024 14:04, 16 May 2007 (UTC)

 * I take it people are aware of the reference to Colbert Report. when i get listed in Fantasies, i'll complain of personal attack. –Doldrums(talk) 14:10, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
 * i'm not particularly offended, as i've indicated above. but be aware that not everyone will have the same threshold of tolerance. so its better to be safe and not make personal remarks than to have to say sorry later. –Doldrums(talk) 14:16, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
 * I suppose its ok then...but please do not add anymore users to any of those lists as they will mostl likely consider that offensive. I hope that you will still edit Wikinews. DragonFire1024 14:17, 16 May 2007 (UTC)

 * I had been looking for a way of adding my On Notice status to my TrophyRoom. I wasn't offended. Apology accepted. --SVTCobra 14:25, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
 * That being said, I do believe that when you put me On Notice, you were genuinely annoyed with me and that it wasn't just for laughs. --SVTCobra 23:09, 16 May 2007 (UTC)

Hey, everything is cool, but I don't care much for the oblique user page comments of yours. Actually, I don't even think I could formulate a response that adequately addresses what you are doing on your user page. I object, but that objection has nothing to do with someone interested news. take care, and keep sniffin' for news, i promise that i will thrash it. -Edbrown05 23:03, 16 May 2007 (UTC)

RCTV protest images
can u pls link to the source of the images where its license terms are mentioned. the current source link simply leads to the image itself and so am unable to verify its license terms. –Doldrums(talk) 07:15, 1 June 2007 (UTC)
 * I have a feeling 13th's reaction would be to shrug shoulders and say, "Don't you people get it?" I think the answer to that is yes. And I also think the answer to that is other people's wishes. One must be mindful of them. -Edbrown05 08:05, 1 June 2007 (UTC)
 * I've just been informed that some of the protest images were deleted. I may be able to get them undeleted if you wish. I'd need to know where the image was from though. (like website, your friend, you etc). Bawolff ☺☻ 04:03, 6 June 2007 (UTC)
 * I've just been informed that the photographs come from a competing news source (reuters), and therefor we can't use them. Sorry. Bawolff ☺☻ 23:05, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

RTCV article dissapearance
Replied here: Water_cooler. --Steven Fruitsmaak (Reply) 12:43, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

Website of Venezuelan National Assembly is disabled by hacker
Please see Talk:Website of Venezuelan National Assembly is disabled by hacker for further discussion. --SVTCobra 01:03, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

title: User talk:The 13th 4postle


text:
User talk:Clock~enwikinews

Welcome
, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions; I hope you like the place and decide to stay! If you haven't done so already, you may want to create an account.

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! Brian | (Talk) | New Zealand Portal 21:25, 2 February 2006 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
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Welcome
Wikinews desperately needs more gutsy reporters; please give the project as much time as you can spare. Neutralizer 12:47, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

Your account will be renamed
Hello,

The developer team at Wikimedia is making some changes to how accounts work, as part of our on-going efforts to provide new and better tools for our users like cross-wiki notifications. These changes will mean you have the same account name everywhere. This will let us give you new features that will help you edit and discuss better, and allow more flexible user permissions for tools. One of the side-effects of this is that user accounts will now have to be unique across all 900 Wikimedia wikis. See the announcement for more information.

Unfortunately, your account clashes with another account also called Clock. To make sure that both of you can use all Wikimedia projects in future, we have reserved the name Clock~enwikinews that only you will have. If you like it, you don't have to do anything. If you do not like it, you can pick out a different name.

Your account will still work as before, and you will be credited for all your edits made so far, but you will have to use the new account name when you log in.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Yours, Keegan Peterzell Community Liaison, Wikimedia Foundation 23:13, 17 March 2015 (UTC)

Renamed
 This account has been renamed as part of single-user login finalisation. If you own this account you can |log in using your previous username and password for more information. If you do not like this account's new name, you can choose your own using this form after logging in: . -- Keegan (WMF) (talk) 06:30, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: User talk:Clock~enwikinews


text:
Estonian oil spill kills 5,000 birds

February 2, 2006

An oil spill in north-west Estonia has, according to scientists in the country, killed an estimated 5,000 birds across the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The oil spill, which occurred on January 31, killed 2,000 birds just off the coasts of the nearby Vormsi and Osmussaar islands. Finnish authorities have also reported that birds in the Nordic countries have also been affected.

The oil spill occurred on the coast of the northern Harjumaa region of Estonia, and has been credited to a Liberian tanker heading toward Singapore. By the end of the first 24 hours following the spill, authorities had already picked up 400 dead birds, killed by contact with the oil.

The coasts of Estonia have historically been a Winter flocking place for birds from across North and Central Europe, due to the suitable climate for many species. The spill could endanger numbers, especially if the death toll continues to increase in the next few days.

title: Estonian oil spill kills 5,000 birds


text:
File:SilviaCartwright.jpg

Wikipedia File history
(del) (cur) 10:51, 2 October 2005. . PA (Talk). . 190x287 (16653 bytes) (Governor-General of New Zealand)

title: File:SilviaCartwright.jpg


text:
User talk:Ptocknell~enwikinews

Welcome
, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions; I hope you like the place and decide to stay! If you haven't done so already, you may want to create an account.

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! Brian | (Talk) | New Zealand Portal 22:18, 2 February 2006 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
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Your account will be renamed
Hello,

The developer team at Wikimedia is making some changes to how accounts work, as part of our on-going efforts to provide new and better tools for our users like cross-wiki notifications. These changes will mean you have the same account name everywhere. This will let us give you new features that will help you edit and discuss better, and allow more flexible user permissions for tools. One of the side-effects of this is that user accounts will now have to be unique across all 900 Wikimedia wikis. See the announcement for more information.

Unfortunately, your account clashes with another account also called Ptocknell. To make sure that both of you can use all Wikimedia projects in future, we have reserved the name Ptocknell~enwikinews that only you will have. If you like it, you don't have to do anything. If you do not like it, you can pick out a different name.

Your account will still work as before, and you will be credited for all your edits made so far, but you will have to use the new account name when you log in.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Yours, Keegan Peterzell Community Liaison, Wikimedia Foundation 23:20, 17 March 2015 (UTC)

Renamed
 This account has been renamed as part of single-user login finalisation. If you own this account you can |log in using your previous username and password for more information. If you do not like this account's new name, you can choose your own using this form after logging in: . -- Keegan (WMF) (talk) 06:36, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

title: User talk:Ptocknell~enwikinews


text:
User talk:Veluet~enwikinews

Welcome
, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions; I hope you like the place and decide to stay! If you haven't done so already, you may want to create an account.

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! Brian | (Talk) | New Zealand Portal 22:25, 2 February 2006 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
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 * Newsroom - The comunity portal
 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
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Your account will be renamed
Hello,

The developer team at Wikimedia is making some changes to how accounts work, as part of our on-going efforts to provide new and better tools for our users like cross-wiki notifications. These changes will mean you have the same account name everywhere. This will let us give you new features that will help you edit and discuss better, and allow more flexible user permissions for tools. One of the side-effects of this is that user accounts will now have to be unique across all 900 Wikimedia wikis. See the announcement for more information.

Unfortunately, your account clashes with another account also called Veluet. To make sure that both of you can use all Wikimedia projects in future, we have reserved the name Veluet~enwikinews that only you will have. If you like it, you don't have to do anything. If you do not like it, you can pick out a different name.

Your account will still work as before, and you will be credited for all your edits made so far, but you will have to use the new account name when you log in.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Yours, Keegan Peterzell Community Liaison, Wikimedia Foundation 23:23, 17 March 2015 (UTC)

Renamed
 This account has been renamed as part of single-user login finalisation. If you own this account you can |log in using your previous username and password for more information. If you do not like this account's new name, you can choose your own using this form after logging in: . -- Keegan (WMF) (talk) 06:40, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

title: User talk:Veluet~enwikinews


text:
Category:New Zealand Crown Copyright images

The images in this category

 This image is protected by New Zealand Crown copyright. It may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The source of the material must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged. Subject to disclaimers.

To place an image in this category, add the tag to the bottom of the image's description page


text:
Talk:Bathurst, Australia's new hospital to be almost doubled in size

why is this article on the main page? this can hardly be considered world news. - mylesmalley
 * Wikinews at this time makes no distinction between local news and world news. The general thought is that at some point the volume of published articles will reach a level where it will be beneficial to not display local stories on the main page. We've not yet reached that point -- all published articles (with a few specific exceptions) are published to the main page. --Chiacomo (talk) 00:01, 3 February 2006 (UTC)
 * If Wikinews made the distinction for local and world news it would have been local, but it doesnt. Secondly - read Wikinews needs you!, specifically The news you write can be about a global event or whats happening in your local town — we dont mind! - Cartman02au (Talk)(AU Portal) 01:45, 3 February 2006 (UTC)


text:
New South Wales set to adopt harsher anti-cannabis laws

February 7, 2006 New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has proposed strengthening the states anti- laws. The government is undertaking a complete rewrite of such laws in response to concerns voiced by some health professionals about the link between the drug and mental health issues. The proposed legislation will also increase jail sentences for those convicted of growing cannabis.

"There is growing evidence of a link between long-term cannabis use and the incidence of severe mental health problems," said Mr Iemma.

Under the plan the current cannabis cautioning system, introduced in 2000, is to be reviewed. Cannabis users would be required to attend counseling to "understand the link between cannabis use and mental illness" to avoid being charged for their first offence. At present those issued with their second cautioning notice are required to call a counseling service.

Revised Penalty System
Current penalties do not distinguish between hydroponic cultivation and other forms of cultivation. The new set of penalties proposed by Mr Iemma include:
 * $220,000 fine and/or 10 years gaol for growing 5-49 hydroponic plants (same as present)
 * $385,000 fine and/or 15 years gaol for growing 50-199 hydroponic plants (currently this is given to those found growing 250-999 plants)
 * $550,000 fine and/or 20 years gaol for growing 200 hydroponic plants or more (currently given for growing in excess of 1000 plants)
 * Two years gaol for theft of electricity to power hydroponic growing houses
 * 12 months gaol for those found with any form of cannabis on their premises (for a first offence)
 * Five years gaol for those found with any form of cannabis on their premises (for a second offence)
 * Creation of child endangerment offences for parents who allow their children inside hydroponic grow-ops.

Hydroponic cultivation
Those found hydroponically growing cannabis will be hit particularly hard by the new laws. Mr Iemma defended the government's proposals by referring to expert advice on the effects of this type of cannabis on users. "Regular cannabis use can exacerbate mental illnesses and associated criminal activity. Experts tell us that potent, hydroponically grown cannabis is a particular problem," he said.

The content of in cannabis changed sharply in the 1970s with the rediscovery and spread of the  technique, wherein the material used by the unfertilized female plant to create seeds is diverted to the production of trichromes, which contain THC. Potency rates have risen slowly but steadily since then with the refinement of various cultivation techniques. These techniques also have resulted in much greater yields.

The concentration of THC in cannabis as related to genetics, correct nutrient supply and may be controlled by, however these conditions are also regularly met using soil-based growing techniques.

Under the new laws hydroponic cannabis houses will be subjected to the same search and warrant powers as those which are used for the manufacture of amphetamines and heroin.

Support and Concerns
Dr John Currie from Drug and Alcohol Services at Sydney's Westmead hospital supports the government's position, telling ABC "there is growing evidence that the long term use of cannabis can cause mental illness, whether you're predisposed to it or not".

"Equally as worrying for us is that just ordinary people who don't have a mental health problem can still get trouble when they do have long term use of cannabis" said Dr Currie.

The Prime Minister has also accused cannabis of playing a role in Australia's mental health problems. "I think we are paying a dreadfully heavy price for the abuse of what was so called recreation and socially acceptable drugs despite the clear evidence, unaccepted until a few years ago, that these things were doing massive damage within our community," Mr Howard has said in parliament.

Mr Howard signaled that he supported the move in New South Wales to increase penalties for cannabis, especially hydroponic cannabis which the NSW government claims is stronger. "I welcome the change in direction of many of the states," he said.

The Mental Health Council of Australia has warned the government of over-estimating the role of cannabis in mental health. John Mendozza, the Councils Chief Executive, told ABC "I don't think we should overstate the role of cannabis in the nation's mental health crisis. It is a factor, but it is not the reason that we now face a mental health crisis."

The government's claims are based in part upon an Australian study conducted in 2002, which found regular use of cannabis among teen-age girls to be predictive of later anxiety and depression, though not that among boys. A different study published in 2005 actually found that those who suffer with depression and use cannabis "for medical reasons" reported less depressed moods.

Research has shown that cannabis use is risky for adolescents with an abnormal gene (which occurs in about 25 percent of the population of Northern European descent). Compared to the rest of the population, those with the abnormal gene and who smoke cannabis regularly during adolescence have an increased risk of developing later in life, though none of these factors separately predicts the illness.

Opposition and Concerns
On the other hand, New South Wales' government proposals has been met with stiff opposition from various factions, including parts of the medical community. Doctor Alex Wodak, of the Australia Drug Law Reform Association in an interview with said "I think many people, not just me, see this as more motivated by concern about the March 2007 elections than any public health measure."

"If governments were really serious about cannabis and in favour of draconian responses for a drug which after all, doesn't cause any deaths, then what would they do about a drug that causes 19,000 deaths in Australia a year - namely tobacco?" asked Dr Wodak.

The NSW laws contrast with calls from the in South Australia for a relaxation of anti-cannabis laws. State leader Sandra Kanck said, "politicians and media commentators are getting on the bandwagon, saying we need to recriminalise the personal use of marijuana. That would make around 476,000 South Australians - 40 per cent of the population - retrospective criminals. About 75,000 people in the state would break the law each week if marijuana was criminalised. We need to recognise that drugs are used, and have appropriate policies to deal with that. Prohibition didn't work in America in the 1920s and it won't work now".

Anti-Cannabis laws in other Australian jurisdictions
South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory already distinguish between cannabis which is grown hydroponically or using artificial light and conventional cannabis for possession offences.

South Australia also goes one step further by having separate penalties for cannabis possession in public and in private. In South Australia possession of up to 20 cannabis plants for personal use is punishable by a $500 fine.

When compared to other jurisdictions the Australian Capital Territory has the lightest penalties for cannabis offences. Penalties for cannabis possession range from $100 for possessing 25 grams of leaf or 2 or less "non-artificially cultivated" plants to a $5,000 fine and/or 2 years gaol for possessing an amount of cannabis not covered by the above.

The Northern Territory has some of the toughest anti-drug laws in Australia when contrasted with other states. A person can receive a 25 year gaol sentence for having more than 20 plants in their possession.

Cannabis policy directions in other Western countries
The NSW government's decision to introduce tougher penalties for cannabis cultivation and possession comes at a time when other Western countries are relaxing their laws in this regard.

In the United States, anti-cannabis laws vary greatly from state to state with respect to personal use, medical cannabis and cultivation. Cannabis is still broadly prohibited under the federal, and the federal government selectively enforces the law so as to frustrate various forms of legalization at state and local levels, for example in .

Personal cannabis use in the Netherlands is subject to a of official tolerance,  though it remains technically illegal. The Netherlands regulates the sale of cannabis in, though the non-tolerance of cultivation above five personal plants creates an irregularity of supply (the so-called "back-door problem"). Legislation is under consideration to address this by regulating commercial cultivation. The current Protestant government has sought to limit the number of coffee shops, and in border towns bar sales to foreigners.

Certain provinces of Canada have adopted a policy of non-enforcement of anti-cannabis laws against personal use, to the point that in the Vancouver and Toronto areas, operation of cannabis cafés is tolerated, though they are not permitted to sell. Cultivation is still aggressively interdicted. The city of Vancouver has drafted a licensing model similar to the Netherlands, which has not yet gone into force. The recent have brought a minority Conservative government, which may bring reversals in liberalization of cannabis laws.

In the United Kingdom cannabis has been as a Class C drug, making it less likely for an individual to be arrested for possession. There is political pressure in the UK to either schedule strong cannabis separately or reverse the rescheduling altogether, citing the alleged dangers. On the dangers of strong cannabis, there is a similarity of public discourse especially between the UK and Australia.


text:
'Kama Sutra' worm set to strike

February 3, 2006 Computer security experts warn that a malicious computer worm, dubbed "Kama Sutra," is set to wreak havoc this Friday, February 3rd on Microsoft Windows computers worldwide. Kama Sutra is designed to destroy files that end in .doc, .zip and .pdf.

The Kama Sutra worm has been spreading through cyberspace since January 16, packaged in emails with subject headings such as: "give me a kiss" and "crazy illegal sex."

When users click an email attachment, their PCs become infected with destructive, self-replicating software. The worm affects Microsoft Windows operating systems and is programmed to go to work on the third of every month, overwriting or corrupting Microsoft files and others such as Portable Document Format (PDF) files.

"This one can damage your office files, your Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and your PowerPoint presentations," Tino Klironomos, a computer retailer, said. "(The files will be) all gone, history."

Computer security company LURHQ reports that there may be hundreds of thousands of machines already infected with the worm, which also goes by the monikers "BlackWorm," "CME-24," "Blackmal," "Mywife.E" and "Nyxem."

To prevent the worm, Windows users should arm themselves with anti-virus software. People can also protect their PC with up-to-date anti-virus gear and firewall protection. Free anti-virus tools are available from many anti-virus organisations. These tools can detect and remove the Kama Sutra worm from an infected machine.

Experts say: "Make sure your virus definitions are up to date. Besides being careful about opening email messages and attachments, users should back up their most valuable computer files on an external device such as a CD, zip drive or DVD."

Steve Bass at PC World says: "Stop worrying. If you update your virus program signatures regularly, and do a weekly AV scan, I don't think you have much to worry about..."

Other advice is not to open any messages with the subject headers "crazy, illegal sex", "give me a kiss" and "hot movie."

The worm will not affect machines running on non-Windows operating systems such as Mac OS X or GNU/Linux.

Effects
Many security systems reported a very small amount of vandalism, even though the threats were very high.

title: 'Kama Sutra' worm set to strike


text:
RU486 Abortion pill hearings begin in Australia

February 3, 2006 An Australian Senate inquiry into the abortion pill "RU486" has started public hearings in Melbourne. A controversial conscience vote on the issue to overturn laws which prohibit Australian women's access to the drug, will be held in Federal parliament on February 9.

The Senate committee is considering a bill to remove ministerial control of the abortifacient drug Mifepristone - or RU486. Health Minister Tony Abbott says the issue of whether to allow women access to the drug "is one of principle." Abbott, who is against abortion, insists he is the right person to control the drug's use in Australia.

Besides its use internationally as an "abortion pill", there may also be a small chance that it may help treat various other medical disorders including prostate cancer, breast cancer, and inoperable brain tumours amongst other conditions. Mifepristone is effectively banned in Australia, with Minister Abbott controlling whether it is made available.

The bill, sponsored by a group of female senators and MPs, would hand Mr Abbott's powers over to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) - the body that controls all other pharmaceutical drugs in Australia. The bill seeks to have the TGA determine the drug's availability and not the Health Minister.

Democrats Leader Lyn Allison, said she was "cautiously confident" the parliament will overturn the current arrangements when the conscience vote takes place. "Those who are in favour of the bill are saying this is a choice that ought to be available to women and that on the basis of the studies that have been done overseas it is at least as safe as surgical termination," Senator Allison said.

Reproductive Choice Australia (RCA)say that medicine is placed at the whim of politics, saying that over 80% of Australians are pro-choice. A national survey found 87% of women aged 18 to 49 support a woman’s right to choose.

RU486 is available in much of western Europe and North America, but was effectively banned in Australia under laws initiated by now-retired pro-life senator Brian Harradine.

Christine Read, medical director of family planning group FPA Health, said Misoprostol, also known as Cytotec, is across the world to invoke contractions to expel the fetus after a woman had taken RU486. "It is used extensively in obstetrics and gynaecology for termination of pregnancy and to induce labour, so it's used in the medical management of miscarriage," Dr Read said.

Dr Sharman Stone, said yesterday the issue was not about Misoprostol, but rather that "the TGA should make the decision about any drugs - that is its job. Any other conversations about other drugs are simply irrelevant to this argument," Dr Stone said.

Family First senator Steve Fielding says lifting a ban on RU486 would pave the way for do-it-yourself home abortions. "RU486 is different to other drugs in that it is an abortion drug which could see do-it-yourself home abortions," he said in a statement. "The question is, should policy be made by bureaucrats or our elected leaders?

Senator Fielding claims Australians are worried about the high number of abortions in Australia, as reflected in submissions received by the Senate committee.

On Monday the committee will move to Sydney for a final day of hearings.


text:
Federal judge calls EPA head's post 9/11 conduct "conscience-shocking".

February 3, 2006

Federal judge, Judge Deborah A. Batts refused to grant former (EPA) head,, immunity from a class-action lawsuit brought by people in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The suit seeks to hold Whitman personally liable for her actions as EPA administrator and the suit claims that thousands of people (including children) were "unnecessarily exposed" to airborne asbestos and other hazardous substances.

"Whitman's deliberate and misleading statements made to the press, where she reassured the public that the air was safe to breathe around lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, and that there would be no health risk presented to those returning to those areas, shock the conscience," the judge said in her 83-page ruling. "Shock the conscience" is a legal standard that lawsuits must meet to hold U.S. government officials personally responsible for their actions.

"No reasonable person would have thought that telling thousands of people that it was safe to return to lower Manhattan, while knowing that such return could pose long-term health risks and other dire consequences, was conduct sanctioned by our laws," Batts said. The statements by Whitman came two days after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City that brought down the twin World Trade Towers. Batts noted that the EPA and Whitman repeatedly reassured residents that the air seemed safe to breathe. The EPA's own internal watchdog discovered that the agency gave misleading assurances apparently at the urging of White House officials.

Bloomberg News states that calls to Whitman's consulting firm and to the EPA weren't immediately returned.


text:
Tensions continue to rise in Middle East over "Mohammad Cartoons"

February 3, 2006

The publishing of a series of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a Copenhagen newspaper sparked a string of harsh and in some places violent reactions in the Middle East, forcing European leaders to try to calm the situation.

This backlash started in late September 2005, when the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a dozen cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad. The images ranged from serious to comical in nature; a particularly controversial cartoon portrays Mohammad with a bomb wrapped in his turban. The Jutland-based newspaper states that the images were meant to inspire some level of public debate over the image of Islam in Europe, and had no direct aim of offending anyone.

However, many Muslims follow the doctrine of aniconism concerning the portrayal of Mohammad. This tenet of Islam states that the Prophet Mohammad should not be depicted in any type of art, regardless of the intent of the piece. This belief, along with the potentially insensitive nature of some of the caricatures, have caused offense to many Muslims in the Arab world.

In the past month, the controversy over these cartoons escalated. The cartoons were re-published last month in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the Netherlands (where the latter two nations have large Muslim populations), and have begun to re-circulate throughout the Middle East.

Many Danish companies have been targeted for boycotts. As Wikinews reported last week, Arla Foods, Denmark's top dairy company, has seen their sales fall to zero in some Middle East nations. Carrefour, a French retail chain, has pulled all Danish products from its shelves in the region. Earlier this week, protests were held throughout the region, including the Gaza Strip in Jerusalem, where Hamas supporters led an assault and protest that surrounded the European Union offices for Israel.

Hamas members, some armed with guns, stormed the EU office (which is primarily staffed by Arabs) and demanded apologies from EU member states, saying they would otherwise face serious consequences. "It will be a suitable reaction, and it won't be predictable," said Abu Hafss, a member of the Al Quds Brigade (an affiliate of the group Islamic Jihad), in a press conference outside the EU offices. And the Abu al-Reesh Brigades, a group related to the late Yassir Arafat's Fatah party, warned that EU member states had 10 hours to apologize for the cartoons or their citizens would be "in danger".

Jamila Al Shanty, a newly elected Hamas legislator, stated that more rallies will be planned in protest of the cartoons. "We are angry - very, very, very angry," Al Shanty said today, adding that "No one can say a bad word about our prophet."

The Iranian newspaper Hamshari daily has stated that on February 8 it will publish anti-semitic cartoons in response to the Danish cartoons, apparently failing to notice that Denmark has only a tiny Jewish population, since most escaped to Sweden during the World War II Holocaust. The newspaper says that the cartoons will lampoon the Holocaust despite denials by the Iranian government that the Holocaust even happened.

Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper that first published the cartoons did issue an apology to Arab countries on Monday, shortly after the EU office incident. But with the support of the government of Denmark, the newspaper had earlier defended its actions fiercely, citing the universal right to free press, and its duty to serve democratic traditions by inspiring debate. Indeed, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, said "We are talking about an issue with fundamental significance to how democracies work." In fact, some European pundits have placed more fault on Muslims for refusing to "accept Western standards of free speech and pluralism". When the cartoons were originally published in 2005 they were intended to highlight and redress the unequal restrictions applied to Islamic content in European newspapers in comparison with content referring to other religions. The cartoons are also self-referential, with one character in the cartoons writing in Arabic on a blackboard "Jyllands-Posten's journalists are a bunch of reactionary provocateurs", and another cartoon showing a cartoonist having to work in hiding because one of the cartoons he is drawing includes an image of the Prophet Mohammad. The text around the cartoons stated:
 * "The modern, secular society is rejected by some Muslims. They demand a special position, insisting on special consideration of their own religious feelings. It is incompatible with contemporary democracy and freedom of speech, where you must be ready to put up with insults, mockery and ridicule. It is certainly not always equally attractive and nice to look at, and it does not mean that religious feelings should be made fun of at any price, but that is less important in this context. [...] we are on our way to a slippery slope where no-one can tell how the self-censorship will end. That is why Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten has invited members of the Danish editorial cartoonists union to draw Muhammad as they see him. [...]"

However, some world leaders have elected to help defuse what could be a major social crisis in Europe and the Middle East. France's foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said that freedom of the press should be exercised "in the spirit of tolerance", sentiments which were echoed by United Nations General Secretary Kofi Annan. Ursula Plassnik, foreign minister of Austria, said that the European community must "clearly condemn" acts which insult religion. And Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan, warned Europe that "any insult to the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is an insult to more than one billion Muslims and an act like this must never be allowed to be repeated."

Rasmussen, in an interview with Arabic TV Al arabia, said that "...Danish government condemns any expression and any action which offends people's religious feelings..." and also said that he does not understand why, as the cartoons were originally published in September, the situation has only truly started to deteriorate in the past week.

In Denmark, there are counter-demonstrations by moderate Muslims saying they don't want the images banned. Munira Mirza commented that many Muslims "want to be able to say: 'Hey we're not children, we can handle criticism, we don't need special protection - we're equal'. Many don't want to be treated as a special group, seen as worthy of more protection from criticism than other groups because of their apparent victim status."

Religious satirist Stewart Lee commented that Jyllands-Posten had "tried to deal with a subject they don't know enough about, and this is one of the teething problems of the cross-over of cultures in the world. I'm sure the level of offence is far greater than would have been intended."

In France
The director (Directeur de publication) of "France Soir", a French national newspaper was fired in response for publishing a cartoon titled: "Yes, we have the right to (joke about) characterise God" (Oui, on a le droit de caricaturer Dieu). The "France-Soir" web site is presently offline. The cartoon is partially visible on a nouvelobs.com website.

Today, Libération, another French national newspaper, is publishing two of the "Mohammad Cartoons". Other newspapers across France are asking for their rights to freedom of the press to be defended.

Charlie Hebdo, a well-known satirical newspaper, will publish articles to support cartoonists, freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

The general reaction in France seems to be that most citizens except religious people (Catholics, Muslims,...) are astounded by the level of anger against the "Mohammad Cartoons".

In Australia
On February 9 2006 Queensland Premier Peter Beattie gave The Courier Mail Newspaper his blessings in publishing the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons/depictions of Muhammad stating that he is a firm believer in free speech and ones freedom of expression. On the very same day he got his legal representative to write to the author of this site photoduck.com demanding he censor material relating to him and his Government.

Online
Although many newspapers have not republished the cartoons in order to avoid backlashes, the drawings have appeared on the Internet and are being revealed at a number of Web sites and blogs. On January 30th, Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin placed the drawings on her blog, and encouraged others to do the same.


text:
Talk:'Kama Sutra' worm set to strike

Potential copyright violation
c.f. the cited Bell Globalmedia story. I don't think one can reuse things like "seductively named but maliciously-behaving." I noticed another article by Elliot K that also seems to reuse significant text from citations. 71.192.96.224 03:34, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Anonymous, good point and I was in a rush when I slapped this story together. Sorry. I hoped someone else may have edited further. Please feel free to edit this stuff yourself. Thats what Wikinews is for, innit? Anyway, I've hacked out your concern. I try very hard not to use "significant text" - although this can be difficult when quoting from other media outlets. Where is "another article" by me which reuses "signifcant text"? I am interested in your claim. Please be specific. --elliot_k 04:09, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Hi - the RU486 Abortion pill hearings begin article contains the text "Speaking outside the hearings, Dr Leslie Cannold, an ethicist from Reproductive Choice Australia (RCA), said she wanted people to know RU486 could also treat a range of serious disorders including some forms of cancer, inoperable brain tumours and other conditions." while The Advertiser article you cite contains the text: "Speaking outside the hearings, Dr Leslie Cannold, an ethicist from Reproductive Choice Australia, said she wanted people to know RU486 could also treat a range of serious disorders including some forms of prostate cancer, breast cancer, inoperable brain tumours and other conditions." 71.192.96.224 04:14, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Your Aboriginal_Sovereignty_Day_Declared article contains the text

"The gathering identified the 34 year-old Tent Embassy on the grounds of Old Parliament House in Canberra, as a significant place of social, spiritual and political importance to Aboriginal Peoples - a symbol of the assertion of Aboriginal Sovereignty." while a cite contains: "The Peoples identified the 34 year-old Tent Embassy in Canberra as a significant place of social, spiritual and political importance to Aboriginal Peoples, and a symbol of the assertion of Aboriginal Sovereignty." 71.192.96.224 04:27, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Dear Anonymous User, Thanks for pointing that out mate. Re the RU486 story: It is difficult to rephrase, deconstruct and re-present things people have already said to other media, but I've changed the text on that one for you now. I hope you are satisfied. Re the Sovereignty Day story: I was citing a Media Release posted to Perth Indymedia [note: there is an element of original reporting in that one too.] Thanks, --elliot_k 04:46, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Sorry - had to tag the RU486 story - I respectfully disagree that what you are doing eliminates cv issues. You changed the paragraph I listed above to "Dr Leslie Cannold, from Reproductive Choice Australia (RCA), wants the public to know RU486 is used to treat a wide range of serious disorders including various forms of cancer, inoperable brain tumours and other conditions." still a cv IMHO. I suggest starting with a blank article & writing from scratch, not using one or more existing articles as a framework & making edits. that's a derivative work and still a cv.

 * I have addressed you concern. Please remove the tag. And to be honest, your actions are not very valid without a username. This is just anonymous harrassment.--elliot_k 04:59, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Furthermore, to the Anonymous fellow. All media on Wikinews is derivative. Unless of course its original reporting. All news stories have a source. All things then are potentially CV. Its a matter, for me at least, to gather as many sources as I can and represent the issue from multifarious POV... It's not like I'm presenting it as my own work. All material is cited. --elliot_k 05:07, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Why be such a spoilsport?
Boo to the person for taking those virus and kama sutra pics off. I'm just attempting to liven this drab place up a little! :( --elliot_k 04:21, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

slightly pov description
"seductively-named"

Seems abit pov to me, but i'm not sure. Bawolff ☺☻ 21:52, 3 February 2006 (UTC)
 * Indeed. I've removed that word following cv concerns. However, "seductive" is a apt description of the worm's name...--elliot_k 04:48, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

more extention
"The worm is programmed to go to work on the third of every month - overwriting or corrupting Microsoft Office Word documents, Microsoft Office Excel spread sheets, and Portable Document Format files.

"This one can damage your office files, your Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and your Powerpoint presentation," Tino Klironomos, a computer retailer, said. "(The files will be) all gone, history.""

Well powerpoint is ppt, and pps, excel is xls (i think), I think this does a couple other file extentions other then .pdf,.doc,and .zip. Bawolff ☺☻ 21:57, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

 * What is the concern here? I don't understand. Is there too much information, or too little? Whats the drama? --elliot_k 04:49, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Its contradicting itself. some parts say it does powerpoint MS word and zip, some say excel, some don't say pdf. Its just possibly potentially confusing. Anyway, know that I've finished being mean, I wanted to say good work to everyone who worked on this. Bawolff ☺☻[[image:smile.png]] 05:15, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

 * I get it. Will fix...--elliot_k 05:19, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

title: Talk:'Kama Sutra' worm set to strike