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Encyclopædia Britannica fights back against Wikipedia, soon to let users edit contents

January 28, 2009

(EB), the authoritative reference book first published in 1768, is planning to let readers edit its entries,, its president said Friday, as it battles to keep pace with online like Wikipedia.

Starting next week, readers, visitors and contributing experts to EB's free, online version, Britannica.com, will be allowed to submit proposed changes and contributions to Britannica editors, who will then review the edits and make the necessary alterations. This move is meant to let readers help keep the reference work up-to-date by collaboration.

In expanding and maintaining entries online, users whose editorial suggestions are accepted and published entirely or in part will be credited by name in the section of the article that lists contributors.

The new website features will be available on the site within the next twenty-four hours. According to the, "Cauz is promising a 20-minute turnover on these edits, but that number could go up dramatically if the company cannot anticipate a large influx of edits at once."

Britannica, however, explained that it would not allow a Wikipedia form of editing which allows a wide range of users to make contributions. EB's novel user choice will include enrollment of experts in a reward scheme and invitation of selected readers to contribute. Several readers will also be allowed to use Britannica materials to contribute their own articles that will be featured on the site.

"We are not abdicating our responsibility as publishers or burying it under the now-fashionable 'wisdom of the crowds'," wrote Jorge Cauz in his blog. "We believe that the creation and documentation of knowledge is a collaborative process but not a democratic one," Cauz noted, explaining further that "these experts would sit alongside the encyclopaedia entries and the official material would carry a 'Britannica Checked' stamp, to distinguish it from the user-generated content."

Cauz also announced the unveiling by Britannica of a beta (trial) version of what will become the finished Britannica Online website, which will include a re-design and the addition of web-based tools for readers and users to upload their own reference materials. The new features that Britannica will roll out over the next six months also include an article rating system and a comprehensive list of contributors by subject area.

Articles developed by Britannica's own editors also appear in the printed volumes, which are published every two years, though material created by what Cauz called their "community of scholars" will only appear online.

“Wikipedia contributes to the spread of information and many people are happy with it as their only source of reference, as are many people happy to eat McDonald’s every day,” said Cauz, who discussed differences between Britannica and Wikipedia features of online editing. “That’s the last thing we want to be. We are a different type of animal, catering to a different type of crowd,” he added.

Cauz said the company will retain its staff of about 100 full-time editors and over 4,000 expert contributors. “I think the future is likely going to be that in every media segment there has to be a symbiotic relationship between editor and reader,” said Cauz, adding that each article will have a detailed history showing changes and who made them, as in Wikipedia. In 1933, Britannica became the first encyclopaedia to introduce a "continuous revision" policy, with continuous reprinting such that every article is updated on a regular schedule.

Unlike Wikipedia, which allows anonymous edits through a user's IP address being logged, Britannica's new features strictly require contributors or users to register, revealing their real names and addresses, prior to modifying or creating their own articles. Contributions from non-academic users will sit in a separate section.

A new or changed feature called “Suggest Edit” button will allow readers of a particular article to suggest information clarification, post questions to contributors or add to the existing text, subject to Britannica editors' approval. "What we are trying to do is shifting … to a much more proactive role for the user and reader where the reader is not only going to learn from reading the article but by modifying the article and - importantly - by maybe creating his own content or her own content," wrote Cauz.

Cauz faulted Google for setting Wikipedia higher in pagerank than Britannica. He explained that, in EB, new efforts to participate in online collaboration of encyclopedic content are deemed by recognizing experts as a requirement in order to achieve objectivity and high quality. During his tenure, officials from Britannica have become outspoken in their of Wikipedia articles' contents.

In July 2006, Cauz personally entered the fray in an interview in, in which he stated that Wikipedia had "decline(d) into a hulking, mediocre mass of uneven, unreliable, and, many times, unreadable articles" and that "Wikipedia is to Britannica as  is to the ."

The 241-year-old publication, Encyclopædia Britannica, is a general  published by a privately held company,, and is the oldest English-language encyclopaedia still in print. The Britannica articles are directed at educated adult readers. First published between 1768 and 1771 in Edinburgh, Scotland, it quickly grew in popularity and size, with its third edition in 1801 reaching over 21 volumes.

Britannica's latest 15th edition has a unique three-part structure: a 12-volume ' of short articles (generally having fewer than 750 words), a 17-volume Macropædia of long articles (having from two to 310 pages) and a single ' volume created to give a outline of human knowledge. The Micropædia is devised for quick fact-checking and as a door to the Macropædia.

At present, Britannica offers optical disc, online and mobile versions. The Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite 2006 DVD has over 55 million words and just over 100,000 articles, including 73,645 regular Britannica articles. The Encyclopædia Britannica Online website has more than 120,000 articles and is updated regularly. EB's virtual space was founded in 1994 and contains articles comprised of over 46 million words.

In February 2007, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. said that it was working with to launch a mobile encyclopedia, to enable users to send questions via text messages. Replies would then be forwarded by AskMenow based on Britannicas' articles.

As Britannica is a business, the company needed to charge, and Web access to the archives cost $70 a year. In April 2008, "Britannica Webshare," a version of the online Encyclopaedia Britannica has been available for free, but only for Web publishers. The simple process requires signing up, giving a site URL, a description, and approval by the company. “This program is intended for people who publish with some regularity on the Internet, be they bloggers, webmasters, or writers. We reserve the right to deny participation to anyone who in our judgment doesn’t qualify,” said.

In June 2008, Britannica announced an initiative to facilitate collaboration between online expert and amateur scholarly contributors for Britannica's on-line content (in the spirit of a ), with editorial oversight from Britannica staff. According to its statement titled "Britannica's New Site: More Participation, Collaboration from Experts and Readers," approved contributions would be credited, though contributing automatically grants Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. perpetual, irrevocable license to those contributions.

has, however, reported that it became clear how steep of a climb Britannica faces. "Wikipedia received a massive 97 percent share of the online encyclopedia market or visits U.S. Web surfers made to online encyclopedias last week," Web monitoring company said Friday. "MSN was second with 1.27 percent of visits, followed by Encyclopedia.com (0.76 percent), Fact Monster (0.72 percent) and, in fifth place, Britannica.com (0.57 percent). Britannica.com's share of U.S. visits dropped 53 percent last month compared with December 2007," Hitwise added.

While Britannica.com has 1.5 million visitors per day, Wikipedia attracts about six million, The Times reported. Hitwise also said that as of last week, Wikipedia ranked the 13th-most-visited site on the Web overall, while Britannica.com was 2,349th. The essential difference is Wikipedia does not charge any fee, while Britannica.com requires a paid subscription for access of some contents. Britannica, however, is issuing a "Encyclopaedia Britannica 2009 Ultimate Edition" - the £40 2009 DVD edition of its famous print encyclopaedia.

"One of the big questions still on the table is whether Britannica will open its content or maintain its premium membership paid wall. In order to compete with Wikipedia in the Google [search results], Britannica needs to build up inbound links. If content is locked up behind the paid content walls, people will be much more likely to link to other websites with free content -- such as that available on Wikipedia," Hitwise analyst Heather Hopkins noted.

Wikipedia, a not-for-profit collaborative online encyclopedia, in its Wikipedia Foundation's recent drive for public donations, had aimed to raise $US6 million over the course of six months. On January 1, "it had met the target, from more than 125,000 donors," said Wikipedia head honcho and co-founder Jimmy Wales. He has invoked Wikipedia's "free-culture movement", and its mission "to bring free knowledge to the planet, free of charge and free of advertising".

"Wikipedia is the new frontier of human knowledge," wrote Anonymous, donating $US100. American Patrick Culligan left another comment, saying, "Accurate information is what enables society to act in the appropriate way in which we can change the world. History cannot be left for the winners to write." Another said: "Wikipedia is one of those 'big ideas' which will change our world for the better."

After Encyclopedia Britannica's announcement that it is introducing a more open editing system, web 2.0 giant Wikipedia has considered attempts to move away from its free and open editing system. Academics, scholars and others have long criticized the writing principles fostered by Wikipedia amid vandals having often changed Wikipedia entries resulting to erroneous reports.

Now, for the first time, the online encyclopedia has considered restricting the edits that users can make. The system known internally as "Flagged Revisions," has been sparked off by inaccurate changes after a Wikipedia user "Gfdjklsdgiojksdkf" and an anonymous editor respectively edited articles to say that both U.S. Senators and  had died. The errors were caught and duly corrected after about five minutes, but they were up long enough for the, among other media outlets, to notice.

In just the latest incidents in a long and rich history of vandalism since its 2001 launch, and Apple's CEO Steve Jobs, among others, have also been falsely reported as dead on Wikipedia. Wiki means "fast" in Hawaiian and it certainly is, even amid subtle vandalism, since anyone can amend its 2.7m entries. Wikipedia has long struggled with such prankery, and has ever since worked closely with its community to overcome it without adopting harsh protections.

As Wikipedia itself acknowledges, "Allowing anyone to edit Wikipedia means that it is more easily vandalized or susceptible to unchecked information, which requires removal." In the proposed process, only registered or reliable users could have their material or edits immediately appear to the general public visiting Wikipedia. Other contributors' edits or changes will first be reviewed, signed off, or “flagged” by reliable users.

“This nonsense would have been 100 percent prevented by Flagged Revisions,” said Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales under the header “Why I Am Asking Flagged Revisions Be Turned On Now,” on his user page. “[Instances of misinformation] could [...] have been prevented by protection or semi-protection, but [..] [many are] breaking news [stories] and we want people to be able to participate (so protection is out) and even to participate in good faith for the first time ever (so semi-protection is out)," explained Wales who calls for monitoring to prevent false entries.

Wales said that a poll revealed 60 percent of Wikipedians favored the new proposal and that it would be a “time limited test.” He noted that the delay should be less than the German Wikipedia allowed: “less than 1 week, hopefully a lot less, because we will only be using it on a subset of articles, the boundaries of which can be adjusted over time to manage the backlog.”

Wales issued a statement requesting implementation of the extension: “To the Wikimedia Foundation: per the poll of the English Wikipedia community and upon my personal recommendation, please turn on the flagged revisions feature as approved in the poll.” But the community response was further debate. As of February 2, his request hasn't been implemented.

Apparently the Wikipedia German edition has been using a form of the Flagged Revisions system since May as a test case. It has, however, led to a delay of up to three weeks in getting some new articles and edits published, for critics have said that the system is very labor intensive and comments can take weeks to appear. Wales, however, pointed out that the system he was proposing was only for biographies of living people. Wikipedia has provided comprehensive and up-to-minute entries on the in April 2007 and the  this past November as the events were still taking place.

While some participants in the debate have argued that the rule change is unnecessary, some have described it in terms of an ethical imperative. As one administrator wrote: "In the vast majority of cases, a Wikipedia article on an individual will be the very highest-ranking search engine result when a search is conducted on the name of that person. This affects the lives of the people we write about on a daily basis. To suggest that Wikipedia does not have profound obligations to do its best to keep these articles free of defamatory, gossipy and privacy-invading material is to suggest that we are without obligation to consider the real-world impacts of our actions and the work we are doing."

Others have argued that practical considerations should prevent a change that could result in a large backlog of unreviewed edits. "Flagged revisions will suffocate under its own weight," claimed administrator DragonflySixtyseven. Still other Wikipedian editors further argue that the current system works just fine.

Some consider the split could ultimately threaten the future of the dominant online encyclopedia. "The big issue is that while we have majority support, we don't have consensus, and that's the way we have always made our decisions," Jake Wartenberg user and member of RC patrol chimed in. "A lot of editors are becoming disenchanted with the project; we are losing them all the time," he added. By way of reply, amidst the embarrassing debacle, Mr. Wales has reached out to help and offered a compromise, inviting the opposition to submit alternative suggestions until the 29th of January.

“Implementing this functionality is really a volunteer community decision. We know the discussion about flagged revs is still taking place on English Wikipedia, but at this stage, it appears the majority of the community are behind this decision. As that discussion unfolds, we’ll have a better sense of the timing,” Jay Walsh, a spokesman for the Wikimedia Foundation, in a rejoinder, wrote in his e-mail message, explaining the status of the proposed restriction.

"Now seems an excellent time for Wikipedia to pause and take stock. It has proved the surprising wisdom of crowds as well as their utter idiocy. Its challenge now is to harness the enthusiasm of those volunteers while becoming a more reliable, better written source. And at some point, surely, its founders might want to turn it into a commercial venture. As almost said: "No one but a blockhead ever edited, excepted for money," said, a British freelance journalist and novelist.

"The suggestion of increased moderation on Wikipedia would divide the community. The site has built its reputation on being 'the encyclopedia that anyone can edit'. It's less radical to be 'the encyclopedia that anyone can edit as long as their edits are approved by a trusted Wikipedian' but that's what co-founder Jimmy Wales has suggested. Wikipedia's openness is its strength," said of The Daily Telegraph, asking, "is it most valuable feature its openness or its accuracy?"

Wales' position is that "I consider our BLP issue to be so important that I think it is actually unethical to not use a tool which holds great promise for helping with the problem, now that it has been successfully tested elsewhere. Anyone who would like to see this tool not go into practice needs to start by convincing people that either (a) it is OK for the BLP vandalism problem to continue or (b) there is a better way to solve it."


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Talk:Encyclopædia Britannica fights back against Wikipedia, soon to let users edit contents

I CREATED this online encyclopedia Britannica article. It seems Knol also did the same, don't know if Know catches up. Please help in publishing it. Cheers.--Florentino Floro (talk) 10:19, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

Other sources
Encyclopedia Britannica to allow user edits; Encyclopædia Britannica to incorporate user-generated content;Britannica looking to give Wikipedia a run for its money with online editing;5 reasons Britannica.com is losing out online--Florentino Floro (talk) 15:02, 24 January 2009 (UTC)
 * 25 January 2009, Wikipedia's founder calls for monitoring to prevent false entries

Wikipedia may adopt approval system--Florentino Floro (talk) 07:15, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

Minnor notes
(sorry, I really don't have time to review). But some minor notes. The german wikipedia isn't the only project with flagged revs on. English wikibooks has them on, english wikinews [us] has them on, and several other sites. Currently 17 wikimedia wikis have them enabled (plus some test sites somewhere AFAIK). I'm also not sure a personal request for jimbo would be considered an order, by the nature of it being a personal request. Hmm, what else, might be worth mentioning that Encarta did the exact same thing a couple years ago, and it didn't really work for them. Also might also want to mention how your measuring popularity of websites. (probably alexa, but there are others, and none of the popularity measures are anywhere near perfect). Looks really good.
 * Thank for the notes. But I would not like to put inside the articles things that have no back-up or sources. Remember the rules, and in an article I wrote I was failed 2 times because I did not allegedly include the sources, amid the problem of reviewers being scared with too many sources. Anyway, I just wrote about German Wiki, meaning INTER ALIA, or among others. Ostensibly this Wikinews is the perfect example. But I think it is not flag response, since, news and encylop. are miles apart. Writing defamatory news will jail the author and editor for contempt or etc. While Wiki ency. is edited vandalized minutes by minutes. It is also hard to measure popularity of websites. But for us editors, we are protected from libel or neutrality by just citing one or two reliable sources. Here in the Philippines, Wikipedia Eng. Ency. is top rated by Universities and lower level schools. In fact Wikipedia was banned as research material in many Universities here, since the corrupt cartel and university profs. lost money selling their books, since students use Wikipedia.
 * Also, before I was banned in Wikipedia english (due to 2 co-Filipino editors who got angry of these expose), just blocking my user because I posted IP address Mumbai - they use psychics though to detect my prophecies -remember the 3 plane crashes here and Mumbai) - I put up a long User Page pics and URLS so that my created articles could be cited as authorities as LEARNED TREATISES under the USA and Philippines Rules on Evidence. I wrote good legal articles there, and if courts will receive evidence that I with my academic credentials are the source of these, then, these magistrates will receive these as learned treatises saving expense to bring me to the countries to be cross-examined. Just saying ....--Florentino Floro (talk) 07:15, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

Just 11 sources now - FLAME WARS, or rather STAR WARS on Wikipedia, Jan 29 is the deadline for all your comment on Flag response
I tried my best to put the most compleat sources, JUST 11. Hoping for your kindness and patience. Cheers. This is a very very rare article for WIKIPEDIA.

Some other sources
I had put in here all the sources that I read, but I think the main article's sources that I put are OK. Just backing up some of the facts. Wikipedia has 97% of the online encyclopedia market; Proposal to flag, approve Wikipedia revisions provokes ire Wikipedia editors may approve all changes  Proposal to flag, approve Wikipedia revisions provokes ire Wikipedia Seeks To Clean Up Revisions Kennedy, Byrd the Latest Victims of Wikipedia Errors Wikipedia May Make Itself Harder to Edit Just How Powerful Is Wikipedia? Jimmy Wales wants Wikipedia edit flags--Florentino Floro (talk) 09:31, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

transferred sources, minor

 * --Florentino Floro (talk) 09:40, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * --Florentino Floro (talk) 09:40, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * --Florentino Floro (talk) 09:40, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * --Florentino Floro (talk) 09:40, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * --Florentino Floro (talk) 09:40, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * --Florentino Floro (talk) 09:40, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

Review
I don't have time right now, but if no one has reviewed this by the end of the day I'll do it. Got to make sure these big articles get published. Don't want all that work to go to waste:). Gopher65talk 14:35, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * This is an undertaking indeed. However, I abandoned my attempt when the first link was invalid. I foresaw hours of sorting out links (though I don't really know since I abandoned). Can these issues possibly be resolved before submitting for review? I hope so, --SVTCobra 02:38, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

Since the BIG THING is for January 29, the longer the time the BETTER, since this BIG Jimmy Wales article is watched with BATHED breath by the Internet world
Remember, NOW, big time journalists are URGING Jimmy Wales to fight against censoring or edit protect, flag revisions. If you read carefully the core of my uploaded links, you will find that the SECRET of success of Jimbo's Wiki is openness. Jimbo is being suggested to make money from Wiki citing Samuel ...

The Charms of Wikipedia

 * "Wikipedia: The Missing Manual", BKWKPDMM.RVW, a review by Robert Slade, The Internet Review *Project, 2008The Charms of Wikipedia
 * As you all see, when I CREATED this article, there are only 2 or 3 links. But since BBC or Beebs started this thing, many IDIOTS came in and the BIG TIME links too. So, Jimbo-Wikipedia is being publicized on the web as NEVER before. So please be PATIENT and not scared by the tons of links. We and Wikipedia english en. with BATED or BATHED breath will know on Jan 29 or days after, what Jimbo will decide amid the FLAME wars. This article started with ENs fight vs. Wikipedia, then, it veered away or bloomed to Wiki vs the editors. I don't thing, that COLLABORATION is just ONE PAIN of ONE reviewer. NO PAIN NO GAIN. Let us make this article a good one with BETTER style of writing. I already input the contents, you may do the STYLE. Cheers.--Florentino Floro (talk) 09:51, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Encyclopaedia Britannica Can a DVD encyclopaedia compete with the internet?
 * Wikipedia: The Missing Manual [ILLUSTRATED]
 * Wikipedia Now Blocking US Congress From Making Edits--Florentino Floro (talk) 10:15, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

Review

 * NPOV ?? you must be joking lol - I did not read anywhere that this article says "but more than 60% of the editors agreed something should be done, nor anything about Wikipedia being acceptable as a reliable source of information
 * It was not 5 minutes before the errors were corrected - it was 1 minute, 3 times. If this is an example of NPoV then I am living on the moon breathing space dust and living here with the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse, Aristotle and the Quizling
 * RegardsChaosdruid (talk) 20:17, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

PS - How much did they pay you ?

Britannica merge online changes to print edition
Somebody recently made this edit  regarding unsourced material. I couldn't find it either, so i sighted the edit. Bawolff ☺☻ 09:57, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
 * and seems to say the opposite. Bawolff ☺☻ 10:19, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

 * You sighted it just as I replaced it with a more nuanced sentence inspired by the same Telegraph article. The Times interview, announcements and blogs from Britannica.com are not 100% clear.  There seems to be 2 ways to interact:
 * to suggest edits to Britannica editors, who may go on to change a "Britannica checked" article (these may or many not end up in the print edition with a credit - nothing is mentioned about this)
 * to create your own articles and multimedia presentations, which are entirely credited to you. It is clearly said that these are for online use only.
 * Although none of the news articles I looked at picked up on these 2 types of online article, I think it will be ok for my sentence:
 * ''Articles developed by Britannica's own editors also appear in the printed volumes, which are published every two years, though material created by what Cauz called their "community of scholars" will only appear online.
 * to remain in the article.
 * Meanwhile, I take my hat off to Florentino Floro and iDangerMouse for wading through all this detail.
 * --InfantGorilla (talk) 15:35, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Thanks for your comment. Amid the days and tons of news on this which I painfully worked on, I dare say now that there is only ONE SECRET in the phenomenal success of Wikipedia Encyclopedia: openness, freedom and community rule. Even if I lost the blocking battle against my very own co-Filipino and co-Ateneo de Manila University editors including an Indian editor, though, I am fully amazed how Jimbo Wales and Wikimedia Foundation reached the pinnacle of ONLINE glory because of FREEDOM - yes, freedom without restriction which is hated by China, and those countries who fear the mob or community rule.
 * For this reason, Wikinews is so difficult, since, it is too painful to write and have a good news article published. I spend more than 7 hours just to write an article, and even 3 days for hard articles. Cheers.--Florentino Floro (talk) 07:50, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

Is it just me, or is this...
...biased against Wikipedia. This seems rather very critical of it and Jimbo..."Wikipedia has thrived on a tiny permanent staff and a vast army of altruistic volunteers resulting in manifest faults – liberal bias, waffling prose, threat to traditional publishers, inconsistency and lack of proper sources." "A virtual rebellion can be seen on Wales' talk page..." Ed 15:31, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

 * You are right. It isn't even remotely close to neutral.  It's typical of Wikinews, though.  Tolerance for trolls is pretty shocking here.--212.243.97.5 14:02, 2 February 2009 (UTC)

 * I love Wikipedia despite its faults. While I respect the freedom of the press, perhaps the "thrived" part of the sentence could be expanded to redress the balance.  --InfantGorilla (talk) 15:45, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

Error in article
It would be a good idea to correct the following error:

"'And some members of the community were annoyed that Wales took his case to the media.'"

There is nothing to suggest that Wales "took his case to the media", as indicated by the Moinneaux comment. Cary Bass (talk) 18:23, 2 February 2009 (UTC)

 * Sorry, sir for my late reply, I did'nt notice this. Yes, I agree that there is nothing, in proof or evidence law, which could definitely point to the media use by Mr. Wales. But I just uploaded in development the news reports on this specific matter (might be hearsay for us lawyers) which I collated and pasted in developing this news. For this reason, anybody, even an anonymous IP address editor could have edited the matter and sighted by the peer view editors, even after publication. As CREATOR my only job, with all due respect, is development, for the peer review. Hoping for your kind understanding, Cheers.--Florentino Floro (talk) 07:55, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

Editing continuing?
This article is five days old. Why are people still editing it? --SVTCobra 14:16, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

 * It is (was - less so now) riddled with factual errors and is highly biased against Wikipedia, the WMF and Jimbo and is a bit biased in favour of EB. I was shocked to find it in the mainspace. Redvers (talk) 15:33, 3 February 2009 (UTC)
 * It should have been a correction notice. In any case, I have started a discussion elsewhere to have the user who "reviewed" this taken off the list of editors. What was initially published had serious issues over neutrality, factual accuracy, and inclusion of editorialising by the author. It should never have passed a review. --Brian McNeil / talk 16:16, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

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


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Comments:Encyclopaedia Britannica fights back against Wikipedia, soon to let users edit contents

 * You know because this plan has worked wonderfully for encarta. Bawolff ☺☻ 12:05, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

Alternative to editor reviewing of articles
I would like to relate to the suggestion/decision of Jimmy Wales that all posts of the new users should be reviewed by editors prior to publishing.

My idea is to introduce a different color of text which is new and not "approved" yet.

Such text would have some symbols next to it (e.g. + and -) that users could click on to approve the new text. After sufficient number of users approves the text its color turns to standard black and + and - symbols disappear.

The explanation of what different color means and when to click + and when - (i.e. that the tool is supposed to catch false entries, not to express other opinions e.g. likability of the entry) could appear when hovering the mouse over the new, not approved text.

The number of positive responses (clicks on the +) necessary for approval could depend on the traffic on the article's site and on the number of negative responses (clicks on the -) and also on who is clicking (experienced users could approve the text with one click).

I am not a frequent Wikipedia contributor but I think such solution would provide fast publishing cycle (as fast as now) and more credibility of the entries (unapproved text can be treated with caution by information seeking users).

Maciej Szy

It's a good idea but keep in mind that Wikipedia is not a Wikiality, we don't vote to define reality , we only see if the statement is referenced to approve it's legitimacy. I like your idea but I'm fearful people will click on the + sign simply because they like the statements regardless of the references and I also fear some popular statements will get the priority over referenced sentences. And also for example a reference statement about the nature of homosexuality may prove shocking to some people and religious group and it would get rejected much like if knowledge was something electable like politicians. So I would not apply this in the form you propose. Of course I'm just an ordinary user, not an admin , it's just an opinion.

--Z E U S0 (talk) 13:34, 28 January 2009 (UTC)


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User talk:92.246.6.74

Bawolff ☺☻ 12:06, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:92.246.6.74


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Comments:ASEAN basketball league moves closer to reality

I can't imagine this being successful, except AirAsia is going to support fan clubs with low airfare. How will a guest team be able to bring supporters along when the average monthly salary is a fraction of the promotional air tickets currently available? I'm interested to see this take shape. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 58.8.15.84 (talk • contribs) 16:01, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

The question asked was will the ABL be a success. As a Filipino, and a basketball lifer, I say it is. All the ABL still has a long way to go to match the PBA in terms of fan support, I can see that the idea of a regional basketball tournament has caught on with our basketball-loving public. I tried to watch as many ABL regular season games played here in the Philippines and I saw all three play-offs games played at home by the Philippine Patriots. Of course, the Patriots won the inaugural championship, but I was happy to see the Bruneian, Malaysian and Indonesian community well represented in our venues. So I say the ABL was a success and will continue to thrive in the years to come. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 202.124.137.155 (talk • contribs) 02:28, 24 February 2010 (UTC)


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Details emerge on fatal stabbing at Belgian day care centre

January 24, 2009

Prosecutor Christian Du Four has released more details on the fatal stabbing in a day care center in East Flanders, Belgium, yesterday, in which two children (six and nine months old) and one employee were killed. Ten children and two adults were injured.

The alleged perpetrator, a 20-year-old man from nearby Sint-Niklaas, was arrested in the neighbouring municipality of Lebbeke shortly after the crime. Belgian news website nieuwsblad.be have named the arrested man as Kim De Gelder.

The attack
The attacker wore a bullet-proof vest under his clothes and a backpack containing a knife, an axe and a fake pistol. Two other knives were found near the crime scene.

The prosecutor confirmed that the man's face was painted white with blackened eyes as he committed the crime, which led international media to make comparisons to the Joker, the villain from the Batman series.

"I have a question," the killer told the first employee he encountered, after which he immediately stabbed her, and started his rampage. One female day care worker attempted to disarm the killer while others locked the doors. The killer stabbed employees trying to carry children to safety.

The arrested man is not cooperating with the investigation and has not confessed. The prosecutor described his attitude as "passive". "He says nothing to his questioners. He is absolutely uncooperative," the prosecutor explained. Yesterday, media reported that the killer was laughing at the officers who were questioning him, but the prosecutor today denied these speculations.

According to the crime scene investigation, the man entered the building through an unlocked side-entrance which gave immediate access to the room with the babies. He stabbed several of them, then went to another room where he stabbed other children. He then fled on the bicycle on which he had arrived.

Panic struck in Dendermonde amidst fears that the man would attack more crèches or schools. There were reports that the killer carried a note with names and addresses of other day care centres or schools nearby, something which the prosecutor could not comment on. The Associated Press says three judicial officials anonymously confirmed that the attacker carried addresses of three other nurseries. Following news of the stabbings, all schools in Dendermonde were ordered to keep all gates shut.

Eyewitness Hans Staelens told reporters that he had noticed a suspicious character in the street where the day care centre 'Fable Land' was located. He described him as "not too tall, thin, red hair, dark eyes, like make-up".

The alleged killer lived alone and was unemployed, but does not have a criminal record. "There is no element whatsoever that makes us believe he has a psychiatric history," the prosecutor told the press at a conference today. He has commissioned three psychiatrists to examine the man. Kim D. was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Victims
One child and one woman died in the day care centre itself, with another child dying in hospital. All injured are reported to be in stable condition. Three children and one adult remain in intensive care. Five others also remain hospitalised, although several are expected to be discharged at some point during the weekend.

54-year-old Marita Blindeman, who was killed in the attack, worked in the day care centre, which was sponsored by social services, since she was 18. Since the death of her father, she lived with, and took care of, both her mother and her sister, who has a learning disability. Just two years ago, she started having a relationship with a man, according to her son in a letter to newspapers.

Only six of the 18 children in the crèche, all under the age of three, were uninjured. Meanwhile, the decision has been taken not to reopen the day care centre, but to provide day care in other facilities. Six employees were present during the attack.

Response to the incident
Friday evening, the Belgian crown prince and his wife visited the crime scene. The couple, who have four children, were moved deeply by the killings.

Some hundred people have signed a mourning registry in Dendermonde's city hall, and flowers and teddy bears were left at the day care centre. A silent demonstration is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon and a mourning ceremony will be held on Monday evening.

Several media outlets have discussed the safety of day care centres. Minister Veerle Heeren said she would consider additional safety measures if the investigation suggests it, but also added that, "a day care centre should be a haven, not a prison."


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Template:Dutch

Please see Language templates for a list of all pre-made language templates.

title: Template:Dutch


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Talk:Details emerge on fatal stabbing at Belgian day care centre

Preventive measures
Have tight security. Always confirm one's identity before allowing anyone inside the creche.


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Comments:Details emerge on fatal stabbing at Belgian day care centre

I want this man to die and I also want to know his motive --77.75.161.35 20:57, 24 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Unfortunately Belgium abolished capital punishment with the rest of the Europe Union with the exception of Belarus. I had the same thoughts, and was disappointed after doing a quick search on capital punishment.  A better punishment would be solitary confinement where the only sounds he hears are babies crying.—70.74.228.253 18:52, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Why?
Those poor babies and kids and their families. How horrific and despicable an act. Why did this evil man do this? What was his rationale? I don't think many, if anyone, will be able to understand his reasonings if he ever does elaborate, but still... my mind screams out, "Why?"

—71.211.85.8 02:26, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

The "Joker" Murderer
The authorities should also look into whether this man has delved into the occult, because believe it or not, he may have gotten himself demon-possessed. Think about it, he has no criminal record, no alcohol or drugs in his blood, and people say he had never shown anything in his behavior to suggest that he would do something as evil and as heinous as this. That has happened before in our country(Philippines) too, about ten years ago, where a young man snapped and went after and stabbed his mother and sister to death while they were trying to run away from him to escape certain death.They almost made it to safety when they ran as fast as they could and got to their neighbor's gate, as their neighbors behind that very gate watched in sheer horror, but they would not open the gate for them as they were only women and children and were themselves fearing for their own lives and safety. That's why the very own 'monster-of-a-son' and brother of the two women victims got stabbed to death right there and then in the sight of all those people. One witness even said that the killer was stabbing at the back of his mother so hard that his kitchen knife broke off while half of it got stuck on her back, before turning to go after his sister. The killer was caught, and while being detained at the police station he was mumbling nonsense and was out of his right mind. He also never once had a criminal history nor was he known, by family and friends, to have ever taken drugs. Strangely, he was a practicing licensed engineer employed in a certain company, and his coworkers commented that there were no tell-tale signs indicating that he would ever become this way. --Edmund Reyes 01/23/09
 * Demon-possessed, what the hell are you talking about? Babies and kids have been killed, horribly wounded and traumatized for life. Do you think this is an occasion to delve into fairy-tales? I'm sure there is a reason why someone turns into a .. I'm at at loss to describe this .. thing ... but it has nothing to do with little ferrets, I can tell you that much. --77.75.161.35 09:05, 25 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Sounds like you have a point. So I suppose all that needs to be done now is to purge that demon and let the poor chappie go free with a pat on the back. --121.44.136.106 12:49, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

The world has gone to shit!
enough said!

I wouldn't dismiss the occult either...
When I'd first read about the killer putting black make-up around his eyes, I immediately thought about the make-up Black Metal musicians frequently employ on album covers and live performances. Some of those guys worship Satan, old Norse gods, etc, and a few of them are convicted murderers. Just thought it might be a possibility. 99.155.19.14 17:18, 25 January 2009 (UTC)
 * I heard he also had cereals for breakfast!!!1 I HAD CHEERIOS !!!WHAT DOES THAT MAKE ME?????omgwtf??--77.75.161.35 06:42, 26 January 2009 (UTC)
 * When I saw this post it reminded me of the parents back in the 70's that blamed KISS for starting a mini-satan worshipping cult that drew in crowds of young ones. Please lets stop with the moral panic, a man stabbed infants here, the fact that he wore "make-up" is only incidental, its neither the reason nor the excuse;  To take either position is to absolve his personal involvement of this aggregious crime of humanity.—70.74.228.253 18:52, 25 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Of course it's a disgusting act, no matter what drove him to do it. Like I said, it's just a possibility as stated in the comments. Also, please point out where I "blamed" black metal for anything. Let's not get snotty, kids.99.155.19.14 06:45, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * An observation and I'm done for the night. Mr. 77.75.161.35, near the top of the comments page, you said something to the effect of wanting to know the killer's motive. I'll let you think about that one. 99.155.19.14 07:06, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

the stabbings in europe.
the man who stabbed the BABIES in europe will be killed by another inmate, guarenteed.


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Category:Atheism

it:Categoria:Ateismo pt:Categoria:Ateísmo ru:Категория:Атеизм

title: Category:Atheism


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User talk:58.8.41.85

Welcome
Thanks for experimenting with Wikinews. Your test worked, and has now been reverted or removed. Please use Sandbox for any other tests you want to do, since testing in articles may disrupt the site's working and will be reverted quickly. , welcome to Wikinews! Please refrain from using content pages for testing. Here are a few good links for newcomers on how to edit Wikinews:

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! DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 21:52, 24 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
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title: User talk:58.8.41.85


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User:NHL09addict

hi everybody!

title: User:NHL09addict


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Comments:U.S. House Ethics Committee to examine congressional press secretary vandalizing Wikipedia articles with government computer

i suppose to create article


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User:Patrol110

My home wiki and user talk.

title: User:Patrol110


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Hurricane-force winds kill 15 people as storm hits Europe

January 25, 2009

As a storm swept across parts of France and Spain on Saturday and Sunday, it left 15 people dead. Its winds were recorded up to 190km/h (118 mph), which are hurricane-force winds.

The storm made landfall near to Bordeaux, France at 5:00 am Central European Time on Saturday the 24th January. It traveled south-eastwards towards the south-east coast of France throughout Saturday morning, finally reaching there at 1:00 pm. It is expected to head north-eastwards over Italy and the Adriatic Sea, but without causing damage. Low pressure systems are fairly common in Europe at this time of year. Some reports have called it the storm of the decade; BBC meteorologist Alex Deakin said "Saturday's storm is being described as the most damaging since that of December 1999 which killed 88 people."

Four children aged between 9 and 12 died at a sports hall in Sant Boi de Llobregat, near Barcelona. The children intended on playing baseball, but sought shelter inside a covered area made of concrete with a corrugated iron roof. The structure collapsed, as a result of the wind. Local people and fire-fighters were at the scene in aiding children to escape the rubble. Three children died at the scene, a fourth died in hospital and 16 have been treated for injuries.

Other fatalities include a woman, who died after a wall collapsed and a man struck by a falling tree in the Barcelona area. In Landes, south-west France, a falling tree struck a driver; a 78-year-old man was hit by debris and another man, aged 75, was crushed by a tree. A wall crushed a man in Aigues de Busot in the south-east of Spain. A policeman was struck by a falling tree as he directed traffic in Burela and a sailor from a cargo ship died when the vessel got into trouble off the coast of Galicia. In Burgos, Spain, a woman was crushed by a door.

Approximately 1.7 million homes in France and tens of thousands of homes in Spain experienced power cuts. A woman, aged 73, died in France after a power-outage stopped her breathing machine. Road and rail links were blocked and airports closed. Airports in Bordeaux, Biarritz, Pau and Toulouse were shut, as well as train services, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded overnight.

Michèle Alliot-Marie, the French interior minister, stated that in addition to the 300 civil security agents located in the Landes region of France, another 715 agents would be deployed. She also expressed her intent to fly there today, after the high winds have decreased. French President Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters he would travel to the affected area tomorrow. In Bordeaux's Gironde region, 19 residents of a retirement home were evacuated by rescuers following its rooftop being blown away. Authorities have also evacuated campers from the pine forests in Landes.

Thousands were evacuated from nearby housing estates in La Nucía, north of Benidorm in Alicante, as the Spanish Army helped to fight a forest fire, which was started by a felled electricity pylon. There were also forest fires in the region of Catalonia, while Spain put emergency services on high alert. Waves over 20 metres high were registered off the northern coast of Spain and dolphins were stranded on beaches in the region as a result of high winds.


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User talk:Jolly Janner

Welcome
DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 02:34, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Sup. Jolly Ω Janner  02:44, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Ten climbers killed in avalanche at Turkish ski resort
Please don't add links to Wikinews articles on Wikipedia until they have been published. Quite frankly, it makes Wikinews look bad. Otherwise, keep up the good work. --SVTCobra 02:06, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

Europeans take to the polls
What do you think of it now? I've tried to improve it a bit. I'm gonna go to bed now, but I am hopeful that it will be on the Main Page today (Sunday) and possibly there will be a seperate article tomorrow on the results. Jolly Ω Janner  02:53, 7 June 2009 (UTC)

 * It needs more sources that are news. and more emphasis on news; the majority of any news article should be developments from the past 2-3 days, with each of those developments backed up by a source, and every article (with the occasional exception of articles that are completely original research) should have at least two sources. Also make use of the template for sources for articles. --Killing Vector (talk) 10:20, 7 June 2009 (UTC)

WN:CONTENT
Someone meant to direct you to the content guide with WN:CONTENT. This is a mistake about the shortcut which is WN:CG, but CONTENT is kinda appropriate too so I've created it. --Brian McNeil / talk 18:02, 7 June 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:Jolly Janner


text: User:Jolly Janner

title: User:Jolly Janner


text: User:Bencmq

title: User:Bencmq


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Search and rescue beacons soon to make the digital jump

January 27, 2009 Starting February 1, Cospas-Sarsat will discontinue monitoring the frequencies that are used for analog-based emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRB), the 121.5 and 243 MHz frequencies. Search and rescue (SAR) groups worldwide will only monitor the 406 MHz frequency, which is dedicated to digital locators.

The 406 MHz digital band has many advantages over the older analog systems. Since the locators send data to satellites, rather than just provide a continuous signal, much more will be known about the emergency before a SAR group arrives, such as the type of vehicle and owner. In addition, the accuracy will be greatly enhanced from a 1400 square kilometre (500 square mile) search zone down to just 90m (100 yards) if the locator has a GPS fix. The most important reason for the switch is the reduction of false positives. With the older analog bands, only about one in every 50 alerts was real, whereas with the digital system that is reduced to about one in every 17 alerts being real.

With fewer false positives and greatly increased accuracy, SAR groups around the world will be better able and faster to respond to life-threatening emergencies within the critical "golden day". They will also be able to do this with fewer wasted resources.

The phase-out of analog transponders has been a long time coming. The first warnings were sent by the US Coast Guard in 2000, and analog devices have not been manufactured in the last several years. For most large boats the cost of upgrading to the new system was negligible. The change February 1 is worldwide, with both the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization recommending the switch.


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Talk:Search and rescue beacons soon to make the digital jump

Worldwide
Good for Wikinews to highlight it as a global story, as you are doing ShakataGaNai, even though AP ran it as a 'United States' issue. --InfantGorilla (talk) 08:47, 25 January 2009 (UTC)
 * The probably did because the USCG put out the notice and that seemed to be what triggered most news outlets repeating it. I figured it was worthy of writing too -- Shakata Ga Nai ^_^ 21:28, 26 January 2009 (UTC)


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Template:News in pictures/Archive/2009

(newest articles at top)

Holding pen

 * pictures from articles not yet published, or disputed pictures

title: Template:News in pictures/Archive/2009


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Template talk:News in pictures/Archive/2009

Using this archive
The current main page doesn't have a "News in Pictures" section. So I am putting some favorite examples of photojournalism directly here. This could be useful if we run a picture of the year competition this year. --InfantGorilla (talk) 11:10, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Criteria
I propose some inclusion guidelines: May be any type of picture media, such as a photograph or graphic.
 * 1) Picture of the news (not a file picture)
 * 2) Appears in a published article at English Wikinews this year
 * 3) You like it

--InfantGorilla (talk) 14:04, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

It's back!
News in pictures came back on Feb 3 diff. --InfantGorilla (talk) 13:22, 10 February 2009 (UTC)


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Talk:Hurricane-force winds kill 15 people as storm hits Europe

Category request
editprotected Added by Heavy Water (talk) 03:01, 7 October 2023 (UTC) Please add Category:Catalonia. Thanks, HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts?   20:49, 28 July 2010 (UTC)
 * ✅ --SVTCobra 14:01, 12 January 2024 (UTC)


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British newspaper makes House of Lords bribery claims

January 25, 2009

An investigation by the Sunday Times newspaper has made allegations of bribery against four members of the House of Lords, Britain's unelected upper legislative body.

The paper says it has secretly made recordings of Lord Truscott admitting to making a recent energy bill more favourable to a client who markets "smart" electricity meters.

The Sunday Times also alleges that Lord Taylor of Blackburn had claimed to have made changes to a bill to help Experian, a credit reference agency. The paper adds that Lords Moonie and Snape had agreed to take payments from undercover journalists.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, the Leader of the House of Lords, issued a statement saying "I am deeply concerned about these allegations. I have spoken to the members who are the subject of them and I shall be pursuing these matters with the utmost vigour".

The AFP news agency notes that the Lords' Code of Conduct requires that members "must never accept any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence". The Sunday Times says that there have been "persistent rumours" that lobbyists have switched to concentrating on the Lords rather than the Commons because "MPs are under greater scrutiny".


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Republican leaders in US want more tax relief in economic stimulus

January 26, 2009 As the newly inaugurated Barack Obama administration continues to push for a US$825 billion stimulus package to aid the struggling United States economy, some Republican legislators say they will not vote for such a plan without the inclusion of more tax cuts and less "unnecessary" spending.

Arizona Senator John McCain, Obama's general election opponent and a leading voice within the Republican Party, says he would not vote for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan as it currently stands. Appearing on Fox News Sunday yesterday, McCain echoed his campaign platform in saying, "We need to make tax cuts permanent, and we need to make a commitment that there'll be no new taxes."

McCain and other Republicans say they are unhappy with the bill introduced in the House of Representatives, which combines roughly $550 billion in domestic spending with $275 billion in tax cuts. McCain believes not enough Republican proposals have been integrated into the plan, which he fears will result in the plan becoming "just another spending project" rather than a job creator.

"Republicans have not been brought in, to the degree that we should be in, to these negotiations and discussions. So far, as far as I can tell, no Republican proposal has been incorporated," McCain said. "We're losing sight of what the stimulus is all about, and that is job creation."

The Arizona senator is known for his bipartisan efforts in Washington, D.C., but he defined his role in the new Senate as the "loyal opposition", which does not mean "that I or my party will be a rubber stamp" for Obama, he said. In his first weekly address since being sworn in, President Obama explained the stimulus plan in further detail, calling it a plan to "immediately jumpstart job creation as well as long-term economic growth." He outlined several of the bill's priorities, including the creation or salvation of up to four million jobs, as well as sweeping investments in health care, education, energy and infrastructure.

Among these investments are a new electricity grid with more than 3,000 miles of transmission lines, the weatherization of 2.5 million homes, health insurance protection for more than 8 million Americans, a renovation of over 10,000 schools, a project to repair thousands of miles of roadways, and an expansion of broadband Internet access.

Obama also laid out the rationale behind the stimulus, saying that "unprecedented action" is necessary in order to prevent further economic distress. "Our economy could fall $1 trillion short of its full capacity, which translates into more than $12,000 in lost income for a family of four," Obama said. "In short, if we do not act boldly and swiftly, a bad situation could become dramatically worse."

The president addressed the skepticism surrounding the stimulus package, pledging to "root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending", while holding the government accountable for its actions. "We won’t just throw money at our problems," Obama said. "We'll invest in what works." Still, Republicans such as House Minority Leader John Boehner are skeptical of the plan's effectiveness in rebuilding the economy. "I think a lot of Republicans will vote no because it's a lot of wasteful Washington spending", he commented on Meet the Press, repeating McCain's call for less federal spending and more tax cuts.

Examples of "wasteful" spending cited by Republicans include millions of coupons to aid in the digital television transition, $200 million for new sod on the National Mall, and $360 million to fight sexually transmitted diseases, which includes funding for contraceptives. House Republicans have claimed it will take 10 years before the economy feels the effect of a stimulus, and that the combined spending of the stimulus and the financial bailouts of last year will leave future generations with over $2 trillion of debt.

In response to the stimulus plan being pushed through Congress, Boehner and Republican Whip Eric Cantor presented Obama with an alternative stimulus plan on Friday, one that relies exclusively on income and business tax cuts. "Our plan offers fast-acting tax relief, not slow-moving and wasteful government spending," Boehner said. The counterproposal includes an income tax reduction that would save families an estimated $3,200 a year.

Despite this opposition, the stimulus bill is expected to pass through Congress by mid-February, as the Republican minority does not have enough votes to stop its approval. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed a general support of the plan at a White House meeting with Obama and other congressional leaders. "I do think we'll be able to meet the president's deadline of getting the package to him by mid-February," McConnell said. The bill is expected to go before Congress for a vote on Monday, February 2.

Obama's top economic adviser Lawrence Summers defended the stimulus plan while on Meet the Press. He said the bill was intended to balance the long-term initiatives mentioned above with the tax cuts desired by Republicans. He also said Obama was committed to spending three quarters of the stimulus money within 18 months.


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Thousands of jobs to go at Corus

January 25, 2009 International steel conglomerate Corus Group is to axe 3,500 jobs worldwide.

Up to 2,000 jobs are to be lost in the former British Steel plants in the United Kingdom. Owner Tata Steel employs 42,000 people worldwide, with 24,000 being in the UK. Corus did not comment on the report so far, but a union official told BBC News that the company would be making an announcement at 0930 UTC on Monday. The cuts would be part of long term restructuring plans made by soon to depart CEO Philippe Varin, which have been accelerated by the worldwide downturn.

Tata Steel's sister company Tata Motors is said by The Sunday Times to be considering 1,500 job losses at the UK's Jaguar Land Rover car manufacturer. It is not thought that any Corus plants in the UK will close outright.

Corus was formed from the merger of British Steel and the Dutch steelmaker Hoogovens, creating the ninth largest steel company in the world and the second largest in the European Union. The merger was uncomfortable and the company suffered severe financial problems in 2003. It later recovered and was bought by India's Tata two years ago.

title: Thousands of jobs to go at Corus


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Thousands of pounds worth of damage caused to railway station and stonework in Bath, England

January 25, 2009

Vandals have caused thousands of British pounds worth of damage at a city railway station. The Bath Spa railway station in Bath was targeted by vandals over the weekend. Graffiti was sprayed over the new tourist centre as well as the stone work which is over 100 years old. The disabled toilets were also vandalised.

First Great Western who owns Bath Spa station released a statement through spokesman Dan Panes saying, "last year we invested a considerable amount of money improving the station environment at Bath Spa for our customers, and it's a great shame that a couple of minutes of vandalism could cause so much damage."

The vandalism comes just months after a mini police station was opened up in the station to combat anti-social behaviour. The behaviour in Bath was said to be worse than that of the centre of Liverpool.

CCTV has been passed on to the British Transport Police and are currently assessing the damage caused.


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Sumo: Asashoryu wins New Year Grand Tournament

January 26, 2009

Sumo fighter Asashōryū Akinori returned to fighting after being on the injured list for nearly nine months, to win the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament held at Ryōgoku Kokugikan stadium in Tokyo, Japan. In a final bout, the 153kg Asashōryū beat Hakuhō Shō who had earlier defeated him in the regulation rounds. It was a well-matched playoff with both men entering the final round with a 14-1 record. After the win Asashōryū exclaimed "I'm Back". Asashōryū had missed almost nine months of competition due to an elbow injury.

Asashōryū whose real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj and hailing from Ulan Bator, Mongolia, started the tournament fourteen days earlier with an opening-day win over komusubi Kisenosato. His tournament win creates a new record with yokozuna becoming only the fourth man to win 23 Emperors Cups. He now is only one win behind Kitanoumi (24), but a long way from both Chiyonofuji (31) and Taiho (32).

Speaking about the earlier round loss to Hakuhō, Asashōryū said "the loss helped motivate me. I knew everything was on the line". He put the earlier loss down to a hesitant Tachi-ai - the initial charge at each other. Expectations of a fourth consecutive win were high after beating Asashōryū in the earlier bout. Prior to the final bout Asashōryū practiced his tachai and modified his belt grip to ensure he didn't fall into the same problems he faced in the earlier bout with Hakuhō. The change of strategy worked in the final round, with Asashōryū taking an early advantage with a strong left grip on Hakuho's belt. This neutralized the left hand on Hakuhō, which has been dominant throughout the tournament. Soon after Asashōryū secured a right-hand grip on Hakuhō's front belt and pushed him over the bales, with seemingly little effort to the cheer of the packed stadium. The return of Asashōryū has been a huge boost to Sumo with the association reveling in sellout crowds.

Asashōryū's stablemaster, Takasago was pleased that Asashōryū returned to fighting and also pleased with the win in the tournament, but now questions whether he has the passion to continue. He said "Now's he won, he needs to take a good look at himself and make sure he has the desire to do it all again."


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Talk:Thousands of pounds worth of damage caused to railway station and stonework in Bath, England

Worse than Liverpool?
Why is it relevant that it is worse than Liverpool? They two places are on the opposite sides of the country. I know the source says it, but it seems to be an utterly irrelevant dig at Liverpool. Anyway, just a thought 82.42.131.183 15:40, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

Category request
editprotected

Please add Category:Somerset. Thanks, Bencherlite (talk) 11:48, 30 November 2010 (UTC)
 * ✅ --Pi zero (talk) 16:50, 30 November 2010 (UTC)


text: Talk:Thousands of jobs to go at Corus

title: Talk:Thousands of jobs to go at Corus


text: Talk:Former Prime Minister of Senegal Mamadou Dia dies


text: Talk:British newspaper makes House of Lords bribery claims


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Ten climbers killed in avalanche at Turkish ski resort

January 27, 2009 Ten climbers at a ski resort in Zigana, Turkey have died in an avalanche. They were part of a group of seventeen from the nearby province of Trabzon. The avalanche occurred at 11:15 local time (9:15 UTC) yesterday on Mount Zigana in the Gumushane region of Turkey near the Black Sea coast. Winter sports are increasing in popularity across Turkey, as it is mountainous. The climbers were at a height of 7,260ft (2,200m) while crossing a deep valley, when the snow hit them. As search teams and locals arrived, they managed to pull seven climbers free from the snow; at least two were taken to hospital, one of which died in hospital. They were walking in a single-file line, as it hit them. One of the survivors made a hole with their arms, so they could breathe. The block of snow dragged them 1,000 metres into a valley as the avalanche traveled down the mountain.

The avalanche may have caused by rising temperatures in the area. A gun-shot was also considered as an outside possibility after some witnesses said they heard one.

This occurred as climbers were killed in Scotland after an avalanche, as well another seven deaths across the French Alps.


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Talk:Sumo: Asashoryu wins New Year Grand Tournament

I was in tokyo for the final two days of the tournament. Some comments / notes i made during this time as part of the original reporting to help complete the news article.
 * final day was a sellout when i visited the stadium at 6.30am to purchase tickets the crowd was already 500+ in size with only 300-400 general admission tickets being available. Many disappointed people turned away as the ticket booth opened.
 * watched the final day championship bouts on television (as i couldnt get tickets).
 * Press crews outside Ryogoku interviewing crowds....when i asked them why they were there so early they said the interest in this tournament was extremely high.
 * Having been in Japan during previous tournaments the coverage in newspapers, TV was much stronger than previously.

Next time i hope a wikinews accreditation may help get access :) Bjornengelhardt (talk) 23:24, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

category for sumo wrestling?
is their one? --72.65.123.170 23:51, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Review
Is there anything left of the original reporting? If not, the tag should be removed. --SVTCobra 01:36, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

 * I glanced at the diffs. The only thin k I see DF removed was:
 * ''For Hakuho it was a disappointing end to a three-basho winning run.
 * In its context I don't see that it transgresses our neutrality policy. (But then I like to see words like thrilling, nail-biting, tedious, aggressive ... in sports reports, even at Wikinews.)
 * --InfantGorilla (talk) 11:20, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Well as stated above, some of it was just a tad too POV to be OR. But feel free to revert. me. DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 11:28, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * We have both given our opinions. No-one else cares (why should they care? it is one unexciting sentence.) So I will let the article stand.  --InfantGorilla (talk) 21:24, 27 January 2009 (UTC)


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User talk:Amarilkk

hey its the hottie

Welcome
Thanks for experimenting with Wikinews. Your test worked, and has now been reverted or removed. Please use Sandbox for any other tests you want to do, since testing in articles may disrupt the site's working and will be reverted quickly. , welcome to Wikinews! Please refrain from using content pages for testing. Here are a few good links for newcomers on how to edit Wikinews:

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title: User talk:Amarilkk


text:
User talk:66.230.105.55

Welcome
Welcome!

66.230.105.55, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

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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! DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 03:11, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:66.230.105.55


text:
User talk:CnrFallon

Welcome
DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 05:10, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:CnrFallon


text:
Comments:Republican leaders in US want more tax relief in economic stimulus

Greed vs. cleaning up the economic mess, hmm... where's the hard decision? Either taxes are raised on the ones who would rather put the money in their Swiss bank accounts and in their Cayman Islands accounts, or the future of the economy is left at risk. The guy McCain is another of the Republicans that likes to spend tons and tons of money without bringing in the taxes to pay for that spending. Replace McCain and all who have supported this shortsighted and destructive grandstanding, they've lost touch with all reality. And to make it worse, over all of this there is still the usual social conservative social engineering/"morality" BS against contraceptives, completely ignoring the actual impact on worker health and reduced work productivity that happens when contraceptives are not easily available. You fools want to see what a world looks like without awareness of the real sexual health risks and the government programs to combat it? Look at Siberia with its 10% AIDS infections up from 0% since being opened to the West. 65.1.171.163 05:52, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

Unecessary spending....just read the article on British governments stance on Marijuana.... Lets cut the war on drugs spending down say...i dunno...99%? And use that money to spend more wisely...

Great
I love how the Dems are handling this especially Nancy Pelosi and shouting out anything Republican so much for Bipartisanship. --KDP3 (talk) 18:42, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

that photo of McCain... eww 24.30.16.34 21:04, 26 January 2009 (UTC)


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Australia celebrates Australia Day 2009

January 28, 2009

All around Australia, ordinary people have celebrated Australia Day. Australia Day, on January 26 each year, is commemorated as Invasion Day by many indigenous Australians. In 2009, it coincided with Lunar New Year, celebrated by many Asian cultures.

Thousands party in Sydney
Thousands of people have celebrated Australia Day with barbecues, concerts and boat races. Police expected half a million people to flock to the Hyde Park and the Harbour.

Sources

Flags of all nations symbolise unity at Melbourne parade
Melbourne's Australia Day Parade was a multicultural event with many ethnic groups marching. Notably absent was the city's Vietnamese community, who chose to celebrate the Lunar New Year independently.

Sources

Thousands turn out for "dunny race" as arrests mar Sunshine Coast Australia Day
From 4:30 pm local time, police in Queensland's Sunshine Coast received calls from residents about loud drunken parties. Police arrested at least five people in a Noosaville park with another unit needing backup at Gympie Terrace (Noosa).

But, it was not all bad news for Sunshine Coast residents as thousands showed up to watch the "dunny races" at Aussie World. The crowd cheered as the final got under way. Maroochy Roos Australian Football team won.

A dunny race is contested by four people pushing an outhouse, an outdoors toilet, on wheels.

Sources

South Africa win Limited Overs International, Series
South Africa defeated Australia in their Limited Overs International in Adelaide, wrapping up the series of five cricket matches in the process. Batting first, Australia were all out for 222 runs off 48 overs. South Africa easily made the 223 target with more than 11 overs left.

"Once again, as has happened in the first three games, we lost wickets in a clump in the middle of the innings," Australian captain Ricky Ponting said. The match's highest scoring batsman was AB de Villiers with 82 runs not out.

Sources

title: Australia celebrates Australia Day 2009


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Bolivia's Evo Morales wins referendum on a new leftist constitution

January 26, 2009

The Bolivian President, Evo Morales, 49, has claimed victory after voters ratified a new leftist constitution, granting more power to the country's indigenous majority.

"The indigenous farmers, the most marginalized sector throughout the history of the republic, are now recognized as people with the same rights as any citizen. Here begins the new Bolivia. Here we begin to reach true equality," Morales told a crowd in front of the flag-draped balcony of Palacio Quemado in La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia.

Ratified with about 60 percent support in a referendum on Sunday based on exit polls, the new constitution lets Morales run for re-election later this year and grants him tighter control over the economy. An official vote count of some 3.8 million registered voters who cast their ballots will be announced February 4.

With the new Magna Carta, South America's second poorest country after Guyana becomes a leader in the regional "pink tide" of left-wing governments that have ousted traditional elites and challenged American influence. The new constitution's elements include recognition of 36 distinct Indian "nations", increasing the autonomy of Bolivia's nine regions, establishing state control over key natural resources such as gas, and setting limits on land ownership.

Morales has also promised Bolivia’s native groups that the constitution will keep the white "oligarchs" who ruled the country for 183 years from returning to power. The leftist constitution empowers the government to distribute land to indigenous communities and apportion ethnic quotas for state jobs, including congress seats. "After 500 years, we have retaken the Plaza Murillo! Internal colonialism and external colonialism end here too. Sisters and brothers, neo-liberalism ends here too!" said Morales.

Vice-President Álvaro MarceloGarcía Linera, a principal author of the draft constitution, hailed Sunday's referendum results, saying, "this will be an egalitarian Bolivia, a Bolivia that leaves behind a dark, colonial, racist past." Linera, however, has acknowledged that the government has provoked deep divisions and faces vehement oppositions from many of the traditional elite, coming from many mixed-race people in the fertile eastern lowlands which rejected the draft charter.

"I am not saying there will be no more conflict, there will be tensions for a while, I say a decade ... but we will have built a state on three principles: the economy under state control, equality, and the territorial decentralization of power," he said. The new constitution was rejected in four opposition-controlled regions: the tropical lowlands of Pando, Santa Cruz, Tarija and Beni, which contain most of Bolivia's natural gas production and are responsible for most of its agricultural output.

With the split vote, Oscar Ortiz, the president of the opposition-controlled Senate, has voiced concerns that the charter has become a war of ideas. "The result [of the vote] ... will show deep divisions between regions and between Bolivians in each region. A confrontation between ideas and visions about how this country will build its common future will continue," he said ahead of the referendum.

Former president Carlos Mesa has predicted that the constitution is unlikely to pave the way for real social change amid continuing political struggles. "We will have so many legal battles to go through that I fear that last year's belligerent climate will continue this year. President Morales is not coming at this with open hands, he has built trenches and dug in," Mr. Mesa said.

Morales has dismissed the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia, accusing both of conspiracy with the opposition to overthrow his government. The U.S. Embassy in La Paz has called the accusations "false and absurd." Morales has been very popular among the poor and among Aymara, Quechua and Guarani.

The new constitution's 411 articles address underrepresentation of indigenous peoples. "It may be the equivalent of Spain’s Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors in 1492. But instead of the blood spilled in that process, Bolivia is advancing in a democratic process that does not exclude or subjugate anyone," said Xavier Albó, a Jesuit scholar and linguist.

"Finally we have a constitution that leaves racism and hatred aside, because indigenous people are included," said Adolfo Chavez, president of the Confederation of Indigenous people of Bolivia (CIDOB).

Morales' ascent to presidency
In March 2005, then-President Mesa resigned. The President of Senate Hormando Vaca Díez assumed office as the country's temporary President. Mesa resigned because of the announcement of highway blockages by Evo Morales and leaders of both the coca growers and the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS). The blockages were meant to pressure the Legislative so that the Hydrocarbons Law, which would raise taxes levied on hydrocarbon extraction from 18% to 50%, could be approved.

The MAS is a political party formed basically by coca-growing campesinos (farmers or farmworkers), communists, admirers of Fidel Castro and indigenous people. The party is against the U.S. government and the alleged American influence in the region, neoliberalism and globalization.

In December 2005, Morales won the presidential election in Bolivia to serve a five-year term. In the 2005 election, his victory marked the country's first election of an indigenous head of state, but this claim gendered controversy due to the number of mestizo presidents who were elected or appointed before him. He was openly criticized by such figures as Mario Vargas Llosa, who accuses the President of fomenting racial divisions in an increasingly mestizo Latin America.

Morales ran on a campaign of restoring coca farming in Bolivia, in spite of the U.S. program aimed at reducing the ability to grow coca to curb the cocaine industry. Morales is an Aymara Indian and former coca farmer himself, and has described his victory as a signal that "a new history of Bolivia begins, a history where we search for equality, justice and peace with social justice."

Morales is an admirer of Fidel Castro and he says he is also inspired by the President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Morales supports the creation of an anti-imperialist block formed by Latin-American and Arabian countries against the U.S., which is being organized by the Brazilian President.

2008 unrest in Bolivia
In August 2008, Bolivian unrest began against Morales and calls for greater autonomy for the country's eastern departments grew. Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija and Chuquisaca called strikes and protests to oppose the central government's plan to divert part of the national direct tax on hydrocarbons in favor of its Renta Dignidad pension plan. Brief clashes occurred in the Santa Cruz de la Sierra between police and armed youths enforcing the strike. Violence between Morales' supporters and opponents resulted in at least 30 deaths.

In September 2008, Bolivian authorities declared a state of emergency in Pando, where Bolivian troops took control of the airport in the region's capital, Cobija. Amid preparations to retake the city, 20 people were killed. In October 2008, the government and the opposition held talks following which resulted in the signing of a compromise agreement which set the referendum on 25 January 2009 and early elections on December 6, 2009.

Morales in turn promised that he would not run again in 2014 after his likely reelection in 2009, despite the fact that he would be allowed to do so under the new constitution. The new constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly in 2007. The referendum set forth two questions: whether to approve the new constitution and whether to limit private estates to 1,000 or 5,000 hectares.


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Talk:Bolivia's Evo Morales wins referendum on a new leftist constitution

I CREATED this landmark political article on Bolivia's Evo. Please help in publishing it. Cheers.--Florentino Floro (talk) 08:23, 26 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Some of the other sources - Bolivians back new Constitution - exit polls Bolivians Back Morales’s New Charter Securing Gains for Indians --Florentino Floro (talk) 14:02, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

--Florentino Floro (talk) 15:04, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

Hyperbole and pov
This statement seems to be a biased exaggeration: "rolling back half a millennium of colonialism and discrimination." --SVTCobra 15:40, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Although I consider it mostly true, I do have to agree with you and therefore I removed that particular sentence part altogether. DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 16:25, 27 January 2009 (UTC)


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Confusion over British cannabis status

January 26, 2009

The British Magistrates' Association have voiced concern over the potential for confusion after the drug cannabis was reclassified by the government from Class C to Class B under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The confusion is said to arise from a new prosecution schedule for possession of the substance. Offenders will receive a warning for a first offence, an £80 immediate fine for a second offence and arrest and court proceedings for a third. This differs from the system in place for other Class B substances. However, the new system has not yet gone before the British parliament and will not be enforced until Wednesday, with the reclassification taking place today. The Magistrates' Association have argued that the new process had penalty rates lower than other Class B drugs and that the decision to take prosecutions away from the courts until a third offence sent out the wrong message to potential users.

The deputy chair of the Association, John Fassenfelt, told the BBC that the new system suggested to young people that cannabis was not as bad as other Class B drugs. "It's a dual justice system", he said. "If you smoke or take another Class B drug you'll be brought to court, if you take cannabis you'll be given a fine. Where's the justice in that?"

Cannabis was a Class B substance until 2004, when it was reclassified to the more lenient Class C after a campaign that began in 1979. Mental health campaigners have since pushed for a return to Class B, and the government enacted this change today.

A cross-media advertising campaign will launch next month to explain the changes, at a cost of £2.2 million. Class A substances include ecstasy, LSD, cocaine, heroin and crack. Class B now includes amphetamines and cannabis, whilst Class C now includes tranquilisers, GHB and the veterinary anaesthetic Ketamine.

title: Confusion over British cannabis status


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User talk:Elostirion

Welcome
DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 11:19, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:Elostirion


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Israeli foreign minister says another war with Hamas possible

January 27, 2009

In an interview on Israeli television, the country's foreign minister Tzipi Livni said that another offensive against Hamas, inside the Gaza Strip, was possible if the smuggling of weapons through tunnels under the strip is not halted. This comes just one day after Press TV reported that Israeli F-16 fighter jets once again began to fly over the Strip. "We embarked on the operation in order to bring quiet [to Southern Israel] - now there is quiet, and to stop the firing of rockets - now the firing has stopped. As far as I am concerned, we could hit Hamas with another military blow. The smuggling of weapons into Gaza is the same as firing onto Israel, and the world sees that as well," said Livni in the Channel 1 interview as quoted by Trend News Agency and Press TV. Since 2000, nearly 10,000 rockets have been fired into Northern Israel from the Strip by Hamas militants.

Livni added that she believed that a ground operation inside the Strip should have continued after Israel finished its air assault on rocket launchers and Hamas strongholds. "I also thought that after the air operation it was necessary to continue with the ground operation."

Osama Hamdan, a Hamas spokesman in Lebanon, spoke out against Livni's statements saying, "no one has the right to prevent the Palestinians from equipping themselves with weapons as long as the occupation continues." He also added that bringing weapons into the Strip "is not smuggling" and that the rest of the "Arab and Muslim countries [should] formally allow weapons into the Strip."

Israel launched an offensive into the Strip on December 27, 2008, allegedly to stop rockets from being fired Israel, and to destroy tunnels under the Strip that Israel says are used to smuggle weapons into Gaza. It lasted 23 days and, by Palestinian estimates, killed nearly 1,400 people and injured over 5,000 more. Israel says that as a result of the offensive, its military, the (IDF), lost 10 soldiers. Israel also lost 3 civilians, and suffered a total of 518 wounded.


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BBC and Sky networks reject Gaza appeal

January 26, 2009

A televised appeal for victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not be shown by the BBC or by British Sky Broadcasting.

The BBC had announced last week that the appeal, from the thirteen-strong charity coordination body Disasters Emergency Committee, would not be shown, leading to a media storm and intense criticism of the decision. The BBC said that it had doubts over "the delivery of aid in a volatile situation" and also that the appeal might compromise its perceived neutrality in future news reports.

The BBC said the decision was made "because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a volatile situation and also to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of an ongoing news story".

Sky joined the BBC in rejecting the appeal today. The head of the Sky News channel, John Ryley, was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying that "the conflict in Gaza forms part of one of the most challenging and contentious stories for any news organisation to cover. Our commitment as journalists is to cover all sides of that story with uncompromising objectivity."

The channel's foreign news head, Adrian Wells, was quoted by AFP as saying on-air that "passions are raised on this story... and that is part of the backdrop of why we've made the decision we've made."

The BBC's decision led to demonstrations outside some of its buildings, including a sit-in at the Corporation's Glasgow studios, and criticism from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Labour MP Richard Burden and 11,000 viewers. Mark Thompson, the BBC's Director-General and Editor-in-Chief, has appeared on BBC television and BBC Radio 4's Today Programme to defend the decision.

Commercial free-to-air channels ITV, Channel Four and FIVE have all agreed to show the appeal.

title: BBC and Sky networks reject Gaza appeal


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Template:Israel/Palestine conflict

An infobox for the Israel/Palestine conflict and its news. ''Are newer articles not showing? [ Refresh]''

Customize this infobox .

title: Template:Israel/Palestine conflict


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Category talk:Israel/Palestine Conflict

Downstyle
This cat ought to be downstyled. --SVTCobra 13:53, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

title: Category talk:Israel/Palestine Conflict


text: Comments:Israel war ship attacks Gaza refugee camp


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User talk:207.157.28.77

Last warning
If you continue to vandalize Wikinews, you will be blocked for at the least, two days. Please contribute in a meaningful manner. See the below welcome message on how to edit Wikinews.

Welcome
Welcome!

207.157.28.77, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

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:
 * 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
 * Introduction - overview of the site
 * Writing an article - how to write and publish a complete article
 * Content guide - what's suitable for Wikinews
 * Style guide - how articles should look before publishing
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 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
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 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
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Here are some other hints and tips:

 * I would recommend that you get a username. You don't have to log in to read or edit articles on Wikinews, but creating an account is quick, free and non-intrusive, requires no personal information (not even an e-mail address), and there are many benefits of having a username.  (If you edit without a username, your IP address is used to identify you instead.)

 * When using talk pages (the "collaboration" tab at the top of the page), or the comments pages (tab "opinions"), please sign your name at the end of your messages by typing four tildes (~~). This will automatically produce your username (or IP address) and the 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! DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 15:48, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:207.157.28.77


text: Category:Esoteric templates

title: Category:Esoteric templates


text: Category:Election infobox templates

title: Category:Election infobox templates


text: Category:Hamas

title: Category:Hamas


text: Talk:BBC and Sky networks reject Gaza appeal


text: Talk:Confusion over British cannabis status


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Comments:Confusion over British cannabis status

Nice article, but a definite step in the wrong direction.24.30.16.34 16:53, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

Ok...let me get this straight. theres a worldwide downturn in our economy, and this is what the government is focusing on? This is where our tax dollars go? On a bunch of old men thinking they understand they benefits and uses of a plant that has been cultivated for thousands of years, by numerous different cultures????

Please...lets focus on things that will help our economy....like i dunno LEGALIZING a plant that has uses for over 25000 different products, and unlimited medicinal potential??? The legalization of this substance alone can benefit our economy greatly, just think about it.

Government at work! Worldwide recession, global war on terror. And Their worry about weed. Just legalize it tax it and boom profit.


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User:Matthiasb

This Wikinews user is a regular contributor to the German Wikinews and a sysop there. In the English wikinews I will add some wiki links here and fix some typos there only. Contact is fastest on my German Wikipedia talk page. However feel free to contact me on my talk page in this project (but maybe reaction will be not so quick).

title: User:Matthiasb


text: Talk:Republican leaders in US want more tax relief in economic stimulus


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Iceland's coalition government falls in economic crisis

January 27, 2009 The coalition government in Iceland has collapsed following the international banking crisis.

Prime Minister Geir Haarde of the conservative Independence Party had begun talks with coalition partner party Social Democratic Alliance in the run-up to an early general election planned for May. It was reported yesterday that these talks had failed and the coalition was dissolved. The centre-left Social Democrats will now try to build a coalition with opposition parties, according to the BBC.

The Independence Party currently has 25 of the 63 seats in the country's unicameral Althing (parliament), and the Social Democratic Alliance holds 18 seats. The remainder of the government consists of the Left-Green Movement (9 seats), the Progressive Party (7) and the Liberal Party (4).

The coalition was formed after the election in 2007, but became uneasy after the global financial crisis caused Iceland to nationalise its banking system and ask for help from the International Monetary Fund, with Social Democrats seeking closer ties with the European Union and the replacement of the head of the central bank. Social Democrat leader and Foreign Minister Ingibjörg Gísladóttir has suggested Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, the Social Affairs and Social Security Minister, as the next prime minister.

Iceland's interest rate is now 18%, with GDP expected to fall 9.6% this year. Inflation has reached 13.1%.


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Comments:Bolivia's Evo Morales wins referendum on a new leftist constitution

20 bucks say he will become a dictator like Fidel.--KDP3 (talk) 18:43, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Why not a dictator like Pinochet? Oh, that's right... Pinochet was right-wing... There are no right-wing dictators, only angels. In Africa you have Evil Left-Wing Mugabe, but Angel Right-Wing Meles Zenawi...

 * I'll compare him to Fidel because he along with Chaves are bff. Plus Pinochet is dead why compare him to a dead men then someone who is living and used his charisma to trick the people.--KDP3 (talk) 20:44, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Oh, OK then, I'll compare him with a bolivian right-wing, anti-Morales militia leader, that ordered the point-blank execution of 17 of his supporters last year. They did it the nazi way: all of them were forced on their knees, shot on the back of their heads, falling to freshly made common grave. Is this comparison valid?

"Morales supports the creation of an anti-imperialist block formed by Latin-American and Arabian countries against the U.S., which is being organized by the Brazilian President." Where is the evidence for that? I'm a brazilian and everybody here knows Lula is very pro-american. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 189.35.13.99 (talk) 17:21, 8 February 2009 (UTC)


text: Category:Items with permission confirmed