Wikinews Shorts: May 22, 2007
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{{Wikinews Shorts header|May 22, 2007}}

===Kazakhstan: term limit exemption for Nazarbayev===
[[Image:Nursultan Nazarbayev 1997.jpg|right|120px|Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1997.]]
A new constitution for [[Kazakhstan]], which was passed overwhelmingly by parliament, will let President [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] run for re-election infinitely.

Nazarbayev, who has been president for 17 years, has led the Central-[[Asia]]n nation through an economic boom that has given the country a higher standard of living than its neighbors.

No election in Kazakhstan has been deemed fair and free by international observers.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2216476520070522
|title=Kazakh president signs office-for-life amendments
|author=Maria Golovnina
|pub=Reuters
|date=May 22, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6672853.stm
|title=Kazakhs pave way for president for life
|author=Natalia Antelava
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=May 21, 2007}}
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===US and China to hold high level trade talks===
[[Image:Colin Powell Wu Yi.jpg|right|200px|Wu Yi with Colin Powell in 2004]]
This week the [[United States]] and [[China]] will be holding talks called the ''Strategic Economic Dialogue''. China has sent 16 ministers, nearly half the cabinet, whom were received at [[w:Andrews Air Force Base|Andrews Air Force Base]] by Treasury Secretary [[w:Henry Paulson|Henry Paulson]].

The Chinese delegation is led by Vice-Premier [[w:Wu Yi|Wu Yi]] and includes Finance Minister [[w:Jin Renqing|Jin Renqing]]. Wu Yi is expected to meet with President [[George W. Bush]] on Thursday.

It is the second meeting of the ''Strategic Economic Dialogue'' series.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6678973.stm
|title=US and China to hold trade talks
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=May 22, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2136861520070522
|title=Bush administration pulls out stops in China talks
|author=Glenn Somerville
|pub=Reuters
|date=May 22, 2007}}
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===Uganda forest gets reprieve===
[[Image:Arched tree in Mabira forest.jpg|right|200px|Mabira forest, Uganda]]
The government of [[Uganda]] has said that it will look to find other land for the Sugar Company of Uganda Ltd (SCOUL), which wants to expand its sugar plantations.

In April, there was civil unrest after a proposal to cut down 7000 acres of forest. Two Asian employees of SCOUL's parent company Mehta Group were killed.

Ultimately, it seems that it was warnings from environmental experts about [[w:soil erosion|soil erosion]], watershed for streams that feed [[w:Lake Victoria|Lake Victoria]] and the threat to endangered species such as the rare [[w:Penduline tit|Tit-hylia]] bird, that changed the government's position.

'''Related news'''
*{{wikinews|title=Violence in Uganda over forest clearing proposal|date=April 12, 2007}}

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22306209.htm
|title=Uganda shelves plan to give rainforest to cane farm
|author=Tim Cocks
|pub=Reuters
|date=May 22, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6680637.stm
|title=Ugandan plan for forest suspended
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=May 22, 2007}}
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===US funding bill compromise===
[[Image:Uscapitolindaylight.jpg|right|200px|The US Capitol building {{Image source|[[Commons:User:Kmccoy|Kevin McCoy]]}}]]
In a compromise, that some see as a victory for United States President George W. Bush, [[w:Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] dropped their demand for a withdrawal date from [[Iraq]].

"The president has made it very clear that he is not going to sign timelines," said [[w:Party leaders of the United States Senate|House Majority Leader]] [[w:Steny Hoyer|Steny Hoyer]] of [[Maryland]]. "We can’t pass timelines over his veto."

"Democrats have finally conceded defeat in their effort to include mandatory surrender dates in a funding bill for the troops," said House Minority Leader [[w:John Boehner|John Boehner]] of [[Ohio]].

"We don’t have a veto-proof Congress," said Senate Majority Leader [[w:Harry Reid|Harry Reid]] of [[Nevada]].

'''Related news'''
*{{wikinews|title=President Bush and Democrats seek compromise|date=May 2, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Wikinews Shorts: May 2, 2007|date=May 2, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Wikinews Shorts: April 26, 2007|date=April 26, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Wikinews Shorts: March 27, 2007|date=March 27, 2007}}

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2039858620070522
|title=Democrats to fund Iraq war with no pullout date
|author=Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell
|pub=Reuters
|date=May 22, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/washington/22cnd-cong.html?hp
|title=Democrats Drop Troop Pullout Dates From Iraq Bill
|author=Carl Hulse
|pub=The New York Times
|date=May 22, 2007}}
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{{publish}}

{{Archived}}
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Uganda]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:China]]
[[Category:Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Iraq War]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:George W. Bush]]
[[Category:Nursultan Nazarbayev]]
[[Category:Harry Reid]]
[[Category:John Boehner]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Species endangerment]]
[[Category:Constitutions (unsorted)]]


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Nazarbayev, who has been president for 17 years, has led the Central-Asian nation through an economic boom that has given the country a higher standard of living than its neighbors.

No election in Kazakhstan has been deemed fair and free by international observers.

'Sources'
*
*
----

The Chinese delegation is led by Vice-Premier Wu Yi and includes Finance Minister Jin Renqing. Wu Yi is expected to meet with President George W. Bush on Thursday.

It is the second meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue series.

'Sources'
*
*
----

In April, there was civil unrest after a proposal to cut down 7000 acres of forest. Two Asian employees of SCOUL's parent company Mehta Group were killed.

Ultimately, it seems that it was warnings from environmental experts about soil erosion, watershed for streams that feed Lake Victoria and the threat to endangered species such as the rare Tit-hylia bird, that changed the government's position.

'Related news'
*

'Sources'
*
*
----

"The president has made it very clear that he is not going to sign timelines," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland. "We can’t pass timelines over his veto."

"Democrats have finally conceded defeat in their effort to include mandatory surrender dates in a funding bill for the troops," said House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio.

"We don’t have a veto-proof Congress," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

'Related news'
*
*
*
*

'Sources'
*
*
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Economy and business Politics and conflicts Africa Uganda Asia China Kazakhstan Iraq Iraq War North America United States George W. Bush Nursultan Nazarbayev Harry Reid John Boehner Europe Species endangerment Constitutions (unsorted)