Category: International Extemp Page 7 of 57

R&D from Prepd: Violence in Israel

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On April 29, 2022

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D from Prepd covers recent violence in Israel.  Muslim worshippers and Israeli police clashed a few weeks ago at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, leading to the suspension of the United Arab List in Israel’s governing coalition.  There have been other clashes near holy sites as well, leading to fears of a third intifada, or uprising, by Palestinians.  Recent violence has also spilled beyond Israel’s borders as the country made a military strike on Southern Lebanon after a rocket was fired into Northern Israel four days ago.

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of April 25-May 1, 2022

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On April 25, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. How can Macron heal a polarized French nation?
2. What effect is the Russia-Ukraine War having on international climate change efforts?
3. Is Israel headed for new elections this summer?
4. Who is to blame for Germany’s dependence on Russian energy?
5. Can Ukraine win?
6. Does Lebanon need to accept an international aid package to rescue its economy?
7. How should the Taliban respond to Pakistan’s recent strikes against the TTP within Afghan territory?
8. Can AUKUS deter a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan?
9. How will the decline of Catholicism across Latin America affect the region’s politics?
10. Does King Abdullah of Jordan need to chart a new path for his country?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of April 18-24, 2022

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On April 18, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Can Shehbaz Sharif put Pakistan on better economic footing?
2. How will the sinking of the Moskva affect the course of Russia’s war in Ukraine?
3. Should India pursue a free trade agreement with the United States?
4. Will the BRIC countries soon make a play to de-dollarize the global economy?
5. Would a Le Pen victory in the French presidential election endanger Western European security?
6. Britain’s migrant deal with Rwanda: Innovative or ill-conceived?
7. How can the Canadian government improve productivity growth in the nation’s economy?
8. Has the Juba Peace Agreement been a failure?
9. Will Sri Lanka’s debt default make an economic recovery easier?
10. What steps should the African Union do to stop ISIS’s gains on the continent?

R&D from Prepd: The French Presidential Election

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On April 15, 2022

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D from Prepd covers the first round of the French presidential election, which took place on Sunday.  President Emmanuel Macron won 27.8% of the vote, while far-right candidate Marine Le Pen won 23.1%.  Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon made a furious charge at the end and captured 22% of ballots.  Since no candidate earned a majority, Macron and Le Pen will face off in a runoff round on April 24.  This will be a rematch from 2017 where Macron won in a landslide.  Political observers predict a close vote as Le Pen could pull votes from other right-wing candidates that did not qualify for the runoff, as well as leftist voters who are dissatisfied with Macron’s leadership.

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of April 11-17, 2022

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On April 11, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. How should the EU react to the outcome of Hungary’s parliamentary elections?
2. Is Likud poised to return to power in Israel?
3. Will Pakistan’s military intervene in the nation’s political crisis?
4. Is the global economy headed for a “Balkanized” future?
5. What impact did Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have on the first round of the French presidential election?
6. Is Tunisia reverting back to autocracy?
7. Will the ICC ever be able to bring Russian war criminals to justice?
8. Why are COVID-19 cases surging in Hong Kong?
9. How should China respond to AUKUS cooperation on hypersonic missiles?
10. Is Ethiopia’s war in Tigray nearing its end?

R&D from Prepd: Pakistan’s Political Crisis

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On April 8, 2022

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D from Prepd covers Pakistan’s ongoing political crisis.  Prime Minister Imran Khan recently tried to avoid a no-confidence vote by dissolving the Pakistani Parliament and calling for new elections, but opposition parties took the decision to the Supreme Court, which ruled yesterday that Khan’s move was illegal.  Khan has accused opposition parties of working with foreign powers to remove him.

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of April 4-10, 2022

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On April 4, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Is a third intifada brewing in Israel?
2. Did Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affect the outcome of the Hungarian presidential election?
3. Is Pakistan on the verge of a military coup?
4. If Belarus gets directly involved in Russia’s war in Ukraine, how should the West respond?
5. Should democratic nations work to wean themselves off of trade with autocratic ones?
6. Is Mexico’s military performing too many government functions?
7. Has Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power undermined China’s foreign policy interests?
8. Should the Taliban wait for better economic conditions before banning opium cultivation?
9. Will Yemen’s ceasefire pave the way for a lasting peace deal?
10. What does the outcome of Costa Rica’s presidential election mean for the country’s economic direction?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of March 28-April 3, 2022

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On March 28, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should Russia be expelled from the G20?
2. How can President Gotabaya Rajapaksa end Sri Lanka’s economic difficulties?
3. Why is Russia losing so many generals in the Ukrainian conflict?
4. Should Arab governments prioritize the Israeli-Palestinian peace process or preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon?
5. Would a Chinese-Solomon Islands security pact constitute a grave threat to Australia’s national security?
6. Does NATO need France?
7. Is globalization nearing its end?
8. Will the AfCFTA provide a significant economic boost to participating African nations?
9. Why is the UAE rehabilitating Syrian President Bashar al-Assad?
10. Will Jokowi try to extend his presidential tenure?

R&D from Prepd: Ukrainian Refugees

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On March 25, 2022

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D from Prepd covers Ukrainian refugees.  CBS News reported yesterday that 3.6 million Ukrainians have fled the country due to Russia’s invasion, while the BBC recently noted that another 6.5 million are believed to be displaced inside of the country.  The Biden administration announced that the U.S. would be accepting 100,000 refugees and pledged additional monies for assistance.  Neighboring countries like Poland have accepted the bulk of Ukraine’s refugees thus far.

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HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of March 21-27, 2022

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On March 21, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. How will China’s latest COVID outbreaks affect the global economy?
2. What should a negotiated solution to Russia’s war in Ukraine look like?
3. Is Spain making a mistake in recognizing Morocco’s plan for governing Western Sahara?
4. How seriously should Western nations take Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats?
5. Has globalization made autocracies stronger?
6. With less than a month to go, which two candidates will make the French presidential runoff?
7. What steps can the international community take to end human trafficking?
8. How will Brazil’s blocking of Telegram impact this year’s presidential election?
9. Is it fair to characterize Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan as a democratic reformer?
10. Will Gabriel Boric enjoy a successful presidential term?

R&D from Prepd: Chilean Politics

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On March 18, 2022

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D from Prepd covers Chilean politics.  Gabriel Boric, a former student activist, was sworn in as Chile’s new president last week.  Boric campaigned on a platform of social and environmental justice, pledging to move Chile away from the free market economic model of General Augusto Pinochet, who led Chile from December 1974-March 1990.  Markets are wary of his plans because of his association with communist groups, but Boric argues that his reforms will create more growth in the nation’s economy and be budget neutral.

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of March 14-20, 2022

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On March 14, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should the ICC indict Vladimir Putin?
2. To what degree can the West continue to provide military support to Ukraine without escalating the conflict beyond its borders?
3. Why did Yoon Suk Yeol win South Korea’s presidential election?
4. Is the ongoing war in Ukraine doing lasting damage to the United Nations’ credibility?
5. How will Turkey’s move to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia impact the tense relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
6. Is a new “pink tide” poised to sweep across Latin America this year?
7. Should the world’s central banks ignore rising energy costs?
8. What impact would the removal of U.S. sanctions have on Venezuela’s economy?
9. Is China’s economic growth target too ambitious?
10. Will punishing economic sanctions make Russia the next North Korea?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of March 7-13, 2022

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On March 7, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Will foreign fighters help Ukraine turn the tide against Russia?
2. In light of economic difficulties, should China continue its present rate of military spending?
3. Are Pakistan’s women’s marches accomplishing their objectives?
4. Should NATO impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine’s nuclear power plants?
5. Will Danish voters approve joining the EU’s defense policy?
6. What steps can Moldova take to protect its territorial integrity and deter Russian aggression?
7. Is the Sahel the new home of international terrorism?
8. If North Korea developed a spy satellite, what impact would that have on East Asian security?
9. How can the international community alleviate food shortages that will come from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
10. Are Germany’s green energy efforts failing?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 28-March 6, 2022

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On February 28, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Are the Baltics next?
2. Does Russia’s invasion of Ukraine illustrate the need for procedural reforms at the UN Security Council?
3. How will international sanctions against Russia affect the global economy?
4. Should Finland join NATO?
5. Will refugees from Ukraine push the politics of Eastern European countries further to the political right?
6. How can the democratic world regain its footing against the world’s authoritarians?
7. Why is inflation surging in Brazil?
8. Has globalization made the ability to sanction bad international actors harder?
9. Should Cambodia cast its lot with China or the United States?
10. Is Kuwait backsliding on human rights?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 21-27, 2022

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On February 21, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Was France’s mission against jihadists in the Sahel a success?
2. To what degree is rising inflation a threat to Erdogan’s leadership?
3. Should OPEC continue to allow oil prices to rise?
4. Could Russia win a new Cold War with the West?
5. Has inflation become a bigger threat to the global economy than the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?
6. Does a safer world require a high amount of American military spending?
7. Has the British Conservative Party become too fractured to govern effectively?
8. Is the international community doing enough to stop a famine in the Horn of Africa?
9. In hindsight, was NATO expansion into Eastern Europe a bad idea?
10. Should the IOC enact more punishing sanctions on Russia?

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