Category: International Extemp Page 8 of 59

On May 23, 2022

1. Should France pay reparations to Haiti?
2. What helped the Labor Party return to power in Australia?
3. Will monkeypox become the next global pandemic?
4. What does Macron’s new cabinet suggest about his political priorities?
5. Should Israel cease its military strikes in Syria?
6. Could Sri Lanka’s economic struggles lead to the re-emergence of the Tamil Tigers?
7. Is the Accra Initiative failing?
8. Who is likely to be Colombia’s next president?
9. What reforms should be made to the African Development Bank?
10. Is the idea of a global minimum tax deal dead?

NSDA Nationals IX R&D from Prepd: Central & South Asia

On May 20, 2022

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.

Over the next month and a half, Extemp Central will provide R&Ds on the topic areas for the 2022 NSDA National Tournament. USX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Thursday and IX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Friday. This is meant to help extempers assemble resources to prepare for the competition in Louisville. This week we tackle IX topic area #3 on Central & South Asia.

Haibatullah Akhunzada, the de facto head of state, has called on countries to engage with Afghanistan on the basis of “mutual respect.” That is not going to happen until other states get a bit of respect back https://t.co/0a3AmkZRln

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) May 17, 2022

India seeks to win public trust in crisis-hit Sri Lanka https://t.co/VPHy6WIVeS

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 19, 2022

Sri Lanka fell into default for the first time in its history as the gov’t struggled to halt an economic crisis https://t.co/m2HA6caJ66 pic.twitter.com/iJsFZQJob7

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 19, 2022

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of May 16-22, 2022

On May 16, 2022

1. How should Western European nations respond to Turkish threats to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO?
2. Will political deadlock in Northern Ireland escalate into a wider conflict between Great Britain and the European Union?
3. Is Venezuela’s stock sale a good buy for foreign investors?
4. Will a recent COVID outbreak create a humanitarian disaster in North Korea?
5. How will drought in the Horn of Africa affect neighboring countries?
6. Should the Japanese government move to reduce the U.S.’s military presence in Okinawa?
7. Would electoral reform stabilize Somalia?
8. How should the Israeli government respond to footage of riot police attacking pallbearers at the funeral of Shireen Abu Akleh?
9. What effect would the adoption of the euro have on Croatia’s economy?
10. If the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to go poorly, will Vladimir Putin be removed from power by the end of the year?

NSDA Nationals IX R&D from Prepd: Central & South America

On May 13, 2022

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.

Over the next month and a half, Extemp Central will provide R&Ds on the topic areas for the 2022 NSDA National Tournament. USX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Thursday and IX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Friday. This is meant to help extempers assemble resources to prepare for the competition in Louisville. This week we tackle IX topic area #2 on Central & South America.

An OPEC-style lithium pact in South America is a “far-fetched prospect” because of “key differences between the oil and lithium industries.”https://t.co/CJOYEiaVQm

— World Politics Review (@WPReview) April 16, 2022

China is South America’s top trading partner and a major source of both foreign direct investment and lending in energy and infrastructure.

But Beijing’s growing sway in the region has raised concerns in Washington and beyond. More in this explainer ⬇️ https://t.co/wq4I0rae7U

— Council on Foreign Relations (@CFR_org) April 28, 2022

South America’s breadbasket is also balancing on precarious ecosystems https://t.co/hT1nPmZHzg

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) April 30, 2022

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of May 9-15, 2022

On May 9, 2022

1. Is Yoon Suk-yeol too unpopular to effectively govern?
2. What was Russia’s biggest miscalculation in its invasion of Ukraine?
3. How will the Taliban’s new dress decree for women affect its efforts to get greater international recognition?
4. After bad results in local elections, should the Conservative Party ditch Boris Johnson?
5. How can Tunisia avoid economic collapse?
6. What reforms are needed of international institutions in order to make them more effective?
7. Should Mexico adopt electoral reforms proposed by AMLO?
8. Does the Philippines have a “strongman problem”?
9. How should the Quad respond to China’s security pact with the Solomon Islands?
10. Why is Turkey trying to form a closer relationship with Saudi Arabia?

NSDA Nationals IX R&D from Prepd: Africa

On May 6, 2022

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.

Over the next month and a half, Extemp Central will provide R&Ds on the topic areas for the 2022 NSDA National Tournament. USX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Thursday and IX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Friday. This is meant to help extempers assemble resources to prepare for the competition in Louisville. This week we tackle IX topic area #1 on Africa.

The ‘War on Terror’ did much to feed terrorism in the Horn of Africa. The 2006 Ethiopia invasion of Somalia was encouraged by the US as it sought to oust the Islamic Court Union, writes Alex Vines (@AfricaProg). https://t.co/weLLEmJeYX

— Chatham House (@ChathamHouse) April 30, 2022

Ethiopia continues to present a major source of instability for the Horn of Africa region and beyond. Mediation efforts by the African Union have made little progress, writes Alex Vines (@AfricaProg).https://t.co/sDvNVkTLo8

— Chatham House (@ChathamHouse) April 16, 2022

The U.S. announced $670 Million in food aid for Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen, where the war in Ukraine has exacerbated food insecurity.

Michelle Gavin outlines what to know about East Africa’s growing food crisis. https://t.co/OfnheXloc8

— Council on Foreign Relations (@CFR_org) April 28, 2022

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of May 2-8, 2022

On May 2, 2022

1. Will Vladimir Putin use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine?
2. How are drones reshaping global national security policy?
3. Should the EU expel Hungary for agreeing to Russia’s energy demands?
4. What can the WTO do to combat export bans on agricultural goods?
5. Which party will win the upcoming Lebanese elections?
6. Is Bangladesh sliding into autocracy?
7. If the Balkans fragile peace disintegrates, how should NATO respond?
8. Will Kim Jong-un’s provocative rhetoric cause Japan to build its own nuclear deterrent?
9. Should the international community extend more debt relief to African nations?
10. Can the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement be salvaged?

R&D from Prepd: Violence in Israel

On April 29, 2022

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.

Israelis and Palestinians have traded fire across the Gaza frontier, and continued to clash in Jerusalem. Last year, amid the last flare-up of violence, @carlbildt highlighted four principles that should underpin a lasting peace agreement. https://t.co/OG8J6XmSrr

— Project Syndicate (@ProSyn) April 21, 2022

The two leaders discussed recent efforts to stop violence in Israel and the West Bank, including at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount complex in Jerusalem.https://t.co/PMMVDz7YAf

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) April 26, 2022

Israel fired artillery shells into southern Lebanon after militants there launched a rocket into northern Israel, the Israeli military said https://t.co/oZaHtKrJTN

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) April 25, 2022

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

On April 25, 2022

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

On April 18, 2022

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

On April 15, 2022

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.

President Emmanuel Macron of France will face Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, in the runoff of the French presidential election on April 24. Here is what you need to know. https://t.co/pFLJPfE13n

— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) April 13, 2022

Mélenchon’s strong showing in the first round of the French presidential election, winning 22% of the vote, has put him and his voters in the position of kingmakers https://t.co/DqczQVhvjf

— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) April 12, 2022

With the second round of the French presidential election just days away, take a deep dive on Emmanuel Macron’s foreign policy doctrine with this piece by @celiabelin: https://t.co/QAvUTGPvG5

— The Brookings Institution (@BrookingsInst) April 12, 2022

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

On April 11, 2022

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

On April 8, 2022

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.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court says Prime Minister Imran Khan’s move to dissolve parliament was illegal and ordered the house be restored ⤵️ https://t.co/vjMAcI9hWH

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 7, 2022

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s dissolution of the National Assembly is threatening domestic upheaval, writes Zahid Hussain via @CFR_Asia. https://t.co/5gQO5wtzom

— Council on Foreign Relations (@CFR_org) April 6, 2022

Pakistan court rules Imran Khan no-confidence vote block is illegal https://t.co/jRJyepJEUV

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) April 7, 2022

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

On April 4, 2022