R&D from Prepd: Israeli Legislative Elections

[fblike]

l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

This R&D provides articles on the recent Israeli legislative elections.  The election saw the highest turnout since the 1999 legislative elections and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party staged a comeback victory, winning a plurality of thirty seats.  The Zionist Union of Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni finished in second place with twenty-four seats.  Due to the performance of other right-wing parties, it is assumed that Netanyahu will retain his position as prime minister.  The recent election was also notable because twenty-nine women were elected to the Knesset, which is the largest number in Israeli history.

Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of March 23-29, 2015

[fblike]

Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz.  Good luck!quiz-01

To access a list of all our old quizzes, click here.

R&D from Prepd: Loretta Lynch’s Confirmation

[fblike]

l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

This R&D provides resources for the confirmation of attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch.  Lynch was nominated by President Obama last November to succeed Attorney General Eric Holder, but Republicans have delayed a confirmation vote.  Senate Major Mitch McConnell says that he wants a domestic human trafficking bill passed before a vote is held.  Such a bill has failed to overcome Democratic filibuster over language in the legislation about federal abortion funding.  Some of the Republican opposition to Lynch is also tied to their anger of Holder’s managing of the Justice Department and they do not want an attorney general that is poised to continue some of his policies.  Lynch could become the first female African-American attorney general in American history if she is confirmed.  Experts believe that a confirmation vote is not likely to take place until April 13, when the Senate is due to resume business.

U.S.-Iranian Relations (2015)

[fblike]

When he was elected in 2008, President Barack Obama went to great lengths to convince voters and the rest of the world that he would not continue many of the foreign policies of George W. Bush.  Bush’s presidency is most remembered for the war in Iraq, a campaign that cost thousands of American lives and destabilized the Middle East.  However, while the war in Iraq dominated the headlines, the prospects of a nuclear Iran also loomed over the region.  In 2002, Iranian dissidents revealed that the Islamic Republic was pursuing a covert nuclear program.  Since that time, the United States and its European partners, as well as China, have worked to contain the country’s nuclear ambitions, imposing sanctions to force the Iranian government to the negotiating table.  In 2013, Iran agreed to an interim accord that saw it agree to restrictions on its nuclear program in return for some sanction relief.  The United States hopes to have an agreement with Iran by June, thereby averting military action and possibly beginning the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

This topic brief will discuss recent steps toward finalizing a nuclear deal with Iran, the domestic politics and controversies surrounding such a deal, and how a closer U.S.-Iranian relationship may alter the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.  Extempers are encouraged to read last season’s topic brief on the Iranian nuclear accord in order to understand more of the background of U.S.-Iranian relations.

Readers are also encouraged to use the links below and in the related R&D to bolster their files about this topic.

U.S.-Iranian Relations (2015)

[fblike]

Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on U.S.-Iranian relations (2015).

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of March 23-29, 2015

[fblike]

HOTtopics1. Is the international community doing enough to combat human trafficking?
2. Does the far right or the far left pose the biggest threat to European stability?
3. Is Somalia’s security situation improving?
4. What rights should asylum seekers in Europe possess?
5. Is a sharing economy sustainable?
6. Does Goodluck Jonathan deserve to be re-elected?
7. Is the Islamic State becoming a legitimate state actor?
8. How can Japan, China, and South Korea work together to reduce regional tensions?
9. Is a bad deal better than no deal when it comes to Iran’s nuclear program?
10. Who was the biggest loser of the Israeli parliamentary elections?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of March 23-29, 2015

[fblike]

HOTtopics1. Who is 2016’s most vulnerable senator?
2. Should TSA agents carry guns?
3. How can New York City better tackle its homeless problem?
4. Is President Obama right about the GOP budget proposal?
5. How can the American gun control movement reverse its sagging fortunes?
6. Will the outcome of the Israeli parliamentary elections worsen U.S.-Israeli relations?
7. What reforms need to be made to Medicare?
8. Should the U.S. end ethanol subsidies?
9. Will the GOP win the Loretta Lynch nomination battle?
10. Should the U.S. make voting mandatory?

2015 Kentucky High School Speech League State Championship: Anderson Makes History With Third Consecutive Championship

[fblike]

Brian Anderson of LaRue County High School made history at this year’s Kentucky High School Speech League (KHSSL) State Championshp by winning the extemporaneous speaking state title for the third consecutive year.

Anderson, last year’s Barkley Forum champion and who at one time was the top ranked extemper in the country in the Extemp Central National Points Race, went straight 1’s in the semi-final and final rounds of the tournament to defeat Jared Thomas of Harrison County High School by three ranks.  Thomas finished third at last year’s tournament.

Lane Hedrick of Rowan County Senior High School, a two-time winner of the George C. Armstrong Heart of Illinois Invitational at Bradley University, finished third.

All of the finalists earned an automatic qualification to this year’s Extemp TOC at Northwestern University by virtue of making the tournament final round. This gives Kentucky five new TOC qualifiers as Anderson was already pre-qualified due to reaching elimination rounds at last year’s TOC.

Here are the results of the 2015 Kentucky High School Speech League State Championship (Click here for tab sheet):

R&D from Prepd: Weekly Roundup for the Week of March 16-22, 2015

[fblike]

l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

Here is our weekly survey of news stories to round out the week of March 16-22, 2015.

2015 Nevada Forensic Association State Tournament: Green Valley Rolls as Qureshi Repeats in IX and Avecilla Wins USX

[fblike]

Green Valley High School took both extemp championships at this year’s Nevada Forensic Association State Tournament, with Omar Qureshi winning International Extemp and Chace Avecilla winning United States Extemp.

Qureshi’s victory in International Extemp, which saw him take five of the six available first place ranks in the final round, gives him back-to-back state championships in the category. Phylaktis Demetriou of Green Valley was the second place finisher. Andrew Turner of Coronado High School took third.

Green Valley also took the top two placings in United States Extemp, where Acevilla defeated Conrad Palor by two ranks. Lance Ledet of Northwest Career and Technical Academy was the third place finisher.

All of the finalists earned an automatic qualification to this year’s Extemp TOC at Northwestern University.

Here are the results of the 2015 Nevada Forensic Association State Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

R&D from Prepd: The 2016 Senate Races

[fblike]

l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

This R&D provides resources on the 2016 U.S. Senate elections.  The Democrats will need to retake five seats in order to regain their majority, which they lost in the 2014 midterms.  Democrats are bullish about their prospects since the Republicans will be defending twenty-four seats versus the Democrats ten and 2016 will be a presidential election year, where increased turnout tends to favor Democratic candidates.

2015 New Jersey Forensic League State Tournament: Balaji Repeats in IX; Sirot Wins USX

[fblike]

This year’s New Jersey Forensic League State Tournament became a duel between Ridge High School and Montville Township High School, with both schools exchanging wins and second place finishes in the tournament’s International and United States Extemp categories.

In International Extemp, Vaikunth Balaji of Ridge successfully defended his state championship, achieving a two rank victory over Christopher Mayer of Montville. Mark Rinder of Freehold Township High School, the winner of this year’s Columbia Invitational, was the third place finisher.

Montville’s Jay Sirot won his first state championship in United States Extemp, achieving a three-rank margin of victory over Clare Halsey of Ridge. Thomas Abel of the Delbarton School, who finished in the top three of the Barkley Forum in January, finished third.

Two extempers – Mayer and Kyle White of Matawan Regional High School – were not previously qualified to this year’s Extemp TOC at Northwestern University. They earn an automatic qualification by virtue of reaching the final round of their respective extemp category.

At the tournament, Ridge had five extemp finalists, while Montville had three.

Here are the results of the 2015 New Jersey Forensic League State Tournament (Click here for tab sheet):

2015 Utah High School Activities Association State Tournament: Four New State Champions Crowned in 4A and 5A; Twenty-Four Qualify to TOC

[fblike]

Last weekend saw Utah host its state tournaments for classes 4A and 5A (3A as well but we do not have the results for those tournaments yet). The state divides extemporaneous speaking into International and United States Extemp categories and the 4A and 5A state events crowned a set of of first-time winners.

In Class 4A International Extemp, Joseph Cieslewicz of Wasatch High School achieved a five rank victory over J.R. Hunsaker of Clearfield High School. Isidora Stankovic took third place. In the United States Extemp half of the tournament, Max Cline won the state title by five ranks over Joshua Williams of Sky View High School. Williams’ teammate Colleen Coyle was the third place finisher.

In Class 5A, Chantelle Gossner of Weber High School won a narrow one rank victory over Ethan Bastian of Copper Hills High School. Carson Robb of Davis High School and Alexander Holt of Copper Hills High School tied for third place. In United States Extemp, Bridges Sayers of Copper Hills High School won by five ranks over Malcolm Harrison of Hunter High School. Alex Day of Lone Peak High School finished third.

Utah did not have any extempers pre-qualified to this year’s 2015 Extemp TOC at Northwestern University, so all of the extempers who reached the final round earned an automatic qualification to this year’s event in May.

Here are the results of the 2015 Utah High School Activities Association State Tournament (Click here for 4A Tab Sheet ; Click here for 5A Tab Sheet):

Extemp Central News Quiz for the Week of March 16-22, 2015

[fblike]

Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz.  Good luck!quiz-01

To access a list of all our old quizzes, click here.

R&D from Prepd: China-Myanmar Border Tensions

[fblike]

l_2Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd, the only software built specifically for extemp. Prepd makes it easy to research, practice, and compete!  Visit www.prepd.in to learn more. Like Prepd on Facebook for special info and contests.

This R&D provides resources on border tensions between China and Myanmar.  Myanmar is currently engaged in fighting Han Chinese rebels in its Kokang region, located on Myanmar’s eastern border with China.  Myanmar alleges that Chinese mercenaries are helping the rebel group that calls itself the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).  Fighting with the MNDAA spilled over into Chinese territory last week when five people were killed by a Myanmar air operation in China’s Yunnan province. China has long denied that it has given sanctuary to rebels fighting in Myanmar.

Page 112 of 278

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén