Tag: R&D Page 34 of 63

R&D: Weekly Roundup for the Week of August 11th-17th, 2014

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Here is our weekly survey of news stories to round out the week of August 11th-17th.

 

R&D: Boko Haram

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Today’s R&D covers Boko Haram, an Islamic militant group in Nigeria.  The group, whose name translates roughly as “Western education is forbidden” – it literally translates as “Fake education is forbidden” – is seeking to establish an Islamic state.  Their power base is in northeastern Nigeria.  Boko Haram has been fighting the Nigerian government since 2009 and its activities have led to the deaths of more than 5,000 people.  Last November, the U.S. State Department listed Boko Haram as a terrorist organization.

 

R&D: Mitt Romney in 2016

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Today’s R&D covers the 2016 presidential prospects of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.  Although Romney lost the 2012 presidential election to President Barack Obama and has said that he has no interest in running for the presidency again, political observers speculate that he might be the best candidate the Republican Party can field in two years.  Romney’s case for the White House has been strengthened over as his arguments on the campaign trail about elements of the Affordable Care Act, Iraq, and Mali have been proven true. Romney appearances are in high demand by Republican candidates seeking office in 2014, which could strengthen his chances of winning endorsements should he decide to run in 2016.

 

R&D: The California Drought (2014)

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on the California drought (2014).

 

R&D: Weekly Roundup for the Week of August 4th-10th, 2014

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Here is our weekly survey of news stories to round out the week of August 4th-10th.

 

 

R&D: John Brennan Under Fire

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Today’s R&D covers the future of CIA Director John Brennan.  Brennan’s credibility has been questioned after the CIA was found to have spied on computers used by the staffers of the Senate Intelligence Committee.  President Barack Obama has backed Brennan, but there are demands for heads to roll at the agency for spying on the U.S. government.

 

R&D: Egyptian-Israeli Relations

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Today’s R&D provides resources on the Egyptian-Israeli relationship.  Egypt and Israel, former enemies in the Middle East, signed the Camp David Accords in 1979 and have been at peace ever since.  Egypt is one of only two countries in the Middle East that has an existing peace treaty with the Israelis.  Israeli officials view Egyptian cooperation as important to stopping the smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip.  Egypt is viewed as one of the primary negotiators of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

 

R&D: The West African Ebola Outbreak (2014)

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on the West African Ebola outbreak (2014).

 

 

R&D: Weekly Roundup for the Week of July 28th-August 3rd, 2014

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Today, Extemp Central kicks off the 2014-2015 season by providing an R&D of top news stories for the week of July 28th-August 3rd.  On each Friday of the 2014-2015 season Extemp Central will provide an R&D of links to top stories that extempers may find useful as they head to their next tournament.  Unlike topic-centric R&Ds, which will be released on Wednesday and Thursday, the Friday R&Ds will link to a hodgepodge of stories about relevant domestic and international issues.

 

 

R&D: ISIS in Iraq

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on ISIS in Iraq.

 

R&D from Prepd: The British Economy

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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 British economy, which has recently returned to pre-2008 economic crisis levels.  The economic recovery, which took seventy-five months, is the longest in British history.  British political observers believe it will give a boost to Prime Minister David Cameron’s re-election chances next year.

Note:  This will be the last R&D of the 2013-2014 season.  R&Ds will return when Extemp Central begins its coverage of the 2014-2015 season on August 1.

 

 

R&D from Prepd: Eric Cantor’s Defeat

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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 Eric Cantor’s defeat in his House primary race in Virginia.  Cantor, the Republican House Majority Leader, who represents Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District, was defeated by Tea Party-backed candidate Dave Brat in Tuesday’s primary.  Cantor is the only Jewish Republican in the House, and he becomes the first House majority leader to lose their seat since 1899. Cantor’s defeat has been blamed on his alleged willingness to work with President Barack Obama on an immigration reform package.  His defeat likely means that there will be no immigration agreement reached before the November midterms, and Cantor said yesterday that he will step down from his leadership role.

 

R&D: The EPA Carbon Regulations

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Here is today’s premium R&D to accompany today’s premium topic brief on the EPA carbon regulations.

 

R&D from Prepd: America’s “Pivot” to Asia

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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 concerns America’s “pivot” to Asia, which signifies a shift in America’s foreign policy focus to East Asia from the Middle East.  The shift is largely concerned with China’s growing political and economic clout in global affairs and reassuring American allies, such as Japan and South Korea, who are skittish about China’s power. However, Russia’s recent actions, as well as the ever present risk of terrorism in the Middle East, may make it difficult for the United States to focus on Asian affairs more than other regions.

 

R&D from Prepd: The Next President of the European Commission

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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 covers the fight over the next president of the European Commission.  The current president, Jose Manuel Barroso, steps down this year.  The European Commission president is the most powerful official in the European Union (EU) and has the ability to appoint other ministers in the body, as well as set the European Commission’s policy agenda.  The president is selected by the European Council and approved by the European Parliament.  There is currently a bitter fight over who the next president will be, as Germany has lent its support to Jean-Claude Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg and parliamentary leader of the European People’s Party (EPP), but France and Great Britain have opposed Juncker’s candidacy.

 

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