NewsBank Hot Topics

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NEWSBANK HOT TOPICS



CURRENT EVENTS

See more information about these current events topics in NewsBank Special Reports



ENVIRONMENT - Fires in Florida and California

TOPIC: Fires in Florida and California are causing devastation to land and buildings. What is the cause of these fires? What areas are affected? How are fires of this magnitude brought under control?

SEARCH TERMS: fires AND Florida OR California



CRIME AND LAW - Gun Control

TOPIC: The tragic shootings at Virginia Tech have brought forth the debate on gun control and security measures. What was the loophole in Virginia gun law that the state government has just closed? What are some examples of federal legislation that have come about in response to this tragedy?

SEARCH TERMS: gun control



ENVIRONMENT - Tornadoes in Kansas

TOPIC: Tornadoes have destroyed the town of Greensburg, Kansas. What was the classification of the tornado? When was the last tornado measured in that category?

SEARCH TERMS: tornadoes AND Kansas



Civics, Government and Politics - Democrat and Republican Debates

TOPIC: The two major U.S. political parties have held the first round of debates among their candidates. What changes in primary procedure have spurred such early debates? What former president was frequently evoked in the Republican debate?

SEARCH TERMS: presidential election (2008) AND debates



Civics, Government and Politics - Bush Vetoes Democrats' Iraq Plan

TOPIC: President Bush has vetoed the war-funding bill sponsored by the Democratic congressional leadership. What was the stipulation in the bill that the president objected to? What is the veto process, and how can a veto be challenged?

SEARCH TERMS: George W. Bush AND vetoes



SOCIAL STUDIES RESEARCH TOPICS

Civics, Government and Politics - Fort Dix Terror Plot

TOPIC: Six men have been arrested in a plot to attack the U.S. Army base in Fort Dix, NJ. Where are these men from? What kind of operation was set up to catch these men?

SEARCH TERMS: Fort Dix AND terrorism



Civics, Government and Politics - Sarkozy Elected

TOPIC: The winner in France's presidential election is Nicolas Sarkozy, whose nickname, Sarkozy the American, tells you a lot about perceptions of his political philosophy. Who did he beat? What is his political philosophy? What will his win do to change diplomatic relations with other Western countries?

SEARCH TERMS: Nicolas Sarkozy AND France AND presidents



Civics, Government and Politics - Who's To Blame?

TOPIC: A task force in Israel found that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert failed in the execution of the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. What has been the reaction to this report? Will any action be taken against Olmert as a result of the findings?

SEARCH TERMS: Ehud Olmert AND Israel AND Lebanon AND military operations



Civics, Government and Politics - Turkey's Presidential Elections

TOPIC: Massive demonstrations have been held in Turkey in reaction to a presidential candidate. Who is the presidential candidate? What are the causes of the demonstrations? What steps are being taken to resolve the crisis?

SEARCH TERMS: Turkey AND elections



Civics, Government and Politics - European Union and Racism

TOPIC: The European Union has proposed regulations against racism and xenophobia. How are the crimes defined? How will the regulations be enacted? What will the penalties be?

SEARCH TERMS: European Union AND racism



Civics, Government and Politics - Germany and its Muslims

TOPIC: German Muslim leaders have been airing their grievances at government sponsored conferences. Who are Germany's Muslims? What problems do they face? What problems do they pose for Germany? Is there a divergence of views among them?

SEARCH TERMS: Germany AND Muslims



CRIME AND LAW - Ethical Security in Iran

TOPIC: A campaign to improve morals has been launched in Iran. What activities are being forbidden? What are the penalties? What has been the response of the Iranians?

SEARCH TERMS: Islamic clothing and dress AND Iran



ECONOMICS - Murdoch Bid for Dow Jones

TOPIC: Rupert Murdoch has made a generous bid to buy Dow Jones Inc. What was his offer per stock share? What was the response of the Bancroft family, owners of Dow Jones, to the bid and what are some of the family's concerns over a sale?

SEARCH TERMS: Rupert Murdoch AND Dow Jones



ECONOMICS - Who Profits from Ethanol?

TOPIC: The rush to use ethanol as a fuel additive in developed countries has the unintended consequence of shortages, and thus higher prices, for corn and sugar in these countries. At what point do Third World countries have to forego the economic benefit of exporting ethanol versus the cost of food staples for their citizens?

SEARCH TERMS: ethanol



EDUCATION - Recruiting in China

TOPIC: China has started a process of making their armed forces more adaptable to the information age and able to incorporate technology into the art of warfare. How has this changed the country's recruiting practices? What affect might this have on the army's performance?

SEARCH TERMS: China AND armed forces AND technology



EDUCATION - Religious Revival on Campus

TOPIC: Students at secular colleges across the country are increasingly embracing religion in their lives and studies according to a survey. What are some factors that may have influenced this surge in religious interest? What is unique about the survey taken?

SEARCH TERMS: religion AND colleges



HISTORY - Hindenburg Anniversary

TOPIC: It's been 70 years since the German dirigible, the Hindenburg, exploded in Lakehurst, NJ. What is said to have ignited the explosion? How many people were killed?

SEARCH TERMS: Hindenburg AND anniversaries



HISTORY - Holocaust Web Site

TOPIC: A newly posted web site on the Holocaust has been constructed by an Israeli memorial organization in the Farsi language and has seen a marked use by Iranians. Why would Iranians have interest in this site? How does having this information on the internet assist in helping people understand the Holocaust?

SEARCH TERMS: Iran AND Holocaust



INTERNATIONAL - Iraq Conference in Egypt

TOPIC: A major regional conference on Iraq has ended in Egypt. What was the goal of the conference? Will it have any effect on the political scenario in Iraq? How can regional powers help in this quest?

SEARCH TERMS: Iraq AND conferences and meetings AND political development



INTERNATIONAL - Estonia’s Soviet War Memorial

TOPIC: Russians rioted in Estonia over the relocation of a Soviet war memorial from the center of the capital, Tallinn, to a military cemetery nearby. Why did they react this way? How do Estonians view these events? What are the consequences for Estonian-Russian relations?

SEARCH TERMS: Estonia AND Russia



INTERNATIONAL - Kosovo Sovereignty

TOPIC: United Nations mediator Martti Ahtisaari has submitted a plan to resolve the Kosovo independence issue. What has he proposed? How far does the plan go to satisfy Kosovo? Serbia? Do other counties have interests and what might they be?

SEARCH TERMS: independence and sovereignty movements AND Kosovo



SOCIAL ISSUES - Immigration Rallies

TOPIC: Protestors around the nation took to the streets to protest reforming the immigration laws. What are some of the controversies in the law? What was the police response in Los Angeles that’s being investigated?

SEARCH TERMS: immigration AND demonstrations



SCIENCE AND HEALTH RESEARCH TOPICS

ENVIRONMENT - Dams and Droughts

TOPIC: The controversial Three Gorges dam is complete and generating electrical power, but a severe drought has caused water levels in the Yangtze River to drop. This has led some to question the capacity of the dam to continue operating. Do you think the water level could impact the dam's performance? Why was the construction of this dam controversial?

SEARCH TERMS: China AND water levels



ENVIRONMENT - Wind Power

TOPIC: In a bid to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and reduce emissions, more countries are turning to the wind. How and where is wind power being developed? What are its advantages and disadvantages?

SEARCH TERMS: alternative energy industry AND wind power



HEALTH - Antidepressant Warnings

TOPIC: The FDA has expanded the suicide warning on many antidepressant drugs. What is the range of age for those at risk of the side effects? What percentage of adults under 44 has had at least one prescription for an antidepressant in the past year?

SEARCH TERMS: antidepressants AND FDA



SCience and technology - Supernova Discovery

TOPIC: Astronomers have discovered a supernova that is the brightest ever recorded. What are supernovas? How many light years is this supernova from the earth?

SEARCH TERMS: supernovas



SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Stephen Hawking in Space

TOPIC: Stephen Hawking, the British astrophysicist who has been confined to a wheelchair for the last forty years, flew on a zero-gravity flight. His eventual goal is to go into space on a commercial space flight in 2009. Did his flight help create an interest in space travel? What was his reaction to the sensation of weightlessness?

SEARCH TERMS: Stephen Hawking



SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Encryption Code on the Web

TOPIC: An encryption code designed to protect products from being illegally copied has been publicly posted on the web. What are the circumstances under which it was exposed? What are the complaints of those that exposed the code?

SEARCH TERMS: encryption AND blogs



SPORTS RESEARCH TOPICS

SPORTS - Kentucky Derby

TOPIC: The racehorse Street Sense has won the Kentucky Derby. What do we know about this horse's history? What distinguished guests attended this year's race?

SEARCH TERMS: Kentucky Derby

SPORTS - China Olympic Games

TOPIC: Amnesty International claims that Chinese authorities are using Olympic Games security measures to quell dissent by dissidents and religious groups. The report also cites the newly enacted media laws for foreign coverage of the games. Will these activities put a blemish on what China believes is one of their finest moments?

SEARCH TERMS: China AND Olympic Games AND human rights



SPORTS - Olympic Site Selection

TOPIC: Several cities have made bids to host the 2016 Olympic Games. What cities have been eliminated? What cities are leading contenders to host the games?

SEARCH TERMS: Olympic Games AND site selection



SPORTS - Soccer Training Program in Brazil

TOPIC: Brazilian executives have joined with a minor league Swiss team to fund an educational and soccer training program for poor Brazilian youth. What is the purpose of the program? Who is coaching the team?

SEARCH TERMS: Brazil AND soccer AND Pele



SPORTS - Biggest NBA Upset

TOPIC: The Golden State Warriors have driven the Dallas Mavericks out of the playoffs in the biggest upset in NBA history. What is the second biggest upset? What are the records of the two teams going into the playoffs?

SEARCH TERMS: Dallas Mavericks AND Golden State Warriors



SPORTS - NBA Referee Study

TOPIC: A recent study of refereeing in the National Basketball Association has shown a racial imbalance in the calling of fouls. Who conducted this study? What has been the reaction of players to the study?

SEARCH TERMS: National Basketball Association AND research



ARTS AND LITERATURE RESEARCH TOPICS

FILM AND TELEVISION - Sesame Street in Israel

TOPIC: The popular children's program Sesame Street is airing in Israeli and Palestinian territories. What disrupted the broadcasting? What kind of characters and stories are being portrayed for the Arab and Israeli audiences?

SEARCH TERMS: Sesame Street AND Israel



FILM AND TELEVISION - Al-Jazeera International

TOPIC: Al-Jazeera's English language news network has around 100 million viewers in Europe, Asia, Australia, Israel and many other countries. In the U.S. major satellite providers are not offering the channel. Why are they not covering this channel? What would be the benefit of carrying this channel in the U.S.?

SEARCH TERMS: Al-Jazeera AND TV station



ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE - Developing Culture in the Desert

TOPIC: While some in the Muslim world worry about the influence of modernity and foreign cultures on their culture, oil-rich countries in the Gulf region are using their petro-dollars to build museums in joint ventures with major European and U.S. organizations. Is this a good use of their budgets? Will the art they plan to purchase help bring the Arab and Western worlds closer together.

SEARCH TERMS: Arabs AND museums



FINE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE - Edvard Munch Theft Arrests

TOPIC: Three defendants in the theft of Edvard Munch's famous painting, The Scream, have been sentenced. In what condition were this and other paintings in the theft found? Where were these paintings being exhibited at the time of the theft?

SEARCH TERMS: Edvard Munch AND art thefts


LITERATURE - War Blogs

TOPIC: In both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, military personnel have become part of the new media by reporting their views on military life in the war zones. What is the value of this type of communication on reporting on the war?

SEARCH TERMS: military personnel AND blogs

LITERATURE - Tenet Memoir

TOPIC: Ex-CIA Director George Tenet has published his highly controversial memoirs. What has been some of the criticism of his writings? What are some of Tenet's assertions in his memoirs?

SEARCH TERMS: Tenet, George AND autobiography

PEOPLE RESEARCH TOPICS

PEOPLE - Queen Elizabeth

TOPIC: Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain has been in the news a lot in the past few months. The sympathetic portrayal of her in the film The Queen portrayed an unpopular time in her reign. What were the circumstances? Recently the Queen visited the historic site of what colonial English town?

SEARCH TERMS: Elizabeth II, Queen of England

PEOPLE - Walter Schirra

TOPIC: Astronaut Walter "Wally" Schirra has passed away. What is the unique combination of Apollo missions that distinguish Mr. Schirra? What other astronauts were on these missions with him? What was accomplished on these missions?

SEARCH TERMS: Walter Schirra

PEOPLE - Paul Wolfowitz

TOPIC: Paul Wolfowitz is president of the World Bank. Why was he being investigated? What was Mr. Wolfowitz's reaction to the investigation?

SEARCH TERMS: Paul Wolfowitz



PEOPLE - Mstlslav Rostropovich, Master Musician

TOPIC: When cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich died he was eulogized and laid to rest in his native Russia. But he was not always heartily praised in his native country. What were his relations with his country's government throughout his life? How did those relations determine the path of his musical career?

SEARCH TERMS: Mstislav Rostropovich AND Russia

PEOPLE - Tony Blair

TOPIC: Tony Blair is now his party's longest serving Prime Minister in British history, but he will soon departure from office. What political party did he lead? What was his effect on that party and on politics in Britain? What are his greatest accomplishments and failures? When is he leaving? Why is he leaving office?

SEARCH TERMS: Tony Blair AND prime ministers

PEOPLE - Boris Yeltsin (1931-2007)

TOPIC: Boris Yeltsin played a key role in ending 70 years of communist rule in the Soviet Union. He became Russia’s first elected president and under his leadership the Communist Party was banned, a new constitution was introduced, the move toward privatization was started, and the war in Chechnya was started. How will history remember Mr. Yeltsin?

SEARCH TERMS: Boris Yeltsin