-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NewsBank HOT TOPICS – August 2006
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CURRENT EVENTS Find out more on these topics in NewsBank Special Reports CRIME AND LAW – Airport Security TOPIC: Since the discovery and arrest of a group of terrorists in Britain that had planned a series of bombings on British airlines, U.S. and British airport security has significantly tightened. What kinds of items are being targeted as possibly concealing bomb material? What has been the impact on air travel? SEARCH TERMS: airports AND terrorism INTERNATIONAL – Israel/Lebanon Ceasefire TOPIC: After a month of warfare for which the primary cost has fallen on civilian populations, Israel and Lebanon have finally adopted the ceasefire imposed by the United Nations. Have there been any violations of the ceasefire? What group in Lebanon has been the primary target of the Israelis? What were the events leading up to this war? SEARCH TERMS: Lebanon AND Israel PEOPLE – Fidel Castro Passes Power To Brother Raul TOPIC: Cuba’s President Fidel Castro has temporarily passed his political power to his brother Raul while undergoing surgery for intestinal bleeding. What has been the reaction of Cubans living in the United States? What has been the role of Raul Castro before taking the presidential role? SEARCH TERMS: Fidel Castro SOCIAL STUDIES RESEARCH TOPICS CIVICS, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS – Connecticut Senate Primary TOPIC: Incumbent Senator and once-vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman has lost Connecticut’s Democratic Senatorial primary to businessman Ned Lamont. What are the reasons for this loss? What major political decision has Lieberman made since losing the primary? What is Ned Lamont’s background? SEARCH TERMS: Joe Lieberman ECONOMICS – Alaska Oil Pipeline Shut Down to Repair Leaks TOPIC: British Petroleum has shut down a pipeline in Alaska, the largest oil field in the U.S., to repair leaks. What has been the impact on oil prices? How much oil has been reduced due to the shutdown? SEARCH TERMS: BP Exploration AND Alaska EDUCATION – Classroom Spending Requirements TOPIC: Several states are looking to require a majority of school budgets go directly to classroom costs. What states have this mandate, and what states are considering it? What school problems do they hope to resolve? SEARCH TERMS: education funding AND requirements EDUCATION – ACT Scores TOPIC: ACT scores for the high school of 2006 show the biggest increase in twenty years and the highest scores of any class since 1991. What does ACT measure? What are the reasons for this improvement? SEARCH TERMS: ACT
HISTORY – 1916 Black Tom Island Blast TOPIC: 90 years have passed since German saboteurs launched the first major terrorist attack in the U.S. with the bombing on Black Tom Island just off the New Jersey coast in New York Harbor. What war was being fought at the time? How successful had been investigations into this plot? SEARCH TERMS: sabotage AND islands AND New York SOCIAL ISSUES – Minority Population Increase TOPIC: Minority ethnic populations are growing rapidly in 49 of the 50 U.S. states according to the recent Census Bureau findings. What state is unique in not seeing this increase? What ethnic populations are most heavily increasing? SEARCH TERMS: census AND ethnic groups SCIENCE AND HEALTH RESEARCH TOPICS ENVIRONMENT – Heat Wave TOPIC: Record heat waves have proved fatal for many people across the U.S. What state suffered the most fatalities? How have cities and states responded to the crisis? SEARCH TERMS: heat waves HEALTH – International AIDS Conference th TOPIC: Toronto is hosting the 16 International AIDS Conference. What continent has suffered the most from AIDS? What policies have been discussed most as the conference? What have been to controversies brought up in global AIDS relief? SEARCH TERMS: AIDS and meetings SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – New Planets TOPIC: Scientists are proposing a change to the definition of a planet that would increase the number of them in the solar system. Why is this up for discussion? What changes are being suggested? What impact would these changes have on the number of planets and textbooks? SEARCH TERMS: planets SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – Crude Oil in Pig Manure TOPIC: Of all the recent research into renewable energy sources, one of the more novel approaches is the discovery that pressure-cooking pig manure produces an energy-dense crude oil. What other alternative energy sources have recently become popular considerations? SEARCH TERMS: hogs AND renewable energy sources SPORTS RESEARCH TOPICS th SPORTS – 88 PGA Championship TOPIC: The Professional Golfers Association will be holding its championships in Medinah, Illinois. Large crowds are expected because of some key players competing in the championship this year. Who are these players? Why will their presence create heightened interest in this event? SEARCH TERMS: Professional Golfers Association SPORTS – Preseason Football TOPIC: Preseason football games have started preparing teams for the new season. What are some of the changes in players and coaches that could impact the outcome of the season? SEARCH TERMS: preseason AND football SPORTS – Wimbledon TOPIC: Roger Federer has beaten Rafael Nafdal to win the Wimbledon tennis championship. What is significant about this win for Federer? SEARCH TERMS: Roger Federer AND Wimbledon
SPORTS – World Boxing TOPIC: Oleg Maskaev is the new World Boxing Council heavyweight champion. Various boxing associations have produced heavyweight champions from the same region. What region is this? Why would they have so many champions? SEARCH TERMS: Oleg Maskaev AND boxing ARTS AND LITERATURE RESEARCH TOPICS FILM AND TELEVISION – World Trade Center TOPIC: Oliver Stone, primarily known for controversial films suggesting historical conspiracy, th has made a film focusing on ordinary heroes during the Sept. 11 attack on New York City’s World Trade Center. What film was Stone known to have outlined several conspiracy theories of the Kennedy assassination? What has been the reaction to Stone’s new film, World Trade Center? SEARCH TERMS: World Trade Center AND film FINE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE – Julio Galan TOPIC: Mexican expressionist painter Julio Galan was part of the neo-expressionist movement in the 1980s. What are some of the other painters of this movement? Who are some of the great painters that came from Mexico before Galan? SEARCH TERMS: Julio Galan LITERATURE – UC Joins Google Project TOPIC: The University of California is joining Google’s book scanning project, adding another 100 academic libraries to the list of sources that Google is scanning into its databases. What have been the legal questions regarding Google’s project? What two major groups have files lawsuits against Google? SEARCH TERMS: Google Inc. AND digitization PERFORMING ARTS – Duke Jordan TOPIC: Duke Jordan, along with alto saxophone player Charlie Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, helped create the be-bop jazz movement. After leaving the U.S., in what country did Jordan live and perform for many years? In what famous French film did he play the soundtrack? SEARCH TERMS: Duke Jordan NewsBank, inc. 4501 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 315, Naples, FL 34103 (800) 762-8182 www.newsbank.com