Contemporary Problems Senior Project

Syrian Refugee Crisis

Masses of refugees wait in line to receive food aid distributed in the Yarmouk camp on Jan. 31 in Damascus, Syria.
United Nation Relief and Works Agency/Getty Images

Syria on Track to Become World's Largest Source of Refugees
A photograph on the National Public Radio site illustrates just one situation in Syria where refugees have to wait for food. The crowds in the picture show how desperate the crisis is in Syria. Find out what caused Syria to change from a country that accepted refugees to one that is becoming the biggest source of refugees. Learn about the neighboring countries that have provided safety to Syrian refugees and about the costs to these countries.
?Topic: Political refugees, Syria, Civil War, 2011- Lexile: 1240 Audio News Source http://www.npr.org

Syrian Refugees
Since the Syrian civil war outbreak in 2011 more than 2.5 million Syrians are now refugees.

They either took refuge in neighboring countries or in another location in Syria. This web site from the Migration Policy Center provides a snapshot of the refugee crisis. Watch a video that introduces the refugee situation. Follow the timeline to see news reports that illustrate how the crisis developed and see an Aid and Asylum map. Click on the country names at the top of the page to see where refugees are going and to read stories of people in refugee camps.
Topic: Political refugees, Syria, Civil War, 2011- Language: English Lexile: 1460 Video: http://syrianrefugees.eu

The Growing Crisis in Syria

The United Nations Population Fund web site looks at the issue of the specific needs of the 1.7 million women and girls of reproductive age who are refugees in Syria. The UNFPA provides clean delivery kits, reproductive health services and psychosocial support in Syria. Each of the articles on this page tell the story of the women and children in Syria. Learn about life in refugee camps and the growing violence against women and children. There are also stories of midwives who are doing their part.
Topic: Syria, Civil War, 2011- Language: English Lexile: 1360 http://www.unfpa.org

First UN Report on Children in Syria's Civil War Paints Picture of 'Unspeakable' Horrors
The United Nations News Centre reports on the status of the children caught in the middle of Syria's civil war. The information in this article comes from a report that covered March of 2011 to November of 2013 and explicitly details the horrors that Syrian children have suffered since the violence in Syria began. Read about the role of Syria's government forces in the abuse, torture, disappearance and death of Syrian children. Also discussed is the rejection of medical treatment and humanitarian aid for Syrian children.
Topic: Political refugees, Children and war, Syria, Civil War, 2011- Lexile: 1750 News Source: http://www.un.org

Canada Welcomes First Planeload of Syrian Refugees
Three million Syrian refugees are looking for a new place to live. Ten thousand of them will move to Canada in December of 2015, with another fifteen thousand arriving in the winter of 2016. Syrian families are being screened as they look for a safer place for their children. They hope for a good life and a good job in Canada. Since the refugees are being accepted based on humanitarian concerns, language skills are not a prerequisite. Two-thirds of Canadians support accepting refugees. Sponsors help assimilate these new Canadians. Syrians have welcomed refugees in the past.
Topic: Refugees--Canada Language: English Lexile: 1360 Video News Source http://america.aljazeera.com

Climate Change Summit (Paris)

Paris Climate Conference 2015
Paris, France, will be the location of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) on Climate Change in December 2015. This site contains articles concerning this important global meeting, which brings together countries from all over the world to assess the progress made in addressing climate change, as well as reconfirm commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by certain target dates. Countries’ and states’ commitments must be made known before summer. Many believe the actions of this conference will affect the lives of billions of people.
Topic: Climate change--International cooperation Language: English, French Lexile: 1670 http://www.ambafrance-uk.org

Kyoto Protocol
Get the latest news on the Kyoto Protocol and the upcoming U.N. climate summit in Paris. The European Union wants countries to agree to 60% emissions cuts in the Paris Protocol by 2050. They say it is necessary for the U.S. and China to commit to the new global effort. Due to a technicality in land use rules, Australia could actually increase industrial emissions and still meet its Kyoto goals by 2020. Brazil has contributed innovative ideas to climate negotiations, but still wants to avoid mandatory reductions as a developing country.
Topic: Kyoto Protocol Language: English Lexile: 1160 News Source http://www.theguardian.com

Paris Clima te Change Conference 2015
New York TImes Complete coverage of the United Nations meeting in Paris from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, and efforts to reach an emissions deal.

An iceberg in the western Antarctic peninsula.
The great ice sheets on the continent are starting to melt.
Credit: Eitan Abramovich/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

2015, November 30 to December 12 - ParisCOP 21: UN climate change conference | Paris

UN Climate Change Conference Paris 2015

COP 21: UN climate change conference | Paris
Latest news and comment on the COP21 UN climate change conference in Paris, France May 2016

Paris Terror Attacks Presidential Election

Charlie Hebdo Attack: What We Know So Far
Islamic extremists shot the editor, seven journalists, and several others at Charlie Hebdo in an attack against the satirical French magazine. The gunmen escaped the scene of the crime, shooting a police officer before abandoning their vehicle and hijacking another. Hundreds of extra police officers were deployed throughout Paris to join in the search for the escaped gunmen. Learn the identity of the suspects and victims in the deadly shooting. Investigate the history of violence against those whose free speech and free expression led to accusations of blasphemy and religious mockery.
Topic: Terrorism--France Language: English Lexile: 1400 News Source http://www.bbc.com

What Motivated the Attacks on Charlie Hebdo?
Islamic extremists and those who stood for freedom of expression clashed in Paris, with deadly results. Gunmen killed a dozen people in the offices of a French satirical newspaper to avenge the Prophet Mohammad, who was frequency satirized in Charlie Hebdo. The extremists may have links to al-Qaida. Islam forbids depictions of their Prophet, and the controversial images published in Charlie Hebdo were particularly offensive. Charlie Hebdo has also targeted the French president and the Pope with satirical cartoons. Investigate whether the attack was unexpected. Analyze why people support Charlie Hebdo even if they don't agree with its content.
Topic: Terrorism--France Language: English Lexile: 1100 Video: http://www.pbs.org

Paris Terror Attack: Everything We Know So Far on Monday Evening as Suspects’ Brother Says: ‘I Did Not
Know They Had Been Radicalized’
President Francois Hollande said, “This is an act of war,” about the November 13, 2015, terrorist attacks in Paris which killed at least 129 people. This declaration of war has only been stated two times previously since 1848. The events of the terrorist attack are laid out in this article, beginning with two explosions near the Stade de France, where France and Germany were playing soccer. The next attacks occurred in central Paris where gunmen opened fire on several restaurants and bars. The deadliest attack happened at a concert hall. More current event articles are under “France.”
Topic: Paris (France), Terrorism--France Lexile: 1410 Video News Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Paris Attacks: What Happened on the Night

A map of central Paris shows where all the terrorist attacks took place on Friday night, November 13, 2015, that killed at least 129 people and wounded hundreds more, with over 100 critical. President Francois Hollande called it an “act of war” coordinated by the Islamic State (IS) militant group. The terrorists used guns and several wore suicide belts to wreak havoc in Paris. Police have conducted over 150 raids searching for suspects. The President was attending the game at the Stade de France where two suicide bombers detonated outside the stadium. A timeline of events is included.
Topic: Paris (France), Terrorism--France Language: English Lexile: 1360 Video ews Source: http://www.bbc.com

2015 Paris Terror Attacks Fast Facts
Updated 5:01 PM ET, Wed April 13, 2016 CNN Library

What we know about the Paris attacks and the hunt for the attackers
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for killing at least 130 people in a string of terrorist attacks in Paris in November. Belgian officials said Salah Abdeslam, a key figure in the attacks, was one of two suspects captured in an anti-terrorist raid Friday in Brussels. Related: European officials: Key figure in Paris attacks wounded in Brussels raid | Remembering the victims

Updated March 18, 2016 The Washington Post

Belgium begins trial of terror cell linked to Paris, Brussels
Seven alleged jihadists arrested after deadly January raid in Verviers exposed a plot to kill police officers BY AFP May 9, 2016, 3:25 pm

Presidential Election

2016 Election
The United States will elect its forty-fifth president in November 2016. A great deal happens in the year before the final vote. There are debates, caucases, conventions, and primaries all focused on choosing candidates from the Republican and Democratic parties. Find out the latest news on this presidential election process. See what the candidates are saying about the issues and about each other. Get advice on how to watch the presidential debates. Discover which are the most popular articles and which are the most popular videos on the election.
Topic: United States presidential election, 2016 Language: English Lexile: 1010 News Source http://time.com

What to Know About the Presidential Race Today
Find out who’s running for president of the United States, and which campaign is winning at the moment. Read the latest on the presidential candidates themselves, and their debates and speeches as they travel around America. There is a continuously updated list of election events coming up that includes
caucuses and primaries, and debates. An Election Guide gives you basic information on the election with articles that provide fact checking on the candidates and a comparison of candidates' platforms.
Topic: United States presidential election, 2016 Language: English News Source http://www.nytimes.com

2016 Elections - CNNPolitics

New York Times Presidential Election 2016
Here’s the latest news and analysis of the candidates and issues shaping the presidential race.

The Ad Campaign
Breaking down the messaging powering the 2016 presidential election. By Nick Corasaniti.

Campaign 2016. - C-SPAN Road to the White House

2016 Presidential Campaign - Newsweek

Mass Shootings in Chattanooga & San Bernardino

Chattanooga Shooting - NBC News
A gunman opened fire on two military centers in Chattanooga, killing four Marines and critically wounding a Navy sailor. ... Chattanooga Shooting: Navy Plans Armed Guards for Reserve Centers. ...

Chattanooga shooting a 'terror attack,' FBI Director James Comey says ...
Dec 16, 2015 - The semantic dance of whether or not to call the July mass shooting in Chattanooga a “terrorist” attack appears to be winding down.

Minute by minute: A timeline of the Chattanooga attack revealed
Times Free Press

Chattanooga shooting: New details emerge about the gunman
By Scott Zamost, Yasmin Khorram,
Shimon Prokupecz and Evan Perez, CNN Updated 11:49 PM ET, Mon July 20, 2015

San Bernardino shooting updates
Los Angeles Times

San Bernardino Shooting News, Photos and Videos - ABC News
abcnews.go.com › Topics › News

F.B.I. Treating San Bernardino Attack as Terrorism Case

San Bernardino Shootings: What We Know, One Day After
By Camila Domonoske December 3, 20156:47 AM ET