Current Events

What’s happening in the US and UK?

Group Work

• Find your group

• Together, use your smartphones to research your topic

• Prepare a 2-minute presentation about your topic

3 dead in Boston Marathon bombing

• 2 homemade bombs exploded in downtown Boston during the Boston Marathon

• 3 dead, hundreds injured• Two brothers are thought to be responsible:

26-year-old (shot by police) and 19-year-old (in hospital) Chechen Muslim brothers

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Dies

• Was Prime Minister 1979-1990• Conservative Party (“Iron Lady”)• Lower taxes, free market, privatized industries

like coal, limited immigration• Protests, strikes, recessionsfrom the public• “if a man will not work, he shall not eat”• Many Brits celebrated her death, turned their

back on her funeral in London

Obama Pushes for Background Checks, Gun Control Laws

• In the US Constitution, citizens have the “right to bear arms” for hunting, protection, etc

• Newtown school shooting, Aurora cinema shooting• Campaign for stronger gun laws• Campaign for more guns – in schools, etc• Obama pushes for background checks for gun sales• Private citizens own 310 000 000 guns (there are

360 000 000 people in the USA)

White Britons are a Minority in London

• White Brits are 45% of London residents• “white flight” – people leaving

neighbourhoods that become immigrant hubs• In 10 years, 600,000 white Britons have left

London• Immigration gone up 16%• Rapidly changing neighborhoods, foreign

communities, restaurants, shops…

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg Urges Working Women

• Sheryl Sandberg wrote book Lean In to encourage women to build their careers

• She tells women to seek higher status, management and executive jobs

• Advises women in 20s not to let family planning control career

• Controversial: some people criticize her for changing family values

70,000 dead in Syrian civil war

• International community may be forced to do something

• Evidence of chemical weapons being used

Cellphones are the Cause of 28% of Car Accidents

• In many states, it is illegal to use a cellphone while driving.

• Texting while driving is illegal in most states• Increase in car accidents among people under

20• Many social groups campaign for stronger

laws about cellphones in cars

Kate Middleton Pregnant

• The Duchess of Cambridge, married to Prince William, future Queen of England

• Pregnant with her first child, due in July 2013• British people are excited for the young,

popular couple• Many worry about privacy for the child.

William’s mother, Princess Diana, had a lot of trouble with press

Average Student Debt after Graduation is $27,000

• In the US, university costs are avg. $28,500• Many students stressed about money• 42% of undergraduates quit university• Higher unemployment in US, many young

people delay buying homes, getting married, having children because of money