1. For each of the 5 countries, give the following information:
a) the continent on which it is located
b) the name of the capital city
c) the type of government
d) the chief of state (and head of government if different)
e) the population

[Find the answers at the CIA World FactBook website. For each country: type of government, capital and executive branch (chief of state/head of government) can be found under the "Government" heading; population is listed under the "People" heading.  Go to worldatlas.com for a list of continents.]

2. For China:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) For what reason did the government say it created this new regulation?
c) Why are some concerned about the new regulation?
d) Considering the Chinese government's previous treatment of those who exercise "free speech rights" in China, what do you think about this new regulation?

3. For Egypt:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) For how long has Mr. Mubarak been the President of Egypt?
c) How is the campaign to elect Omar Suleiman viewed in Egypt?

4. For Mexico:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What do you know about the drug wars in Mexico?
c) Do you think President Calderon has been effective in fighting the drug cartels? Explain your answer.

5. For Israel:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Read Simon Wiesenthal's biography under "Background" below. Ask a parent, or a grandparent, what he/she remembers about Mr. Wiesenthal, and how he/she views the revelation that Mr. Wiesenthal worked for the Israeli Mossad.

6. For Haiti:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti has been there since February 2004. How effective do you think this United Nations division has been in helping Haitians move forward after the earthquake? Explain your answer.