1. For each of the 4 countries, give the following information:

a) location/the countries that share its borders
b) the religious breakdown of the population
c) the type of government
d) the chief of state (and head of government if different) [If monarch or dictator, since what date has he/she ruled? - include name of heir apparent for monarch]
e) the population

[Find the answers at the CIA World FactBook website. For each country, answers can be found under the "Geography" "People" and "Government" headings.  Go to worldatlas.com for a list of continents.]

2. For MAURITANIA AND MALDIVES:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Why does the election of Mauritania and Maldives to the UN Human Rights Council demonstrate and confirm the utter hypocrisy of the Council?
c) Over the years, because of this and other questionable actions by the UN body, the idea has been suggested that the U.S. leave the UN.  Out of the 194 member countries of the UN, the U.S. portion of the yearly budget is at least 22% (U.S. taxpayers fund almost one-quarter of the UN's annual budget).  First, think about what you know about the UN:  Is it a force for good in the world?  Is it fulfilling its purpose?  Is it irrelevant?  Is it imperative that the U.S. remain a UN member? 
Then answer the question:  Do you support our continued involvement in the UN?  Why or why not?

3. For EGYPT:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Why are opponents objecting to a citizens' vote on the new constitution?

4. For MALI:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Why is the U.S. highly skeptical about France's plan to back an African Union military operation to take back northern Mali from Islamic extremists (al Qaeda)?