1. For each of the 3 countries, give the following information:
a) capital
b) location/the countries that share its borders:
c) the religious breakdown of the population:
d) the type of government:
e) 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]:
f) 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.]

NOTE: Before answering the questions below, read the info under “Background” and watch the videos under “Resources.”

2. For TAIWAN:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What does the regulation require parents to do specifically?
c) What is the purpose of the newly passed regulation?
d) What is the penalty for violating the new regulation?
e) What do you think: How should such a law be enforced? Should a similar law be passed in the U.S? Explain your answers.

3. For ZIMBABWE:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What are the vision and 3 objectives of the African Union? (see “Background” below)
c) Robert Mugabe has been president of Zimbabwe since 1987. The once-prosperous country has struggled since his administration began seizing white-owned farms in 2000. During his address to the African Union on Friday, Mugabe defended his controversial land reform programs, which he said were "meant for Zimbabweans to assume ownership of land."
In 2008, President Mugabe’s political party (ZANU-PF) and state security forces staged a "widespread and systematic" crackdown on opponents, which led to the killings of up to 200 opposition supporters and the beating and torture of 5,000 more.

What do you think: Can the African Union effectively carry out its mission with Mr. Mugabe as its chairperson? Explain your answer.
(The outgoing chairman is the president of Mauritania, where at least 20% of the population are slaves.)

4. For PHILIPPINES:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Define autonomous.
c) In the wake of the killing of 44 policemen by Muslim rebels, President Aquino has urged legislators not to abandon a plan for an autonomous Muslim region in the south of the mainly Catholic state, the next step in ending the rebels' 45-year insurgency which has killed 120,000 people. Which do you think is more important: completing the peace process by giving the rebels an autonomous region, or exacting justice for the 44 policemen who were killed? Explain your answer.