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 Canada:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) One of the freed men was Ghulam Haidar, a top insurgent in the southern Taliban heartland of Kandahar. Canadian soldiers handed Mr. Haidar over to Afghan authorities in March this year, yet days later he was out on the streets. How do you think Canadian and other NATO forces (the U.S. etc.) should respond to the Afghan government's actions? Explain your answer.

3. For Iraq:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What will happen in Iraq at the end of 2011?

4. For Venezuela:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Besides displacing people and destroying homes and lives, how might the rains affect Venezuela?

5. For Russia:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item

6. For Greece:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Why were the suspects arrested?
CHALLENGE QUESTION: "Redundant" is defined as unnecessary.  Identify the redundant adjective in this news blurb.