1. For each of the 3 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 GREAT BRITAIN:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Some soldiers have said the regiment and its traditions should come before Mr. Bhullar's personal beliefs. Bhullar's fans have called him 'a credit to the nation.'  Mr. Bhullar appears quite earnest and sincere in his religion, and his desire to be a Queen's guard.  What do you think?  
--Should the tradition of the Queen's guard be changed for a soldier's religious belief?  
--If so, should a Muslim woman who wears the niqab and wanted to wear her religious garb while on duty, or an Orthodox Jewish man who wanted to wear his beard and long side curls, with a traditional Jewish head covering be permitted to do so?
c) A Sikh's turban and beard are very much a part of who a Sikh is.  The bearskin (hat) is very much a part of who a Buckingham Palace guard is.  Who should give way to whom?  Was the right choice made?  Which should have first priority with Buckingham Palace, the fact that he is a guardsman or the fact that he is a sikh?

3. For the NETHERLANDS:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What is the difference between the Netherlands and Holland?
c) Why does the mayor of Amsterdam need to establish a law banning students from smoking marijuana at school? (Note: this will be the first city in the Netherlands to do so.)
d) As our grandmother would say, this story is "beyond the beyond." What do you think of administrators who say they can't do anything about students smoking pot near school?  What would you do if you were a school administrator or teacher in the Netherlands?  Explain your answer. (No jokes please.)

4. For RUSSIA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What is the Russian government giving to families who have more than one child?
c) President Putin credited the government payment programs for “stabilizing the population figures.” How do some demography experts refute President Putin's assertion?