NewsTracker Answers for week of Apr 24, 2023

Q: Egypt and Saudi Arabia, both U.S. allies, are using surveillance and threats to silence their critics and rights activists inside the United States, according to a report by the Freedom Initiative, a nonprofit rights organization. Where are Middle East neighbors Egypt and Saudi Arabia?

Circle the area on this map

Q: The report maintains that U.S. officials have not made a substantial effort to curb such repression by these allies, while last week federal agents arrested two New York residents who were accused of operating "secret police station" for which U.S. rival?

A. China

B. Iran

C. North Korea

D. Russia

A. Two men, both U.S. citizens, allegedly helped China locate democracy activists and tried to convince people considered fugitives to return to China. Other such offices have been reported across North America, Europe, and in other countries where Chinese communities include dissidents.

Q: The United States has not dramatically changed its policies toward Egypt or Saudi Arabia over the repression of dissidents at home or abroad. A Washington Post columnist who was a critic of the Saudi regime was murdered by its agents in which country?

A. Britain

B. Israel

C. Turkey

D. United States

C. Jamal Khashoggi was slain by a squad of hitmen inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2018. The CIA concluded that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince ordered the assassination, but U.S. leaders have continued to meet and negotiate with the ruling prince.

Q: The Freedom Initiative reported dozens of threats against dozens of Egyptians and Saudis living in the United States as well as travel bans against some U.S. citizens. Saudi Arabia and Egypt share which body of water?

A. Arabian Sea

B. Black Sea

C. Persian Gulf

D. Red Sea

D. The Red Sea and its northern tip, the Gulf of Aqaba, lie between Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and the Arabian Peninsula where Saudia Arabia is located.

Q: The Sinai Peninsula is on which continent?

A. Africa

B. Asia

C. Europe

B. Egypt is a transcontinental country occupying the northeast corner of Africa and the southwest corner of Asia. The Sinai Peninsula is the corner on the Asian continent.