1. For each of the 3 countries, give the following information:

1. capital
2. location/the countries that share its borders
3. the religious breakdown of the population
4. the type of government
5. 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
6. 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.

2. For BELARUS:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) How does the president of Belarus described himself?
c) In the past, many citizens did not protest for fear of arrest. Why is it believed the government allowed people to protest this past week?
d) Who is exempt from the tax? Who must pay?

3. For NIGERIA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) For what reasons is the president’s trip to London for medical treatment controversial in Nigeria?
c) What special medical treatment is available to the president in Nigeria that would lead readers to assume he must have a life-threatening illness?

4. For AUSTRALIA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Who is being offered this incentive to return home?
c) By how much have offers to asylum seekers to go home increased? — Is paying people who come to a country illegally (who are not actually refugees) to go home a good policy? Explain your answer.
d) Those who are actually given asylum in PNG are given a few hundred dollars. Should they also be given $20,000-25,000? Explain your answer.
e) Australia’s Prime Minister Turnbull was voted into office running on policies that deny any asylum seeker trying to reach Australia by boat from ever being allowed to settle there. What does this tell you about Australians’ support for these policies on illegal immigration?