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.

NOTE to students: Before answering the questions below, read the information under “Background.”

2. For QATAR:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) How many migrants live in Qatar? Where are they from?
c) What type of problems (bad treatment) do migrants experience in Qatar?
d) Consider the following:

• FIFA awarded Qatar the 2022 World Cup in 2010. Six years later, Qatar has not changed its treatment of migrant workers.
• The Qatari government says it has already made changes to protect workers and it is committed to doing more, calling its reform efforts a "work in progress." It said in a statement that worker welfare is a top priority and it welcomes efforts by Amnesty and others.
• The U.N.’s International Labor Organization has given Qatar one year to act on findings by its delegation or face the possibility of a formal "commission of inquiry" by the U.N. labor agency.
• In December 2015, FIFA hired a Harvard professor to draft human rights requirements for World Cup hosts and sponsors. FIFA told the AP it remains "fully aware of the risks facing construction workers in Qatar and of the opportunity that FIFA, together with other stakeholders, has to facilitate the improvement of working conditions in the country." It acknowledged that "challenges remain" and said it will continue to urge Qatari authorities and others involved to take steps that ensure that standards put in place by Qatar's Supreme Committee become the benchmark for construction work in Qatar.

Should Qatar have first proved that workers were treated fairly before being awarded the 2022 World Cup, or do you think it was better for FIFA to give them the opportunity first and allow them 12 years to ensure fair treatment of workers? Explain your answer.
(CHALLENGE: Read the wikipedia entry linked to under “Resources” below for information on the controversy surrounding FIFA’s awarding Qatar the opportunity to host the 2022 World Cup.)

3. For AUSTRIA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Which applicants will still be granted asylum? Why will that number be minuscule?
c) What effect has Austria and other countries’ move to close their borders had on the number of migrants traveling through Europe?
d) Austrian Chancellor Faymann said if Germany wants to accept asylum-seekers, “they must be picked up from where they are, before they make an illegal journey.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel has accused Austria of creating a new humanitarian crisis in Greece by confining migrants there. Who do you think is responsible for creating a humanitarian crisis, Angela Merkel for giving migrants the hope that they can travel to Europe and be granted residence, or Austria and other countries who are attempting to protect their own citizens by slowing the flow of migrants from Middle Eastern and African countries? Explain your answer.
e) It has been suggested that the EU and Turkey establish a “safe-zone” over the border in Syria where those in danger can stay until the war is over. Ask a parent which policy he/she thinks makes more sense: the “safe-zone” on the Syrian-Turkish border, or Angela Merkel’s policy of welcoming millions of migrants to Germany as well as requesting all European countries accept many migrants.

4. For CHINA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What does the implementation of the grid management system coincide with in China?
c) What is the Communist government’s grid management system? Be specific.
d) How does Li Dun of Tsinghua University in Beijing describe the purpose of the grid management system?