1. For each of the 3 countries, give the following information:
a) capital
b) location/the countries that share its borders
c) the religious breakdown of the population
d) the type of government
e) 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
f) the population
[Find the answers for the Visegrad Group at: Wikipedia’s Visegrad Group page
and the others at the CIA World FactBook website.
For each country, answers can be found under the “Geography” “People” and “Government” headings.
NOTE: If WorldFactBook appears outdated for any country, go to Wikipedia – search there for “Religion in ___” or “Politics of ____” for the leaders.  Or do an internet search for “Population of ___.”]

NOTE to students: Before answering the questions below, read the info under “Background” and watch the videos under “Resources.”

2. For SAUDI ARABIA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Saudi King Salman has ordered "a revision" of how the Hajj is organized in the wake of the tragedy, which is the ninth major incident of its kind in Mecca in the past 25 years. While Saudi officials have tried to pin the blame on the pilgrims themselves, saying that they failed to follow strict timetables as to when and where to walk, witnesses say it was caused by poor crowd management and unexpected road closures.
The Saudi government has expanded the numbers of pilgrims in recent decades, from fewer than 100,000 in 1950 to around three million today, making religious tourism one of the kingdom's largest industries. But critics say the expansion has focused more on providing expensive hotels and shopping malls that benefit only the wealthiest visitors, rather than on ensuring safety procedures that benefit all.
What responsibility do you think the Saudi monarchy should take for so many tragic incidents?

3. For UKRAINE:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Why did the separatists order the humanitarian groups to leave?
c) What problems will this pose for Ukrainian civilians living in those areas?

4. For GERMANY:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What percent of migrants arriving in Germany are not Syrian refugees?
c) What is the cause of this problem?
d) What is the German government doing to address this problem and what actions do they want EU member states to take? (see also “Background” below the questions.
Germany is moving to slash cash benefits for asylum seekers, instead offering in-kind assistance such as food. Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said, “We cannot close Europe.”. But, he added, “we cannot open Europe totally for millions and millions of poor people in the world or even for all of those coming from conflict zones. Impossible. The number is too big,” he said. “It has to be checked.”
Germany’s solution, according to De Maizière: “We have to find a common European solution. In the end, we [all EU countries] would need really nearly to have the same social benefits.” To reduce the strain on Germany, de Maizière called for European Union countries to adopt minimum and maximum benefit standards so that no one country becomes an outsized draw.
e) Do you think that the other EU countries should fall in line with whatever amount of benefits Germany wants to give asylum seekers?
How should they solve the problem of all of the other migrants entering Europe?

CHALLENGE: Read the commentary “Germany: Migrants In, Germans Out.” What is your reaction to the German government’s actions?
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/6583/germany-migrants-housing