Qatar

Amnesty International says Qatar is failing to act fast enough to improve conditions for migrant workers building its World Cup soccer stadiums. But critics says it’s only when sponsors like Coca-Cola and VISA speak up that soccer’s governing body, FIFA, pays attention.

A BBC team that traveled to Qatar at the government’s invitation quickly found out how limited their welcome was: After attempting to visit workers and document their living conditions, the crew was thrown in jail. One of the journalist thinks a wider crackdown is yet to come.

FIFA has proposed playing soccer’s 2022 World Cup in the winter to avoid the dangerous summer heat in Qatar. Professional soccer leagues don’t like the change, but fans could see a definite upside.

As many as 1,000 foreign workers have been killed on construction sites in Qatar since it was awarded the 2022 World Cup four years ago. Poor pay, inhumane conditions, malnutrition and death — all are part of life for the men trying to build the new stadiums and hotels, while supporting their families.

An investigation by the New York Times has shown how the tiny Gulf state of Qatar is supporting a wide range of Islamist groups across the Middle East. This includes Hamas, Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and even al-Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra.