Qatar’s bet on the World Cup

Qatar’s bet on the World Cup

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A complicated World Cup for Iran’s diaspora

Labour’s Andy Burnham has won the crucial Makerfield by-election in the UK, a resurgence in the dollar is reversing bets on the currencies of big emerging markets and major commodity producers, insurers are trying to define “war” as a type of risk, and the Bank of England held in ...  Show more

Federal Reserve gears up for change

The Federal Reserve has dropped its bias towards lowering rates in the central bank’s first meeting chaired by Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump said the US would release frozen Iranian funds, and UK inflation held unexpectedly steady last month. Plus, Chinese tech giant Huawei ...  Show more

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Qatar’s soft power play
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Qatar’s decision to host the World Cup was mired in controversy from the start but ultimately seems to have paid off, bringing the tiny Gulf emirate new friends and winning over old enemies. Gideon talks to Simeon Kerr, the FT’s Gulf correspondent, about what motivates the emi ...

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Can Qatar retain the 2022 World Cup?
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Allegations that Qatar won its bid to host the 2022 World Cup through bribery have led to calls for the Gulf emirate to be stripped of its right to host the competition - especially after the corruption scandal at football's governing body Fifa erupted last month. Fiona Symon dis ...  Show more

Political Football
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Post-match political analysis from the Newscast line-up.As the World Cup opens in Qatar, Adam is joined by a line-up of correspondents to analyse events on and (mainly) off the pitch.Jack Murley, host of the BBC’s LGBT Sport podcast, talks about the decision for England and Wales ...  Show more

Football's Staying Home: David Baddiel on Qatar
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Comedian Joe Lycett is offering ten thousand pounds to an LGBTQ+ charity if David Beckham pulls out of his multi-zillion dollar ambassadorial role in Qatar's World Cup. He calls on Beckham as a role model and ally to think about gay football fans in a country that criminalises ho ...  Show more