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Today's headlines

Microsoft plans power plant on data centre site; How Intel is encouraging staff to take unpaid leave

The top stories from business and politics in today’s Business Post

Qatar signed up McAteer as ambassador to ‘dispel the myths’ about the country

The former Republic of Ireland winger was enlisted to promote the Middle East country’s hosting of the World Cup, in an attempt to counter negative coverage on human rights issues

Varadkar: next trade minister will face a ‘rockier’ period

The outgoing Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, speaking on a trade mission to Denmark, predicts a harder job for whoever his successor is

Brand it like Beckham: Why the former golden boy of English football is worth £150m to Qatar

The footballing legend is coming under fire for his deal to promote the World Cup host nation, but he’s been a prolific dealmaker almost as long as he’s been a footballer

Matt Cooper: Fifa’s dirty laundry includes a load of blatant World Cup greenwashing

The world football organiser claims the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is ‘a fully carbon-neutral event’, but there are arguments that the tournament may contribute up to 10 million tonnes of carbon emissions

Up for debate: The best from the Business Post’s columnists

Insightful analysis of the main developments in business and politics from our team of writers, including Elaine Byrne, Matt Cooper and Ian Guider

Editor’s picks: Sit down with the best of our big reads

Our editors handpick the best writing in this week’s Business Post – including a charmingly winding evening with Shane MacGowan, and the lowdown on the Qatar World Cup

Business Post's View

World Cup joy will come from the matches, not Fifa or autocratic Qatar

Fifa does love its autocrats; Russia hosted the World Cup four years ago, now it’s Qatar’s turn and as the global spotlight shines on it, Qatar appears insecure, prickly and defensive

Qatar World Cup

Emmet Ryan: No sign of a World Cup bounce as advertisers stay on the sidelines

Pre-tournament turnover is down as the controversies surrounding host country Qatar have seen brands act cautiously around promotions, while the Christmas timing is also a factor

Qatar World Cup

‘Never has football been hijacked so completely by a country for its own ends’

The kick-off of the World Cup in Qatar shows how football has been consumed by money, writes Susan O’Keeffe

Boycott or play ball? Ireland’s football fanatics conflicted as Qatar 2022 kicks off

Controversy over the gulf nation as tournament host, its horrific human rights record and anti-LGBTQ+ stance have left competing teams, fans and media broadcasters in a quandary

Players, pundits and sponsors face uncomfortable questions ahead of World Cup

It is too late for meaningful opposition to the Fifa tournament being held in Qatar, but there is still an opportunity for participants to protest against the country’s human rights record

Elaine Byrne: Qatar’s appalling record corrupts joy and celebration of World Cup

From the thousands of migrant workers who have died to the second-class status of women, the host country is so problematic it will be almost impossible to watch the football tournament

Book review: Inside Qatar – Lifting the curtain on a tiny but powerful petrostate

As Qatar prepares to controversially host the 2022 World Cup, an English journalist tries to get inside the enigma of the small Gulf peninsula with an almost limitless bank balance

Qatar World Cup

More than a game: ‘Even if Ireland were playing, I’d have no interest in this World Cup. None’

As the 2022 World Cup edges closer, an information war is playing out: Qatari authorities claim progress has been made on workers’ rights, while critics say conditions remain poor and any changes are purely cosmetic

‘If an Irish club has an opinion on this, it will be noticed in every part of the football world’

Ireland’s football community has started to grapple with the moral questions which surround the Qatar World Cup

Irish clubs should demand World Cup boycott, Norwegian campaigner says

Journalist wants League of Ireland clubs to call on the national football team to abstain from the 2022 tournament in Qatar in protest over worker deaths