Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Tariq Panja

Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 1d

Elon Musk's key ventures:

SpaceX
xAI
Model X
YaXley-Lennon

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 19h

And now Saudi Arabia, who were also gifted home advantage for the AFC playoffs, also qualify for the 2026 World Cup after drawing 0-0 with Iraq. They go through on goal difference.

2 3

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 21h

*2-1

1 3

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 21h

Qatar, who were inexplicably granted home advantage throughout AFC playoffs, have qualified for 2026 World Cup by beating the UAE 2-0 in last playoff group game. Completely unbalanced situation that resulted in likeliest outcome. Saudis, who have home advantage in other playoff, likely to join them

4 2 10

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 22h

The UAE - a country where it’s notoriously hard to get citizenship— have really worked the global transfer market to come up with their “national” team. This is the lineup for massive game v Qatar. A World Cup place at stake. Qatar on the other hand somehow given home advantage for qualifying comp.

2 5 21

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 1d

Why was he there? 🤷‍♂️

Story about another strange Gianni moment, bromance and power.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/w...

Why Was the President of FIFA at the Gaza Summit?

www.nytimes.com

1 7 20

Reposted by Tariq Panja

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d

Many Palestinians in Gaza felt there was little to celebrate on Monday. “It’s important that the bombing has stopped, but there’s nothing to be happy about,” said Saed Abu Aita, 44. “My two daughters were killed, my home was destroyed and my health has deteriorated.”

Gazans See Little to Celebrate Even Though the Bombs Have Stopped

The cease-fire in Gaza has taken hold. Hostages and prisoners have been exchanged. But amid the utter devastation of two years of war, a sense of gloom pervades.

nyti.ms

22 110 260

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 1d

Pointed out there was separate speech where Qatar was praised repeatedly by Trump. They got their own entire section of praise.

6

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 1d

Qatar though had pride of place in the team photo. Sheikh Tamim alongside Trump.

2 6

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 1d

He did briefly and randomly reference Norway and the World Cup in the US. Must have followed the game against Israel on Saturday.

4

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 1d

Interesting Trump name checked a bunch countries and leaders — including repeatedly calling Meloni of Italy a beautiful woman — but not everyone. Surprised to see him not mention Qatar given its role in all this, and of course that very big plane.

3 10

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 1d

Good time to read a profile of the City owner here

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/29/w...

The Sheikh Who Conquered Soccer and Coddles Warlords

www.nytimes.com

5 17

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 1d

That’s right, reminder that we’re still waiting for a result in the 130 charges case.

1 10 27

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 2d

The Egyptian leader

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 2d

Perfectly normal.

1 13

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 2d

Infantino last week insisted that IS President Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in the Middle East. Organisers didn’t agree and it was won by Maria Machado, a Venezuelan pro democracy politician

5 19

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 2d

Reports that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has arrived in Sharm el Sheikh for the Middle East peace summit. Unclear why he would be required or what his role is.

22 30 62

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 2d

There is also the general silence that follows a lot of this type of business from FAs who mostly quietly seethe. It is the function of the system, the patronage model where money and other benefits are handing out from the top of the governing bodies down to the FAs. Power dynamic leads to silence

2 2 14

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 2d

Incredible how the AFC thought that it was suitable to play the play off competition at the home of two of the competing teams. Asia has several other nations that have the facilities to host an event like this without giving an unfair advantage to two nations that house their biggest sponsors 👜 💰

2 2 15

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 2d

One of the rationales used by the AFC to hand half qualifying tournament to Qatar was because it had infrastructure from 2022 World Cup, new large stadiums. But the most important qualifier -- essentially one game play off -- being played in Al Sadd's 15,000 seat stadium. Not a word from FIFA.

1 2 11

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 2d

FIFA were crowing about how Club World Cup was the most "merit-based" competition in the world. The World Cup? Not so much when it comes to Asia. Qatar and Saudi given home advantage for two mini group playoffs. Now Qatar maximise this by playing crunch UAE game in tiny stadium to limit away fans

2 12 33

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 2d

Some images of the protest march and rally that took place before the Norway-Israel game.

5 29

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 2d

Piece on strange weekend in Oslo.

Ronny Jordness, 55, said his brother Kurt was boycotting the game.

“I tried to convince him that all the money goes to Gaza so he should come, but I was still not able to,” Mr. Jordness said.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/12/w...

www.nytimes.com

1 3 14

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 3d

5-0. Haaland being bigger and better than everyone else again. Israel being terrible at the back again. Far post header. Hat-trick, one forced own goal and two missed pens. Busy evening for the big man.

1 12

Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 3d

Norwegian police have used tear gas outside the stadium to disperse a group of a couple of hundred protestors who police say, attempted to break through one of the security barriers. Protests earlier had been very calm in comparison.

1 1 3