China’s leader wants to promote his alternative to the current world order, and his efforts are being assisted by a capricious US

Xi Jinping meets Bangladesh’s new prime minister on Friday, the latest in a wave of world leaders to visit Beijing this year as the Chinese leader builds his influence and economic ties, and seeks to “shift the balance of power” away from the west.

Xi’s meeting with Tarique Rahman comes less than two weeks after the Chinese leader welcomed Myanmar’s military chief-turned-president, Min Aung Hlaing, in Beijing.

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It was a result that served everybody but, even though the mutual convenience of a draw became evident rapidly, at least this game conjured up two moments to cherish. Japan guaranteed the runners-up spot that always seemed likely to be theirs and will face Brazil in Houston on Monday; a point was enough for third-placed Sweden to run the gauntlet of some head-spinning round-of-32 permutations that could pair them with France or their local rivals Norway.

Graham Potter and Hajime Moriyasu could have been excused shaking on the outcome after a featureless first half. But this is Dallas, not Gijón; the crowd were served a marvellously-worked goal by Daizen Maeda, quickly cancelled out by Anthony Elanga’s spectacular long-range strike. Potter had wanted his team to manage the fine margins after Sweden’s wildly fluctuating start to the tournament and could, by the end, embrace his staff knowing the job was done.

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The Oranje bus had better get a move on. A comfortable victory over Tunisia after being sent on their way by a record-equalling 12th own goal of the tournament and further strikes from Brian Brobbey and Jan Paul van Hecke sealed top spot in Group F for the Netherlands ahead of Japan.

Their prize is avoiding a meeting with Brazil in the last 32, with Ronald Koeman’s side now set for a mouthwatering showdown with Morocco in Monterrey instead. Having arrived in southern Texas almost a month ago and already taken in games in Dallas, Houston and Kansas City, the specially converted bus that has become a fixture at recent major tournaments now faces a journey of more than 1,000 miles before Monday’s game in northern Mexico.

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Het serieuze werk begint nu voor het Nederlands elftal na de eenvoudige overwinning op het zwakke Tunesië. In de zestiende finales wacht het geslepen Marokkaanse collectief.

Vanillasludge posted a photo:

Curaçao is donderdagavond uitgeschakeld op het WK voetbal. In de Maassilo leefden duizenden supporters mee met de nationale ploeg, die met 2-0 verloor van Ivoorkust. Toch overheerst de trots. "Deze avonden laten alleen maar positieve vibes zien."

Curaçao is donderdagavond uitgeschakeld op het WK voetbal. In de Maassilo leefden duizenden supporters mee met de nationale ploeg, die met 2-0 verloor van Ivoorkust. Toch overheerst de trots. "Deze avonden laten alleen maar positieve vibes zien."

Curaçao is donderdagavond uitgeschakeld op het WK voetbal. In de Maassilo leefden duizenden supporters mee met de nationale ploeg, die met 2-0 verloor van Ivoorkust. Toch overheerst de trots. "Deze avonden laten alleen maar positieve vibes zien", zegt een fan.