1 Pakistan verdict

Pakistan's deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz have been sentenced to 10 years’ and seven years’ imprisonment respectively on corruption charges.

The Panama Papers exposed in 2016 the purchase of several luxury flats in London.

The Sharifs say they bought the properties through legitimate means in the early 1990s. But the National Accountability Bureau said that the family had been unable to explain how it paid for them.

Sharif, who denied any wrongdoing, has accused the military establishment of working against him. He and his daughter are in London, tending to his wife who has cancer. He’s expected to appeal the decision.

The sentencing comes weeks before the July 25 elections.

2 US tariffs

US tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports took effect after a deadline on Friday passed.

President Donald Trump has hit the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and China with steep tariffs as part of his protectionist “America first” policy, risking a full-blown trade war.

The Trump administration has warned it could potentially target more than $500 billion worth of Chinese goods. That’s roughly the total amount that the United States imported from China last year.

Beijing has said it would immediately impose an equal amount of tariffs on US cars, agricultural and other products. But it did not say at 0400 GMT on Friday if its countermoves had kicked in.

3 Thai rescuer

A former Thai navy diver has died trying to bring oxygen to 12 boys and their football coach trapped inside a flooded cave for 13 days, highlighting the risks involved in any rescue attempt.

Dropping oxygen levels in the cave complex and forecasts of heavy rain are adding to pressure on officials as they work out a rescue plan.

The diver's death also highlighted the dangers for the boys, who can’t scuba dive, should authorities decide swimming out of the flooded cave is the best way out.

The boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their coach were found inside the Tham Luang cave in northern Chiang Rai province after nine days. They had gone missing after exploring the network of caves on June 23.

4 US military discharges

Some immigrant US Army reservists and recruits who signed up because they were promised eventual citizenship are being abruptly discharged, says the Associated Press.

The Pentagon and the Army could not confirm the number of those affected or explain why they were discharged or comment on any policy changes. But immigration attorneys say they know of more than 40 who’ve been affected.

In 2016, more than 5,000 immigrants signed on to the programme that requires them to have legal status in the US, such as a student visa, before enlisting.

Some recruits from countries such as Pakistan and Iran said they were stunned by the move. If forced to return home, they could face threats for having served in the US Army.

5 Football World Cup

And finally,

The World Cup is down to the last eight and the match-ups will be a clash of styles and traditions between various continents, with European teams playing the South American opposition.

First up, France face Uruguay and then it's Belgium against Brazil.

Meanwhile, England will play Sweden and hosts Russia will face Croatia in their quarter-final matches on Saturday.

The four winners will then play each other in the semi-finals.

1 Pakistan verdict

Pakistan's deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz have been sentenced to 10 years’ and seven years’ imprisonment respectively on corruption charges.

The Panama Papers exposed in 2016 the purchase of several luxury flats in London.

The Sharifs say they bought the properties through legitimate means in the early 1990s. But the National Accountability Bureau said that the family had been unable to explain how it paid for them.

Sharif, who denied any wrongdoing, has accused the military establishment of working against him. He and his daughter are in London, tending to his wife who has cancer. He’s expected to appeal the decision.

The sentencing comes weeks before the July 25 elections.

2 US tariffs

US tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports took effect after a deadline on Friday passed.

President Donald Trump has hit the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and China with steep tariffs as part of his protectionist “America first” policy, risking a full-blown trade war.

The Trump administration has warned it could potentially target more than $500 billion worth of Chinese goods. That’s roughly the total amount that the United States imported from China last year.

Beijing has said it would immediately impose an equal amount of tariffs on US cars, agricultural and other products. But it did not say at 0400 GMT on Friday if its countermoves had kicked in.

3 Thai rescuer

A former Thai navy diver has died trying to bring oxygen to 12 boys and their football coach trapped inside a flooded cave for 13 days, highlighting the risks involved in any rescue attempt.

Dropping oxygen levels in the cave complex and forecasts of heavy rain are adding to pressure on officials as they work out a rescue plan.

The diver's death also highlighted the dangers for the boys, who can’t scuba dive, should authorities decide swimming out of the flooded cave is the best way out.

The boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their coach were found inside the Tham Luang cave in northern Chiang Rai province after nine days. They had gone missing after exploring the network of caves on June 23.

4 US military discharges

Some immigrant US Army reservists and recruits who signed up because they were promised eventual citizenship are being abruptly discharged, says the Associated Press.

The Pentagon and the Army could not confirm the number of those affected or explain why they were discharged or comment on any policy changes. But immigration attorneys say they know of more than 40 who’ve been affected.

In 2016, more than 5,000 immigrants signed on to the programme that requires them to have legal status in the US, such as a student visa, before enlisting.

Some recruits from countries such as Pakistan and Iran said they were stunned by the move. If forced to return home, they could face threats for having served in the US Army.

5 Football World Cup

And finally,

The World Cup is down to the last eight and the match-ups will be a clash of styles and traditions between various continents, with European teams playing the South American opposition.

First up, France face Uruguay and then it's Belgium against Brazil.

Meanwhile, England will play Sweden and hosts Russia will face Croatia in their quarter-final matches on Saturday.

The four winners will then play each other in the semi-finals.

1 Syria air strikes

Russian air raids against the opposition and rebel groups in southwest Syria resumed on Wednesday with more than 600 air strikes carried out in 15 hours, residents and a war monitor said.

The latest offensive comes after the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said ceasefire talks had failed.

The air strikes targeted the towns of Tafas, northwest of the provincial capital Daraa, and Saida, to its east, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Syrian regime leader Bashar al Assad is waging a campaign in the southwest with Russian air support to recapture the region from opposition and rebels and has seized a large chunk of their territory.

Fighting in the region has forced an estimated 270,000 people to flee their homes, the UN said earlier.

2 Thai rescue

Rescuers in Thailand are still pondering on when and how to extract 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave complex, where they were found this week, pale and weak but otherwise in good health, after nine days lost underground.

Thirteen sets of diving equipment have been prepared for the team, who have now been practicing how to wear diving masks and breath.

Water is being pumped out from the deluged cave round-the-clock, reducing the flooding by one centimetre an hour.

But with rain forecast to begin on Friday, the Chaing Rai provincial governor conceded the mission was now "a race against the water".

3 Britain poisoning

Two British citizens are critically ill in hospital after they were exposed to the Novichok nerve agent, just miles away from where the same substance had struck down a former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March.

UK counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation, though it is unclear how the two people came into contact with the nerve agent.

Britain had earlier accused Russia of poisoning Skripal with the Novichok nerve agent, the first known offensive use of such a chemical weapon on European soil since World War Two.

4 HRW Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye's has announced the dismissals of senior prison officials and the appointment of new officials in a broadcast on state-affiliated television Fana.

The move came hours before the release of a Human Rights Watch report detailing torture and other abuses in one notorious prison and urging the government to hold officials to account.

Tsegaye said the new officials will have to respect human rights in accordance with the constitution.

Prisoners in a notorious jail in Ethiopia’s Somali Region were systematically abused for years with little access to medical care and at times to food, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Thursday.

5 Wimbledon

And finally,

Tennis

Roger Federer extended his flawless winning streak at Wimbledon to 26 consecutive sets as the defending champion crushed Lukas Lacko, while Serena Williams powered to her 16th successive win in Wednesday's second round action.

The 36-year-old Federer is now on his joint second longest streak of sets won at Wimbledon – his best was 34 between the third round in 2005 to the 2006 final.

While Federer and Serena strolled through, world number two Caroline Wozniacki suffered fresh Wimbledon woes with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 defeat against Ekaterina Makarova.

Meanwhile, Serena’s elder sister and five-time champion, Venus Williams battled into the third round with a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 win over Romanian qualifier Alexandra Dulgheru.

1 Syria air strikes

Russian air raids against the opposition and rebel groups in southwest Syria resumed on Wednesday with more than 600 air strikes carried out in 15 hours, residents and a war monitor said.

The latest offensive comes after the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said ceasefire talks had failed.

The air strikes targeted the towns of Tafas, northwest of the provincial capital Daraa, and Saida, to its east, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Syrian regime leader Bashar al Assad is waging a campaign in the southwest with Russian air support to recapture the region from opposition and rebels and has seized a large chunk of their territory.

Fighting in the region has forced an estimated 270,000 people to flee their homes, the UN said earlier.

2 Thai rescue

Rescuers in Thailand are still pondering on when and how to extract 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave complex, where they were found this week, pale and weak but otherwise in good health, after nine days lost underground.

Thirteen sets of diving equipment have been prepared for the team, who have now been practicing how to wear diving masks and breath.

Water is being pumped out from the deluged cave round-the-clock, reducing the flooding by one centimetre an hour.

But with rain forecast to begin on Friday, the Chaing Rai provincial governor conceded the mission was now "a race against the water".

3 Britain poisoning

Two British citizens are critically ill in hospital after they were exposed to the Novichok nerve agent, just miles away from where the same substance had struck down a former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March.

UK counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation, though it is unclear how the two people came into contact with the nerve agent.

Britain had earlier accused Russia of poisoning Skripal with the Novichok nerve agent, the first known offensive use of such a chemical weapon on European soil since World War Two.

4 HRW Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye's has announced the dismissals of senior prison officials and the appointment of new officials in a broadcast on state-affiliated television Fana.

The move came hours before the release of a Human Rights Watch report detailing torture and other abuses in one notorious prison and urging the government to hold officials to account.

Tsegaye said the new officials will have to respect human rights in accordance with the constitution.

Prisoners in a notorious jail in Ethiopia’s Somali Region were systematically abused for years with little access to medical care and at times to food, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Thursday.

5 Wimbledon

And finally,

Tennis

Roger Federer extended his flawless winning streak at Wimbledon to 26 consecutive sets as the defending champion crushed Lukas Lacko, while Serena Williams powered to her 16th successive win in Wednesday's second round action.

The 36-year-old Federer is now on his joint second longest streak of sets won at Wimbledon – his best was 34 between the third round in 2005 to the 2006 final.

While Federer and Serena strolled through, world number two Caroline Wozniacki suffered fresh Wimbledon woes with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 defeat against Ekaterina Makarova.

Meanwhile, Serena’s elder sister and five-time champion, Venus Williams battled into the third round with a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 win over Romanian qualifier Alexandra Dulgheru.

Displaced people

The UN says over 300,000 people have now fled an upsurge in fighting between the regime and rebels in southwestern Syria.

Most have fled to Syria's border with Jordan. Over 100,000 of them are children.

The UN is calling on Jordan to open its border.

Jordan says it's willing to help. But so far, it has refused to let the displaced people in.

Cave rescue

Thai authorities are working on a rescue plan for 12 boys and their football coach, who are still trapped in a cave after almost two weeks.

The trapped group is in good condition after they were found on Monday. But flooding has blocked a way out for them.

More heavy rain is expected in the area. So authorities say they hope to get them out in the next few days.

Najib Razak

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has been granted bail after appearing in court.

He's been charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust, and another of abuse of power. If convicted on all four counts, he could be jailed for decades.

The charges relate to money that went missing from the 1MDB state fund he set up nearly ten years ago.

Najib pleaded not guilty. His trial is not expected to start before early next year.

Ferry sinking

In Indonesia, at least 31 people are dead after their ferry sank. The boat went down on Tuesday in heavy seas.

More than 100 people were on board, but most of them have now been rescued.

The sinking was just weeks after an overcrowded ferry sank on Indonesia's Lake Toba, claiming more than 200 lives.

Polish judges

And finally,

The head of Poland's Supreme Court has turned up to work, despite losing her job because of changes the government made to the country's judicial system.

Chief justice Malgorzata Gersdorf said she went to work on Wednesday to protect the rule of law in Poland.

Poland's prime minister countered, saying every EU country has the right to shape its judiciary to it own traditions.

The reforms force more than 20 senior judges to retire because they're over the age of 65.

Displaced people

The UN says over 300,000 people have now fled an upsurge in fighting between the regime and rebels in southwestern Syria.

Most have fled to Syria's border with Jordan. Over 100,000 of them are children.

The UN is calling on Jordan to open its border.

Jordan says it's willing to help. But so far, it has refused to let the displaced people in.

Cave rescue

Thai authorities are working on a rescue plan for 12 boys and their football coach, who are still trapped in a cave after almost two weeks.

The trapped group is in good condition after they were found on Monday. But flooding has blocked a way out for them.

More heavy rain is expected in the area. So authorities say they hope to get them out in the next few days.

Najib Razak

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has been granted bail after appearing in court.

He's been charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust, and another of abuse of power. If convicted on all four counts, he could be jailed for decades.

The charges relate to money that went missing from the 1MDB state fund he set up nearly ten years ago.

Najib pleaded not guilty. His trial is not expected to start before early next year.

Ferry sinking

In Indonesia, at least 31 people are dead after their ferry sank. The boat went down on Tuesday in heavy seas.

More than 100 people were on board, but most of them have now been rescued.

The sinking was just weeks after an overcrowded ferry sank on Indonesia's Lake Toba, claiming more than 200 lives.

Polish judges

And finally,

The head of Poland's Supreme Court has turned up to work, despite losing her job because of changes the government made to the country's judicial system.

Chief justice Malgorzata Gersdorf said she went to work on Wednesday to protect the rule of law in Poland.

Poland's prime minister countered, saying every EU country has the right to shape its judiciary to it own traditions.

The reforms force more than 20 senior judges to retire because they're over the age of 65.

Najib arrested

Malaysian anti-graft investigators have arrested former prime minister Najib Razak.

They said Najib is being investigated over alleged corruption at the 1MDB state investment fund.

They're specifically looking at the transfer of more than 10 million US dollars into the former prime minister's bank account.

Najib is expected to be formally charged on Wednesday.

Boys found

Thai rescue teams are trying to work out how to free 12 boys and their football coach who have been trapped in a cave for ten days. They were found late Monday night.

The army says the group may have to stay where they are for several months - UNLESS they learn to dive.

It's planning to supply them with four months worth of food - and will begin teaching them to dive.

Priest sentenced

In Australia, Archbishop Philip Wilson has been sentenced to 12 months detention for covering up child sex abuse.

He's the most senior Roman Catholic cleric in the world to be convicted of an abuse-related offence.

Wilson was found guilty of FAILING to report to police the repeated abuse of two altar boys by a paedophile priest in the 1970s.

Sisi's coup

It's been five years today since the military coup in Egypt on July 3rd, 2013.

Army chief Abdel Fattah el Sisi ousted the country's first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, jailed him and declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation.

Now, even some of Sisi's former supporters say he's failed to deliver.

The president's economic reforms have hit poor and middle-class Egyptians especially hard. And calls for Sisi to resign are growing.

Japan shocker

And finally,

Belgium is through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after coming from 2-0 down to beat Japan 3-2. Brazil are also through, after beating Mexico 2-0 in Monday's other game.

Today's knockout action sees Sweden facing Switzerland, and England against Colombia.

Najib arrested

Malaysian anti-graft investigators have arrested former prime minister Najib Razak.

They said Najib is being investigated over alleged corruption at the 1MDB state investment fund.

They're specifically looking at the transfer of more than 10 million US dollars into the former prime minister's bank account.

Najib is expected to be formally charged on Wednesday.

Boys found

Thai rescue teams are trying to work out how to free 12 boys and their football coach who have been trapped in a cave for ten days. They were found late Monday night.

The army says the group may have to stay where they are for several months - UNLESS they learn to dive.

It's planning to supply them with four months worth of food - and will begin teaching them to dive.

Priest sentenced

In Australia, Archbishop Philip Wilson has been sentenced to 12 months detention for covering up child sex abuse.

He's the most senior Roman Catholic cleric in the world to be convicted of an abuse-related offence.

Wilson was found guilty of FAILING to report to police the repeated abuse of two altar boys by a paedophile priest in the 1970s.

Sisi's coup

It's been five years today since the military coup in Egypt on July 3rd, 2013.

Army chief Abdel Fattah el Sisi ousted the country's first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, jailed him and declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation.

Now, even some of Sisi's former supporters say he's failed to deliver.

The president's economic reforms have hit poor and middle-class Egyptians especially hard. And calls for Sisi to resign are growing.

Japan shocker

And finally,

Belgium is through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after coming from 2-0 down to beat Japan 3-2. Brazil are also through, after beating Mexico 2-0 in Monday's other game.

Today's knockout action sees Sweden facing Switzerland, and England against Colombia.

Mexican president

Mexico's leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is the country's new president.

His rivals conceded after counting put Obrador well ahead with over 52 percent of the vote.

The president is promising to end violence and corruption.

But his toughest job might be improving relations with the country's northern neighbour, given the US president's attitude to Mexico and its people.

Syria's Daraa

Close to 200,000 people are now reported to have fled an upsurge in fighting in southwestern Syria.

A human rights operation on the ground says most of those people are now on Syria's borders with Jordan and Isael.

Over 200 civilians have been killed in the latest fighting.

Russia is backing the regime and its allies. They attacked anti-Assad rebels in the area in mid-June.

Rohingya

UN chief Antonio Guterres says the atrocities being committed against Rohingya Muslims are "unimaginable."

Guterres was visiting some of the 700,000 refugees in Bangladesh who fled a military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar. The UN has called it textbook ethnic cleansing.

The UN Secretary-General was in Cox's Bazar, in Bangladesh, with World Bank head Jim Yong Kim.

Merkel's woes

Germany's government is at risk of failing over the migration and refugee issue.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is meeting her interior minister, Horst Seehofer, to try to save the coalition.

The interior minister offered to quit on the weekend, but was talked into staying for now.

Seehofer's Christian Social Union (CSU) wants Merkel to take a harder line on asylum seekers, migrants and refugees.

Australian bags

And finally,

Retail workers in Australia are facing abuse for trying to implement a plastic bag ban.

The country's biggest retailers want to replace single-use plastic bags with reusable bags.

But shoppers have been taking it out on supermarket staff. So far 61 workers say they've been physically or verbally abused.

The reusable bags cost about 11 US cents each.

But apparently some people 'down under' think that's too much to pay to help protect the environment.

Mexican president

Mexico's leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is the country's new president.

His rivals conceded after counting put Obrador well ahead with over 52 percent of the vote.

The president is promising to end violence and corruption.

But his toughest job might be improving relations with the country's northern neighbour, given the US president's attitude to Mexico and its people.

Syria's Daraa

Close to 200,000 people are now reported to have fled an upsurge in fighting in southwestern Syria.

A human rights operation on the ground says most of those people are now on Syria's borders with Jordan and Isael.

Over 200 civilians have been killed in the latest fighting.

Russia is backing the regime and its allies. They attacked anti-Assad rebels in the area in mid-June.

Rohingya

UN chief Antonio Guterres says the atrocities being committed against Rohingya Muslims are "unimaginable."

Guterres was visiting some of the 700,000 refugees in Bangladesh who fled a military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar. The UN has called it textbook ethnic cleansing.

The UN Secretary-General was in Cox's Bazar, in Bangladesh, with World Bank head Jim Yong Kim.

Merkel's woes

Germany's government is at risk of failing over the migration and refugee issue.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is meeting her interior minister, Horst Seehofer, to try to save the coalition.

The interior minister offered to quit on the weekend, but was talked into staying for now.

Seehofer's Christian Social Union (CSU) wants Merkel to take a harder line on asylum seekers, migrants and refugees.

Australian bags

And finally,

Retail workers in Australia are facing abuse for trying to implement a plastic bag ban.

The country's biggest retailers want to replace single-use plastic bags with reusable bags.

But shoppers have been taking it out on supermarket staff. So far 61 workers say they've been physically or verbally abused.

The reusable bags cost about 11 US cents each.

But apparently some people 'down under' think that's too much to pay to help protect the environment.