July 6th, 2018 - Daily News Brief

Daily News Brief

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.