The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange Shelbit, accusing it of processing millions of dollars in digital assets for Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other entities linked to the Iranian government.

The move comes days after a investigation identified Shelbit as the centre of an alleged $4 billion sanctions-evasion network that helped move cryptocurrency for Iran's central bank, one of the world's largest illegal online gambling operations and wallets linked by Israeli authorities to the IRGC.

The US Treasury also sanctioned Siavash Kayvanpour, the Iranian founder of Shelbit, along with several associated companies. Treasury alleged that Kayvanpour provided material support to both the IRGC and Nobitex, Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange, which the US sanctioned in June after another investigation found it had helped Tehran bypass Western sanctions.

"Treasury will hunt down and dismantle the illicit financial networks that keep the regime afloat," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

investigation triggered scrutiny

reported that although Shelbit's public website had remained offline for months, preventing customers from carrying out transactions, the exchange continued processing cryptocurrency transfers, including during the recent US-Israel conflict with Iran. The website became active again a day after published its investigation on July 31.

On its reactivated website, Shelbit denied any wrongdoing.

"Shelbit LLC categorically rejects any suggestion that the company knowingly participated in money laundering, terrorist financing, illegal gambling activity, sanctions evasion, or activity on behalf of any sanctioned, military, or governmental organisation," the company said. It also claimed it had ceased operations in January 2026.

Neither Shelbit nor Kayvanpour immediately responded to ' requests for comment following the US sanctions.

Links to bitcoin mining and gambling network

According to , tens of millions of dollars processed through Shelbit originated from a suspected Iranian bitcoin mining operation, while millions more were linked to an illegal online gambling network allegedly operated by two prominent Iranian social media influencers.

In announcing the sanctions, the Treasury Department said the Iranian government's willingness to allow the gambling operation to continue reflected the regime's "hypocrisy and corruption."

UAE regulator had also flagged exchange

The sanctions come shortly after Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) said Shelbit had violated anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.

In a notice issued on July 24, VARA said the concerns extended beyond consumer protection and involved cross-border transactions that could affect the integrity of the UAE's financial system.

VARA did not respond to ' request for comment.

Israel has shut its consulate in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, amid growing strains in relations with Beijing over its stance on the Gaza war and closer ties with Iran and Arab countries, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

The consulate ceased operations last month, leaving Israel with diplomatic missions in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. While Israel had announced late last year that it would close one of its diplomatic missions in China, it did not specify which mission or provide a reason for the move.

In a farewell letter published on Wednesday, outgoing Consul General Gadi Harpaz described his five years in Chengdu as "the most memorable" of his diplomatic career and said he was leaving "with a deep sense of sadness and nostalgia."

"Although the consulate general is closing, the bridges of friendship, mutual respect and shared memories we built over the last five years will endure," Harpaz wrote.

Why are China-Israel ties under pressure?

Relations between the two countries have cooled since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Beijing drew criticism from Israel for not immediately condemning the assault and has since adopted a more vocal pro-Palestinian position during the Gaza conflict.

China has also strengthened diplomatic engagement with Iran and several Arab states, reflecting its broader effort to expand influence in the Middle East while countering US dominance in the region.

A 2024 survey by the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv-based think tank, found that more than half of Israelis viewed China as either hostile or unfriendly, highlighting the deterioration in public perceptions.

Analysts say trade interests remain important

Despite the diplomatic friction, analysts believe neither side is likely to abandon the relationship altogether because of their significant economic and technological ties.

Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Centre for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, described the Chengdu consulate's closure as "a natural phase in the normal development of bilateral ties" and cautioned against reading too much into the decision.

He said bilateral ties had already weathered several challenges in recent years and argued there remained scope for relations to improve if both countries reassessed their strategic priorities.

"China has no intention of maliciously damaging China-Israel relations," Zhu told the South China Morning Post.

A Houston-based biomedical engineer of Indian origin found herself at the centre of a viral misinformation campaign after social media users falsely accused her of visa fraud. US officials and advocacy groups later confirmed she is a naturalised US citizen and said the allegations were baseless.

According to her public Instagram profile, Sadhana Gollapudi works as a biomedical engineer and also performs as a Kuchipudi dancer. She lists Houston, Texas, as her home base and shares videos of her dance performances on her own YouTube channel.

The controversy began when an X account named Cyber Green falsely claimed that Gollapudi had lived in the US on an F-1 student visa since 2014, and accused her of breaking visa rules by working while enrolled in multiple academic programmes.

The post referred to her dance videos filmed outside her home and framed them as evidence of wrongdoing. It spread quickly, with thousands of users reposting the claim without verifying it. READ HERE

Nepali climber Pur Bahadur Gurung, who was among the 10 mountaineers killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was cremated following Buddhist rituals and tradition in Kathmandu on Friday, news agency reported.

Gurung, popularly known as 'Yukta', and nine other climbers, including veteran Nepalese-British mountaineer Nirmal Purja, died after the avalanche struck the world's 12th-highest mountain at 8,051 metres in PoK's Gilgit-Baltistan on July 30.

The climbers were declared dead on August 1.

exclusive: 🇳🇵💔 body of veteran Nepali climber Pur Bahadur Gurung "Yukta" (37) who lost his life in catastrophic #broadpeak avalanche arrived in KathmanduHundreds of family members, fellow mountaineers & well-wishers gathered at Tribhuvan International Airport for an emotional… pic.twitter.com/3QHmQZ8HJ0

Government officials, politicians, mountaineers pay tributes

Government officials, political leaders, tourism entrepreneurs, mountaineers, well-wishers and family members of Yukta were present when he was cremated near the Swoyambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu, according to Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) sources.

A funeral procession was held before the last rites at the Swoyambhunath Stupa.

The mountaineer's body was brought to Kathmandu from Pakistan on Thursday and was accorded a solemn reception at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

A large number of people, including government officials, Tourism Department representatives, NMA office-bearers, mountain guides, family members, relatives and well-wishers, had gathered at the airport to pay their last respects with many people offering flowers and shawls in his honour.

His body was then taken to the NMA headquarters in Naxal, where hundreds of people paid tribute to the deceased climber.

Earlier, the bodies of four climbers -- Purja, a Chinese national and two Nepali climbers -- were brought down to the Broad Peak base camp on Wednesday and were to reach Skardu in Pakistan the next day before being flown to their respective destinations.

Purja's body is expected to be flown to the UK, where his family resides, the NMA sources said.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections of hundreds of Boeing 737 Max aircraft after cracks were discovered in structural components of some older Boeing 737 planes, prompting precautionary checks across the Max fleet, CBS reported.

The airworthiness directive, issued on Thursday, covers certain Boeing 737 Max 8, 737 Max 9 and 737-8200 aircraft. The FAA said the move follows reports of cracks in the bear strap — a structural reinforcement around the forward service door near the aircraft's galley — on older-generation Boeing 737 aircraft.

The directive applies to 471 aircraft in the United States and 1,429 aircraft worldwide. The FAA clarified that no cracks have been detected on Boeing 737 Max aircraft so far, but inspections have been ordered to identify potential defects before they become a safety risk.

According to the FAA, the cracks were found in the bearing strap, a component designed to reinforce areas around aircraft doors and emergency exits. Repeated stress from thousands of take-offs and landings can cause fatigue cracks to develop near the corners of the door frame over time.

Boeing says issue first identified in 2019

Boeing said it first alerted operators of its 737 Next Generation (NG) aircraft about the issue in 2019 and issued detailed inspection procedures at the time.

The aircraft manufacturer added that although similar cracks have not been observed in the 737 Max fleet, it expanded the inspection programme to Max aircraft in 2024 because they share a similar structural design and manufacturing process with the earlier models.

Boeing said it is continuing to investigate the root cause of the cracking and is working on measures to prevent similar issues in future aircraft.

Airlines begin reviewing FAA directive

US carrier Southwest Airlines, one of the world's largest operators of Boeing 737 aircraft, said it is reviewing the FAA directive and will complete inspections according to the regulator's schedule.

United Airlines also said it does not expect any immediate disruption to operations, noting that inspections would be carried out during scheduled heavy maintenance checks. The airline added that its oldest 737 Max aircraft have not yet accumulated enough flight cycles to require immediate inspections under the FAA order.

US President Donald Trump has threatened “long-term jail sentences” for officials accused of leaking information about America’s munitions stockpiles, while insisting reports of critical weapons shortages were false and defending Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The remarks came after reports suggested the Pentagon’s dwindling missile inventory had forced the administration to reconsider military options against Iran.

Taking to his Truth Social account on Thursday, the US president pushed back on reports, stating that Washington has “massive amounts of ‘munitions’ especially of certain types,” without sharing details.

Trump threatens leakers with jail

“Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed. Defence companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history,” he said.

“The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long-term jail sentences will be sought,” POTUS added.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are set to sign a trilateral defence agreement in Jeddah on Friday, according to regional sources, marking a significant new security partnership as the Iran conflict reshapes strategic alliances across the Middle East, news agency reported.

The agreement, which follows nearly a year of negotiations first reported by in January, comes amid heightened regional tensions after the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran exposed security vulnerabilities in the Gulf and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir are expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah for the signing ceremony.

A Turkish official confirmed

that the agreement would be signed, although details of the pact and the specific commitments expected from each country have not been disclosed.

The deal would bring together three influential Sunni-majority nations with significant military capabilities. Turkey is a NATO member with a growing defence industry, Saudi Arabia is the Gulf's largest military spender and a key US ally, while Pakistan is the world's only nuclear-armed Muslim-majority country.

The proposed agreement comes as countries across the region reassess their security arrangements following months of conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has further underscored the need for closer regional defence cooperation.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had earlier said Ankara favoured creating a broader regional security framework to promote cooperation and stability.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan already maintain close military ties. An existing bilateral defence agreement reportedly treats an attack on either country as an attack on both and allows cooperation using "all military means", according to a Saudi official cited by .

Neither the Pakistani government nor the military immediately commented on the new agreement. Saudi authorities also did not respond to ' request for comment.

BREAKING The suspect in a school shooting in Thailand killed a total of eight people Friday, police say.First he shot his grandparents dead, using his grandfather's handgun, then went to his school north of Bangkok and killed three teachers and three students, police say pic.twitter.com/tAAvN92f6i

Seven people were killed ⁠in ​a school ​shooting in ​Thailand ⁠on Friday, including ‌the gunman, and 15 ⁠people ⁠were wounded, ⁠Thai ‌national ​police ‌spokesperson Trairong Phiwphan ‌said.

Four people including teachers and students ⁠were ​killed in a ​school shooting ​in ⁠Thailand on Friday, Education ‌Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong told .

The minister ⁠did ⁠not specify ⁠whether ‌the four ​dead ‌included the gunman, ‌who ​police ​said ​had killed ​himself.

An Indian-origin PhD student at the University of California, Santa Barbara has been found dead.

Vikram Mubayi – pursuing his doctorate in UCSB’s Department of Chemical Engineering – was on a solo hike in California’s Big Pine Lakes area over the weekend when he was reported missing, student publication Daily Nexus said.

Mubayi’s body was found in the Inyo National Forest.

Investigators have not disclosed the cause of death pending a complete investigation, but there is no indication, at this time, that there was any foul play.

An unconfirmed number of people were killed when a student opened fire at a ⁠school in Thailand north of Bangkok on Friday, authorities said.

Lt. Col. Pasakorn Chaitawiwong, the head of the ⁠Plai Bang subdistrict ​police department, ⁠told the number of deaths was still unknown.

The ⁠incident took place in the ​Bang ⁠Kruai district of Nonthaburi ‌province. Police identified the perpetrator as a student.

This is a developing news and will be updated.

More than 10 civilians, including a four-year-old child, were injured in Saudi Arabia on Thursday after a series of attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, according to the Saudi military, AP reported.

The attacks struck the southern region of Najran, near the Yemeni border, just hours after the Iran-backed rebels claimed responsibility for a separate series of strikes in central and eastern Yemen that killed at least 30 government troops and wounded 50 others.

A Houthi leader said the strikes had targeted Saudi-backed forces, claiming hundreds were killed or injured. Yemeni officials said the attacks hit government force camps in Marib and Hadramout provinces.

Saudi military spokesman Turki al-Malki said the Najran attack wounded seven Saudi nationals, along with one Yemeni, two Egyptians and one Pakistani national. He accused the Houthis of deliberately targeting civilians in violation of international humanitarian law.

Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the strikes on Marib and Hadramout were carried out using ballistic missiles and drones, in response to a build-up of Saudi-backed forces in eastern Yemen.

The escalation marks one of the most serious flare-ups since a de facto truce took hold in April 2022, and comes as the Houthis continue a broader campaign, including a naval blockade in the Red Sea, which they say is retaliation for Saudi Arabia's blockade on Yemen since 2015.

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck off Occidental Mindoro province in the western Philippines on Friday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), reported.

The quake hit at 10:38 am local time, with its epicentre located roughly 21 km southwest of Mamburao in Occidental Mindoro, at a depth of 10 km, according to PHIVOLCS's initial advisory cited by .

witnesses in Manila said the shaking was noticeable in an office building in the capital, prompting employees at a state agency building to evacuate as a precaution.

PHIVOLCS said it did not expect any damage from the quake, though aftershocks remain possible in the coming hours.

An explosion in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana on Thursday killed at least two people and injured several others, according to Syria's Health Ministry, as reported by AP.

Two members of Iran's women's football team who claimed asylum in Australia back in March have officially become Australian citizens, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were sworn in on Wednesday at a citizenship ceremony in Brisbane, led by Immigration Minister Tony Burke. Friends and members of the local Iranian community turned out to support them.

Both players called it one of the most emotional moments of their lives, saying they felt proud and grateful to belong to their new country, while still holding on to their Iranian roots.

When the AP asked why the process had moved so quickly, Burke's office declined to comment, citing privacy. Normally, refugees must live in Australia on a valid visa for four years before applying for citizenship — though the fast-track may be linked to making the pair eligible to play for Australia.

The two had joined Brisbane Roar in the A-League Women's competition after Iran pulled out of the Women's Asia Cup, hosted by Australia. They were among seven Iranian players who initially sought asylum, though five later returned to the team.

Their case drew global attention, including public appeals from US President Donald Trump.

A New Mexico court has ordered Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, to pay USD 567 million to address harm caused to young users by its platforms, according to the Associated Press (AP).

NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Jessica Meir wrapped up a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Friday, working to fit hardware that will eventually let the station host new solar arrays, according to .

This was the first of three spacewalks planned this month for the station's Expedition 75 crew. The next, on August 13, will focus on replacing a communications antenna; the third, on August 25, will handle cabling work and swap out a docking aid.

The American Civil Liberties Union has hit out at Donald Trump's new executive orders, which once again try to limit birthright citizenship. The move comes just five weeks after the US Supreme Court struck down a similar order Trump issued last year.

In a statement, the ACLU called the president's latest move an attempt to work around the Supreme Court's ruling. The rights group said the new orders will not hold up if challenged in court.

Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, said the top court had already settled the matter and that birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the Constitution, adding that no order from the president can change what the Constitution means. He said any order that tries to rewrite the rule on birthright citizenship will face the same outcome as the last one.

The ACLU's response follows Trump signing two executive orders on Thursday. One order widens the list of children the White House says do not qualify for automatic citizenship. The other targets so-called "birth tourism", the practice of travelling to the US just to give birth so a child gains citizenship. Trump's first attempt to limit birthright citizenship, signed on his first day in office last year, was struck down by the Supreme Court in a 6-3 ruling in June. Legal experts expect the new orders to face fresh court challenges on similar grounds.

A month after the US Supreme Court struck down his first bid to limit birthright citizenship under the constitution, Donald Trump signed fresh executive orders on Thursday. The orders seek to deny US citizenship to children born on American soil to "birth tourists".

The orders have not been made public yet. They appear to widen the categories of children the White House sees as ineligible for birthright citizenship, and aim to ban "birth tourism" outright. Trump claimed on Thursday that the practice is used by "hundreds of thousands" of people.

That figure looks far too high. The Migration Policy Institute says the highest census-based estimate puts birth tourism at 22,000 to 26,000 babies born on US soil each year. Government data show a much smaller number just 9,600 births to mothers with foreign addresses in 2024.