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Thousands of North Korean workers are being sent to Russia to fill labor shortages caused by the Ukraine war, according to the BBC. With many Russian men fighting or unavailable, Moscow relies heavily on these workers, who face harsh, almost slave-like conditions. They work long hours on construction sites, live in overcrowded and unsafe housing, and are closely monitored by North Korean agents to prevent escapes.

Most of their earnings are taken by the North Korean government, leaving workers with only a small amount upon return. Attempts to escape have become harder due to tighter controls. Experts say this flow of laborers will continue, reflecting the close ties between North Korea and Russia during the conflict, BBC reported.

Wei Qiang Lin, a Chinese national, pleaded guilty to smuggling about 850 protected eastern and three-toed box turtles from the US to Hong Kong between 2023 and 2024. The turtles, valued at $1.4m, were wrapped in socks and mislabeled as “plastic animal toys.”

According to BBC, both species are protected under international law and require export permits. Lin also smuggled other reptiles and faces up to five years in prison, with sentencing set for December 23.

This follows a similar 2024 case where another smuggler was sentenced for trafficking over 2,000 turtles.

Italian orienteer Mattia Debertolis has died after collapsing during the World Games in Chengdu, China. The 29-year-old athlete was found unconscious last Friday during the men’s middle-distance event, held in temperatures above 30 degrees. Despite receiving immediate medical care at a leading Chinese hospital, he passed away four days later, according to BBC.

Debertolis, a member of the Italian national team and a civil engineer pursuing a PhD in Stockholm, was a respected competitor who finished fifth in the 2022 World Cup final. The International Orienteering Federation expressed deep sadness over the loss.

The World Games, a multi-sport event held every four years for non-Olympic sports, said it will continue to support Debertolis’ family and the orienteering community during this difficult time. The cause of his death remains unknown, BBC reported.

Record-breaking rainfall from a seasonal front struck Japan’s Kyushu region on Tuesday, causing three fatalities in Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Fukuoka prefectures due to landslides and river flooding, Xinhua reported.

In Ishikawa Prefecture, a road collapse led to a vehicle accident, injuring three people.

Emergency teams continue rescue efforts as heavy rain warnings remain in effect.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has said the onus of building a prosperous nation lies on youths.

In his address at a program organized at the National City Hall on the occasion of 'International Youths Day–2025' today, the President said that the youths are now competitive enough to take on the responsibility of building a prosperous Nepal and shaping its bright future.

Stating that his generation remained committed to establishing the federal democratic republic system in the country through tremendous efforts for bringing political transformations, he reflected on the journey taken so far.

The President recalled the past struggle as, "I was born in a farmer’s family of rural Tanahu district, grown up battling odds- underdevelopment, poverty and backwardness. However, I continued protesting tyranny. It was not easy for us to take our passion for political transformation to a meaningful end."

He reiterated that his generation remained committed to taking the political system to a logical conclusion, enduring scarcities and jail sentences along the journey.

Stating that Nepali youths have already proved themselves competent in innovation, sports, entertainment, the IT sector, and entrepreneurship, the Head of the State underlined the need to join hands to leverage the potential for better future, and to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Stating that the International Youth Day is the movement to foster youths' participation and empowerment, President Paudel opined that it has stressed sustainable development, unity and solidarity through the participation of youths from local to the international levels.

Narayani Hospital in Birgunj remained tense throughout the day on Tuesday following the death of an inmate in the course of treatment.

Kith and kin of the deceased picketed the hospital and also staged a demonstration claiming that Rahul Sah (28) of Birgunj Metropolitan City-25 died due to the negligence of the police and local administration.  

Sah, who had been doing time in the Birgunj jail for the past five years in the murder case, breathed his last during the course of treatment at 10:30 am today.

The relatives of Sah burnt tires in front of the hospital and chanted slogans against the police administration.

According to Dr Uday Narayan Singh, Information Officer at the Narayani Hospital, police brought Sah to the hospital’s emergency room for treatment at 8:30 am today.

When he was brought to the hospital, his mouth was dripping with blood, Singh said.

“As his condition was serious, doctors suggested Sah’s attendants take him to another health facility because there were no beds available in the ICU ward. After that, doctors made a referral paper,” Dr Singh said, adding, “When his condition worsened, the hospital administration decided to treat him at the hospital after consulting with Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal by managing a space. But he died during the course of treatment.”

He also said that the cause of Sah’s death was heart failure.

Meanwhile, the family and relatives of the deceased have alleged that Sah died due to lack of timely treatment.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 24. 71 points to close at 2, 79. 92 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 87 points to close at 481. 54 points.

A total of 17,671,675-unit shares of 323 companies were traded for Rs 6. 91 billion.

Meanwhile, City Hotel Limited (CITY) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 99 percent. Likewise, Sikles Hydropower Limited (SIKLES) was the top loser as its price fell by 9. 99 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 66 trillion.

Russia and Belarus will hold joint military exercises in Belarus from September 12 to 16 to test their readiness and protect their Union State alliance, according to Reuters.

Ukrainian President Zelensky earlier warned of possible Russian moves in Belarus, though without evidence. Belarusian President Lukashenko moved the drills away from western borders to ease regional tensions and called claims of aggression “nonsense.”

Belarus sees NATO’s response, including planned exercises in Poland, as unnecessary militarization. Tensions remain high after Russia used Belarusian land for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported.