Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has appealed for peace and restraint after deadly clashes between Hindu and Muslim communities in the country’s southern region left three people dead and prompted authorities to impose curfews in several districts. In his first major national address since taking office in March, Shah urged citizens to remain calm and reject violence, calling on political leaders, religious groups, civil society and the media to work together to preserve national unity. “I appeal to everyone to exercise patience and help restore peace, harmony and brotherhood,” the prime minister said, while assuring the public that the government would conduct a fair and transparent investigation into the violence. The unrest began earlier this week in Sunsari district near the Indian border after a dispute reportedly erupted during a Hindu religious procession. The disagreement centered on loud music and the display of religious flags, which escalated into violent clashes between members of the Hindu and Muslim communities. Police intervened to disperse the crowds and opened fire during the confrontation. Two people were killed in the initial violence, according to officials. A third person later died during a protest in the neighbouring Siraha district despite a curfew being in force. Following the violence, authorities imposed strict curfews in Sunsari and nearby districts to prevent further unrest. Security forces have been deployed across the affected areas, while police remain on high alert to protect public property and maintain law and order. Police officials said security personnel are attempting to restore normalcy while using the minimum level of force necessary to prevent additional clashes. Authorities also warned against the spread of misinformation that could further inflame tensions. The government has pledged to identify those responsible for the violence and bring them before the courts. Officials said the investigation would be conducted impartially and that anyone found involved in the unrest would face legal action.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that Kyiv has delivered fresh peace proposals to American negotiators aimed at ending the conflict with Moscow. He simultaneously warned that Russia intends to use its upcoming parliamentary elections to launch a new, large-scale military mobilisation. Speaking in his nightly address, Zelenskiy stated that the proposals handed to the United States focus on bolstering Ukraine’s defence capabilities, particularly air defence, while urging Washington to exert diplomatic and economic pressure on the Kremlin to halt the war. The movement in negotiations comes as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepare for potential visits to both capitals, following a period where diplomatic efforts had largely stalled. Kyiv continues to press for an immediate ceasefire after nearly four and a half years of fighting, whereas Moscow insists any agreement require Ukraine to permanently cede four claimed regions. Zelenskiy also cited Ukrainian intelligence reports indicating that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to exploit September’s parliamentary polls to orchestrate a rapid autumn draft. “They are preparing for mobilisation in the autumn, immediately after the imitation of parliamentary elections,” Zelenskiy said, estimating that Moscow aims to draft several hundred thousand additional personnel by the end of the year, alongside ongoing voluntary contract recruitment. The electoral warning follows a decision by Russia’s Supreme Court on Monday to bar the liberal Yabloko party, the country’s sole registered anti-war political group, from contesting the upcoming election. Kremlin officials have denied plans for a mandatory draft, pointing to 200,000 voluntary sign-ups recorded in the first half of the year.

CHENNAI, August 7, 2026: A shocking murder case in the Indian city of Chennai has led police to identify the victim as Sindhya, an emerging Tamil actress, after her dismembered remains were recovered from different locations. According to Indian media reports, residents alerted police after noticing human fingers protruding from a plastic bag near a garbage dump in Chennai. When police opened the bag, they found a severed hand and legs inside. More plastic bags were later discovered in different parts of the city. The bags contained human bones, body parts and other remains. A post-mortem examination determined that the remains belonged to the same woman. Police said the victim had been killed and her body was allegedly cut into pieces using a sharp weapon. However, her head and left hand remained missing, making identification difficult. During the investigation, police noticed two distinctive tattoos on the victim’s right hand. One tattoo depicted the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati, while the other featured a dragon. Meanwhile, a woman approached a police station to report her daughter missing. She told investigators that her 37-year-old daughter, Sindhya, was an aspiring Tamil actress who lived in Chennai with her husband and two children. Sindhya’s mother reportedly told police that her son-in-law had claimed Sindhya had gone out of the house but had not returned. Police later showed the recovered remains and identifying marks to Sindhya’s family. Her mother identified her daughter based on the tattoos and other features. A subsequent DNA test also confirmed that the recovered remains belonged to Sindhya. Following the identification, police questioned Sindhya’s husband, Balakrishnan. He initially claimed that his wife had left home and never returned. However, investigators reportedly found inconsistencies in his statements. Police later claimed that Balakrishnan confessed to the killing during questioning. According to investigators, Sindhya and Balakrishnan had an argument before the incident. Police alleged that Balakrishnan attacked Sindhya with an axe, killing her before dismembering her body and placing the remains in plastic bags, which he allegedly dumped at different locations.