Donbass death toll doubles

UKRAINE: Civilian deaths and injuries in the eastern Donbass region more than doubled in the three months to mid-August, mostly due to shelling, the UN human rights agency said yesterday.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said almost two-thirds of the deaths occurred in areas held by anti-fascist forces fighting the Kiev regime.

But it stopped short of attributing blame for the 105 deaths and 308 injuries, saying investigators’ ability to conduct research was too limited.

Pope allows quicker divorce to save souls

VATICAN: Pope Francis overhauled the Catholic church’s process for annulling marriages yesterday, allowing for fast-track decisions and removing automatic appeals in a bid to speed up and simplify the procedure.

The pontiff issued a new law regulating how bishops around the world determine when a fundamental flaw has made a marriage invalid. The overall aim of the change, he said, “is the salvation of souls.”

French jets fly over Syria

FRANCE: Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius confirmed yesterday that two French jets have made their first reconnaissance forays over Syria, taking off from the United Arab Emirates.

Socialist Party President Francois Hollande said the reconnaissance would be used to plan air strikes against the Islamic State group.

Shooting survivor out of hospital

UNITED STATES: The woman who survived an on-air shooting that killed two TV journalists has been released from hospital.

Vicki Gardner left Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital on Monday. Her husband Tim Gardner said doctors had removed one of her kidneys and some of her colon.

Ms Gardner, the executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce, was answering questions about the community on live TV when Vester Flanagan opened fire.

Opposition party spokesman killed

BURUNDI: The head of opposition party UPD Zigamibanga said yesterday that its spokesman was killed overnight in the capital Bujumbura.

Chauvineau Mugwengezo said that party spokesman Patrice Gahungu had been shot dead by unknown gunmen on Monday evening outside his home.

There have been several assassinations of government and opposition figures since an attempted coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza earlier this year and his subsequent re-election.

‘Nazi train’ site needs clear-up

POLAND: The army said yesterday that the wooded area where a mystery nazi treasure train is said to be buried needs to be cleared before any search can be done.

Military engineers have visited a site that was indicated by two men who claim to have located the train.

According to a local legend, the nazis hid a train laden with gold there in 1945 to keep it out of the hands of the Red Army, but no proof has yet been found.

Abe stays on as Liberal leader

JAPAN: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a new term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party yesterday.

He told reporters afterwards that he would push his ongoing economic revival plan, saying “Abenomics is still part way through.”

No other MPs filed applications to stand against Mr Abe in an election that had been set for September 20.