(Vatican Radio) Russia says a break in fighting in the Syrian city of Aleppo has been extended for one more day. The announcement came moments after German's chancellor Angela Merkel pressed anew for a long-term ceasefire in the devastated city following her talks in Berlin with European leaders meeting in Berlin.Listen to the report by Stefan Bos: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said a "humanitarian pause" in airstrikes and other attacks in the Syrian city of Aleppo has been extended for another day on the instructions of Russia's President Vladimir Putin. He added that the extension was supported by the Moscow-backed Syrian government. Russia already allowed a dawn-to-dusk break in fighting in Aleppo Thursday to allow both civilians and militants to leave the rebel-held districts. The announced further extension of the ceasefire came moments after German Chancellor Merkel appealed for a long term ceasefire in Aleppo when talking to reporters a...
(Vatican Radio) Russia says a break in fighting in the Syrian city of Aleppo has been extended for one more day. The announcement came moments after German's chancellor Angela Merkel pressed anew for a long-term ceasefire in the devastated city following her talks in Berlin with European leaders meeting in Berlin.
Listen to the report by Stefan Bos:
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said a "humanitarian pause" in airstrikes and other attacks in the Syrian city of Aleppo has been extended for another day on the instructions of Russia's President Vladimir Putin. He added that the extension was supported by the Moscow-backed Syrian government.
Russia already allowed a dawn-to-dusk break in fighting in Aleppo Thursday to allow both civilians and militants to leave the rebel-held districts. The announced further extension of the ceasefire came moments after German Chancellor Merkel appealed for a long term ceasefire in Aleppo when talking to reporters at the European Union summit in Brussels. "I hope that the European Council can firm up our view that what is happening with Russian support in Aleppo is completely inhuman with regards to the inhabitants of Aleppo," she said.
"That is why there has to be work on a truce and not just one of a few hours followed by several hours of bombing but a permanent truce. And to get humanitarian aid to the people of Aleppo."
HOSTING PUTIN
Merkel hosted Putin in Berlin on the eve of the summit and, together with French President Francois Hollande, pressed the Russian leader to extend a pause in air strikes.
Hollande referred to the attacks on the civilian population as "war crimes" amid mounting Western pressure on Russia to halt its military support to President Bashar Assad's forces.
They and Ukrainian president Petro Proshenko did agree however to work on a road map aimed at reviving the stalled peace process in eastern Ukraine,
though details of the plan still need to be worked out.
The conflict between Russian backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces has killed nearly 10,000 people.
President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Jesuit Father Greg Boyle on May 3, 2024. / Screenshot/public domainCNA Staff, May 3, 2024 / 15:30 pm (CNA).The White House on Friday announced that Jesuit Father Greg Boyle, the founder of a prominent ministry dedicated to rehabilitating gang-affiliated youth, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom alongside 18 other recipients this afternoon. Boyle, ordained a priest in 1984, founded Homeboy Industries in 1992 while pastor of Dolores Mission, a Catholic church and school in an area that at one time had one of the highest concentrations of gang activity in Los Angeles. Today, Homeboy Industries claims to be the largest gang-intervention program in the United States.The successful ministry, which now operates nationwide, offers training and job skills to those formerly involved in gangs or in jail, as well as case management, tattoo removal, mental health and legal services, and GED completion.Wh...
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