Air blitz death toll in Syria’s Aleppo passes 400

DAMASCUS: The death toll from a 10-day Syrian regime air offensive on Aleppo rebels passed 400 on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), as Pope Francis called on Christmas Day for aid access to the war-torn country.

But even as the European Union and Arab League condemned the campaign in Syria’s second city, a Russian company signed a major energy exploration deal with the Damascus government.