In Syria, a new aerial bombardment flattened residential buildings in a rebel-controlled village in the northern province of Aleppo, killing at least 23 people. British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, the hardest-hit area was in Qaterji, where rescuers were working to pull survivors from the rubble. The new deaths brought the 24-hour toll to 45.<br/><br/>The bombardment came as world diplomats remain stymied in their efforts to end the Syrian fighting, which has claimed more than 300,000 lives. European Union foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini says, the EU is not considering sanctioning Russia over its actions in Syria. Her comments came a day after Kerry warned of possible sanctions related to the situation in Syria and harshly criticized Russia's military actions there.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, Russia has announced an 8 hour humanitarian pause in its bombing of the Syrian city of Aleppo on Thursday. After a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council, Russia's Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin has said Moscow has announced an 8 hour ceasefire on Thursday, but a longer humanitarian pause will require some mutual agreements. <br/><br/>Russia's Armed Forces also announced that the Russian and Syrian military would halt operations in Aleppo on Thursday, for the passage of civilians and the withdrawal of militants to the district of Idlib. Welcoming the pause, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said there is a need for a longer pause in order to get the aid in.

In Syria, a new aerial bombardment flattened residential buildings in a rebel-controlled village in the northern province of Aleppo, killing at least 23 people. British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, the hardest-hit area was in Qaterji, where rescuers were working to pull survivors from the rubble. The new deaths brought the 24-hour toll to 45.<br/><br/> The bombardment came as world diplomats remain stymied in their efforts to end the Syrian fighting, which has claimed more than 300,000 lives. European Union foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini says, the EU is not considering sanctioning Russia over its actions in Syria. Her comments came a day after Kerry warned of possible sanctions related to the situation in Syria and harshly criticized Russia's military actions there.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, Russia has announced a humanitarian pause in its bombing of the Syrian city of Aleppo. Moscow said it would halt operations in Aleppo on Thursday for an eight-hour span between 08:00 and 16:00 local time. <br/><br/>The Russian defence ministry said, the pause was agreed so that civilians and rebels could leave the city. But UN agencies say at least 12 hours will be needed for that to happen. Russia's announcement came on the day 14 members of one family were reportedly killed in a strike in Aleppo.

In Syria, a new aerial bombardment flattened residential buildings in a rebel-controlled village in the northern province of Aleppo, killing at least 23 people. British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, the hardest-hit area was in Qaterji, where rescuers were working to pull survivors from the rubble. The new deaths brought the 24-hour toll to 45.<br/><br/> The bombardment came as world diplomats remain stymied in their efforts to end the Syrian fighting, which has claimed more than 300,000 lives. European Union foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini says, the EU is not considering sanctioning Russia over its actions in Syria. Her comments came a day after Kerry warned of possible sanctions related to the situation in Syria and harshly criticized Russia's military actions there.