French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be in Russia today for a diplomatic talk with President Vladimir Putin. They want to discuss with him a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine. East Ukraine’s army has been fighting for ten months against pro-Russian separatists. The conflict has already claimed the lives of 5,000 people. Hollande and Merkel were in Kiev yesterday together with US Secretary of State John Kerry for a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. After the meeting, Poroshenko said that the talks indicated that a ceasefire was possible in eastern Ukraine. He also thanked European Union leaders for their unity and solidarity on the Ukrainian question. The two European leaders decided Wednesday night on the surprise Moscow trip and did not consult American officials about it.

Buong sambayanan at kaming mga Pilipino sa ibayong dagat ay lumuha at umiyak habang pinapanood namin kahapon ang pagsalubong sa mga kabaong ng 44 na mga napatay na Special Action Force commando na nakipaglaban sa mga rebeldeng Moro sa Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province. Lubos po kaming nakikiramay sa mga naiwan at naulilang pamilya. Napakaraming katanugan ang nais nilang mabigyan ng kasagutan subalit ang unang-unang tanong nila ay – “Bakit wala siya sa Villamor Air Base? Nasaan ang ama ng bayan sa panahon ng aming pagluluksa? Nasaan ang Pangulo?”

Ngayon po ay National Day of Mourning sa Pilipinas. Nakikiramay po kami mula sa Europa.