Berlin / AFP German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday “firmly” rejected calls to reverse her welcoming stance toward refugees following a series of brutal attacks in the country. Merkel told reporters that the assailants “wanted to undermine our sense of community, our openness and our willingness to help people in need”. “We firmly reject this,” she said. Merkel, who interrupted …

  Moscow / AP Russia and the Syrian government said they will open humanitarian corridors in Syria’s embattled city of Aleppo on Thursday and offer a way out for opposition fighters wanting to lay down their arms, even as Syrian forces took another district from rebels in the city. The Russian announcement by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu came as Syria’s President …

  Ankara / AFP Turkey’s top military commanders met on Thursday to replace almost half of their generals in a radical shake-up after the failed coup, as authorities shut down dozens of media outlets in a widening crackdown. The hastily convened meeting came after the government ordered the discharge of 149 generals—nearly half the armed forces’ entire contingent of 358—for …