Author: Anadolu Agency

The European Commission’s coordinator on combating anti-Muslim hatred told Anadolu that Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip have contributed to the rise of Islamophobia in Europe in recent years and warned against normalization of anti-Muslim hatred in Europe. “Anti-Muslim hatred and other forms of racism and discrimination are unfortunately being normalized in discourse which may give a sense of impunity to hateful actors,” Marion Lalisse said in an email. “The polarized environment that we face, especially since 7 October, has had concrete consequences on the levels of hatred affecting several groups in society, including Muslims and Jews and people perceived…

Pakistan and Saudia Arabia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defense and security cooperation, acknowledging the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing regional security challenges. The resolve was expressed during a meeting between Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday. Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, Sharif is on a four-day official visit to the kingdom. “The meeting reaffirmed the strong and historic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with discussions focused on enhancing…

Muslim women and Black individuals are experiencing growing racial discrimination in Germany, according to a comprehensive national study released Thursday. The 2025 National Discrimination and Racism Monitor (NaDiRa) report found that 54% of those who faced discrimination due to their skin color, or religion, experienced biased treatment at least once a month. The findings showed that Muslim women (61%), Black women (63%), and Black men (62%) encounter the highest rates of subtle discrimination. Among Black individuals, skin color was identified as the primary factor in up to 84% of discriminatory incidents, while for Muslim respondents, religious bias was the main…

Ukraine on Thursday said that at least 10 people were injured in the city of Kropyvnytskyi in the country’s central Kirovohrad region due to a Russian drone attack. “As of 7:15 a.m. (0415GMT), it is known that 10 residents, including four children, were injured. All were promptly provided with medical assistance, and several citizens were hospitalized,” Ukraine’s National Police said in a statement on Telegram. Indicating that private houses and high-rise buildings in Kropyvnytskyi were damaged, the statement said police and rescuers are working at the scene to provide people with the necessary assistance. Elsewhere, Kirovohrad Governor Andriy Raykovych on…

US President Donald Trump “fully supports Israel” as Tel Aviv resumes its attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip, the White House said Thursday amid an escalating death toll. Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt continued to blame Hamas for Israel’s decision to renew its offensive following a breakthrough ceasefire that endured for roughly two months, saying Trump “has made it very clear that he wants all of those hostages to come home.” “And he fully supports Israel and the IDF and the actions that they’ve taken in recent days,” she added, using an acronym to refer to Israel’s military. More than 700 Palestinians…

The US and South Korea concluded a major annual combined military exercise Thursday aimed at bolstering their defense capabilities against North Korean military threats. Freedom Shield, a computer-simulated exercise, came to an end after an 11-day “run in the face of North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats and deepening military cooperation with Russia,” the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency reported, citing South Korea’s military. This year’s exercise marked the first major joint drill by the allies’ militaries since US President Donald Trump returned to office in January. With South Korea deploying some 19,000 troops for this year’s exercise, the two…

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday said US President Donald Trump should be convinced to withdraw American troops from Syria, adding that it would be cost-effective for Washington. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Trump had a “highly positive” call, showing Trump’s respect for Erdoğan, which was clearly demonstrated during conversation, Fidan said during an iftar event with journalists. Ankara is cautious about the agreement signed by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Ferhat Abdi Şahin, said Fidan, adding that the country will closely monitor the process in the short term. The rights denied to Syria’s Kurds under the ousted…

The death toll for Russian troops in the ongoing Ukraine conflict may have surged to as high as 250,000, according to a report from Britain’s Ministry of Defense. The report estimates that the Russian Armed Forces have sustained approximately 900,000 casualties—both killed and wounded—since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. Of these, it is believed that between 200,000 and 250,000 Russian soldiers have died, marking the largest loss of life for Russia’s military since the Second World War. It claimed that President Vladimir Putin and senior military officials are likely prepared to tolerate high levels of…

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reopened her country’s embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday after a 13-year closure. “Minister Baerbock officially reopened Berlin’s embassy in Damascus,” German special envoy to Syria, Stefan Schneck, said on X. “We are pleased to work closely with all Syrians for a better Syria,” he added. The envoy said the working team in the embassy is “still small.” “The visa and consular affairs will remain managed from Beirut for the coming period,” he added. Many Arab and foreign countries closed their diplomatic missions in Syria following a deadly crackdown launched by the ousted…

US warplanes carried out new airstrikes in Yemen’s coastal province of Al-Hudaydah and the northern province of Sadaa on Thursday evening, the Houthi group said. The Houthi-run Al-Masirah television said that four strikes targeted the Al-Kathib area in the Al-Mina district in the Al-Hudaydah province. Al-Hudaydah, overlooking the Red Sea, is one of Yemen’s most strategic provinces, housing an international airport, three key ports, and an extensive coastline. Later, the same channel reported another US airstrike on the Al Asayid area in the As Safra district of Saada province, the group’s stronghold near the Saudi border. No information was yet…