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German Minister Backs Stripping of Citizenship from Hamas Supporters

A reflection in a water puddle shows a pedestrian and Berlin TV Tower in central Berlin, Germany, 20 February 2025. (EPA)
A reflection in a water puddle shows a pedestrian and Berlin TV Tower in central Berlin, Germany, 20 February 2025. (EPA)
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German Minister Backs Stripping of Citizenship from Hamas Supporters

A reflection in a water puddle shows a pedestrian and Berlin TV Tower in central Berlin, Germany, 20 February 2025. (EPA)
A reflection in a water puddle shows a pedestrian and Berlin TV Tower in central Berlin, Germany, 20 February 2025. (EPA)

Germany's interior minister on Wednesday backed Berlin’s decision to strip a man of his citizenship for supporting Hamas, saying naturalized citizens should forfeit their nationality when they are found not to uphold German values.

The decision comes as Germany tightens immigration and citizenship rules amid a debate about who belongs in the country and the rise of the far-right.

Many German politicians have voiced concern at the support for Palestinian militant group Hamas and its attack on Israel two years ago among the hundreds of thousands of migrants who arrived in Germany from the Middle East in the last decade.

Germany's staunch support for Israel is rooted in its historical guilt for the Nazi Holocaust.

"People who have acquired German citizenship, including dual nationals, have declared their commitment to our system of values," Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said at a news conference.

"If it becomes apparent that this was a deliberate misrepresentation, and that they do not share this system of values ... it should be possible to withdraw citizenship."

German media reported that the Syrian man who came to Berlin as a young child posted a photo on Instagram one day after his naturalization showing two Hamas fighters, with the caption “Heroes of Palestine”.

Berlin's immigration office became aware of the case through security agencies and believes it was deceived as he had declared his loyalty to German values, the media reported.

Since the reform of Germany's nationality law in June 2024, naturalization applicants must declare their commitment to the free democratic basic order and to Germany’s special historical responsibility, in particular for the protection of Jewish life.

The Syrian man had attracted police attention several times at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, German media reported.

Immigration officials have now told the man they are withdrawing his German citizenship, the media reported. The immigration office did not immediately reply to a request for comment, but Mayor Kai Wegner in a post on X thanked it for its quick action on the case.

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World

Iran, US Talks to be Held Friday in Oman: Iranian media

US and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, September 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
US and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, September 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
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Iran, US Talks to be Held Friday in Oman: Iranian media

US and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, September 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
US and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, September 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Iran will hold nuclear negotiations with the United States on Friday in Oman, Iranian media reported on Wednesday.
"Indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States are set to be held on Friday in Muscat," said the Tasnim news agency, adding that they "will be limited to the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions on Iran".
ISNA news agency carried a similar report, saying Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will head the Iranian delegation, which will also include senior diplomats Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, AFP reported.
US envoy Steve Witkoff will represent Washington in the talks, ISNA added, noting that President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner may also be present.
Araghchi and Witkoff led five rounds of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States last year before negotiations were derailed when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign two days ahead of a planned sixth round, triggering a 12-day war.
Friday's talks will be held amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, as the United States has in recent days deployed an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East following a crackdown on anti-government protests.
Tehran has acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths during the unrest.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based NGO, said it has confirmed 6,872 deaths, mostly protesters killed by security forces, with other rights groups warning the figure is likely far higher.

World

Russia Says Uranium Proposal for Iran is Still on the Table

Spokeswoman of Russia's Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova attends the annual press conference held by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
Spokeswoman of Russia's Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova attends the annual press conference held by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
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Russia Says Uranium Proposal for Iran is Still on the Table

Spokeswoman of Russia's Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova attends the annual press conference held by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
Spokeswoman of Russia's Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova attends the annual press conference held by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

Russia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that a proposal to remove uranium from Iran as part of a deal to ease US concerns was still on the table, but that it was for Tehran to decide whether or not to remove it.

"Russia once offered to export Iran's enriched uranium reserves to its territory. This initiative is still on the table," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters, Reuters reported.

"Only Iranians have the right to dispose of them, including deciding whether to export them outside the territory of Iran and, in case of a positive decision, where to export them to or not," she said.

World

China’s Xi and Russia’s Putin Reinforce Ties in Video Call

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow on February 4, 2026. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/ Pool/ AFP)
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow on February 4, 2026. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/ Pool/ AFP)
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China’s Xi and Russia’s Putin Reinforce Ties in Video Call

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow on February 4, 2026. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/ Pool/ AFP)
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow on February 4, 2026. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/ Pool/ AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed his country's growing economic cooperation with China in a video call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday.

The virtual meeting came in the middle of a series of meetings between Xi and Western leaders who have sought to boost ties with China despite differences over Russia’s war in Ukraine. European leaders have pressed China for years to end its support for Russia. China has continued to trade with Russia, providing some relief from Western economic sanctions.

“I would like to once again assure you of firm support for our shared efforts to ensure the sovereignty and security of our countries, our socio-economic welfare and the right to choose our own development path,” Putin said in opening remarks that were broadcast by Russian state television.

Many of America’s closest partners are exploring opportunities with China following clashes with President Donald Trump over tariffs and his demands to take over Greenland from NATO ally Denmark. The Xi-Putin call followed visits by the British and Canadian prime ministers to Beijing last month. The German chancellor is also expected to visit later this month.

The Russian leader noted that “our partnership in the energy sphere is mutually beneficial and has a truly strategic character.”

He added that the two countries were “conducting an active dialogue in peaceful use of nuclear energy and developing high-tech projects, including in the industry sphere and space research.”

Xi said that he and Putin would discuss a new “grandiose plan for the development of bilateral ties” and “exchange views on major strategic issues,” according to a Russian translation of his opening remarks. He noted that the two countries need to “use a historic opportunity to continue deepening strategic cooperation.”

The call may have been in part to reassure Russia that China’s position on the Ukraine war hasn’t changed.

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu also visited Beijing last weekend, during which he met China’s top foreign policy official, Wang Yi. The two officials agreed their countries should maintain close ties in a turbulent world, state media reports said.

Putin, in his call with Xi, applauded China's decision to allow visa-free entry for Russians, their partnership in energy including the peaceful use of nuclear power, and high-tech cooperation in space and industry.

He also noted that Wednesday marked the beginning of spring in the traditional Chinese calendar and said that “any season is springtime in Russia-China relations.”