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Erdogan Says Won’t Let ‘Terrorism-Supporting’ Countries Enter NATO

A handout photo made available by the Turkish President's Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets his supporters during a ceremony of the transformation of the Ataturk Airport into a national garden in Istanbul, Turkey, 29 May 2022. (EPA/Turkish President Press Office Handout)
A handout photo made available by the Turkish President's Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets his supporters during a ceremony of the transformation of the Ataturk Airport into a national garden in Istanbul, Turkey, 29 May 2022. (EPA/Turkish President Press Office Handout)
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Erdogan Says Won’t Let ‘Terrorism-Supporting’ Countries Enter NATO

A handout photo made available by the Turkish President's Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets his supporters during a ceremony of the transformation of the Ataturk Airport into a national garden in Istanbul, Turkey, 29 May 2022. (EPA/Turkish President Press Office Handout)
A handout photo made available by the Turkish President's Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets his supporters during a ceremony of the transformation of the Ataturk Airport into a national garden in Istanbul, Turkey, 29 May 2022. (EPA/Turkish President Press Office Handout)

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said talks with Finland and Sweden about their joining NATO were not at the "expected level" and Ankara cannot say yes to "terrorism-supporting" countries, state broadcaster TRT Haber reported on Sunday.

Turkey has objected to Sweden and Finland joining the Western defense alliance, holding up a deal that would allow for a historic enlargement following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Erdogan's latest comments indicated his opposition continued.

"For as long as Tayyip Erdogan is the head of the Republic of Turkey, we definitely cannot say 'yes' to countries which support terrorism entering NATO," he was cited as telling reporters on his return from a trip to Azerbaijan on Saturday.

Two sources previously told Reuters that Wednesday's talks with Finnish and Swedish delegations made little headway and it was unclear when further discussions would take place. All 30 NATO members must approve plans to enlarge NATO.

Turkey challenged the bids from Sweden and Finland on the grounds that the countries harbor people linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group and others it deems terrorists, and because they halted arms exports to Ankara in 2019.

"They are not honest or sincere. We cannot repeat the mistake made in the past regarding countries that embrace and feed such terrorists in NATO, which is a security organization," he said.

Sweden and Finland have said they condemn terrorism and welcomed the possibility of coordinating with Ankara.

"Diplomatic efforts are ongoing. We decline to comment further at this moment," Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said in an emailed comment to Reuters following Erdogan's latest statement.

Erdogan also said Turkey wanted to see an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible, but that the situation was becoming more negative each day.

"On Monday, I will have phone calls with both Russia and Ukraine. We will continue to encourage the parties to operate channels of dialogue and diplomacy," he said.

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Ten Injured in Australia as Car Crashes into Crowd North of Sydney

Police officers work at a crime scene at Waite Road in Paddington, Sydney, Australia February 23, 2024. AAP Image/Dean Lewins via REUTERS
Police officers work at a crime scene at Waite Road in Paddington, Sydney, Australia February 23, 2024. AAP Image/Dean Lewins via REUTERS
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Ten Injured in Australia as Car Crashes into Crowd North of Sydney

Police officers work at a crime scene at Waite Road in Paddington, Sydney, Australia February 23, 2024. AAP Image/Dean Lewins via REUTERS
Police officers work at a crime scene at Waite Road in Paddington, Sydney, Australia February 23, 2024. AAP Image/Dean Lewins via REUTERS

Ten people were injured when a man drove into a crowd in the Australian city of Newcastle on Saturday after appearing to lose control of the car, authorities said.

The 18-year-old driver was ‌arrested at ‌the scene in ‌the suburb ⁠of Wallsend about ⁠110 km (70 miles) north of the New South Wales state capital, Sydney.

When the incident occurred, fans had lined local streets to send ⁠off the Newcastle ‌Knights rugby ‌league team, due to compete in ‌the country's National Rugby ‌League grand final in Sydney on Sunday.

Two of those hospitalized, a 5-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man, ‌were in a critical condition, authorities said.

Newcastle Mayor ⁠Gavin ⁠Morris said the driver seemed to have lost control of the car. "It appears that he was revving the car in some form," Morris said in televised remarks.

Police said initial indications suggested the incident was not terrorism-related.

World

Russia Strikes Another Major Bridge in Ukraine Capital

Traffic headed to the left bank of the city after Russian drone strikes on Kyiv's bridges caused disruptions, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 2, 2026. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Traffic headed to the left bank of the city after Russian drone strikes on Kyiv's bridges caused disruptions, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 2, 2026. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
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Russia Strikes Another Major Bridge in Ukraine Capital

Traffic headed to the left bank of the city after Russian drone strikes on Kyiv's bridges caused disruptions, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 2, 2026. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Traffic headed to the left bank of the city after Russian drone strikes on Kyiv's bridges caused disruptions, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 2, 2026. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A Russian strike targeted a major bridge in Kyiv, its mayor said Saturday, in another attack on Ukrainian infrastructure that has brought traffic chaos to the capital.

The attack on the Northern Bridge, which followed a drone alert, came a day after the Southern Bridge was hit in a wave of strikes that city officials say is "tearing Kyiv apart".

The grinding conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has largely focused on ground fighting in the east, with Kyiv mostly spared from the devastation wrought near the frontline, AFP said.

"Northern Bridge has been hit," Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram on Saturday. "Emergency services are heading to the scene."

In another update, Klitschko said the attack had damaged the road surface and trolleybus wires on the bridge.

"Traffic across the bridge from the left bank to the right bank is currently blocked," Klitschko said.

The latest strike follows multiple attacks on crossings over the Dnipro river that link the eastern and western parts of the capital.

On Friday, authorities shut the Southern Bridge -- one of Kyiv's main bridges -- and restricted movement on another after a wave of strikes by fast-moving, jet-powered drones, causing severe traffic congestion across the capital.

Long lines of stationary cars and buses clogged major roads as commuters sought alternate routes, with some forced to continue their journeys on foot.

The Southern Bridge is one of eight crossings connecting the two sides of Kyiv.

The cable-stayed structure had already been hit several times since Thursday, according to city officials.

Klitschko warned Friday the capital should now be on a war footing.

World

Iran Executes Man Linked to Anti-government Protests

This photograph shows portraits of Iranian protesters allegedly executed by the Iranian regime during protests in Iran are displayed during a demonstration at the Ergife Palace Hotel to condemn the silence of Western governments in the face of the growing wave of Iranian political executions, in Rome on July 16, 2026. (AFP)
This photograph shows portraits of Iranian protesters allegedly executed by the Iranian regime during protests in Iran are displayed during a demonstration at the Ergife Palace Hotel to condemn the silence of Western governments in the face of the growing wave of Iranian political executions, in Rome on July 16, 2026. (AFP)
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Iran Executes Man Linked to Anti-government Protests

This photograph shows portraits of Iranian protesters allegedly executed by the Iranian regime during protests in Iran are displayed during a demonstration at the Ergife Palace Hotel to condemn the silence of Western governments in the face of the growing wave of Iranian political executions, in Rome on July 16, 2026. (AFP)
This photograph shows portraits of Iranian protesters allegedly executed by the Iranian regime during protests in Iran are displayed during a demonstration at the Ergife Palace Hotel to condemn the silence of Western governments in the face of the growing wave of Iranian political executions, in Rome on July 16, 2026. (AFP)

Iran said Saturday it had executed a man convicted of a raft of charges including firing a military-grade weapon at police officers during anti-government protests earlier this year.

Siavash Jamshidi was accused of targeting security personnel during mass demonstrations that peaked in January in which thousands of people were killed, said AFP.

Since that time, Iranian authorities have stepped up executions of convicts linked to the unrest.

"Jamshidi was sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh through brandishing and firing a firearm, as well as conspiracy and collusion against national security," Iran's judiciary said, using the legal term moharebeh to mean "waging war against God".

The judiciary's Mizan Online website said he was also found guilty of offences not related to the protests, including "fraud, making threats, theft, possession and carrying of an illegal military-grade weapon".

Other charges included "complicity in kidnapping, brandishing a weapon to intimidate, and intentional infliction of bodily harm".

Mizan said Jamshidi was "active" during the demonstrations, which were sparked in December last year by grievances over living costs in Iran, but peaked on January 8 and 9 with huge rallies.

Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths in the unrest, attributing the violence to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel.

Foreign-based NGOs however maintain that Iranian security forces fired on protesters.

US President Donald Trump threatened at the time to intervene militarily in Iran. Weeks later in late February, the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on the Iranian republic, triggering the Middle East war.

Since then, arrests and executions have multiplied in Iran, linked both to the war and the protests.

In 2025, Iran executed at least 1,639 people, the largest number in any year since 1989, according to the NGOs Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty.