ANKARA -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday warned Sweden that it should not expect Türkiye's backing to join NATO following the burning of the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm.

"Those who allow such disgraceful acts in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm can't expect good news from us on NATO membership," Erdogan said at a press conference after the cabinet meeting. (Türkiye-Sweden-Quran Burning)

- - - -

BEIRUT -- The judge investigating the Beirut port blast resumed his work on Monday after a 13-month suspension under political pressure, the National News Agency reported.

Upon returning to the office, Judge Tarek Bitar ordered the release of five detained suspects and announced his plan to press charges against others. (Lebanon-Beirut Port Blast-Probe)

- - - -

TUNIS -- Tunisia will hold the second round of legislative elections on Jan. 29, the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) said on Monday.

Polling stations across the country will be opened to voters at 8 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) and be closed at 6 p.m. local time, according to a statement released by the ISIE. (Tunisia-Legislative Elections)

- - - -

ADEN, Yemen -- A bomb explosion hit a vehicle of Yemen's government forces on Monday in the country's southern province of Abyan, killing at least two soldiers and wounding five others, a military official told Xinhua.

The bomb was planted by Yemen-based al-Qaida militants on the roadside in Mudiyah district and detonated with a remote-controlled device, killing two soldiers on the military vehicle, the local military official said on condition of anonymity, adding four others and an officer were critically injured. (Yemen-Bomb Blast-Al-Qaida)