Xinhua world news summary at 0100 GMT, Jan. 31

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday said that he "is alarmed by recent statements from the Hamas leadership in Gaza about the group's intention to continue building tunnels and firing rockets at Israel."

"Such statements and actions put at risk reconstruction, humanitarian and development efforts by the international community and Palestinian and Israeli authorities," the UN chief said in a statement issued by his spokesman. "They also do a serious disservice to the long-suffering people of Gaza." (UN-Hamas)

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ISTANBUL/ANKARA -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday warned Russia of "consequences" if it continues to violate Turkish airspace.

"If Russia continues to violate Turkey's sovereignty, it will have to face the consequences," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul before leaving for a visit to Chile. (Turkey-Russia-Airspace)

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LONDON -- British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on Saturday welcomed the Syrian Opposition High Negotiation Committee (HNC)'s participation in the peace talks taking place in Geneva.

According to earlier reports, the largest Syrian opposition group of 17 members on Saturday left for Geneva to participate in the UN-sponsored talks on the Syria crisis. (Britain-Syria-Peace)

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LJUBLJANA -- Four people have been confirmed dead and 29 injured in a massive pileup in western Slovenia on Saturday, which is believed to be the worst traffic accident in Slovenian history.

About 70 vehicles were involved in the pileup, including a bus and several lorries, near the Senozece exit on the A1 motorway, some 40 km northeast of Koper, the Slovenian Press Agency reported quoting the police. (Slovenia-Road accident) Endi