UN-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi admits he does not expect to achieve substantive results from the current Syrian peace talks in Geneva.

Brahimi has made the comments following the fifth day of joint meetings between delegations representing the Syrian government and the opposition.

Despite his pessimism, Brahimi does note the two sides have, for the first time, openly discussed the possibility of the creation of a transitional government in Syria.

However, he says those talks are very preliminary.

Brahimi does say the two sides are still willing to continue their negotiations.

 

Pakistan PM: govt will pursue peace talks with militants

Pakistan's prime minister says his government is still planning to pursue peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, despite a recent spate of attacks.

Nawaz Sharif has appointed a four-member committee to facilitate the talks.

Sharif has long been a champion of supporting talks to try to end the years of fighting with the Taliban in the country's northwest.

But after a spate of attacks this month, he's been under growing pressure to take steps to bring the violence in the country under control.

 

Turkish army destroys al-Qaida-affiliated convoy in Syria

The Turkish army has launched a raid on what's being described as an al-Qaeda affiliated group across its border in neighboring Syria.

The attack comes after a mortar round was fired into Turkish territory during fighting between the Syrian rebels and a group known as the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham.

The al-Qaeda-linked group has been the target of the Turkish military in three previous occasions this past year.

The civil conflict in Syria has occasionally spilled over into Turkish territory, prompting military responses from the Turkish government.

Once allies, the nearly 3-year conflict in Syria has severely damaged the relationship between Ankara and Damascus.

 

Frigid blast wreaks havoc in U.S. Deep South

A freak blast of winter weather has engulfed the US deep south, wreaking havok on the states of Alabama, South and North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia.

In Georiga's capital, Atlanta, thousands of vehicles have been left abandoned on roads.

Many people have been forced to sleep in their offices.

Some children have also been trapped in their schools amid the blast of arctic air, which has brought snow and ice to parts of US south which almost never experiences frigid temperatures.

The intense cold has also forced the cancellation of over 14-hundred flights across the continental United States.

The freak temperatures in the US deep South come just a couple of weeks after good portions of the central and eastern parts of the United States were enveloped in a so-called polar vortex, sending temperatures plunging dramatically.

 

U.S. Fed announces further cut in monetary stimulus program

As expectd, the US Federal Reserve has announced its reducing its bond purchases by another 10 billion U.S. dollars starting February amid the improving US economy. 

The U.S. central bank has decided to cut back on its monthly asset purchases from 75 billion dollars to 65 billion dollars.

The move has been confirmed following a two-day policy meeting of the Fed's Open Market Committee, the US central bank's powerful policy making panel.

The decision has been made as U.S. economic activity has picked up in recent quarters. 

The Fed announced plans to begin scaling back its bond purchasing program in December.

 

North Korea agrees on resumption of six-party talks

North Korea's ambassador to China says his country agrees six-party talks need to resume, calling on the United States to fulfill its obligations.

Chi Jae Ryong made the remarks at a press briefing in Beijing.

However, Chi says as long as the nuclear threat from outside continues, North Korea has to strengthen its nuclear program.

He has also warned against joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises which are scheduled for February and March.

But South Korea says the drill will go ahead as scheduled.

 

Xi stresses ethnic unity in development

Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed ethnic unity for the economic and social development in minority areas as part of his Lunar New Year's greetings to people of all ethnic groups.

His comments have been made during a tour of Inner Mongolia. 

As part of his tour, Xi Jinping has made stops at forestry stations and grassland regions in Inner Mongolia.

He's also made stops at a number of companies in various communities in the northern Chinese region.

 

Spring Festival holiday to suffer air pollution: ministry

The Ministry of Environmental Protection is warning people to expect smog across a wide area of China during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday.

An unidentified offial with the ministry says moderate to heavy air pollution can be expected across most regions on January 31st and February 1st.

Air quality will be best in the northwest and southwest of the country.

For the rest of the country, air quality is expected to improve between February 2nd and 4th.

 

Hong Kong declares sanction against the Philippines for hostage tragedy

The Hong Kong government has declared a sanction against the Philippines.

The move is over Manila's refusal to apologize over a hostage tragedy three years ago.

Eight Hong Kong tourists were killed and seven others injured after an hours-long standoff between police and a bus hijacker who himself was a dismissed police officer.

The sanction, which is set to take effect early next month, will suspend the 14-day visa-free treatment for some Philippine nationals.

Hong Kong chief CY Leung says his government will take further actions if needed.