Briefly

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Leader vows to build peace community

The Republic of Korea's President Moon Jae-in vowed on Thursday to build a peace community of coexistence and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula this year. "With our people's aspiration for peace on the Korean Peninsula, the government will build a peace community of coexistence and prosperity," Moon said. He noted that the leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States maintained their willingness for dialogue, while the ROK government gradually moved toward the peninsula peace process last year in coordination with the international community.

UNITED STATES

Pompeo postpones trip amid Iraq unrest

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will postpone a trip to Ukraine and four other countries as the situation in Iraq has become tense after demonstrators stormed the US embassy in Baghdad. The embassy on Wednesday announced the suspension of all public consular operations, although the protesters were gradually withdrawing from its perimeter. The embassy said in a statement that "due to militia attacks at the US embassy compound, all public consular operations are suspended until further notice. All future appointments are canceled. US citizens are advised to not approach the embassy."

AUSTRIA

Conservatives and Greens in coalition

Austria's conservatives and the Greens agreed to form a coalition government on Wednesday, ending almost three months of negotiations. The agreement means Austria will have the left-wing Greens in government for the first time. "We have reached an agreement," Sebastian Kurz, Austria's former chancellor and leader of the conservative People's Party, told reporters at a joint news conference with Wener Kogler, his counterpart from the Greens. The two will become chancellor and vice-chancellor of the upcoming government, though the Greens, in a junior role, could gain just four of 15 ministries.

INDIA

Fire-hit factory in Delhi collapses

People including workers and firefighters were trapped inside a factory that collapsed on Thursday during a devastating fire that broke out in the Indian capital Delhi. According to officials, an explosion during the fire caused the collapse of the factory structure, trapping people under the debris. Authorities rushed 35 firefighters to the spot to contain the blaze. "The firefighting operation is underway and we are trying to rescue people stuck in the burning building," a police official said. According to the fire department, they received a distress call about the fire at 4:30 am local time and since then have been trying to douse it.

CROATIA

Country chairs EU for the first time

Croatia began to preside over the Council of the European Union on Wednesday, the first time since its EU accession in July 2013. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Tuesday that the presidency will further enhance the political and economic status of Croatia in 2020, and that the new year will be a year of further economic development and international positioning for Croatia. The slogan of the Croatian presidency will be "A strong Europe in a world of challenges." Croatia plans to support "a balanced, sustainable and inclusive growth of the EU that takes account of the specificities and needs of all member countries, their regions and citizens."