Briefly

SYRIA

European diplomats meet de facto leader

The foreign ministers of Germany and France said they wanted to forge a new relationship with Syria and urged a peaceful transition as they visited Damascus on Friday to meet its de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on behalf of the European Union. Germany's Annalena Baerbock and France's Jean-Noel Barrot are the first ministers from the EU to visit Syria since opposition groups seized control of Damascus on Dec 8.

AUSTRIA

Talks on new 3-party government collapse

Talks on forming a new three-party government in Austria collapsed on Friday as the smallest of the prospective coalition partners pulled the plug on the negotiations. The talks had dragged on since Austria's president tasked conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer in October with putting together a new government. That decision came after all other parties refused to work with the leader of the Freedom Party, which in September won a national election.

SOUTH KOREA

Jeju Air CEO banned from leaving country

Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae has been banned from leaving South Korea, police said on Thursday. The Jeonnam National Police Agency, which is investigating the Dec 29 Jeju Air plane crash, has banned two of the airline's officials from leaving the country. The two officials were believed to be "important reference" amid the probe. The Jeju Air flight from Bangkok to Muan Airport in southwest South Korea crashed while landing without wheels, killing 179 people.

Xinhua - Agencies