US plane in 'friendly fire' allegation

BAGHDAD - A coalition air strike mistakenly hit friendly Iraqi forces and civilians in western Anbar on Saturday, according to senior Iraqi officers, but the United States-led coalition said the matter is still under investigation.

Casino mogul resigns from Republican finance post

WASHINGTON - Las Vegas casino billionaire Steve Wynn stepped down on Saturday as Republican National Committee finance chairman, following allegations of decades of sexual misconduct.

Zeman seals second spell as president

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday extended congratulations to Milos Zeman on his re-election as Czech president.

Japan launches first stealth fighter jet

Japan's Air Self-Defense Force deployed its first F-35A stealth fighter jet at its Misawa base in northeast Japan's Aomori prefecture on Friday in a planned buildup of military assets that have been deemed constitutionally unsound and unsettling for regional stability, Japanese media reported.

Trump turns salesman on Davos stage

DAVOS, Switzerland - The "America First" mindset, defended by US President Donald Trump in Davos, hung heavily on his speech at the World Economic Forum on Friday.

Faulty wiring suspected in hospital fire

SEOUL - Defective wiring is suspected to have caused the deadly Republic of Korea hospital fire that killed dozens and injured more than 150, police said, as public anger swelled over the country's worst fire disaster in a decade.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Sanya Shangri-La hosts honored teachers

Sitting in the plush lobby of Shangri-La' s Sanya Resort & Spa - after having taken in the magic of the surrounding sea, and felt the sea breezes and gentle rhythms of the coconut trees outside - Ma Yulan is truly content.

Macao's benchmark tourism index goes back on the rise

Macao's tourist price index for 2017 rose 0.77 percent year-on-year to 131.87 after two years of decline, the special administrative region's statistics department announced earlier in January.

Roundup

Two Shangri-La hotels in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province in Northeast China, are together offering a seasonal package priced at 3,199 yuan ($510) to attract more visitors to explore the ice-covered region. The package includes a two-night stay in either or both of Shangri-La Hotel Harbin and Songbei Shangri-La Harbin, a breakfast for a couple, a 400 yuan dining credit and shuttle services linking the hotels to local attractions. 0451-8485-8888 or 0451-5862-9999

Pence's trip fails to revive peace hope

WASHINGTON - US Vice-President Mike Pence's five-day visit to the Middle East has ended without results, dogged by President Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a move that triggered widespread protests.

Mnangagwa promises elections by July

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was expected to visit China in April, said on Wednesday that his country will hold transparent polls before July, in the first elections since Robert Mugabe's rule ended after 37 years in power.