Typhoon lashes HK

HONG KONG: Typhoon Hagupit lashed Hong Kong with heavy rain and strong winds on Tuesday evening, suspending flights and disrupting public transport as workers hurried home. The Hong Kong Observatory issued a number eight tropical cyclone warning at 6:00 pm local time as winds of 63 kilometres an hour hit the southern Chinese city. It also expected flooding to occur in low-lying areas overnight due to the combined effect of typhoon and high tide. A total of 47 flights in and out of Hong Kong had been cancelled by 4:00 pm local time. — AFP

Chavez on China visit

Beijing: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in China Tuesday on a three-day state visit, part of his week-long world tour which includes Russia, Portugal and France. China’s

foreign ministry official earlier said Chavez would meet President Hu

Jintao and other top officials to discuss an agenda dominated by energy

cooperation. The two sides will sign documents on cooperation in justice, sports and other fields. China, a booming economy with huge energy needs, is the second largest destination of Venezuelan oil after the US. Chavez, an outspoken critic of Washington’s foreign policy, is seeking new markets to reduce his country’s reliance on the United States. — AFP