IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Beijing

Blue alert for typhoon extended

The National Meteorological Center renewed its blue alert on Thursday as Typhoon Damrey continued to bring high winds to the South China Sea. At 5 pm on Friday, the eye of the storm was over the South China Sea, 650 kilometers east of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, packing winds of up to 137 kilometers per hour. The typhoon is expected to make landfall in southern Vietnam on Saturday morning. The center suggested local governments take precautions against possible disasters, and advised ships in affected areas to return to port.