In brief: Court sentences Bo to life in prison

JINAN, China – A Chinese court convicted fallen politician Bo Xilai of corruption today and sentenced him to life in prison, capping one of the country’s most lurid political scandals in decades.

The Jinan Intermediate People’s Court convicted the former Politburo member and Chongqing city Communist Party chief on charges of taking bribes, embezzlement and abuse of power. He was sentenced to life in prison on the bribery charges, 15 years for embezzlement and seven years for abuse of power.

Bo’s downfall was set in motion by his wife’s murder of a British businessman, followed by his top aide’s attempt to defect to a U.S. consulate with information about the case. Bo was later investigated for corruption.

Typhoon Usagi nears Hong Kong

HONG KONG – The year’s most powerful typhoon has Hong Kong in its crosshairs today after sweeping past the Philippines and Taiwan and pummeling island communities with torrential rains and fierce winds.

Typhoon Usagi was grinding westward and expected to make landfall close to Hong Kong late today or early Monday. Forecasters had warned earlier that the storm posed a “severe threat” to the city.

The typhoon passed on Saturday through the Luzon Strait separating the Philippines and Taiwan, likely sparing residents in both places from the most destructive winds near its eye. In the Philippines, Usagi left at least two dead and two others missing, while in Taiwan nine people were hurt by falling trees on Kinmen Island.

It was about 230 miles east of Hong Kong this morning, moving west at 12 mph, the Hong Kong Observatory said. It said the storm would retain maximum sustained winds of 88 mph at 5 a.m. Monday after making landfall overnight.