TOKYO: A typhoon churned towards eastern Japan on Saturday, the country's meteorological agency said, issuing an alert over strong winds and high waves in the region. Typhoon Chaba, which means hibiscus in Thai, was some 250 km southwest of Tokyo, packing winds of up to 162 km/hr near its centre. It was moving northeast off Japan's Pacific coast at a speed of 45 km/hr, on course to affect the Tokyo region late Saturday. Airline companies have cancelled at least 34 domestic and 16 international flights. – Agence France