Russia launches Hong Kong commercial satellite

A Russian rocket carrying a Hong Kong commercial satellite has taken off from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakstan.

Bad weather had delayed the launch by two days.

It is the first time that the Asiasat telecommunications company has used the Russian Proton-k launcher.

The three-tonne communications satellite, Asia-sat 3, is intended to provide digital links, including TV services in a network being set up for the Asian region.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service