China

Dozens missing in landslides as Typhoon Megi batters China

One landslide happened about 5 p.m. local time (5 a.m. ET) in Sucun village in Suichang County. Twenty-six residents are missing, Xinhua reported.

Another landslide took place in Baofeng village in Wencheng County. Six people went missing when a landslide buried their homes, Xinhua said.

Megi made landfall earlier Wednesday in mainland China's Fujian province, less than 24 hours after it devastated Taiwan.

Four people died and at least 524 were injured in Taiwan after the powerful storm slammed into the island's northeastern coastline Tuesday afternoon.

US slaps sanctions on Chinese firm over North Korea ties

Dandong Hongxiang is accused of acting on behalf of a North Korean bank that is on a UN sanctions list to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

The sanctions come after North Korea sparked a global outcry this month byconducting its fifth nuclear test.

The engineering company and its bosses are also under investigation by Chinese authorities.

Japan scrambles jets over China flights along Miyako Straits

The planes, thought to be bombers, surveillance planes and one fighter jet, flew along the Miyako Straits, between Okinawa and Miyakojima.

China said about 40 of its aircraft had been involved in what it said was a routine drill.

The planes did not cross into Japanese airspace, but the move is being seen as a show of force by China.

It comes one week after Japan said it would take part in joint training exercises with the US navy in the South China Sea.

Vanuatu, PNG students unite to celebrate 41st independence in China

In a first-of-its-kind event, the 30 students from the Southeast University in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, gathered last Saturday (Sept 17) and proudly raised the PNG flag.

President of the Nanjing PNG Students Association, Yol Donigi, told Loop PNG that happiness and joy pervaded the atmosphere.

“They were really proud, raising their country's flag with our PNG flag to celebrate our 41st independence. Their student rep said it was a great pleasure to be part of the celebration in China, representing their government and their country,” said Donigi.

'Lose virginity' drink in China sparks debate

Four Loko, a fruit-flavoured alcoholic beverage with at least 12% alcohol content, was a well-known party drink in the US, and was removed from stores in several states until its ingredients were adjusted.

It's picked up steam in recent months in China, with people nicknaming it the "lose virginity" drink because they consider the alcohol to be dangerously strong.

Several vloggers have uploaded videos of themselves drinking the 695ml cans of drink - with varying degrees of success.

Super Typhoon Meranti targets Taiwan, mainland China

Meranti is forecast to make landfall along the southern tip of the island of Taiwan, home to more than 23 million people, on Wednesday morning local time.

Fortunately, most of the population lives on the northern and western side of the island. Even though Meranti, which likely will still be a super typhoon at landfall (meaning the winds are in excess of 150 mph/240 kph) on the southern tip, the entire island will feel the storm's wrath.

China ratifies Paris climate agreement

The country is the world's largest emitter of harmful CO2 emissions, which cause climate change.

China and the US are expected to jointly announce ratification at a bilateral summit later on Saturday.

In a landmark deal struck in December, countries agreed to cut emissions enough to keep the global average rise in temperatures below 2C (36F).

Members of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee adopted "the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement" on Saturday morning at the end of a week-long session.

China-Pacific trade doubles

Trade statistics released by Pacific Islands Trade & Invest China show that the 14 countries of the Pacific Islands Forum exported $2.5 billion worth of goods to China last year, up from $2 billion in 2014.

RNZ reports exports from China doubled to $5 billion over the same period including some significant ship sales for the fishing industry.

Papua New Guinea accounted for nearly $2 billion of the region's exports as the largest exporter of timber to China and an important exporter of Liquid Natural Gas.

Pacific grim: Australia torn between US and China

It's a storyline that's telling about Australia's attitude to Asia's pre-eminent power. On the one hand, China is the country's biggest trading partner, but it also poses a potential regional military threat that's drawing the attention of the US, Australia's closest defence ally.

China, for its part, appears keenly aware of Australia's apparent reluctance to embrace it fully. In recent months, a series of bilateral irritations have sent relations between the two countries plunging to their lowest point for nearly a decade.

Glass bridge: China opens world's highest and longest

The much-heralded "world's highest and longest" glass-bottomed bridge has opened to visitors in central China.

It connects two mountain cliffs in what are known as the Avatar mountains (the film was shot here) in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province.

Completed in December, the 430m-long bridge cost $3.4m (£2.6m) to build and stands 300m above ground, state news agency Xinhua reported.

It has been paved with 99 panes of three-layered transparent glass.