Asia

Marvel creates Chinese superheroes

Manila - Muslimchronicle

Chinese superheroes will soon be joining the pantheon of larger-than-life Marvel universe mainstays Spider-Man, Iron Man and the X-Men, a company official said as the comic book giant makes a major thrust into Asia. As part of a push to grow its Asia fanbase, the Disney-owned franchise has released mobile games in China, opened "Marvel Stores" in South Korea and isRead more

'Global shift' as Olympics set up shop

Asia - Muslimchronicle

When the cauldron ignites in Pyeongchang on February 9, it will open a sequence of three Olympic Games in Asia over the next four years -- highlighting the region's growing clout, and also the declining interest among Western powers in holding the multi-billion dollar events. After next month's Winter Games in South Korea, Tokyo will take centre stage in 2020 and BeijingRead more

Europe casts a wary eye on China's Silk Road plans

NEWS DESK - Muslimchronicle

Depending on who you ask in Europe, China’s colossal East-West infrastructure programme is either an opportunity or a threat — and when French President Emmanuel Macron visits next week, Beijing will be watching to see how keen he is to jump on board, reported AFP. Since China launched the New Silk Road plan in 2013, the hugely ambitious initiative to connect AsiaRead more

Different approaches to bitcoin in Asia

Beijing - Muslimchronicle

From clampdowns to a warm embrace, regulators in Asia have taken very different approaches to dealing with the bitcoin phenomenon. Here are the developments in a few key markets: - Chinese clampdown - In mid-September, China's central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBOC), told virtual currency trading platforms based in Beijing and Shanghai to cease market operations. Authorities alsoRead more

Global markets extend 2018 rally

New York - Muslimchronicle

The 2018 global equity rally continued apace Friday, with Asian and European markets posting healthy gains and Wall Street powering to fresh records once again. One day after the Dow finished above 25,000 for the first time, the blue-chip index moved higher still, picking up momentum throughout the day before finishing at 25,295.87, up nearly one percent. The rise came despite aRead more

European stocks struggle as US tax cut euphoria wanes

Washington - Muslimchronicle

European stock markets mainly fell Thursday, after a mixed performance in Asia, as euphoria waned over US President Donald Trump's tax reform bill, dealers said. Markets also faltered with many investors away for an extended festive break for Christmas and New Year holidays. Global equities have nevertheless rallied this year, with Wall Street enjoying a record-breaking run, on expectations thatRead more

China's Didi raises $4 bn

Washington - Muslimchronicle

Chinese ride-sharing firm Didi Chuxing said Thursday it had raised $4 billion from investors, months after a funding round that made it Asia?s most valuable startup, as it presses on with a global battle with US giant Uber. Local (Stuttgart: 19549987.SG - news) and foreign groups contributed to the huge pot, which will be used to fuel Didi's globalRead more

Top K-pop star found dead in apparent suicide

london - Muslimchronicle

A lead singer of SHINee, one of South Korea's top K-pop boybands, died on Monday, police said, in what appears to be a suicide. Kim Jong-Hyun, 27, was found unconscious at a Seoul hotel by police after sending his older sister several text messages suggesting suicide, police said. The messages read "This is my last farewell," "Things have been soRead more

Lebanon remains occupied

Eyad Abu Shakra

New words and idioms have recently imposed themselves on Lebanon’s political dictionary, such as “preventing a vacuum,” “stability,” “realism” and “temporary truce.” All these express a particular situation pointing to a local imbalance that benefits from regional disorder and global confusion. The Lebanese are now merely passing time while international strategies around conflict intersect and conceal themselves, as the playersRead more

Global, Asian heat waves in 2016 due purely to climate change

Miami - Muslimchronicle

Last year's global heat record, extreme heat in Asia and unusually warm waters off the coast of Alaska happened purely because the planet is getting warmer due to human activities like burning fossil fuels, a study said Wednesday. The findings mark the first time that global scientists have identified severe weather that could not have happened without climate change, saidRead more