Monday, October 31, 2011

President to visit Austria before attending crucial G20 summit



"The visit is significant in the context of the worsening European debt crisis," Shi said. "It will have a profound impact on China-Europe relations."

Hu's visit to Europe, including the G20 summit, has raised hopes that China might make a firmer commitment to the European bailout fund, Agence France-Presse reported on Sunday.

China and Austria will sign seven intergovernmental framework agreements on economic and trade matters, the environment, water conservation, education and culture during Hu's visit, according to Vice-Foreign Minister Fu Ying.

Austria has advanced technology in environmental protection, new energies and materials, which are high on China's development agenda.

"So the two countries share many possibilities to cooperate, and can achieve win-win results," Shi said.

China "hopes that the green economy will become a new growth point", Fu said, adding that China is also interested in green transport, eco-agriculture and life sciences.

China is Austria's largest trading partner outside the EU, with trade worth $6.1 billion last year, a 26-percent increase from 2009.

Trade in the first eight months of this year reached $4.6 billion, up 18.4 percent year-on-year. During the past three years, bilateral trade has been growing by an average of 30 percent each year.

Thanks to its robust manufacturing sectors and flourishing small- and medium-sized enterprises, Austria is relatively unscathed in the EU debt crisis.

Austria plays an important role in boosting other European economies, said Lu Yonghua, who served as ambassador to Austria from 2000 to 2007.

Among the deals to be signed will be one between an Austrian art company and the China Arts and Entertainment Group to boost Chinese art in Austria and other parts of Europe.

It will be signed against the backdrop of the Chinese leadership recently deciding to boost its cultural sector in line with the country's standing as the world's second-largest economy.

Lu said Hu's schedule reflects the spirit of the recent high-profile Party meeting that emphasized the rising significance of culture in boosting soft power.

China and Austria have maintained close cultural exchanges. More than 200 cultural events have been organized in Austria and China this year as Austria hosts the "Year of China".

Austria, seen as a haven of art and music, has been a key attraction for Chinese tourists, with 23,000 visiting the country last year.

After Austria, Hu will fly to Cannes, France, to attend the G20 summit.

Eurozone leaders reached a deal to tackle their crisis on Wednesday but finding sufficient funding to recapitalize debt-ridden European banks remains a headache.

Some European leaders have been looking for China to help bail out the EU, according to media reports.

China has ruled out any specific buying plan for the EU financial stability fund.

Some analyst have warned that it is not reasonable to rely on emerging economies to solve Europe's difficulties.

Neither is it realistic for Europe to pin too much hopes on China since the debt problem will only be solved by European countries themselves, said Qu Xing, president of the China Institute of International Studies.

Monday, October 24, 2011

'Lively' trio’s downtown fun

Sandra Bullock shared a racy night out with Ryan Reynolds and his girlfriend, Blake Lively, at downtown burlesque hot spot The Box.
The trio hit the Lower East Side haunt late Thursday night to celebrate Reynolds’ 35th birthday and were entertained by performances, including -- wait for it -- a “suicidal pregnant prom queen devouring her young.”
Despite far-fetched reports that Oscar winner Bullock and “Green Lantern” star Reynolds were dating this summer, a spy tells us, “He was definitely with Blake. Sandra arrived with the couple and a group, and they watched some of the burlesque performers, who were part of the club’s homage to ‘Deliverance’ and also portrayed the ‘suicidal prom queen.’
“The group had a great time and stayed late,” our source said. “Sandra left with many of the others, leaving Blake and Ryan alone.”
Another source told us, “Blake and Ryan were sitting downstairs holding hands and had bodyguards with them. They left together at around 2:15 a.m.”
Earlier, both “Gossip Girl” star Lively and Bullock toasted Reynolds, who turns 35 tomorrow, at a private dinner in the Carriage House at Palma Restaurant on Cornelia Street.
A source reported, “Both Sandra and Blake were at the dinner, which was for around 12 friends. He and Blake were being really cute and affectionate together.”
Bullock and Reynolds are longtime friends and starred together in 2009’s “The Proposal.”
Reynolds and Lively denied reports that they were involved near the end of his marriage to Scarlett Johansson. But things have been heating up between the two following Lively’s split from Leonardo DiCaprio. They spent a weekend this month in Boston, where he’s shooting the crime movie “R.I.P.D,” and Reynolds was seen kissing Lively at a train station before she got on the Acela back to New York. His rep didn’t get back to us.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/lively_trio_downtown_fun_DXnvRsRhcrNTbWZbMvAmLI#ixzz1blIRwl00

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Fashion show to benefit Atterdag Village

“Hats, Hauntings and Heirlooms” will be the theme of the Atterdag Village of Solvang Auxiliary’s fashion show, luncheon and boutique at 11 a.m. Saturday,
Oct. 29, at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton.
  Doors will open at 11 a.m. for boutique shopping and bidding on silent auction items. The luncheon, entertainment and fashion show will begin at 12:30 p.m.
 Prizes will be given for the person in the best costume and the best theme outfit, and winners will walk the catwalk in all their glory.
 Raffle tickets will be sold for an heirloom amethyst and seed pearl ring sponsored by Johnson’s Jewel Box; a cash prize of $75 will go to second place.
 Polly Firestone Walker and Adam Firestone will be the masters of ceremony.
 Stores participating in the fashion show will be Elna’s, Sue’s Place, Details, Tin Roof, Plenty, Outpost Trading Company, Heaven Scent, Parts Unknown, First Street Leather, Tracy and Laura’s, Travel Jockey Person to Person, True Addition, and Forever Posh.
 Tickets are $50, which includes one mimosa.
 Proceeds will benefit the residents of the Atterdag Village of Solvang. Invitations will be sent to former participants, but tickets can also be reserved by calling Linda Johansen at 686-1644 or Sharon Price at 686-5779.
 Sponsors are the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and Montecito Bank and Trust and their Wealth Management Division.
read more: http://www.syvnews.com/lifestyles/fashion-and-style/article_e3c19614-fa0f-11e0-8601-001cc4c002e0.html

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Anne Hathaway cast in Les Miserables film

After months of speculation, the 28-year-old will play prostitute Fantine in The King's Speech director Tom Hooper's film.
Hugh Jackman also stars in the film as fugitive Jean Valjean, while Russell Crowe will play Inspector Javert in the retelling of the Victor Hugo novel.

The film is due for release on 7 December 2012.
Hathaway had been linked to the role for some time, along with Amy Adams and Britain's Rebecca Hall.
The Oscar-nominated star has had some experience with the musical. When she co-hosted the Academy Awards in February, she sang a parody version of the song On My Own to Jackman.
She also joined Jackman on stage at the Oscars two years previously for another duet, when he was hosting the ceremony.
Gladiator writer William Nicholson has written the screenplay for the film. Sir Cameron Mackintosh - who produces the stage musical - will also produce the big-screen version.
Hathaway is currently playing Catwoman in Batman sequel The Dark Knight Rises, due for release next summer.
read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15365261

Friday, October 14, 2011

TFW diary: Minty freshness at London-based designer Thomas Tait’s Canadian debut

Saying Forever 21 is knocking off a label may be as revelatory as saying the sun rose this morning, but their recent knockoffs of Made Her Think's pieces are particularly blatant. This kind of thing hurts smaller labels like Made Her Think — which has been making various iterations of this necklace for seasons — much more than it does huge ones.

read more:http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/09/forever_21_is_knocking_off_mad.html

Gingerbread for Humanity

Be a part of a growing holiday tradition that combines fun for all ages with the opportunity to make a positive difference in your community. Decorate your very own gingerbread house for the holidays with friends and loved ones while supporting North Collin County Habitat for Humanity.


Purchase a fully stocked kit to decorate at home OR come to the event on Dec 10th where we supply fully assembled gingerbread houses ready to decorate, icing, tons of candy trimmings and lots of fun. Mrs. Claus will be on hand for photographs with decorators and their gingerbread creations. It’s a great time for a greater good.

All proceeds benefit North Collin County Habitat for Humanity. You can also donate a gingerbread kit for a Habitat family.

For details and to register, go to www.tpcmckinney.org. Also, be sure to check us out on Facebook “Gingerbread for Humanity”.

Date: Event Dec 10th - 9am - 1pm, kit pickup Dec 9th - 3-6pm

Where:  Trinity Presbyterian Church

5871 Virginia Parkway, McKinney TX

Kits: $25/ea - include house parts, over 1# assorted candy, house base, frosting to assemble and full instructions

Event: register by Dec 4th $30 at door $35

Donate a kit to a Habitat Family: $25