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Behind the Seams: Versace Heads to Beijing

FabSugarUK — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:00:38 -0800

Beijing has really been in the spotlight this year. Firstly for the Olympics, and now Donatella has taken the Versace empire over there for the first ever fashion show for the brand in China. The charity show took place near Beijing's central Tiananmen Square and raised over $100,000 for survivors of the earthquake in China's Sichuan province earlier this year.

The show only used Chinese models on a circular catwalk and presented pieces from Versace's Spring line which debuted in Milan back in September. Donatella explained to Reuters, "What appeals to me is the energy in China, especially in this city Beijing. There are a lot of young people, creative people, a lot of art – it's very inspiring."

She also warned that this might not be the last China sees of the fashion empire. "If the economic crisis permits, yes I'll come every year. I think the Chinese people love fashion – that's what I can feel." See below for images from the show.

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Briefing Book! Chinese AIDS Attitudes Often Misguided

LibertySugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0800

AIDS: Forty-eight percent of Chinese would not share a meal with someone with AIDS? Misconceptions around AIDS contributes to stigma in China. — Shanghaiist
Obama Administration: Reader beware? In the transition name game, reported cabinet appointments aren't always done deals. — Talking Points Memo
Food: How much do Americans spend on food each day? Find out! — SavvySugar
Global Warming: Obama's only one man? President-elect got caught on tape during debate prep asserting colorfully that he alone can't solve global warming. — 23/6
McCain: McCain at ease after loss? The day after the election Obama faced global crises, McCain faced a barbecue. — Politico

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Front Page: Late Rallies Hope to Push Voters to Morning Polls

LibertySugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:30:00 -0800

Last night the candidates wrapped up two years of campaigning. Barack Obama saved his biggest Virginia rally for last — a jam-packed event in Manassas with 90,000 people reportedly in attendance. Meanwhile, a fired-up John McCain told supporters to "be strong and fight" in an election eve rally Monday, his last before voters in swing state Nevada weigh in. — Huffington Post
Long lines formed when polls opened in Eastern states. Barack Obama's bid to become the first black president faces the final test of his remarkable two-year journey, while Republican John McCain presses for an Election Day upset. — MSNBC
A report released on Monday by a state board found that Gov. Sarah Palin did not apply improper pressure to try to dismiss a state trooper who was her former brother-in-law and did not violate state ethics laws in the firing of her public safety commissioner. The report by the Alaska Personnel Board contradicts the conclusions last month of a separate inquiry into the matter overseen by a bipartisan legislative panel. — New York Times

Taiwan and China set aside decades of hostilities today, agreeing to expand flights and allow shipping links across the Taiwan Strait, a hotspot that has long threatened to become a war zone. — Associated Press
Iran's parliament sacked its interior minister after he admitted a degree he said he obtained from Oxford University was a forgery. It is a setback for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad eight months before he faces presidential elections. — BBC News

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How Would You . . .

casasugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:00:15 -0800

This ornate pair of cypress wood Chinese Window Panels ($3,750) originally had an architectural (yet decorative) purpose in 19th century China. But, their greek key pattern, which is very popular these days, certainly gives the screen a sort of à la mode flair. I'd love to see them used in a home's interior, rather than its structure, and I'm wondering what ideas you have for them. I'm thinking they'd look quite unique used as a great headboard, coffee-table top, mirror frame, or even a hanging pot rack. The possibilities are endless. What are your thoughts? Tell me by commenting below!

Briefing Book! Experience China's Censored Internet at Home

LibertySugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0700

China: Want to come face-to-face with China's Net Nanny? New Firefox ad-on lets you experience the censored Chinese internet at home! — Shanghaiist
Palin: Will Tina go softer on the Palins? Sarah offered her daughter Bristol to babysit Tina's daughter during SNL. — Huffington Post
Voting: No long lines there? Astronauts cast ballots from space. — Neatorama
Florida: An effective surrogate? Republican strategist says Governor Charlie Crist's decision to extend voting hours in Florida just blew the state for John McCain. —23/6
Media: Is the media getting bored with pointing out campaign falsehoods? ABC picks apart lies about Obama's 2001 radio interview that are now centerpiece of Palin's stump speech. — Talking Points Memo
McCain: Behind the fancy campaign lies the truth? McCain responds to Obama's half-hour ad with new video. —Townhall

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Human Rights Online: Tech Companies Adopt Conduct Code

LibertySugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:15 -0700

Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft are set to adopt voluntary and uniform guidelines to govern their international business practices, this week. These Internet companies have struggled to find acceptable means to deal with countries like China, which silence the voice of dissidents on the Internet, and block certain websites. China has used emails sent by dissidents as evidence to put them behind bars.

Part of the code of conduct will require the companies to carefully scrutinize a government's demand for information about users, or government requests for nationwide censorship. The rules, generated by teams from the tech companies, public interest groups, academics, and socially conscious investment funds, weren't just created in the name of human rights — they're also designed to counter bad publicity surrounding tech company compliance with repressive governments.

Should international companies stay true to their hometown freedoms, or should they expect to play by the rules of all the countries where they do business?

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Human Rights Prize Could Spoil Chinese-EU Relationship

LibertySugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:13 -0700

China has thrown its weight around in Europe, declaring that its relations with the 27-members of the European Union will be seriously damaged if a dissident, currently jailed by China, receives the EU's top human rights award. Hu Jia is one of three finalists for the Sakharov Prize, and has campaigned on behalf of Chinese democracy, environmental, and HIV/AIDS movements. He has been imprisoned since last December, and was sentenced to "inciting subversion of state power" this past April.

Writing a letter to the president of the EU assembly, China's ambassador said:

If the European Parliament should award this prize to Hu Jia, that would inevitably hurt the Chinese people once again and bring serious damage to China-EU relations. . . Not recognizing China's progress in human rights and insisting on confrontation will only deepen the misunderstanding between the two sides.

In addition to this letter, China may have an opportunity to exert some pressure during the EU-Asia summit in Beijing. Starting Friday, Nicolas Sarkozy, current EU president, will ask China to become a partner in saving the world's financial system. Can one country's criminal be another 27 countries' hero? Or is Hu Jia undeniably a hero for all humans?

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China Tries to Rule Out Islam

LibertySugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:00:53 -0700

China, an officially atheist government, closely controls the five recognized religions — Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Taoism, and Buddhism. China keeps an especially close look at the northwestern Xinjiang region, where Islamic and separatist ties are strong. This weekend's New York Times took a look into how a rising China wants to blunt the rise of Islam.

Some restrictions include:

Sermons at Friday Prayer cannot be longer than a half-hour.
Prayer in public, outside the mosque, is forbidden.
Many residents can only worship in mosques located in their cities.
Government workers and Communist Party members cannot attend services.
Non-official versions of the Koran are illegal.
Only special government school may teach Arabic.
Students and government workers must eat during Ramadan.

China seems more concerned with freedom from religion, than freedom of religion.

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Front Page: UN Chief Offers Emergency G-8, Poll Finds 15% Happy With Country's Direction, China's Growth Rate Slows

CitizenSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:56:14 -0700

UN Chief On Emergency G-8:
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has offered to host an emergency G-8 summit at the UN to discuss the global financial crisis. Backing Sarkozy's appeal for world leaders to act together and meet by December, Ban said, "Such a format will allow us to more effectively act upon this crisis which requires a global solution through cohesive international partnership."

15% Happy With Country's Direction:
An AP/Yahoo poll just released found the number of people who believe the country is moving in the right direction has fallen from 28 percent last month to 15 percent this month. Respondents gave President Bush a 25 percent approval rating and nearly half of those in their 30s and 40s are worried about losing their jobs.

China's Growth Rate Slows:
The growth rate of China's economy has fallen for the third straight quarter to 9 percent, down from 10.1 percent in the previous quarter. A spokesman for the statistics department said of the trend, "The growth rate of the world economy has slowed down noticeably. There are more uncertain and volatile factors in the international economic climate. All these factors have started to release their negative impact on China's economy."

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Front Page: Bush Defends Economic Measures, China's Media Freedoms to End, US Pushes for Iraq Security Deal

CitizenSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:00:41 -0700

Bush Defends Measures:
In a speech at the US Chamber of Commerce moments ago, President Bush defended the government's recent intervention in the financial crisis as measures of "last resort," saying that it will "take a while" for the credit system to thaw and that Americans can be confident it will. He said of the intervention, "Had the government not acted. . . We would have been forced to respond with even more drastic and costly measures later on."

China's Media Freedoms to End:
The rules that allowed greater freedom for foreign reporters during the Olympics are set to expire. There has been no word yet whether they will be extended, tossed, or traded for a new set of rules. The rules that allowed journalists to travel around China without applying for permission did not apply to Chinese journalists. Many hope the freedom will expand as a legacy of the Games.
US Pushes for Iraq Security Deal:
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is seeking to extend the US mandate in Iraq which is set to expire later this year. The details of the planned draft would have US troops withdraw from Iraq by 2011. Official approval by Congress isn't required though approval from Iraq, is. The current mandate expires on Dec. 31.

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