Morning Edition

 

 

 

 

 

Rebecca Hume with you on this Monday September 2nd, 2013.

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.

Coming up on our program this morning...

US Secretary of State John Kerry says firm evidence of gassing found in Damascus

Egypt's state prosecutor refers ousted President Mohammed Morsi for trial on charges of inciting the murder.

Relief efforts continue in the South West China quake zone

Business

New data suggests China's manufacturing sector saw a strong recovery in August.

Sports

We get the latest from the National Games in Shenyang including results in diving and badminton

Entertainments

More from the Venice Film Festival including Gia Copppola’s latest offering

Plus

Special Reports takes a look at a growing number of Chinese entrepreneurs and business owners signing up for crash courses in cross-cultural business etiquette.

First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...

 

 

Weather

 

 

Beijing will see slight rain today, with a high of 28 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will be cloudy tonight with a low of 18.

In Shanghai, it will be cloudy today, 29 the high, and it will be cloudy tonight, the low of 23 degrees Celsius.

Lhasa will have showers in the daytime the temperature's at 22, and tonight will have showers with a low of 10 degree Celsius.

Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia

Islamabad, sunny, 33.

Kabul, sunny, with a high of 31.

And in North America

New York, thundershowers, with a high of 28 degrees.

Washington, thundershowers, highs of 33

Houston, overcast, 35.

Honolulu, sunny, 31.

Toronto, thundershowers, 25

Finally, on to South America,

Buenos Aires, overcast, 25.

And Rio de Janeiro will be overcast with highs of 30 degrees Celsius.

 

 

Top News

 

 

Secretary Kerry said firm evidence of gassing found in samples

 

Anchor

The Uinted Nations weapons inspectors are being urged to step up their lab tests on samples they collected from Damascus for the suspected use of chemical weapons.

It comes after the United States claims to have firm evidence.

CRI's Marc Cavigli has more.

Reporter

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has asked the head of the UN chemical weapons inspection team to speed up the analysis of tests from samples collected from Syria.

Martin Nesirky is the top UN spokesman.

"In light of the horrendous magnitude of the 21st of August incident in the Ghouta area of Damascus the Secretary General asked Dr. Sellstrom to expedite the mission's analysis of the samples and information it had obtained without jeopardising the scientific timelines required for accurate analysis. And to report the results to him as soon as possible. And they discussed ways to further accelerate the process."

The UN spokesman added that samples will now be sent to laboratories around Europe for examination.

But he declined to say when the results might be in.

In the US, one piece of key evidence of chemical weapons deployment in the August 21st attack appear to have been found.

US secretary of State John Kerry said samples collected by first responders to the attack have tested positive for the nerve agent sarin.

"I can tell you today, Sunday that we now have evidence from hair and blood samples from first responders in East Damascus, the people who came to help, we have signatures of sarin in their hair and blood samples. So, the case is growing stronger by the day and I believe that as we go forward here in the next days that Congress will recognise that we cannot allow Assad to be able to gas people with impunity."

Kerry's statement came one day after President Barack Obama announced that he had decided to defer any immediate action in Syria in order to seek authorisation from congress.

This in effect, has pushed off any military action until Sepetember 9th, when the US congress reconvenes.

Meantime, the Arab League has toughened its tone and called for punitive action against the Syrian government after an emergency meeting in Cairo.

Saud al-Faisal is the Saudi Foreign Minister.

"Along with the Syrian people and their representatives recognised by the Arab League, we demand the international community to take all the necessary measures to help them and stop the hooliganism of the Syrian government."

The 22-nation bloc said they held the Syrian government for the deadly attack, but didn't say if they will take part in any military action against Syria.

Earlier the UK ruled out taking part in any attack, after Prime Minister David Cameron failed to win the support of parliament last week.

That leaves France as the only other major power that could partner with the US in a strike against Syria.

For CRI, I'm Marc Cavigli.

 

 

Injured Syrians Treated in Israeli Hospital

 

Anchor

As the Syrian civil war escalates, some of the wounded Syrians have been transferred to Israel for medical care. Currently, about 150 Syrians are being treated at Israeli hospitals.

CRI's Yi Huaijie has more.

Reporter

Ziv Medical Center, in the northern Israeli city of Safed, is 35 kilometers from the border with Syria.

Since February, the hospital has received 76 Syrians wounded in the war, most of whom are civilians.

All Syrians in need of medical care when crossing into Israel are brought in by the country's military personnel and given free treatment at Ziv Medical Center. Calin Shapira, Deputy Director of the hospital, says that the Syrians are treated no differently than other patients.

"The treatment they are getting here is the best in the world. We cannot predict for how long the situation would continue, but the hospital will continue to receive wounded people as needed. They are treated only as wounded people. It doesn't matter whether they come from an enemy state and it doesn't matter whether they are civilians or combatants."

Syrians in need of treatment crossing into Israel usually require treatment for weeks or months before they completely recover.

So far, only one out of the 76 wounded has died. Six of them have been discharged from hospital. Despite the war, all the wounded Syrians say they want to return home after treatment.

Dr. Shukri Kassis is a plastic surgeon at Ziv Medical Center. Currently, his youngest patient is an eight-year-old Syrian girl whose legs were injured during a bombing. Kassis says that the Syrians were fearful when first arriving at an Israeli hospital, but now they feel safe.

"They were so surprised at the beginning…and they were so scared and afraid. It's a very new experience for them. They have a totally different idea about what's going on here in Israel. What they know about us is totally different from the reality, so they are so surprised. I remember that she refused to talk to me on the first day. She said 'my father told me not to say anything.' Now, we are friends. So imagine what's happened."

A 15-year-old Syrian girl lost one leg during a bombing, but the doctors succeeded in saving her other leg so that she can walk in the future. She says that the experience in the hospital has changed her mind about Israelis.

"They are nice people here. I was taught that Israelis are killers. Now, I understand it's not true. Only at the first day, when I saw the soldiers, I was afraid. But after that, everything was OK. The medical team speaks Arabic like I do, which makes me feel like home."

The girl has not heard about the recent attack in against Syrian civilians allegedly involving chemical weapons, but says that fighting still continues in her hometown and there is no peace.

The hospital, on the other hand, has prepared for a possible attack from. Another Deputy Director at Ziv Medical Center, Vania Volach, says that hospital staff is well trained for this emergency.

"Actually, we prepare all the time. We have our routine for emergency periods, war and things like that. We have some shelters where we can treat people and where we can operate, as well. There are places where we can continue treating people even with the chemical attack, for example."

For CRI, I'm XYee.

 

 

Egypt to try ex-President Morsi for inciting murder

 

Egypt's state prosecutor has referred ousted President Mohammed Morsi for trial on charges of inciting the murder of protesters.

The accusations relate to violence last December when at least seven people were killed in clashes outside his presidential palace.

The date for the trial is yet to be announced.

Mr Morsi has been held at a secret location since he was ousted in early July.

Since then the military-backed interim government has cracked down on Brotherhood supporters, who are demanding Mr Morsi's reinstatement.

Last month, hundreds of protesters died when security forces stormed pro-Morsi camps in the capital.

Fourteen other members of the Muslim Brotherhood are to stand trial on the same charges.

 

 

Mandela leaves hospital

 

Former South African President Nelson Mandela has left from hospital and returned to his home in Johannesburg.

President Jacob Zuma says the anti-apatheid leader remains in critical condition.

South Africa's presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj.

"Former President, Nelson Mandela has been discharged from Pretoria hospital where he has been receiving treatment. Madiba's condition remains critical and is at times unstable. Nevertheless, his team of doctors is convinced that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton home as he received in Pretoria."

The 95-year-old was admitted to hospital with a recurring lung infection on June 8th.

It is the third time for Mandela to be admitted to hospital this year.

Mandela previously suffered from tuberculosis during his 27-year incarceration, before apartheid ended in 1994.

His prolonged hospital stay has caused concern both in South Africa and abroad.

"I think he has lived his life and people should just let him go, because all the confusion is built around the fact that people are just trying to hold onto him. That's why there's so much confusion from what I see. So what I think is just let him go, let him be."

"He opened doors for so many people, and I feel he's got a very strong spirit, that he is still fighting. I hope that he gets well soon."

Media from across the globe have once again camped outside the Mandela Family Home in Johannesburg and the hospital to cover any developments in the story.

 

 

Germany Merkel faces poll rival Steinbrueck in TV debate

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and centre-left rival Peer Steinbrueck are taking part in their only televised debate ahead of this month's election.

The event is widely seen as the Social Democrat leader's last chance to change momentum in a campaign which he has trailed from the very beginning.

Early in the debate, Mrs Merkel said Germany had more people in work than ever, and said its prospects were good.

"We can simply tell the people in this country that we can achieve further progress. The work is of course not over yet, of course there are many worries, many woes but we have shown that we can do it, and that in a difficult time, in a time during which we had the worst European crisis, that Germany is strong, Germany is a growth motor, Germany is an anchor for stability and I want to continue on this path and I think that what we have show really convinces people."

The German economy has performed better than its European peers during the euro crisis, with unemployment now hovering near its lowest levels since reunification in 1990.

An opinion poll on Friday gave Mrs Merkel's conservative bloc 41% of the vote, while Mr Steinbrueck's Social Democrats were trailing on 26%.

If Mr Steinbrueck does narrow the gap, Mrs Merkel is likely to remain chancellor but the two parties would be forced to consider rebuilding a coalition.

 

 

Relief efforts continue in SW China quake zone

 

Relief supplies are being transported into southwestern Yunnan Province after a 5.9-magnitude quake struck the region over the weekend, killing 3 with 50 others still missing.

Local officials say goods can be guaranteed in regions around the most-hit area of Deqen County.

The quake struck the juncture area of Deqen and Shangri-La counties in Yunnan Province and Derong County in Sichuan Province Saturday morning.

Earlier on Wednesday, a 5.1-magnitude quake hit the same area.

Some 100 schools with nearly 60,000 students have been affected.

Schhols in the region are now closed until the opening of the autumn semester.

 

 

Shanghai liquid ammonia leak caused by detached pipe cap

 

Initial investigations are showing that the liquid ammonia leak which killed 15 in Shanghai was caused by a detached pipe cap.

A cap on a pipe carrying liquid ammonia reportedly fell off, releasing the chemical Saturday morning.

All of the 25 injured are receiving hospital treatment and are said to be in a stable condition.

Local authorities have sent environmental monitoring vehicles to test the impact of the leak.

No pollution was detected as of Sunday.

The liquid ammonia was used in food refrigeration units at Shanghai Weng's Cold Storage Industrial Company Limited.

Further investigations into the accident is under way.

 

 

The popularity of mobile transactions

 

Anchor

Stats from China's Central Bank have shown that roughly two-trillion yuan was exchanged in mobile transactions in the second quarter of this year.

CRI's Su Yi has more insights on the popularity of mobile transactions.

Reporter

"Hello, has my delivery arrived? Thank you. If you could provide me with your bank account number, I'll make the payment as soon as possible."

Cheng Tianshi is a mobile payment consumer. After he got a call from the delivery company, he plugged a small electronic device into his mobile phone. He then swiped his bank card through the device and completed the transaction.

Cheng Tianshi said the device through which he swiped is card is actually a mobile payment card reader.

"The mobile payment card reader is like a mobile ATM. With it, I don't have to use a computer to complete online payments. As long as my mobile phone has access to the Internet, the payment could be done at anytime and at any place. I can make payments while in transit or during travels."

Coinciding with expert predictions that, in the next three years, consumers will carry less cash with them, newer, innovative mobile payment methods and devices were unveiled at the China Internet Conference in mid-August.

One device showcased at the conference used quick-response codes, representing the newest wave of the digital shopping experience. Quick-response codes are a type of two-dimensional barcode used to quickly identify information. Financial expert Li Shu elaborates.

"If we pick an item with a quick response code attached to it, we can scan the code on Weixin with a mobile phone. This will lead us to the payment webpage. If the mobile phone is connected to a bank card, we can finalize the transaction on that webpage and complete the purchase of the product we want to buy."

With its combination of simplicity and ease-of-use, mobile payment methods are predicted to become the mainstream payment method to conduct transactions in China.

Liu Shiyu, Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China, says that they will release more licenses for businesses to provide mobile payment options in the near future.

"So far, we have issued licenses for 97 enterprises, which conduct business by mobile payment. Now, there are more enterprises who can utilize mobile payment options, so we may issue more licenses in the near future."

Ma Weihua, President of China Merchants Bank, also sees the financial opportunity in the growing popularity for using mobile payment.

"Mobile payment methods have revolutionized using credit cards. In the future, credit cards can be connected to mobile phones. Maybe this is the first move in cutting out the card business altogether, since the trend is to consolidate credit card accounts and mobile phones. The youth will like this very much."

In early August, China's State Council estimated that, by 2015, data consumption may yield 3.2 trillion yuan across the country.

Back Anchor: That is CRI's Su Yi reporting.

 

 

Biz Reports

 

 

Market preview

 

Anchor

Let's get a preview of what's happening in the business world this week.

Here's CRI's Marc.

Reporter

This is going to be a significant week for markets as the possibility of Syrian conflict and Fed tapering are likely to dominate global affairs.

In the US, the August ADP non-farm employment change figure and the weekly unemployment claims figure are due on Thursday.

The non-farm payroll and the headline unemployment rates are set to be released on Friday.

The non-farm payroll figure is generally seen as the leading indicator of current employment conditions and the release typically brings about high volatility and speculation.

Apart from the job data, US involvement in the Syrian crisis is also highly likely to shock the markets.

In the Eurozone, it is a largely quiet week. The focus of the week is to be the monetary policy decision from the ECB on Thursday.

Spain and Italy are set to release their manufacturing PMI figures on Monday and services PMI figures on Wednesday.

On Thursday the ECB will announce the latest interest rate decision. Markets expect no change from the current 0.5-percent level.

In UK, the first release of the week comes in the form of the manufacturing PMI figure on Monday morning. The same goes for the construction PMI figure, due out on Tuesday. The third and most important PMI is the services PMI figure due out on Wednesday.

The final event of note for the week comes on Thursday when the MPC release their latest monetary policy decisions at midday.

Finally, in Asia, it is going to be a particularly busy week for the Asian region.

China has released its official PMI figure over the weekend.

Later in the week, the Japanese economy will come into focus, with the release of the monetary policy statement from the Bank of Japan on Thursday.

 

 

China's manufacturing sees hefty rebound in Aug.

 

New data suggests China's manufacturing sector saw a strong recovery in August.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector rose to 51 percent in August from 50.3 percent in July.

The figure marks the second monthly expansion in a row.

It is also the highest reading this year.

A reading below 50 indicates contraction, while anything above signals expansion.

The 70 basis point expansion also represents the biggest increase since January. In the months prior to August, the data had fluctuated.

Analysts suggest the new data shows that manufacturing activities have a stronger growth impetus and the economy is firming in a more evident way.

China's economy has been stuck in a consistent slowdown, easing to 7.5percent growth in the second quarter from 7.7 percent in the first three months.

 

 

Live call-in with Mike Bastin on Sinopec takes stake in Egyptian oil

 

Anchor

China Petrochemical Corp, or Sinopec Group, has agreed to pay 3.1-billion-US-dollars for a 33 percent stake in Apache Corp's Egyptian oil and natural gas business.

The deal is the first stage of a partnership between China's largest refiner and the Texas-based exploration and production company.

The two companies aim to pursue joint upstream oil and gas projects.

The operations will add a daily output of around 130-thousand barrels of oil for the Sinopec Group.

The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter, and will be Sinopec's largest such transaction since the 2010 purchase of Syncrude Canada Ltd.

Previously, China National Offshore Oil Corporation or CNOOC bought Canada-based Nexen for 15.1-billion-US-dollars earlier this year.

For more on this we're joined live on the line by Mike Bastian, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.

Questions

!. What do you think of this recent move by Sinopec and CNOOC?

Does it signal growing expectations of oil demands in China amid previous signs of a slow down in the economy?

2. There have been concerns over the investment environment in Egypt.

In terms of corporate strategy, is it a reasonable move for Sinopec to invest in the region?

3.For a 9th year, Sinopec Group tops the 2013 edition of the Top 500 Chinese Enterprises list.

How do you think the company will perform in the coming couple of years amid the nation's ongoing economic transformation from quantity to quality?

Back Anchor:

Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.

 

 

China reveals top 500 companies

 

China has published the 2013 edition of the Top 500 Chinese Enterprises list.

The list was compiled based on the 2012 revenues of Chinese companies.

Sinopec Group took the lead for a ninth year with total revenues of 2.8 trillion yuan in 2012.

China National Petroleum Corporation, the parent company of PetroChina, followed closely in second place.

The two were joined by eight other state-owned companies to dominate the top 10.

The eight SOEs include State Grid, China Mobile, China State Construction and China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

The top ten also include Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the other three largest Chinese banks.

A total of 123 companies, including 16 private enterprises, reported revenues of more than 100 billion yuan last year.

It is up from 107 companies a year earlier.

 

 

Verizon, Vodafone to announce $130 billion U.S. deal on Monday

 

Verizon Communications and Vodafone plan to announce a $130 billion deal.

It is expected to give the U.S. telecom giant complete control of Verizon Wireless.

British Vodafone says it is in advanced talks with Verizon to sell its 45 percent stake in the joint venture for $130 billion.

It's being reported Vodafone would get $60 billion in cash, $60 billion in Verizon stock, and an additional $10 billion from smaller transactions.

To fund the cash portion of the deal, Verizon has reportedly lined up as much as $65 billion in financing from four banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co and Morgan Stanley.

The deal is subject to final board approval.

 

 

HSBC to cease wealth management business in some MidEast countries

 

HSBC Holdings is set to stop offering wealth management products in Bahrain, Jordan and Lebanon.

Europe's biggest bank is reportedly moving to exit small or insufficiently profitable operations globally as part of a strategic review.

It's being reported HSBC has cut its retail banking business in some Middle Eastern nations and merged its operations in Oman with a local bank.

HSBC says existing customers will continue to receive basic services and their wealth management-related investments will be maintained until maturity.

The lender has reportedly informed employees about the decision internally and those affected will be absorbed by other teams within HSBC.

 

 

Headline News

 

 

Secretary Kerry said firm evidence of gassing found in samples

 

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has asked the head of the UN chemical weapons inspection team to speed up the analysis of tests from samples collected from Syria.

It comes after the US secretary of State John Kerry said the US has found firm evidence of gassing in samples collected by first responders to the attack.

US President Barack Obama has announced that he had decided to defer any immediate action in Syria in order to seek authorisation from congress.

Meantime, the Arab League has toughened its tone and called for punitive action against the Syrian government after an emergency meeting in Cairo.

 

 

Egypt to try ex-President Morsi for inciting murder

 

Egypt's state prosecutor has referred ousted President Mohammed Morsi for trial on charges of inciting the murder of protesters.

The accusations relate to violence last December when at least seven people were killed in clashes outside his presidential palace.

The date for the trial is yet to be announced.

Mr Morsi has been held at a secret location since he was ousted in early July.

Since then the military-backed interim government has cracked down on Brotherhood supporters, who are demanding Mr Morsi's reinstatement.

Last month, hundreds of protesters died when security forces stormed pro-Morsi camps in the capital.

Fourteen other members of the Muslim Brotherhood are to stand trial on the same charges.

 

 

Relief efforts continue in SW China quake zone

 

Relief supplies are being transported into southwestern Yunnan Province after a 5.9-magnitude quake struck the region over the weekend, killing 3 with 50 others still missing.

Local officials say goods can be guaranteed in regions around the most-hit area of Deqen County.

The quake struck the juncture area of Deqen and Shangri-La counties in Yunnan Province and Derong County in Sichuan Province Saturday morning.

Earlier on Wednesday, a 5.1-magnitude quake hit the same area.

Some 100 schools with nearly 60,000 students have been affected.

Schhols in the region are now closed until the opening of the autumn semester.

 

 

China's manufacturing sees hefty rebound in Aug.

 

New data suggests China's manufacturing sector saw a strong recovery in August.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector rose to 51 percent in August from 50.3 percent in July.

The figure marks the second monthly expansion in a row.

It is also the highest reading this year.

A reading below 50 indicates contraction, while anything above signals expansion.

The 70 basis point expansion also represents the biggest increase since January. In the months prior to August, the data had fluctuated.

Analysts suggest the new data shows that manufacturing activities have a stronger growth impetus and the economy is firming in a more evident way.

China's economy has been stuck in a consistent slowdown, easing to 7.5percent growth in the second quarter from 7.7 percent in the first three months.

 

 

Newspaper Picks

 

 

Beijing News

Headline: State assets chief being investigated

Summary:

China's state assets chief, Jiang Jiemin, is under investigation for suspected "serious discipline violations."

No other details have been provided.

Jiang is the first member of the Party's new Central Committee to be investigated.

This follows last week's announcement that four senior executives with CNPC had been removed from their posts due to corruption.

Beijing Times

Headline: Customized shuttle service launched in Beijing

Summary:

A customized shuttle service has been launched in Beijing.

The operator has released 62 bus routes for 31 destinations, with 168 bus stops.

The routes were mapped out according to a survey.

Once 50 percent of seats for a route are booked, the route will begin operation within one week.

The first batch of the buses is expected to be in operation this month.

South China Metropolitan Daily

Headline: Pipeline cap blamed for deadly leak of ammonia

Summary:

A cap that became detached from a pipe is reportedly to blame for a liquid ammonia leak in a refrigeration plant which killed 15 people and injured 25 others.

The injured are all in a stable condition after treatment.

Survivors say they haven't received any safety training, including evacuation procedures.

Yanzhao Metropolitan Daily

Headline: Official gets death sentence

Summary:

A village official in Hebei Province has been sentenced to death for taking bribes of 57.13 million yuan and 10 kilograms of gold, and organizing a mafia-like gang.

Nineteen others have been found guilty for gang crimes and sentenced from 16 months to life in prison.

Liu also sent his gang members to set fires and attack villagers who opposed his plans.

China Daily

Headline: Beijing prepares for September gridlock

Summary:

Beijing will use motorbikes and helicopters as part of a series of measures to tackle heavy traffic in September.

More traffic police will be dispatched to maintain traffic order.

Global Times

Headline: Yahoo China begins shutdown

Summary:

Yahoo China, operated by China's e-commerce company Alibaba Group, has stopped providing news and community services.

The team that ran Yahoo China will be responsible for Alibaba's public welfare program.

This comes after Yahoo China's closure of its e-mail service on August 19.

Shanghai Daily

Headline: Cleaner fuel available at 10 downtown gas stations

Summary:

Ten Sinopec pump stations in downtown Shanghai are to start offering higher quality gasoline similar to Euro V standard fuel as the city continues its efforts to reduce pollution.

Prices remain unchanged, at least for now.

The new fuels have less sulfur and manganese.

Sinopec plans to upgrade all stations by the end of October.

 

 

Special Reports

 

 

Chinese entrepreneurs and business owners sign up for business etiquette course

 

Anchor

A growing number of Chinese entrepreneurs and business owners are signing up for crash courses in cross-cultural business etiquette.

CRI's Jordan Lee has more.

Reporter

Chinese tourists have received a lot of flak lately for bad manners while vacationing abroad.

A dead dolphin and defaced Egyptian relic come to mind.

But the same complaints are not made about the Chinese who represent corporations and government overseas.

One reason may be because there has been a recent surge in business etiquette courses and schools in China.

Government groups like the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and China's Commerce Ministry are putting their representatives through etiquette courses before sending them abroad.

One of China's leading finishing schools is Beijing-based Institute Sarita.

Harvard business school graduate and Sarita founder Sara Jane Ho says the majority of her clients are female business owners and entrepreneurs.

"I have a client who owns her own business with her husband, they have offices all over the world. Her and her husband have to travel to these different countries. They also have to entertain foreigners Brazilians Indians Americans at their home in shanghai. My client needed to learn the customs culture and cuisine of these different countries."

A portion of Ho's 12-day hostessing course is dedicated to business etiquette--ranging from how to set up a business meeting to exchanging business cards.

Because many of Ho's middle-age clients have not studied abroad and do not speak English, cross-cultural business interactions can be baffling.

Something as simple as an initial greeting varies widely from culture to culture.

"What an American is looking for is a smile, eye contact, and a firm handshake. But if you go to India or the Middle East, and you're a woman introduced to a man, you should not necessarily put your hand out, because in those cultures they do not like inter-gender touching.

Emily Wu is a young entrepreneur, who is working on launching a cake-baking and delivery service in Beijing.

Wu however says she would not take part in an etiquette course.

"Maybe I wouldn't go to this kind of class, because I would rather just learn through experience and especially old people who have success in different business areas. "

Ho says the Chinese recognize the link between solid relationship and a solid business deal.

"From the Chinese perspective, business is done through relationships. They really want to relate to and respect to their international clients and manufacturers ways. When you do something that according to etiquette is really glaringly offensive, that can absolutely break a business deal as well as a personal relationship."

Karen Stohr, a senior researcher at Georgetown told Bloomberg that China resembles a blossoming America in the 1920's.

An influx of migrants into urban areas altered the social fabric.

People began looking for ways to fit in, and one way was to adapt to the dominant etiquette system.

For CRI, I'm Jordan Lee.

 

 

Sports

 

 

Badminton star Lin Dan eyes new record at China's National Games

 

Still at the China National Games,

Badminton superstar Lin Dan hopes to win his third consecutive crown in China's National Games for yet another record.

Sunday night, representing the People's Liberation Army delegation, Lin claimed a 2-0 victory over Huang Yuxiang of Zhejiang Province in the opening match of the men's event.

Lin, the first man to clinch back-to-back Olympic titles last August in London, will also compete later in the singles event.

He previously won two gold medals for this event in the 2005 and 2009.

In August, Lin made his successful return to action after taking a year off following the London Olympics, where he became the first man to win five world championship singles titles.

Other world top-ranked players in Shenyang this year include Chen Long, Li Xuerui and Wang Yihan.

Results are from the first round of the men's Badmintion team play Sunday night.

In Team E:

Fujian defeated Shang dong 3:0

Jiuangsu wore down Shanghai 3:0

Host Liaoning dispatched Hubei 3:2 Hubei

In Team F

Beijing 3:2 Guangdong;

Hongkong 3:0Hunan;

People's Army Liberation 3:1 Zhejiang

In other actions,

Liu Xiao of Liaoning takes the men's sabre individual gold, Olympic fencing champion Zhong Man suffered a shock defeat in the quarter-finals.

But Zhong will represent Jiangsu to compete in the men's team sabre on Thursday.

While Fujian fencers swept three medals in the women's sabre individual competition, Dai Huili claimed the gold.

In the women's taekwondo,

Teenager Li Zhaoyi, Representing the People's Liberation Army, claimed the first taekwondo gold at China's 12th National Games here on Sunday with victory in the women's 49kg class.

In the men's 58kg categary, Zhao Shuai from Jiangsu clinched the gold.

 

 

China get the runner-up in the World Grand Prix title

 

The 2013 World Grand Prix Finals have come to an end.

China was defeated by London Olympic champions Brazil 3-0 in a match between two previously unbeaten teams yesterday afternoon.

Brazil clinched a record ninth World Grand Prix title with a perfect 5-0 win-loss record and without dropping one single set.

Before the final competition, China have got their 19-match winning streak under the guidance of newly appointed coach Jenny Lang Ping.

Backing to 2007, China finished second too.

Earlier on Sunday, European champions Serbia twice rallied from one set down to beat Italy in a five-set thriller to win the bronze medal.

Three-time defending World Grand Prix champions the United States finally collected their fist victory in five tries in the World Grand Prix Finals as they rallied past the host Japan 3-2 in the last match of the day and the tournament Sunday evening.

Despite the loss, Japan ranked fourth on five points from one win and two 3-2 losses ahead of Italy (4) and the USA (3).

 

 

Gareth Bale signs for Real Madrid

 

The protracted transfer of Welsh forward Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid has finally reached an end.

His now former boss Andre Villas Boas has confirmed the departure after his side's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal - with Real Madrid announcing a six year contract for the 24-year old on their website.

" The player is an absolute wonderful player, he is going to join Real Madrid so we wish him all the best. He has left us with great memories from last season which I think every Tottenham fan cherishes but he has moved on and we move on as well."

The move is believed to be worth around 100 million euros, which would make it a new world record fee - eclipsing the 93 million euros Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

UK Broadcaster David Frost Dies

 

UK broadcaster Sir David Frost has passed away after suffering a heart attack.

The 74-year-old media personality was giving a speech on board the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship when he fell ill.

Frost was known for his time on the shows The Frost Report and Through the Keyhole.

His interviews with US President Richard Nixon became the focus of the 2008 Academy Award nominated film Frost/Nixon.

(frost trailer)

Stars and politicians alike have taken to social media to offer their condolences to Frost and his family.

Prime Minister David Cameron remembers Frost as a friend and fearsome interviewer.

Frost's family has thanked the public for their well-wishes and has asked for privacy during this difficult time.

 

 

Venice Film Festival Update

 

Over at the Veince film festival filmmaker Gia Coppola has unveiled her latest film Palo Alto.

For the film Coppola has remarked she wanted to explore the vulnerability felt by teenagers and the angst of growing up.

The film follows the lives of 4-teenagers in the small affluent community of Palo Alto, California.

Actor James Franco, who appears in the film, wrote the book Palo Alto Stories on which the film is based.

He was in attendance at the film's premiere.

"It was a way to kind of give one aspect, and intensify that aspect to give a sense of how it can feel when you are young and you don't have a full perspective of life and it seems like everything that is happening to you right now is the end all when it is not. It can be very intense and scary. It was just an attempt to capture that ad give a feeling of that.

Franco is also at the festival promoting his new film Child of God an adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel.

Child of God is one of 20 films in competition for the coveted Golden Lion award this year.

Other notables arriving in Venice include Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe who's premiering his new film Kill Your Darlings and 78-year-old Dame Judi Dench who says she has no plan to retire anytime soon.

She's at the festival promoting her new film Philomena where she appears as an Irish woman shamed for having a child out of wedlock.

 

 

Legendary Animator Hayao Miyazaki to Retire

 

Sad news coming from a press conference at the Venice Film Festival in which legendary Japanese filmmaker/animator Hayao Miyazaki has announced his retirement.

Miyazaki says his latest film The Wind Rises will be the last film he directs before retiring.

(wind rises trailer)

The 72-year-old director has been one of the most influential and greatest filmmakers of his time.

He is known for work such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Ponyo, and Princess Mononoke among others.

His latest film The Wind Rises is a fictionalized biography of the designer of the Japanese fighter jet that served in World War II.

The film received a large amount of criticism from Japanes filmgoers who asked why base a story around a character who quote "built killing machines."

 

 

Musician Fiona Apple Storms Offstage Cursing Audience

 

Fiery musician Fiona Apple stormed off the stage during a live performance at a Tokyo fashion party thrown by Louis Vuitton.

(apple clip)

Apple was reportedly frustrated by the loud chatty crowd and repeatedly asked the audience for silence during her set.

However, upon not receiving quiet from the crowd Apple began cursing and screaming at them before storming off the stage.

This isn't the first time Apple's fiery temper has manifested itself.

Since the beginning of her career the musician has been known for her controversial views and outspoken demeanor during concerts and award shows.

In 1997 she won the Best New Artist award from MTV but during her acceptance speech she thrashed and badmouthed MTV culture and what it stands for.

Academy Award winning director Paul Thomas Anderson recently directed a music video for one of her newest songs Hot Knife.