新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2015/01/09（打印版）

Welcome to the Beijing Hour; we are coming to you live from the Chinese capital.

A hostage taking is underway northeast of Paris, where police have surrounded a building where the suspects in this week's terror attack in Paris are believed to be holed up.

The first-ever ministerial forum between China and a group of Latin American and Caribbean States has come to an end in Beijing

The man considered the father of China's Hydrogen bomb has been awarded this country's top science prize.

In sports... the city of Boston is going to be the United States' choice in the bid for the 2024 Olympics.

In entertainment.... Jackie Chan's son is sentenced to 6-months behind bars for a drug conviction.

Beijing will be cloudy tonight, with a low of minus 5. It will also be cloudy tomorrow, with a high of 9 degrees.　

Meanwhile Shanghai will be clear tonight, with a low of 4, tomorrow will see a cloudy day, with a high of 13.

Chongqing will be overcast tonight, 7 degrees the lowest, tomorrow will also be overcast with a high of 12.

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A massive police operation is underway northeast of Paris, where authorities have reportedly cornered the suspects linked to this week's terrorist attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

A convoy of police vehicles and several helicopters are surrounding a building in the community of Dammartin-en-Goele.

"At this moment there is an operation in Dammartin-en-Goele, we are mobilising all forces that are present in the area. Due to yesterday's operations there is an important presence of forces and their mobilisation on the ground allows a quick response."

France is in a heightened terror alert following Wednesday's attack on Charlie Hebdo.

Gunman made their way inside the offices of the satirical publication and opened fire with machine guns, leaving a dozen dead and 11 others wounded.

Two brothers, 34-year-old Said Kouachi and 32-year-old Cherif Kouachi, are the main suspects.

Another suspect, an 18-year-old, surrendered to police after hearing his name linked to the attacks.

Copies of this week's Charlie Hebdo magazine have been sold out at newsstands across France.

"For us, it is very important to be able to use a humorous style to criticize things. This attack is a national tragedy, but we are happy to see the support from all over the world."

This week's attack has drawn international condemnation, including from the Chinese government.

In New York, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is calling for tolerance in the wake of the deadly terrorist attack in Paris on Wednesday.

The UN chief has launched a new campaign, called "2015: Time for Global Action," urging world leaders to make transformative economic, environmental and social changes that will positively impact people's lives and ensure peace and stability.

The campaign has been launched in Ban's wide-ranging address to an informal meeting of the 193-member UN General Assembly.

Ban has particularly noticed several ambitious agendas this year that include advancing sustainable development, developing new streams of sustainable financing, and reach a climate agreement.

"If our work enforces as issued by the end of this year, our organization will be enriched with the due vision for development, the ideas for the maintenance of peace and security and renewed embrace of human rights, and a stronger United Nations to help all to live. This is what we must do. This is our moral and political responsibility. If we must we can and if we can we must"

In the wake of the terrorist attacks in France and Yemen in recent days, the UN chief is calling for a more comprehensive approach in dealing with terrorism and extremism.

"Our response to brutality and extremism cannot be limited to military action – important as it is. We must engage in wide-ranging efforts including by addressing the conditions that give rise to such poison in the first place"

"We need to find a way to live together in peace, in harmony, in full respect of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms"

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations.

Indonesian authorities are warning it may still take a while to locate the flight-data recorders from the AirAsia jet at the bottom of the Java Sea.

Operations are underway to try to raise the tail section of the plane where the flight-data recorders are located.

However, Indonesian authorities are suggesting the black box might not be connected to the section of the plane's tail they've discovered.

"As far as I know humans cannot hear the pings emitted by the black box. What can detect the ping is a piece of equipment called the pinger locator beacon. If we could physically hear it we would have found it by now. Only equipment not humans can hear that. We have used it from two to three days ago but the coverage is limited. It is a wide area, so it will take time."

Locating the black box is critical if investigators are to determine exactly what led to the crash.

Initial suggestions are the plane may have stalled in mid-air while attempting to avoid a weather system.

The AirAsia flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore disappeared from radar on December 28th with 162 people on board.

Sri Lanka's new President elect, Maithripala Sirisena, is set to be sworn in later this evening as the country's 7th President.

Sirisena narrowly defeated incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse, taking 51.3 percent of the vote.

He is backed by a coalition that includes the main liberal opposition and ethnic minority parties.

Political observers say his election could expedite reconciliation efforts on the island nation.

Sri Lanka is still trying to recover from the 25-year civil war against the Tamil Tiger rebels, which came to an end in 2009.

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has appeared before the National Assembly in Bangkok to defend herself against possible impeachment.

She's accused of mismanaging public funds connected to a controversial rice subsidy scheme, which critics say cost the Thai government some 15-billion US dollars.

"I insist that I, as Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, ran the country with honesty, transparency, justice, entirely under the given authority according to the constitution, the law and regulations."

Yingluck, the sister of ousted Thai Primier Thaksin Shinawatra, was removed from office for abuse of power in May.

Thailand's military later seized control of the government amid continued demonstrations.

A final ruling on Yingluck's impeachment is expected before the end of the month.

When the victim and a group of other Chinese workers resisted, they were beat up.

Police in Nairobi have yet to locate any of the suspects, who made off with cash and a computer.

China and 33 Latin American and Caribbean states making up the CELAC grouping have agreed to double two-way trade to 500 billion U.S. dollars within the next 10 years.

The goal has been set at the first-ever China-CELAC ministerial meeting, which came to a close today in Beijing.

"This meeting has been fruitful. Delegates have approved three important documents, including a five-year cooperation plan. The plan designates 13 sectors, including politics, security, trade and investment, for China-CELAC cooperation in the next five years. China-CELAC cooperation is surely to be brought to a new level with the implementation of the plan."

CELAC groups all South American countries, as well as certain Caribbean states, plus Mexico.

The meeting in Beijing has drawn dozens of high-ranking officials from CELAC nations, including the Presidents of Ecuador and Venezuela.

A number of bilateral agreements have been signed as part of the CELAC leaders' time in China.

China's top science prize has been awarded, this year, to the man dubbed the "father of China's Hydrogen Bomb."

88-year old Yu Min is a prominent theoretical physicist, whose groundbreaking research led to the development of China's first hydrogen bomb in 1967.

His award ceremony has taken place at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was on-hand to grant Yu Min the 'State Preeminent Science and Technology Award for 2014.'

Speaking to reporters after receiving his award, Yu Min admits his first choice would have been to remain out of the area of applied physics.

"Whenever the nation needs me, I'll do my best. But at that time, I wanted to resume my research in the field of theoretical physics, which had been my interest after we produced the H-bomb. But later things developed out of my control. So I stayed in the applied research field."

The award itself includes a cash prize worth five-million-yuan, which is around 800-thousand US dollars.

A majority of the prize money, almost 4.5 million yuan worth, is set to be used for future scientific research under his guidance.

Yu Min began as a researcher at the Modern Physics Research Institute with the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1951 after graduating from Peking University.

During his time with the Academy, he studied nuclear weapon theory, and is credited with solving a series of problems surrounding the testing of the H-bomb.

His research eventually led to the successful testing of China's first Hydrogen bomb in 1967, just 3-years after China's first successful atomic weapons test.

He also says it's the science behind the weapons which has kept him going through his long career.

"I think as a scientific researcher I have been following the principles of science, living a simple life and maintaining inner peace. I will never work against the principles of science, regardless of material temptations, coercion or pressure from officials."

At the height of the Cold War, Chinese nuclear scientists were under intense pressure to fast-track the country's nuclear weapons program in the face of potential nuclear threats from both the United States and the Soviet Union.

Though one of only a small number of nuclear armed countries, China has maintained a no-first-use policy since the first nuclear test in Lop Nor in 1964.

The Chinese government established the "State Preeminent Science and Technology Award" sixteen years ago to encourage scientific research.

So far, 25 Chinese scientists have won the award, including "The Father of Hybrid Rice" Yuan Longping and urban planner Wu Liangyong.

For more on China's nuclear programs, we spoke earlier with Shen Dingli, nuclear physicist and expert on international nuclear issues with Shanghai-based Fudan University.

1. How do you evaluate Yu Min's contribution to China's development of nuclear weapons?

2. Nuclear issues are very controversial nowadays. World powers, including the US, Russia, and China, have been trying to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. So what are the major changes in the nuclear political landscape in the world since the early 1950s - the beginning of the Cold War?

A new campaign dubbed the "Silk Road Tourism Year" has begun in Shaanxi's capital Xi'an.

The year-long campaign is designed to highlight Xi'an's ancient history, as well as promote Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of a 21st Century Silk Road.

"Silk Road tourism is both beneficial to the internal development and integration of tourism resources, leading the tourist coordination between provinces along the Silk Road, and establishing pragmatic, efficient and mutual beneficial regional community. We can also further advance the regional tourist communication and cooperation between China and other Asian and Central East European countries."

Xi'an, once called Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty, was the terminus of the ancient Silk Road, drawing traders from as far away as Europe and East Africa.

At the close, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost a quarter of a percent, after investors took part in an afternoon sell off to top up their wallets ahead of a batch of 20 new IPOs that are going to hit the market next week.

Bucking the trend, the banking and securities sectors posted solid gains on the day.

And finally in Singapore, the Straits Times Index traded slightly two-tenth of a percent lower.

China's Producer Price Index, the main gauge of inflation at the wholesale level, has dropped to a 34 month low in December.

The 3.3 percent year-on-year decline in the PPI is even steeper than November's 2.7 percent decline.

Niu Li, director of the macroeconomy research with the State Information Center says PPI the contraction shows no signs of ending.

"The continuous drop of producer price in 34 months was longer than the 31-month fall in regional economy caused by Asian financial crisis. Meanwhile, the downturn will continue in the foreseeable future."

The fall in procurement prices has been fueled mostly by the broad-based decline in commodity prices, particularly for crude oil, iron ore and copper.

At the same time, the Consumer Price Index, the main measure of price increases for consumers, increased 1.5-percent last month.

Full-year inflation has come in around 2-percent, which is well below the government's initial expectation of 3.5-percent growth in CPI.

China's top economic regulator is denying suggestions the recently-approved plans for a number of infrastructure projects this year qualify as economic stimulus.

The State Council has approved seven different plans for this year, said to be worth around 1 trillion U.S. dollars, which some observers are suggesting is part of a plan by the government to artificially prop-up the economy.

"The newly approved infrastructure projects aim to encourage social capital to flow into the regions rather than serving as stimulus based on fiscal expenditure. The projects are different from the 4-trillion-yuan stimulus program in 2008."

At the same time, the NDRC is also refusing to say exactly how much the projects are going to cost.

But its been widely reported the different plans are worth around 7-trillion yuan.

The projects include the creation of oil networks, power grids and clean energy.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has secured a new 20-billion US dollar investment from China.

Maduro has not said whether any new loans are included in that figure, or whether it includes previously-announced investment deals.

Venezuela is still caught up in a 50-billion dollar loan-for-oil program with China, which has been on-the-books since 2006.

However, one report says Venezuela has only paid for around half of that agreement through oil exports.

Chinese health authorities are asking hospitals to use online suppliers to purchase their emergency medicine supplies.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission has issued the call amid wordss that a number of hospitals are dealing with medicine shortages.

Chinese health authorities are also calling on pharmaceutical companies to create an online presence to make emergency medicine supplies more readily available.

Observers are suggesting the shortage of basic medical supplies is mainly a consequence of government-administered pricing, which has made the production of certain medications unprofitable.

Hainan Honz Pharmaceutical has filed a lawsuit against Tencent for damaging its reputation.

The suit is connected to rumors about Honz's product, Nimesulide, being spread via WeChat.

A message appeared on Tencent's Wechat in July, claiming the drug caused the deaths of five children.

The reports have continued to circulate on WeChat, despite Honz issuing a statement refuting the report.

Nimesulide is Honz's most popular product, accounting for 80 percent of its total sales.

The Ministry of Agriculture is sending out inspection teams to a number of Chinese regions with plans to cope with this country's struggling dairy farmers.

Local dairy producers are being pushed to sign milk procurement deals with independent dairy farmers.

This comes amid wide-spread reports of local farmers throwing out their raw milk and slaughtering their cows, as the price for their unprocessed milk is currently below the break-even threshold.

At the same time, the Ministry is pushing local governments to subsidize dairy farmers to protect them from cheap imports.

Dairy farmers in several provinces have been abandoning their businesses, as dairy producers have been refusing to accept their raw milk, as imported milk has become much cheaper and more marketable to Chinese consumers.

WBH Energy, a Texas-based shale gas producer, has become the first US shale gas to fold amid the sharp decline in global oil prices.

The company has been going through a credit crunch, with its main creditors refusing to pump any more money into shale gas exploration while oil prices remain depressed.

The company's own bankruptcy application has confirmed the company has debts worth around 50-million US dollars.

It's being suggested the downfall of WBH Energy could be the beginning of a domino effect in the shale gas exploration sector.

Analysis from S&P IQ Capital suggests US oil and gas companies, excluding Exxon Mobil and Chevron, are running combined debts worth around 200-billion dollars.

Shale gas exploration, on top of being controversial because of its impact on the environment, is also expensive, as it is a relatively new concept.

China, for the first time, has become the largest market in the world for the iPhone on a quarterly-basis.

The Chinese market accounted for 35 percent of Apple's shipments in the 3-months ending 2014.

The US accounted for just under 25-percent of all iPhone shipments during the same period.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is on-record saying China is likely to be Apple's biggest revenue source over the next few years.

Hong Kong's richest man, Li Ka-shing, has announced plans to re-organize his flagship group of companies into two new Hong Kong-listed entities.

The re-organization of Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa will see the creation of CKH Holdings, which will deal with all non-property business, including the operation of Hong Kong's port and UK retail chain Superdrug.

The other company, to be called CK Property, will absorb the company's real estate holdings and will be spun out in a new IPO.

As part of the reshuffle, Cheung Kong will ask Hutchison Whampoa shareholders to exchange their shares, resulting in the cancellation of Hutchison shares.

A massive police operation is underway northeast of Paris, where authorities have reportedly cornered the suspects linked to this week's terrorist attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

A convoy of police vehicles and several helicopters are surrounding a home in the bedroom community of Dammartin-en-Goele.

France is in a heightened terror alert following Wednesday's attack on Charlie Hebdo.

Gunman made their way inside the offices of the satirical publication and opened fire with machine guns, leaving a dozen dead and 11 others wounded.

Judges in Peru have slapped a new 8-year jail term on former President Alberto Fujimori for misusing public funds during his 2000 presidential campaign.

He has been found guilty of siphoning over 40-million US dollars to fund a smear campaign against his rivals.

The 76-year-old is already in prison, serving a 25-year jail term for human rights abuses.

His daughter, Keiko Fujimori, made an unsuccessful bid for the Peruvian presidency in 2011, losing in a run-off to current incumbent Ollanta Humala.

Thirteen police officers have been detained in Mexico in connection with the kidnapping of a journalist.

Mexican Journalist Moises Sanchez was snatched from his home by armed men on Friday.

DNA testing is underway on a body which is believed to be the missing journalist.

Sanchez wrote weekly columns in connection with the drug-related violence in the eastern state of Veracruz.

The arrests of the 13 offices come amid continuing protests in Mexico connected to the disappearance of 43 college students last year.

It's believed local authorities were involved in handing the students over to a local drug cartel, who later - it's believed - killed the students.

China and 33 Latin American and Caribbean states making up the CELAC grouping have agreed to double two-way trade to 500 billion U.S. dollars within the next 10 years.

The goal has been set at the first-ever China-CELAC ministerial meeting, which came to a close today in Beijing.

Delegates have approved three documents, including a five-year cooperation plan, which designates 13 sectors, including politics, security, trade and investment, for China-CELAC cooperation in the next five years.

CELAC groups all South American countries, as well as certain Caribbean states, plus Mexico.

Seventeen officials in Xinjiang have been punished for dereliction of duty in connection with a terrorist attack in September.

Those receiving administrative punishments include the Party Chief of Luntai County, along with a number of other officials.

However, the Party chief and head of government of one township have been sacked.

Close to 50 people were killed, mostly rioters, in an uprising in Luntai County on September 21st.

It's reported that the fare hike by the Beijing subway has not scared off beggars or affected their incomes.

Previously there was a flat two yuan (about 32 US cents) rate for single tickets and unlimited transfers. The minimum price for a subway ride is now three yuan, which is valid for travel within six kilometers. Passengers are also required to finish a ride within four hours.

Despite the new rules, a subway worker said free tickets are offered to those who provide proof of disability, and that it is difficult to tell if someone is a beggar just from their appearance.

According to the report, a beggar earns up to 8 yuan on a single ride and can make 120 yuan a night.

Beijing subway passengers are often bothered by fake beggars who sing or perform to stir sympathy and earn money.

Founded by a former policeman, gay dating app Blued quickly found favor with gay people, adding 15 million users in two years.

Users can scan profiles, chat with a potential Mr. Right or hang out in a group chatroom.

Supporters say the app has helped gay men develop a positive self-image and fight social prejudices that force them to stay anonymous.

At the Beijing headquarters, app users can take advantage of services such as free HIV tests. A red ribbon icon on the app gives Blued users easy access to information on condom use and STD prevention.

Canadian researchers suggest that being a worrier is a sign of high intelligence.

Those who live in constant fear they won't get everything done and who can't switch off worrisome thoughts are more articulate.

In tests, worriers scored higher in something called verbal intelligence – the ability to understand and work with the written and spoken words.

What is more, the men and women who found it hard not to replay past events in their heads and think 'what if?' scored poorly on a test of non-verbal intelligence.

The researchers said it is possible that those who are good with words find it easier to think in detail about past and future events – raising the odds of them being worriers.

In contrast, those with good observational skills may live in the moment and be better at making judgments as things happen and so have less need to dwell on them later.

A US survey shows that fully automated driverless cars could make up nearly 10 percent of global vehicle sales, or about 12 million cars a year, by 2035.

44 percent of US drivers surveyed would consider buying a fully autonomous vehicle within the next 10 years.

And 20 percent would be willing to pay an extra 5-thosuand US dollars or more for the advanced technology required to operate such a vehicle.

Vehicle manufacturers, including General Motors Co and Volkswagen AG's Audi, already are working on semi-automated systems that will still require some human involvement.

The first such systems, which will automatically control steering, braking and throttle in certain situations, are being phased in this year and next.

But vehicle manufacturers expect that the first truly autonomous cars will not reach the market until 2025.

Transportation authorities here in China have made it illegal for private vehicles from picking up passengers for profit using taxi-hailing apps.

Several cities in China have already outlawed unlicensed drivers using apps as camouflage.

The Ministry of Transportation released a statement ordering app developers to rule out private cars from their platforms.

The statement requires that all vehicles using the platforms should be owned by taxi or car-hire companies, citing passenger safety as the reason for the move.

The statement comes after a series of major Chinese cities cracked down on such services, which have gained popularity in recent months as many app operators are promoting it as "tailored taxi service."

Earlier this week, Liang Jianwei, head of Beijing's transport commission, warned that many cars providing "tailored taxi service" are indeed "black cabs."

"Any organization or individual is not allowed to provide taxi service without a license, while cars can't be used as cabs without an official test."

The authority has warned offending drivers that they could be fined up to 20,000 yuan, or about 3,200 US dollars.

Similar bans have also been issued in Shanghai, Shenyang, and Nanjing, where officials are citing concerns over an impact on normal taxi services and passenger safety.

But many people who have been using these apps to hail a ride disagree with the restrictions.

They suggest the government should regulate such services instead of banning them.

"Frankly speaking, their service was really good. The driver provided me water for free during the ride and opened the door for me after the arrival."

They say extra cars are needed at times, especially rush hour when it's obvious there are not enough regular cabs to serve everyone who needs a ride.

Experts are also calling for reform of the taxi licensing system that has long been blamed for the cab shortage in big cities.

Despite a higher flag-down rate than regular taxis, the "special cabs" that boast better service became popular, particularly with high-end passengers.

Boston has been selected as the American candidate city that will bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced early this morning.

Boston, which has never hosted an Olympics, was unveiled as the surprise pick over two-time host Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington.

The decision followed more than one round of voting before the Boston bid eventually received the unanimous endorsement of the USOC's board of directors.

The United States has not hosted a Summer Games since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

The announcement ends an exhaustive, 22-month evaluation process that began with the USOC reaching out to about 35 U.S. cities to gauge interest in a bid.

Boston will be up against Italy's Rome and a city in Germany, which has announced that it will bid through Berlin or Hamburg. A string of potential hosts, including Istanbul, Paris and Doha are also reportedly considering bids.

Earlier, I spoke with Mark Dryer, founder of the website China Sports Insider.com, who offered his thoughts on this development.

Second seed Kei Nishikori has advanced to the last four of the Brisbane International following a straight-sets victory over Bernard Tomic.

The Canadian beat another Australian, Samuel Groth in three sets 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6.

The pair join Grigor Dimitrov, who earlier beat Martin Klizan in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

The pair of Nishikori and Alexander Dolgopolov downed Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov and Australia's Thamasi Kokkinakis in sraight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

Roger Federer has just beaten James Duckworth 6-0, 6-1, and goes to the finals for the second successive year.

And Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky beat Czech Petra Kvitova in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Chinese compatriots Liang Chen and Wang Yafan have downed Cagla Buyukakcay and Italian Karin Knapp, 6-3, 6-2.

France's hopes of defending the Hopman Cup came to an end when Jerzy Janowicz beat Benoit Paire in straight sets.

The French needed to win all three matches against Poland, while their opponents required the one win to advance to the final against the USA.

Alize Cornet looked to have set France on their way when she beat Agnieszka Radwanska in the women's singles 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.

However, Janowicz got the better of Paire, 6-4 7-6 (8-6) ahead of the now redundant mixed doubles.

Jaycee Chan, the son of action film star Jackie Chan has been sentenced to six months in prison for a drug offence.

Chan, 32, pleaded guilty in Beijing's Dongcheng District Court for the charge of sheltering others to use drugs.

Police raided his home in August and found more than 100 grams of marijuana. He faced a maximum sentence of three years.

Chan, along with Taiwan movie star Kai Ko, were both detained at his Beijing home in August where police said they tested positive for marijuana. Ko was released after a 14 day administrative detention for drug use.

Angelina Jolie's Unbroken will get a theatrical release in China at the end of this month.

Unbroken details the life of former Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini who was captured and tortured by the Japanese during the First World War and his extraordinary tale of survival at sea.

The film was released on Christmas Day in North America where it grossed 6 million dollars.

Bill Cosby has taken to the stage in Canada after a string of cancellations in the wake of sexual assault allegations.

Cosby's show in Kitchener, Ontario was his first show since November when the entertainer saw at least 10 performances on his North American tour cancelled.

Outside the event, protesters braved below-freezing weather to shame ticket-holders as they streamed in and were expected to do so again at the second of three performances in Ontario on Thursday.

Megan Walker, Executive Director of the Abused Women's Centre in London, Ontario was one of the protestors outside the show.

"We are going to engage in a very peaceful protest outside of Budweiser Gardens. We have placards that we'll be holding which name the women who have accused Bill Cosby of assault."

A few protesters blocked the doors of the venue until being asked to leave by security.

Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything leads the nominations where it is listed in the four biggest categories including best film.

Eddie Redmayne who plays Professor Stephen Hawking, and Felicity Jones who stars as his first wife Jane Wilde, are also listed in the best actor and actress fields.

Wes Anderson's comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel has the most nominations overall with 11 nominations.

Superhero drama Birdman and The Theory of Everything follow with 10 nods apiece followed by Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game on nine.

An acetate recording of the ballad My Happiness was picked up by an undisclosed buyer at auction yesterday.

The auction took place at Graceland, the museum and tourist attraction that was Presley's former home. The sale was held on what would have been the star's 80th birthday.

Elvis recorded the song in 1953 at Sun Records, the Memphis recording studio. Presley, then 18, paid 4 dollars for the recording.

The recording is highly valued because of its place in the career of the star. The acetate is in original condition and the record is playable.

A convicted burglar charged with breaking into the Los Angeles home of Miley Cyrus has appeared in court.

Rusty Sellner pleaded not guilty to felony charges. He entered pleas yesterday to burglary, receiving stolen property and grand theft. He could face seven years and eight months in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors say he broke into the house of Miley Cyrus on December 16 and stole a large amount of property belonging to Cyrus and her brother.

This is the second burglary for the star in less than a year. In May, thieves broke into a San Fernando Valley home she owned and took clothes, purses, jewelry and a 2014 Maserati that was later found abandoned.

新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2015/01/09（在线收听）