新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2015/02/02（打印版）

China's first major policy paper of the year unveils plans to modernize the agricultural sector, boost farmers' incomes, and more...

People across Japan react in shock and horror to the beheading of journalist Kenji Goto by Islamic State militants...

and a power sharing deal has been reached in South Sudan between the government and rebels...

In business...manufacturing PMI in China has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years...

In entertainment...A major American studio unveils plans to open a theme park in Beijing...

Beijing will be overcast with a high of 3, tonight also overcast with a low of minus 5 degrees Celsius.

Shanghai will have slight rain in the day with a high of 8, overcast tonight with a low of 5.

Modernization of the agricultural sector, boosting farmers' incomes, improving rural infrastructure and rural reforms are among the priorities highlighted in China's first major policy document for this year.

The document stresses that as China's economy shifts from a high-speed to a slower growth rate, agriculture remains the foundation of the country's economy.

It lists 5 aspects for detailed government work on reforms and tasks related to the "three rural issues", agriculture, rural areas, and farmers.

"These five aspects can be categorized into two parts. The first part is the major tasks, to consolidate the agricultural sector, to increase farmers' income, and to build a beautiful countryside. The second part is about how to achieve these tasks. We say reform is the driving force, and to improve the legal system is a guarantee to achieve these tasks."

These include surging production costs, shortages of agricultural resources, excessive exploitation, and worsening pollution.

"The transformation of the development mode is the most crucial task featured in the document, which for the first time put equal emphasis on quantity, quality, and benefits."

The document calls for deepening agricultural restructuring, raising the quality and safety levels of agricultural products and innovating the circulation patterns of farm produce.

All the efforts are to accelerate agricultural modernization, a goal set by the central government at the end of last year.

The document says China will also increase investment in the agriculture sector and the countryside, boost the effectiveness of agricultural subsidy policies, improve the pricing mechanism for farm produce and enhance supporting services.

Meanwhile, the document has for the first time noted the importance of rule-of-law in the countryside.

It calls for improving the agricultural and rural legal systems in dealing with issues such as protection of rural property rights, regulation of rural markets, and rural reforms.

"As the agricultural reforms are proceeding, the rights and obligations of farmers should be properly defined and protected during the transition of land and the trade of rural resources, so strengthening the legal system in rural area becomes increasingly necessary."

The document issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council every year is dubbed the "No.1 Central Document".

Jordan has vowed to do all it can to secure the release of a pilot captured by the Islamic State group, after a video was released appearing to show the beheading of a second Japanese hostage.

A Jordanian government spokesperson says Jordan is still ready to hand over a jailed Iraqi militant to the IS in return for airman Muath al-Kaseasbeh.

The pilot's father, Safi al-Kaseasbeh, says the government is working on his son's release.

"The National committee has repeated its demands to the Jordanian government and asked for more efforts and for the opening of a dialogue channel with the Islamic State militants, be it through public figures, NGO'S or through international efforts in the region."

He was speaking a day after a video emerged purportedly showing the militants beheading Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.

The IS had demanded the release of Sajida al-Rishawi, an al-Qaida prisoner, by Thursday or the pilot would be killed.

The deadline passed after Jordan said it could not free her without proof the pilot was alive.

Jordan and Japan have reportedly conducted indirect negotiations with the militants through Iraqi tribal leaders, but late on Friday Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister reported a deadlock in those efforts.

So far Japan's envoy to Amman for the hostage crisis has refused comment on details of what went wrong.

In Japan, the apparent killing of freelance journalist Kenji Goto has shocked the country, which until recently had not become directly embroiled in the fight against the militants.

The hostage crisis has put the Japanese government under intense pressure and some have criticized its response in dealing with it.

"Well, I have big doubts that the best efforts the Japanese government claims to have made were adequate."

World condemnation of the killing has also been pouring in, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calling the murder "barbaric".

The UN Security Council has also released a statement, saying Goto's death is a tragic reminder of the increasing dangers journalists and others face every day in Syria.

Condemning Goto's killing as a heinous murder, US President Barack Obama vowed to continue to take decisive action against the extremist group, a pledge echoed by British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

"We stand together with the people of Japan and, indeed, with all our allies against terrorism where ever it rears its heads. And I'd like to send my expression of sympathies to the family and friends of Kenji Goto and, indeed, to the people of Japan."

French President Francois Hollande has also voiced indignation over the incident, vowing that France and Japan would continue to work together for peace in the Middle East.

Australian journalist Peter Greste has been freed and deported from Egypt, bringing an end to 400 days behind bars.

The Al-Jazeera English reporter and two other journalists were sentenced to at least seven years in prison on terrorism-related charges last year by Egyptian authorities.

They were accused of spreading false news and aiding the now disbanded Muslim Brotherhood.

Greste left Egypt on Sunday on a flight to Cyprus, following an apparent approval of his deportation by the Egyptian president.

"I spoke to Peter Greste shortly after his release and before he departed Egypt. He was immensely relieved and he was desperate to come home to Australia and reunite with his family… He expressed his heartfelt thanks for the support that he has received here in Australia during this ordeal."

Reports say Fahmy, who holds dual Egyptian and Canadian citizenship, will be deported to Canada, but concern remains about Mohamed, who holds no dual nationality.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar have signed a power sharing agreement, edging closer to a final deal to end a 15-month conflict that has ravaged the country.

Diplomatic sources say under the deal, Kiir would remain president in a new administration while Machar would be appointed vice president.

The chief mediator of the regional IGAD, Seyoum Mesfin, says the talks will lead to an agreement to end the crisis in South Sudan.

Several previous peace deals and ceasefires that accompanied the agreements were swiftly broken.

Fighting broke out in newly-independent South Sudan in December 2013, when Kiir accused his sacked deputy Machar of attempting a coup.

The escalating war since has left tens of thousands dead and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

The French government has offered support for Greece's efforts to renegotiate debt for its huge bailout plan.

"I would like to say that debt is one critical issue but it's an issue among others, there are a lot of other issues we should discuss together and that will lay (the) foundation of, what we could call a new deal between Greece and its partners."

The backing is a victory for Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, amid renewed fears about Europe's economic stability.

Varoufakis insists that Greece wants to pay the money back, but says he wants new terms and new negotiating partners.

"We are interested in minimising the losses to our partners, and the best way of doing that is by assisting Greece to turn a page, to reform and to start growing so we can actually afford to pay back everything with interest. So would it not be a splendid thing if we could come to an agreement that reboots the whole situation with a view to linking our repayments to growth in Greece so that we can ensure that everybody gets their money back."

Varoufakis is also visiting London and Rome and in a sign that his government may be trying to avoid a collision course with key creditors.

The German government has been particularly angry at the new Greek government's position and bluntly rejected suggestions that Greece should be forgiven part of its rescue loans.

French Finance Minister Michel Sapin insisted his country wouldn't support canceling the debt, but offered backing for a new timeframe or terms.

Charges against a Chinese leukemia patient, who helped fellow patients buy unapproved drugs from India, have been dropped by local prosecutors in central China's Hunan province.

The patient, Lu Yong, has been accused of selling counterfeit drugs and credit card fraud.

The 47-year-old textile businessman helped hundreds of his fellow patients to buy unapproved drugs from India between 2006 and 2013.

The Indian-made drug Veenat, costing Lu about 3,000 yuan, or around 480 US dollars, per month, while the Swiss made Gleevec he had been taking before cost him nearly 8 times as much.

Lu Yong posted about his experience online and that soon drew the attention of many leukemia patients, asking him to buy the drug on their behalf.

However, medications unapproved by Chinese authorities are regarded as illegal in the country.

"The Indian company offered preferential pricing to him, but we cannot take them as profits."

The attorney has also dismissed the credit card fraud charge, saying only those in illegal possession of up to five credit cards of other people will be penalized.

South Korea's leading cosmetic surgery industry association has officially declared a 50-year-old Chinese woman brain dead following a surgery in Seoul last Tuesday.

The Association of Plastic Surgeons says the woman's heart suddenly stopped beating and she suffered brain death during a procedure at a small clinic in the busy Gangnam District.

The woman was sent to the nearby Samsung Seoul Hospital immediately but she didn't regain consciousness until Friday.

The clinic has been accused of conducting cosmetic surgeries against the country's health law.

Jo Soo-young, member of the Association of Plastic Surgeons, says such private clinics, without any medical licenses, are usually operated by businessmen instead of professional doctors.

"Such kinds of hospitals operated by businessmen are set up to make money. Compared with safety and health, money is more important for them. They will always try to get money by any means."

South Korea has developed a fame for cosmetic surgeries, and has seen more and more Chinese people rushing to the country for procedures.

But some intermediary agents in China are said to be introducing people to illegal clinics for higher benefits.

A doctor in Central China's Luoyang city has been fired and some others demoted following a newborn baby's accidental death in a local hospital.

A surveillance video have shown the baby hitting the ground head-first and being dragged by the umbilical cord for several meters as her mother was being moved in a wheelchair to receive a cesarean.

"I kept yelling that my baby has been born and dropped on the floor. But the nurses and doctors ignored me and still pushed the wheelchair so that my baby was dragged for a dozen meters. Then they stopped pushing, picked up the baby and put her on my leg after hearing another patient's family member said the baby was dropped on the floor."

Zhao Boli is the deputy director of the hospital, Women and Children Medical Care Center of Luoyang City

"Under such circumstances, we usually should use beds and push the bed to move the pregnant woman. The doctor is too young and lacks work experience. Based on the previous medical examination, the patient's cervix was open about 1.5cm, so the doctor thought the patient wouldn't give birth right away, and she thought it was more convenient to push the wheelchair than the bed."

The parents have requested 200,000 yuan (32,000 U.S. dollars) in compensation, but the hospital has only offered 5,000 yuan, insisting the baby had congenital malformations beforehand.

The local health department in Luoyang has launched an investigation into whether the hospital should be responsible for the baby's death.

A deputy to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress has called for a law against illegal digging and construction.

Gao Zicheng presented a proposal at a meeting of the Municipal People's Congress in response to an incident last week where a road caved in and several homes collapsed, following the illegal digging of a basement nearby.

He adds that any agent seeking profit by renting illegally-constructed homes and offices should also be punished.

After the collapse in Beijing, the city planner issued notice to investigate and shut down all similar illegal work sites.

The owner of the house where the illegal digging occurred, a local lawmaker from the eastern Jiangsu Province, has since resigned from his post and promised compensation for all damages.

This week, employment, automobile sales, and manufacturing data will offer fresh clues on how the U.S. economy is faring in early 2015.

U.S. Automakers are expected to report on Tuesday that sales dipped to 16.6 million units in January from 16.9 million units in December.

On Wednesday, the Institute for Supply Managers' services sector index is forecast to be little changed at 56.4 in January.

In the Labor Department's employment report on Friday, the unemployment rate is forecast to hold steady at a six and a half year low of 5.6 percent.

On Wednesday, composite and services PMIs are due from Japan, China, U.K. and the Eurozone.

Today, analysts expect Exxon Mobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil and gas company, to report lower fourth-quarter earnings as a 30 percent slide in crude cut into profits.

Also on Wednesday, Twenty-First Century Fox is expected to report second-quarter revenue slightly ahead of analysts' average estimate.

Beauty products makers Estee Lauder Companies, Coty and Elizabeth Arden reports quarterly results on Thursday.

The latest data shows that China's manufacturing sector contracted for the first time in more than two years in January.

The manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) dropped below the 50-point mark in January for the first time since October 2012.

Analysts attributed the PMI retreat to the coming Spring Festival holiday and seasonal factors, a period known for slowed manufacturing activity.

Meanwhile, the official non-manufacturing PMI, a counterpart for the service sector, also retreated in January, down 0.4 percent from December.

Analysts forecast the construction industry will soon pick up thanks to infrastructure projects at home and abroad, which will help stimulate the country's economy.

"The new export order in the non-manufacturing sector has picked up sharply in the past several months. It shows China is stepping up efforts to promote its engineering projects overseas."

China's burgeoning service sector has begun to replace the traditional engine of manufacturing to drive economic growth.

China's new rules designed to rein in cross-border tax avoidance have come into effect, citing firms that invest in China through companies set up in Hong Kong or Singapore, for example.

The new measures are seen as an elaboration on China's existing "general anti-avoidance rule" or GAAR framework.

Tax professionals and business lobbies have welcomed the move as an attempt to bring China's tax regime more in line with international standards.

At a meeting of G20 leaders in Australia in November last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping endorsed a global effort to crack down on international tax avoidance.

For more on this, we are now joined live by Mike Bastin, Director of The China Business Centre based in London.

The Mexican Ministry of Finance has halted plans for the construction of two key pieces of rail infrastructure following a decision to cut the country's budget.

Mexico's budget for this year has been cut by about 8 billion U.S. dollars, the equivalent of 0.7 percent of the country's GDP.

The ministry says the two rail projects have been suspended due to their potential impact on public finances this year as well as the pressure they would place on public spending in the years following 2016.

A bid to build the high-speed train project was won by a Chinese-led consortium in November last year but the bid was soon canceled by the Mexican government.

A new bidding process for the high-speed railway project was reopened in the middle of last month.

Also impacted by the budget cut are Mexico's state owned oil company Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission.

Wuhan, capital city of central China's Hubei Province, will allow 72-hour transit visa exemptions for foreign nationals beginning next month.

Foreigners will be able to visit Wuhan without visas when they are en route to a third country or region via Wuhan Tianhe International Airport.

Wuhan's management departments, travel agencies, and scenic spots have been working on pre-arranged plans and tailored services for the upcoming increase of foreign tourists.

China Mobile, the country's largest 4G mobile network operator, has begun development on the next generation of mobile internet following the success of 4G.

The move suggests the company is trying to maintain its leading position in an increasingly heated competition environment among the country's three telecom service providers.

China Mobile outperformed its two rivals, China Unicom and China Telecom, in the 4G race after getting official approval to launch services based on TD-LTE standard at the end of 2013, nearly half a year ahead of the latter two.

The new service will be operated using an Airbus A330-200, offering 28 business seats and 199 economy seats.

China is the fastest growing tourism market for Victoria state, where Melbourne is located.

More than 350-thousand Chinese visitors traveled to the state in the 12 months to September of last year.

China will step up reforms and innovation to speed up agricultural modernization in 2015, according to a key policy document released by the Party and government on Sunday.

The document says as the Chinese economy, under the "new normal," shifts from high-speed to medium-to-high-speed growth, it has become a key issue to continue consolidating the position of agriculture as the foundation of the economy and to further increase farmers' incomes.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj have met in Beijing to discuss Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's possible visit to China this year.

No specific dates have been announced by China, but Indian media reports say the visit could take place in May.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited India last September and has met with Modi three times since last year.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar have signed a power sharing agreement, edging closer to a final deal to end a 15-month conflict that has ravaged the country.

Diplomatic sources say under the deal, Kiir would remain president in a new administration while Machar would be appointed vice president.

Fighting broke out in newly-independent South Sudan in December 2013, when Kiir accused his sacked deputy Machar of attempting a coup.

The escalating war since has left tens of thousands dead and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Yemen's Houthi rebel group has set a three-day deadline for ending the current political crisis in the country.

The Shiite group, now in control of the capital Sanaa, says the revolutionary leadership will take necessary steps should the peaceful transfer of power fail.

Both Yemen's president and prime minister submitted their resignations late last month amid a standoff with the Houthis.

The Shiite group has proposed forming a presidential council to replace the president in order to run the country.

Testing has officially begun on a new light rail line in the Ethopian capital, built by the China Railway Group.

The country's prime minister says the project not only improves transportation infrastructure in the capital but also has helped to develop technology and workers' skills in Ethiopia.

Test rides with officials and residents on the trains have been conducted over a nine kilometre section of the track.

A fire at a department store in downtown Beijing was extinguished on Sunday morning, nearly three full days after it started.

According to the Beijing Public Security Bureau, a 16-year-old boy who allegedly started the fire in a store warehouse has been arrested.

Police say the suspect, an employee of the store, was "looking for something fun to do" when he set the fire.

China's Supreme People's Court or SPC has inaugurated its second circuit court in its latest efforts to reform and branch out so as to bring justice to the doorsteps of ordinary people.

The court, based in Shenyang, capital city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, will primarily handle major administrative, civil and commercial cases in the northeastern provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang.

Beijing has passed a regulation on home-based old-age care, stipulating that children are obliged to support their aged parents.

Under the regulation, children and other caregivers should offer economic and practical support as well as "spiritual consolation" to the elderly.

It also stipulates that the government should offer subsidies and old-age service facilities for the elderly with special difficulties.

About 96 percent of elderly people in Beijing rely on home-based care, and the rest live in nursing institutions.

Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region will offer up to 300,000 yuan to whistle blowers show submit information concerning violent terror attacks, in a move to promote stability in the region.

People can report tips through the "110" emergency line or go to the police department to report in person.

Officials say anonymous tip-offs will not be rewarded and the safety of the tipsters will be protected.

China's health authority has said medical insurance subsidies for China's rural residents will increase this year.

Under the new medical program, the annual government grant for each rural resident will rise from 320 yuan to 380 yuan.

The government will also take moves to make sure the program's reimbursement rate for outpatient and hospitalization expenses stay at around 50 and 75 percent, respectively.

The city economic and information commission in Shanghai says that buyers of electric cars looking to benefit from a free car plate scheme must now first prove they can install charging posts at their parking spaces,

Shanghai has been encouraging environmentally friendly vehicles through policies including free car plates.

"New norm" of Chinese economy provides greater opportunities to entrepreneurs: business leaders

During a recent innovation forum held here in Beijing, some business leaders say they remain upbeat over the future of entrepreneurship in China.

It is used by policymakers, business leaders and academics to describe a slower but more balanced and sustainable growth for the world's second largest economy.

At the same time, the transition period has caused some pain to the real economy, which is felt by local governments, large companies and certain sectors including the real-estate market and the heavy industry.

However, Cai Hongyuan, Dean of the Guanghua School of Management with Peking University, says on the other hand, the new norm provides greater opportunities to entrepreneurs.

"I think the most important feature or characteristic of the new stage or new norm is that the innovation is lot more important driving force to economic growth. That means innovation and entrepreneurship will be critical for a long term growth in the future from now on. "

Numerous successful stories have emerged at a time when the Chinese economy is emphasizing on quality rather than quantity.

Its creator Liao Jieyuan used 5 million yuan back in 2010 to make this happened. Its website and mobile app allow people to book doctor appointments with a simple touch in a country where people complain about overcrowded hospitals.

In four years, the company has been named as one of the 15 most valuable unlisted Internet companies in China.

"As an entrepreneur myself, I think now is the time for young people to use their specialties to make some real changes and help the whole economy grow in a more efficient manner."

In fact, the Chinese government has been actively promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.

Guanghua business Professor Liu Qiao says that requires a better and more up-to-date knowledge about new technologies.

"I think for entrepreneurs and innovators who want to be more successful, I think they should understand the future trend of technologies. They should also understand the big picture about the advancement of technology in business."

When it comes to technological innovations, a recent global innovation index compiled by the World Intellectual Property Organization and several business education institutions is suggesting China ranks the 29th place in the world.

Liu Qiao says he believes Chinese entrepreneurs will take the lead in technological innovation in the global market.

"I don't think in the future Chinese firms will always do this copy-paste thing. They have different path in the future. But one thing that is extremely critical is that you have to be on the top of the technologies and also understanding about how to capitalize technologies. "

Novak Djokovic reasserted his rule over the hard-courts of Melbourne Park on Sunday, grinding down Andy Murray 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-0 to win his fifth Australian Open title.

The pair waged a fierce baseline duel for the opening two sets, but Djokovic won 12 of the last 13 games to close out an emphatic win.

He has also become the first man in the professional era to secure five titles at Melbourne Park.

"It's a cat-and-mouse fight, you know, it always is, we try to outplay the opponent with ground strokes and a lot of rallies, a lot of variety in the games, pain, slice, drop shots; I think we both went out with the full repertoire of the shots that we have and I hope that everyone that watched it enjoyed the finals, but from my side, it was very exhausting and I am just glad I believed it all the way through."

Top seed Serena Williams clinched her 19th grand slam title with a 6-3 7-6(5) victory over Maria Sharapova.

It was Williams' sixth title at Melbourne Park and it moved her into a tie with fellow American Helen Wills Moody in third on the all-time list after she joined Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert on 18 at last year's U.S. Open.

After receiving her trophy, Williams told the crowd she had never dreamed of achieving 19 grand slam titles after starting out on the circuit.

"Standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought would happen and I just went on the court with a ball and a racket and a hope and that's all I had and it's inspiring for all you guys out there that want to do something and want to be the best you can be and just never give up because you never know who you can influence and who you can inspire and I am just so honored."

Swimmer Ning Zetao and tennis superstar Li Na won the Best Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively, at the China Central Television (CCTV) Sports Awards.

Ning beat out other four nominees, including badminton superstar Lin Dan and 2014 Table Tennis Men's World Cup winner Zhang Jike, to claim the honor.

The 21-year-old Ning claimed four gold medals at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea and also broke men's 100m freestyle Asian record.

Li Na claimed both the Best Female Athlete of the Year and the Sports Special Contribution, for serving as a great milestone for the development of Chinese tennis.

The recently-retired Li holds two Grand Slam titles and at one point was the world No. 2, the highest ranking an Asian tennis player, male or female, has ever achieved.

Australia claimed its first Asian Cup title by beating South Korea 2-1 after extra time in the final in Sydney over the weekend.

This was the second meeting between the teams in the tournament, with the Koreans having defeated the Socceroos 1-0 in the group stage.

No team has scored against the Koreans in the tournament thus far, until the 45th minute of play in the final.

Australia's Massimo Luongo hit a brilliant turn before firing the host nation ahead from distance.

But the Koreans weren't giving up. And in the first minute of added time, they scored. Son Heung Min found a way past the Australian defence to score the equaliser and send the final into extra time.

Australia though restored their lead in the 105th minute; substitute James Troisi blasted the ball into the net to clinch the win their first Asian Cup title.

The Superbowl is just getting underway. Taking place in Glendale Arizona this year, the defending champions Seattle Seahawks will battle the New England Patriots for the sport's top title.

World number one Rory McIlroy shot a final round 70 to win the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, finishing on 22 under par, three shots clear of Sweden's Alex Noren and six clear of two-time defending champion Stephen Gallacher.

Birdies at the 10th and 13th banished any concerns and a simple tap in for par at the eighteenth brought a standing ovation from the gallery.

McIlroy finished on 22 under par with a four-round total of 266, equaling the tournament record score.

It was McIlroy's second Dubai Desert Classic title, having won it back in 2009, his first victory as a professional.

Construction on the theme park is said to begin this year in Beijing's east suburban district of Tongzhou.

The park, which will cover over two million square meters, is set to attract a total investment of 50 billion yuan, that's nearly eight billion U.S. dollars.

The upcoming Universal Studios, the sixth of its kind in the world, will feature a Universal City Walk retail-entertainment complex, and the world's first Universal-themed resort hotel.

Chinese elements have been incorporated in the planning to boost the city's tourist appeal to foreign visitors.

It's a traditional Malaysian honorific title that's given on Malaysia's Federal Territories Day.

Chan is among 71 recipients receiving the same title, given by the head of state of Malaysia, Tuanku Abdul Halim.

In Malaysia and Brunei, "Datuk" is a symbolic lifelong honor to individuals who have contributed towards the development of the federal territory.

Several of Jackie Chan's films were shot in Malaysia and he also donated to a middle school in the country.

Chinese Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh was also given the honor in 2001, the first among Chinese artists.

The daughter of late singer Whitney Houston was rushed to hospital over the weekend, after she was found unresponsive in a bathtub.

Bobbi Kristina Brown was found by her husband, Nick Gordon, and given CPR before she was taken to a hospital in Roswell, Georgia.

"It is very coincidental. It is bizarre that the same type of incident would happen involving a mother and a daughter. You know, like I said before it really makes you sad that this has occurred and we just wish her and her family the best."

Police hasn't confirmed what caused the 21-year-old's unresponsiveness, but considered it a medical incident at this time.

It was three years ago on February 11 that Brown's mother, Whitney Houston, was found dead in a bathtub in The Beverly Hilton, hours before she was to attend a pre-Grammys bash there.

The same five original band members are back together, and this time they plan on staying for good.

Now all in their late 30s and early 40s, most of them are married, have kids and some have gone through rehab.　

The documentary style film is about their life after 22 years, their recent tour and making a new album.

It also goes into depth about how they were financially taken advantage of by their founder Lou Pearlman who is currently in prison.

新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2015/02/02（在线收听）