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Publisher: Wea H. Lee General Manager: Catherine Lee Editor: John Robbins, Jun Gai Business Manager : Jennifer Lopez Address: 11122 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX 77072 Southern Daily News is published by Southern News Group Daily E-mail: [email protected] Inside C5 Monday, February 19 , 2018 | www.today-america.com | Southern News Group Chinese superstars steal new year show with first duet in 20 years Eric Tucker, that soon attracted more than 500,000 likes. BEIJING (Reuters) - Two of China’s most Beijing-born Wong’s icy demeanor famous and well-loved pop stars stole the and eclectic music tastes ranging from show at state television’s annual glitzy, of- syrupy love songs to off-kilter trip-hop ten much mocked marathon show welcom- and Buddhist-infused folktronica have Giant panda ing in the lunar new year on Thursday, sing- made her one of the biggest stars in the cubs play with ing their first public duet in two decades. Chinese speaking world of the last three decorations Traditionally, hundreds of millions gath- decades. during Chinese er around their televisions to watch the Na, who sung at the closing ceremony of Lunar New “CCTV Spring Festival Gala,” a more than the 2008 Beijing Olympics, shot to fame Year of Dog in four-hour showcase of skits, music and in the 1990s with her hit “Conquering” Wolong dance that has been a TV staple since the and has more recently become a staple first edition was broadcast in 1983. of Chinese television singing talent But it was superstars Faye Wong and Na shows. Ying many people tuned in to see this While this year’s show had other holiday, singing an old school-style ballad crowd-pleasers, including wholesome called “Years”, with some online polls Chinese teenyboppers TFBoys for rating their appearance the most eagerly the third year running, China’s ruling anticipated part of the show. Communist Party was always going to While neither spoke to the audience after be present. their performance, fans quickly took to Several songs praised the “New Era”, a Chinese social media in an outpouring of reference to President Xi Jinping’s po- praise, though some said their appearance litical theory about making China even an African actress speaking in was too fleeting. stronger through socialism, cemented But many large cities, including Morning Post said Xi’s corruption Chinese and quoting Xi. “Did you see? This is my mother. Isn’t she since late last year in the party’s consti- Beijing, have heavily restricted crackdown means Beijing’s main The lunar new year of the dog, awesome?” Wong’s singer daughter Leah tution. their use again this year to help jail for top level prisoners is too full which officially starts on Friday, Dou wrote on the Twitter-like Weibo site, Another skit celebrated China’s rela- prevent smog. to allow family members to come is the only holiday of the year for attaching a picture of herself as a baby tionship with Africa, a key part of Xi’s It won’t be a happy holiday for and have a traditional new year many Chinese, and is normally pointing at a photo of her mother, an image Belt and Road initiative, complete with all. meal with inmates. marked by riotous bursts of fire- Hong Kong’s South China works and firecrackers. Backstory: Warren Buffett’s Valentine’s Day

on Feb. 14. Greenlight Capital’s David Einhorn Hedge funds are notably hush hush added 13 new positions in consumer surprise for investors about their portfolio holdings. discretionary companies, including NEW YORK (Reuters) - Warren Buffett had a Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA.TA). Quarterly disclosures offer a look at stakes in amusement park compa- Valentine’s Day surprise for investors in Teva A regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and what influential money managers are ny SeaWorld Entertainment Inc Exchange Commission (SEC), known as a 13F, buying and selling. (SEAS.N), photo printing service showed The 13F filings are published on the Shutterfly Inc (SFLY.O) and that SEC’s website 45 days after the end department store Nordstrom Inc. Buffett’s of each quarter. Once they land, the (JWN.N). Berkshire Reuters stocks team in Bangalore Since 13F disclosures come more Hatha- pulls the data into an excel spread- than a month after the end of quarter, way Inc sheet. Working with our investments they may not reflect current positions (BRKa.N) team in New York, they look for at actively traded hedge funds. But, took a quarterly changes in stock holdings for more traditional buy-and-hold stake in as well as new positions. investors like Buffett, the filings shed the generic While holdings in bigger companies a light on investment strategy. drugmak- are headline-worthy, we also watch In addition to Teva, Buffett bought er in the for positions of more than 20 percent more shares of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) fourth in small or mid-cap companies. It in the fourth quarter and sold most quarter is also news when a hedge fund of International Business Machines of 2017. unwinds an important stake. (IBM.N). The news Analyzing what the “smart money” “There is value in tracking 13Fs,” pushed is doing allows us to spot investment says Jennifer Ablan, U.S. Invest- Teva themes and trends. For example, in ments editor. “It’s one the few shares up late 2017 big hedge funds made bets documents we have that details what more than on companies poised to take advan- the Big Money is doing in the stock 10 percent tage of rising wages and prices. market. Monday, Feburary 19, 2018 C2 BUSINESS Oil rigs up, gas rigs down - net rig count

flat this week A drilling rig sits on apparently caused when cleaning chemicals ignited, injured a pad site where it will drill three to six By Jordan Blum seven people and left authorities searching for another who was missing wells next to each Texas also stayed flat overall with the Permian dip offset by other at a Chevron The nation’s overall drilling rig activity remained flat small increases in other parts of the state like South Texas’ drilling and hydrau- this week, but that included a jump in oil drilling Eagle Ford shale and the Panhandle’s Granite Wash region. lic fracturing site offset by a drop in natural gas development. The total U.S. rig count is now up to 975 rigs - the highest Wednesday, July 19, Oil drilling activity picked up in a wide range of ar- number in nearly three years. The total U.S. rig count is well 2017 in Midland. eas from Alaska to Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico, up from an all-time low of 404 rigs in May 2016. Every year, oil and while the number of rigs in West Texas’ booming Oil drilling currently accounts for 798 rigs of the total. The gas companies spend Permian Basin actually declined by four, according oil rig count last exceeded 800 in April 2015. millions of dollars to weekly data collected by Houston’s Baker Hughes West Texas’ Permian Basin now accounts for 433 which is promoting science, oilfield services firm. more than half of all the nation’s oil rigs. The next most ac- math, engineering Meanwhile, gas-seeking rigs were taken offline in tive area is the Eagle Ford with 70 rigs. Texas is home to 479 and technology in states like Louisiana, West Virginia and Ohio. rigs overall, while Oklahoma is second with 123 rigs. New schools and com- A net total of seven new oil-drilling rigs were added Mexico is next with 85 rigs. munities around the across the country, which was balanced out by the Despite this week’s jump, the oil rig count is down 50 percent world. seven-rig decline in gas activity. from its peak of 1,609 in October 2014, before oil prices An oil rig explosion on a lake north of New Orleans, began plummeting. BNSF to spend $375M to maintain, expand Texas railways

By Andrea Rumbaugh 450,000 ties. Among the expansion are already congested, said Scott projects is construction near Conroe Campbell, associate director at Lyon- TBNSF Railway Co. plans to spend to help facilitate train flows between dellBasell Industries, and improve- $375 million in Texas this year. Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. ments are unlikely to occur before Nearly half of that will be for the The 2018 capital investments planned petrochemical plant projects come maintenance of its rail, ties and in Texas are part of BNSF’s $3.3 online. ballast. The remainder will go to- billion network-wide capital expendi- “The infrastructure that we need is ward expansion projects. Over the ture program announced last month. not there,” he said. “The challenge past five years, BNSF has invested September,” he said. “The damage is how fast can we get that stuff in nearly $1.8 billion to expand and could get even worse as refinery place?” maintain its network in Texas, maintenance season and summer About 350 people attended the eighth according to a news release. gasoline is on the horizon.” annual Harris County International “Texas has more miles of rail than Some manufacturers are concerned Trade and Transportation Conference any other state, with roughly 440 that regional infrastructure won’t be at NRG Center. While the event’s million tons of agricultural, energy, prepared for the impending influx of theme championed collaboration, industrial and consumer products petrochemical-related cargo through there were clashing ideas on the moving via the state’s rail lines each the Port of Houston, a topic discussed best way to move freight - either by year,” Janssen Thompson, gener- Wednesday during the Harris County increased reliance on trains or by al- al manager of operations for the International Trade and Transporta- This year, the maintenance program in well as the replacement of near- lowing trucks to carry heavier loads. Red River Division, said in the news tion Conference. Texas includes about 1,400 miles of track ly40 miles of rail and more than release. surfacing and/or undercutting work as Roads and bridges around the port Monday, February 19. 2018 C3 A Snapshot Of The World

Medals Ceremony - Biathlon - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men’s 20 km Individual - Medals Plaza - Pyeongchang, South Korea - February 16, 2018 - Silver medalist Jakov Fak of Slovenia on the podium.

Performers take part in the re-enactment of a Chinese New Year Qing Dynasty ceremony at the Temple of Earth in Ditan Park in Beijing

keleton - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics – Women’s Finals - Olympic Sliding Center - Pyeo- ngchang, South Korea – February 16, 2018 - Janine Flock of Austria gestures. A performer waits for the start of the re-enactment of a Chinese New Year Qing Dynasty ceremony at the Temple of Earth in Ditan Park in Beijing

A child stands with luggage at Chengdu North railway station, as the travel rush for Chi- Villagers wait to collect their share of bonuses at a ceremony by an agricultural cooperation, nese Lunar New Year, or Spring festival, begins, in Chengdu ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, in Fuyang, Anhui province, China

Cross-Country Skiing - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Speed Skating - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Wom- - Men’s 15km Free - Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre - Speed Skating - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Wom- en’s 5000m competition finals - Gangneung Oval - Gangneung, Pyeongchang, South Korea - February 16, 2018 - Pita Taufato- en’s 5000m competition finals - Gangneung Oval - Gangneung, South Korea - February 16, 2018 - Esmee Visser of the Nether- fua of Tonga and Samir Azzimani of Morocco embrace. South Korea - February 16, 2018 - Esmee Visser of the Nether- lands reacts lands reacts.

REUTERS/John Sibley TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2018 C4 BUSINESS President Donald Trump delivered his fiscal year the workforce that would be generated as a part 2019 budget request to Congress last Monday, of- of the plan. ficially kicking off the 2019 budget season. What Is In President Trump’s HOW WILL THE MONEY BE ALLOCATED? Congress must now do its job and build off the Describing how $1.5 trillion in new investment president’s budget and craft its own budget res- would be generated out of just $200 billion in olution. 2019 Budget Proposal? federal funds, an administration official said that In light of last week’s budget-busting deal, now $100 billion of the money will go towards incen- more than ever it is crucial for Congress to pass Compiled And Edited By John T. Robbins, Southern Daily Editor tives for state and local governments to use in a budget resolution and include reconciliation starting up infrastructure projects. Twenty billion instructions that call for meaningful and perma- is being fiscally reckless and undermines the will go towards expanding loan programs and pri- nent spending reforms. Lawmakers should incor- American economy’s growth potential. (Courtesy vate activity bonds. Fifty billion will be directed to- porate the many positive reforms included in the http://dailysignal.com/2018) wards improvements solely in rural infrastructure president’s budget in crafting their proposal. in the form of block grants to state governors, Here is a summation of the president’s pro- Related allowing them to select what projects to direct posal: Trump Plan Calls For $1.5 Tril- the funding towards. Another $20 billion will go 1. Continues the president’s commitment to “transformative programs,” or infrastructure to national defense. lion In ‘Investment’ To Fix Nation’s projects rooted in promoting new or innovative The president’s 2019 budget calls for continued Infrastructure ideas. The final $10 billion will go towards a “cap- investment in national defense. The proposal pro- President Donald Trump unveiled his plan to fix ital financing fund” that will fund office-building vides more than $700 billion for defense in 2019 the nation’s infrastructure Monday, outlining a infrastructure the federal government is already and over the next 10 years it would invest a total building. sector, ineffective grant programs such as the cash deficits. strategy he says will spark “new investment” to of nearly $7.5 trillion. Altogether, the official said the $1.5 trillion- pre Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Like last year, the plan also calls for a federal paid solve the problem, but Democrats call the pro- The plan also calls for phasing out overseas con- diction is based on “state and local governments and Obama-era climate change funding. family leave benefit, a new entitlement program posal insufficient. tingency operations funding, and would instead - how will they likely respond to this program.” that Congress should abstain from pursuing. “Washington will no longer be a roadblock to budget for those needs within the Defense De- progress. Washington will be your partner,” the Democrats have criticized the $200 billion in fed- partment and State Department’s base budgets. president told local and state officials invited to eral spendingin the past as insufficient compared This is a much-needed step toward ending the the White House. to the needs facing the nation’s roads, bridges misuse of the overseas contingency operations The president’s proposal calls for $200 billion in and waterways. designation and presenting a more transparent new federal funds that the administration antic- WHAT ELSE IS IN THE PLAN? defense budget. The administration official said the plan also It would also ban the use of Changes in Manda- ipates will “stimulate $1.5 trillion in new invest- seeks to expand eligibility for Pell Grants and tory Programs. This is a commonly used budget ment in infrastructure,” with states, local govern- adding more flexibility to license requirements for gimmick that allows Congress to spend billions ments and private partnerships expected to bear people looking to enter some type of trade rather of additional dollars each year without any real the brunt of the financial burden for achieving than a four-year college. savings and has been used to circumvent spend- 5. Spends $200 billion on infrastructure. one of the president’s key campaign promises. “So if you’re licensed to perform a trade in one ing limits. The budget would provide $200 billion in funding The president welcomed some governors and part of the country, you can move to another part While the president’s approach to reducing the for the president’s infrastructure plan. According mayors to the White House for a discussion of of the country and transfer that license,” the of- federal bureaucracy is appropriate, his signing of to the administration, this initial down payment infrastructure, in which he sought to parallel what ficial said. “And then expand out the use of ap- the latest budget deal raises questions about his would be used to spur at least $1.5 trillion in he is trying to do at the federal level with his ex- 2. Fails to balance. prenticeships to help those that are interested in level of commitment to smaller government. state, local, and private investment over the next perience in business. He specifically touted the Last year, the president’s budget reached a bal- going to trades, develop their skills, and move The administration estimates that spending in- 10 years. story of the ice skating rink project in New York ance of $16 billion by 2027. By contrast, the 2019 more gradually into the workforce.” creases from the Bipartisan Budget Act would The question is, is this federal investment really City he said he took over after it had been mis- proposal never balances. add nearly $700 billion to the already $7.1 trillion warranted? Data shows that only 9 percent of U.S. managed, citing it as an example of how he wants This is a stark departure from the past several in additional debt that the country would accrue bridges are “structurally deficient,” less than half to streamline what he said would be an “unprece- Republican budget proposals. Since 2011, the under this proposal. the number 25 years ago. Moreover, 93 percent dented” investment in the nation’s infrastructure. House Budget Committee has put forth seven 4. Calls for limited mandatory and entitle- of the nation’s roads are considered to be in fair budget proposals, all of which balanced within ment reforms. or better condition, and the nation’s airports are 10 years. Cumulatively, the proposal would add The president’s budget would repeal and replace moving more people more safely than ever be- more than $7 trillion to the national debt over the Obamacare, generating nearly $700 billion in fore. next 10 years. health care savings over the next 10 years. On top Instead of spending hundreds of billions of dol- Simply put, the president’s budget does not go of these savings, the proposal identifies another lars on infrastructure projects, the federal gov- far enough on reducing spending and reforming $278 billion in Medicare savings. ernment should focus on structural reforms and entitlement programs. WHERE’S THE MONEY COMING FROM? These are real cuts, many of which are based remove impediments that hamper infrastructure Last year’s House budget resolution cut spend- The administration official said the $200 billion on existing bipartisan proposals. These have a deployment. ing by nearly $5.5 trillion. The Heritage Founda- in funding is included in the president’s budget strong chance to become law if lawmakers seize Overall, the president’s proposal is a “mixed tion’s “Blueprint for Balance” and Republican request, also out Monday, and said the adminis- them for their budget to cut through reconcilia- bag.” “When I did the Wollman Rink, it was seven years Study Committee budget laid out more than $10 tration plans to “pay for the $200 billion out of tion. Other savings proposals include reforming The budget makes progress by investing in the they couldn’t get it built. It would have been for- trillion in budget cuts over 10 years. savings from other areas of the federal budget.” Social Security’s Disability Insurance program military, eliminating numerous ineffective agen- ever, they couldn’t get it built, and I did it in a few Deficit reduction, tax reform, welfare and entitle- The official would not say where exactly the and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Pro- cies and programs, and beginning the process months at a much smaller price,” Trump said. “I ment reform, and regulatory reform are critical $200 billion is being cut from in other areas of gram. of welfare and entitlement reform. However, the said, you know, I like to able to have my daughter for economic growth, but are only part of the pic- the budget – though they said “there are some The fact that the president acknowledges that budget fails to ever balance, and does not suffi- Ivanka, who is will - I would like her to be able to ture. Unless Congress and the president reduce reductions in things like transit funding and TI- these programs are in need of reform is import- ciently move the country away from its currently going ice skating before she doesn’t want to ice spending, the benefits of growth will not be fully GER grants, and things where the administration ant. It is important, though, that the administra- unsustainable fiscal path. skate.” realized. thinks that infrastructure funds haven’t been tion work with Congress to continue to develop Last week, Congress and the president agreed to “We did it for a tiny fraction of the cost. And it 3. Reduces the size and scope of the feder- spent efficaciously.” these proposals. a plan that could add up to $2 trillion to the nation- is really no different with a roadway. No different al government. HOW WILL THE PRESIDENT SELL IT? Despite these high points, the budget does fall al debt. Congress must build off the president’s with a bridge or a tunnel or any of the things we’ll The budget cuts more than $1.5 trillion in non- The administration official said to expect the pres- short in other areas. It fails to address Social proposal and craft a budget that not only balanc- be fixing,” the president continued. defense discretionary spending over the next 10 ident to travel in the coming weeks and months Security’s Old-Age and Survivors Insurance pro- es but puts forth reconciliation instructions to The White House infrastructure outline features years. This represents a significant reduction to around the country to promote the infrastructure gram, which makes up the vast majority of Social ensure that the budget is more than just a vision four overarching goals: stimulate $1.5 trillion in agencies and programs that are inefficient, inef- plan – along with Cabinet officials similar to how Security costs. The program is unsustainable in document, but actually turns reforms on paper new investment and infrastructure; shorten the fective, and are not constitutional responsibilities the White House sold the tax plan. (Courtesy its current form and will continue to eat up more into fiscal reality. permitting process to two years; invest in rural in- of the federal government. This includes elimi- http://abcnews.go.com/Politics) of the overall budget if it is allowed to run growing Continuing to put off necessary budget reforms frastructure; and make improvements in training nating numerous energy subsidies to the private MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2018 C5 COMMUNITY Four In Ten U.S. Adults (41%) Say They Lack The Time To Do All They Want Gallup Poll: Eight Out Of 10 Americans Are Afflicted By Stress Compiled And Edited By John T. Robbins, Southern Daily Editor tions in their lives. stressed are much more common experi- Time and Stress Pressures, by Key 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states Americans’ Experience With Stress ences among employed Americans and Subgroups and the District of Columbia. For results parents of children under 18 than among In general, how often do you experience adults without these significant obliga- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- About eight in stress in your daily life -- never, rarely, tions in their lives. 10 Americans say they frequently (44%) sometimes or frequently? or sometimes (35%) encounter stress in Women and men are about equally likely their daily lives. Just 17% say they rarely to say they lack sufficient time, but women feel stressed, while 4% say they never do. are more likely to report frequent stress: 49% vs. 40%, respectively. Lower-income Although stress is common, just 41% of Americans are shorter on time and higher U.S. adults say, in answer to a different on stress than middle- and upper-income question, that they lack the time they need adults. to do things they want. The majority, 59%, tend to think they do have enough time. Naturally, work and family obligations have a compounding effect, so that work- Americans were asked about their stress ing parents are especially likely to feel and time pressures in a Dec. 4-11 Gallup Women and men are about equally likely short on time and stressed. By contrast, poll. This is the first year the questions to say they lack sufficient time, but women those who neither work nor have children have been updated in a decade, after being are more likely to report frequent stress: are the least likely to feel this way. asked each December from 2001 through 49% vs. 40%, respectively. Lower-income 2007. Americans are shorter on time and higher One piece of good news for working parents is that the decline since the mid- Fewer Americans today than from 2001 on stress than middle- and upper-income 2000s in the percentage of Americans through 2007 say they lack sufficient time adults. feeling short on time has been especially to get done what they want, although the Fewer Americans today than from 2001 pronounced among employed Americans 44% saying this in 2004 was statistically through 2007 say they lack sufficient time and is seen about equally among adults similar to today’s 41%. to get done what they want, although the with and without children. 44% saying this in 2004 was statistically Time and Stress Pressures by Em- Of course, many other aspects of life could similar to today’s 41%. based on the total sample of national ployment and Parenting Status factor into how Americans feel about their adults, Americans’ current stress level is similar time and stress, in- to what Gallup found in 2001, 2002 and The margin of sampling error is ±4 per- cluding their jobs, centage points at the 95% confidence 2007, as well as in an earlier measurement family structure, din- in 1994, when 40% felt frequent stress. level. All reported margins of sampling ing habits, the econo- error include computed design effects for However, more say they experience stress my and today’s highly now than reported this from 2003 through weighting. (Courtesy http://news.gallup. polarized political en- com/poll) 2006, when between 33% and 38% felt vironment. From that Americans’ current stress level is similar this way. perspective, despite to what Gallup found in 2001, 2002 and Americans’ Biggest Stressors Are some revolutionary 2007, as well as in an earlier measurement Children and Work and not-so-revolu- in 1994, when 40% felt frequent stress. tionary changes in However, more say they experience stress the past decade, peo- Bottom Line now than reported this from 2003 through ple’s time management and stress haven’t 2006, when between 33% and 38% felt Much has changed in the past decade, not changed too much. this way. the least of which is the proliferation of Naturally, work and family obligations Americans’ Biggest Stressors Are smartphones, beginning with the introduc- have a compounding effect, so that work- Children and Work tion of the iPhone in 2007. This technol- ing parents are especially likely to feel Age is a major factor in whether one feels ogy may be providing some efficiencies short on time and stressed. By contrast, stressed and time-pressured. Those 50 and in people’s lives, such as allowing them those who neither work nor have children older -- particularly those 65+ -- are much to shop more easily from home, do their are the least likely to feel this way. less likely than those who are younger to banking online, keep tabs on work while SURVEY METHODS say they feel stress or lack the time they Age is a major factor in whether one feels out of the office, follow the news, and need to get things done. stressed and time-pressured. Those 50 and much, much more -- thus enabling them to Results for this Gal- feel they are getting more done. Yet there lup poll are based on Relatedly, being short on time and feeling older -- particularly those 65+ -- are much has not been an obvious payoff in reduced telephone interviews stressed are much more common experi- less likely than those who are younger to stress. It’s possible that some aspects of conducted Dec. ences among employed Americans and say they feel stress or lack the time they the new technology, like social media, are 4-11, 2017, with a parents of children under 18 than among need to get things done. offsetting others in changing how much random sample of adults without these significant obliga- Relatedly, being short on time and feeling stress people experience. 1,049 adults, aged