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Publisher: Wea H. Lee President: Catherine Lee Editor: John Robbins Address: 11122 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX 77072 E-mail: [email protected] Southern Daily News is published by Southern News Group Daily Inside C2 Thursday, January 3, 2019 | www.today-america.com | Southern News Group Remember ‘China, China, China’: acting U.S. defense chief WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told civilian leaders of the U.S. military on Wednesday to focus on “China, China, China,” even as America fights militants in U.S. Presi- Syria and Afghanistan, a U.S. defense official said. dent Donald The comments came during Shanahan’s first meeting with secretaries Trump lis- of the U.S. military branches since taking over for Jim Mattis, who tens next to left office on Monday after resigning as defense secretary over policy Acting U.S. differences with President Donald Trump. Defense The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not elab- Secretary orate on Shanahan’s views on China or what other guidance he gave Patrick during the meeting. Shanahan Other officials have described Shanahan as an advocate of the Penta- during a gon’s toughening stance toward Beijing. The 2018 National Defense Cabinet Strategy here. branded China as a strategic competitor. meeting on The Pentagon has said he played a critical role in developing the strat- day 12 of egy, which singled out China and Russia as top threats, saying they the partial wanted to “shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model.” U.S. gov- The document said: “Long-term strategic competitions with China and ernment Russia are the principal priorities for the Department, and require both shutdown at increased and sustained investment.” the White The defense official said Shanahan told Pentagon leadership to follow House in the document’s guidance, particularly regarding China. Washington “While we’re focused on ongoing operations, acting Secretary Shana- han told the team to remember China, China, China,” the official said. North Korea warns of ‘new path’, but options limited SEOUL (Reuters) - In his New Year address tions and declare a formal end on Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the 1950-53 Korean War in warned he might take a “new path” if Washington response to the dismantlement of maintains sanctions amid his country’s push for its Punggye-ri nuclear testing site economic development, but experts say it may be and a key missile engine facility. too late to change the trajectory of negotiations. Despite goodwill responses from Kim did not specify what the new approach might Washington, such as a halt of be. His warning may sound similar to the bellicose some major military exercises rhetoric that Pyongyang often deployed before last with South Korea, U.S. officials year’s summit, but he cannot jeopardize the hard- have said North Korea’s initial won thaw and has few options beyond appealing steps were not confirmed and directly to U.S. President Donald Trump, experts could be easily reversed.U.S. Vice say. President Mike Pence said North State media have in recent weeks accused the State Korea would not be forced to Department of risking returning to “exchanges of provide a list of nuclear weapons fire” of the past by ramping up sanctions, while and locations, and a U.S. nuclear crediting Trump for his efforts to continue talks. envoy offered to facilitate human- As both sides struggle to find a breakthrough in itarian aid. stalled talks, the speech shows Kim shifting the But Kim’s speech on Tuesday focus from calls for complete dismantlement of its called for a “complete end” to all nuclear arsenal and hinting at including countries joint exercises and slammed the other than the United States. sanctions campaign. to the era of confrontation if a senior fellow at South Korea’s Q: IS THIS A SIGN OF FRUSTRATION? “His message was ‘we have done what we said sanctions and pressure continued. Sejong Institute. A: Kim vowed to work towards denuclearization we would at Singapore, but the United States has But that indicates Pyongyang’s Instead, “new path” may refer at a summit with Trump in Singapore in June. But done very little in return,’” said Vipin Narang, a frustration rather than the “new to focusing on concessions that since then there has been little progress, with a political scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of path” Kim suggested, experts say. don’t involve broad denucleariza- high-level meeting between the two sides canceled Technology. “His speech chiefly emphasized tion in favor of action-for-action abruptly in November. Q: WHAT DOES ‘NEW PATH’ MEAN? the need for a fair deal, and it’s commitments. Pyongyang has demanded Washington lift sanc- A: North Korea’s state media has stepped up extremely unlikely for them to go criticism of the United States, warning of a return back,” said Cheong Seong-chang, Thursday, January 3. 2019 C2 LOCAL NEWS Sears to close 80 mores stores as bankruptcy deadline

Just two months after filing for bankruptcy, Sears plans Mall and Westwood Mal to close 80 more stores throughout the United States in Seven Sears stores remain in the Houston area that March, including one of its Houston-area stores. are not on the current list: Willowbrook Mall, North The regional store that is closing is at Central Mall in Port Shepherd, Deerbrook Mall, Plaza Paseo Mall in Pasa- Arthur. dena, Mall of the Mainland in Texas City, and Parkdale Eddie Lampert, the company’s chairman, proposed earlier Mall in Beaumont. this month to buy Sears out of bankruptcy through his , ESL Investments, for $4.6 billion. Lampert has Sears represents the latest and perhaps the most a deadline to submit his offer by 3 p.m. Central on Dec. 28. storied brick-and-mortar retailer to fall victim to the If Lampert’s or no other bids are received, Sears could be rise of big-box and e-commerce competitors. The liquidated. 125-year-old company, which survived the Great Calls to Sears corporate office to confirm the closure of Depression and two World Wars, joins Toys “R” Us, the stores, which include its -branded stores as well, Gymboree, Payless ShoeSource and rue21 in declaring have not been returned. bankruptcy in recent years. The embattled department store chain, once the world’s largest, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York on Sears’ long-rumored bankruptcy filing did not sur- Oct. 15. prise retail analysts. Sears has failed to turn a profit for To stay afloat, Sears sold most of its top real estate, shut- seven straight years, and has lost more than $24 billion tering nearly 400 stores over the past year alone. Locally, in market value since 2007. Sears has closed stores at Baybrook Mall, Greenspoint Mall, Memorial City Mall, its longtime location in Mid- town, San Jacinto Mall, The Woodlands Mall, West Oaks

Texas manufacturing slowed in December as perceptions of business conditions turned sour The state’s economy continues to grow, but it has begun to show signs of a slow- Texas’ manufacturing sector could Meanwhile, perceptions of busi- down. With oil headed for its first annu- slow down in 2019. ness conditions in Texas turned al loss since 2015, experts at the Federal Production in the sector was the negative for the first time since Reserve Bank of Dallas say Texas’ job lowest since August 2016, according September 2016. More than 20 growth may decelerate. to a monthly survey of Texas business percent of manufacturers reported executives by the Federal Reserve that their outlooks worsened in While the Dallas Fed numbers suggest Bank of Dallas, and perceptions of December. manufacturing could slow in 2019, The general business conditions notably While manufacturers still expect Greater Houston Partnership, a busi- worsened. general business conditions for ness-financed economic development Manufacturing is still increasing, the next six months to improve group, sees steady growth ahead for the but December’s index of 7.3 shows a overall, confidence is much rock- economy at large, particularly in health second month of slowed production ier than last month — the survey care. The group projects that Houston after the index dropped 9.2 points showed a 22.5 point decrease will add about 71,000 jobs next year. from October to November. compared with November. Connected for you. Connected to you.

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Southern Chinese Daily NewsOct2018 1-2 page.indd 1 10/25/18 1:23 PM Thursday, January 3, 2019 C3 Editor’s Choice

People wearing yellow vests pose during the New Year’s celebrations near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris People watch as fireworks explode around the Selamat Datang Monument during NewYear’s Eve celebrations in Jakarta

French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he poses for a photograph after the record- ing of his New Year’s speech at at the Elysee Palace Fireworks explode over Chao Phraya River during the New Year celebrations in Bangkok

Revellers use their mobile phones to take photos of fireworks at a NewYear’s Eve party A reveller wears glasses shaped as the year 2019 during the New Year’s Eve party in Quezon in Quezon City City

Revelers wait for the New Year’s Eve in Times Square in the Manhattan Fireworks explode near Petronas Twin Towers during New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019 C4 COMMUNITY Exterior of Sears meanwhile wrote the company’s a pres- To Shut Down soon-to-be-famous catalogs. The compa- ent-day ny grew phenomenally by selling a range Sears of merchandise at low prices to farms and store. Over 100 Stores villages that had no other convenient ac- Compiled And Edited By John T. Robbins, Southern Daily Editor cess to retail outlets. The initiation of rural free delivery (1896) The inability to adjust is a big reason why Considered to be one of the biggest vic- and of parcel post (1913) by the U.S. is in the port- news) tims of the retail apocalypse, Sears Hold- postal service enabled Sears to send its folio of Lowe’s, Stanley Black & Decker ings Related merchandise to even the most isolated now controls , and Sears itself (NASDAQ: SHLD) continues its des- customers. Rosenwald succeeded Sears as History Of Sears, Roebuck and perate bid to stay alive. The company’s president of the company in 1909. This latest round of store closures is also latest survival move, announced at the Company Between 1920 and 1943 Sears owned the result, and like those other moves, it’s a beginning of this year, is to close 103 of Sears, Roebuck and Company has been a Encyclopædia Britannica, which it sold hail mary that almost certainly won’t save its Sears and Kmart stores throughout the leading retailer of general merchandise, through the catalog. In 1924 General ugly -- comparable-store sales dropped this company. U.S., with liquidation sales to begin short- tools, home appliances, clothing, and Robert E. Wood joined the company and ly thereafter. by 16% to 17% for the period, worse than Closings even the awful 12% to 13% decline of the automotive parts and services for many became its guiding genius for the next 30 Shareholders have been hoping for years Include years. It is a subsidiary of Sears Holdings years. Wood noted that the automobile that the company will stem its sales de- previous year. Optimists might point to Sears Holdings’ Houston Corporation. was making retail outlets in urban cen- clines and return to something close to Store tres more accessible to consumers in out- lying suburbs and rural areas. To exploit help? The company’s shortfall for the third quar- Barely holding on ter was “only” $558 million, down from More than 100 Sears and Kmart retail store (in Chicago) in 1925, and the The short answer? Probably not. Sears $748 million in the year-ago period and stores to close, including a number of stores increased so rapidly that better than the average analyst estimate. Houston location by 1931 retail sales had topped mail-or- - However, that was on the back of a 27% Sears Holdings Corp. will be closing over economic boom after World War II and slide in revenue to $3.66 billion, which is 100 more stores as the struggling depart- Sears Holdings, which had a huge foot- was not seriously challenged as America’s only partially due to the declining store ment store chain tries to turn around its print in its glory days several decades ago, largest retailer until the 1980s, when the count -- same-store sales slumped by 15% business, including one Houston location. A Sears store in the 1920’s. has built a recovery strategy on the divest- Kmart Corporation surpassed it in total during the quarter. The situation is even The Hoffman Estates says that includes ment of assets (plus cash infusions from a In 1886 Richard W. Sears founded the sales. Wal-Mart eventually surpassed both 64 Kmart stores and 39 Sears stores that reliable source). This latest announcement R.W. Sears Watch Company in Minneap- and became, before the end of the 20th will be shuttered between early March and olis, Minnesota, to sell watches by mail follows a year during which the company well in negative territory for quite some century, the largest retailer in the world. early April. order. He relocated his business to Chi- closed around one-quarter of its remain- time. cago in 1887, hired Alvah C. Roebuck to the total store base had already dwindled repair watches, and established a mail-or- down to just 1,100 locations as of last Oc- der business for watches and jewelry. The tober. same year. In 1889 Sears sold his busi- An artist’s ness but a few years later founded, with rendering of Roebuck, another mail-order operation, a new Sears which in 1893 came to be known as Sears, store in the A Sears store in the 1950’s. Apocalypse now Roebuck and Company. In 1895 Julius 1960’s. A Sears store Grand Opening in Rosenwald, a wealthy clothing manufac- Although the depths of the retail apoca- The company has also put several brands the 1930’s. turer, bought out Roebuck’s interest, and - lypse are somewhat overstated, it’s never- on the chopping block. Just over a year he reorganized the mail-order business. vices, but by 1992 Sears began selling off theless consuming businesses that haven’t The move comes in addition to closing ago, it sold its Craftsman line of tools to some subsidiaries in order to concentrate adapted to the new landscape crafted by about 250 stores announced last year. Stanley Black & Decker for $900 million. on its lagging core retail operations. It dis- Amazon and its online peers. The closures include the Sears store at Before that, it spun off both Orchard Sup- continued its general catalog in 1993 and The current paradigm mandates tradition- West Oaks Mall. Liquidation sales will ply Hardware -- subsequently acquired by in 1995 spun off its largest subsidiary, the - begin as soon as next Friday at the stores. Lowe’s -- and home furnishings maker Corporation, an insurance compa- inative in winning customers. Some are: A Sears spokesman said Thursday the Lands’ End into separate, publicly traded ny founded by Sears in 1931. In addition Witness the renaissance of certain brick- number of workers affected was not avail- companies. to selling household goods, hardware, and and-mortar players like Best Buy. By able. The majority of the jobs are part- But there are only so many properties and clothing, Sears provides repair services contrast, Sears Holdings seems stuck in time positions, Sears said. so many brands. Besides, divestments for automobiles and for household items an old-fashioned way of doing business. Liquidation sales will begin as soon as don’t solve Sears’s major problem: Peo- such as appliances, electronic equipment, Recent statements by CEO Eddie Lampert next Friday at the stores. ple just aren’t interested in shopping at its and home heating and cooling systems. regarding store redesignsindicate an “it Earlier Thursday, Macy’s Inc. announced stores, even during the holiday shopping A page out of the original Sears Sears merged with Kmart in 2005. (Cour- it was closing 11 stores early this year. season. The company recently released its catalog. tesy Encyclopædia Britannica) Come Grow With Us! 2.75% APY on 18-Month CD 2.00 % APY on MonuMINT Savings and ManageMINT Savings Accounts

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M02-反煙廣告_B_40直 THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019 C5 BUSINESS Tribune Publishing last Saturday night the situation. News and all of our regular reported that malware introduced into “It’s Likely That The Attack Will Affect The Process Of features are available online.” -LA Times their systems by hackers affected its abil- “We are trying to do work-arounds so we ity to print newspapers across its chain of Printing And Delivering The Sunday Newspapers ...” can get pages out. It’s all in production. outlets, including the Chicago Tribune, We need the plates to start the presses. the New York Daily News, the Baltimore That’s the bottleneck,” said Director of Sun and the Orlando Sentinel. -- Statement From The Los Angeles Times Distribution, Joe Robidoux. Many subscribers to the Los Angeles The problem was first detected Friday, Times and San Diego Union-Tribune, however technology teams were unable which were previously owned by Tri- Computer Hackers Hit to completely fix all systems before press bune Publishing and still share some time. It is unknown whether the compa- production technology with the compa- ny has contacted law enforcement re- ny, stepped into a chilly sunny morning Newspapers Coast-To-Coast garding the incident. Saturday only to find empty doorsteps. The computer malware was detected Compiled And Edited By John T. Robbins, Southern Daily Editor Friday and “impacted some back-office All papers within The Times’ former systems which are primarily used to parent company, Tribune Publishing, publish and produce newspapers across experienced glitches with the production our properties,” said Marisa Kollias, Tri- of papers. Tribune Publishing sold The bune communications vice president, in Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune a statement. to Los Angeles businessman Dr. Patrick “There is no evidence that customer South Florida readers of the Sun-Sentinel Soon-Shiong in June, but the companies credit card information or personally were told that it had been “crippled this continue to share various systems, in- identifiable information has been- com weekend by a computer virus that shut cluding software. promised,” she said. “The personal data down production and hampered phone of our subscribers, online users, and ad- lines,” according to its website. The New vertising clients has not been compro- York Times and Palm Beach Post read- mised.” ers in South Florida also failed to receive The Los Angeles Times, citing an anon- their Saturday papers since they use the ymous source, described the malware Sun-Sentinel’s printing facility. as part of a cyberattack with foreign “Usually when someone tries to disrupt origins. The Times and the Union-Tri- a significant digital resource like a news- bune were sold by Tribune Publishing to paper, you’re looking at an experienced Los Angeles biotech billionaire Patrick and sophisticated hacker,” said Pam Dix- Shown above: LA Times Olympic print- Soon-Shiong in June. all of the relevant vendors to resolve the Related on, executive director of nonprofit public systems issues and restore timely service ing plant (Photo: doobybrain.com) Kollias said Tribune Publishing was put- West coast editions of the Wall Street interest research group the World Priva- to our customers,” the Times said in its “Every market across the company ting a “workaround” in place. Journal and New York Times were also cy Forum. own statement. “However, it’s likely that was impacted,” said Marisa Kollias, affected, as they are all printed at the LA Dixon added that malware has become the issues will affect the process of print- spokeswoman for Tribune Publishing. Times’ Olympic printing plant in down- more sophisticated and coordinated over ing and delivering the Sunday newspa- She declined to provide specifics on the town Los Angeles. time, involving more planning by hack- pers as well.” disruptions, but the company properties The hackers were able to disable sever- ing networks who work together to infil- Regional editions of the New York include the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore al crucial software systems which store trate a system over time. Times and Wall Street Journal, which are Sun, Annapolis Capital-Gazette, Hart- news stories, photographs and adminis- “Modern malware is all about the long printed at the Los Angeles Times’ Olym- ford Courant, New York Daily News, trative information – which complicated game,” she said. “It’s serious attacks, not pic printing plant downtown, also were Orlando Sentinel and Fort Lauderdale efforts to make the physical plates used small stuff anymore. When people think impacted, the L.A. company said. Sun-Sentinel. to print the papers at The Times’ down- of malware, the impression may be, ‘It’s The Ventura County Star newspaper in Tribune Publishing said in a statement town plant. a little program that runs on my comput- Southern California also was affected, Saturday that “the personal data of our “We believe the intention of the attack er,’” added Dixon. the paper said in a note to readers. subscribers, online users, and advertis- was to disable infrastructure, more spe- With modern hacking, “malware can In the meantime, readers of the Los An- ing clients has not been compromised. A cyclist rides on the sidewalk past cifically servers, as opposed to looking root into the deepest systems and disrupt geles and San Diego newspapers were We apologize for any inconvenience and the Los Angeles Times building in to steal information,” according to the very significant aspects of those- sys invited to view print-like digital editions thank our readers and advertising part- downtown Los Angeles. source who wishes to remain anony- tems.” (Courtesy zerohedge.com/news/.) online. (Courtesy nbcnews.com) ners for their patience as we investigate “We have been actively working with mous.