News Headlines - 05 November 2019

▽US Accuses China of Intimidating Southeast Asian Nations Over South China Sea

China should not be able to dictate terms of use in the South China Sea to smaller nations who have their own claims to the strategic waterway, a top U.S. security official told Southeast Asian leaders and officials gathered in Bangkok on Monday for annual talks.
U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said the economic success of ASEAN member countries - four of whom have overlapping claims with Beijing on the South China Sea - would help the grouping’s ability “to sustain safety and security” in the region, especially in the waterway.

▽FCC Approves T-Mobile/Sprint Merger, But 10 State AGs Still Object : NPR

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday released its Oct. 16 order allowing T-Mobile to merge with Sprint in a $26.5 billion deal. The commissioners approved the deal last month on a closed-door, 3-2 party-line vote.
The merger was praised by Republican commissioners as a boon for rural America and by Democratic commissioners as a disaster for consumers. The merger still faces a legal challenge by a coalition of state attorneys general.

▽Fujifilm to make Fuji Xerox a wholly owned unit | The Japan Times

Fujifilm Holdings Corp. said Tuesday it will turn Fuji Xerox Co. into a wholly owned subsidiary by acquiring an additional 25 percent from Xerox Co. of the United States for $2.3 billion (￥253 billion).
The deal also means Fujifilm has officially given up on its earlier plan to acquire the U.S. maker of printers and copy machines.
In January 2018, Fujifilm agreed with the top management of Xerox that it would acquire a 50.1 percent stake in the U.S. firm and merge it with Fuji Xerox.
But the merger plan was canceled by Xerox due to opposition from major shareholders.

▽Sir Lindsay Hoyle elected Speaker of House of Commons - BBC News

Labour MP and deputy Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been elected by MPs as the new Commons Speaker, after John Bercow stepped down.
After winning the final round of voting against Chris Bryant, Sir Lindsay was dragged to the chair by MPs, where he pledged to be a "neutral" Speaker.

▽Traditional penny farthing bicycle race in Czech Republic

Participants balanced on high-wheel bicycles during the annual penny farthing race in Prague, Czech Republic November 2, 2019. Bicycle enthusiasts gather every autumn for the race of penny farthing, a type of bicycle with a large front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel.