News Headlines - 23 October 2020

▽Nigeria: PDP Demands State of Emergency Declaration On National Security - allAfrica.com

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on the country's security.
He also described the federal government's handling of the #EndSARS protests as a threat to national unity and cohesion.
He related the shooting at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos by soldiers to Tiananmen Square shooting in China in 1989.

▽US approves $1.8bn in potential arms sales to Taiwan | Al Jazeera

The US Department of State has approved the potential sale of three weapons systems to Taiwan, including sensors, missiles and artillery that could have a total value of $1.8bn, the Pentagon said on Wednesday, amid rising tension over the self-ruled island that China claims as its own.
Among other weapons systems, Wednesday’s formal notifications to Congress by the State Department were for 11 truck-based rocket launchers made by Lockheed Martin Corp called a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), at an estimated cost of $436.1m.
The notifications also covered 135 AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) Missiles and related equipment made by Boeing, for an estimated $1.008bn, and six MS-110 Recce external sensor pods made by Collins Aerospace for jets, at an estimated cost of $367.2m.

▽Ishiba resigns as faction leader over last-place finish in LDP poll : The Asahi Shimbun

Veteran politician Shigeru Ishiba said he will step down as head of his faction in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, a move that will damage his long-held hopes of becoming prime minister.
Ishiba, 63, announced his decision at an emergency meeting of his faction on Oct. 22, citing his disastrous showing in the last LDP presidential race won by current Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga... He said he will remain in the faction, which has 18 other members.

▽Government suggests extended New Year break to cut COVID-19 risks | The Japan Times

The government said Friday it plans to request that companies extend their New Year holidays, possibly to about a week in length, to mitigate congestion on public transportation and during traditional shrine visits as a measure against COVID-19.
Since the year-end to New Year holiday season in Japan is a time for family reunions, train stations and airports typically become overcrowded on certain days with those traveling home.
By lengthening the holiday season, people are likely to be able to make more flexible travel schedules and avoid congestion. The measure was discussed during a meeting of a government subcommittee dealing with the coronavirus. The subcommittee suggested the government request that companies allow employees to take days off flexibly around the New Year holiday season.

▽Mysterious 'Robin Hood' hackers donating stolen money - BBC News

A hacking group is donating stolen money to charity in what is seen as a mysterious first for cyber-crime that's puzzling experts.
Darkside hackers claim to have extorted millions of dollars from companies, but say they now want to "make the world a better place".
In a post on the dark web, the gang posted receipts for $10,000 in Bitcoin donations to two charities.