Donald Trump asks Florida judge to force Twitter to reinstate account

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/02/donald-trump-asks-florida-judge-to-force-twitter-to-reinstate-account

Trump’s request for a preliminary injunction against Twitter was filed late on Friday in Miami, claiming the social media company cancelled his account in January under pressure from his political rivals in Congress, the report by Bloomberg News said.

Twitter declined to comment. Trump’s representatives did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment outside business hours.

Twitter “exercises a degree of power and control over political discourse in this country that is immeasurable, historically unprecedented, and profoundly dangerous to open democratic debate”, Bloomberg quoted the former president’s request as saying.

Philippine leader Duterte announces retirement from politics

https://www.heraldonline.com/news/nation-world/world/article254704002.html

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday announced he was retiring from politics and dropping plans to run for vice president in elections next year, when his term ends, paving the way for his politician daughter to make a possible bid for the top post.

Speaking before reporters, Duterte said many Filipinos have expressed their opposition to his vice-presidential bid in surveys and public forums.

“The overwhelming sentiment of the Filipino is that I’m not qualified, and it would be a violation of the constitution,” Duterte said. “I will follow what you wish, and today I announce my retirement from politics."

The 76-year-old leader, known for his deadly anti-drugs crackdown, brash rhetoric and unorthodox political style, earlier accepted the ruling party’s nomination for him to seek the vice presidency in the May 9 elections. The decision outraged many of his opponents, who have described him as a human rights calamity in an Asian bastion of democracy.

Duterte’s withdrawal could pave the way for the possible presidential run of his daughter Sara Duterte, who is currently the mayor of southern Davao city. She has been prodded by many supporters to make a bid to succeed her father and has topped independent public opinion surveys on who should lead the country next.

But after her father initially declared that he would seek the vice presidency, Sara Duterte announced she would not run for president, saying she and her father have agreed that only one Duterte would run for a national office next year.