Global Scans · Democracy · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Society is expressing its discontent with current democratic processes that leave the elites struggling to convince their voters of their good intentions and competencies. Read on to see how democracy is offering both great opportunities and risks while this period of volatility shakes out.

• [New] For Google's core advertising business, we expect YouTube to remain a key beneficiary of demand tailwinds for AVOD platforms - particularly in the back half of 2024 ahead of the upcoming Summer Olympics and November presidential elections. Seeking Alpha
• [New] If India baulks at a crossing and continues its old bad habit of election rigging and denying Kashmiri self-determination celebrated in United Nations Security Council resolutions, then Kashmir will remain beleaguered by repression, misery and destitution. 24 News HD
• [New] Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed that 10 years of Narendra Modi government saw only 22-25 persons becoming billionaires, but if the INDIA alliance is voted to power, it will turn crores of people into lakhpatis. The Hindu
• [New] The House of Representatives voted 360 to 58 on the updated divest-or-ban bill that could lead to the first time ever that the US government has passed a law to shut down an entire social media platform. The Guardian
• [New] The US House of Representatives will finally vote on Saturday on a series of foreign aid bills, bringing an end to a months-long standoff in Congress led mostly by Republicans who refuse to support funding Ukraine's ongoing military defence against Russia's invasion. The Guardian
• [New] As a swing or purple state, Pennsylvania will be pivotal in the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, and election officials are already bracing for an influx of national scrutiny. GLAAD
• [New] If Donald Trump is re-elected US president in November, there are also fears that his isolationist approach to foreign policy will set back Western efforts to defend the front line against the CRINKs in Ukraine and in the Middle East. iNews
• [New] Over 18 lakh polling personnel across 1.87 lakh polling stations have been deployed by the the Election Commission of India for the Phase 1 voting of Lok Sabha elections taking place today in which more than 16.63 crore voters will exercise their franchise. Outlook India
• [New] Adults in the U.S. and Europe are increasingly worried about how AI will impact 2024 elections around the world. Digiday
• [New] The United States will reimpose sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector in response to the Maduro government's failure to allow an inclusive and competitive election to take place. CNN
• [New] 2024 will see more than 60 elections across 54 countries including the U.S. and India, where the scope for online hate to cause voter intimidation is huge 20, 21. Nature
• [New] With elections looming in the US, the UK and the European Parliament in 2024, economic growth, productivity and competitiveness will be firmly in the spotlight. Travers Smith LLP
• [New] As hopes of democratic elections in Venezuela erode, Washington continues to debate whether to reimpose oil and gas sanctions during an election year in which migration has emerged as a key issue for U.S. voters. Latin Times
• America remains a global leader in life sciences investment and innovation, but access to healthcare in the US is uneven, regulations are uncertain, and the presidential election poses risks to Pharma. Pharmaphorum
• As a global foundation working to safeguard democracy from digital threats - from illegal data collection to algorithmic polarization - we know the role of AI throughout 2024's global marathon of elections will shape public debates and policy for years to come. Politico
• The Democratic Party, if it retains the White House in the next election, will have one last chance to try diplomacy with Iran. ai-cio
• Tougher sanctions enforcement against Iranian oil shipments by the U.S. could raise oil prices but would risk higher inflation and pump prices for U.S. motorists in an election year. AP News
• Consensus destroys democracy by greatly curtailing the possibility that spirited discussion, diverse viewpoints and rigorous critique - all essential to maintaining the democratic process - will play a major role in shaping the direction of the U.S. and other democracies. The Conversation
• A record number of elections will take place, with half the adult population of the world, some two billion people, having the chance to vote. University of Cambridge
• Democrats have made abortion rights a central issue of their campaigns in Arizona, which was already expected to be a major battleground, and Florida, a longtime election bellwether that has swung further to the right in recent years. The Guardian
• There is a real possibility that Austria's elections might see a return to power for the far right, Putin-supporting Freedom party, if another party can be convinced to join it in a coalition. The Guardian
• The European Parliament voted in favour of a draft law that will reduce average carbon emissions of new heavy-duty vehicles by 45% as of 2030, 65% as of 2035 and 90% as of 2040. www.euractiv.com

Last updated: 28 April 2024