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] Scotland will get new nuclear power station if Labour win Holyrood election. Electricity Info
• [New] A US threat to sanction - including via port call fees - countries that vote for an IMO net zero framework may have contributed to the vote being postponed until 2026. Freightos
• [New] The next few months - as battlefields freeze and the U.S. heads deeper into election season - could prove decisive in determining whether the Ukraine war finally winds down or explodes anew. Pattern Nexus
• [New] S. Pressures Countries to Delay Fees to Clean Up Ship PollutionUnder threats of tariffs and other sanctions from the U.S., nations postponed a vote on whether to charge fees on emissions from ships. The New York Times
• [New] The global aid system is facing an unprecedented crisis that threatens to dismantle civil society, stifle peaceful activism, and undermine decades of progress on human rights, democracy, and social justice. Devdiscourse
• [New] Voting in council elections could become mandatory in Western Australia if the turnout for this weekend's poll continues to plummet. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Globally, the outcome of the U.S. election could influence international crypto policies. Edgen
• [New] FAO's new report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo warns of acute malnutrition among Indigenous Peoples, who face an unjust lack of nutritious food due to climate shocks, conflict, displacement, and unequal access to natural resources. CNS Media
• [New] Australia's compulsory voting means that success has, at least so far, been found in the middle ground, which remains far more responsive to the politics of opportunity than that of grievance. The Conversation
• [New] A second way South Korea can contribute to supporting the costs of maintaining the international order is by leveraging its defence industrial capacity to help democratic nations under threat through arms sales and transfers. Korea Economic Institute
• [New] The Kremlin's wider aggression could come before 2029 and that it was already using methods such as election manipulation, propaganda, and provocations to undermine NATO and destabilize Europe. Newsweek
• [New] Washington threatens retaliatory measures against countries backing proposed global carbon levy ahead of IMO vote this week. WorldCargo News
• [New] A good proportion of lapsed SNP voters will have switched to Labour at last year's UK general election. BBC News
• [New] The International Maritime Organization will soon be voting on new rules that might give a strong boost to the ammonia alternative for shipping. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] Next week, members of the IMO will vote on the adoption of a so-called NZF aimed at reducing global carbon dioxide gas emissions from the international shipping sector. Mirage News
• Continued tensions between the SFG and state governments could delay elections and cause violence in southern Somalia in the lead-up to the planned 2026 presidential election. Critical Threats
• French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu backed down on enforcing an unpopular 2023 pension reform until after the 2027 presidential election. Medium
• Some Georgia residents will be able to vote on local ballot initiatives. Georgia Recorder
• The countries with the lowest risks include Saudi Arabia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kazakhstan, while countries that see large decreases in potential storage space due to high risks include India, Norway, Canada and countries in the European Union. Center for Global Sustainability
• During a federal election in Australia, it is reasonable to expect that there could be AI used in election communication ... to mislead voters. UNSW Sites
• Europe's retreat from its own principles puts its democracy at risk. Turkish Minute
• Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to open the borders when relations with Europe deteriorate, while EU leaders have been accused of prioritizing border security over democratic and human rights concerns in Turkey. Turkish Minute
• Democracy in Venezuela will reverse that migration. The Free Press

Last updated: 26 October 2025