愛污传媒

World

    • Democracy declined for 8th straight year around the globe, institute finds

    An anti-government protester holds a sign with a message that reads in Spanish, 'Dictatorship never again,' during an opposition rally, marking a year since President Santiago Pena's inauguration, in Asuncion, Paraguay, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz) An anti-government protester holds a sign with a message that reads in Spanish, 'Dictatorship never again,' during an opposition rally, marking a year since President Santiago Pena's inauguration, in Asuncion, Paraguay, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
    Share
    COPENHAGEN, Denmark -

    Last year had the worst decline in credible elections and parliamentary oversight in almost a half-century, driven by government intimidation, foreign interference, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence in campaigns, an organization promoting democracy said Tuesday.

    The , or International IDEA, said election credibility is threatened by turnout dropping and results are increasingly being contested. One in three elections are being disputed in some way, it said.

    The organization with 35 member governments said the average percentage of the voting age population who actually cast ballots has declined from 65.2 per cent in 2008 to 55.5 per cent in 2023.

    "Elections remain the single best opportunity to end democratic backsliding and turn the tide in democracy's favor," said International IDEA's Secretary-General, Kevin Casas-Zamora. "The success of democracy depends on many things, but it becomes utterly impossible if elections fail."

    The Stockholm-based organization said its Global Report on the State of the Democracy, which measures democratic performance in 158 countries from 1975 till today, found that 47 per cent of countries have experienced a decline in key democratic indicators over the past five years, marking the eighth consecutive year of global democratic backsliding.

    Globally, nearly 20 per cent of elections between 2020 and 2024, one of the losing candidates or parties rejected the result, and elections were being decided by court appeals at the same rate.

    The report said 2023 was the worst year when it came to free and fair elections and parliamentary oversight.

    There were threats of foreign interference, disinformation and the use of artificial intelligence in campaigns. The declines span both traditionally strong democracies as well as fragile governments around the globe.

    In Africa, democratic performance has generally remained stable over the past five years, with notable declines in the Sahel, particularly in coup-affected Burkina Faso which is one of a growing list of West African countries where the military has taken power, accusing the elected governments of failing to keep their promises. IDEA noted that Burundi and Zambia have made notable improvements.

    As to Western Asia, over a third of countries performed poorly, while Europe has seen widespread declines in democratic aspects like the rule of law and civil liberties. However, progress have notably been reported in Montenegro and Latvia.

    The study noted that the Americas have mostly maintained stability, but countries like Guatemala,Peru and Uruguay have experienced declines, particularly in rule of law and civil liberties.

    Most countries in the Asia-Pacific region have seen minor declines or stability, with notable improvements in Fiji, the Maldives, and Thailand, the organization said. However, the declines were significant in Afghanistan where the Taliban have not been recognized by any country as the legitimate rulers since they seized power in 2021, and in Myanmar, where opposition to a military takeover has deteriorated to a civil war.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    The B.C. NDP has claimed the majority of mail-in ballots tallied so far this weekend for the final count in the province鈥檚 nail-bitingly close 2024 election, increasing the chances of the party clinching a third term.

    A pair of new pre-election polls indicate that the Saskatchewan NDP has a slight lead ahead of election day.

    A 17-year-old Ottawa driver was caught speeding nearly 90 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417.

    With a provincial election announcement expected Sunday, Nova Scotia鈥檚 political party leaders have announced events.

    Canada

    • A massive mudslide closed the freeway south of the Canada-U.S. border in Bellingham, Wash. Sunday.

    • A pair of new pre-election polls indicate that the Saskatchewan NDP has a slight lead ahead of election day.

    • Victor Garber got teary-eyed when he walked into a brunch in his honour Sunday in London, Ont.

    • A 17-year-old Ottawa driver was caught speeding nearly 90 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417.

    • Huntsville OPP and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are conducting a homicide investigation after three individuals were found dead in a Huntsville neighbourhood Friday evening.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    The Westfield & District Recreation Association hosted its first Witches and Warlocks on the Water event Saturday, with costumed paddlers in pointed hats launching from Westfield Beach.

    A new resident at a Manitoba animal rescue has waddled her way into people's hearts.

    Hundreds of people ran to the music of German composer and pianist Beethoven Wednesday night in a unique race in Halifax.

    He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

    A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

    Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

    A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

    A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

    • One person has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries following a stabbing in East Vancouver Sunday.

    • A massive mudslide closed the freeway south of the Canada-U.S. border in Bellingham, Wash. Sunday.

    • The B.C. NDP has claimed the majority of mail-in ballots tallied so far this weekend for the final count in the province鈥檚 nail-bitingly close 2024 election, increasing the chances of the party clinching a third term.

    • Ontario is moving to extend a 5.7-cent cut to the provincial gas tax until next summer.

    • More Torontonians will be able to get their doses of a new COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. Here's what to know.

    • Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand is requesting a meeting with her provincial counterpart to tackle the rising issue of re-Vinning and fraudulent vehicle registrations.

    • A Calgary MP is collecting names on a petition in hopes of saving the Olympic Plaza bricks.

    • Tracey Rice's son Dylan Sparks is the reason she has spent the better part of a decade building para powerlifting to becoming a more common sport within the para athlete community.

    • One person is in hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries after a crash between a motorized scooter and a vehicle.

    • Last year, seven-year-old Jack was diagnosed with hereditary spastic paraplegia type four (SPG4), a disease that affects less than 0.01 per cent of the population.

    • A 17-year-old Ottawa driver was caught speeding nearly 90 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417.

    • Ontario Provincial Police say a 16-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder after a 15-year-old was found dead at a home in Perth, Ont. Friday afternoon.

    • As synthetic drugs grow stronger, experts warn that overdoses pose an even greater threat, particularly to young people. Dr. Nicholas Chadi, a pediatrician at Sainte-Justine Hospital, is sounding the alarm about the rising dangers of these substances.

    • Stem cell biologist Jacob Hanna has received a lot of worldwide attention since his team at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel created a synthetic human embryo.

    • A pedestrian is dead after she was hit by a vehicle early Sunday morning in north-central Edmonton.

    • The Edmonton Oilers are starting their backup goalie Sunday in the first of back-to-back road games for the National Hockey League (NHL) club.

    • With a provincial election announcement expected Sunday, Nova Scotia鈥檚 political party leaders have announced events.

    • Water service is temporarily shut down near 6135 Almon Street in Halifax.

    • Queen鈥檚 District RCMP in Nova Scotia is investigating a single-vehicle fatal collision that occurred Saturday on Highway 103 in Port Mouton, N.S.

    • Winnipeg police are looking for a suspect after they say a man was attacked by someone with a machete early Friday morning.

    • An estimated 6,000 children died in residential schools, though experts say the actual number could be much higher.

    • A pair of new pre-election polls indicate that the Saskatchewan NDP has a slight lead ahead of election day.

    • No injuries have been reported in connection to a house fire in Regina鈥檚 North Central neighbourhood Saturday evening.

    • The Calgary Stampeders picked up their first road victory of the season Saturday, defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 27-12 in the final regular-season game of the year.

    • Ghosts and ghouls put their golfing skills to the test at Merry-Hill Golf Club鈥檚 annual Scary-Hill event on Sunday.

    • Police are investigating after a Guelph home was broken into early Saturday morning.

    • Middle school and high school aged students learn about the possibilities of engineering at the Go ENG Girl event at Conestoga College on Saturday.

    • Saskatoon fire crews responded to a major house fire on the 400 block of 24th Street West on Friday evening.

    • A pair of new pre-election polls indicate that the Saskatchewan NDP has a slight lead ahead of election day.

    • The Saskatoon Police Service is cautioning residents about a phone scam involving fraudulent lottery claims.

    • Ontario Premier Doug Ford will be in Sudbury on Monday, his office says.

    • Victor Garber got teary-eyed when he walked into a brunch in his honour Sunday in London, Ont.

    • Trillium Care in Norwich, Ont. has announced they will be closing their facilities, citing 鈥渁n emergency lack of financial resources necessary to sustain daily operations.鈥

    • Two new interchanges have opened in St. Thomas, Ont. but one main artery is set to close Monday for construction.

    • Huntsville OPP and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are conducting a homicide investigation after three individuals were found dead in a Huntsville neighbourhood Friday evening.

    • Bracebridge OPP are searching for two suspects who allegedly broke into a Gravenhurst jewelry store early Saturday morning.

    • A man was charged after allegedly crashing into a parked OPP cruiser in Tay Township early Sunday morning.

    • One suspect has been arrested after an armed robbery took place in Windsor.

    • Police have charged a man with robbery after an incident Saturday afternoon in Chatham.

    • Donated and reusable household items piled up in trucks outside the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre Saturday afternoon in an effort to divert goods from the landfill.

    • The B.C. NDP has claimed the majority of mail-in ballots tallied so far this weekend for the final count in the province鈥檚 nail-bitingly close 2024 election, increasing the chances of the party clinching a third term.

    • There were tense moments at a ferry terminal outside Victoria, B.C., on Friday after the lion鈥檚 share of standby spots on an early sailing were claimed by 鈥渁ssured loading鈥 passengers 鈥 leaving regular customers who had been waiting for hours out of luck.

    • Hulitan Early Years Centre is a brand new, 48-seat childhood learning centre in Colwood. It was built to support Indigenous children throughout the capital region.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • A tentative agreement has been reached between the City of Lethbridge and more than 900 employees belonging to CUPE Local 70.

    • The Hurricanes will be happy to be back home in Lethbridge Saturday night after losing their third in a row on the road Friday night, a 4-1 decision to the Broncos in Swift Current.

    • About 15,000 students are enrolled at Lethbridge鈥檚 post-secondary schools, and now the city is working with those schools to try to find ways to get them s to stick around a while.

    • A female athlete from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., achieved two big goals at the 2024 World Triathlon championships in Spain last weekend.

    • Creditors have moved to take ownership of most of the properties in northern Ontario owned by a group of 11 insolvent companies.

    • Ontario Provincial Police have been cleared in the case of a woman who crashed her vehicle intentionally while she was high on drugs and fled into the woods earlier this year.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 愛污传媒. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 愛污传媒