Global Scans · Homes · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The number of smart homes is expected to grow further and by 2020 it is expected 46.2 million homes in the US and 44.9 million in Europe will be classed as smart homes. By 2022 there could be nearly 500 smart devices that can be connected to a smart home.

• China is bracing for what could be a volatile and highly unpredictable path ahead in its escalating great power rivalry with the United States, after Donald Trump made a historic political comeback to win the race to the White House. CNN
• The impetus for climate action over the next four years will not come from the politics of the White House, it will come from the economics of clean energy, from Europe, emerging markets and sub-national actors in the US and around the world. Carbon Brief
• With Trump's re-election, Colorado's immigrant communities and advocacy organizations are preparing for what they fear will be a new level of federal hostility that could endanger the hundreds of thousands of foreign-born people who call the state home. The Denver Post
• Individuals will be within the scope of UK Inheritance Tax on their worldwide estates once they have been resident in the UK for 10 or more of the past 20 years. Keystone Law
• Individuals will not pay UK tax on any foreign income and gains arising in their first 4 years of tax residence (if non-UK resident for all of the last 10 years). Keystone Law
• Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House will likely transform the U.S. military's mission in Europe, alter its relationship with NATO and upend the Pentagon's whole strategy for assisting Ukraine in its war against Russia. Stars and Stripes
• The return of Mr Trump to the White House could cause diplomatic headaches for the UK, with potential splits on trade policy and US support for Ukraine and Nato. Kent Online
• Using hydrogen-source heat pumps to heat UK households could markedly reduce the carbon footprint of energy supply chains. The University of Sheffield
• Growth in most G7 economies in 2025 is expected to continue to recover gradually as household consumption picks up, while growth in the United States is expected to ease from its current strong rate. Reserve Bank of Australia
• With polling locations now closed, Mississippi voters are anxiously awaiting to see who will take office in the White House, U.S. House, and U.S. Senate, among various judgeship roles. SuperTalk Mississippi
• U.S. residents are more likely to think mortgage rates will increase if Harris becomes president; 32% think rates will rise if Harris wins, while 28% think rates will rise if Trump wins. Redfin Real Estate News
• U.S. voters considering how different candidates for office at all levels will affect families struggling with hunger in the U.S. and abroad. Corn Refiners Association
• Tax hikes will lead to higher food prices and damaged farmers' confidence, whilst the Country Land and Business Association said policies will harm 70,000 UK farms, family businesses, and destabilise food security. PLMR
• Fed policy shifts and rising competition in affordable housing could impact buyer confidence and compress margins. Seeking Alpha
• For months, US consumers and businesses have felt some degree of paralysis from the upcoming presidential election, putting off purchases and investments until the world knows who will move into the White House. CNN
• Texas is home to some of the largest solar projects in the US, including SB Energy's and Google's Orion Solar Belt adjoining solar farms, which, having gone online in late 2024, will provide 875 MW of clean energy, which is essentially the same as a traditional nuclear reactor. Financier Worldwide
• The U.S. Department of Energy estimates the overall rebates on energy-efficient electric devices - including heat pump clothes dryers, smart home technologies, weatherizing features, and more - will ultimately save Americans $1 billion every year on energy bills. The Cool Down
• Sydney residents will see their water bills rise by 50% by the end of the decade to cover the costs of overhauling ageing water infrastructure and connecting new housing developments. ABC News
• Rising Demand for Home Visits Helping Handle Pandemic Pet Boom Australia's pandemic-fuelled pet boom has placed increased pressure on the nation's struggling veterinary industry - but there's a ray of hope in the rising demand for home delivered vet services. Australian Dog Lover
• Young people will lose the opportunity to keep the farms their families have run for generations, while at the same time they are seeing government support for farming slashed. The Telegraph
• The next step in the Revitalising Central Dandenong project has been given the green light and is expected to deliver jobs, new homes, commercial and retail space, as well as a new Little India Precinct. Greater Dandenong Council
• The test for whether non-UK assets are in scope for IHT will be whether an individual has been resident in the UK for at least 10 out of the last 20 tax years immediately preceding the tax year in which the chargeable event (including death) arises. Armstrong Watson
• After 2027, higher interest rates boost the value of the dollar and make imports less expensive, thereby slowing the growth of prices for services other than energy and housing. Congressional Budget Office

Last updated: 09 November 2024