Politics

WHAT'S NEXT?: Break up of traditional political structures is on the cards in many parts of the world as technology brings challenges to slow and bureaucratic decision-making. New forms of more agile democratic structures are likely to emerge.

[New] Debt will fund government spending for the short term, with some projections estimating a GCC borrowing requirement of $200 billion in 2020.
[New] The government will double the amount it invests in the flood and coastal defence programme in England to £5.2bn over six years, better protecting a further 336,000 homes and non-residential properties.
[New] The US government has formed a USD $20.4bn Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to boost the accessibility of high-speed broadband in rural areas and the UK government has created a fund to facilitate network sharing in rural areas.
[New] For the Committee on Climate Change of the UK government, the UK target of an 80% reduction from 1990 to 2050 is still achievable but the Paris Agreement should tighten emissions targets.
[New] The UK Government will provide £5bn in gigabit broadband to the hardest to reach places, as well as £510m into the shared rural phone network.
[New] The hospital industry will receive more than $100 billion in funding from the federal government to help create what Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, has been referring to as a Marshall Plan, referring to the reconstruction aid the U.S. sent to Europe after World War II.
[New] Extra spending on UK government departments and investment represented the biggest Budget giveaway since 1992, and will add around £100bn to public borrowing by 2024.
[New] The Chinese government is expected to embark on measures to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, with industrial production growth expected to receive a boost as a result.
[New] Economic contraction will reduce UL government revenues: Rishi Sunak has already said that the government will need to draw on emergency funding to deal with the extra strain on the NHS.
[New] Supporting delivery of SDG 4 by promoting 12 years of quality education for all children, especially girls, by 2030 is a top priority for the UK Government.
[New] China relying on bank loans and local government bonds as funding will no doubt raise the overall credit risk, as many infrastructure loans have experienced trouble with repayment in the past.
[New] Although the new political context will give the talks great urgency and transform the previous informal consultations into formal talks, completing a comprehensive bilateral agreement between the U.S. and U.K. will be difficult before the U.S. elections in November.
[New] A moderate subsidy associated with feasible technical progress in renewable energy is an effective way to meet government targets in 2030 and is helpful for energy transition in China.
[New] The UK government has announced that after 2025 gas and oil boilers will no longer be allowed to be installed in new buildings.
[New] Government scientists released analysis suggesting that strict social distancing measures will have to be put in place for at least six months, as well as subsequent waves of more lenient restrictions for most of the year, to keep the outbreak within a level at which the NHS can cope.
[New] To meet the anticipated demand for seasonal influenza vaccines in 2020, the Australian Government will be securing the largest ever supply of seasonal influenza vaccines.
[New] The Committee on Climate Change's advice to the UK Government on meeting net-zero by 2050 included calls to cap airport expansion and limit growth in demand for flights.
The absence of any indication of the UK Government's Spending Plans beyond 2020-21 continues to present difficulties for the Scottish Government in undertaking our planning for future public services in Scotland.
Renewables and clean technology industry jobs could increase by 85% in the UK in 10 years with the right support from government.
A new report supports offshore wind development as a tool to decarbonise the power sector and enable the UK government to meet its goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
While the UK Government will continue to hold consultations on the phase-out date of polluting vehicles, it has earmarked £403m to extend the Plug-in Grant up to 2023.
The UK government plans to increase public R&D investment to £22bn per year by 2024-25, investing in people, ideas and industries in sectors including nuclear fusion and electric vehicles.
The UK government has previously announced £20 million of funding for vaccine development, awarded to CEPI, who will award significant further funding to support PHE 's work.

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Last updated: 01 April 2020