Legislation
465 entities tracked across Lowdown briefings. Page 8 of 8.
StormFighter
A £300 million UK programme to develop sovereign autonomous combat aircraft under the Defence Investment Plan.
A £300 million UK programme to develop sovereign autonomous combat aircraft under the Defence Investment Plan.
Strategic Action Plan for Hormuz and Persian Gulf Security
Iranian Majlis bill mandating rial-only Hormuz fees; incompatible with Iran's own PGSA yuan portal.
Iranian Majlis bill mandating rial-only Hormuz fees; incompatible with Iran's own PGSA yuan portal.
StromVKG
Germany's capacity-payment law funding dispatchable gas plants via competitive Bundesnetzagentur-run auctions.
Germany's capacity-payment law funding dispatchable gas plants via competitive Bundesnetzagentur-run auctions.
STS 620/2026
Spain's Supreme Court judgment STS 620/2026 (Appeal 143/2025), handed down 21 May 2026, which voided the mandatory national STR registration number from Royal Decree 1312/2024 while upholding the SDEP digital single window and data-transmission obligations.
Spain's Supreme Court judgment STS 620/2026 (Appeal 143/2025), handed down 21 May 2026, which voided the mandatory national STR registration number from Royal Decree 1312/2024 while upholding the SDEP digital single window and data-transmission obligations.
Subsidy Control Act 2022UK's post-Brexit state-aid framework; a principles-based subsidy regime that replaced EU State Aid rules.
UK's post-Brexit state-aid framework; a principles-based subsidy regime that replaced EU State Aid rules.
Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026Statutory instrument creating East Surrey and West Surrey unitary authorities from April 2027.
Statutory instrument creating East Surrey and West Surrey unitary authorities from April 2027.
Sustainable Data Centre Action PlanVictoria, Australia policy requiring new data centres to supply their own power and water.
Taif Agreement
1989 agreement that ended the Lebanese Civil War; required all militias to disarm but exempted Hezbollah as 'national resistance' against Israeli occupation — an exemption that shaped Lebanese politics for 36 years until revoked by cabinet on 3 March 2026
1989 agreement that ended the Lebanese Civil War; required all militias to disarm but exempted Hezbollah as 'national resistance' against Israeli occupation — an exemption that shaped Lebanese politics for 36 years until revoked by cabinet on 3 March 2026
Taiwan Unmanned Vehicle Industry Act
Taiwan law governing unmanned-vehicle development and national-defence procurement.
Taiwan law governing unmanned-vehicle development and national-defence procurement.
Tarif CD
Hydro-Québec's proposed electricity tariff for data centres of 5 MW or more.
Hydro-Québec's proposed electricity tariff for data centres of 5 MW or more.
TechFirstUK AI skills programme delivering to 30,000 North East pupils and 1,000 teachers; announced May 2026.
UK AI skills programme delivering to 30,000 North East pupils and 1,000 teachers; announced May 2026.
Tech Sovereignty Package
EU Commission bundle of CAIDA and Chips Act II; slipped three consecutive times, now tentatively set for 3 June 2026.
EU Commission bundle of CAIDA and Chips Act II; slipped three consecutive times, now tentatively set for 3 June 2026.
Thornburg v. Gingles
1986 SCOTUS ruling establishing majority-minority redistricting doctrine; effectively overturned by Callais 2026.
1986 SCOTUS ruling establishing majority-minority redistricting doctrine; effectively overturned by Callais 2026.
Trading With the Enemy ActThe 1917 US statute providing the legal foundation for the Cuban embargo, renewed annually by presidential determination.
The 1917 US statute providing the legal foundation for the Cuban embargo, renewed annually by presidential determination.
Type D Visa
Greek national long-stay visa required for the Digital Nomad Visa after Law 5275/2026.
Greek national long-stay visa required for the Digital Nomad Visa after Law 5275/2026.
UK Biological Security StrategyUK government strategy governing biosecurity funding and DNA-synthesis screening policy.
UK government strategy governing biosecurity funding and DNA-synthesis screening policy.
Ukraine FacilityEU programme of grants and loans supporting Ukraine's budget and recovery.
Ukraine Support LoanThe EU's €90 billion financing facility for Ukraine, including a defence window.
Ukraine weapons export ban (2022)
Policy restricting Ukrainian weapons exports. Officials are now discussing state-regulated export market; National Security and Defence Council to determine permissible sales.
Policy restricting Ukrainian weapons exports. Officials are now discussing state-regulated export market; National Security and Defence Council to determine permissible sales.
UK refugee resettlement schemeHome Office voluntary programme placing vulnerable refugees with local councils; first revoked by a Reform-controlled council on 9 May 2026.
Home Office voluntary programme placing vulnerable refugees with local councils; first revoked by a Reform-controlled council on 9 May 2026.
UKRI Global Talent Fund£54m UK government fund administered by UKRI to recruit senior international researchers into UK institutions, targeting those displaced by US federal science budget cuts.
£54m UK government fund administered by UKRI to recruit senior international researchers into UK institutions, targeting those displaced by US federal science budget cuts.
UK SORAThe UK CAA's risk-assessment method for Specific category drone flights, in force since April 2025.
The UK CAA's risk-assessment method for Specific category drone flights, in force since April 2025.
UN Charter Article 51UN Charter provision preserving the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence against armed attack.
UNCLOS Article 58UNCLOS provision governing rights of non-coastal states in exclusive economic zones; key to Iran tanker-strike legality.
UN Convention on the Law of the SeaThe 1982 United Nations treaty governing maritime rights, including transit passage through international straits, freedom of navigation, and exclusive economic zones.
United States ConstitutionSupreme law of the United States, ratified in 1788.
Supreme law of the United States, ratified in 1788.
University Spinout Investment TermsSector-wide founder-friendly equity term-sheet standard for UK university software spinouts, launched May 2026.
Sector-wide founder-friendly equity term-sheet standard for UK university software spinouts, launched May 2026.
UN Security Council Resolution 21772014 resolution declaring the West African Ebola outbreak a threat to international peace.
UN Security Council Resolution 2216The 2015 Security Council resolution imposing a targeted arms embargo on the Houthis.
UOCAVAThe Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, requiring ballots to reach military and overseas voters 45 days before a federal election.
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, requiring ballots to reach military and overseas voters 45 days before a federal election.
Venture Capital TrustsUK investment trusts offering small-company tax relief, cut from 30% to 20% in April 2026.
UK investment trusts offering small-company tax relief, cut from 30% to 20% in April 2026.
Vermont S.205Vermont state bill freezing AI data-centre construction until July 2030.
Vermont state bill freezing AI data-centre construction until July 2030.
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations1961 treaty on diplomatic immunity; France invoked Article 9 to expel two Iranian embassy staff.
Visa Bond Pilot ProgrammeUS programme requiring nationals of ~50 countries to post up to $15,000 before receiving a tourist visa.
US programme requiring nationals of ~50 countries to post up to $15,000 before receiving a tourist visa.
Vision 2040
Oman's long-term economic diversification strategy, reducing dependence on oil revenues by 2040.
Oman's long-term economic diversification strategy, reducing dependence on oil revenues by 2040.
VNU mechanism
France's 2026 regulated nuclear sale mechanism; replaced ARENH; VNU windfall levy dormant this year.
France's 2026 regulated nuclear sale mechanism; replaced ARENH; VNU windfall levy dormant this year.
Voting Rights Act1965 landmark US law barring discriminatory voting; Section 2 gutted by SCOTUS Callais ruling, May 2026.
1965 landmark US law barring discriminatory voting; Section 2 gutted by SCOTUS Callais ruling, May 2026.
Voting Rights Act Section 2Federal anti-discrimination voting law gutted by SCOTUS 6-3 in Callais, May 2026.
Federal anti-discrimination voting law gutted by SCOTUS 6-3 in Callais, May 2026.
VPDESVPDES (Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) is Virginia's water-discharge permit programme, equivalent to the federal NPDES, regulating industrial and municipal effluent released into state waters.
VPDES (Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) is Virginia's water-discharge permit programme, equivalent to the federal NPDES, regulating industrial and municipal effluent released into state waters.
War Damage Act 1965Act retrospectively abolishing compensation for wartime property destruction, reversing the Burmah Oil judgment.
Act retrospectively abolishing compensation for wartime property destruction, reversing the Burmah Oil judgment.
WARN ActUS federal law requiring 60-day mass layoff notice; covering under 4% of Oracle's affected workforce in 2026.
US federal law requiring 60-day mass layoff notice; covering under 4% of Oracle's affected workforce in 2026.
War Powers Resolution1973 war-powers law; House passed its first Iran resolution 23 July, Senate again blocked.
WHO Blueprint on fungal disease and antifungal resistanceWHO's first dedicated policy blueprint addressing fungal disease burden and antifungal drug resistance, published 1 July 2026.
Working Holiday visa (Australia)
Australian visa letting young travellers live and work up to three years.
Australian visa letting young travellers live and work up to three years.ZEP
South Africa's Zimbabwean Exemption Permit; the temporary legal stay pathway for Zimbabweans now under review.
South Africa's Zimbabwean Exemption Permit; the temporary legal stay pathway for Zimbabweans now under review.