Newcastle Leading the Way with DA
The City of Newcastle council introduced an Accelerated Development Applications (ADA) framework that has halved development‑application processing times, bringing the average turnaround to under ten days. Since its 2022 launch, more than 1,300 applications across ten development categories have been approved, positioning Newcastle as the fastest‑performing council in NSW. The NSW Government awarded a $2 million grant to extend the model to other councils, and the system is already operating in Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter Shire. Executive Director Michelle Bisson credits collaboration and innovation for the program’s success.
VA Launches Tech Pilot Portfolio to Accelerate Modernization
The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a portfolio of technology pilots to fast‑track modernization across its digital services. Led by the Office of Information and Technology, the pilots evaluate Google Workspace, Oracle Cloud, Google Cloud, and a cybersecurity rationalization...
How AI Service Hubs Will Redefine Citizen Interactions in 2026
Governments are moving beyond simple AI chatbots toward AI service hubs that connect conversational interfaces directly to back‑office systems, allowing citizens to complete full transactions in one interaction. These hubs promise greater accessibility, multilingual support, and equity by delivering services...
Army Tackling Its ‘Achilles Heel’ of IT Modernization
U.S. Army CIO Leo Garciga announced a rapid purge of legacy business applications, shutting down 100 systems in the past two quarters and cutting the total from roughly 800 to under 300. The consolidation focuses on enterprise‑wide platforms, low‑code/no‑code tools,...
Government Equity Investments Open a New Frontier for Industry
Since the start of President Trump’s second term, the administration has completed ten direct equity investments in private firms, highlighted by a $1 billion stake in L3Harris Technologies' rocket‑motor unit and minority positions in Intel and critical‑mineral suppliers. The moves target...
ONC Contest: Make Patient-Exported EHI More Usable
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) has launched the EHIgnite Challenge, a $490,000 competition aimed at turning raw patient‑exported electronic health information into usable, actionable insights. Phase 1, closing May 13, 2026, seeks concept and design submissions that provide...
W3C Updates DID v1.1 Draft as Wallet and Agent Identity Use Cases Expand
The W3C released a Working Draft of Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) version 1.1, tightening how DID documents express cryptographic keys and verification methods. The clarification aims to ensure consistent interpretation across implementations, a critical step for digital wallet ecosystems and machine‑to‑machine...
Govt Plans Study to Assess Impact of Formalisation on Workers
The Indian government has commissioned a study to evaluate how rapid formalisation and digital transformation are affecting workers, especially those in the informal sector. The finance ministry tasked the labour ministry and EPFO to conduct the research through the Pandit...
Palantir Deals Are a Threat to Our Data Rights as UK Citizens | Letters
Palantir Technologies, the US data‑fusion and AI firm, has secured contracts with the UK National Health Service and the Ministry of Defence. Critics argue the deals give a surveillance‑focused company access to sensitive citizen data. The firm’s platforms, already employed...
Officials Build Digital Backbone for Federal Health Care Reform
The Trump administration is constructing a federal digital backbone to support the Great Healthcare Plan, focusing on interoperability, patient identity verification, and transparent prescription pricing. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are advancing a Health Technology Ecosystem that will...
AI Scans Passports, Then Verifies Their Authenticity
Beyond the Scan: How AI Verifies Your Passport Every time you scan your passport, AI is doing more than just reading your name. 🛂✨ It’s verifying authenticity-analyzing hidden security patterns, specialized fonts, UV inks, and even subtle photo tampering. What looks...
Own Your Email, Don't Rely on Google Accounts
It’s wild that in a time where Google account are one of the most popular choice for logging into any 3rd-party service, they can be arbitrarily banned like this. Own your email. Own your domain. Don’t delegate. Sucks that this is...
Ubicquia Secures $106 Million To Scale AI Infrastructure Solutions
Ubicquia announced a $106 million Series D round led by 67 Capital and Marunouchi Innovation Partners, aimed at scaling its AI‑driven infrastructure portfolio worldwide. The company already serves more than 1,000 utilities, municipalities and commercial clients across the U.S., Latin America, Europe...
CMS Plans AI‑Driven Overhaul of Medicare Enrollment Process
NEW: The entire process of finding Medicare coverage may be influenced by artificial intelligence in the not-too-distant future. CMS wants to use AI tools for its "Medicare Experience Modernization" project — and there are lots of question marks. https://t.co/uSLFlAxViJ https://t.co/2bP3HnEDBx
Northwest Legacy Award Winner David Baska: How to Stand Firm on Shaky Ground
David Baska, a Northwest Legacy Award recipient, has spent over four decades shaping geotechnical earthquake engineering through research, practice, and mentorship. His career spans seminal work such as co‑authoring the NRCS Seismic Analysis Manual for Dams and guiding the seismic...
As Data Centers Look to Rural New England, Maine Considers a Moratorium
Maine is weighing a moratorium on large data‑center projects as towns like Wiscasset and Lewiston pause or reject high‑cost proposals. State legislators introduced LD 307, which would form a coordination council and could halt developments over 20 megawatts until mid‑2028. The move...
Northern California Legacy Award Winner Randy Iwasaki: Always on the Move
Randy Iwasaki, the 2024 ENR West Northern California Legacy Award winner, has spent four decades driving technology adoption in California’s transportation sector. From leading Caltrans’ shift to all‑digital design to creating the 2,100‑acre GoMentum Station for autonomous‑vehicle testing, he has...
Energy Department Patched Flaws Enabling Email Impersonation in Critical Minerals System
The U.S. Energy Department patched an identity‑verification flaw in its critical minerals portal that let outsiders register with email addresses mimicking official energy.gov accounts. Security researcher Ronald Lovelace uncovered the issue using subdomain enumeration and reported it through the department’s...
Ubicquia Secures $106 Million in Series D Funding
Ubicquia, a provider of intelligent infrastructure solutions, closed a $106 million Series D round. The financing was led by 67 Capital and Marunouchi Innovation Partners, with participation from Hamilton Lane, ClearSky, GMS and strategic partner Sercomm. The capital will accelerate AI development for...
Belgian Centre for Cybersecurity Reports Significant Phishing Scams
Belgium’s Centre for Cybersecurity recorded a sharp rise in phishing complaints, logging 226 reports in Q4 2025 and 106 in January 2026. Scammers frequently masquerade as police or representatives of telecom and banking firms such as Proximus, Argenta, and Card...
Brussels’ Privacy Reforms Stumble Out the Gate
The European Commission’s digital‑omnibus package proposes to reshape the GDPR by redefining personal data, allowing pseudonymized information to fall outside strict privacy rules. National governments, led by the Cypriot Council presidency, have pushed back, warning the change could erode core...
Demand UK Digital Sovereignty
The Open Rights Group is urging the UK government to adopt a digital sovereignty strategy that reduces reliance on foreign tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Palantir. It argues that over‑dependence creates strategic fragility, citing the Trump‑ordered shutdown...
Nev. Sheriff Unveils ‘AI Brain'
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill announced two flagship initiatives for 2026: the Meridian project, a 24/7 real‑time counter‑terrorism analysis desk funded by private donations, and the AI‑powered Knowledge Value Network (K.V.N.) that will integrate crime data across the department. He...
Treasury Unveils AI Lexicon and Risk Framework for Finance
Risk says "model risk." Tech says "ML system." Compliance says "automated decision tool." Legal says "algorithm." US Treasury just fixed this: AI Lexicon + Risk Framework for financial services. 230 control objectives. NIST-adapted. "Treasury releases AI lexicon and sector-specific risk framework"...
Leading in the Age of Generative AI and Exponential Technology: A Conversation with Andrea Bonime-Blanc
In this episode, Michael Keegan talks with Andrea Bonime‑Blanc, author of *Governing Pandora*, about the unprecedented convergence of generative AI and other exponential technologies and what it means for leadership and governance. Bonime‑Blanc explains her "exponential governance mindset," a five‑part...
Cross-Border Trafficking: From Detection to Interdiction
The article by Cognyte’s Vice President highlights how Fusion Centers and AI‑driven data fusion are strengthening detection and interdiction of cross‑border human trafficking. Recent collaborative operations rescued hundreds of children and resulted in dozens of arrests, showcasing the power of...
Submit Your Nominations for the 2026 Federal IT Efficiency Flywheel Awards
GovCIO Media & Research announced that nominations are now open for the 2026 Federal IT Efficiency Flywheel Awards, to be presented at the Federal IT Efficiency Summit on May 20 in Reston, Virginia. The awards honor federal employees whose recent programs...
Qualcomm Seeks Spectrum for 5G Sidelink to Aid First Responders
Qualcomm has filed a request with the FCC to secure dedicated spectrum for its 5G sidelink technology, aiming to support mission‑critical communications for first responders. The company plans to leverage device‑to‑device links that operate independently of traditional cellular infrastructure, enabling...
2026 Identity Fraud Targets Precise, Not Broad Attacks
This Week in Fraud (2/17) https://t.co/DeKt9G8P3d "2026 identity fraud is more sniper than shotgun" Great stuff from Nick. https://t.co/eNakT4O4Fd
'As Long as the Message Gets Out': Ky. FD Lights up TikTok with Fire Safety and a Sense of Humor
The Owensboro Fire Department (OFD) launched a TikTok channel to spread fire‑safety messages and boost recruitment. Within a week the account amassed 1,400 followers, with its debut video garnering over 15,000 views and subsequent clips reaching thousands. The department pairs...
EU Member States Are Able to “Partially Suspend” EU Entry/Exit System During the Summer Travel Peak
The European Commission announced that after the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout completes on 10 April 2026, member states may partially suspend the system for up to 90 days, with a possible 60‑day extension to cover the summer travel peak. This flexibility...
Micrologic Partners with Cohesity to Become the Leading Sovereign Cloud Data Protection Solution in Canada
Micrologic, a Canadian sovereign‑cloud provider, has teamed with AI‑driven data‑security firm Cohesity to launch a fully Canadian‑jurisdictional data‑protection platform. The joint solution combines Micrologic’s Canada‑only cloud infrastructure with Cohesity’s backup, disaster‑recovery and isolated recovery environment technology. It promises recovery speeds...
Thales and Georgia State of Driver Services Deliver Enrolment Kiosks to Issue Credentials
Thales, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS), has deployed 30 inclusive enrolment kiosks across 23 high‑volume customer service centers. The kiosks enable citizens to renew licenses, obtain driving‑history reports, and change addresses without staff assistance. By...
$40K Grant From Gary Sinise Foundation Helps Pa. FD Replace Outdated Extrication Tools
The Gary Sinise Foundation awarded a $40,000 grant to West Hazleton, Pa., fire department, enabling replacement of its 1994‑era extrication tools with lighter, higher‑capacity equipment. The new gear can lift overturned vehicles, railcars and stabilize structures, dramatically improving rescue operations. Department...
DfE Seeks Partner for Development of AI-Powered Tutoring Tools for Disadvantaged Students
The UK Department for Education (DfE) is issuing a £1.8 million contract to develop AI‑powered tutoring tools aimed at disadvantaged pupils. The procurement, expected to be awarded by May, will run for nearly three years with a possible one‑year extension. Up...
When Iran Took the Internet Hostage, Elon Musk Held the Keys
In early 2026 Iranian protests triggered a sweeping internet shutdown, but smuggled Starlink terminals let activists maintain contact with the outside world. The satellite service enabled images and messages to bypass state jamming, turning a near‑total blackout into a contested...
Home Affairs to Move All Visa Processing Online
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs will close all visa desks abroad, routing every application through its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) platform. The rollout, slated for completion by 2029, will extend from tourist visas to study, work and other categories,...
Ukraine Says Cyberattacks on Energy Grid Now Used to Guide Missile Strikes
Russian cyber actors targeting Ukraine’s energy grid have shifted from causing immediate outages to gathering intelligence that guides missile strikes. By mapping facilities, tracking repair crews, and monitoring recovery rates, they provide real‑time data that improves strike accuracy. The number...
Why National Unmanned Aircraft System Policy Must Lead with Integration – Not Interception
The United States faces a pivotal shift in unmanned aircraft system (UAS) policy, urging a move from a counter‑UAS‑first narrative to an integration‑first strategy. Lawful drone operations must become visible through Remote ID, Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) and public education,...
Ransomware Gangs Advancing Moscow’s Geopolitical Aims, Romanian Cyber Chief Warns
Romanian officials say recent ransomware attacks on the country’s water agency, oil pipeline operator and coal‑based power producer were part of a coordinated Russian hybrid operation. Groups such as Qilin and Gentlemen, which speak Russian, claimed responsibility, linking the attacks...
Rohde & Schwarz Advances Airport Security with Walk-Through Scanning Technology
Rohde & Schwarz has introduced the QPS Walk2000, a millimeter‑wave walk‑through scanner that uses AI and machine learning to detect both metallic and non‑metallic threats in real time. The system allows passengers and staff to walk through at a normal pace...
IT Grads Find Opportunity at Home Affairs Departments
Amazon Web Services has placed 20 unemployed IT graduates in Gauteng home affairs offices through the Youth Employment Services (YES) programme. The graduates will receive foundational AWS cloud training, certification, mentorship and compensation through December, directly supporting the department's digital...
Attackers Exploit Ivanti EPMM Zero-Days to Seize Control of MDM Servers
Attackers are actively exploiting two critical Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) zero‑days (CVE‑2026‑1281 and CVE‑2026‑1340) that allow unauthenticated remote code execution. More than 4,400 EPMM instances are exposed on the public internet, giving threat actors full control of enterprise mobile...
Banks, Operators to Drive Africa’s Stablecoin Tipping Point
African banks and mobile network operators are poised to accelerate stablecoin adoption, turning the continent’s burgeoning mobile‑money ecosystem into a mainstream digital payments layer. Ripple’s Reece Merrick highlighted that once banks and telcos embed stablecoins in custody, payments and treasury...
BBC – Police to Scan Football Fans’ Faces in Liverpool Using Live Facial Recognition
Police in Liverpool will employ live facial‑recognition technology during the Everton versus Manchester United Premier League match. The deployment is presented as a tool to manage crowds while respecting attendees' rights. Advocacy group Big Brother Watch criticised the move, urging...
U.S. Forest Service Stops Issuing Firefighter Pants That Contain PFAS, Following ProPublica’s Reporting
The U.S. Forest Service has stopped issuing wildland firefighter pants treated with PFAS after ProPublica exposed the agency’s long‑standing use of the chemicals. Supplier TenCate had been applying PFAS‑based finishes to Kevlar‑blend fabrics to repel gasoline and water, despite internal...
The Business Case for Dash Cams: Prioritizing ROI in a Precarious Fiscal Climate
Municipal fleets face tighter budgets as city revenues dip and confidence in meeting future fiscal needs wanes, prompting officials to scrutinize new technology spend. New research from Wakefield for Samsara shows dash cams delivering rapid ROI, with 96% of agencies...
Smart Technology for Safer Schools
South Africa's Department of Basic Education and police have launched a five‑year Safe Schools Protocol, prompting schools to adopt smart card platforms for daily access control. Modern NFC‑enabled cards combine identity verification, time‑based rules, biometrics, and cashless payment functions, creating...
Centre Approves ₹2,432 Crore to Implement Amended BharatNet Programme in Andhra Pradesh
The Indian government has approved ₹2,432 crore to fund the Amended BharatNet programme in Andhra Pradesh. The scheme, managed by the newly formed Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (APBIL), will upgrade 13,426 gram panchayats to a ring‑topology optical fiber network and...
Top ICT Tenders: SARS Mulls Tech Upgrades
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued three high‑profile ICT tenders aimed at overhauling its procurement ecosystem. One tender seeks an integrated strategic sourcing and e‑procurement platform that merges its current fragmented systems, integrates with existing ERP modules, and...