The Call to Create the Congressional Capacity and Technology Office
POPVOX Foundation has released a proposal to create a Congressional Capacity and Technology Office (C-TECH), aimed at equipping members and staff with AI and emerging technology expertise. The office would function as a change‑management and training hub, modeled on historic congressional support entities like CRS and the GAO, and would roll out in three phases starting with the House. The proposal outlines staffing, budget, and a timeline, emphasizing that Congress is falling behind industry, foreign peers, and the executive branch. Immediate establishment is presented as essential to close the widening technology adoption gap.
How the EU Is Deregulating Arms-Control to Be Like Any Other Industry
EU lawmakers are advancing the Defence Readiness Omnibus, a legislative package that would replace traditional export licences with General Transfer Licences, allowing unlimited, multi‑year transfers of military goods. The proposal also expands exemptions for intra‑EU and cross‑border partnerships, potentially covering...
Fire at Cape Town International Airport Hits IT Services
A fire broke out on the landside of Cape Town International Airport on 24 Feb 2026, prompting ACSA to extinguish the blaze and confirm that all passengers and staff are safe. The incident disrupted the airport’s network and Wi‑Fi services, leading to...
Malatsi Throws Weight Behind Dell’s EEIP Application
Communications Minister Solly Malatsi has recommended approval of Dell Technologies' Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) renewal, extending the commitment for another ten years and pledging over R230 million into South Africa. The EEIP framework allows multinationals to meet B‑BEE targets through...
SOPA 2026: Lesufi Touts AI Office, Widespread WiFi
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced plans for a provincial artificial intelligence office to coordinate AI projects with the CSIR, state entities and private partners. The province highlighted recent AI factory launches by Altron and Cassava Technologies, positioning South Africa as a...
TDRA Reinforces Efforts for Integrated Digital Payment Ecosystem
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) convened a workshop to accelerate a unified digital payment ecosystem across UAE federal entities. Participants outlined a vision that blends digital identity, multiple payment channels, and secure settlement to simplify government transactions....
Housing Has a Data Problem
The article highlights a critical data gap in global housing, where fragmented tracking tools leave policymakers unable to gauge program effectiveness. United Nations estimates reveal 2.8 billion people lack adequate housing and 318 million are homeless, underscoring the scale of the crisis....
A Digital Omnibus: Identifying Interlinks and Possible Overlaps Between Different Legal Acts in the Field of Digital Legislation to Streamline...
The European Parliament commissioned a study to dissect the European Commission’s Digital Omnibus package released on 19 November 2025. The report separates administrative simplification from substantive changes to safeguards in data protection, privacy, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. It flags three hot‑button issues...
BEREC Workshop on Copper Switch-Off in Light of the Digital Networks Act
European regulators are accelerating the phase‑out of copper broadband in line with the European Commission’s Digital Networks Act (DNA) proposal. BEREC, the EU’s body for electronic communications, announced a public workshop on 17 March 2026 to discuss migration rules, competition safeguards and...
Predicted: How AI Is Restructuring Social Life
Mona Sloane’s new book *Predicted* argues that artificial intelligence has moved beyond a technological breakthrough to become a core social infrastructure shaping daily interactions and institutional processes. The work frames AI as a co‑produced arrangement built on prediction, classification, and...
Center for Critical Infrastructure Security Awarded Maryland Cyber & AI Clinic Grant
Maryland’s Department of Labor awarded the Center for Critical Infrastructure Security a Cyber & AI Clinic Grant, part of Gov. Wes Moore’s $4 million AI workforce initiative. The grant funds the launch of the Think Like a CISO Academy, a statewide...
Where MENA CIOs Draw the Line on AI Sovereignty
MENA CIOs are drawing firm lines around AI sovereignty, keeping regulated workloads—such as patient data, identity systems, and core financial transactions—on sovereign or on‑premise infrastructure while leveraging hyperscalers for development, testing, and non‑sensitive analytics. The hybrid approach reflects regional regulatory...
UNICEF’s Learning Cabinet and EdTech for Good
UNICEF’s Global Learning Innovation Hub unveiled its EdTech for Good initiative and the Learning Cabinet during a February 3 webinar hosted by the International Centre for EdTech Impact. The Learning Cabinet is an online repository that vets EdTech tools for...
Bhutan's Crypto Experiment, Malta's AI Officer, and Exploring India's Digital Summit
India’s AI Impact Summit in New Delhi positioned the country as a diplomatic bridge between the United States and China, showcasing its ambition to shape global AI governance. The event highlighted public‑oriented, human‑governed AI built on India’s extensive digital public...
The GeoAI for Humanitarian
Geospatial AI (GeoAI) is emerging as a powerful tool for rapid disaster assessment, predictive early‑warning models, population mapping in data‑poor regions, and real‑time tracking of displacement and infrastructure damage. The technology promises the speed, scale, and accuracy humanitarian actors need...
HM Courts and Tribunals Completes Audio Transcription Modernisation
HM Courts and Tribunals Service has finished modernising its Digital Audio Recording Transcription (DARTS) system for Crown Courts. The cloud‑based platform now delivers audio recordings in minutes, with real‑time progress tracking and enhanced search tools. Migration moved roughly 600 TB of...
One IPO Roadmap Unveiled
The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has released a detailed roadmap for its new One IPO patents service, outlining a phased rollout of enhancements over the next twelve months. Immediate actions focus on restoring full publishing capacity, accelerating internal processing, and...
ZIDA Urges Swift Rollout of E-Cadastre System as Investor Demand for Clarity Grows
The Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) is pressing the government to fast‑track the launch of an E‑Cadastre system that digitally records mining tenements. The platform, long delayed, is now slated for a 2025 rollout after recent investor inquiries at the...
Binding Operational Directive 26-02 Sets Deadlines for Edge Device Replacement
CISA’s Binding Operational Directive 26‑02 obliges all federal agencies to inventory, report, decommission, and replace unsupported edge devices such as firewalls, routers, switches, load balancers, and wireless access points. Agencies have three months to identify vulnerable equipment and twelve to eighteen...
Essex Authorities Invest in AI Skills
Brentwood Borough and Rochford District Councils are embedding AI and data literacy into their 2025‑2028 Digital Strategy by training 33 staff members. They partnered with Multiverse to deliver two courses focused on turning data into insights and using AI tools...
Government Advises on Future Regulation of EPGs
The UK government announced a two‑stage plan to close regulatory gaps in electronic programme guides (EPGs). Stage one will use secondary legislation to bring all EPGs delivered by existing regulated providers and portal services under Ofcom’s broadcast code by late...
Boom Times for Muni Bonds
State and local governments issued a record $498 billion in municipal bonds in 2024 and topped $580 billion in 2025, driven primarily by infrastructure, education, and transportation projects. The surge reflects a shift from waning federal pandemic aid to local financing for...
Drug Surveillance Systems and the Challenge of Powerful New Opioids
Emerging synthetic opioid cychlorphine, up to ten times more potent than fentanyl, has been linked to fatal overdoses across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Tennessee alone reports 19 deaths under investigation, with 12 confirmed, while...
Digital Government Minister Unapologetic over Service NSW Licensing Logjam
The NSW Department of Customer Service reports an average driver’s licence processing time of 19 days, just under the 20‑day benchmark, indicating mounting pressure on Service NSW. The backlog stems from a newly introduced overseas licence transfer scheme that forces many...
India's Tech Infra as Public Good Can Be Emulated for AI Across Global South, Says ITU Official
India’s digital public infrastructure—most notably Aadhaar and UPI—has been highlighted by ITU strategic‑engagement chief Fred Werner as a replicable model for AI diffusion across the Global South. Werner argues that the country’s ability to scale technology for over a billion...
Government Looks to Clamp Down on Email Attachments Through ‘Cultural Change, Guidance and Technological Solutions’
The UK government’s Digital Service and Innovation Team (DSIT) is moving to curb the use of email attachments by civil servants, urging a shift to cloud‑based file sharing. Ministers highlighted that attachments increase human error and data‑loss risk, and new...
Government Digital and Data Profession Unpacks New ‘Evaluator’ Role
The Government Digital and Data Profession has introduced a dedicated “digital evaluator” role within its capability framework to embed evaluation directly into agile digital projects. The initiative follows a Treasury‑led review that highlighted shortcomings in how digital programmes are funded,...
Court Tests Limits of Executive ‘Pause’ Power Over IIJA Transportation Funds
The U.S. District Court in Seattle on Jan. 23, 2026 vacated the Federal Highway Administration’s February 2025 suspension of the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program. The ruling restores the agency’s authority to obligate funds for state EV‑charging projects, effectively...
Verra Mobility Corp (VRRM) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Verra Mobility reported Q3 2025 revenue of $262 million, up 16% year‑over‑year, and adjusted EBITDA of $113 million, delivering a 44% margin. Growth was powered by a 28% surge in Government Solutions revenue, highlighted by a 46% jump from the New York City red‑light camera...
Education Department to Oversee ‘Commonsense Actions’ in Higher Ed Regulatory Reform
The Australian Education Department has created a new working group to streamline higher‑education regulation. Co‑chaired by Secretary Tony Cook and Universities Australia, the group includes regulators, peak bodies, unions and student representatives. Its mandate is to identify practical, commonsense actions,...
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[Correspondence] Internet Shutdowns in Iran and the Right to Health
In January 2026 Iran imposed a nationwide internet blackout that remains heavily filtered, coinciding with a violent crackdown on protesters and attacks on hospitals. The shutdown has crippled emergency medical coordination, tele‑medicine, and public‑health reporting, contributing to thousands of preventable...
India Expands Digital Health Impact Domestically and Globally
India reaffirmed its commitment to digital health at the IGSTC Strategic Conclave 2026, spotlighting telemedicine advancements for the Armed Forces and the broader public. The event announced expanded collaboration with Germany and highlighted the integration of telehealth into the Ayushman...
The Philippines: Ramping Up Local and Global Digital Services
The Philippines is accelerating digital transformation in both domestic and overseas services. Quezon City’s QCitizen ID program surpassed 1.5 million registrations, offering a QR‑enabled, four‑category identity card that streamlines health, education, and welfare access. Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers signed...
Malaysia: Tech-Driven Diplomacy in 2026–2030 Strategic Plan
Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs unveiled a 2026‑2030 strategic plan that places digital capability, science and innovation at the core of its diplomatic agenda. The eight‑thrust framework embeds technology cooperation into bilateral and multilateral engagements, targeting the digital economy, renewable...
More Than Dashboards: AI Decisions Must Be Provable
Enterprise leaders are demanding proof of what AI systems actually did, not just what they were designed to do or what dashboards report. As AI moves into regulated, high‑risk environments, boards and auditors expect decision‑level evidence for each action. The...
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...
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...