Consumers and Small Sellers May Get Tariff Refunds From Shipping Carriers
U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched an online portal on April 20 to process refunds for tariffs imposed under the IEEPA after the Supreme Court struck down the related duties. The portal enables importers of record—or their brokers—to file claims, while carriers such as DHL and FedEx will handle refunds for shipments they serviced as customs brokers. Etsy, eBay and other marketplaces clarified that sellers must work directly with carriers for refunds, as the platforms themselves do not hold tariff payments. Industry observers warn the new process may be cumbersome for small businesses.
More than $1m Worth of Fines From AI Seatbelt Cameras Withdrawn in WA
Western Australia has withdrawn more than $1.1 million AUD (≈$730,000 USD) in seat‑belt fines after six months of AI‑assisted road‑safety cameras. The system issued roughly 53,000 seat‑belt infringements, of which about 2,000 were cancelled, representing less than 4% of total penalties. Minister...
Indra Group USA Launches $50 Million Manufacturing Center in Kansas for Next‑Gen FAA Radar
Indra Group USA opened a $50 million, 118,000‑square‑foot Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Olathe, Kansas, adding more than 200 high‑skill jobs. The facility will fulfill a multi‑million‑dollar FAA contract to build next‑generation air‑traffic surveillance radars and other defense communications equipment.
Canada Launches Sovereign AI Supercomputing Program, Opens Applications
The Canadian federal government opened applications on April 15 for the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program, a key element of its Sovereign AI Compute Strategy. The initiative seeks private‑sector partners to design, build, operate and maintain AI‑optimized high‑performance computing systems,...
Parsons Wins $— Contract to Quad Demand‑Response Capacity for Los Angeles Water & Power
Parsons Corporation has been chosen by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power to supply a Demand Response Management System that will more than quadruple LADWP’s demand‑response capacity over a five‑year contract. The deal underpins the utility’s push to...
Waymo and Waze Launch Pilot to Map Potholes via Robotaxis
Waymo has teamed with Waze to feed pothole data from its driverless fleet into the navigation app, launching a pilot in five U.S. metros that has already logged roughly 500 road defects. The free‑to‑city service aims to improve infrastructure monitoring...
PlanetiQ Wins $15 Million U.S. Air Force Contract to Build Next‑Gen GNSS Weather Constellation
PlanetiQ was awarded a four‑year, $15 million Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract by the U.S. Air Force to create a next‑generation GNSS‑based weather constellation. The deal expands the company’s existing GNSS‑RO platform with polarimetric occultation and reflectometry, aiming to improve military...
Hobart to Ditch Hire E-Scooters and Bring in 'Safer' E-Bikes Instead
The City of Hobart announced it will remove its shared e‑scooter fleet and replace it with a dedicated e‑bike program. Council cited ongoing safety, regulatory and parking issues as the primary drivers of the change. The e‑bike initiative builds on...
House Approves FirstNet Authority Reauthorization Bill
The U.S. House approved H.R. 7386, reauthorizing the FirstNet Authority through September 2037 and tightening oversight by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The bipartisan bill, passed by voice vote, amends the 2012 law to require NTIA pre‑approval for most FirstNet...
Presenting the New ABCs of Digital Identity
Excited to be hitting the Inner Forum Stage at #Money2020EU today to discuss 'The New ABCs of Digital Identity - Access, Business, and Consent'. See you at 16:00! @chyppings @money2020 #Money2020Asia
Saildrone Joins Growing Competition for Navy's Medium-Sized Drone Vessel
San Francisco‑based Saildrone entered the Navy's Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) competition with its Spectre design, a 250‑tonne craft capable of 27 knots and a 25‑tonne payload. The vessel features optional sail‑driven, near‑silent propulsion for anti‑submarine warfare and can be reconfigured...
AI Age Estimation Has Been Tested on 2.5m Pics and Shown Signs of ‘Workable Results’ at Pace, Minister Claims
The UK Home Office has trialed an AI system that estimates a person’s age from facial images, using a dataset of roughly 2.5 million photos spanning diverse ethnicities, genders and age groups. Ministers say the technology delivers "workable results" faster and...
U.S. Supreme Court Records and Briefs: The Arguments That Shaped America, Now Freely Available
The Internet Archive, bolstered by a donation from William & Mary’s Wolf Law Library, has released over 125,000 U.S. Supreme Court records and briefs spanning 1830‑2019. The collection, now hosted on the Archive’s Democracy’s Library portal, includes petitions, briefs, appendices,...
Welin Lambie All-Electric Davit Achieves OPC Program Test Milestone
Welin Lambie, a Fairbanks Morse Defense company, announced that its TWPIV 5.0E all‑electric, dual‑point davit system completed the First Article Test for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) Stage 2 program in three days, a day ahead of schedule....
India Nears Full Mobile Coverage in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Connecting 6,226 Villages to 4G/5G
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told Parliament that 6,226 of Jammu & Kashmir's 6,474 villages and 233 of Ladakh's 243 villages now have mobile service, most with 4G and a growing share of 5G. The rollout, part of the BharatNet and...
GSA Targets One Million Saved Hours with AI ‘Million‑Hours Challenge’
GSA Deputy Administrator Michael Lynch announced a “Million‑Hours Challenge” to automate and eliminate one million low‑value work hours across the agency by early 2026. The effort leverages artificial intelligence and intelligent automation to free staff for higher‑impact tasks and improve...
Sertex Opens Regional Office in Maine to Assist Statewide Effort
Sertex Broadband Solutions opened a 9,600‑square‑foot regional office in Sidney, Maine, positioned near I‑95 exit 113. The facility, featuring 7,200 sq ft of warehouse and office space, will act as a long‑term hub for engineering, construction and logistics on the state’s MOOSE...
Exclusive: ICE Glasses
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate is funding a prototype smart‑glasses system, dubbed “ICE Glasses,” that will let federal agents scan people on the street and instantly match them against federal biometric databases. The hardware will integrate...
Netherlands Hides Trash Underground for Spotless Streets
Underground Waste Systems: The Netherlands’ Secret to Spotless Streets by @HowThingsWork_ #Technology #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/5uMNGFKUqk
Hong Kong: AI-Driven Systems to Power a Sustainable Energy Future
The 2026 Belt and Road Advanced Programme in Power and Energy concluded in Hong Kong, showcasing AI‑driven solutions for modern power grids. Participants demonstrated machine‑learning cable diagnostics, 3‑D GIS digital twins, and intelligent dispatch systems that improve reliability and integrate...
UK to Streamline Planning Rules to Unlock Grid Infrastructure
The UK government announced on 21 April that new planning rules will let larger electricity substations be built without full applications, speeding grid connections for homes, businesses, EV chargers and data centres. The package also creates streamlined routes for routine grid...
OVHcloud, DEEP and Clever Cloud Selected by European Commission for Sovereign Cloud Framework
A European consortium of OV OVHcloud, DEEP by POST Luxembourg, and Clever Cloud has been chosen by the European Commission to deliver sovereign cloud services to EU institutions. The contract, worth up to €180 million (about $196 million) over six years, supports the...
![[Podcast] AI Meets USPTO: The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Evolution in the Digital Era](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://jdsupra-static.s3.amazonaws.com/profile-images/og.14750_4752.jpg)
[Podcast] AI Meets USPTO: The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Evolution in the Digital Era
The United States Patent and Trademark Office launched a new podcast series highlighting its AI‑focused transformation. In the latest episode, the USPTO announced formal guidance on how artificial intelligence should be used by examiners and disclosed by patent applicants. The...
Permitting Reform Needed As Energy, Data Center Demand Surges
Federal permitting rules are under pressure as U.S. energy and data‑center demand surge, with industry leaders warning that review processes can stretch four to five years. Speakers at an American Enterprise Institute panel highlighted the fragmented involvement of the Interior,...
Voluntary Security Attestations Boost Open‑Source Supply‑Chain Safety
Our colleagues at Open Regulatory Compliance have released statement on article 25 of the EU's CRA. Voluntary security attestations can help sustain open source and improve supply chain security. We support the joint ORC statement. 👇 https://t.co/3iGhnJ58RT
The FTC’s AI Portfolio Is About to Get Bigger
The Federal Trade Commission is preparing to enforce the Take It Down Act, a law that criminalizes the distribution of AI‑generated nonconsensual sexual images and gives victims a right to request rapid removal of such content. Enforcement begins in May,...
Senate Democrats Advance Bill Targeting AI Chatbot Dangers
Connecticut Senate Democrats moved Senate Bill 5, "An Act Concerning Online Safety," out of the General Law Committee and toward a full Senate vote. The bill obliges AI chatbot operators to identify signs of suicidal ideation and direct users to...
Telstra, Optus, TPG Say UOMO Devised with Unrealistic Expectations
Australia’s new Universal Mobile Service Obligation (UOMO) bill requires Telstra, Optus and TPG to deliver voice and text services across 5 million square kilometres starting December 2027. The three carriers warned parliament that satellite‑to‑mobile (STM) technology, especially for emergency calls, will not...
Two U.S. Tourists Detained at Srinagar Airport Over Illegal Satellite Phone
Two American tourists were detained at Srinagar International Airport after security officials discovered an undeclared satellite phone in their luggage, a violation of India's telecom regulations. The incident spotlights the tight control the Department of Telecommunications exerts over satellite communications...
The Government Is Buying AI Faster than It Is Assigning Authority
The federal government is rapidly purchasing AI tools while neglecting clear authority to halt or modify them. Current AI governance emphasizes principles like fairness and transparency, but agencies lack explicit override rights, auditable decision trails, and contract terms that preserve...
How Real-Time Crime Centers Draw on Video Surveillance
DeKalb County, Georgia, opened a Real‑Time Crime Center (RTCC) on Dec. 15 as part of its Digital Shield initiative, deploying over 230 live Flock cameras, 270 license‑plate readers and a 32‑by‑4‑foot digital wall that aggregates feeds from Axon Fusus, state DOT...
Senators Propose Update to Communications Accessibility Law
Senators Ed Markey and Ben Ray Luján, joined by Representatives Debbie Dingell and Brian Fitzpatrick, introduced a bipartisan Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act to modernize the 2010 accessibility law. The bill expands captioning, audio description, and device activation requirements...
Enterprise Service Management Gains Ground Across Federal Agencies Amid Demands
Federal agencies are turning to enterprise service management (ESM) to replace siloed IT, HR and payroll systems with a single digital front door. The shift is driven by hybrid‑work expectations, the promise of AI‑enabled automation, and a desire to cut...
ISED Inquired About ‘Opt-Out Mechanism’ for AI-Generated News Summaries on Tech Platforms
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has asked what a fair opt‑out mechanism would look like for AI‑generated news summaries on platforms such as Google’s AI Overviews. News publishers argue these summaries siphon traffic, with up to 60%...
Secures FCC Conditional Approval to Deploy Autonomous Drones for U.S. Electricity Grids
sees.ai has secured conditional approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to operate its centrally controlled autonomous drones for close‑quarter inspection of high‑voltage electricity infrastructure. The approval, granted under the FCC’s new Conditional Approval pathway, validates the company’s security and...
Austin Breaks Ground on $1.5B Walnut Creek WWTP Expansion
Austin broke ground on a $1.5 billion expansion of the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, boosting capacity from 75 MGD to 100 MGD. The upgrade adds advanced nutrient removal, UV disinfection, odor control and a flood wall while keeping the plant fully operational....
North Dakota Regulators Can’t Help Blumenthal on Data Center Oversight
Senator Richard Blumenthal asked state utility regulators for data‑center nondisclosure agreements, but the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) said it does not regulate such facilities and can provide only limited information. The PSC is reviewing a $110 million power project...
Palantir Issues Ominous Corporate Manifesto
Palantir released a 22‑point Twitter summary of its 320‑page corporate manifesto, sparking outrage over its hard‑line, anti‑woke worldview. The document calls for universal national service, prioritizes hard power over moral appeal, and envisions a software‑driven world order. Critics, including philosophers...
After Watchdog Slams Understaffing, AI to Vet Pentagon-Backed Professors’ China Ties
The Pentagon’s Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency disclosed that only two staff members were tasked with vetting roughly 27,000 defense‑funded research awards for foreign influence, prompting the department to roll out artificial‑intelligence tools to screen academics for ties to China....
USDA Seeks to Cut ReConnect Rural Broadband Grant Program
The USDA’s proposed 2027 budget includes a 19% cut to discretionary spending and would eliminate the agency’s ReConnect rural broadband grant program, canceling roughly $40 million in unobligated balances. ReConnect has been a primary source of funding for construction, upgrades, and...
Navy Admits IT Structure Turns Paperwork Into Poor Digital Products
“Our IT structure is challenging,” said Admiral Daryl Caudle today. “The Navy has gotten good at turning crappy paperwork into a crappy digital products.” https://t.co/1Bflg1bkG7
We Can’t Trust Palantir with Our NHS Data
Palantir Technologies UK secured a data‑analytics contract with the NHS valued at roughly $15 billion over two years, promising faster cancer diagnoses and reduced discharge delays. Critics highlight that private firms have already earned about $2 billion in profit from NHS contracts,...
These States Will Let Your iPhone Be Your Driver's License
Apple is expanding its Apple Wallet to store driver’s licenses and state IDs, a feature now available in roughly half a dozen states and territories. Users need an iPhone 8 or newer, Face ID or Touch ID, two‑factor authentication, and the latest iOS,...
US Security Agency Leverages Claude Mythos Despite Pentagon Blacklist
The National Security Agency has begun using Anthropic’s new Claude Mythos Preview model despite a Pentagon‑issued supply‑chain risk designation on the company. Mythos, announced on April 7, is a general‑purpose LLM tuned for cyber‑exploit identification and is currently being rolled out under the...
Amid Rule Delay, Website Accessibility Must Be ‘Ongoing Practice,’ Leaders Say
The U.S. Department of Justice has granted state and local governments an extra year to meet the web accessibility rule under Title II of the ADA, moving the deadline for jurisdictions with over 50,000 residents to April 26, 2027 and for smaller entities...
Government AI: More Show Than Substance, Duplicity Reigns
Ai seems to be largely 'performative' in government.... given the pronouncements there's a great deal of duplicity here. Practice what you preach.
Conn. Officials Pause Statewide LE Usage of AI Report-Writing Software
Connecticut prosecutors and police chiefs have placed a statewide moratorium on AI‑powered police report‑writing tools, pausing their use until thorough testing and clear rules are established. The move follows high‑profile AI errors, such as a Utah body‑cam incident that generated...
Agencies Urge ‘Trust and Verify’ as Supply Chain Cyber Risks Shift
Federal leaders at the CyberScape summit urged agencies to adopt a continuous "trust and verify" approach to supply‑chain cybersecurity. They highlighted a visibility gap, noting that 60‑65% of Defense Logistics Agency partners are small businesses with limited cyber budgets. Officials...
Congress Unveils MATCH Act to Tighten Export Controls on Chipmaking Gear
Representative Michael Baumgartner introduced the MATCH Act, a bipartisan bill to tighten U.S. export controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The legislation seeks to close loopholes that allow China to acquire critical chipmaking tools, a move that could reshape enterprise supply...
Europe Awards €180m in "Sovereign" Cloud Contracts, Touts SEAL Levels
The European Commission has awarded a €180 million (≈$156 million) contract to four cloud providers from Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg to deliver sovereign cloud services for EU institutions. The deal is part of a broader push for data‑sovereignty across the bloc,...