FDA Debuts Plan to Collect Real-Time Clinical Trial Data
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a pilot program that will collect clinical‑trial data in real time, allowing scientific reviewers to see information as it is generated. The initiative, launched on Tuesday, includes participation from major drugmakers AstraZeneca and Amgen, who will test the new workflow on selected studies. By streaming data directly to regulators, the FDA aims to identify safety signals earlier and potentially accelerate the review process. The pilot will run for an initial 12‑month period before a broader rollout is considered.
Geoforce Lands Railcar Telematics Contract From U.S. Army
Geoforce, through its AssetLink Global subsidiary, secured a multi‑year U.S. Army Transportation Command contract to provide railcar in‑transit visibility. The agreement, which began deployment in December 2025, equips Department of War‑owned railcars with advanced sensors for load, impact, temperature, and...
Google Expands Pentagon’s Access to Its AI After Anthropic’s Refusal
Google has signed a deal giving the U.S. Department of Defense access to its generative AI for classified networks, permitting all lawful uses. The agreement follows Anthropic’s refusal to provide unrestricted AI, which led the Pentagon to label Anthropic a...
State Broadband Merger Limps Into a Second Decade
The state‑owned Broadband Infraco (BBI) and signal distributor Sentech have seen their merger pushed to the 2028/29 financial year, marking the third major timeline shift since approval in 2017. BBI has posted consecutive losses since 2019, been declared technically insolvent,...
DMDC Improves Access for Millions Via Okta Identity Management
The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) has replaced its two‑decade‑old DS Logon system with Okta’s cloud‑based Identity‑as‑a‑Service platform, branded MyAuth. The migration covers roughly 60 million active‑duty personnel, civilians, contractors, veterans and dependents, delivering faster, mobile‑friendly login and biometric options. Help‑desk contacts...
Cyber Command, NSA Chief Warns Foreign Adversaries Likely to Target Midterms
U.S. Cyber Command head Gen. Joshua Rudd told the Senate that foreign adversaries are likely to attempt interference in the 2024 midterm elections. He noted uncertainty about whether the Election Security Group, the joint task force used since 2018, has...
The US Department of Education Just Finalized Its AI in Education Priority. Here’s What It Means.
On April 13, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education issued its final supplemental priority titled “Advancing Artificial Intelligence in Education,” establishing a policy framework that will steer discretionary grant dollars toward AI‑related initiatives in K‑12 and higher education. The priority,...
Chattanooga’s ‘Tech Guy’ Mayor Reflects on Embrace of AI, Quantum
Chattanooga mayor Tim Kelly says the city is leveraging its municipal fiber network, AI, and a new quantum computing center to modernize government operations. AI tools have lifted employee productivity by 65% and slashed internal communications time by 75%, while...
Tighter Policies Lead to Fewer Facial Recognition Searches for Detroit Police
Detroit police dramatically reduced facial‑recognition usage, conducting only nine searches in 2025—a 91% drop from 2023. The decline follows a 2024 settlement that imposed stricter policies limiting the technology to violent crimes and prohibiting its use as the sole basis...
Italy Pushes Citizens to Adopt CIE as SPID Digital ID Is Phased Out
Italy is urging citizens to activate the electronic ID card (CIE) as the government prepares to retire the existing SPID system. SPID, used by nearly 40 million Italians, will be phased out over the next two to three years, making CIE...
US FMCSA Tightens ID Checks for Driver Database, Taps Idemia
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced stricter identity‑verification requirements for users of its Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a database that flags commercial drivers barred for substance‑related offenses. The new rules target medical review officers, substance‑abuse professionals, third‑party administrators...
Ann Arbor Utility Deploying Solar + Storage Systems on Local Homes
Ann Arbor’s city‑owned Sustainable Energy Utility is piloting a residential solar‑plus‑storage program, the first of its kind for a U.S. municipality. The initiative will install rooftop solar and FranklinWH battery systems in about 150 homes in the Bryant neighborhood, where...
Shifting Gears at the eMarketplace: More Options for Better Choices
The Philippine Procurement Service recently held alignment meetings with electric‑vehicle makers BYD, Kia, MG, Nissan and Foton, integrating EV, hybrid and plug‑in models into the government eMarketplace. The platform now lets agencies compare and order these greener vehicles, cutting procurement...
Pennsylvania Has Spent $1.4 Million Updating Its Voter Registration System — but Won’t Provide Progress Reports
Pennsylvania has spent roughly $1.4 million on the first phase of a $10.6 million upgrade to its two‑decade‑old Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (SURE) system, contracted to Louisiana‑based Civix. The state aims to have the modernized platform ready for the 2027 elections,...
ETCOG Awards Civic Marketplace to Expand Cooperative Purchasing for Rural Communities, Schools, and Local Districts
The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) has selected Civic Marketplace as the technology platform for its cooperative purchasing arm, COGWORKS. The partnership brings AI‑driven procurement tools to rural communities, school districts and local governments across East Texas and beyond,...
Google and the Pentagon Sign Classified Deal to Give the Department of Defense Unfettered Access to Its AI Models
Google has entered a classified agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense that grants the Pentagon unrestricted API access to the company’s commercial AI models for any lawful government purpose. The contract, whose full terms remain secret, stipulates that the...
Lawmaker Calls on FAA To Permanently Ground MD-11
Rep. Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat from Kentucky, has asked the FAA to issue an emergency airworthiness directive that would permanently ground all remaining McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft. The request follows the fatal UPS Flight 2976 crash on Nov. 4, 2025, in Louisville,...
Iowa FD's Whole Blood Pilot Program Proves Worth with Stabbing Victim
The Des Moines Fire Department launched a pilot that equips ambulances with whole‑blood units and transfusion kits, allowing paramedics to start life‑saving transfusions before hospital arrival. In February, a paramedic used the system on a stabbing victim, delivering blood on...
China Watchdog Warns ByteDance on AI Tags
China’s Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has formally warned ByteDance for failing to label AI‑generated content on its Jianying and Maoxiang video editors and the Jimeng AI website. The regulator said the platforms breached national cybersecurity rules that mandate conspicuous...
Vanta Receives FedRAMP 20x Moderate Authorization
Vanta announced that its Government Cloud has received FedRAMP 20x Moderate authorization, making it one of the first cloud service providers to complete Phase Two of the pilot program. The 20x initiative leverages automation, machine‑readable validation and continuous control monitoring...
US Government Has "Misspent" $3 Trillion. Auditors Want a Dedicated Unit to Tackle the Problem
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates the U.S. government has misspent nearly $3 trillion since 2003, with improper payments hitting $185.8 billion in fiscal year 2025 – a $24 billion rise from the prior year. Overpayments, which represent 82% of the misspending, are...
Singapore and Latvia Punch Above Their Weight in NATO Cyber Battle
NATO’s annual Locked Shields cyber‑defense exercise this year centered on protecting national IT and OT infrastructure. Singapore, a non‑NATO member, again topped the competition, marking its second straight victory. The contest routinely invites external partners, allowing smaller nations like Singapore...
Nokia, Blaize, and Datacomm Diangraha Unite to Deliver Hybrid AI Inference Across Indonesia and Southeast Asia
Blaize, Nokia and Indonesia’s PT Datacomm Diangraha announced a three‑way strategic partnership to deliver hybrid AI inference infrastructure across Indonesia and the broader APAC region. The collaboration combines Nokia’s networking and telco‑grade GPU capabilities with Blaize’s programmable, energy‑efficient edge AI compute, and...
Boldyn Bigs up Its Role in UK's Troubled ESN Rollout
Boldyn, formerly BAI Communications, is confirming that its 4G neutral‑host network across the London Underground will also serve the UK Emergency Services Network (ESN). The rollout, covering 137 Tube, DLR and Overground stations, is slated for completion by the end...
AI Job Losses in Ireland Likely to Hit Women and ‘Younger Workers’ Hardest, Says Report
Ireland’s cabinet approved a National Economic Social Council report outlining a coordinated response to the rapid rollout of artificial intelligence. The report warns that 63% of Irish jobs are in highly AI‑exposed occupations, with women and younger workers at greatest...
USTelecom Wants Feds to Align on Permitting Reforms
USTelecom is urging the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to adopt the White House’s new CEQ guidance that expands categorical exclusions under NEPA for broadband projects on federal lands. The telecom CEO highlighted specific exclusions from the NTIA and...
From Detection to Suppression: Drones Join Fleet of Wildfire Fighting Aircraft
Wildfire activity in the western United States has already scorched over 1.8 million acres this year, prompting agencies to adopt advanced drone solutions. Companies such as EDM International and CAL FIRE use aerial imagery, GIS, and long‑endurance drones to monitor utility infrastructure...
Digital Inclusion Delivery Framework for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB Outlines Priority Themes and Roadmap to 2030
The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board released a Digital Inclusion Delivery Framework that sets out a unified vision to close digital gaps by 2030. It focuses on five priority themes—connectivity, accessibility, workforce skills, partnerships, and expertise—and mandates digital inclusion...
UK Data Watchdog Accused of Dragging Feet on eVisa Investigation
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been reviewing a joint letter from the Open Rights Group and 18 civil‑society organisations urging a formal probe into the Home Office’s eVisa system. Although the ICO opened a case in December 2025,...
HMRC Picks Capgemini as Lead Supplier for £600m Contact Centre Deal
HM Revenue & Customs has awarded Capgemini the lead role on a £600 million (≈$770 million) contact‑centre‑as‑a‑service contract. The ten‑year deal, effective 15 May 2025, will replace HMRC’s legacy helpline with a platform that supports up to 200,000 agents, 20,000 inbound calls, 400...
Workday Government Unveils Personnel Action Request (PAR) Agent to Modernize Federal HR and Strengthen Mission Readiness
Workday Government introduced a Personnel Action Request (PAR) Agent that automates federal HR transactions, cutting processing times by up to 60%. The AI‑driven tool integrates with Workday’s platform, validates data against OPM policies, and provides real‑time status updates for hires,...
Towards Transparency: Why Not a Court AI Register?
Canadian judges are increasingly using generative AI tools for research, drafting, and evidence summarization, yet most deployments remain undisclosed. The lack of transparency undermines public confidence and obscures potential biases embedded by private AI vendors. Drawing on the federal government’s...
FAA Contract Rohde & Schwarz to Modernise Air Traffic Voice Systems
The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded Rohde & Schwarz USA a contract worth up to $4.9 billion to replace analog voice‑communication infrastructure across U.S. air‑traffic control facilities with its digital CERTIUM Voice Communication System. Production will occur at a new manufacturing...
IT Ministry Empanels CACTUS to Build AI Solutions for Government Projects
The National e‑Governance Division (NeGD) under India’s IT ministry has empanelled Cactus Technology Solutions Private Limited (CACTUS) to deliver AI and machine‑learning solutions for government‑led digital initiatives. CACTUS will design secure, scalable systems covering data science, model development, deployment, and...
How Europe's Biggest Blackout Helped Turn Role of Renewables on Its Head
A year after the April 28, 2025 Spain‑Portugal blackout that left 60 million people without power, Spain revised its grid rules to let wind and solar plants provide real‑time voltage control. The change enabled 74 renewable facilities—32 solar and 17 wind—representing 6.7 GW to...
Kenya’s Central Bank Is Hiring for Crypto Compliance Roles as Landmark Regulation Nears
Kenya’s Central Bank has posted four senior and managerial vacancies to manage licensing, product approval, and compliance for virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The roles, posted on its Digital Payment Services Division portal, close on May 18 and signal the...
Siemens Mobility Wins a CBTC Contract for the Fulton–Liberty Lines in New York
Siemens Mobility, partnered with L.K. Comstock, secured a $390 million contract from the MTA to install its Trainguard MT communications‑based train control (CBTC) system on New York’s Fulton–Liberty lines. The upgrade will modernize 23 stations and 65 km of track, replacing century‑old signaling...
Outdated Prison Infrastructure Presents Unique Opportunity for BEAD Non-Deployment Funds
NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth’s “Benefit of the Bargain” reforms stripped unnecessary conditions from the BEAD broadband grant program, generating roughly $22 billion in saved deployment costs. The statute allows unspent BEAD funds to be redirected toward related goals, and pending guidance...
Top ICT Tenders: Defence Dept to Upgrade Websites
South Africa’s Department of Defence (DOD) has issued a three‑year ICT tender to outsource the development, hosting and maintenance of eight defence‑related websites, including those for the Navy, Army and Air Force. None of the current sites use HTTPS, prompting...
Google Inks Deal Allowing Pentagon to Use AI Models for Classified Work
Alphabet’s Google has entered a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense that permits the Pentagon to deploy the company’s artificial‑intelligence models for classified missions. The deal, reported by The Information, allows the use of Google’s AI for any lawful...
You Can Now Save Your Aadhaar Card Directly on Google Wallet: Check Step-by-Step Guide
Google has teamed with India’s UIDAI to let users add their Aadhaar card as a verifiable credential in Google Wallet. The digital ID is stored encrypted on the phone and supports selective disclosure, so only required data—such as age—can be shared....
Digital Waste Tracking to Be Introduced by Defra
The UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) will roll out a Digital Waste Tracking Service in England, Northern Ireland and Wales starting October 2026, replacing the outdated paper‑based system. The platform will require around 12,000 permitted waste‑receiving sites...
NHS England Invests £100 Million in Digital Services Contracts
NHS England announced a £100 million (≈$125 million) investment in three digital services contracts to modernize its technology platform. The largest contract, up to £44.4 million (≈$55 million), will improve urgent and emergency care digital tools such as NHS Pathways and 111 online. A second...
Three-Quarters of Records Now Linked to New Pensions Dashboards
Three-quarters of UK pension scheme records are now linked to the Money and Pensions Service's new digital dashboard, moving the industry closer to the October 2026 launch deadline. The Pensions Regulator warns that merely connecting data is insufficient; schemes must...
Making AI Correct for Business and Trade
The UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is launching a programme to purge outdated GOV.UK pages that feed incorrect answers to generative AI tools. An audit uncovered 150 pages untouched for five years, prompting redirects, archives, or updated guidance—a...
Australia to Charge Big Tech Companies Two Percent Levy Unless They Strike Local News Deals
Australia announced a "News Bargaining Incentive" that would impose a 2.25% levy on the local Australian revenues of Meta, Google and TikTok unless they strike commercial agreements with domestic news publishers. The tax, slated to begin in the 2025‑26 financial...
ITS ISTANBUL: Triplesign Showcases Low Power VMS Solutions
Triplesign is demoing its low‑energy, prism‑based variable message sign (VMS) at the ITS European Congress in Istanbul. The signs operate independently of the electrical grid, a stark contrast to conventional LED VMS that rely on limited UPS backup. By highlighting...
Expanding Digital IDs in India and Around the World
Google Wallet now lets Indian users store Aadhaar Verifiable Credentials, turning the national ID into a secure digital token. The rollout includes early partners such as PVR INOX, BharatMatrimony, Atlys, Mygate and Snabbit, enabling age checks, verified profiles and streamlined visa...
Chatbots Open the Door to State Government Access
State governments are accelerating AI‑driven citizen services, with Mississippi’s MISSI chatbot leading the way since 2017 and Indiana’s Ask Indiana now the default search tool on its portal. Less than a quarter of states have deployed AI chatbots at scale,...
Boston Considers Tapping Waterways for Clean Thermal Energy
Boston’s Green Ribbon Commission, backed by a $500,000 grant from the Mass Clean Energy Center and the city, is launching the Boston Thermal Energy Network (BosTEN) pilot. The project will assess using closed-loop thermal energy extraction from the Charles and...