| Delegates from two sides at the signing ceremony on August 20. — VNA/VNS Photo | HÀ NỘI — HCM City's Department of Finance and Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH), the state-owned enterprise of the Republic of Korea (RoK), on August 20 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on an urban growth partnership programme to promote smart new urban areas, industrial parks and other projects in the southern metropolis. Under the MoU, the two sides will share knowledge and exchange information on urban development, while jointly organising seminars to gain a better understanding of the legal frameworks and development trends in HCM City and the RoK. They will also study and identify "leading projects", with the municipal Department of Finance playing an active role in introducing sites for smart urban areas, industrial parks, building social housing and housing for workers, as well as providing necessary data to the RoK partner. The two sides will work to attract Korean businesses to join these projects. Director of the HCM City Department of Finance Hoàng Vũ Thảnh said the MoU is significant not only for international cooperation but also for creating a new mechanism to connect international knowledge and experience with the city’s specific development needs. He expressed his hope that LH will serve as an important bridge connecting the city with Korean businesses, investors and partners, helping mobilise additional resources for the city's development. Consul General of the RoK in HCM City Jung Jung Tae said the southern metropolis’s development strategy shares many similarities with the RoK’s urban development experience, particularly the integrated connection among new urban areas, public housing, industrial parks, regional transport and urban infrastructure. He said LH’s experience could contribute to areas HCM City is promoting, including polycentric urban development, transit-oriented development (TOD) around railway stations, urban renewal
Aug 20, 2026 · via vietnamnews.vn
Cooler cities, cleaner air: turning virtual models into urban solutions Climate change presents an escalating threat to urban environments, where heat and poor air quality increasingly jeopardise citizen health and well-being. To address these complex challenges, the EU-funded UrbanAIR(opens in new window) project is developing a digital twin framework designed to help municipalities and industries test different interventions before they are implemented. Its goal is to bridge the gap between global climate data and local urban decision-making. In this way, it will support city leaders in improving the well-being of citizens impacted by climate change. A unique triple approach Each UrbanAIR digital twin focuses on three areas. First, the project downscales global atmospheric models to the street level, providing highly localised forecasts. Second, it analyses citizens’ behaviour to understand how residents respond to heat stress and pollution. Third, it evaluates both human and natural criteria to support holistic urban planning. “That makes the project not only challenging but also unique,” states Femke Vossepoel, professor at UrbanAIR coordinator Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, in a news item(opens in new window) posted on ‘SustainabilityOnline’. By simulating intervention scenarios before they are implemented, urban decision-makers can test how effective measures such as urban greening, zoning changes and infrastructure investments are without risking real-world resources. The project distinguishes between ‘Action Cities’ and ‘Learning Cities’ to ensure practical applicability. Antwerp and Barcelona serve as the former, where technologies are tested and refined in live urban environments. Meanwhile, Bristol, Paris and Rotterdam act as the latter, facilitating the transfer of lessons across diverse urban contexts. This structure ensures that solutions are not merely theoretical but stress-tested against real-world constraints and needs. Lessons learnt At the 13th European Urban Resilience Forum held in June 2026, UrbanAIR organised a workshop(opens in new window) together with the EU
Aug 20, 2026 · via cordis.europa.eu
New era, joint progress Chinese modernization empowers multi-dimensional China-Spain cooperation beyond ideological divides We are not witnessing mere cyclical changes, but a genuine change of era. The international order established after World War II, and subsequently reorganized under a unipolar logic following the end of the Cold War, shows undeniable signs of structural exhaustion. The global system, historically anchored around the centrality of the Atlantic bloc led by the United States and NATO, has hardened into a rigid, asymmetrical architecture increasingly disconnected from the emerging multipolar reality of the 21st century. Genuine multilateralism has been undermined by zero-sum geopolitical competition, the imposition of unilateral economic sanctions and a distinctly selective application of the principles of international law. In this complex landscape, the language of cooperation and shared development has been progressively supplanted by the rhetoric of confrontation and a retreat into commercial and strategic blocs. Faced with this conceptual paralysis, fundamental notions such as "political parties" and "social governance" should be profoundly re-examined, divesting them of the obsolete categories inherited from the 20th century. Some Western democratic systems are suffering from a structural crisis of representation that erodes their institutional foundations. Some political parties, originally conceived as vital channels of mediation between societal demands and state decisions, have undergone a technocratic mutation. The internal instability of Western nations inevitably spills over into global governance. We are witnessing an alarming militarization of international relations, where constructive diplomacy is losing its central role to the doctrine of armed deterrence. The Ukraine crisis exposed the international system's inability to establish realistic negotiation frameworks. Simultaneously, the ongoing tragedy in Palestine and rising tensions in the Middle East reflect a deeply troubling normalization of military force as a political tool. With several high-intensity armed conflicts simultaneously active across the planet, it is clear that the
Aug 20, 2026 · via chinadaily.com.cn
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – Tesson Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 01201.HK) recently hosted the "Tesson Smart Energy: Recharged & Ready" 2026 Brand Evolution & Strategic Partnership Signing" at Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong. At the event, Tesson Holdings Limited formally announced its strategic upgrade from lithium-ion motive battery manufacturing business toward new energy smart electricity platform-based operation. The company also entered into strategic and industrial partnership agreements with Logistics Planning Research Institute of China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing (CFLP), Zhongke Lianli (????) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University Anlaseo Technology respectively. The event was attended by core management of Tesson Holdings : Chairman and Executive Director, Mr. Wei Mingren; Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Li Jingquan; Executive Director, Mr. Li Yang; as well as distinguished guests including Ms. Li Jinying (???), President of Logistics Planning Research Institute of CFLP; Mr. Yan An (??), President of the Digital Lianli Research Institute of the Jiangxi Centre of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (??????????????); Professor Yu Changyuan, Chairman of Anlaseo Technology; and Dr. Cheng Zhi, Chief Executive Officer of Anlaseo Technology. Strategic Evolution: From "Battery Manufacturing" to "Smart Energy Operation" Tesson Holdings has long been engaged in the research, manufacturing and sales of lithium-ion motive batteries. In 2025, the Company launched its Hong Kong-based "photovoltaic storage charging and checking" AI-inspected ultra-fast charging and zero-carbon microgrid asset operation business, completing the acquisition of the assets of seven new energy integrated service stations and marking its first step towards strategic recharge. Mr. Wei Mingren said that the recharge does not represent a departure from the Company's existing industrial foundation, but rather based on the company's past decade of industrial foundation of the system of motive battery manufacturing business, the experience of the operation of
Aug 20, 2026 · via vietnamnews.vn
Cork becomes the first city in the world outside the US to exhibit the original Rainbow flag 20/08/2026 Cork has become the first city in the world outside the United States of America to host the original Gilbert Baker Rainbow Flag - the global symbol of LGBTI+ pride, visibility, inclusion and equality. This extraordinary piece of social and cultural history was unveiled at an event at Cork City Council’s Cork Public Museum in Fitzgerald’s Park on Thursday night where it will remain on public display for four months under the terms of a landmark loan agreement with the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco. The large fragment of the original Pride flag was donated to the GLBT Historical Society in 2021 but this is the first time that the artefact has ever be loaned and exhibited outside the US. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Damian Boylan, said the city is honoured to accept it. “Our city’s motto, "Statio Bene Fida Carinis", often translated as "A Safe Harbour for Ships", speaks of shelter from storms, a place of protection for ships, of the comfort of knowing that when you arrive here, you have reached a place of safety,” the Lord Mayor said. “As we accept the Gilbert Baker flag and become its custodians for the next four months, we should pause for a moment and reflect on those words - how our city provides a safe harbour not only for ships, but for people too. “The welcome we extend must be more than symbolic. “It must be more than words engraved on a crest or spoken from a platform. “A safe harbour is only a safe harbour if those who seek shelter feel that sense of safety.” He asked guests at the launch to consider how we can ensure a
Aug 20, 2026 · via corkcity.ie
Regional partnership strengthens international business relationships and positions Central Texas as a premier global destination for investment and innovation AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES, August 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce (GAACC), Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce, and Hutto Area Chamber of Commerce are proud to announce the 2026 Central Texas-Korea Summit, taking place on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor, Texas. In its second year, this landmark regional collaboration is designed to strengthen dynamic economic partnerships between Central Texas and South Korea, while showcasing the rapidly expanding opportunities emerging throughout Williamson County and the greater Central Texas region. As Korean investment continues to transform the region through advanced manufacturing, semiconductor production, technology, infrastructure, and supply chain development, the Central Texas-Korea Summit will bring together business executives, economic development leaders, government officials, international organizations, and community stakeholders. Together, they will explore new opportunities for collaboration, investment, and long-term growth. Featured Global and Regional Visionaries This year’s summit promises an unparalleled lineup of distinguished speakers who are at the forefront of the Texas-Korea economic boom. Attendees will hear directly from the critical leaders shaping the future of cross-border business, including: Kyung-Eun Lee, Consul General, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Houston The Honorable Steve Snell, County Judge, Williamson County, Texas Bon-Young Koo, President, Samsung Austin Semiconductor Discussions will focus on cross-border business, regional economic development, infrastructure, smart cities, energy, workforce development, and building a more robust Texas-Korea business ecosystem. “The Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to partner with our regional collaborators in Hutto and Taylor for this pivotal event,” said Mark Duval, President & CEO of GAACC. “The Central Texas-Korea Summit is a testament to the incredible synergy between our
Aug 20, 2026 · via kitsapsun.com
Creating a new economic space The low-altitude economy is emerging as a new growth driver around the world. China has identified it as a strategic economic sector, while the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and many European countries are also stepping up the development of business models based on low-altitude flight technology. Notably, these countries are not only focusing on developing aerial vehicles but are seeking to build comprehensive economic ecosystems that combine technology, infrastructure, data, and application-based services. Under this approach, aerial vehicles are merely means of transport, while the core economic value lies in the service ecosystem built on digital technology. This is also the direction being studied by the Ministry of Science and Technology in developing the low-altitude economy in Viet Nam. According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, a new “economic space” is currently emerging between the ground and the airspace used by conventional aviation. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, data, sensors, telecommunications and smart operating platforms, this space is no longer merely an area for aerial vehicles to operate but is becoming a new development infrastructure. The low-altitude economy is therefore not simply about drones or aerial vehicles, but an economic ecosystem based on data, digital technology, and application-based services. From logistics, agriculture, resource management and infrastructure monitoring to emergency healthcare, search and rescue, and smart cities, a wide range of sectors can generate added value and new growth momentum. The biggest challenge in bringing the low-altitude economy into practice is currently not technology but institutions. According to Nguyen Van Thuat, Deputy Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Society under the Ministry of Science and Technology, waiting until the legal framework is fully developed before implementation could mean missing development opportunities. Conversely, large-scale deployment without a full assessment of potential
Aug 20, 2026 · via en.nhandan.vn
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday signed an executive order establishing guardrails on data center developers “that will hold greedy developers accountable, stop bad projects and put more power back in the hands of local communities,” he said during a signing ceremony. The Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development, or GRID, Standards outline steps data center developers must take to prove that proposed projects provide value to local communities and will be developed responsibly. “We’ve seen an unacceptable number of speculative proposals for data centers swamp our commonwealth — many of them led by developers who have no regard for local communities,” Shapiro said. The speculators are “scaring our communities — being aggressive with township officials, bullying our neighbors and refusing to listen to the people of Pennsylvania,” he said. The new standards require developers to provide a community outreach plan with commitments to hold public meetings and consult with municipal leaders “at a sufficiently early stage of the project to enable meaningful public input on key design decisions.” Developers must also provide a footprint report detailing: - Who the end user will be - Planned building size - Campus acreage - Estimated peak electric demand - Annual water consumption - Water source - Percentage of electricity sourced from non-emitting resources Developers “must respect our local communities by being transparent, hiring locally and offering a robust community benefits agreement,” Shapiro said. They must earn legal approval at the local level and are no longer allowed to use nondisclosure agreements, he added. “Let me put it succinctly: If the local community doesn’t approve a project, the state won’t approve it, either,” he said. Developers must commit to making at least $250 million in cumulative new investments and creating at least 200 prevailing-wage construction jobs. They must also submit hiring and workforce training plans
Aug 20, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
How Siemens and EPG want to improve grid management Power grids worldwide face new operational challenges as renewable energy growth, both on the grid and behind the meter, affects traditional load patterns. Transmission and distribution operators must manage greater complexity while ensuring reliable power delivery to support the energy transition. To meet these operational demands, Siemens has formed a global alliance with California-based Electric Power Group (EPG). The partnership integrates Siemens’ power automation portfolio with EPG’s wide area monitoring systems (WAMS) and synchrophasor technology. This combination gives utilities and grid operators real-time visibility and advanced analytics to improve stability, detect issues earlier, and speed fault response. Transforming grid monitoring technology Traditional Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems have formed the foundation of power system monitoring. However, the variability of renewable energy requires more dynamic and precise analytical tools to maintain grid stability. EPG’s technology addresses this need by capturing high-speed, time-synchronised data. Synchrophasors measure voltage and current waveforms with GPS-level precision, recording magnitude and phase angle several times per second. By processing this data across the network, the integrated WAMS architecture provides a comprehensive view of system behaviour. Continuous data availability enables operators to detect rapid grid events that conventional systems may overlook. Integrating these technologies helps to advance grid intelligence. "Precise, synchronised data acquisition via EPG – integrated into our automation solutions – enables enhanced transparency and improved predictive control. This is a key element of a resilient, self-optimising grid of the future that not only manages the complexity of the energy transition but actively shapes it," says Bernd Meyer, Vice President of Research & Development at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. Enhancing utility operations globally This collaboration addresses key operational challenges for transmission and distribution system operators and energy companies. Integrating EPG’s analytics into Siemens’ grid automation solutions gives
Aug 20, 2026 · via energydigital.com
The remarks were made at a conference on solutions for building and developing a smart city in Ho Chi Minh City, jointly organized by the municipal Department of Construction and the city's Association of Construction Science and Technology. Cuong said the city's administration on July 29 issued a smart-city development plan for 2026-30, with a vision to 2045, charting the city's development path in the digital era. Under the plan, Ho Chi Minh City aims to reach the highest level of smart-city maturity under Vietnam's national criteria for sustainable smart cities and become one of the Asia-Pacific's leading cities and centers for science, technology and innovation by 2045. The plan aims to make the city a smart and sustainable city based on green growth, with urban governance relying on data and digital technologies. To put the plan into action, the city has identified six key groups of tasks, six implementation solutions and a three-phase roadmap, Cuong said. The plan is guided by nine core principles, including compliance with the law and unified management; putting residents and businesses at the center; using data as the foundation; and ensuring interoperability, integration and data sharing. The remaining principles are to protect information and privacy, clearly define the roles and responsibilities of agency heads, ensure safety through controlled implementation, follow a roadmap suited to available resources, and maintain an open and flexible approach to technology to avoid technological lock-in. To facilitate the application of new technologies, services and ideas to smart-city development, the city will create a transparent business environment and introduce breakthrough mechanisms, Cuong said. The city’s smart-city development efforts must also serve as a model for other localities in Vietnam and help turn its goal of entering the world’s top 50 smart cities into reality, Tran Quoc Thai, director of the Department
Aug 20, 2026 · via news.tuoitre.vn
Kenya seeks strategic partnerships to expand its digital infrastructure, improve connectivity, and drive ICT innovation, says Stephen Isaboke, principal secretary for broadcasting and telecommunications. The announcement follows bilateral discussions in Nairobi between government officials and a delegation from the Zhe Jiang Africa Service Centre, which was led by director-general Frank Xie Q. "Kenya welcomes partnerships that bring investment, technical expertise and innovation to the ICT sector," said Isaboke, adding that such collaborations should support telecoms infrastructure and expand access to reliable, affordable connectivity for citizens and businesses. Xie Q, for his part, described Kenya as investment friendly, citing the work ethic of its people, a young and digitally savvy population, and an enabling policy and legislative environment. The meeting brought together officials from the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications and the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy. Also present were Zhuo Wu, president of the Kenya Chinese Chamber of Commerce; Joram Kanama, secretary for ICT; Temesi Mukani, secretary for information and broadcasting; Alphonce Kanunga, secretary for telecommunications; and Bernard Rotich, secretary for data and digital governance. The engagement is the latest in a busy run of China-linked courtesy calls on Kenya's ICT ministry in recent months. Last week, ICT and the Digital Economy permanent secretary John Tanui hosted Guodong Network Communication Group chairperson Lu Jie, with discussions focused on investment in digital infrastructure, connectivity, the development of smart cities and strengthening the digital economy. Tanui said at the time that Kenya was undertaking "an aggressive economic transformation" with digital infrastructure at its centre, pointing to plans to expand mobile broadband to underserved areas and build on progress made at Konza Technopolis. That meeting followed a separate engagement between cabinet secretary William Kabogo and China's ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, on the same Digital Superhighway agenda, as well
Aug 20, 2026 · via itweb.africa
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – As global investors increasingly evaluate cities through measurable resilience, governance and sustainability, Vinhomes is taking an uncommon approach, embedding internationally recognized smart-city standards into large-scale developments from day one. Through landmark partnerships with global certification bodies, the company is seeking to demonstrate that future cities can be designed not only to be greener and smarter, but also to perform against internationally benchmarked metrics. When Data Becomes the New Currency of Cities In the global competition for capital, talent and innovation, cities are increasingly judged by their ability to generate measurable outcomes. Investors today want evidence that infrastructure is resilient, mobility is efficient, governance is transparent and environmental commitments translate into long-term economic value. This transition is reshaping how cities are planned. According to the OECD, data governance has become a foundational element of smart-city development, while internationally standardized indicators such as ISO 37122 enable cities to measure performance consistently, benchmark against global peers and inform better policy and investment decisions1. Meanwhile, the World Council on City Data (WCCD) says that ISO-standardized, independently verified and globally comparable city data enables cities to make better planning and investment decisions, benchmark performance against global peers, and attract investment through greater transparency and comparability2. That helps explain why international standards such as ISO 37122 are attracting growing attention. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the framework establishes globally comparable indicators for evaluating smart-city performance across mobility, energy, environmental management, digital infrastructure, governance, public safety and innovation. ISO 37122 measures how effectively an urban system performs as an integrated whole. For governments and developers alike, the implication is significant, future cities will increasingly be judged by what they can measure and verify. Few developers have attempted to integrate those standards before a
Aug 20, 2026 · via desmoinesregister.com
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ On August 19, 2026, Beam Global (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing financial results for its quarter ended June 30, 2026. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The information furnished in this Form 8-K and the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The information contained in this Item 2.02 and in the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission made by the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Exhibit
Aug 19, 2026 · via stocktitan.net
India needs to pay greater attention to South Asia’s digital transformation as part of its regional strategy. Digital infrastructure is no longer simply an economic or developmental issue. As telecommunications networks, cloud infrastructure, data centres and digital platforms become integrated into government services and critical infrastructure, decisions about vendors, standards and data governance have long-term implications for national and regional resilience. For New Delhi, working with Australia and other like-minded partners to provide credible choice, strengthen regional capacity and promote secure, trusted and interoperable digital ecosystems offers a practical path forward. Across South Asia, governments are investing in telecommunications networks, data centres, digital public infrastructure, smart cities and digital services to accelerate economic growth and improve public service delivery. Yet persistent shortfalls in connectivity infrastructure, institutional capacity and regulatory frameworks continue to constrain these ambitions, as I discuss in a ASPI research report issued today. Capitalising on this opportunity over the past decade, Chinese companies have established a significant presence across South Asia’s digital ecosystem. They have been suppliers of everything from mobile phones and telecommunications equipment to fibre-optic networks and submarine cables, data centres, cloud services, surveillance technologies, digital payments and e-commerce. China’s growing presence in its neighbourhood has raised concerns in India about strategic encirclement, economic dependency and security vulnerabilities. The issue is not Chinese involvement in South Asia’s digital development in itself. The key challenge is the combination of China’s growing presence, limited alternatives and weak institutional capacity in recipient states. Chinese companies offer competitive pricing, state-backed financing and strong project delivery, making them attractive partners for governments facing resource constraints. While this engagement has helped address infrastructural gaps and accelerate digital connectivity, it comes with risks and challenges that demand urgent attention. Once embedded, dependence on a limited number of suppliers can create technological lock-in –
Aug 19, 2026 · via aspistrategist.org.au
HOUSTON, Aug. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AMSYS, leaders in sovereign AI managed services, and SEYOND, a global provider of image-grade LiDAR technology, today announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the adoption of high-fidelity spatial intelligence through the integration of advanced LiDAR perception, Enterprise AI, and Operational Digital Twin platforms. As SEYOND's strategic distributor, integration partner, and managed services provider, AMSYS will expand access to SEYOND's LiDAR portfolio across state and local government, transportation, critical infrastructure, smart cities, education, healthcare, logistics, and industrial markets — delivering solution design, AI integration, systems engineering, Operational Digital Twin deployment, and lifecycle support. The partnership fuses SEYOND's market-leading LiDAR sensing with AMSYS's expertise in Enterprise AI, computer vision, sensor and data fusion, and Operational Digital Twin architectures, giving organizations a single operational command layer to monitor, analyze, predict, and optimize physical operations in real time. Customers can transform assets, infrastructure, campuses, and public spaces into living Operational Digital Twins that continuously synchronize real-world conditions with digital intelligence — improving visibility, safety, resource utilization, and response times across mission-critical environments. AMSYS brings proven experience delivering AI and infrastructure solutions to public sector and enterprise organizations and was named the 2026 NVIDIA State and Local Government Partner of the Year for its leadership in AI-driven infrastructure adoption. As a single-source partner spanning LiDAR perception, AI inference, edge computing, cybersecurity, systems integration, and managed services, AMSYS reduces deployment complexity and accelerates time-to-value versus traditional multi-vendor approaches. "Customers don't need more data, they need to act on it faster," said John Rohrer, President, Enterprise AI, AMSYS. "This partnership turns SEYOND's LiDAR into real-time intelligence AMSYS can deploy at scale, so customers get one partner instead of a patchwork of vendors." "The future of infrastructure will be defined by how effectively organizations can understand and respond to the physical
Aug 19, 2026 · via markets.businessinsider.com
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Aug 19, 2026 · via fidelity.com
A new study warns that the burst in ADU development will not be enough to remedy Los Angeles’ affordable housing gap. Accessory Dwelling Units are on the rise in Los Angeles County: in 2025, the county gained 10,200 new units in 2025, which accounted for 40% of the county’s new housing. The County has embraced ADUs as a potential solution to LAs housing gap: in recent years, the County made efforts to streamline the permitting process, and in 2026, it invested 3.8 million in 2026 to help residents create ADUs. But the burst of ADUs has yet to significantly improve Los Angeles County’s housing crisis, Ryan Kushner writes for Smart Cities Dive. According to Neighborhood Data for Social Change, a project within the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate, the development of new homes in Los Angeles County dropped by 4% in 2025 compared to 2024. Additionally, while Los Angeles is mandated to build 812,000 new housing units between 2021 and 2029, only 125,400 have been built. Jared Schachner, a researcher for the Lusk Center report and assistant professor of research at USC’s Price School of Public Policy, told the Los Angeles Daily News that while people should feel “encouraged by these initial signs of a supply expansion when it comes to ADUs … it’s not nearly enough to fill that gap in terms of what we need regionally.” Read the full story, below. FULL STORY: ADUs had a banner year in LA County. It’s not enough to fill the housing gap, study says. Planetizen Federal Action Tracker A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America. Lost lines: Amtrak's discontinued and defunct named trains The Abraham Lincoln, the Cape Codder and El Capitan are just a few names lost
Aug 19, 2026 · via planetizen.com
Libya Calls for US$40bn to Kickstart Oil & Gas Resurgence Libya should be one of the planet’s oil and gas superpowers. It has by far the largest proven hydrocarbon reserves of any African country, ranking ninth in the world overall. For much of the past two decades, however, Libya’s domestic energy sector has been hampered by politics and conflict. In the 15 years since the Arab Spring, when Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown by rebels, Libya has scarcely experienced a period of extended peace. It is not all-out civil war, but the country remains divided into rival factions whose militia have clashed on and off for years. Many foreign investors have been cautious about Libya as a result, though that concern is softening this year. Tripoli is seeking fresh investment of between US$30bn and US$40bn to further kickstart its energy economy. That figure comes from Masoud Suleman, Chair of Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC), who spoke to the Financial Times this week. During his interview, he spoke about the 60+ discovered oil and gas fields that remain undeveloped for lack of capital. For Masoud and the Libyan Government, the “ambitious but realistic” target is to lift production to two million barrels a day by 2030, up from around 1.4 million barrels a day today. Momentum already building The push for fresh capital follows a year of genuine recovery for Libya's energy sector. Libya's average crude output of 1.4 million barrels a day through 2025 was its highest level in 12 years. In January, several of the world’s largest energy companies agreed terms of investment with the Libyan Government too. TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips signed a 25-year development agreement with the government, while Eni and Chevron also signed deals for offshore exploration. Speaking at the Libyan Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) at the
Aug 19, 2026 · via energydigital.com
What We Can Learn from Ancient Societies About Disaster-Proofing Our Cities From ancient Egyptian flood strategies to Mayan agricultural techniques, the ancient world can teach us how to live with environmental extremes. Earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires are natural phenomena that can become disastrous, but just how severely they affect us depends on how we prepare for and respond to them. We can’t stop earthquakes, for instance, but we can build more flexible structures. This was known even in the ancient world. Inca masons used mortar-free, precisely fitted, irregularly shaped stones that could move and settle back into position. Traditional Japanese wooden constructions featured a massive central wooden post that functioned similarly to the features that help today’s skyscrapers withstand shaking ground movement. And a new understanding of ancient Roman concrete suggests that it became stronger over time and was, to a degree, self-healing, with inclusions that reacted with water to stop cracks from propagating. Innovative planning and design also helped ancient people weather other disasters, like droughts and floods. Our ancestors knew how to use nature to their benefit, keep landscapes healthy, and rely on strong community ties. Relearning those old lessons could now help us better prepare for the disasters of the future—which are poised to cause more damage than ever. They Didn’t Fight Nature—and Often Used It to Their Benefit Around the world, flooding has become more dangerous as climate change intensifies rainfall and more people live along coastlines that are vulnerable to floods and hurricanes. But some ancient societies used overflowing rivers to their benefit. Rather than confining and directing water into a narrow space, which can create powerful torrents, flood waters were given room to spread out over large areas. Ancient Egyptians used annual floods along the Nile River to irrigate crop fields. As floodwaters receded
Aug 19, 2026 · via nationalgeographic.com
Tensions Rise in Grapevine, TX, as Union Votes No Confidence in All Three Fire Chiefs The ongoing disagreement between the Grapevine Fire Department and members of the Grapevine Professional Firefighters Association took another turn on Friday, Aug. 14 when the union announced its members overwhelmingly voted no confidence in its leaders due to a lack of morale and lack of trust in all three of its chiefs. While the vote has no official bearing on the employment status of the department leaders, it shows a documented record of the union’s lack of confidence in its chiefs. The union has been vocal in recent months about the department’s reallocation plan that moved the department toward an EMS focus. This move led to Engine 1 being shut down and replaced with a squad truck. Union members also say they are concerned that leaders are not listening to their opinion or involving them in decision-making that directly impacts their jobs. Nearly 94% of the Local 3113 union members voted for a no confidence vote for Fire Department Chief Darrell Brown. Assistant Chief Wes Williams received an 87.9% vote of no confidence and Assistant Chief Stuart Grant received an 82.2% vote. The association said in a statement that its members have been raising concerns with the department for two years about its leadership and the direction the department was going in. “During that period, members have raised concerns involving community and firefighter safety, leadership, communication, transparency, accountability, operational decision-making, and other matters affecting the department,” the statement from the association read. “Local 3113 has brought concerns forward through established channels. The Association maintains that many of those concerns have not been adequately addressed.” In addition, the association said that some of its members’ employment has been impacted by documented threats and intimidation due to
Aug 19, 2026 · via firehouse.com