Bhopal: A stark new study has sounded the alarm on surging âcompound dry-hot eventsâ (CDHEs) battering Indiaâs âSmart Citiesâ, including Indore, Gwalior, Raipur and Lucknow, exposing urban hubs to crippling water shortages, scorching heat, and crumbling resilience in the absence of adequate measures. Researchers from IISER Bhopal and MANIT Bhopal pored over 60 years of data (1958-2023) across 100 Smart Cities, uncovering a grim trend: Northern India, the Himalayas, and Western India face the fiercest climate onslaught. The study was recently published in international journal Urban Climate. Cities like Indore, Gwalior, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Ranchi, Warangal, Vishakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kota, Jammu, Patna, Ludhiana, Rajkot and Raipur are among the top vulnerability charts, hammered by relentless heat-drought combos and shaky adaptive capacities. The big reveal? These punishing eventsâonce rare, striking every few yearsânow crash in almost every season. Urban water systems, public health, and infrastructure get no breather, slashing recovery windows to near zero. âClimate extremes are no longer isolated events. Many Indian cities endure repeated dry-hot stress in short bursts, gutting urban sustainability and resilience,â lead researcher IISERâs Prof. Somil Swarnkar told TOI. Prof Vikas Punia and PhD student IISER Bhopal Vaishnavi Sahu were the part of the study along with Prof Swarnkar. The team crafted a âCumulative Vulnerability Index,â blending climate hazards with socio-economic metrics: human capital, environmental health, economic muscle, and quality of life. Standouts like robust education and green spaces emerged as resilience superpowers. Cities boasting strong schools, clean air, and solid infrastructure shrug off shocks better. Conversely, spots plagued by shoddy planning, scant greenery, pollution, and weak economies teeter on the brink. âHuman capital and environmental quality drive urban toughness,â the study notes. Prof. Swarnkar urged action: âBoost environmental quality, urban green belts, education, and smart planning to slash future risks.â The findings jolted Indiaâs Smart Cities Mission
May 14, 2026 · via timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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During the visit, Sheikh Khaled toured the accompanying exhibition, reviewing advanced smart infrastructure solutions and innovative technologies showcased by more than 75 participating exhibitors specialising in smart city planning and sustainable urban development.
His Highness emphasised that investing in advanced, sustainable infrastructure reflects Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision to build resilient, efficient cities that support economic growth, improve quality of life and respond to future global challenges.
The summit featured conferences and panel discussions with more than 100 speakers and 250 government officials, alongside over 7,000 industry leaders, executives, experts and specialists from sectors linked to infrastructure and urban development.
Discussions focused on four key pillars shaping future cities: infrastructure, urban quality of life, smart solutions, and sustainability and resilience.
A dedicated Abu Dhabi pavilion highlighted the emirate’s integrated urban planning and governance model, while major organisations showcased projects aligned with Abu Dhabi’s US$57 billion infrastructure pipeline.
Sheikh Khaled was accompanied by several senior officials, including Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan and Engineer Maysarah Mahmoud Eid.
May 14, 2026 · via sharjah24.ae
Eric Becker is an associate principal at OZ Architecture and a former volunteer firefighter with the Timberline Fire Protection District in Boulder County, Colorado. OZ Architecture has partnered with fire districts and public safety agencies across Colorado and the Mountain West for more than 30 years. Many fire stations in service today were built for a job that no longer exists. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than two out of every five fire stations were more than 40 years old in 2020. But age alone isn’t the issue; well-designed civic buildings should serve their communities for 50 years or more. The challenge is that many stations were planned around an outdated model of firefighter service. Roughly two-thirds of fire department calls are now medical in nature. Today’s facilities must accommodate a faster tempo, medical response and expanded responsibilities that include prevention, training and community engagement. At the same time, growing awareness of firefighter health risks, from cancer exposure to behavioral health challenges, is reshaping how stations are designed, organized and operated. For local officials responsible for planning and funding public safety infrastructure, a fire station’s design is not simply a construction decision. It is an operational decision that will shape emergency response, firefighter health and training capacity for the next half century. Design for the way firefighters work today Some fire districts are rethinking how their stations support prevention, mitigation, preparedness and community health. South Metro Fire Rescue, with 30 stations throughout the south Denver metro area, is updating its stations with a more consistent focus on first responder health and well-being, response efficiency and long-term durability. The district’s recently completed Station No. 15 in Centennial, Colorado, represents what's possible when civic leadership treats a fire station as a long-term commitment to the people who staff
May 14, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Austin, Texas, is leaking. And it’s not alone. Large Texas cities have aging and insufficient water pipes that lose billions of gallons of water every year due to leaks and water main breaks, according to the Texas Tribune. Austin’s water losses have been steadily increasing since 2021, reaching 9.3 billion gallons in 2024, KXAN reported. That’s 31% higher than the 7.1 billion gallons lost in 2023 — enough to fill Lake Austin, an audit found. A digital smart meter initiative is now helping Austin monitor and address leaks faster, officials say. Austin Water’s My ATX Water program is gradually modernizing the utility’s water metering system with digital smart meters that provide customers with near-real-time data via a portal and can detect and alert customers to potential leaks. The utility has installed around 267,000 wireless smart meters since 2020 and estimates they have saved 1.2 billion gallons of water through leak notifications and repairs since 2021. The initiative was recognized this spring in the IDC Smart Cities North America Awards. Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson said in a March news release that the utility is using technology that can make an impact on the community. "Our My ATX Water Portal gives our customers the power and tools they need to play an active role in protecting Austin's water supply, with our dedicated teams supporting them every step of the way,” she said. Along with alerting users to potential leaks, the smart water system offers daily water-usage reports, water-budgeting tools and water conservation opportunities. The program is helping to build “a more sustainable water future for generations to come,” Roalson said. The city is also replacing insufficient water pipes and secured $45 million from the state last year to upgrade its polybutylene pipes. Polybutylene, a material that was popular from the
May 14, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Heather Minor, town clerk for Long View, North Carolina, said she used to spend four to eight hours per meeting recording, transcribing and reporting minutes for the official public record. That took time away from other tasks, including her dual role as the town’s public relations director. Using HeyGov’s ClerkMinutes AI platform, Minor said she now spends about 30 to 60 minutes processing each meeting’s minutes, not only freeing her to handle other work, but also increasing the records’ transparency and accuracy. “I’d record the whole meeting and then basically had to sit through the meeting twice, listening to the meeting for about 15 to 30 seconds at a time and then stopping to record what I heard,” Minor said. “This has really saved me a ton of errors.” Even though she looked over the minutes after completing them, Minor said she didn’t always enter information correctly. “We are humans, so it’s very easy to transpose numbers or what have you,” she said. After the town, which has about 5,300 residents, held a recent budget meeting, ClerkMinutes got “every budget number correct. It picked up everything exactly how I want it to look,” Minor said. ClerkMinutes transcribes meetings from audio files, adding timestamps and speaker names and capturing motions and votes, then saves the transcription as a Word document or PDF. Minor is able to quickly share the meeting minutes with the public, boosting the city’s transparency. Dustin Overbeck, founder of HeyGov, said the platform — which he calls “clerkware” — can save clerks about two hours per meeting. He’s adding new features, including options to integrate municipal letterhead into the templates and upload video. When someone clicks on a timestamp on the transcription, it triggers the video so they can view, listen and read at the same time. More
May 14, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Data Conference The City of Charlotte proudly hosted its 2nd Annual Data Conference earlier this February, bringing together leaders, innovators, and community partners from across the region to explore how data drives smarter decisions and stronger communities. Our 2026 theme, Smarter Data. Smarter Communities., set the tone for a full day of learning and collaboration. The event began with networking and vendor showcases, followed by opening remarks from Ashley Brown of Slalom and Charlitta Hatch, Chief Data & Analytics Officer for the City of Charlotte, who shared the City’s vision for data strategy. Keynote speaker Rebecca Hefner, Director of Housing & Neighborhood Services, highlighted how resident data informs programs that strengthen neighborhoods. Later, Liz Morrell, Director of Public Policy Research at UNC Charlotte, discussed incorporating community voices into data governance and showcased tools like the Quality of Life Explorer and Regional Explorer as engagement resources. A dynamic panel featuring experts from Charlotte Water, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and City Planning demonstrated how innovation and data are shaping infrastructure and service delivery across the city. Attendees then participated in breakout sessions, choosing from ten diverse topics ranging from equity-centered data governance and integrated data systems for healthy communities to AI-driven networking and security for smarter cities. Other sessions explored community-led research addressing gaps in marginalized neighborhoods and data-driven STEM workforce development. The day concluded with inspiring remarks from Ronnie Bryant, CIO of the Charlotte Hornets, and a community raffle. This event was made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, Slalom, Salesforce via Carahsoft, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, T-Mobile, AWS, and Jabian, as well as the dedication of our City of Charlotte volunteers. We are excited to continue this tradition and look forward to welcoming you to the 2027 Charlotte Data Conference!
May 14, 2026 · via charlottenc.gov
Related Topics Articles View All Hover to load posts Articles View All Hover to load posts Articles View All Hover to load posts Articles View All Hover to load posts Articles View All Hover to load posts Articles View All Hover to load posts Articles View All Hover to load posts Resource Hubs Featured Resources Link to Best Practices for Deploying and Scaling Industrial AI Best Practices for Deploying and Scaling Industrial AI Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industrial operations, helping organizations optimize workflows, reduce downtime, and enhance productivity. Different industry verticals leverage AI in unique ways. Link to The Center for Adaptive Edge Intelligence The Center for Adaptive Edge Intelligence Adaptive edge intelligence brings real-time decision-making to the point of data creation, whether from sensors, machines, or cameras. Link to The Value of Vehicle Electrification The Value of Vehicle Electrification Electric vehicles (EVs) present automakers with many design, engineering, and manufactu ring challenges. Link to Accelerating Manufacturing Digital Transformation with Industrial Connectivity and IoT Accelerating Manufacturing Digital Transformation with Industrial Connectivity and IoT Digital transformation is empowering industrial organizations to deliver sustainable innovation, disruption-proof products and services, and continuous operational improvement. Link to Smart Manufacturing for Automotive Smart Manufacturing for Automotive Leading a transportation revolution in autonomous, electric, shared mobility and connectivity with the next generation of design and development tools. Link to Center for Data Pipeline Automation Center for Data Pipeline Automation As businesses become data-driven and rely more heavily on analytics to operate, getting high-quality, trusted data to the right data user at the right time is essential. Link to Center for Automated Integration Center for Automated Integration The goal of automated integration is to enable applications and systems that were built separately to easily share data and work together, resulting in new capabilities and efficiencies that
May 14, 2026 · via rtinsights.com
The strategies used by Korean startups to enter the Japanese market are expanding beyond simple exports or subsidiary establishment to focus on Proof of Concept (PoC) linked with local conglomerates and urban projects. In particular, as Japan strengthens its urban testbeds centered on smart cities, mobility, and healthcare, opportunities for Korean startups to validate their technologies are also increasing. Amidst this trend, D.CAMP , a startup growth partner, has partnered with East Japan Railway Company (JR East), Japan's largest railway and urban development company, to support the entry of Korean startups into the Japanese market. On the 12th, D.CAMP operated the 'Startup OI Tokyo #SmartCity' program at 'LiSH (Link Scholars' Hub),' a startup hub located within 'Takanawa Gateway City' in Tokyo, Japan. This program was organized to apply the technologies of Korean startups to the local urban environment in Japan and to verify their commercialization potential. Japanese Market Expanding as a Smart City Testbed Takanawa Gateway City is a large-scale urban development project being promoted by JR East. It is being developed as a next-generation smart city combining transportation, commercial, residential, and cultural functions, and serves as a testbed for verifying startup technologies in a real urban environment. LiSH, where the program was held, is an open innovation hub focused on fields such as environment, food, and healthcare, serving as a space that supports collaboration and demonstration among researchers, startups, and companies. Seven domestic startups in the fields of environment, mobility, healthcare, and AI participated in this program. Companies including EV charging solution provider EVA , AI commerce content automation company Studio Lab , and AI-based dementia diagnosis company SevenPointOne , as well as NewRizen , Huject , Huino , and Uniuni, explored local business opportunities in Japan. On the day of the event, D.CAMP and JR East also signed
May 14, 2026 · via venturesquare.net
Thursday’s Headlines Pump It Up Until you can feel it (gas prices, that is). But you don't really need it (suspending gas taxes). By Blake Aued 12:01 AM EDT on May 14, 2026 Blake Aued has been doing Streetsblog's daily national news digest for years. He's also an Atlanta Braves fan, which enrages his editor in New York. Read More: Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org. More from Streetsblog USA ‘Our Roads Are More Than Just Highways’: Democrats Urge U.S. Senate to Fund Transit Programs A Trump administration proposal recommends massive cuts to popular programs – and it will cost American communities more than they can afford, Senate Democrats say. May 14, 2026 Study: Trump’s Transit Proposal Would Cost the Country So Many Jobs — And Not Just in Cities ... but an increase in funding would be a job-creating juggernaut. May 13, 2026 Wednesday’s Headlines Are Bought and Paid For The Union of Concerned Scientists explains how the highway lobby keeps so many of us in our cars. May 13, 2026 Opinion: It’s Time to Rethink Our Congestion Obsession Policymakers constantly suggest that we need to spend billions of dollars and bulldoze countless acres of land to fix traffic jams. But do we? May 13, 2026 Speed Ills! Reckless Driving on the Rise in Car Ads, Study Shows Car commercials featuring unsafe driving are rising — as
May 14, 2026 · via usa.streetsblog.org
The American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) inaugurated its state-of-the-art AI Supercomputing Lab on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at its Permanent Campus. The lab was officially inaugurated by Ms. Nadia Anwar, Founder Member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, AIUB; Dr. Hasanul A. Hasan, Founder Member, Board of Trustees; Mr. Ishtiaque Abedin, Founder Member, Board of Trustees; Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna, Former Vice Chancellor and Member, Board of Trustees. Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam, Vice-Chancellor; and Prof. Dr. Md. Abdur Rahman, Pro Vice-Chancellor were also present at this memorable moment. Founder Member Dr. Hasanul A. Hasan said that, in the present era, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing a highly significant role in various fields. It will open new horizons of opportunities in education and research at AIUB. This cutting-edge facility features advanced NVIDIA DGX Spark systems, delivering up to 1 petaflop of AI performance. The lab enables researchers and students to work with large-scale AI models, including large language models and diffusion systems, fostering hands-on innovation in AI engineering. The initiative places strong emphasis on developing “Sovereign AI” tailored to the Bengali language and local context, ensuring culturally relevant technological advancement. It will also support research in key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, smart cities, and the textile industry. Through this initiative, AIUB aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s AI research ecosystem, promote ethical AI development, and empower future innovators with world-class computational resources. Deans, Directors and Heads from different departments, faculty members, high officials of AIUB were also present at the event.
May 14, 2026 · via aiub.edu
DUBAI, UAE, May 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Robo.ai Inc. (Nasdaq: AIIO), announced today that its wholly-owned AI data processing and compression technology subsidiary, Neurovia AI, has officially released its core technology platform, NeuroStream™. Designed for the machine economy era, the platform utilizes a bitmap vectorization algorithm to provide high-fidelity, low-bandwidth, and low-power infrastructure support for the massive visual data generated by physical artificial intelligence. Mansoor Ali Khan, Chief Technology Officer of Neurovia AI, detailed the platform's technical architecture and application cases. To demonstrate the practical performance of NeuroStream™, Neurovia AI has published comparative case studies on its official website (https://www.neuroviaai.ae/). According to internal testing, a 5.5GB 4K 60fps original video processed through NeuroStream™ can be compressed to a file size of 278MB, reducing storage space usage by approximately 95%. These tests indicate that NeuroStream™ significantly reduces file size while fully retaining core visual information such as the original video's resolution and frame rate. This visually lossless characteristic ensures that the substantially compressed data continues to provide a clean and complete data source for subsequent machine vision and AI computations. This capability meets the strict data authenticity requirements of industrial, sovereign, and specific legal application scenarios, while also generating clear economic benefits for enterprises in terms of energy consumption, storage space, and processing latency. Chief Technology Officer Mansoor noted that global unit data storage prices have increased approximately fourfold since 2026. According to industry estimates, every terabyte of data storage saved generates a direct economic benefit of $1,000 to $1,500 annually for an AI customer, in addition to indirect benefits related to transmission efficiency, energy consumption, data integrity, and security. Through AI-native compression, intelligent visual optimization, and edge computing adaptation, NeuroStream™ converts traditional bitmap logic into a vectorized mathematical expression. This approach lowers transmission and storage costs while precisely preserving the
May 14, 2026 · via prnewswire.com
Riyadh financial district eyes Beijing partnership By CUI HAIPEI in Dubai | CHINA DAILY | Updated: 2026-05-14 09:38 As Saudi Arabia presses ahead with its Vision 2030 to diversify its economic structure, a Saudi official has expressed optimism about China's long-term economic prospects, underlining the potential of bilateral cooperation and offering full support for Chinese companies to expand their footprint across the Middle East. Faddy Abdulrahman AlAql, chief projects delivery officer of the King Abdullah Financial District, said that the business hub has emerged as a core engine driving the kingdom's economic restructuring and future growth, boasting a complete industrial and residential ecosystem by gathering top-tier banks, regulatory bodies, law firms, tech giants and multinational enterprises. He spoke highly of China's sound long-term growth fundamentals, pointing out that China is positioning itself well for the next phase of global development. "When I look at China's economy, what gets my attention beyond the growth numbers is where that growth is actually coming from. China is moving up the value chain: Advanced manufacturing, tech, services, and real domestic consumption," he said. "These areas have a strong overlap with Saudi Arabia's developmental priorities." Calling China an important partner for Vision 2030, AlAql said China's shift toward advanced manufacturing, technology and digital infrastructure aligns perfectly with Saudi Arabia's mission to build a multi-engine economy. He stressed that China-Saudi ties have deepened markedly, with engagement driven by private-sector collaboration. "This synergy is ushering in a new era of cooperation that goes beyond traditional energy trade into high-tech sectors," he said, adding that the kingdom recently hosted over 30 Chinese firms exploring joint projects in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and green technology. Based on the "10-minute city within a city" concept, KAFD comprises residential communities, catering and retail amenities, more than 67,000 square meters of green space,
May 14, 2026 · via global.chinadaily.com.cn
#WATCH | 🚨 PM Narendra Modi Significantly Reduces Convoy Size, Retains Essential SPG Security Protocols Prime Minister Narendra Modi has downsized his convoy considerably following his call for austerity and fuel conservation. The reduction in vehicles was carried out while maintaining all essential security components mandated under SPG protocol. The people who were mocking a national leader’s convoy clearly have very little or no understanding of threat perception, intelligence inputs, and security protocols. Security of a Head of State is not optional, symbolic, or designed for “show”. It exists because a single lapse can destabilize diplomacy, governance, national morale, and even public safety. Convoys are planned based on real-time intelligence, route sanitization, emergency response readiness, anti-attack protocols, and contingency planning. Most citizens only see vehicles on the road. Security agencies see potential threats, attack vectors, crowd risks, and national responsibility. Criticizing without understanding the magnitude of protecting a country’s highest office only reflects ignorance about how national security actually works. Why do Indian political leaders need more high-class security compared to British or some European leaders? Is there any reason? Don’t they have security threats? I have no idea, so I would like to learn and understand. Please help me. So, this is now a political page? PM having only 1 car and a local MLA having 3-4 cars in convoy Not a welcome step. Pls have enough and more. Not a welcome step Feel like Kamarajar regime back to India. Imagine the position of a Prime Minister who continues to remain on global threat radars, yet still faces criticism over security protocols from people making casual, uninformed remarks like “practice what you preach.” National security is not a social media debate or a PR exercise. Reducing such serious matters to political point-scoring is deeply irresponsible and reprehensible. Disagreement is
May 13, 2026 · via linkedin.com
That is, according to Business Improvement District (BID) Better Bankside.
The non-profit surveyed its 900 business members, most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and found that sustainability and environment ranked sixth in terms of the company’s biggest priorities.
Back in 2022, it was voted as the third most important, mirroring the fact that only around a quarter of UK small businesses believe they will reach net-zero by mid-century.
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May 13, 2026 · via edie.net
Aging infrastructure and climate disruptions are keeping water professionals up at night as external stressors increasingly affect the water supply, the American Water Works Association’s 2026 State of the Water Industry report found. The more than 2,100 water professionals who took part in the annual AWWA survey rank the water industry’s current health at an average of 4.72 on a scale of 1 to 7, which is largely consistent with the survey’s 23-year history. But their prediction about the industry’s health in five years is 4.53 — the lowest it’s been in eight years. “External pressures — from global supply chains to extreme weather — are now part of the everyday operating environment for utilities,” AWWA President Brent Tippey states in the report. “We need strategic foresight, supportive policy, and innovations that help utilities maintain reliability even when conditions shift overnight.” The sector’s ability to confront gaps in climate resilience, digital modernization and sustainability frameworks will be essential in coming years, according to the report. Half of respondents say they’re very or fully prepared for long-term water supply needs — a 5 percentage point drop from the previous year — while 16% say they’re not at all prepared for long-term demands. Eleven percent of respondents report their water supply experiences frequent or chronic stress, and one-third indicate that “an increase in withdrawal or a decrease in supply could result in difficulties providing drinking water,” the report states. “Planning for long-term water security has never been more challenging. Uncertainty is increasing from things like accelerating climate variability and the rapid expansion of tech-based industries,” T.J. Stroebl, market development leader at Kurita America and the next AWWA president, states in the report. “The future is a moving target and hitting it will require more resilient strategies that allow for pivoting on shorter
May 13, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Dive Brief: - Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed the Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act on Tuesday, establishing an oversight board of directors for the Maryland Transit Administration and a Commuter Services Advisory Board to oversee commuter rail and bus services. - The legislation gives the board of directors authority to oversee budgets, service plans and certain grant decisions for transit in the Baltimore region. - The act repeals the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission, established in 2023, and directs the transit administration to reallocate staff between the two new boards. Dive Insight: “We have no good public transportation system,” the Maryland Legislative Coalition, an association of activists, wrote in testimony to the state senate’s finance committee, adding that “it’s time to have some oversight” of the transit administration. The coalition said it strongly supports the newly enacted bill. Maryland’s consolidated transportation program anticipates spending $22.1 billion statewide over its fiscal year 2026 to 2031 plan. Projects include repairs to the Key Bridge, highway and tunnel work, improvements to the state’s airport light rail line and completion of its 16-mile light rail line connecting New Carrollton to Bethesda, Maryland. The Maryland Department of Transportation, which supported the act, is required to contract with the Baltimore Metropolitan Council to complete a technical study by Dec. 1 to consider the creation of a rail authority in Maryland. “Years of underfunding have kept Baltimore’s transit system stuck in the minors with a losing record,” transportation advocates Paul Sturm and Lauren Byrd wrote in a commentary for Maryland Matters, a nonprofit news site. “Unreliable bus and rail service” affects workers, students, older adults and people with medical needs, they said.
May 13, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Cities That Have Not Been Bombed, Yet Deteriorate As If They Were STORY INLINE POST There is a category of city that no tourism competitiveness index accurately captures: the city that has not suffered a war, yet deteriorates as if it had. There are no bombings, no collapsed buildings, no battlefields. There is something else: plazas that empty at dusk, shops that close their shutters early, residents who alter their routes out of caution, tourists who shorten their stay or simply never arrive. The deterioration lacks the dramatic visibility of wartime destruction, but its effects on social cohesion, the local economy, and the destination’s reputation are comparable in nature, though not in scale. Uruguayan economist Graciana del Castillo developed, in "Rebuilding War-Torn States: The Challenge of Post-Conflict Economic Reconstruction," an analysis of societies emerging from civil wars that nonetheless has broader application: reconstruction is not only a response to physical destruction, but to the breakdown of the ties that allow a society to reproduce itself in a legitimate and sustainable way. Without employment, functioning institutions, legitimacy of public order, and life opportunities for excluded sectors, no peace is possible. Coercion can sustain a truce; only integration sustains peace. That logic does not require an actual war to be relevant. It only requires a social fracture deep enough that the legal order has lost competitiveness against illegal alternatives. That is exactly the problem faced today by dozens of cities in Latin America, Southern Europe, and the developing world that were never bombed but show unmistakable signs of what might be called systemic deterioration: Medellín before its transformation; Ciudad Juarez in its most violent years; San Salvador under gang control; Naples in neighborhoods controlled by the Camorra; Marseille in its most troubled banlieues; Johannesburg in its townships; and, on a smaller scale
May 13, 2026 · via mexicobusiness.news
- | 9:00 am Why Saudi Arabia’s urban future is about livability. Not just smart systems The country has become one of the world’s largest smart city laboratories—testing technology, infrastructure, and urban design across its national landscape. In Saudi Arabia, about 84% of its population now lives in cities, putting significant pressure on urban systems. Population growth, climate challenges, traffic jams, and higher expectations for quality of life are all adding to the strain. To address this, Saudi Arabia has launched a broad smart city plan to improve everything from traffic flow to energy use. The groundwork for this transformation was laid in 2015, when the government unveiled plans to upgrade 17 cities, including Riyadh, Makkah, and Jeddah. A year later, Vision 2030 was launched, marking the kingdom’s first blueprint for smart city development. Today, these plans are becoming a reality. Riyadh is launching a smart city program that includes planting more trees and introducing self-driving transport. Al Khobar is using AI-powered traffic signals to reduce congestion, and Makkah is developing into a smart city ready to handle 30 million pilgrims each year by 2030. THE RISE OF THE COGNITIVE ECOSYSTEM The smart city model has now moved beyond simple connectivity and automation toward the “cognitive city”—urban environments that not only collect data but learn from it and respond in real time. Digital twins—virtual replicas of physical environments—anchor this vision, allowing operators to simulate traffic flows, monitor infrastructure, and optimize resource use. “Digital twin technology is creating tangible value in areas such as urban planning, infrastructure optimization, and predictive maintenance by enabling simulation and real-time operational insights,” says Mosab Erar, vertical business director at Hikvision MEA. Yet the path forward is not without hurdles. “Key limitations often stem from fragmented systems and data silos, which require strong data governance frameworks
May 13, 2026 · via fastcompanyme.com
| Panellists at a seminar titled “Digital Twins for Smart City Development” held in HCM City on May 6. — Photo courtesy of the organisers | HCM CITY — Data, artificial intelligence and digital twin technology are playing a growing role in smart city development in Việt Nam, experts said at the 5th National Forum on Emerging Technologies for Smart and Sustainable City Development held in HCM City last week. They said smart cities are entering a new phase, moving beyond the digitalisation of public services towards real-time analysis, forecasting and data-driven urban governance powered by AI and big data. At the forum, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Lê Xuân Định said Việt Nam is refining its legal framework for smart city development through major policies, including Decision 950/QD-TTg on sustainable smart city development, Resolution 06-NQ/TW, Politburo Resolution 57, and Government Decree 269/2025/ND-CP on smart city development. “These policies demonstrate the Government’s strong commitment to promoting digital transformation, modernising urban governance, and improving people’s quality of life. “Technology is not merely a tool, it is the core driver of urban intelligence. Without core technologies, smart cities would remain limited to process digitisation rather than achieving automated analysis, forecasting, and optimisation.” But he admitted that smart city development still faces several bottlenecks like fragmented data among localities and departments and intelligent operation centres failing to fully utilise AI and big data. Many cities also still lack digital twin platforms for urban simulation and forecasting, he said. To address these challenges, the ministry proposed focusing on certain priorities like promoting “dual transformation” in green and digital development, establishing unified data standards, research into AI, big data and digital twin technologies, encouraging sandbox mechanisms for emerging technologies, developing high-quality human resources, and ensuring data security. Dr Nguyễn Thị Bích Lan, director of
May 13, 2026 · via vietnamnews.vn
China and Tajikistan signed a treaty of permanent good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation on Tuesday, ushering in a new phase in bilateral ties. President Xi Jinping and visiting Tajik President Emomali Rahmon signed the treaty at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Rahmon is in China on a four-day state visit, which started on Monday. During their talks, Xi said that firmly supporting each other is the core essence of China-Tajikistan relations. He said that regardless of changes in the external environment, China and Tajikistan will always remain good neighbors who help each other, good friends who trust each other with sincerity, and good partners who join hands for development. The signing of the China-Tajikistan Treaty on Permanent Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation will fully demonstrate the high level of political mutual trust between the two countries, providing a solid guarantee for everlasting friendship from one generation to another, Xi said, adding that China is willing to work with Tajikistan to promote the building of a closer community with a shared future to better benefit the people of both nations. RELATED ARTICLES Rahmon hailed the signing of the treaty, saying that it marks the start of a new historical stage in the countries' relations, and will open up new prospects for their long-term cooperation. The treaty came amid the steady growth of bilateral ties guided by the two heads of state in recent years. In 2023, the two countries announced the building of a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future featuring everlasting friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit. In 2024, the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era. Xi paid three state visits to Tajikistan — in 2014, 2019 and 2024. Rahmon visited China 22 times, and his last trip to China was
May 13, 2026 · via chinadailyasia.com