A view of the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center on April 2, 2026 Photo: Tao Mingyang/GT At first glance, the streets of the Xiong'an New Area in North China's Hebei Province look clean and new, yet not particularly remarkable. It is only when driving through them that one senses the pulse of what has been widely referred to in China as "the city of the future." Here, drivers no longer "obey" green lights; the lights "obey" the traffic. This is no illusion. Behind the so-called "green-wave traffic system" lie more than 20,000 roadside sensors that monitor traffic flow, queue lengths and vehicle types in real time. The data feed into an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered "city brain" that recalibrates signals in milliseconds. As a result, the average number of stops per vehicle has fallen by half, according to official figures. This is just one example of the technological innovation that is being born â and coming alive â in the Xiong'an New Area. Established in 2017 under a grand national blueprint, the city has, in just nine years, made striking progress in smart-city construction and sci-tech innovation. More efforts have been urged to build the new area into an innovation hub in the new era and a model of promoting high-quality development. Smart city During the Global Times' recent trip to the new area, "new Xiong'an residents," including sci-tech workers, speak eagerly of the smart features of their new home and express quiet pride in contributing to its development. On a national level, development of this city of the future holds great significance for China's broader push toward high-quality development, an expert told the Global Times. "Driving in Xiong'an, it's no longer about cars watching the traffic lights â it's the traffic lights that watch the cars," Zhang Yan, who moved to
Apr 7, 2026 · via globaltimes.cn
Ideas have a life of their own; they are nourished and grow every time we share them. Keeping a thought to oneself is not the same as testing it against someone else’s perspective. Every question or comment from a third party makes our thinking more robust. What happens, then, when we ‘tell’ our idea to an AI that has access to a vast amount of information and the ability to organise it to suit our needs? A well-formulated question accounts for 99% of the answer. The common mistake is to use AI as a simple search engine, accepting the first answer it generates. Now, if we don’t want answers, a very simple way to get more out of our interactions is to ask it to draft questions for us. A personal example: towards the end of last year, my wife was studying a specialisation in Healthcare Architecture. Despite her expert knowledge of the subject, she faced the challenge of how to structure her ideas for her final essay. Being a brilliant person, she has always complained about not knowing how to express her ideas. Instead of asking the AI to write the text, we asked it to generate a questionnaire of twelve key questions to develop the topic. My wife then set about answering in simple language and pouring her knowledge into each response; the process flowed naturally. After a technology-assisted style review to polish the writing, the result was top marks. She didn’t need the AI to replace her intellect, but rather to organise her expertise. The art of asking: The ‘Prompt’ The standard format of a ‘prompt’ begins by asking the AI to ‘behave’ in a certain way. It can take on the role of an ‘architect specialising in healthcare’ or a ‘telecommunications expert’. We must then describe
Apr 7, 2026 · via telefonica.com
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AI will redefine how cities operate, says tech chief
At the Smart City Summit and Expo 2026 in Taipei, co-CEO of ASUS Samson Hu discusses how AI will change cities, and Taiwan’s role in smart city innovation.
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Apr 7, 2026 · via cnn.com
Cities are at an inflection point. We are managing 21st-century, digital-first resident expectations with infrastructure that is often struggling to keep pace. For years, “smart city” initiatives focused on isolated projects—sensors here, a traffic app there. But this fragmented approach creates a “digital deficit” that hinders coordination and leaves infrastructure exposed. The cost of maintaining these legacy systems is no longer just a budget line item—it’s a systemic risk to urban resilience. What’s needed is a shift: moving from isolated projects to a Digital Nervous System. At Cisco, we define this as a secure, scalable, and resilient network that connects people, infrastructure, and applications. By unifying these layers, city leaders can finally move from reacting to issues after they occur to becoming proactive and data-driven in how they manage services. Digitizing the Right of Way One area where this approach is gaining momentum is Right-of-Way (RoW) management. Roads, utilities, and public spaces are the city’s most valuable assets, yet they are often overseen through manual, disconnected processes. By digitizing these assets, cities gain the visibility needed for better planning and more efficient maintenance. A prime example is the City of Coral Gables, which is transforming over 270 miles of roadway into a digital asset, allowing leaders to make informed, real-time infrastructure decisions. Continue the Conversation at Tomorrow.City These ideas will be front and center at Tomorrow.City, where leaders will gather to explore the future of urban infrastructure. On April 14 from 10:40-11:10 AM, I’ll be hosting a session on the Digitization of the Right of Way, joined by Raimundo Rodulfo, CIO of the City of Coral Gables, and Herb Sih from Pioneer Partners. We’ll discuss how to modernize infrastructure to support safer roads and future-ready communities. If you’re attending, I invite you to join our session or stop by the
Apr 7, 2026 · via blogs.cisco.com
Every week here at Geo Week News, we have been highlighting some of our favorite stories from around the internet that cover the geospatial, 3D, and AEC industries. Whether it’s a fascinating case study, insights from an industry thought leader, or deep dives into new tools, there is never any shortage of great writing and storytelling in this industry. So, below you can find links to three stories that we loved this week. Kiribati Women Map Stories of Resilience jnally | Spatial Source In Kiribati, one of the world's most geographically dispersed nations and among the most vulnerable to climate change, a group of women is using GIS to preserve their heritage and shape national planning. Through a week-long training program, members of the Kiribati Women in Mapping group transformed hand-drawn community sketches into precise digital records, turning lived experience into spatial data. Europe Moves to Future-Proof its Satellite Navigation Infrastructure Staff Writer | GIM International Europe took a major step toward strengthening its satellite navigation independence last week, launching the first two satellites of its Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission from New Zealand aboard Rocket Lab's Electron rocket. The mission is designed to test how a new constellation in low Earth orbit could make Europe's existing Galileo system more resilient - with potential applications ranging from autonomous vehicles and emergency services to indoor navigation and Internet of Things tracking. How to Defeat Harmful GPS/GNSS Interference: A Roadmap for Action Lisa Dyer | GPS World GPS jamming and spoofing are no longer just battlefield concerns - they're disrupting commercial aviation, maritime shipping, and everyday navigation systems across the globe, prompting major international bodies to sound the alarm. The GPS Innovation Alliance has responded with a whole-of-government roadmap calling for stronger diplomatic pressure, accelerated GPS modernization, and tighter enforcement against the bad
Apr 7, 2026 · via geoweeknews.com
Otis eyes growth expansion driven by lifecycle solutions US elevator major to tap opportunities in nationwide refurbishment uptrend Otis Worldwide Corp is strategically targeting China's "replacement wave" of older elevators, capitalizing on national policies promoting large-scale equipment renewals to expand its local footprint. China remains one of the group's most dynamic and promising markets with expanding opportunities in service and refurbishment, said Judy Marks, chairwoman, CEO and president of Otis Worldwide Corp, a United States-based elevator manufacturer. Otis sees strong alignment between its strategic direction and the country's goals for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which emphasizes high-quality development, smart cities, digitalization and urban renewal, she said. "The emphasis on high-quality development, smart cities, digitalization and urban renewal aligns with Otis' current offerings and strategic direction," Marks said. The government's push for urban renewal and the upgrading of public infrastructure to support an aging population present a significant opportunity. "Government bond subsidies for elevator refurbishment and the recently announced program for adding elevators to existing buildings demonstrate the government's strong efforts in advancing high-quality living through good housing," added Marks. The company secured a contract last year to upgrade 106 elevators in a residential community in Shanghai, while it also won additional bids in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, and Hefei, Anhui province, to renovate elevators in several neighborhoods in the same year. Nearly 200 aging elevators in the two cities are now slated for comprehensive modernization under the new projects, marking another step in expanding its equipment renewal footprint in China. Marks noted that Otis strives to build a safer and more sustainable urban landscape in China by merging technology with customer demands, driving progress in areas like barrier-free transit, city upgrades and artificial intelligence-powered elevator safety. This nationwide effort is particularly relevant given the country's aging infrastructure. "Over 900,000 elevators
Apr 7, 2026 · via chinadaily.com.cn
TROY, Mich., April 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viper Networks (OTCID: VPER) has announced the launch of its mobile services and its first smart city pilot in the United States. The intended launch date is in the late second quarter of 2026. Operating as Four Corners Wireless, 0Wire Communications, will provide mobile services, business communications services and smart city services in Archuleta County, Colorado, commencing with Pagosa Springs. Operating from both existing infrastructure as well as its own physical infrastructure, which includes its state-of-the-art Community line of smart poles and smart lighting systems, services will include full mobility, business services that eliminate the need for Over-the-Top legacy Voice-over-IP services and a full suite of smart city services at one of the county facilities. The smart city pilot will showcase the full breadth of 0Wire’s capabilities, including intelligent lighting, cameras and associated video solutions capable of powerful AI analytics, advertising panels and a public WiFi solution for the county’s most important event center. Archuleta was selected for the pilot because of the support that 0Wire received from the local community. The county is representative of the challenges facing many smaller markets across the United States where remote geography and reduced population density creates a gap in key infrastructure, particularly in mobile service. “The launch of our first mobile and smart city services in the United States is a key milestone in 0Wire’s evolution,” said Erik Levitt, the company’s CEO. “Our management team promised to delivery on all five pillars of our Everything Wireless: Telecom+Energy strategy this year, and this is the first step in delivering on that promise.” The Company’s five pillars include: Over-the-Top (“OTT”) technology, fixed wireless, mobility, smart city and renewable energy generation projects. “As anyone who lives in Western Colorado knows, the entire region is a patchwork of
Apr 6, 2026 · via markets.businessinsider.com
Viper Networks Announces Launches of Mobile Services and US Smart City Pilot in Archuleta County Colorado TROY, Mich., April 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viper Networks (OTCID: VPER) has announced the launch of its mobile services and its first smart city pilot in the United States. The intended launch date is in the late second quarter of 2026. Operating as Four Corners Wireless, 0Wire Communications, will provide mobile services, business communications services and smart city services in Archuleta County, Colorado, commencing with Pagosa Springs. Operating from both existing infrastructure as well as its own physical infrastructure, which includes its state-of-the-art Community line of smart poles and smart lighting systems, services will include full mobility, business services that eliminate the need for Over-the-Top legacy Voice-over-IP services and a full suite of smart city services at one of the county facilities. The smart city pilot will showcase the full breadth of 0Wire’s capabilities, including intelligent lighting, cameras and associated video solutions capable of powerful AI analytics, advertising panels and a public WiFi solution for the county’s most important event center. Archuleta was selected for the pilot because of the support that 0Wire received from the local community. The county is representative of the challenges facing many smaller markets across the United States where remote geography and reduced population density creates a gap in key infrastructure, particularly in mobile service. “The launch of our first mobile and smart city services in the United States is a key milestone in 0Wire’s evolution,” said Erik Levitt, the company’s CEO. “Our management team promised to delivery on all five pillars of our Everything Wireless: Telecom+Energy strategy this year, and this is the first step in delivering on that promise.” The Company’s five pillars include: Over-the-Top (“OTT”) technology, fixed wireless, mobility, smart city and renewable energy generation
Apr 6, 2026 · via theglobeandmail.com
Viper Networks Announces Launches of Mobile Services and US Smart City Pilot in Archuleta County Colorado Rhea-AI Summary Viper Networks (OTCID: VPER) announced the planned launch of mobile services and its first U.S. smart city pilot in Archuleta County, Colorado, targeting late Q2 2026. Operating as Four Corners Wireless, 0Wire will deploy mobility, business communications and smart city solutions including smart poles, intelligent lighting, cameras with AI analytics and public WiFi in Pagosa Springs. The pilot uses existing and new infrastructure and follows 0Wire's MVNE joint venture activity and Caribbean expansion plans. Positive - Planned U.S. launch targeting late Q2 2026 - First U.S. smart city pilot in Archuleta County, Colorado - Services include mobility, business comms, smart poles, AI cameras - Partnerships and JV activity to expand the MVNE platform - Intended regional expansion via Four Corners Wireless Negative - Pilot initially limited to Archuleta County, not countywide scale - No revenue, timetable of commercial rollouts, or financial guidance provided TROY, Mich., April 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viper Networks (OTCID: VPER) has announced the launch of its mobile services and its first smart city pilot in the United States. The intended launch date is in the late second quarter of 2026. Operating as Four Corners Wireless, 0Wire Communications, will provide mobile services, business communications services and smart city services in Archuleta County, Colorado, commencing with Pagosa Springs. Operating from both existing infrastructure as well as its own physical infrastructure, which includes its state-of-the-art Community line of smart poles and smart lighting systems, services will include full mobility, business services that eliminate the need for Over-the-Top legacy Voice-over-IP services and a full suite of smart city services at one of the county facilities. The smart city pilot will showcase the full breadth of 0Wire’s capabilities, including intelligent lighting, cameras
Apr 6, 2026 · via stocktitan.net
The Trump administration last week suffered setbacks in two lawsuits concerning its efforts to rewrite federal housing and homelessness grant criteria. A Rhode Island judge on March 31 found the administration acted illegally last September when it imposed new requirements for receiving Continuum of Care grants roughly a week before grant applications were due. The administration’s new criteria for the $75 million grant program — which goes toward building or refurbishing permanent supportive housing — required recipients to certify that they do not offer safe injection sites or hold views affirming people who are transgender. U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy called the administration’s actions a “slapdash imposition of political whims on CoC Builds grants” in her conclusion that the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act. “Once again, this Court is faced with a case in which an executive agency has made a last-minute decision to make major, disruptive changes to grants within its purview, all for the express purpose of accomplishing the current administration’s policy objectives,” McElroy wrote. McElroy denied the plaintiffs’ request for a permanent injunction against future CoC criteria changes from the administration, however, calling such a measure “overly speculative.” And, on April 1, a First Circuit Court of Appeals in Rhode Island denied the Trump administration’s request to overturn a court order blocking it from rescinding a two-year notice of funding opportunity for CoC grants and issuing a new one that shifted funds away from permanent supportive housing — a move housing advocacy groups said could leave as many as 200,000 people homeless. “In sum, the record paints a disturbing picture of the harms that would flow to the plaintiffs, their constituents, and the public from issuing a stay,” the U.S. Circuit Court ruling states. Housing and homeless advocacy groups that filed the lawsuits celebrated the rulings.
Apr 6, 2026 · via multifamilydive.com
A Holistic Approach Benefits Citizens and Employees Meanwhile, application processing timelines are tight. Counties are expected to process benefits applications within 30 days, but much of that time isn’t spent making eligibility decisions. Instead, staff spend weeks assembling incomplete applications submitted through online portals or paper forms. “If we received a fully complete application, we could process it in an hour,” Laluces says. “But we spend most of the 30 days building the application.” Rather than simply hiring more staff — an increasingly unrealistic option given budget constraints — Union County took a step back to rethink its approach. The goal: Shift from a transactional model of service delivery to a more holistic, resident-centered experience. “Accessing benefits is just the first step,” Laluces says. “The real goal is helping someone get to a place where they no longer need services.” That shift is driving both process changes and technology adoption. At the center of the effort is a customer relationship management (CRM)-based platform designed to unify how residents interact with the county and how agencies manage cases behind the scenes. READ MORE: Here are 7 best practices for public sector call centers. Department Seeks a Common Application for One-Stop Service One of the most significant changes is the development of a single, dynamic application for multiple services. Instead of applying separately for programs such as SNAP and Medicaid — often repeating the same information and submitting duplicate documents — residents will enter their information once. From there, the system determines eligibility across programs and dynamically generates a tailored application experience. “We qualify you for everything you’re eligible for in one place,” Laluces says. The platform uses a prescreening process to identify relevant services and adjust application questions accordingly. That reduces redundancy and simplifies the experience for residents, many of whom
Apr 6, 2026 · via statetechmagazine.com
Dennis Schuetzle is chief technology officer of Infinium. Views are the author’s own. As rack densities rise, facilities teams are under pressure to manage heat while maintaining uptime and keeping operating costs down. Traditional air cooling is reaching practical limits in high-density environments, and immersion cooling is one approach to address these challenges. As these systems move into production environments, operators are learning that fluid selection plays a large role in long-term performance. Immersion cooling is a liquid-based thermal management approach in which IT hardware is submerged in a dielectric fluid to enable high-efficiency heat removal, higher rack densities and reduced energy consumption compared to traditional air-cooled systems and direct-to-chip cooling. While immersion cooling has been deployed in Bitcoin operations and applications such as cryptocurrency mining, its adoption in AI and high-performance computing introduces operational complexity. In these environments, IT hardware represents a significant capital investment, and systems are expected to operate reliably over long lifecycles. As a result, operators must understand how immersion fluids behave over time and how differences between fluid types can affect system performance, maintenance requirements and long-term costs. Once deployed, immersion cooling systems place IT equipment in continuous contact with dielectric fluid, making the fluid part of the operating environment that must be managed. Fluid chemistry as operational consideration Immersion cooling is often described as a heat-transfer solution. In practice, the fluid serves as the environment in which critical components operate. CPUs, GPUs, connectors, seals and printed circuit boards are exposed to the fluid for extended periods, and if that environment changes over time, it can affect both thermal performance and hardware reliability. Those environmental changes are driven by chemistry. How immersion fluids are produced, including the choice of starting materials and refining processes, influences fluid quality, molecular consistency and long-term stability. These starting materials
Apr 6, 2026 · via facilitiesdive.com
President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget, released Friday, proposes a 10% — $73 billion — reduction in non-defense spending “by reducing or eliminating woke, weaponized, and wasteful programs, and by returning State and local responsibilities to their respective governments.” This includes deep cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as climate research and clean energy investments. Below is a categorized breakdown of the impacts. FEMA emergency management - Cuts non-disaster grant programs by $1.3 billion, reducing state and local preparedness and funding. EPA environmental programs - Eliminates environmental justice grants. - Cuts over $1 billion from EPA categorical grants, shifting compliance and program costs to state and local governments - Eliminates water infrastructure grant programs, making states responsible for funding them. - Provides $122 million to EPA for drinking water disaster response. - Provides $14 million for web-based permitting tools such as NEPAssist. Other federal agencies - Eliminates Department of Interior renewable energy programs.· Eliminates Department of Interior WaterSmart grants for local ecosystem restoration projects, climate studies and water recycling plants. - Cuts the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration budget by $1.6 billion, eliminating climate adaptation partnerships and resilience grants. - Cuts $993 million from the National Institute for Science and Technology, including climate-adaption assistance. - Cuts $449 million in Economic Development Administration climate resilience grants. - Eliminates the Atmospheric Protection Program. - Cuts $510 million from U.S. Department of Agriculture projects tied to green infrastructure and climate change. Stakeholders in emergency management and environmental protection voiced strong concerns. The International Association of Emergency Managers said in a statement it was “deeply alarmed” by the proposed reduction to FEMA preparedness grants. IAEM-USA President Josh Morton said in an emailed statement that the cuts would “effectively dismantle core programs,” including the Emergency Management
Apr 6, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
As Congress works on priorities for the next multiyear legislation to fund highways, bridges and mass transit, it will need to find a mechanism to cover the costs of these programs. Funding for previous surface transportation bills relied in part on fuel taxes from the Highway Trust Fund, but the fund repeatedly outspent its revenues. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the current HTF will run out of money in 2028, largely because the federal gas tax hasn’t increased since 1993. “We're not really seeing a whole lot of deep thought into how to actually develop good policy in this space and almost no consideration of impact on consumers,” said Chris Harto, manager of sustainability advocacy for Consumer Reports. Harto co-authored a CR report outlining five principles for policymakers to consider when evaluating the equity and viability of potential road funding. These include the proportionality of user fees; easy collection of user fees; fair contributions among commercial and consumer road users; protecting consumer privacy; and a solution that maintains revenue stability as future vehicles and fuel types change. The report says the trust fund’s inability to cover transportation infrastructure projects stems from three factors: rising costs of building and maintaining highways, more fuel-efficient vehicles and electric vehicles. EVs accounted for a 2% reduction in the purchasing power of the federal gas tax, while inflation was responsible for 77%. U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, proposed a $250 annual registration fee for EVs – but that would leave the average EV driver paying more than three times as much in annual federal vehicle taxes as the average owner of a new gasoline-powered vehicle, according to a CR analysis. The CR report also found that fees paid by heavy-duty trucks do not contribute equitably, which
Apr 6, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Toward a Cleaner Sky: The Technology That Can Improve Air Quality STORY INLINE POST The problem of air pollution is increasingly worrying in Mexico, mainly in Mexico City and its metropolitan area, as well as in other large cities in the country, such as Monterrey and Guadalajara, and even in Puebla, Leon, and the Bajío area in general, where the combination of industry, traffic, fires and grassland fires (during certain periods) complicates the situation each year. This leads to an increase in environmental contingencies, both in number and duration. In Mexico City, from having a single contingency during all of 2020 (thanks, in large part, to the confinement caused by COVID), we went on to add six contingencies in 2021; three each year between 2022 and 2023, and 12 in 2024, which meant an increase of 500% year-on-year. How is 2026 going? In the first 77 days of the year, according to data from the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CAMe),[1] Mexico City and the State of Mexico have accumulated five environmental contingencies, which added up to 10 days under restriction measures ,such as the well-known Double Hoy No Circula (doubling what was recorded in the same period of 2025, according to press [2]reports). In a simple random exercise, on the day I wrote the introduction for this article (March 17), the Directorate of Atmospheric Monitoring[3] reported that the air quality in Mexico City due to ozone was bad, and the level of risk, high. As we already know, air pollution wreaks havoc on people's health, both in the short and long term, including the likelihood of developing chronic respiratory diseases, among many others, but it can also have a negative impact on the health of businesses and the country's economy, as restrictions on mobility generate interruptions in supply chains,
Apr 6, 2026 · via mexicobusiness.news
Gujarat Completes 357 Smart City Projects Worth Rs 112.77 bn CFI Appoints New National Council for FY27 and FY28 The Construction Federation of India (CFI) has announced its newly elected National Council and office bearers for a two-year term covering FY27 and FY28. M. V. Satish, Advisor to CMD and Lead Ambassador for Middle East, L&T, has been elected President; Priti Patel, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, Tata Projects, has been appointed Vice President; and Ajit Bhate, Managing Director, Precast India Infrastructures, has taken charge as Treasurer.The newly formed National Council brings together senior leaders from major EPC and infrastructure companies, reflecting CFI’s continued focus o.. India REIT Market Gains Momentum with Strong Returns India’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market is witnessing strong growth, emerging as a competitive investment avenue both domestically and across Asia. According to a recent ANAROCK report released at EXCELERATE 2026 by NAREDCO Maharashtra NextGen, the sector is evolving into a mature asset class driven by solid fundamentals, regulatory backing and rising investor confidence.The introduction of Small and Medium REITs (SM REITs) in 2025 has further widened access through fractional ownership, unlocking a potential monetisation opportunity of Rs 670–710 billion. Indian REITs have deli.. G R Infraprojects Secures Rs 4,130 Million BESS Contract From NTPC G R Infraprojects said it has secured a contract from NTPC to supply and implement a battery energy storage system (BESS) valued at Rs 4,130 million (mn). The company reported the order was awarded as part of NTPC's ongoing efforts to enhance grid flexibility and energy storage capacity. The contract represents a notable addition to the firm's project pipeline and underscores demand for utility scale storage solutions. The award is expected to strengthen G R Infraprojects' presence in the energy infrastructure sector and to contribute to the firm's order book
Apr 6, 2026 · via constructionworld.in
Twenty-Eight innovative startups selected to participate in a 6-month incubation program with a chance to win $255,000 in cash prizes HANOI, VIETNAM, April 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, announced the shortlisted companies for the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2026 (QVIC) program on March 30, 2026. Twenty-Eight hi-tech teams specializing in industry sectors such as Smart cities, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics/ Drones, Healthcare, AgriTech, and more, have been selected into the program. They will receive a program grant, technical support (especially in AI and data analytics), business coaching, intellectual property training and patent incentives to further develop their proposals during an initial 3-month incubation period. Fifteen of the twenty-eight startups will advance to a three‑month acceleration phase with additional technical support and patent‑filing incentives, culminating in a chance to win prizes totaling USD 255,000 at a finale event to be held in August 2026. The selection of shortlisted companies was based on various criteria, including their technical capabilities, innovative products, patentable technologies, and relevance to Vietnam’s digital transformation and Industry 4.0. “The Department of Startup and Technology Enterprises (NATEC) highly appreciates the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge (QVIC) initiative by Qualcomm in supporting Vietnam’s innovation and startup ecosystem. The expansion of QVIC 2026 from 10 to 28 supported startups and research projects demonstrates Qualcomm’s strong commitment to accompanying Vietnamese startups and researchers in developing pioneering technological solutions. DSTE believes that the program will continue to create opportunities for startups and research teams in Vietnam to develop valuable technology solutions, contributing positively to the national goal of fostering economic development based on science, technology, and innovation.” “Vietnam continues to be a strategic hub for cultivating breakthrough innovation, and its startups, SMEs, and research teams are central to driving the country’s digital transformation and economic momentum,”
Apr 6, 2026 · via freep.com
PHOTO
RIYADH — Eight Saudi cities recorded strong performance in the 2026 IMD Smart City Index.
Riyadh advanced to 24th globally, up from 27th, while Makkah ranked 50th, Jeddah 55th, Madinah 67th, and Alkhobar 64th.
AlUla recorded a notable jump, rising from 112th to 85th, highlighting rapid progress in its development and tourism projects.
Hail and Hafr Al-Batin were included in the index for the first time, ranking 33rd and 100th respectively, among 148 cities worldwide.
The global index measures how cities adopt modern technologies based on residents’ perceptions of services, digital infrastructure, and their impact on daily life.
The results underscore Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to enhance urban services and build smart, sustainable cities that improve quality of life and strengthen global competitiveness, as the Kingdom marks the Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026.
© Copyright 2026 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Apr 6, 2026 · via zawya.com
Kanpur: Power supply was disrupted in several areas due to strong winds on Sunday.
Areas including Pandu Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Double Puliya, Faithfulganj and Rail Bazar remained in dark for several hours exposing the Smart City claims made by the authorities.
"Rain and storms cause the entire civic infrastructure to collapse, leaving residents without power and water," said Prem Chauhan, a resident of Shivaji Nagar.
"After Lucknow, Kanpur has been showcased as one of the best cities in the terms of infrastructure and amenities, but the rain and storm on Sunday exposed the reality of these claims," said Sudhir Singh of Pandu Nagar.
Senior vice president of the Provincial Industries Association, Atul Seth, said, "There are two incoming sources of powerâone overhead and one undergroundâat most substations so that if one fails, the other can immediately serve as a backup. However, the unfortunate aspect of our working style is that when one source suffices, the malfunction of the other is ignored. Today's situation seems to be a glaring example of that negligence." tnn
Apr 6, 2026 · via timesofindia.indiatimes.com
| Artists take part in the National Day (September 2) anniversary celebration last year. — Photo cafef.vn | HÀ NỘI — November 24 is set to be officially recognised as Việt Nam Culture Day and designated a fully paid public holiday under a draft resolution aimed at boosting the country’s cultural development and widening public access to arts and heritage. The proposal appears in appraisal documents for a draft National Assembly resolution on breakthrough mechanisms and policies for cultural development, published by the Ministry of Justice. The draft, prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is expected to be submitted to lawmakers for consideration. Under the proposal, workers would be entitled to a paid day off on November 24 each year. On that day, public cultural and sports institutions nationwide would waive entrance fees, allowing broader access to museums, theatres, libraries, stadiums and other facilities. The draft resolution comprises 10 articles covering its scope, principles for special mechanisms, mobilisation of investment resources, financial incentives, the operation of cultural and sports institutions, funding guarantees and policies to nurture cultural and sporting talent. To accelerate key projects, the draft allows urgent cultural and sports investments directed by central authorities to proceed even if not yet included in existing master plans. Such projects would later be incorporated into provincial and sectoral plans during revisions. Local people’s councils would also be permitted to add medium-term public investment projects in the cultural and sports sectors without waiting for the next planning cycle. Provincial authorities would be required to allocate sufficient land for cultural and sports infrastructure, as well as for the development of creative industry clusters. A range of tax and financial incentives is proposed to encourage private sector participation. Cultural exhibitions, artistic performances, film production, distribution and screening activities would be subject
Apr 6, 2026 · via vietnamnews.vn