Digital transformation and technology initiatives in APAC government sectors
Former ECB president Mario Draghi says the EU must federalise to counter deindustrialisation driven by high energy costs and US-China competition. EU industrial output fell 7% in 2025, with 700,000 manufacturing jobs lost since 2018. Industry groups want market reforms, not constitutional change.
The US government's $42.5 billion rural broadband rollout faces a 58,000-worker shortage, pushing wages up across fiber installation roles. The crunch affects overlapping pools for data center construction—relevant for APAC enterprises eyeing US edge infrastructure or hiring from shared talent markets.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are in Italy for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, officially to protect American officials. Italian public outcry follows recent ICE-related deaths in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Qatar deployed over 100 security personnel and military vehicles.
Italy's third Winter Olympics deploys dual Olympic flames, accessible podiums, and distributed venues across Milan, Valtellina, Cortina, and Val di Fiemme. The Feb 6-22 event introduces ski mountaineering and tests Italy's digital infrastructure with simultaneous ceremonies across 116 medal events. New builds like Cortina Sliding Centre still completing.
Former ECB president Mario Draghi says the EU must federalise to counter deindustrialisation driven by high energy costs and US-China competition. EU industrial output fell 7% in 2025, with 700,000 manufacturing jobs lost since 2018. Industry groups want market reforms, not constitutional change.
The US government's $42.5 billion rural broadband rollout faces a 58,000-worker shortage, pushing wages up across fiber installation roles. The crunch affects overlapping pools for data center construction—relevant for APAC enterprises eyeing US edge infrastructure or hiring from shared talent markets.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are in Italy for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, officially to protect American officials. Italian public outcry follows recent ICE-related deaths in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Qatar deployed over 100 security personnel and military vehicles.
Italy's third Winter Olympics deploys dual Olympic flames, accessible podiums, and distributed venues across Milan, Valtellina, Cortina, and Val di Fiemme. The Feb 6-22 event introduces ski mountaineering and tests Italy's digital infrastructure with simultaneous ceremonies across 116 medal events. New builds like Cortina Sliding Centre still completing.
French IT giant Capgemini will sell off its US government arm following revelations it held a contract to provide skip-tracing services for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The subsidiary represents 0.4% of group revenue but triggered pressure from French officials and unions after fatal ICE shootings in Minneapolis.
The EU's Destination Earth initiative has quietly operationalized its climate digital twin, reaching 5,000+ users and 30+ services by 2024. Phase 3 expansion begins July 2026, targeting a full Earth twin by 2030. The real question: can 5-10km resolution projections translate to actual policy changes?
The EU's government satcom program went operational January 14, pooling capacity from existing national GEO satellites across five member states. It's a bridge to IRIS², the 290-satellite constellation now targeting 2029 instead of 2030. The real test: whether shared capacity holds up during actual crises.
A decade of HS2 railway excavations has produced 450,000 archaeological objects now stored in a Yorkshire warehouse. The finds span 10,000+ years of British history, but their future ownership and display plans remain undecided as the delayed rail project approaches 2033 completion.
The French consultancy will divest Capgemini Government Solutions following political pressure over a contract helping ICE locate and deport migrants. CEO claimed legal structures prevented oversight. The unit represents 0.4% of revenue - this is reputation management, not financial necessity.
iTnews announced finalists for its 2026 Benchmark Awards, recognizing Australia's top enterprise and government IT projects from 2025. Winners will be revealed March 26 at a Sydney gala, with expanded categories now including 11 people-focused awards alongside traditional project categories spanning federal and state government, finance, and emerging sectors like sustainability.