India's Smart Cities Mission, launched in 2015, has upgraded 100 cities with technology-driven development, focusing on infrastructure, governance, and citizen services. Over 7,500 projects are complete, representing significant investment and enhanced urban living.
Hong Kong lawmakers are urging authorities to provide more timely and flexible urgent accommodation for residents displaced by new regulations targeting subdivided flats. While the Housing Bureau plans to reserve 180 transitional flats, concerns exist about the week-long review process for applicants.
The upcoming Lucknow–Kanpur Expressway is projected to stimulate real estate growth and industrial activity by enhancing connectivity between Lucknow and Kanpur, according to Knight Frank India. The 63-km corridor will also connect Jhansi, Aligarh, Agra, and Chitrakoot.
Researchers have developed "EcoDecibel," a low-cost, portable noise sensor that can be widely deployed to monitor urban noise pollution. AI analyzes the data to create real-time noise maps, similar to air quality monitoring, helping to quantify and manage environmental sound.
Analysis by the National Housing Federation reveals that 839,000 homes in urban areas of England are now at high risk of surface water flooding – a threefold increase since 2018. Social housing tenants are disproportionately affected, with one in four households in the worst-hit constituencies living in social housing. The Environment Agency defines high-risk areas as having at least a 1 in 30 chance of flooding annually, and forecasts the number of properties at risk could treble over the next 50 years.
More than 5,000 Guangdong motorists have been approved to drive into Hong Kong’s urban areas under a southbound travel scheme as of March, while 90 per cent of the 3,500 travellers who booked to visit have stayed for one or two days. The Transport Department said on Sunday that the urban access portion of the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles arrangement was operating smoothly and had become increasingly popular since its launch near the end of 2025. The scheme currently grants access to...
Hong Kong authorities conducted 18 joint operations against illicit refuelling stations this year as the practice grows in urban areas. Customs chief Commissioner Chan Tsz-tat said while the trend is upward, illegal refuelling is not widespread due to high vehicle ownership costs and already expensive petrol prices in Hong Kong. The operations come amid global energy price surges following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz after conflicts broke out in late February, with Brent crude rising from around US$70 to US$105 per barrel.
This opinion piece argues that female city leaders are driving unprecedented urban transformation toward more inclusive, sustainable cities. Drawing on examples from Barcelona's Ada Colau, Montréal's Valérie Plante and Paris's Anne Hidalgo, the authors contend that women leaders' lived experiences result in policies benefiting vulnerable groups. The article cites statistics showing only 25 of the world's 300 largest cities have female mayors, and calls for more gender balance in municipal leadership to create public spaces that work for everyone.
Young Chinese graduates are facing severe challenges in the job market amid deflationary pressures and economic uncertainty. Bai Xi, a finance and management graduate from Hebei province, is among many who failed local-level civil service exams after months of preparation and part-time work. She has given up on retaking the exams, citing exhaustion and the belief that further attempts would be a waste of time.
The Tibetan Bathing Festival, or Bathing Week, is an annual tradition held from the 6th to 12th day of the seventh month in the Tibetan calendar (early July). The 700-800-year-old festival takes place across Tibet, particularly along the banks of the Lhasa River, where people of all ages bathe together in natural waters. The first day involves thorough bathing, while subsequent days allow for simple rinsing of hair and feet before a final full bath on the seventh day. The tradition serves as a social occasion where young people can meet potential romantic partners.
