Global Scans · Cities · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Smart cities are the talk of the town right now and so they should be to cope when over 60% of us will live in cities by 2030. E-bikes, Driverless- connected vehicles, buildings that talk to each other will help but many cities are susceptible to climate change and pandemics. Explore the issues faced by cities and the new ideas that will change the way urban dwellers live in the 21st century.

• [New] A team of scientists led by Rutgers researchers has uncovered evidence that modern sea level rise is happening faster than at any time in the past 4,000 years, with China's coastal cities especially at risk. EurekAlert!
• [New] By 2030-2035, for urban journeys including airport to city and city-to-city short hops, fully autonomous air taxis or with minimal human pilot intervention will be an accepted option in several parts of the world. OnlySky
• [New] By 2028-2030, several cities in Asia, China, parts of Africa, and the Middle East will have regular air taxi/eVTOL service offerings. OnlySky
• [New] The EHang air taxis were going to use 5G networks to transform cities into smart cities. OnlySky
• [New] Oslo has committed to becoming a zero-emissions city by 2030. SCITM
• [New] At least 53 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since dawn across Gaza as Israel threatened tens of thousands remaining in Gaza City with a forced order to leave, saying it was their last opportunity to flee or face the full force of Israel's assault. Al Jazeera
• [New] Operating in over 12 cities - including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen-Apollo Go runs a fleet of over 1,000 vehicles and plans to expand to Europe by 2026, targeting the UK and Germany. 2Ner
• [New] Apart from accelerating GMSL, anthropogenic-induced subsidence in coastal cities has emerged as a key feature of the sea-level budget over the past century, posing a substantial threat to coastal cities across the world. Nature
• [New] TrusTerra will expand its web and mobile marketplace across India's top EV adoption cities and into Tier-II markets, strengthen partnerships with OEMs, NBFCs, banks, and dealers, and invest in senior technology, operations, and business development hires. Yourstory
• [New] Cities that continue to evolve and invest in their tourism infrastructure will likely see continued success in the coming years. Travel And Tour World
• [New] In October 2025, major US cities such as New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and many more are facing significant disruption as the American travel industry struggles amid the ongoing government shutdown. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The Israeli military is warning that it will attack Gaza's Old City - home to Palestinian heritage sites - with overwhelming force. Havana Times
• [New] Townsville is set to become the hub of army aviation and the Darwin-based 1st Aviation Regiment is to relocate to the Queensland city by 2028, when the 22 ARH Tiger attack helicopters will be mothballed. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Nearly 43% of people in fragile contexts are living in cities, expected to rise to 48% by 2030 and 59% by 2050. SparkBlue
• [New] By the end of 2026, all City of Holland residents are anticipated to have access to fiber broadband for $45 per month-accomplished without any federal funding. The Utility Expo
• [New] Urbanization in Nairobi is a threat, and urban sprawl is especially impactful on biodiversity. A-Z Animals
• [New] NMIA will make Mumbai one of the few global cities with more than one international airport, alongside New York, London, and Tokyo. Guidely
• [New] The experience of making Dubai a fully smart city proves that AI will transform city life. IT BUTLER
• AI driven smart communities: Upcoming developments like Dubai South or Expo City will incorporate shared AI infrastructure: community climate control, closing census charging, synchronized drones and more to a connected smart home hub. Top Luxury Property
• Flying taxis could happen in big cities as soon as 2026, pending approval by the FAA, and one operator of airplane and helicopter landing sites is on the hunt for spots to launch and land air taxis. Govtech
• The lasting impact could be a fundamental reimagining of urban transportation, offering a faster, quieter, and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional ground-based travel, thereby reducing congestion and carbon footprints in cities worldwide. The Chronicle-Journal
• Musk said its Robotaxis, currently being piloted in San Francisco, California and Austin, Texas, will be available across many cities across the United States by the end of the year and to half of all Americans. Al Jazeera

Last updated: 18 October 2025