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Bac Ninh's inclusive approach to religious policy helps accelerate key infrastructure projects

Bac Ninh (VNA) – As part of site clearance efforts for the Gia Binh International Airport project, authorities in the northern province of Bac Ninh have prioritised land allocation and developed plans to relocate and rebuild religious and spiritual facilities in a way intended to respect community needs and secure broad public support, helping to accelerate progress on the strategic infrastructure project. Ngo Thon Church in Gia Binh commune is among the religious sites affected by land acquisition for the project. Notably, the replacement site allocated by the province is larger than the original plot and has completed all legal procedures relating to land-use rights. The arrangement is regarded as an important step in ensuring the land-use right of religious organisations when land is reclaimed by the State for socio-economic development projects. Presenting the land-use right certificate for the replacement site to the Ngo Thon parish and formally handing over the land to representatives of the Bac Ninh Bishop’s Residence, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Van Thinh said the local administration remains committed to fully implementing the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws on belief and religion while safeguarding lawful religious activities. Representing the Bac Ninh Bishop’s Residence, priest Nguyen Van Khiem appreciated the support provided by provincial authorities, which enabled residents of Ngo Thon to receive a larger and more favourable site for rebuilding the church. He also expressed his hope that authorities will continue assisting with subsequent procedures so that land arrangements could be stabilised promptly and preparations could begin for the reconstruction of Ngo Thon Church and other affected places of worship. Prior to this, local authorities had held multiple meetings and consultations with the Bac Ninh Bishop’s Residence and affected parishes to better understand their concerns and aspirations while supporting timely

IKN phase II expected to drive stronger growth across East Kalimantan

Deputy for Planning and Agrarian Affairs at the IKN Authority (OIKN) Mia Amalia said in North Penajam Paser on Saturday that the 2025-2029 development phase is expected to generate greater economic benefits not only for Nusantara but also for surrounding regions. Citing an OIKN study, she pointed out that North Penajam Paser’s economy expanded by nearly 20 percent during the first development phase from 2022 to 2024, outperforming other districts and cities in East Kalimantan Province. Amalia added that the provincial economy grew by around 3.7 percent during the period, supported by increased government spending and a surge of investments in the construction sector. She voiced optimism that Nusantara’s development would further boost the regional gross domestic product, leading to sustainable growth for the city and neighboring regions. Amalia said the positive trend has been driven by stronger local supply chains through construction activities, greater involvement of local businesses, and increased activity in supporting sectors. According to her, the government is working under the Nusantara Economic Superhub framework to designate the future capital as a new epicenter of growth connected to surrounding regions, including the major cities of Balikpapan and Samarinda. Amalia further noted that the approach forms part of a broader strategy to boost East Kalimantan’s economy as a whole through more productive sectors capable of generating sustainable economic growth. The OIKN official went on to emphasize that the Nusantara project had evidently stimulated regional growth through intensified trade and increased demand for goods and services, logistics, accommodation, and transportation. “IKN’s success is not just measured by the number of buildings but also by economic growth and benefits for local communities,” she concluded. Related news: Indonesia, South Korea build smart city center in Nusantara Related news: IKN Authority strengthens local MSME's competitiveness Translator: Nyaman Bagus, Tegar Nurfitra Editor: M

DEWA installs 46 EV charging points at Al Shera'a to advance <b>sustainable</b> mobility

DEWA installs 46 EV charging points at Al Shera'a to advance sustainable mobility DUBAI, 4th July, 2026 (WAM) -- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) provides 46 electric vehicle (EV) charging points at the car park of Al Shera'a, its new headquarters, supporting its commitment to sustainability and green mobility. Installed under DEWA's EV Green Charger initiative, the infrastructure comprises 40 alternating current charging points dedicated to DEWA employees, alongside six direct current charging points designated for visitors. Al Shera'a is the tallest, largest and smartest net-positive government building in the world, reflecting DEWA's commitment to consolidating its position as a global model for innovation, sustainability and energy efficiency. "During the inauguration of Al Shera'a, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, affirmed that 'Dubai represents a unique model where sustainability has been transformed from a strategic goal into a way of life and an everyday theme touching all aspects of society'. Guided by this vision, we have ensured that Al Shera'a embodies the highest global sustainability standards, not only as a net-positive energy building that generates more clean energy than it consumes, but also as a smart, sustainable and human-centric workplace with integrated infrastructure that supports green mobility. This includes comprehensive EV charging facilities that encourage employees and visitors to adopt environmentally friendly transport options," said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. "In line with the vision of our wise leadership and the objectives of the UAE Net Zero Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Green Mobility Strategy 2030, we continue to strengthen Dubai's leadership in sustainable mobility by encouraging greater adoption of EVs. We also support the emirate's efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector, improve air quality and enhance quality of life, further consolidating

Chaouen Returns to Environmental Cinema: Four Days of Dialogue Between Images and Nature

Chaouen Returns to Environmental Cinema: Four Days of Dialogue Between Images and Nature This edition confirmed, once again, that environmental cinema has become a tool for collective reflection, anticipating the future, and raising new questions about the relationship between humans and their natural environment. From Chaouen to the World: The Environment Through the Language of Images The fifteenth edition stood out for its broad openness to international cinematic experiences from France, Spain, Germany, Tunisia, the Sultanate of Oman, and other countries across different continents, offering the public the opportunity to discover diverse perspectives on contemporary environmental challenges, ranging from climate change and biodiversity loss to the sustainable management of natural resources and the protection of ecosystems. In his opening remarks, Abdelilah Tazi, president of the Talassemtane Association for the Environment and Development, emphasized that the festival is grounded in the conviction that natural, cultural, and artistic resources can serve as a true catalyst for sustainable development, and that investing in film and visual media is an investment in raising awareness and driving change. For his part, the festival director, Mohamed Sattar, noted that this cultural and environmental gathering has evolved from a simple film event to become, over the course of its successive editions, an international platform for reflection on the major environmental challenges facing the world today. He noted that the discussions hosted by the festival addressed urgent issues such as the decline in forest cover, growing pressure on water resources, the degradation of biodiversity, and the plastic waste crisis—one of the most pressing environmental problems of our time. Sattar added that the Talassemtane Association believes in the power of images and sound as effective tools for raising awareness and transforming behavior, reaffirming its ambition to establish Chaouen as the capital of green cinema and as an international hub

Why India is planning Namo <b>Cities</b>—and what they could mean for Delhi-NCR

India is preparing for one of the biggest urban transformations in its history. Over the next 15 years, the population of the National Capital Region (NCR) is projected to almost double, from about 7.86 crore today to 14.73 crore by 2041. That means nearly seven crore additional people will need homes, jobs, transport and public services in and around Delhi. The question confronting planners is straightforward: where will all these people live? Instead of allowing Delhi and its existing satellite cities to keep expanding outward, the government now wants to create entirely new urban growth centres connected by high-speed public transport. These proposed urban centres, officially described as "Namo Cities" under the Regional Plan-2041 (RP-2041), represent one of the most ambitious planning ideas introduced for the NCR in years. Announced after the 42nd meeting of the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) in June 2026, the proposal aims to develop four semi-greenfield, mixed-use cities around existing and upcoming stations on the Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). The idea is simple in theory but ambitious in practice: instead of building transport after cities expand, build cities around transport from the very beginning. Whether that vision succeeds, however, will depend on far more than railway stations and real estate. Why does NCR need new cities? The NCR is already India's largest urban agglomeration. According to the housing and urban affairs ministry, it covers 55,083 square kilometres across Delhi and 27 districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The region contains 230 urban settlements and nearly 11,800 villages, while contributing roughly 8% of India's GDP. Its economic importance has continued to grow for decades, attracting migrants from across the country seeking employment, education and better opportunities. But success has created its own challenges. Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad have experienced

Trump, Duke, Spain &amp; SF₆: This Week's Top Energy Stories

Trump, Duke, Spain & SF₆: This Week's Top Energy Stories 1. Trump Pays Duke Energy US$129m to Scrap its US Wind Projects Duke Energy has accepted a multi-million-dollar settlement from the US Government, agreeing to relinquish its offshore wind leases in North Carolina Duke Energy, one of the US’s premier energy providers, has agreed to scrap its plans to build a wind farm off the coast of North Carolina following discussions with the Trump administration. Duke has accepted a settlement of US$129m from the White House with the proceeds expected to go instead towards investments in nuclear power and natural gas, as well as upgrades to the grid. The termination of the company’s offshore wind lease is just the latest scalp of US President Donald Trump’s campaign against wind energy, which has already seen TotalEnergies axe its plans for two arrays on the Eastern Seaboard. The agreement, announced by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on 29 June, covers Duke's Carolina Long Bay lease, a site located around 22 miles south of Bald Head Island in Brunswick County. The site had been earmarked to generate enough electricity to power more than 300,000 homes. Under the terms of the settlement, Duke has agreed to relinquish the lease and reinvest an equivalent sum into other projects in the Carolinas. The deal is the fourth of its kind struck by the Trump administration since taking office. As well as the deal with TotalEnergies in March (which saw the White House pay compensation of around US$1bn), Trump has paid settlements to Ocean Winds and Invenergy, to the tune of US$885m and US$765m respectively. 2. Spain's Decree to Keep Telco Networks Live During Blackouts A new decree from the Spanish Government forces mobile network providers to guarantee at least four hours of mobile coverage during blackouts and

LEAP East 2026, HK book fair, Foshan cultural and creative week

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center will host LEAP East 2026 from July 8 to 10 to connect global tech solution providers, investors, industry leaders and high-growth startups from across key future-driven sectors, including artificial intelligence, deep tech, fintech and smart cities. The technology event will feature over 250 expert speakers and more than 300 exhibitors covering core themes such as fintech, biotech and blockchain. The event will host an iconic main stage and a dedicated Ecosystem Xchange platform, alongside an integrated network for investors and startups, which will streamline deal negotiations, strategic business matchmaking and cross-border industry collaboration. Where pages come alive The 36th Hong Kong Book Fair, one of the city’s most anticipated literary events, will kick off on July 15 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the theme “Cultural Legacy, Joyful Journeys,” this year’s fair features a rich lineup of author seminars, interactive cultural activities and a dedicated “World of Art and Culture” zone — all designed to spark public curiosity and encourage discovery through reading. The fair and the concurrent Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and the World of Snacks are expected to bring together more than 770 exhibitors from nearly 30 countries and regions, creating a vibrant one-stop hub for culture, sports, and gourmet experiences. Beyond the exhibition halls, over 600 cultural events will unfold both at the venue and across various locations throughout the city. Lingnan culture shines further The FOCUS Foshan International Cultural and Creative Week, which kicked off on Friday, is being held across the city. Marking its debut in Foshan, the four-day event is expected to draw over 200 leading cultural and tourism figures from across the country, along with more than 90 government delegations representing 23 provinces. The events will feature 15

Astana is a metropolis with its own identity and ambitions, says Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike

Astana is a metropolis with its own identity and ambitions, says Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike On the eve of Capital City Day, Qazinform News Agency publishes an exclusive interview with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who praised Astana's rapid pace of development. Earlier this May, Yuriko Koike paid an official visit to Kazakhstan. In recognition of her significant contribution to strengthening friendly ties between Kazakhstan and Japan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev awarded the Tokyo Governor the Order of Dostyq, I Degree. Despite her busy schedule, Koike found time to give an exclusive interview to Qazinform. She describes Astana as a modern megacity and highlights its growing role as a Eurasian hub for business and tourism. Ms. Koike, you paid an official visit to Kazakhstan in May this year. What do you consider the main achievement of that visit? During my stay in Astana, I had the opportunity to meet with the President of Kazakhstan. I was impressed by my conversation with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and highly appreciate his leadership and the institutional reforms he is advancing to promote economic growth, expand artificial intelligence and digitalization, and enhance the country's investment attractiveness. Under President Tokayev's leadership, Kazakhstan is strengthening its role as a key Central Asian hub connecting Europe and Asia. Last December, Tokyo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Akimat of Astana city. During this trip, I visited and toured the organizations relevant to this MOU. Specifically, we carried out high-profile promotional initiatives for Tokyo-based startups and SMEs in the green transformation (GX) sector, while also undertaking site visits across a broad range of fields, including AI, disaster prevention, education, and sturgeon aquaculture. I believe this visit will help to deepen our cooperation on addressing shared challenges and strengthening our international competitiveness, leading to success for both cities. What insights

Astana is a metropolis with its own identity and ambitions, says Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike

Astana is a metropolis with its own identity and ambitions, says Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike On the eve of Capital City Day, Qazinform News Agency publishes an exclusive interview with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who praised Astana's rapid pace of development. Earlier this May, Yuriko Koike paid an official visit to Kazakhstan. In recognition of her significant contribution to strengthening friendly ties between Kazakhstan and Japan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev awarded the Tokyo Governor the Order of Dostyq, I Degree. Despite her busy schedule, Koike found time to give an exclusive interview to Qazinform. She describes Astana as a modern megacity and highlights its growing role as a Eurasian hub for business and tourism. Ms. Koike, you paid an official visit to Kazakhstan in May this year. What do you consider the main achievement of that visit? During my stay in Astana, I had the opportunity to meet with the President of Kazakhstan. I was impressed by my conversation with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and highly appreciate his leadership and the institutional reforms he is advancing to promote economic growth, expand artificial intelligence and digitalization, and enhance the country's investment attractiveness. Under President Tokayev's leadership, Kazakhstan is strengthening its role as a key Central Asian hub connecting Europe and Asia. Last December, Tokyo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Akimat of Astana city. During this trip, I visited and toured the organizations relevant to this MOU. Specifically, we carried out high-profile promotional initiatives for Tokyo-based startups and SMEs in the green transformation (GX) sector, while also undertaking site visits across a broad range of fields, including AI, disaster prevention, education, and sturgeon aquaculture. I believe this visit will help to deepen our cooperation on addressing shared challenges and strengthening our international competitiveness, leading to success for both cities. What insights

Mekotronics Launches Jetson Orin AI Box for Edge Applications | Let's Data Science

Mekotronics Launches Jetson Orin AI Box for Edge Applications Mekotronics has launched an AI Box built around NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano and Jetson Orin NX modules, targeting humanoid robots, Smart Cities management, and transportation (V2X) applications, according to CNX Software. The device supports module options up to 157 TOPS (16GB Orin NX) and includes HDMI output, six USB Type-A ports, dual Gigabit Ethernet with PoE, dual M.2 NVMe slots, a 40-pin GPIO header, and a CAN/UART terminal block, per CNX Software, which also reports Mekotronics has not yet published pricing or a sales listing. For edge-AI practitioners, compact Jetson Orin systems like this lower integration friction for vision, SLAM, and transformer-inference workloads in robotics and municipal sensing, though thermal design and lifecycle support still trade off against pricier, more ruggedized competitors. Compact Jetson Orin systems remain a practical path for deploying computer vision, visual SLAM, and transformer inference at the edge, because they package GPU acceleration and common I/O into a small, thermally manageable form factor. That matters for teams building humanoid robots, V2X hardware, and municipal sensing systems, where integration time and enclosure design are often bigger constraints than raw compute. What happened CNX Software reports that Mekotronics, a company better known for Rockchip-based industrial PCs, has launched an "AI Box" compatible with NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano and Jetson Orin NX modules, targeting humanoid robots, smart transportation (V2X), Smart Cities, Smart Agriculture, and medical imaging applications. Supported module configurations include Jetson Orin Nano 4GB (up to 34 TOPS), Orin Nano 8GB (up to 67 TOPS), Orin NX 8GB (up to 117 TOPS), and Orin NX 16GB (up to 157 TOPS), per CNX Software. The board's I/O includes HDMI video output, six USB Type-A ports plus USB-C, two Gigabit Ethernet ports (one with PoE), two camera connectors, a 40-pin GPIO

Fiona O'Brien (MSc&amp;T) at the Transport Research Arena to present a joint research project

Fiona O’Brien (MSc&T) at the Transport Research Arena to present a joint research project Fiona O’Brien, a student in the Master of Science & Technology (MSc&T) program “Economics for Smart Cities and Climate Policy” at l’X, and Emma Jung, a student at TUM, submitted their research on the "Impacts of the Paris low-emission zone on mobility and environmental outcomes" to Transport Research Arena (TRA) after having completed this project as part of the course “Cities and Transportation” taught by Professor Zoi Christoforou at École Polytechnique. Fostering connections between science students in Europe To allow qualified students from partner institutions within the European university network EuroTeQ to participate in the course alongside students from École Polytechnique, Professor Zoi Christoforou opened her “Cities and Transportation” course in EuroTeQ’s shared course catalogue. Emma Jung, a master’s student at TUM in Germany, was one of six students from European partner universities who were successfully admitted to the course for the Summer Semester 2025. As part of this course, Fiona O’Brien and Emma Jung studied the impacts of the Paris low-emission zone on mobility and environmental outcomes*, and Professor Zoi Christoforou encouraged them to submit their research project to TRA, where it was selected. The two students presented their research project at the conference in Budapest from May 18-21, 2026, and got the chance to exchange with researchers and professionals from around the world on the topic of low emission zones. Fiona O’Brien’s and Emma Jung’s research compares pre- and post-policy trends between districts inside and outside the Paris low-emission zone to evaluate effects on traffic, metro ridership, bike usage, and air quality. Their findings reveal that the traffic in these zones significantly decreased, but at the same time the air quality worsened citywide. The outcomes suggest the Paris low-emission zone may have displaced congestion

Shell Q&amp;A: Conrad Mummert on 'Economics of Electrification' | Energy Digital

Shell Q&A: Conrad Mummert on 'Economics of Electrification' According to the IEA, only 130,000 electric vehicles were sold around the world in 2012. Fast forward to 2025 and global sales topped 20 million units. But while the market for electric cars has boomed, the electrification of heavier vehicles has been far, far slower. Cost has been a factor, of course, with the average eHGV costing anywhere between US$260,000 and US$435,000. But charging infrastructure has also played a massive role in the hesitance of logistics companies. While charging networks are improving and more freight companies are beginning to go electric, there are still several challenges to solve. Nowadays, the question is less about whether to electrify than how to do so without compromising on performance and flexibility. Companies like Shell are trying to provide the answer to those questions. The firm's Shell Business Recharge Solutions (SBRS) division has built a network that covers more than 100 European cities, providing electric fleets with access to thousands of charging points. Energy Digital spoke with Conrad Mummert, the Head of SBRS, about how Shell is working to make the electrification equation make sense for Europe's heavy-duty fleets. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role at Shell? I'm the Head of Shell Business Recharge Solutions (also known as SBRS), which is part of the Shell Group. In my role, I focus on supporting heavy-duty fleets with electrification at scale by leading the development and delivery of solutions that provide a one-stop shop for fleets moving to e-mobility. A large part of my job involves working directly with fleet operators to understand the barriers they face – whether that's infrastructure availability, operational complexity or making the economics of electrification stack up. Ultimately, we're helping these fleets to electrify in a way that supports

Why Reactive SRE will Always be Expensive

Most engineering leadership teams are grappling with the fact that reliability costs too much, teams are burnt out, and they feel something has to change. Typically, teams resort to optimization: smarter alerting, faster runbooks, better dashboards, and more training. Teams invest heavily, see modest gains, and then end up right back where they started when the next incident hits. Optimization doesnât fail because of execution. Itâs that the underlying model is broken. Reactive SRE â managing reliability by responding to incidents after they occurâ is actually really expensive. No amount of refinements will change this. Organizations need to understand why the reactive model is flawed; until they do, they will keep spending more, only to stand still. The cost of reacting The cost of downtime is often defined by the revenue impact: the minutes of unavailability multiplied by a per-hour rate. However, that number doesnât accurately represent what reactive operations actually cost. True costs include the hours engineers spend investigating incidents. It also includes senior SREs being pulled off a critical project to triage alerts that were just noise, hours-long postmortems, remediation work, meetings held to decide the next step, and burnout and the attrition rate that follow when engineers spend more time firefighting than building. The 2024 CrowdStrike outage is considered to be the largest IT outage. A faulty software upgrade caused a global disruption for 8.5 million Windows systems globally. Flights were grounded, hospital record systems became inaccessible, and financial transactions were disrupted. On paper, Fortune 500 companies suffered a $5.4 billion financial loss, but there was a hidden cost. SRE and DevOps teams had to perform manual remediation plans for days, resulting in team burnout and fatigue. This is a big indicator of how much a reactive model takes from the people on the inside. Reactive SRE

'Public safety outweighs the offence.' Officer explains why cops don't chase kids on e-dirt bikes

‘Public safety outweighs the offence.’ Officer explains why cops don’t chase kids on e-dirt bikes During a wide ranging discussion that also touched on shoplifting and the need for target practice, Coquitlam council interrogated Coquitlam RCMP’s officer-in-charge about youth riding e-dirt bikes on city streets. During the June 22 meeting, Coun. Robert Mazzarolo talked about seeing young riders around Coast Meridian, “blowing past you, doing wheelies in oncoming traffic.” A group of riders on Burke Mountain are “posing a danger to residents,” as well as drivers and pedestrians, he added. Local news that matters to you No one covers the Tri-Cities like we do. But we need your help to keep our community journalism sustainable. “I would strongly encourage that some resources be deployed on Burke Mountain,” he said. Police are handling enforcement with helicopters when possible and issuing fines while avoiding high-speed pursuit, explained Coquitlam RCMP Insp. Todd Balaban. “You’re not going to see us lights-and-siren chasing a guy on a dirt bike,” he said. While there could be an exception when the rider is a threat to the public prompting police to give chase, in most cases: “public safety outweighs the offence,” he said. “Do I want to chase a 14-year-old kid on an e-dirt bike and have him die?” he asked. While e-bikes are regulated and top out at 32 kilometres per hour, e-dirt bikes can hit 100 km/h, he noted. Crime stats Aside from an uptick in residential break-and-enters, property crimes were down in most categories in 2026 with the exception of shoplifting. Coquitlam businesses reported 168 incidents of shoplifting in the first trimester of 2026 – 86 percent more than the three-year average. That increase is largely due to affordability, Balaban told council. “It’s not the transient or unhoused persons,” he said. “it is the

Dubai Built a Digital Twin of the <b>City</b> to Simulate Its <b>Future</b> | WIRED Middle East

Dubai has launched a new Digital Twin Platform, creating a virtual replica of the emirate that can be used to model infrastructure, simulate future scenarios and support urban planning. The platform, unveiled in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, is the latest step in Dubai's broader push to use data and emerging technologies to manage the city's growth. According to a statement issued by Dubai Media Office, Sheikh Hamdan said the project would help build "a city that is better prepared for the future" by improving planning and decision-making through advanced technologies and data. A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical environment that is continuously updated with real-world data. The technology is increasingly being adopted by cities around the world as governments look for new ways to manage rapid urbanisation, climate risks and ageing infrastructure. Researchers increasingly view digital twins not simply as planning tools but as a new layer of digital infrastructure that can help cities model future growth, test policy decisions and assess risks before they unfold in the physical world. Cities such as Singapore and Helsinki have invested heavily in city-scale digital twins that can simulate everything from transport flows to climate risks. As artificial intelligence and cloud computing improve, many researchers believe digital twins will become an increasingly important tool for managing complex urban environments. Dubai has been experimenting with digital twin technologies for several years as part of its broader smart city strategy. The emirate has already experimented with several digital twin initiatives. One example is Dubai Live, a platform launched by Digital Dubai that aggregates geospatial and infrastructure data from multiple government entities and provides a shared digital map of the city.

Partners sign initiative to enhance prevention of hypertension and diabetes in Việt Nam

| Delegates sign a strategic initiative to address the burden of hypertension and diabetes in Việt Nam in the 2026-30 period. — VNS Photo Thanh Hải | HÀ NỘI — The Department of Medical Service Administration (MSA), the Ministry of Health, Servier Vietnam and their partners, on July 3, signed a strategic initiative to address the burden of hypertension and diabetes in Việt Nam in the 2026-30 period. The collaboration was within the framework of the programme to enhance awareness and capacity for the communication, treatment, and management of hypertension and diabetes in Việt Nam for the 2026–30 period. The programme involves numerous key multi-sectoral partners, such as the Vietnam Society of Cardiology, the Vietnam Association of Endocrinology and Diabetes, the Vietnam Association for Research and Application of Biomedical Technology, the Vietnam Young Physicians Association, the Hanoi University of Public Health, the Hanoi Medical University, and the University Medical Centre Hồ Chí Minh City. The programme seeks to strengthen the healthcare system capacity and improve hypertension and diabetes control effectiveness by 2030. It sets a goal of ensuring that at least 50 per cent of patients with hypertension and diabetes meet treatment targets by 2030. The programme focuses on four core pillars, including professional standardisation, healthcare workforce capacity building, community communication, and project monitoring, research, and evaluation. It also emphasises the use of digital ecosystems and artificial intelligence to educate and empower patients to proactively manage their own health. This long-term commitment aims to minimise cardiovascular complications and improve the quality of life for millions of Vietnamese people. The event marks a significant step forward in transitioning towards a comprehensive, integrated, and systemic approach to managing non-communicable diseases. Speaking at the ceremony, MSA Deputy Director Nguyễn Trọng Khoa stated that the programme represents a significant step forward, building upon the

Know the Expert &quot;Cristina Bueti&quot; | July 2026 | United Nations University

Cristina Bueti is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Focal Point on Environment and Smart Sustainable Cities. She is the Counsellor of ITU-T Study Group 20 “Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Cities and Communities (SC&C)”, where she further serves as the Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau (TSB/ITU) focal point for Latin America. Cristina Bueti graduated from the Faculty of Political Science, Law and International Cooperation and Development of the University of Florence, where she completed postgraduate studies in International Cooperation and Telecommunications Law in Europe. She also holds a specialization in Environmental Law with a special focus on Telecommunications. As a Counsellor at the ITU, she has been working on various projects related to virtual worlds and AI, IoT, and Smart Sustainable cities for over 20 years. Her role involves developing and promoting international standards for IoT, digital twins and smart cities, and contributing to the development of policies and strategies for these areas. She is passionate about leveraging technology to create positive social and environmental impacts. With extensive experience in digital transformation, corporate sustainability, and smart cities, Cristina has contributed to several initiatives and projects that aim to promote innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity in the tech industry. Her goal is to use her expertise and skills to help shape the future of technology and its applications in various sectors. UNU-EGOV: Could you walk us through your professional journey and share some of the key moments that led you to your current role as Counsellor on Smart Sustainable Cities, AI-enabled Citiverse & Virtual Worlds at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)? We can tell that everything started on the “wrong floor”… Cristina Bueti (CB): My professional journey has been guided by one conviction: technology has meaning only when it helps people and communities thrive. I joined ITU in 2004 with a simple dream:

Governance, Not Technology Alone, Determines Africa's <b>Smart City</b> Progress

Africa increased its representation in the IMD Smart City Index from six cities in 2019 to nine in 2026, although none has yet entered the global top 100. The IMD report identifies governance and institutional capacity, rather than technology alone, as the strongest predictor of smart city performance. Rabat and Abuja improved through governance reforms, while Cairo, Lagos and Nairobi continued to face structural constraints despite digital investments. Africa has expanded its presence in the IMD Business School Smart City Index, increasing the number of ranked cities from six in 2019 to nine in 2026. However, the continent still has no city among the world's top 100, as governance and institutional capacity continue to lag behind technological investment. The annual ranking evaluates digital quality of life across major global cities through two dimensions: technology availability and structures, including institutions, public services and living conditions. In 2026, the African cities included in the index were Rabat in Morocco, Cairo in Egypt, Cape Town in South Africa, Algiers in Algeria, Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria, Nairobi in Kenya, Accra in Ghana and Tunis in Tunisia. The expanded representation reflects growing digital investment across the continent. However, none of the nine cities has entered the global top 100 during the seven editions of the index. The report consistently shows that most African cities score higher on technology than on institutional structures. The ranking concludes that institutional structures provide the strongest predictor of overall smart city performance. Consequently, African cities could accelerate their progress by investing as heavily in governance as they do in digital technology. Cities Making Progress Some African cities have already started to rebalance that equation. Rabat led the continental ranking in 2026 and continued its steady improvement from previous editions. The city achieved that progress through a long-term strategy launched