The rapid expansion of smart cities has led to the widespread deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices for real-time data collection and urban optimization. However, these interconnected systems face critical cybersecurity risks, including data tampering, unauthorized access, and privacy breaches. This paper proposes a blockchain-based framework designed to enhance the security, integrity, and resilience of IoT data in smart city environments. Leveraging a private blockchain, the system ensures decentralized, tamper-proof data storage, and transaction verification through digital signatures and a lightweight Proof of Work consensus mechanism. Smart contracts are employed to automate access control and respond to anomalies in real time. A Python-based simulation demonstrates the framework’s effectiveness in securing IoT communications. The system supports rapid transaction validation with minimal latency and enables timely detection of anomalous patterns through integrated machine learning. Evaluations show that the framework maintains consistent performance across diverse smart city components such as transportation, healthcare, and building security. These results highlight the potential of the proposed solution to enable secure, scalable, and real-time IoT ecosystems for modern urban infrastructures.

Disinformation can be defined as false information deliberately initiated to cause harm to a person, social group, organization, or country. Gendered disinformation then attacks or undermines people based on gender or weaponizes gendered narratives for political, social, or economic objectives. Gendered disinformation comes in different forms, such as harmful social media posts and graphics, sexual fabrications, and other forms of conspiracy theories. It is used in various situations and at different places. This research discussed the instances of gendered disinformation and harmful online narratives that are recognizable and visible. It sheds light on the potential direct and indirect impact on youth experiences. In this study, the young participants (aged 18–30) focused on the instances of the existing online narratives of gendered discrimination from Belgium, Greece, Latvia, Spain, and Türkiye. The research provided an initial analysis of what “gendered information and harmful online narratives” look like and some recommendations from youth perspectives on countering the issues. The study concluded that there is a need for more research, further harmonization of legal frameworks, and strengthened capacity to detect gendered disinformation, propaganda, and hate speech.

This contribution questions young people’s access to digital networks at the scale of intermediate cities in Saint-Louis. Thus, it analyzes the prescriptions of digital actors responsible for the development of digital economy in relation with the orientations of the Senegal Digital 2025 strategy. This is a pretex to highlight the gaps between official political discourses and the level of deployment of digital infrastructures. The study highlights the need to repoliticize the needs of populations for broadband and very high-speed connections to promote local initiatives for youth participation in Saint-Louis. Indeed, datas relating to access and use of the Internet by young people reveal inequalities linked to household income, the disparity of infrastructure and digital equipment, and the discontinuity in neighborhood development, but also to the adaptability of the internet service marketed. Through urban and explanatory sociology mobilized through the approach of young people’s real access to the Internet, our analyzes have shown at the scale of urban neighborhoods the impact of the actions recommended by those involved in the development of populations’ access to Internet. The result is that the majority of young people are forced to access the Internet through medium-speed mobile networks.

The issue of urban land management in the world in general and in Africa in particular has been exacerbated by the liberalization of land practices and the commodification of land, which has led to an increase in corrupt practices within land institutions in all cities. A mixed methodology was employed, combining a comparative case study of secondary towns with a quantitative survey of 559 landowners in the towns of Bohicon and Sokodé. In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 informants, who were surveyed on the land acquisition process, the individual determinants influencing corrupt practices, and the institutions most involved in these practices. The findings revealed that the acquisition of a formal title conferring property rights in both cities necessitates the completion of several steps. Corrupt practices are present at almost every stage of the transaction. The application of logistic regression models to the independent variables indicates that age and profession are highly significant in the sociodemographic characteristics of those most susceptible to engaging in these practices. Formal land administration institutions are the most involved in these types of everyday corruption. These practices are ultimately linked to people’s life paths and cannot therefore be combated without psychosociological education and the promotion of ethical behavior among all stakeholders, particularly among those who demand services.

Nowadays, urban ecosystems require major transformations aimed at addressing the current challenges of urbanization. In recent decades, policy makers have increasingly turned their attention to the smart city paradigm, recognizing its potential to promote positive changes. The smart city, through the conscious use of technologies and sustainability principles, allows for urban development. The scientific literature on smart cities as catalysts of public value continues to develop rapidly and there is a need to systematize its knowledge structure. Through a three-phase methodological approach, combining bibliometric, network and content analyses, this study provides a systematic review of the scientific literature in this field. The bibliometric results showed that public value is experiencing an evolutionary trend in smart cities, representing a challenging research topic for scholars. Network analysis of keyword co-occurrences identified five different clusters of related topics in the analyzed field. Content analysis revealed a strong focus on stakeholder engagement as a lever to co-create public value and a greater emphasis on social equity over technological innovation and environmental protection. Furthermore, it was observed that although environmental concerns were prioritized during the policy planning phase, their importance steadily decreased as the operational phases progressed.

Night tourism, increasingly recognized as integral to the travel experience, has gained attention for its impact on overall tourist satisfaction. This article offers a comprehensive analysis of night tourism development in Vietnam’s coastal cities, focusing on Nha Trang and Quang Ngai, as representative cases of mature and emerging destinations, respectively. Utilizing the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) tool, the study aims to provide practical insights for sustainable night tourism. Surveys with 524 domestic tourists were conducted to evaluate perceptions and satisfaction levels. Nha Trang emphasizes accessibility and vibrant nightlife, with a focus on the night market and outdoor shows. Conversely, Quang Ngai highlights its night landscape, dining options, and shopping areas. Recommendations for both destinations include enhancing entertainment offerings and reassessing priorities based on tourist preferences. The study underscores the need for tailored strategies to foster sustainable night tourism development that aligns with evolving tourist demands in coastal cities like Nha Trang and Quang Ngai.