New York City residents held an anti-war rally at Times Square on Wednesday, the 25th anniversary of the U.S. launch of the war in Afghanistan, calling for an end to wars and urging the world to resolve international disputes through dialogue.
In front of a U.S. Armed Forces Recruitment Center, demonstrators carried signs calling for peace and a banner that read, "Imagine a world without war." For many, that message was at the heart of the rally's cause.
"I'm a grandmother and I will soon be a great-grandmother. I want a world for young people that will have abolished war. Our planet is fragile. We cannot continue one war after another. Today is the 25th anniversary of when we started a war with Afghanistan. These wars go on for years. We spend billions of dollars. People forget about it because something new comes along, and you forget about the other things," rally participant Nydia Leaf said.
"You cannot stay silent about these wars. And we see now with the war on Iran, how people all over are against it. You know, they have been through 25 years of wars that have accomplished absolutely nothing except the destruction of countries and the destruction of people's society. And we really have to find another way of resolving conflict," said another participant, Sally Jones.
Wednesday also marked the third anniversary of the latest round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Demonstrators called on the U.S. government to adjust its policies and uphold peace.
"We're encouraging everybody to work for peace, to stop sending weapons all over the world to all these belligerent governments and armies. So we've got to cut off the supply of weapons and the supply of money to all these war makers, and we have to use our taxes and the resources of the world to rebuild America and to rebuild the rest of the world, not to destroy other people's countries," said demonstrator Mike Levinson.
New Yorkers rally against endless wars, call for lasting peace
iKOMEK109, an intelligent municipal services platform of the Kazakh capital Astana, has been providing timely and efficient public services since its launch eight years ago, winning widespread acclaim from citizens.
As a rapidly developing city in Central Asia, Astana faces challenges such as winter heating, snow removal, and water supply and drainage -- issues that not only affect residents' daily lives but also directly impact urban safety.
iKOMEK109 integrates multiple municipal departments and various public utilities into a single service system, ensuring that residents' requests are closely linked to the city's essential infrastructure.
Citizens don't need to contact different utility providers individually; instead, relevant issues are forwarded through this center to the competent departments for handling.
The platform integrates approximately 100 organizations, including administrative departments, district governments, property management agencies, the police, and emergency services.
At this center, operators handle over 2.5 million requests annually, receiving an average of 4,000 to 8,000 calls per day -- primarily regarding malfunctions in the capital's public utility systems or emergencies requiring immediate attention.
This year has been designated as the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country. Astana is currently undertaking a comprehensive upgrade of the iKOMEK 2.0 system while actively drawing on China's experience.
Many solutions in the fields of video surveillance and AI have been adapted from China and tailored to Kazakhstan's specific circumstances.
"Technology never stands still, especially in China. The year 2026 is Kazakhstan's Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Therefore, in the field of AI, we are paying close attention to China and drawing heavily on their experience," said Askar Taksimov, head of iKOMEK109.
The system of the platform is connected to 23,000 cameras, nearly 9,000 of which cover public facilities, including more than 100 schools.
This allows for real-time monitoring of conditions inside buildings, detection of hazards or something unusual, and oversight of the city's infrastructure operations.
Emergencies related to public safety receive special attention on the platform, including fires and accidents.
From drinking in public to theft, the iKOMEK109 dispatch center is able to detect all kinds of illegal activities. These cases are then referred to the police.
The platform's heartwarming and efficient services are well received by local residents.
"The 109 dispatch center always responds quickly to every call. I called mainly to schedule medical appointments for my children and myself. They always manage to get us an appointment, and they're very polite," said Saniya Tokhtarova, an Astana resident.
"I once had a broken door lock. They arrived promptly to fix it for me. My house is quite old, so sometimes there are leaks in the pipes. Whenever I call to report a problem, they come right over and take care of everything," said Vladimir Zenkovsky, another resident.
"The 109 [dispatch center] can handle any issue, even utility problems such as power and water outages. The staff respond very promptly. I think this municipal service system provides real help to the public," said Aynagul Japarova, a local.
Kazakhstan's smart municipal platform delivers efficient public services
